Chapter 648: Losing Face

Chapter 648: Disgrace

The remnants of Light were always an all-purpose ointment, applied wherever it was needed.

Except in the past, if Karen wanted to use this as an excuse, he would still need to set up the scene, organize his words, and handle the inspections; now, there was no longer any need for that, as it was impossible for someone to investigate themselves out of sheer boredom.

Qianmei spread her wings, and Karen flew to the front of the headquarters building with Canna on his back, descending to land.

The building possessed a defensive formation, which restricted high-altitude flight, and though Karen did have the "key" to control the formation in his hand, as a director he would not deliberately perform how to use the back door right in front of everyone.

The divine robe originally on his body had already shattered, meaning Karen was currently naked, but relying on the ability of the ring in his hand, he "added" a set of clothes for himself.

This could be considered a minor additional function of this ring forged by Mr. Lemar, which Karen rarely used because it was rather useless, but right now it was quite practical; furthermore, no one would dare to proactively use their consciousness to probe their director here, only to discover the fact that the Lord Director was not wearing any clothes.

Little Canna woke up leisurely just after Karen landed, and Karen, sensing her movement, asked, "How are your injuries?"

"It hurts a lot, many of my bones are cracked."

That "hug of death" from Karen had been a physical strangulation entirely reliant on the hardness of the little bone dragon's body; although it failed to directly squeeze the Daishan puppet to death, that single strike had heavily traumatized it, though Little Canna had paid a price as well.

Yet the greatest price still lay in the fact that when Karen defeated the Daishan puppet by means of "detonation," Little Canna had taken the initiative to help Karen absorb most of the damage.

"There is no need to do this next time, you are not a lifeless suit of armor after all, and appropriate damage can be shared with me to bear together; you can calculate for yourself which level is the most suitable."

Canna shook her head: "I don't want to think about that much."

"Heh, alright."

"Karen, did you ever consider that you might not be her match?"

"I did."

"Then you still actively sought her out?"

"Because opportunities are rare, I wanted to seize it; if I missed it this time, I might never catch her trail again."

"She said this isn't your style."

"This really isn't my style, but style is just a habit; at certain specific times, a person will do things that violate or even subvert their own style."

"For example?"

"For example, earlier when we were in the Chief Bishop's office, you disliked our Chief Bishop, yet you didn't strike him."

"Because he didn't want to suppress and enslave me."

"But she wanted to do that to me."

"She has always used honorifics with you."

"You even understand honorifics now? It seems Purr has taught you a lot. She wasn't respecting me; she was treating me as a toy to admire and play with, before clapping her hands and saying: interesting.

I don't like becoming someone else's toy, nor do I like living a life where I am peeped at by a pair of unfamiliar eyes.

Therefore, I needed to give her a warning; I wanted to make her afraid.

Fortunately, she also has things she treasures, so warnings and threats can both have an effect; at least for this period of time, she shouldn't dare to come near me."

"Just for this period of time?"

"Theoretically speaking, I don't have too much time."

"Is it because of Dis?"

"Purr told you?"

"Sister Purr said that Dis shares a surname with me."

"Heh, you should address him as grandfather."

"I don't like terms of address that carry an elder nature."

"But you call Purr 'Sister Purr'."

"Because her name is Sister Purr Allen."

"Then Kevin's name is Brother Kevin?"

"Yes, exactly."

"But you and I are equals, and Dis is my grandfather, so he is also your grandfather."

Canna frowned, thought about it for a moment, and said, "I am only equal with you, it has nothing to do with anyone else."

Karen stopped speaking.

As they walked to the main entrance of the headquarters, Canna spoke up again: "But I like Dis."

"Oh?"

"I like that sentence of his: The God of Order, raised by a whore."

"Can you understand the meaning of this sentence?"

"Sister Purr explained it for a long time before I understood the meaning of 'whore'. I like this sentence that Dis said; Sister Purr said that if I could meet Dis, I would probably be willing to follow him too."

"Oh, is that so."

