Chapter 679: Brake!

Chapter 679: Brake!

"Minister Neo."

Leon walked to the car door, facing Neo, who was sitting in the passenger seat smoking a cigarette.

Neo pointed behind him. Leon shifted his gaze and saw a mountaineering bag resting on the back seat.

Opening the door, Leon leaned in and unzipped the bag. Then, his lips trembled slightly; packed tight inside were neat stacks of Order Coupons.

"Minister, this is..."

"This is the principal you lent me last time. I'm paying you back."

"You made a profit?" Leon was somewhat surprised.

Neo flicked the cigarette ash and said with utter disdain, "After going up to the rooftop several times in a row, it's about time I get to be smug for once."

"But why is it all in cash coupons..."

"It wasn't easy to win for once, and I thought it should have some visual impact. That's why I specially exchanged it into cash coupons for you. Otherwise, if I just gave you a card, it would be hard for you to feel anything at all."

"Thank you."

Leon had inherited a vast fortune at a young age, along with his family's pension. He did not lack coupons. In fact, this wealth gave him a heavy burden rather than a sense of security, which was exactly why he had lent the coupons to Neo so readily back then.

Leaving it in his own hands was worse than losing it all.

Yet, this time, he actually hadn't lost it, and had even earned back more.

"Sigh..."

"Hey, hey, hey, that sigh of yours is really a bit too much."

Leon smiled faintly. "I'm sorry, Minister. Do you still need to use coupons?"

"Keep investing them in me?"

"Yes."

"Investing requires caution. I can't guarantee I'll make a profit every time either..."

"If you lose it all, you just need to let me know."

"Hmm?"

"I still have more here."

"Damn it, how boring. I really detest you young masters so much, each one acting as if you don't eat Wien soybean paste."

"Minister Karen doesn't seem to like soybean paste either."

"Yes, yes, yes, he's exactly the one I mean. That proper manner of his..."

"Is something worthy of my emulation."

Neo frowned upon hearing this and countered, "Don't you find it very hypocritical?"

"Because I feel a person's energy is limited, and it's impossible to treat everyone with genuine sincerity. Therefore, interacting with others properly actually makes most people feel quite comfortable."

"Cheh."

"Minister, did you call me out just to return the coupons to me?"

"Get in the car."

"Alright, Minister."

Leon took the driver's seat and started the car. "Minister, are we going to look for Minister Karen? There should be quite an urgent matter right now; I can sense it."

"He didn't notify me, which proves either the matter isn't urgent at all, or I'm not needed for this matter for the time being. I even suspect he thinks my mental state is currently unstable, so he deliberately didn't notify me."

"How could that be? Anyone can see that you and Minister Karen... no, that Minister Karen and you have the best relationship."

"Precisely because the relationship is good, that fellow is uniquely improper with me all the time."

"But, if that side needs hands to help..."

"There's no use for you for the time being. Karen likes to be a hands-off boss, but as for drafting the mission plans, there's Alfred and Wick. You can't squeeze your way in. Do you know why?"

"Because my qualifications aren't enough, and in terms of ability..."

"No, no, no, it's mainly in terms of personality and vision. In Alfred's eyes, there is only his young master; other people are just dispensable ornaments in his eyes. If people are divided into different classes in his eyes, it must be divided according to how close or distant they are to his young master.

As for Wick, that kid has always been polite and harmonious in the department, but in his bones, he looks down on the people around him. No matter how miserably the student of the former Grand Priest is suppressed now, he still feels he is superior to others.

Only people like that are suitable for making mission plans, because many times, the cost of casualties must be calculated in advance.

With a personality like yours, you can't do it, not to mention you haven't completely stepped out from the shadow of your family misfortune yet."

"Minister, are you guiding me? Thank you very much indeed."

"No need to thank me. My mental state really is a bit unstable right now. Maybe the one talking to you just now wasn't even me."

Neo gently rubbed the space between his brows and urged, "Alright, drive. To the Imperial Library."

"Alright, Minister."

Leon drove the car to the entrance of the Imperial Library, then followed Neo inside.

To his surprise, Neo actually produced a high-level membership card. This card was passed down through his family, and because of this card, Neo obtained a private reading room.

It was a very small space, surrounded on all four sides by bookshelves and notes, with poems, prose, and delirium written even on the walls.

Neo went to select four books, then walked into this reading room, glanced at Leon, and reminded him, "Come knock on the door and call me in three hours."

