First, Ji Lin revived, then Ninti emerged as a new force, and the ELF Shamash showed her power to overwhelm Durandal and then escaped from the headquarters. She most likely have been completely repaired by World Serpent.
After that, one of the Thirteen Flamechasers reappeared in the world with an unstoppable attitude, and his old friend who was once under his control is about to recover her strength.
Although there are new forces like Delta and Yae Sakura joining his side, Otto feels that this chessboard that has lasted for five hundred years is beginning to be out of control.
Is it really because that doomsday judgment is approaching so the civilization has begun to burst out miracles for it's survival—just like the end of the previous era where strong people and geniuses emerged in an endless stream?
"Alas!"
Otto felt vaguely anxious about these changes.
"Rita said that compared to the Oceania branch which has a lot of bad debts, the Far East branch is extremely clean. There is basically no problem of rebellion or corruption. But Durandal still found some abnormal expenditures and is carefully checking with Theresa and her financial department."
Yae Sakura took the report that had been prepared long ago and told the current situation.
Otto looked focused, saying, "Go on, I'm listening," but in fact, he didn't care at all; he was just thinking about his own plan.
"Theresa and Miss Murata Himeko seems flustered by this investigation, causing Durandal to investigate more vigorously. It is worth mentioning that Theresa tried to bribe me with bitter melon juice. I am a little curious. Is her stubborn belief that everyone loves bitter melon juice also from Mr. Otto's bad taste?"
"Yes."
"Kiana's condition has not changed much. Her physical and mental state is very healthy, and the power dormant in her body is also quite stable. I really hope she can continue like this."
"Ah, right, right!"
"Mr. Otto, are you really listening?"
"Well, you did a good job and deserve praise... Did I reveal something?"
Otto raised his eyebrows with a playful look on his face, making it hard to tell whether he was really joking or just using this performance to perfunctorily pass the test after being exposed.
Yae Sakura blinked slowly, her face wooden, and her rosy cheeks bulged.
Otto quickly sat up straight and begged for mercy again. "Okay, okay, I was wrong. I will apologize!"
"Mr. Otto is really confusing. He obviously doesn't care about this information at all, but he still asks us to report to him every day. What are you thinking about?"
"Who said I don't care? It's just that the problem I'm thinking about now is more difficult." Otto argued righteously.
However, Yae Sakura just stared at him dimly.
After a long time, when Otto felt that his butt was about to fall off, she sighed with a complicated expression. "Mr. Otto, I don't know if I should ask, but you have an important plan for Kiana, right? Will it hurt her?"
"You can't bear it?"
"Kiana and Theresa helped me a lot in my liberation process, and I am very grateful to them. Moreover, they are all Kallen's juniors, and I vaguely see Kallen's shadow in them."
Yae Sakura whispered sadly and nostalgically, without any words related to requests, but Otto understood that she wanted him to stop.
If any other reason was used, it would not be possible to shake Otto's will.
But only the argument of Kallen's shadow made his pupils shrink and he unconsciously clenched his fists.
"What if I say that I did all this for Kallen?"
"What did you say? What does this mean?"
Yae Sakura glared with her almond eyes and leaned forward unconsciously toward the screen.
Otto looked at the beautiful miko opposite him with an unclear emotion for a long time, and then asked exhaustedly.
"Nothing, we will discuss it later when we have a chance. Anyway, can you please continue your work, Sakura?"
"...Okay, I understand, Mr. Otto."
Yae Sakura seemed to compromise, softened her attitude in Otto's bleak and somewhat fragile reaction, and ended the communication.
It's not the time yet—Otto thought so.
He began to waver—Yae Sakura said to her other self in her heart.
...
"Well, it seems that the progress is good."
Su stood in Jackal's laboratory, responding to Yae Sakura's self-talk and talking about Fu Hua's surgery.
At this moment, Fu Hua was more sincere and frank than ever before.
For example, her skin was almost exposed by 90%, and a lot of bloody muscles and internal organs were beating actively in the sterile laboratory. It seemed that this completely open flesh state did not affect her life and health at all.
By the way, if anyone can have such strange thoughts about Fu Hua in this state, it is recommended for them not to see a doctor, but a more direct humane destruction method is more suitable for them.