"That way, I would be equal with Dis, and then you..."

"Cough, I am only equal with you, it has nothing to do with anyone else."

The people inside the building all bowed to Karen upon seeing him, and Karen nodded in acknowledgment all the way into his office, placing Little Canna on a chair while he himself lay down on the bed.

Vick walked in and reported, "Director, the Regional Director sent his secretary over to invite you to his office."

Returning with the team and not going directly to the headquarters building to report to the immediate supervisor was already a form of impoliteness.

But Karen had to continue being impolite; he revoked the ring's effect right in front of Vick.

Vick's eyes instantly widened, for he truly could not imagine where his own director had managed to bring back a whole body of injuries from, considering he had only just returned home.

"Director, should I notify the church hospital to send a treatment team over?"

"Just have Blanche come over."

"Shall I ask the Regional Director to come over?"

"Yes, and call Eisley as well."

Vick went out.

Karen looked at Canna sitting on the chair, who was sitting there very obediently.

"I'll have Eisley take you to the research institute in a short while; it's not too far from here, so go there to treat these injuries, remember to cooperate well with the examinations, and they will set your ration standards there; even if you find it annoying, don't throw a tantrum."

"Will they treat me the way they treat Augi?"

"Theoretically speaking, yes; but endure it for now."

"Endure it for now?"

"Eat well, be raised well, grow fast, and when you grow up, if that Chief ever dares to look at you with the gaze of inspecting goods again, you can beat him up."

"Alright." Canna nodded, and even added specifically, "You are not allowed to stop me."

"I won't stop you."

Eisley ran in first, and the moment she saw Karen's appearance, she immediately let out an exclamation of surprise: "Ah, Director!"

"Take Kanna to your parents' place, and convey my apologies to them. If it weren't for my injuries, I would have paid them a visit with Kanna myself."

"No, no, no, Minister, there's no need to be so polite. With your current status and position, even disregarding past sentiments, my parents would fawn over you regardless."

"Do not repeat such words to your parents."

"Hehe, of course not. But it seems my parents have given up on their plan to transfer me back to the research institute now. They feel that following you offers a brighter future."

"Take Pu'er along with you. Additionally, deploy two squads of the Whip of Order for escort and protection."

Karen felt it would be more prudent to have Pu'er keep an eye on the little bone dragon, because Kanna's temper... was unusually explosive.

"Very well, Minister." Aisley walked over to Kanna and crouched down. Kanna looked at Karen, then climbed onto Aisley's back.

Not long after Aisley had left, Susi entered. He hopped onto the chair Kanna had previously occupied.

"You gave me quite a fright. How did you end up like this?"

"Ran into a bit of trouble, but it's resolved."

Karen did not wish to elaborate, so Susi did not press further.

"I don't have anything major to discuss, I originally just thought to pay my respects as a matter of routine."

"Thank you, Regional Director."

"Oh, there is one more thing. An application was forwarded to me involving a group of Dark Moon warriors, a hundred in total, requesting to be stationed here. This was your doing, I assume? After all, I've heard rumors of your dalliance with that princess highness of the Dark Moon Island."

"It was my intention."

"To be specific, what is the purpose of arranging this contingent to come over?"

"I want a bit more strength to call my own."

Susi froze for a moment, then let out a laugh that was half-amused, half-helpless. "Your honesty genuinely touches me a little. Fine, no problem. As for funding, I'll scrape some out for you from other expenditures. You understand."

"Thank you, Director."

"Don't mention it, I quite like our dynamic. Oh, right, you did an excellent job with your work this time. It sets a precedent for our region. In the future, when such lucrative opportunities arise, they won't belong solely to the Dingle Region anymore.

Nurse your wounds well, keep it up. Whether I can secure a promotion depends on you earning merits for me."

"Please rest assured, Regional Director."

Susi hopped down from the chair. As he was about to leave, he paused and slapped his forehead.

"Oh dear, how could I have forgotten that matter."

Lying on the bed, Karen knew that this "almost forgotten" matter was the true purpose of his visit.

