Chapter 682: Qianmei's Freedom!

Chapter 682: Freedom for Thousand Charms!

"You are just letting her leave like that?"

Neo watched Miliven’s departing figure as he took a wet towel from Richard to wipe his hands, the blood and wounds on his palms healing as he wiped.

Karen asked back, "Should I kill her then?"

Neo tossed the towel aside and countered, "Why shouldn't you?"

"Because killing her yields no sufficient benefit."

Neo nodded. "That argument convinces me."

Karen looked at Neo and asked, "Your murderous intent has been quite heavy lately."

"Heh, are you laying the groundwork because you're afraid I’ll ask why you didn't tell me about this sooner?"

"No."

"I saw through your hypocrisy long ago; stop pretending." Neo pulled out two cigarettes, handed one to Karen, and lit his own first. "You habitually maintain politeness with everyone. Honestly, she wasn't as punchable as you."

"If you can't handle it, remember to tell me in time."

"Now you need me to give you timely updates? But how have you treated me?"

"If I ever faced a risk to my life or of losing myself, I would definitely tell you first without the slightest hesitation."

Neo blinked, seemingly choked up by Karen's words. After a long pause, he said, "Saying that is truly shameless."

"I believe in your ability, Neo. No matter the time, you have never let me down."

"Hey, that’s what a superior says to a subordinate."

"I have always watched your back to learn. So, I don't want you to suddenly collapse mysteriously one day."

"Whew, that sounds much better."

"So, watch out for yourself."

"Don't worry, I've already warned them." Neo poked his own forehead with a finger. "If we really have to completely tear off the masks, I’ll just ask you to Orderize me, heh heh."

As Neo spoke, he couldn't help but laugh first. "At least with me, we can hold a democratic seminar. With you, I’d be completely reduced to your marionette."

"By the way, do you think this matter should be reported to the Chief and the District Director?"

"I don't think it's necessary. It's true you have a good relationship with the Chief and the current Director, but some things are bound to an individual."

Karen nodded at his words.

Neo then asked, "To what extent has that six-winged angel revived?"

"That six-winged angel is already dead. He tried to occupy my body and was suppressed and killed by me."

"Another idiot who wanted to occupy your body?" Neo reached out and squeezed Karen’s shoulder. When he tried to smoothly squeeze his face as well, Karen dodged.

"That's not right. There's no way they wouldn't discover the angel is dead."

"I was afraid of alerting them ahead of time, so I let Thousand Charms occupy the angel's body first. Thousand Charms devoured the remnant soul of the angel."

"You let that thing live inside it? It’s highly likely to betray you."

"Can you have a little confidence in it?"

"What?"

"It's not likely; it's a certainty."

"Haha, right, I had Leon go buy groceries. I'm craving something good. Why don't we start a fire right here?"

"We are very busy now. Netting the prey is imminent, and preparation work has already begun."

"Your valet and his people are busy. Your work is already done, isn't it?"

Karen fell silent.

"Or you can just say it directly: now that you are so noble, you are no longer willing to cook a meal for your schizophrenic former superior and older brother. Think about it, if one day I am truly about to lose myself and I'm lying on the ground with you crouching beside me, you have to let me find some sentimental words to say, like:

I really want to eat another meal cooked by you.

Without those sentimental words, we’d just be looking at each other. How awkward."

"Fine, I'll cook."

"That's more like it. Do we need to invite guests? I can guess that a young master like Leon will definitely buy a massive amount of groceries. It would be a waste not to invite a few more people."

"I will invite them."

"Great." Neo pointed his finger at Richard. "Come, handsome lad, accompany me to the black market. It’s still early before dinner. Let's go keep an eye out and see if the advance payment promised by our Lord Son of God arrives on time."

"Oh, okay." Richard followed Neo out, asking with some excitement, "Can I drive?"

"Drive."

"Yes!"

After getting into the car, Neo said to Richard, "Come, brief me on the mission. I assume there are no confidentiality restrictions against me?"

"Yes, Minister."

Richard recounted everything he had told Karen earlier to Neo.

After listening, Neo looked at Richard with some surprise.

Richard asked in confusion, "What is it, Minister?"