"Huh! It's not easy! But finally the overall situation is sorted out, the twisted and stagnant gene structure is reconnected, and the necrotic tissue that is difficult to reverse is also completely erased and regenerated. The next repair depends on her own recovery ability."
"Your craftsmanship may be a little rougher than Otto's."
"If you have the ability, let me study it for three to five hundred years first! I guarantee that the treatment plan is a hundred times stronger than that guy's!"
Jackal narrowed her eyes dangerously, unfriendly and showed her claws, with a cold and eerie light in the bright room.
"Cough!"
The dry cough of Gray Serpent sounded in Jackal's ears at the right time, trying to stop her rudeness.
Jackal rolled her eyes. "I told you to change the parts if you have a problem with your throat! I'm not as stupid as you. I know whether I can beat him or not!"
"Ahem!!!!"
Then Jackal simply crushed the headset, not wanting to listen to the guy's mumbling about respecting pioneers and other nonsense.
"Anyway, I have done my best with the physical problems. Next, it's up to you to show your performance, respected Lord Su!"
"Well, I apologize for my impoliteness just now. I didn't mean to mock you. You have strong technical ability and you would not be an unknown person in the previous era."
"No need to say, I understand! Although I look down on him verbally, Otto is indeed a genius. To be honest, I still have a lot to learn."
"Arrogant self-confidence and pragmatic humility, you are better than I thought. I believe that you will shine your own light in this era."
Outside, Gray Serpent in the monitoring laboratory breathed a sigh of relief.
Finally, there wasn't any big mess. Not only that, Jackal has made the World Serpent proud this time!
...
Su(Angel) walked into Fu Hua's spiritual world.
The lake was as clear as a mirror, without any dust or ripples, reflecting the blue sky and white clouds. In addition to the dreamlike beauty, there was also extreme silence, which seemed to reflect the incredible realm of Fu Hua's hard practice for thousands of years.
"Alas!"
But Su sighed sadly.
Kevin might not be able to see it, but Su(Ange), an expert in the spiritual field, saw through the fragility of this dreamy wonderland.
It was like transparent glass.
Once you pass through it, all you see is fragmentation, and the ubiquitous flow of fire and blood.
"Is this really your state of mind? Or is it just a self-deception that you hypnotize yourself to avoid falling into madness?"
"…Su?"
Su(Angel) saw Fu Hua meditating with her eyes closed on the flat ground surrounded by molten rock.
As Fu Hua opened her eyes and was in doubt, the shattered purgatory returned to the fairyland of mystery.
Su(Angel) did not respond to Fu Hua's question and did not admit it directly.
This was Angel's last stubbornness—although she knew that this was also self-deception. Whether she admitted it or not, it would not affect her use of Su's inheritance.
"The SWARA created the invincible Immortal Phoenix, but it also trapped you in a cage from which you could not escape. In the increasingly narrow predicament of losing her original self, the real Fu Hua almost drowned."
"..."
"But fortunately, the swords that killed you also violently broke this cage. Although it was not thorough, and although the damage was far greater than the gains, you were able to breathe and come to this day. Hua, fate is not always disappointing, is it?"
"Well, you're right. Just like I met Ji Lin and Little Book again, just like I met Angel, and I met you again—fate actually treated me well."
Fu Hua was somewhat satisfied and showed a relaxed smile.
She no longer demanded more; just what she had gained now was enough for her to thank fate for its favor.
Su opened his eyes that were deep as the starry sky and as peaceful as the morning sun, and gave a blessing smile.
"This is a belated gift. I send you the wishes of my companions—I hope you get a new life, I hope you embrace your love, I hope you will be happy forever. This is the common expectation of everyone."
Swish!
Fu Hua was stunned for a moment. She didn't even have time to feel her own mood.
The golden sword passed through the sky, slowly crushing this fragile state of mind, and also crushing the fiery purgatory after the broken state of mind.
"Su, you..."
Fu Hua's words were not finished, and the golden light enveloped her.
She felt that she had lost something that had accompanied her for thousands of years.
In the unprecedented weakness, she completely lost her perception and consciousness.
"You chose to stand by and watch because you saw her liberation. I chose to intervene because I like her and because I need her. But at least this blessing, I did not violate your original wish, Su?"
Su's figure disappeared in the broken heart lake while talking to himself with uncertainty.
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