MEI Company, a biology laboratory.
Cocolia sat in a wheelchair, her entire body wrapped in bandages, looking like a freshly unearthed mummy.
But at this moment she paid no attention to her own injuries, and instead looked with anguish at the hospital bed ahead.
Bronya lay on the bed, her body connected to numerous tubes, looking utterly wretched.
At this moment, Lucius, transformed into Ryoma, walked in, his expression equally grave.
"Ms. Cocolia, there is one good piece of news and one bad piece of news."
"The good news is that she hasn't died yet. The bad news is..." Lucius paused, as if expressing his own shock. "Part of her brain has been burned. The fact that she's held on until now is truly a miracle."
After seeing the brain scan images of Bronya that Lucius displayed, Cocolia broke into sobs.
"Bronya... my Bronya... this child ended up like this precisely to protect me."
But the sobbing Cocolia didn't notice that Bronya, whom she believed was hovering between life and death, had opened her eyes during her breakdown. She had even lifted her head to look at the scan projected before her, seemingly curious about what her own brain looked like now.
Seeing that Cocolia was about to turn her head, Lucius stepped between them and casually pressed Bronya's little head back down.
So when Cocolia looked over, she only saw Lucius gently resting his hand on Bronya's forehead with an expression full of pity.
"Poor child. Getting her back on her feet is unlikely to be an easy matter."
"Indeed... it certainly won't be easy..."
Cocolia echoed, and then she stopped.
She realized the implication behind Ryoma's words, and immediately became agitated. Looking at Lucius with a trembling voice she asked:
"Ryoma, Bronya... can she still be saved?"
Lucius looked at her and said with puzzlement: "When did I ever say she couldn't be saved?"
Cocolia froze. She thought back and realized that Ryoma really hadn't said that...
But that wasn't important anymore. Cocolia grabbed Lucius's hand, her face extremely urgent.
"I beg you, Ryoma. You must save Bronya."
Regarding Cocolia's request, Lucius sighed, his face showing conflict and worry.
"I'm acquainted with Professor Mobius, the greatest biologist of this century. With her involvement, bringing Bronya back from death wouldn't be difficult."
"However... this girl's identity is problematic."
"Ms. Cocolia, you know she's a biological weapon created by Poison Pupa and possibly Fire Moth. Once we save her, we'll likely come into direct conflict with Fire Moth."
Lucius looked intently at Cocolia and asked seriously: "Have you truly prepared yourself to stand against Poison Pupa and even Fire Moth?"
Cocolia's eyes widened, but quickly she laughed at herself.
"If it were the me from before, perhaps I would have abandoned her..."
"But... you're right. The bottom line is something that cannot be shaken. If I retreat this time, the me of the future would probably truly become a monster who stops at nothing for power, wouldn't I?"
Saying this, Cocolia looked at Lucius with utmost solemnity and pleaded: "Please, save Bronya. I am willing to bear all consequences."
Cocolia knew this matter was also an enormous trouble for 'Ryoma.' Getting on the wrong side of Poison Pupa and even Fire Moth for the sake of a replaceable ally like herself would bring him no benefit whatsoever.
In other words, cutting ties with her right now would actually be the best course of action for him.
But she now had no other choice. The only person who could save Bronya was the one before her.
"Ryoma, please save Bronya. I can pay any price."
Cocolia naturally knew the name of Mobius, the greatest biologist of this century, and equally knew what an enormous favor it would cost to ask such a great scientist to save someone.
She had already prepared herself for 'Ryoma' to make exorbitant demands. But 'Ryoma's' answer was:
"That won't be necessary."
"What?"
"I can save her. You don't need to pay any price."
Cocolia was confused. This was completely different from the exchange of interests she was familiar with.
"This... why?"
To this, Lucius responded with righteous dignity: "Because I too am a father. I know what losing a child means to a father and mother. If I turned a blind eye to a mother hoping her child would live, Mei would surely come to dislike me!"
Cocolia stared blankly at Ryoma, and suddenly felt as if golden light was shining from him, as if the entire person was so sacred.
She seemed to see her former self—that incredibly pure version of herself.
But after entering politics, she had already become a political creature who measured gains and losses by interests. Without even realizing it, even the children she cherished most were about to be placed beneath her interests.
To think I have fallen this low... shame arose in her heart unbidden.
"I only ask one thing." Lucius looked at Cocolia seriously. "Have you prepared yourself to carry the weight of her life?"
"Her future will inevitably be accompanied by death and struggle. Poison Pupa and Fire Moth won't allow their property to roam free. Do you have the courage to bear that kind of future together with her?"
Cocolia fell silent, her expression gradually becoming incomparably earnest and grave.
"I was prepared from the moment I left the Siberian orphanage."
"Whether it's her, or any other child who entrusts their future to me—their future, their lives, I will carry them."
Lucius seemed moved by Cocolia's resolve. He nodded heavily and said: "In that case, I promise you. I will contact Dr. Mobius next. This child will be alright."
Cocolia was deeply moved, saying with a choked voice: "Thank you... thank you so much, Ryoma. You truly are a noble person."
In response, Lucius kept his face tightly composed.
Cocolia assumed Lucius was troubled over the enormous favor he was about to owe Mobius, and felt even more guilty.
But Lucius kept his face composed only to prevent himself from accidentally laughing. Only he knew how difficult it was right now to suppress the smile pulling at the corners of his mouth.
Hehe... can't laugh... absolutely cannot laugh.
If he laughed now, this entire long arrangement would be ruined.
In the end, he returned a perfect smile.
However, since this Cocolia had demonstrated through her actions that she was not the newborn from fifty thousand years later, the next stage of the plan didn't need to be quite so extreme.
So he said to Cocolia, who was shedding tears of joy beside him: "Ms. Cocolia, now that we're grasshoppers on the same rope, there are some things we can talk about."
Cocolia looked up in confusion and found Lucius's expression had become incomparably serious. This atmosphere infected her too, making her heart tighten.
She listened to the 'Ryoma' before her say:
"Ms. Cocolia, now I can reveal my true identity to you."
"The so-called MEI Company president Ryoma is only a surface identity. My true identity is that of a member of a secret organization called Anti-Entropy."
Lucius extended his hand, a confident smile at the corner of his lips.
"Allow me to reintroduce myself. I am Raiden Ryoma, executive of Anti-Entropy."
"Now, Ms. Cocolia, I extend an invitation to you. Join us, and together with us, reshape this world."
"And Anti-Entropy will give you what you desire."
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