"Your logic is very clear. I hadn't realized before that your ability to process information was this strong. No wonder Karen's valet left interpersonal affairs for you to handle."

"Because now, every time I need to use my brain, I call Little Jerry to my head. I feel this makes my thinking more flexible. At first, I just tried mental math, and then I tried combining it with the Key of the Rubik's Cube. I found the amplification on formation deployment is also very obvious, equivalent to having two Keys of the Rubik's Cube assisting me."

Hearing this, Neo frowned slightly. He began to retrieve memories of the bugs left behind by Philias, and then he discovered with some astonishment that the hypothesis Philias had once made regarding these bugs was actually realized here with Richard.

Philias’s earliest purpose in breeding these bugs was to develop a specialized high-end industry for Dark Moon Island, similar to the Pamires Cult, of course not limited merely to enhancing body recovery capabilities;

However, because of Bernard's betrayal, the Night of Blood on Dark Moon Island transformed those bugs into a curse upon the Dark Moon clan, effectively interrupting the breeding research.

Was it because of the Alter family lineage?

In the last era, marriages within the high society of the church circles often required two cups of fresh Alter family blood to be drunk together as a nuptial toast, but in reality, this kind of bond could radiate to other areas.

Neo spoke, "You can experiment more. I believe its capabilities are not just limited to these. There are too many aspects that can be further developed."

"Are there still other aspects to develop? Could you give me a direction, like what?"

"For example, the next time you go to the pastry shop, you can have your Little Jerry go to your crotch. That way, after your first one goes soft, the second one can keep working.

Oh, heavens, how many men dream of having a capability like yours."

Richard: "..."

"However, there is one thing I can remind you of. This matter is very important."

While driving, Richard asked with some reluctance, "Is it about mating again?"

"Ah, yes, yes, yes."

"Um, Minister, I feel like this kind of topic isn't suitable to chat about like this. I understand your good intentions, but I think for this kind of thing, I should personally..."

"Actually, your Little Jerry is still in its growth phase."

"Huh?" Richard instantly became serious, sensing that the Minister was not joking this time.

"It wasn't a fully formed entity to begin with, but your integration has allowed both it and you to possess greater possibilities. However, I believe its greatest value at present—no, in the future—still lies in reproduction."

"Reproduction?"

Richard's face turned completely pale.

"Yes, reproduction."

With a mournful face, Richard said, "Reproduction? To go out and sell coupons?"

Like a prize breeding boar constantly mating?

"Not that kind of reproduction, but rather a clone-style reproduction. Think about it: if your Little Jerry could produce many clones within a short period and attach them to your teammates one by one, giving them the same enhancement as you... what kind of scene would that be?

Everyone could communicate using their own temporary 'Little Jerry,' and you would replace Alfred's job;

Everyone could heal using their own temporary 'Little Jerry,' and you would replace Blanche's job;

It could even form shields, buffs, mist dispersal, and a whole series of effects. Combined with your own abilities as a formation master, your role in the team would simply be incomparably powerful!"

Richard's eyes grew bloodshot as he listened.

"Can it really be like that, Minister Neo?"

"Of course."

"What exactly should I do?"

"Every time your father beats you, isn't the Little Jerry inside your body actually helping you bear the damage?"

"Yes, exactly, but I think my father has already figured out Little Jerry's damage-bearing limits, and he can even estimate Little Jerry's progress every time."

"Next time, intentionally make your father angry. Let him beat you in an even harsher way, such as breaking your legs, breaking Little Jerry along with them, just like a gecko shedding its tail. After breaking it a few times, maybe the cloning ability will awaken."

"Um... Minister Neo... are you sure you're not joking?"

"Let me ask you, from the beginning until now, what has every development of Little Jerry's abilities relied upon?"

"It was my... father."

"Exactly. Since there is already a most concise and efficient method, there's no need to think about anything else. Keep heading in this direction, step hard on the accelerator, and as long as the car doesn't flip, you'll eventually reach the destination!

Let that great fatherly love come more fiercely, hohoho... hahaha!"

...

"Um, Minister, Minister Neo asked me to buy groceries and bring them here, I..."

