"Phew…"
Looking at the falling snowflakes outside, Li Lin couldn't help but let out a breath, feeling an inexplicable sense of time having passed.
It was spring when he transmigrated to this world, summer when he adventured with Penguin Logistics, and after being hospitalized and discharged, it was already winter. It had to be said, the four seasons in this world were quite distinct, or rather, quite distinct in the Kazimierz region. The drifting snowflakes landed on his skin with a slightly cool sensation.
Behind him was the hospital where he had lived for three months. When he came out, there was no lively farewell ceremony, nor any messy reporters or signals. These were all things Li Lin requested not to arrange. To be precise, he didn't consider his actions anything special. He just wanted to save his friend, not truly save Kazimierz. Receiving a large sum of money was already good enough; as for the title of hero, forget it.
It would be better to let them publicize that the hero was a passing knight, promoting the spirit of Kazimierz, the knightly nation.
Information about Li Lin, even the treatment time and status, was completely confidential. Kazimierz had already classified his file and related surgical procedures as state secrets. Apart from some hidden things, he was just like when he first transmigrated: penniless except for his phone, clothes, and money.
Fortunately, however, he was no longer alone.
"And then, let me see if anyone cared about me during these three months…"
Exhaling white mist that condensed, Li Lin rubbed his hands, walked into a shop, sat down, and opened his phone.
Kazimierz shops didn't have many tourists in winter. The owner, wiping an oak wine glass, calmly watched TV, merely nodding at Li Lin who was warming himself, his eyes smoothly sweeping over Li Lin's long white hair and red eyes without showing much surprise.
This hair and eye color was perfectly normal in Terra; instead, Li Lin's original black hair and black eyes seemed somewhat rare. Feeling a bit embarrassed by his slightly over-conscious behavior, Li Lin smiled at the owner and pulled over a chair, rubbing his hands. He took out his phone from his pocket, unlocked it, and started looking through the messages and inquiries from the past three months.
First was Officer Ch'en, sending several greeting messages in succession, then calling twice after realizing he wasn't replying.
Afterwards, seeming to realize something had happened to Li Lin, she stopped sending messages and calls. Only after a month did she send a blessing, hoping he could see this blessing when discharged, and wishing his surgery a complete success.
Similarly, there was Mayer, but Mayer clearly sent several distress calls and text messages in succession due to funding issues. Several per day, almost like text message bombing. It seemed nanotechnology was a very terrifying problem for Mayer's one-person workshop; basically, no special research results were born in these three months, though a pile of byproducts and other messy things were produced.
After Li Lin transferred three-quarters of the operating funds Kazimierz gave him into her account, Mayer, who hadn't been in contact for a long time, immediately replied 'received', looking like she had been staring at the account all along.
Several other acquaintances also sent greetings and inquiries one after another, somewhat curious why he hadn't appeared for three months.
"I've been discharged, feeling good. Group message…"
Somewhat clumsily sending out the group text message, Li Lin let out a breath, then wiped his phone screen.
But looking at the pure black APP on the phone, he could only sigh slightly, then with a certain resolve, opened it and entered his own room code.
Sure enough, a continuous stream of green information waterfall scrolled down from top to bottom like a screen flood. From major and minor issues to solicitous inquiries, from various understandings and insights to divergences between personal hatred and racial hatred, and even questions about social division of labor and various related systems.
That Miss Talulah, met only once, didn't seem to care much about him not replying for several months; perhaps she simply treated this place as some kind of emotional outlet, just continuously writing something, pouring out something. Even now, a very strange question was seen scrolling by. Making Li Lin's scalp tingle, he could only reply that he had things to do and no internet, then quickly closed the APP.
"…Arguing with someone?"
The owner, watching TV, glanced at Li Lin who shivered as if electrocuted, and asked with some concern.
"Something like that. Feels a bit scary."
"Communicating more is always a good thing. Some prejudices and misunderstandings are just caused by lack of communication."
"Mm, I'll take your auspicious words."
Looking at the seemingly somewhat serious owner, Li Lin smiled, then put his phone back in his pocket. Incidentally buying a small gadget like a hand warmer, he then pushed open the door and walked out of the small shop under the owner's slightly solemn blessing. Plunging headfirst into the falling snow of Kazimierz.
Felt completely different after having a hand warmer. Walking in the fine snow outside, Li Lin looked at the stone buildings and the street signs on the road, searching for the temporary residence of Penguin Logistics. After a journey of over ten minutes, he finally found their wooden house in a winding, crooked alley. Three months' rent in this tourist city was indeed not cheap, but looking at the exterior decorations, they seemed to have never left here.
And before Li Lin decided to reach out and knock, his enhanced ears heard faint sounds of arguing from inside.
'…I told you, there aren't enough heaters for winter. One room definitely needs one, right? Texas, can you get through winter without a heater?'
'No no no, we Forte aren't afraid of the cold, so don't give it to me. Besides, Kazimierz heaters, I don't trust 'em.'
'I can still endure it, let Sora have an extra one over there. Lappland, put mine over there.'
'So wouldn't it be fine to just buy a few more?'
'Funds need to be saved, after all, don't know how long Prophet's surgery will take, need to prepare for at least a year.'
'So, what's the deal if we collapse before that guy even comes back? I still have some money, just take it and buy more, right? Isn't that what Sora plans too? Live diligently while waiting for news. Although don't know what Kazimierz is up to, people won't die anyway…'
'…'
Hearing this, Li Lin took a deep breath outside the door, forcefully suppressing his somewhat agitated emotions, reached out, and knocked on the door.
The sound of discussion inside instantly paused, and slightly familiar footsteps came from within. Getting closer and closer, finally pulling open the wooden door.
"Who is it?"
"I'm back."
"…Welcome back, Prophet."
Looking at the figure standing at the doorway, Exusiai, who opened the door, was stunned for a moment, then revealed a brilliant smile.