Even the business regarding the Dark Moon warriors earlier was merely to lay the groundwork.

"Regional Director, if there is a task, please command me as you see fit."

"A group of people from the Desert Cult will be coming to our York City Region in the near future to attend a secret meeting. If your injuries..."

"They are of no major consequence."

"Then I shall leave you to organize the security this time. However, there is something I must remind you—this matter is not quite simple."

"Not simple?"

"I'll tell you in confidence." Susi leaned closer to Karen's bedside.

The bed had been designed by Neo, who preferred a elevated mattress. Thus, Karen, lying upon the folded quilts, could converse on an "equal" level with Susi, who was currently standing beside the bed.

"This is a hint passed down to me from above. Don't misunderstand, it wasn't through my personal connections, but an official hint. For this security mission, you need to arrange things with a bit of flexibility."

"Flexibility?"

It was the first time Karen had ever heard of such a requirement for a security detail.

"That's all the hint contains. I will also be keeping a close eye on this security assignment, but you are the one handling the concrete execution, so you and I must maintain mutual communication..."

"Sir, could you speak a bit more plainly?"

"It means that when the time comes, we must also listen to the arrangements from above. But what the higher-ups actually intend seems yet to be fully determined. It's much like your working state when you first arrived at the Crypt Cult—we first do our own duties well, then remain ready at any moment to receive orders from above."

"Is it possible that they want them to meet with an accident?"

"I suspect—this is just my personal suspicion—that the higher-ups have likely uncovered clues regarding the assassination at the former Chief's residence. I'll leave it at that, as long as you and I understand it in our hearts."

"Sir, that is easy for you to say. A flexible security mission, no matter how it is managed, will result in my punishment if anything goes awry, and it could be quite severe."

"I originally didn't have to remind you, leaving you to treat it as a normal security task. But I did remind you, which is where I differ from your previous superior, wouldn't you say?"

"Yes." Karen nodded. "I understand."

"Keep it up." Susi rested one hand on the edge of the bed and patted Karen's shoulder with the other.

After he departed, Karen could not help but fall into deep thought.

Following the fall of the God of the Desert, the God of the Wasteland, who was originally a subordinate deity, ascended to power, and the Desert Cult consequently transformed into the Wasteland Cult. Now, the fundamentalists of the original Desert Cult were carrying out separatist activities, wishing to sever themselves from the Wasteland Cult, and for this purpose, they sought the assistance of Order.

Furthermore, it was known from the Compasini burial ground that the Church of Order had long been preparing in advance to annex the Wasteland Cult. Therefore, supporting the Desert Cult to break away from the Wasteland to weaken the Wasteland's strength was beneficial to Order.

Thinking back now, the assassin who struck the former Chief's household used sand. This was practically delivering a pretext and handing a blade to Order to strike at the Wasteland.

Objectively, it also heightened the possibility of the Desert Cult borrowing the power of Order to break free from the Wasteland. So, if that was the assassin's goal, or rather, if the assassin was orchestrated by these fundamentalists of the Desert Cult...

Having already uncovered the clues, what choice would Order make?

Would they, for the sake of the Church's grand strategic plan, continue to feign ignorance and support the Desert separation of the Wasteland to achieve the ultimate goal of swallowing the Wasteland? Or... revenge?

The consequence of revenge would be that the Desert would suffer a blow from Order, which would then prompt the soon-to-be-fragmented Wasteland to find a new wave of cohesion, ruining the strategic layout Order had planned for so many years.

Thus, he had once again received a white-glove type of mission.

However, one comforting aspect was that Karen felt no inner conflict at all right now, because the higher-ups did not seem to have reached a consensus yet. Only when the decision from above was handed down, and if it turned out not to be the answer he desired, would it be his turn to fret.

"Minister, pfft..."

Blanche entered. When she saw the extensive burn scars on Karen's body, a sudden wave of delight washed over her, and she actually could not help but burst into laughter first.

With such a large area of burns, she could finally toy with the Minister's body to her heart's content!