Leon stood in the backyard holding two large bags of groceries, looking at Karen who was standing at the kitchen door.

"Mhm, put the things down and help me. What you bought is a bit too much."

"Um... Minister, I still have a whole carload of them that I haven't brought down yet."

"Then that can't be reimbursed."

"No problem, I really want to treat everyone to a good meal."

Karen began processing the ingredients, using his usual cooking methods, with the only things needing attention being the heat control and seasoning adjustments for the special ingredients.

Cooking was time-consuming, but the process was also quite enjoyable, and time passed imperceptibly.

Halfway through, Leon ran over and said, "Minister, seven or eight men in overcoats have arrived out front."

Karen nodded and continued with the work in his hands.

At this moment, Byrne walked into the yard, followed by Vic.

"Being summoned by you once a day, Karen, are you the chief or am I the chief?"

Byrne expressed his dissatisfaction in a bantering way. Yesterday it was at the Dark Inquisitorial Court, today it was at the former Pavarotti Inquisitorial Court; he seemed to have become a subordinate specifically reporting to Karen.

However, all dissatisfaction vanished instantly after Byrne pinched a meatball with his hand, popped it into his mouth, and chewed.

"Not bad, you are the chief culinary master, and I am willing to show up for a meal."

Karen scooped up a few more freshly fried meatballs, then ladled a bowl of fish paste soup made from some unknown tender deep-sea monster meat, and handed it to Byrne.

"The main meal will take a while, use this to line your stomach first."

"Alright."

Byrne sat down on the steps in front of the kitchen holding the meatballs and the soup bowl. Soon, eight men in overcoats stood in a row before him and knelt on one knee.

No one spoke; everyone waited quietly for Byrne to eat.

This atmosphere felt a bit like military training.

The facts were indeed so. Karen could observe that those men were definitely soldiers. Current members of the Knights Templar certainly couldn't run here, so they had to be from the garrison.

Byrne finished the soup, and Alfred reached out to take the empty bowl, asking, "Shall I fetch you another bowl?"

"Alright."

"What about meatballs, would you like some more?"

"No more meatballs, I need to save room for the main course."

Alfred went inside and ladled another bowl, handing it to Byrne.

Byrne didn't rush to drink this time, but blew on it, and asked the people kneeling before him, "Do you all still remember who I am?"

No one spoke.

"Alright, go back. Starting tonight, the garrison will enter the city secretly in batches."

The eight people immediately stood up, lined up, and left.

Alfred asked in a low voice, "It seems they are still obedient."

Byrne glanced back at Karen, who was still busy in the kitchen, then looked at Alfred and said to him, "The line of work I used to be in actually requires a much higher level of organization and trust than any other system."

"You are quite right."

"In fact, earlier on, when I knew the command of the garrison was going to be stripped away... no, to be precise, even earlier, I had already made arrangements. The portion of people in the garrison who were suppressed and marginalized by me were actually my most loyal subordinates.

When I was stripped of the garrison command because of that incident, the original regular and deputy battalion commanders were all transferred away, and those who had been suppressed by me before were promoted instead, hehe."

"Your considerations are truly far-reaching."

"This is inevitable. Sometimes if you want to get things done, you must have some means. Without means and ability, things cannot be accomplished. After all, I am not like those professors in the church university who only know how to debate scriptures.

In this life, I can never be open and upright, never. Of course, you can also view this as my desire for power."

"Of course I wouldn't think that way, I believe you are doing the right thing."

"Is that so? Then you should also suggest to your superior that in the most extreme scenario, even if your superior is suspended, that Whip of Order headquarters building will still listen to your superior rather than the regional director."

"Hey, hey, hey! That's going too far, going too far!"

Suss came bounding and leaping inside, followed by Vic.

"Byrne, you are really a piece of work. I just walked in and heard you badmouthing me!"

"I only said that because I heard your footsteps. There are some things that if Karen is unwilling to speak openly, I will speak for him. Anyway, if this matter can be resolved perfectly this time, you will be highly promoted, so there's no need to pave the way for the next term. It's better to do a favor and help hollow out the next incumbent."

