Lock's apology surprised Annie, and the way he looked at her was strange, too.
"Don't block the doorway, I need to go wash up."
"Oh, sorry." Lock quickly stepped aside.
Watching her retreating figure, the confusion in Lock's heart deepened.
She was her, yet she wasn't her.
This doesn't seem like a parallel world... So is this... a dream?
If that's the case, he hoped he could wake up a little later.
Lock looked toward the last room.
Who could be inside there?
He had some guesses, but couldn't be certain... "Sister Lala, can you help me tie my hair?"
Annie came out of the bathroom, holding her hair.
"Oh, I'm busy right now. Ask your brother to help you."
"My brother doesn't tie it nicely!" Annie glanced at Lock, who was approaching.
Despite saying that, she still handed the hair tie to Lock and sat down on the chair.
Lock looked at her loose, shoulder-length blonde hair, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but curl up slightly.
Soon, he recreated the hairstyle he remembered for his "sister."
Annie looked into the small mirror, her expression a little strange.
Lock raised an eyebrow and asked, "What's wrong? You don't like it?"
Annie mumbled softly, "It feels a bit too mature..."
Lock laughed, "Should I change it to pigtails then?"
"No need!" Annie quickly refused. "I think this is quite good."
Just then, Sister Lala brought a pot of hot congee and placed it on the table.
She ladled a bowl for each of them.
"Come, try the Fresh Shrimp, Preserved Egg, and Shredded Pork Congee I made!"
Looking at the congee in front of her, Annie was slightly dissatisfied: "Why didn't you make sweet congee?"
Sister Lala said gently, "Children shouldn't be picky eaters."
Annie was about to say something else when she suddenly heard her father's door open, and she immediately shut her mouth.
An adult East Asian male wearing a black shirt and long pants walked out of the room.
"Mr. Lock." Sister Lala bowed and greeted the newcomer.
"Mhm."
Lock came over and sat down at the dining table.
He glanced at Annie, who was silently drinking congee with her head down, then looked toward Lock.
Under the other party's scrutinizing gaze, Lock felt an unspeakable pressure envelop him.
He felt as if he was being stared at by a mature male lion; the other party's eyes were full of aggression.
After a long while, Lock withdrew his gaze and began to eat.
The dining table was quiet, with only the sound of the three of them using spoons to eat congee... Soon, Lock and Annie finished their portions one after the other.
"Dad, then my brother and I will go to school first." Facing Lock, Annie was clearly cautious.
Annie stood up, but noticed Lock was still sitting on the stool, and couldn't help but tug on his sleeve.
"You go by yourself today. I've requested leave for your brother," Lock said calmly.
Annie was stunned by the news, then looked worriedly toward Lock.
Lock offered her a comforting smile.
"Then I'll be going now."
"Be careful on the way."
Sister Lala tidied the dining table and gave Annie, who had reached the door, a reminder... Lock, having finished his congee, stood up, and Lock followed suit.
"I'm taking him out for a walk, I'll trouble you to watch the house."
"Don't worry, Mr. Lock, I will wait for you to return home." Sister Lala's smile remained gentle.
Lock looked at Lock, without any extra expression: "Let's go."
...They walked out the main door, passed through the corridor, and arrived at the elevator entrance.
Residents from the same floor were also waiting for the elevator.
"Good morning, Mr. Lock." Petra, wearing a white t-shirt and jeans, smiled and greeted the two of them.
"Morning," Lock nodded in acknowledgment.
Looking at this member of the Levi Squad who had died at Annie's hands, Lock's speculation deepened further.
The elevator descended to the first floor, and Petra smiled and bid farewell to the two of them.
On the way to the community parking lot, Lock and Lock also ran into Nanaba and Mike, who were jogging together. After exchanging a few pleasantries, they went their separate ways.
After seeing these two people, Lock even suspected that everyone living in the community was someone he knew... Lock led Lock to a car.
Lock raised an eyebrow: "An electric car? That doesn't quite fit your style."
This was an admission to the other party that the current Lock was not "Lock."
Lock showed no surprise. He said calmly, "That's not something I can decide."
"Get in the car."
Lock obediently took the passenger seat.
The car started and slowly drove out of the community.
Lock carefully observed the world outside the window.
The city layout was typical of an Eastern country, yet most pedestrians on the road looked Caucasian.
Lock looked back at Lock, who was driving quietly, and smiled: "May I ask a few questions?"
Lock seemed to have anticipated this: "If they are about this world, I can only answer yes or no."
"Playing Soup Turtle? That's interesting."
Lock thought for a moment and asked the first question: "Are you the Lock I know?"
"Yes."
"Are the people here all Subjects of Ymir?"
"Yes."
"Is this... the paths?"
"Yes."
"Did you create this place?"
"Yes and no."
"Oh, so you and Ymir created it together?"
"No."
"Hmm?"
Receiving a negative answer, Lock was confused.
But soon, a terrifying guess formed in his mind: "Ymir... doesn't exist in this world anymore?"
"Yes." Lock's reply was still cold and mechanical.
Lock clicked his tongue. Although he had guessed correctly, this result was too alarming.
Since Ymir is gone, who is providing the Power of the Titans now?
Can the power of the Founding Titan still be used?
What about Ymir's curse?
What about the Rumbling? Can it still be activated?
Lock carefully chose his words and asked: "Did you... replace Ymir?"
After a moment, Lock replied: "Yes and no."
Lock was startled. This meant that not only Lock, but some other entity was performing Ymir's original duties.
And this world was created by him and that unknown entity together.
Lock was about to press further, but realized the car had stopped.
"The questions stop here. Get out of the car."
Lock opened the car door and stepped out.
The breeze blew across his face, carrying the unique scent of the ocean.
How big is this world?
Does it have boundaries?
Lock followed Lock through a small park, and the view suddenly opened up.
Sand, sea, and lightly dressed crowds.
None of these was the main point.
A giant tree, seemingly formed by converging starlight, stood at the edge of the sea, occupying most of the sky and most of the ocean.
It looked like an illusory texture map or projection meeting the sea and sky.
Dreamlike and illusory, it didn't feel quite real.
Lock murmured, "Is this the ppath"
"It would be clearer if it were night," Lock said plainly, leaning against the railing.
Lock looked at Lock's face, hesitated for a moment, and then asked, "Can I ask a few more questions?"
"Yes, but I can only answer what I can answer," Lock replied casually, still looking at the giant tree.
"Who is Sister Lala at home?"
"You will know later."
Sure enough, time here was not parallel to the outside world.
Lock paused and asked the question he most wanted to know: "Why are you still looking like this?"
"Shouldn't you be the future me?"
"Why did you revert to your appearance from before the transmigration?"
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A/N: 40+ Advance Chapter Has Been Uploaded.
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