She was much healthier and more vigorous than when she first transmigrated into 44's injured, malnourished body. From being a pile of wet tofu she improved over half a year to the strength levels of a common adult human of Earth. While her body was only 12! Yet the Interface insisted her Rank wasn't even 1 yet.

What was the criteria? What was the difference between the Ranks? Li Mei burned with curiosity! And perhaps a compet.i.tive streak, as well.

Faust revealed one of his rare half-smiles, the truly genuine smile that wasn't a predatory grin or mocking smirk. Seeing the child so eager to learn the difference between them, he found a spark of interest settling in his chest for whatever nefarious plans Li Mei might have been concocting. If she sought to challenge him someday, he'd welcome the attempt - but it would be a very long time before she'd ever succeed, and it was best if he pruned her ambitions before she got too th.o.r.n.y to handle. He picked a rock off the ground, one the size of a ripe grapefruit, and placed it in her hands. "Try to break it."

Li Mei stared at the man like he lost his marbles, but nevertheless tried her best to crush the rock. No matter what she tried, smas.h.i.+ng or hitting or smacking it against a larger stone, all she managed was to chip off some hardened dirt on the edges.

"You're near the peak of Rank 0, so you could be said to summarize Rank 0. Having authenticized the hardness of the rock, allow me." Faust took the rock, then brought out a knife and sliced the stone in half with no visible effort. "I used strength equivalent to the peak of Rank 1 to cut the rock, though the very sharp knife bore the brunt of the effort there. At the peak of Rank 2..." One of the rock halves was crumbled in his hand, crushed into little pieces like the entire thing was a clod of soil rather than a stone. "Now Rank 3's peak, which is the Rank Oriole thinks I have." Faust clapped the remaining rock half between his palms, and it vanished into a cloud of pulverized fine-particle dust.

Li Mei gulped nervously. "Rank 3... Oriole thinks?" She honed in on some keywords, using the opportunity to wrangle some truth out of her fickle master. Telling him she knew he was Rank 7 was a bad idea, since she'd have to explain how she knew - the safest method was getting him to admit it himself, or at least admit enough for her to have logically drawn some conclusions. "Then you're..."

"Much stronger than that." Faust grinned his predatory grin and leaned close enough for Li Mei to smell a faint aroma of aftershave and cigarette smoke. "The gap between the Ranks is like the gap between the stars, Li Mei. It cannot be crossed through ordinary means. If you want to challenge me someday, you'll have to train very hard for a very long time." He pat her shoulder, then rose to his feet and shoved both hands in his pockets. "Now come along."

"We're not going to train at this hour, are we?" Li Mei grumbled, but the man walked away like he never heard her. She was compelled to follow but thanks to his vague wording could still drag her heels and take her time. Bao pranced along at her side looking very pleased, which made the girl scowl. "You better be happy for my sake and not because you ate my barrier."

Much to Li Mei's relief, Faust just went into the cave and not down the mountain. He rolled up his sleeves, gestured for her to sit on one of the benches, and set about preparing an elaborate meal. Vegetables were chopped with artistic precision, and before long the scent of roasting meat filled the cave. Fruits were peeled, carved, and arranged into beautiful flowers and shapes in plain bowls that would be fun for children to eat in normal circ.u.mstances.

Not a word was spoken until an entire spread of delicious aromatic dishes occupied the long kitchen counter. Faust started portioning out servings onto three plates, including one for the eager fera who kept licking his chops in antic.i.p.ation. The man even used a small magitech device to make fresh juice for everyone from some oddly shaped purple fruits.

"Today is the 9th day of the 9th month, already an auspicious day, but also the day you formed your Core and developed a fine Gift. Quite a nice day for a birthday, wouldn't you say?" Faust pa.s.sed Li Mei a plate, setting one on the floor for Bao. The number 9 was the luckiest number on Elysium, forming her Core on 9/9 was indeed a sign of great fortune.

"Birthday?" Li Mei muttered, eyebrows drawn together. Such a subject really seemed to come out of nowhere! Her actual birthday was irrelevant since it was based on the Earth's calendar, and 44 naturally didn't know her own. No matter how she searched her memories, Li Mei couldn't think of a reason for Faust to mention birthdays all of the sudden.

Mistaking the reason for her confusion, Faust smiled. "The day one comes into the world is a day to be celebrated. I know you were never celebrated before and don't even know your actual birthday, why not choose this one? Since any day's as good as another. Creating the first Core is also cause for commemoration, today is your lucky day twice over."

"Oh. Okay." Li Mei nodded, but a shadow of suspicion haunted her narrowed eyes.

"Birthdays are observed with a homemade meal shared with loved ones, a special dessert made by your elders, and gifts for the one who's survived yet another year in this world. The meal's taken care of, I'll make the dessert when you're done eating dinner. You're only considered older once you finish the dessert according to tradition, though I've always found that silly as time won't stop marching just because you don't finish a fruit tart. As for the gift..." Faust leaned forward, setting his plate on his knees. "Recite the names of the civilized nations in the world."

Li Mei, whose cheeks bulged like a chipmunk's with her eyes wide in panic, hurriedly swallowed her food. Faust's cooking was delicious, and she was expecting to finish her plate while he went off on another of his monologues. Having to partic.i.p.ate in a pop quiz ruined her plans! Luckily he waited for her to finish clearing her throat, giving her time to bring up the information in the Archive. "Um, there's seven globally recognized nations in the three settled continents: Mu Republic, Agartha Empire, Hawaiki Archipelago, Brittalund, Reynes Monarchy, States of Kitezh, and Zion."

"Correct. And the relations.h.i.+ps between them?"

"Complicated and turbulent."

"Correct again." Faust nodded, spearing a cl.u.s.ter of blue broccoli that tasted faintly of eggplant on his plate. "There are of course many organizations and micronations that aren't globally recognized, doing their best just to survive. And on the other side of things, there's a few nations and organizations that are recognized by the greater powers, but completely unknown to the common people. Oriole is one such organization, I belong to another.

"My gift to you is knowledge of this organization: Erebus, whose shadow encircles the world. We seek to maintain balance between nations, preventing outright war which would allow the harsh environment of our world to completely erase the light of civilization. Only through cooperation can we move forward with society, as one false step means losing our lives to the various enemy tides and strange creatures lurking in the wilds."

"How n.o.ble of you," Li Mei said through a mouthful of shredded pink cabbage and chunks of black lamb. Her obvious sarcasm brought a smile to Faust's face.

"Only sometimes. Agents of Erebus are cla.s.sified according to their duties. I am a Dolos, who specializes in infiltration and information gathering. Since you are my official disciple I can recommend you into the organization once you are an adult so long as you have reached a certain level of strength. Our resources are vast, and our influence reaches far." Faust paused to take a bite of his dinner before it got too cold, scrutinizing Li Mei's face through half-lidded eyes. "My gift to you is thus: Knowledge of Erebus, which is a secret organization. The promise of members.h.i.+p in the future so long as you meet the requirements by then. And the information that you will the need power and influence Erebus provides to take revenge on the powerful and influential person who killed your mother, made you a slave, and tried to get you killed while in my care.

"Happy Birthday."