"It's going to be hard on you again, Blanche."

"No, no, no, it's not hard at all, I am very willing to... oh no, Minister, how did you get hurt like this? It truly breaks my heart."

...

"Greetings, My Lord Bishop."

"Greetings, My Lord Bishop."

Delon, clad in the scarlet robes of a bishop, nodded back in acknowledgement with great restraint. He was not a vain man; even upon becoming the bishop in charge of formation affairs for this region, he had not shown excessive delight.

Nevertheless, when he held his wife's hand and appeared with her in public, accepting the bows of others, the corners of his mouth would still involuntarily curl upward.

Once, she had chosen him, making it always very clear to him that she had married beneath herself, while he had married above his station.

For the sake of their family, his wife had laid down the blade and taken up the ladle.

The sense of owing her had actually always been buried deep within his heart, so he had constantly thought of proving himself before his wife.

He was not as exceptional or as dazzlingly radiant as that person; just like the current Karen, he was truly merely a Richard by Karen's side.

Yet, he still wished through his own efforts to make her proud.

Walking into the hospital corridor, the crowd thinned significantly, prompting Madame Tangli to remind him, "Wipe that off, your smile is wide enough to hang laundry on."

"Haha..." Delong let out a hearty laugh.

"Our family's Lord Bishop is truly walking on air now," Madame Tangli couldn't help but tease.

"Mm, of course," Delong gently patted the back of his wife's hand, "my Lady Bishop."

"Hehehe." Madame Tangli also couldn't help but laugh and shake her head, still remembering the day of his official appointment as bishop, when the old man had carried his vestments specifically to her, saying: In the future when you wash clothes, they won't be entirely black anymore!

He always remembered every single word she had ever said, even the complaints.

Arriving at the entrance of the ward, Philomena lay there all alone inside.

Delong grumbled with dissatisfaction, "Where is that brat Richard?"

The poor girl is hospitalized with severe injuries, and you're not by her side tending to her, where have you run off to?

Do you really think there are many times when people actually need you!

Madame Tangli said, "Probably working in the administrative building, quite a few people around Karen were injured this time, they are short on hands."

"He's just running errands anyway, nothing important."

"You're still his grandfather, is that any way to talk about your own grandson?"

Delong froze for a moment, wasn't I just following your tone from lately to disparage Richard?

The old master certainly didn't realize that while Richard was indeed nothing compared to their grandson Karen, when compared to outsiders, Richard was still Madame Tangli's precious, beloved grandson.

"Go, talk to the director yourself, use your privilege and authority to move the Felsher girl to a special premium ward."

"Alright, I'll go right now."

Delong turned around to chat with the director, not considering this an abuse of power for personal gain, because his family was inherently entitled to this level of privilege.

Madame Tangli walked into the ward instead, coming to Philomena's bedside, and under Philomena's watchful gaze, she directly pulled open the girl's hospital gown, fully exposing the wound on her chest.

With one look at the injury, Madame Tangli could deduce many things, letting out a sigh as she sneered:

"Useless."

Philomena didn't get angry, but instead took the initiative to say, "Yes, I am."

"This was someone directly flipping you over, was it during an assassination?"

"Yes, exactly."

"Humph, when you're outside in the future, don't tell anyone you used to take walks with me."

"Is that something to brag about?"

"Heh." Madame Tangli sat down by the bed, "Did the opponent deliberately spare your life?"

"Mm."

"Was the gap in your strength levels immense?"

If she had actively initiated a challenge against an existence far stronger than herself, being overthrown and then spared might be considered normal.

Philomena shook her head and answered, "Barely considered the same level."

Because Morindi was already severely injured at that time, the undead creature she summoned, measured purely by power level, did not have a generational gap with her; the opponent completed the "slaughter" of her by relying on an all-around crushing advantage in methods, abilities, and experience.

"All face has been completely lost, sigh, I even feel embarrassed for you, who was it?"

"The High Priest."

Madame Tangli: "..."