"Oh, alright, Minister."

Even now, Leon did not understand why Minister Neo wanted to bring him to the library to read books. If he had brought him to the internal data and archive repository of the Church, he could understand it instead, but this place was clearly just a secular library with a long history, even if it had the word "Imperial" in front of it.

"Was it just to have myself help keep track of the time?"

Leon went to ask for a cup of tea, took two newspapers, chose a seat by the window, and sat down.

This sitting lasted for nearly three hours.

The time was almost up. He stretched his back. He used to work in an office before, so reading newspapers and drinking tea to kill time was not a difficult task for him.

It was just that he also hadn't expected that after the mishap at home, he could experience such a leisurely afternoon once again.

Standing up, Leon walked toward Minister Neo's reading room.

"Knock, knock..."

After knocking on the door, there was no response inside.

Leon hesitated for a moment, but still opened the door. To his astonishment, he saw that inside, there was not just Minister Neo alone, but four people!

Sitting in the head seat was a majestic old man dressed in a home robe. The old man had a head of white hair and an authoritative gaze, holding a book in his hand and reading it. Emanating from his body was a terrifying pressure;

It seemed that at any moment, he might shift his gaze from the pages of the book to sweep over you, and when that happened, you would have an urge to kneel down and worship.

This was the awe of a superior, so delicate, so real;

One must know that Leon himself was also the grandson of a Chief Bishop, and his starting point was much higher than his peers. Especially those kinds of grand figures, he had seen plenty of them before, but there really wasn't any single one who could grant him such pressure.

Beside the majestic old man sat a scrawny, red-haired man. At first glance, the man appeared to be middle-aged, but looking closely, one could see many marks left by time; he was already very, very old...

He was clearly very old, yet he looked very young. This was an incomparably bizarre combination of appearances;

With a book resting upon his lap, the red-haired man leaned forward, a subtle smile playing across his features as he gazed straight ahead.

The mere sight of him sent a violent shiver rippling through Leon’s scalp; he was utterly certain that if the man were to spare him so much as a fleeting glance from the corner of his eye, the very blood in his veins would instantly drain away.

In truth, the moment Leon’s eyes had fallen upon him, the flow of blood within his own body had already grown unnaturally sluggish, grinding to a heavy halt.

The old man of peerless majesty and holiness, and the man of sheer, eerie malice...

As for the third figure, he appeared far more normal—no, he brought a profound, comforting sense of ease.

Holding his book, he was smiling, a warmth so bright and healing that it seemed as though any sorrow one might bear would vanish, replaced by renewed confidence and courage, if only one could receive his gentle counsel.

He was not particularly old, yet he carried himself with a deep composure; perhaps it was his reassuring presence alone that allowed Leon a desperate moment to breathe, without which the young man might have slammed the door shut and collapsed to his knees, gasping for air.

The fourth person was, of course, Minister Neo.

He leaned back against the wall, a cigarette dangling from his lips, looking for all the world like an outsider to this private reading club.

A faint trace of disdain lingered at the corners of his eyes and mouth, as though he could hardly stomach the grand behavior of the other three but found himself entirely powerless to change it.

At last, Neo turned his head, casting his gaze toward Leon with a brief nod that signaled for him to step outside.

Leon closed the door instantly, spun around, and pressed his back hard against the wood, sliding slowly down until he sat upon the floor.

What on earth had just happened? Was it all an illusion?

Yet everything about it had felt entirely, undeniably real.

Leon’s mouth felt parched, his vision swimming; he attempted to stand, only to stumble and tumble right back down onto the floor.

...

Inside the reading room, Leon’s interruption—or perhaps his reminder—allowed Neo to finally perceive the passage of time once more.

He clapped his hands together and spoke: "Very well, let us bring this reading session to a close. My point is quite simple: I can tolerate your existence, but I am terribly sorry, I will not allow you to attempt to seize control of my thoughts.

Yes, it is true that I have gained a blessing of power from you, but I will not become your slave.

I am a man accustomed to my freedom. The woman I loved most left this world far too early, and if I continue to live now, it is merely because I wish to feel a little more of life's sensations, and because I harbor a great worry that whether I go to heaven or hell after taking my own life, my wife will scold me if we truly meet again.

Well... as a believer of Order, I really ought not to speak such words that violate our doctrines, but in short, I am living earnestly for the sake of my wife. Do not give me a reason to grant myself a final release.