"Whatever Karen wants to do, I agree to it. As long as we can capture that angel, I wouldn't mind giving him the chair from my regional director's office. It's just a pity that Karen is hanging out with a shameless fellow like you at such a young age, making it very difficult for him to get promoted now."

"As for what comes after, who can tell? How are the preparations coming along on your end?"

"All is well. No matter how many little cats are hidden away in that manor, I guarantee not a single one will slip through our fingers."

Just then, Neo and Richard returned from outside. Judging by the smile gracing the corners of Neo's eyes, it was clear that the young God-son's advance payment had arrived precisely on time.

What made it even more delightful was that this was essentially a windfall for nothing, because they would have carried out this task regardless of whether that God-son provided any "tea money" or not.

One could only say that the esteemed God-son truly resembled an innocent child in a kindergarten, dreadfully easy to deceive.

In the kitchen, Karen took off his apron and announced, "Dinner is served."

Then, after a brief hesitation, he picked up a spoon anyway and tapped it against the basin.

"Clang! Clang! Clang!"

...

"Thud! Thud! Thud!"

The muffled thunder of horse hooves echoed through the streets of York City, though barrier mages had set up boundaries along their route, ensuring neither sound nor image could leak out. Having secretly entered the city, these garrison troops would remain at their assembly points, waiting for the order to be handed down.

In the sky above, flock after flock of falcon knights were flying in, their traces likewise erased by barrier mages; looking up from the ground, they appeared more like a flock of migratory birds in flight.

Everything, down to the last detail, was proceeding in an impeccable, orderly fashion.

At the Whip of Order, numerous squads had received new assignments. The tasks were varied and distinct from one another, showing no abnormalities other than being slightly more concentrated than usual. Yet, dozens of Whip of Order squads, along with dozens more seconded under various pretexts from surrounding cities, had already entered their respective staging areas.

It could be said that this marked the largest collective mobilization since the resurgence of the Whip of Order in this region, yet it had been executed with absolute secrecy and deception.

They were all preparing according to the requirements of their individual missions. This was also the first time Alfred and Wick had planned an operation of such staggering scale, serving as a flawless manifestation of their organizational talent.

...

Accompanied by an elderly man, Miriven walked toward the subterranean depths of the manor. The old man was the director of this transport operation: Kanlei Missen.

Along the way, Miriven noticed a group of people hauling a succession of crates. Curiously, she asked, "What is inside?"

"Ah, please take a look, my lady." Kanlei opened two crates in succession. One was packed with robes of Order, while the other contained suits of armor. "These are all counterfeits of the vestments of Order and garrison armor. We have opened up a smuggling pipeline between the two churches, and when the time comes, a temporary teleportation channel will be established for us. We must dress like this to ensure the relevant officials of Order turn a blind eye."

"When does it begin?"

"Tomorrow night."

"So soon?"

"My lady, it is not that we desire haste, but rather the angel... he simply cannot wait any longer."

"The angel?"

"Yes, my lady. You may step forward and observe for yourself, though you must be somewhat mindful of the negative influence of the copper coins."

A layer of blue membrane manifested over Miriven's body, blocking out the radiance of the Lacus copper coins as she drew near the stone sarcophagus.

Before long, Miriven sensed the vitality emanating from the angel within the sarcophagus. This vitality was far higher than she had anticipated upon her arrival, which meant that once he was transported back to the Sea of the Abyss, he could immediately receive blessings and be put to work.

His addition would undoubtedly grant a remarkably noticeable acceleration to the speed of the Heavenly Temple's return.

Thousand-Charms screamed in a silent howl: I want to leave the place where he is, leave the place where they are, they are a pack of terrifying demons, I finally found this opportunity, so hurry and take me away, hurry and take me away, I want my freedom!

!

Though the angel lay there sealed and motionless, incapable of speech, Miriven could still perceive that aura of "jubilant ecstasy" from him. What Kanlei said was true; it was the angel who was desperate to leave this place, having broadcasted such emotional fluctuations with near absolute clarity.

Miriven could not help but let out a soft sigh, murmuring gently:

"Alas, is he truly so eager to return to the Sea of the Abyss just to be a barge-hauler living like a slave?"

Thousand-Charms: "..."