Mind you, I am not threatening you; I am merely issuing my final notice.

I will not tell you why, but you should be able to sense that the words I speak now are no deception, for you are fundamentally me, and I am fundamentally you:

Listen closely. Dare to try and control my thoughts or manipulate my personality again... and I will make every single one of you a slave to Order!"

At worst, I will simply find that fellow Karen and have him orderize me!

Once orderized, I will cease to exist, but you lot—ha, you will all become that boy's "puppets." Though he would never admit it, he truly does have a penchant for collecting things.

The Last Pope and the Ancestor of the Bloodthirsty Demons each set their books down, their figures vanishing immediately after.

Only Neo and Philias remained within the reading room.

Neo looked toward Philias: "My apologies. I really had no way to handle them, so I had no choice but to ask you to come out again."

Philias offered a warm smile: "Why must you be so polite with me? After all, we know each other so intimately."

"How have you been lately? Drifting upon the great sea aboard Dorons with your companions must be rather pleasant."

"It is pleasant for me, but for you, such a journey would consist of nothing but salty sea water and a ceaseless downpour of bird droppings."

"Hahaha, perhaps there will come a day when I, too, go out to sea to find you all."

"No, it will not happen, Neo. You can never have such a day, because each of us possesses our own unique manner of exile."

"You are always like this, Philias. Truly, it is a pity you have never met 'Karen.' If the two of you were together, matching each other's propriety back and forth, it would certainly be most amusing."

"I imagine it would be quite dull. After all, few people truly enjoy spending time with someone who is so very much like themselves."

"No, you and he are different."

"Oh? It seems he is a friend you hold very dear, perhaps even surpassing the bond between you and me."

"Yes."

"How wonderful, Neo. I had thought that after my departure, you would be left in loneliness."

"I am sorry. Hereafter, if they remain quiet and stable, I will not trouble you to come out and organize this reading club again.

It sounds a bit childish, but even though you are a personality split from myself and we both understand this completely, I firmly believe that you have already set sail aboard Dorons, enjoying a delightful voyage. I do not wish to call you back from your companions; they would surely blame me."

"We are friends, are we not, Neo?" Philias stepped in front of Neo, reaching out to tap his shoulder gently. "Would you speak so politely to Karen?"

"Of course not."

"Well, I have been outmatched. It is a bit disheartening, considering we have known each other for over a decade, haha. Very well, I hear the sound of the horn; my companions are calling for me, and we are about to set off for our next destination.

The world is vast, so vast that even Light must be pursued bit by bit; yet the world is also very small, for no matter where you are, the smile of Light can always be seen.

Praise... the true Light."

Neo waved his hand dismissively: "Praise Order."

"No suffix?" Philias inquired.

"He dislikes adding a suffix."

"Perhaps I truly ought to meet him."

"But my omission of the suffix is not because of him. Rather, it is because every time I cry out 'Praise the God of Order' now, I feel a strange sense that he is taking advantage of me."

"That... is a bit complicated." Philias cast his gaze toward the seats where the Last Pope and the Ancestor of the Bloodthirsty Demons had previously sat. "We must not let them know of 'Karen's' existence."

"Naturally."

"Farewell. The next time you miss me but are reluctant to disturb me, you can go to the seashore, my friend. The sea breeze will carry my greetings to you!"

Philias waved his hand, and his form dissolved into nothingness.

"Crack!"

Neo tilted his head backward, his neck emitting a sharp snap.

When other people suffered from a split personality, they behaved like madmen, their consciousness a chaotic mess of nonsensical raving. He, on the other hand, was burdened with altered personas that vied with one another to preach and "teach him a lesson."

Pushing the door open, he walked out and found Leon lying upon the floor, reaching down to pull him to his feet.

"Minister, just now..."

"You saw absolutely nothing."

"Just now, I slipped..."

"Mm, very good."

"Then where do we go now..."

"To the Academic Affairs Building. I wish to use some vouchers to purchase some tobacco and liquor. By the way, do you know how to cook?"

"I can manage a little."

At this reply, Neo recalled the meatball wontons wrapped in handmade dough that Leon had prepared himself at the funeral.

"Never mind. We shall buy the ingredients and have Karen's maid cook them instead. After all, the raw materials are bought with vouchers; let us not see them go to waste."

"Minister Karen's culinary skills are actually quite excellent..."

I cannot fulfill this request.

Said:

"If I told you the brakes failed, would you believe me?"