Wendy knew this was a special kind of farewell.
It dulled the feelings and understanding between the two of them, making their eventual parting seem plain and uneventful.
She silently counted the days on the calendar.
Waiting for the moment when they truly said goodbye.
No one would want to touch a Valkyrie who housed a Herrscher Core and had lost the use of both legs. She understood Chen Ran's choice and respected it.
She could only blame fate for being too cruel in its mockery.
But just as she silently lamented another day passing, Chen Ran suddenly came running over, panting heavily.
"Quick, quick, quick! Everything's ready. I've contacted the Far East Branch too. Come with me."
"?"
Seeing the confusion in Wendy's eyes, Chen Ran directly lifted her, wheelchair and all. "No need to pack. St. Freya should have everything anyway."
"My mission isn't complete yet! You promised you'd cooperate with me!"
"Right now, I need you to come with me. Be good."
Leaving the Oceanic Branch
Chen Ran naturally wouldn't give up just because the Oceanic Branch refused to support him.
That wasn't his style.
If the Oceanic Branch didn't have the means, did that mean the Far East Branch didn't either?
Though he didn't quite understand why Theresa had ignored Wendy during her two years at the Oceanic Branch, Theresa was indeed the only person he could contact now.
Fortunately, the authority granted by the identity set up by the system was high enough that he could successfully contact the Far East Branch.
At first, Theresa didn't quite believe the unexpected contact.
Later, after learning through other channels that the experiment had been halted, she contacted Chen Ran again.
The experiment the Oceanic Branch wouldn't conduct.
The Far East Branch would!
He had constantly switched back and forth between the simulation and reality. At last, Mei's side achieved a breakthrough.
Thus, the Divine Right Plan's deployment experiment began!
The night was cool as water.
Chen Ran hurriedly left the Oceanic Branch with Wendy.
Wendy noticed the anxious look on the young man's face, and joy couldn't help but surface in her heart.
"He hasn't given up on me."
She could feel it.
If the Oceanic Branch wouldn't work, then they could go to the Far East Branch.
She didn't know how long Chen Ran had spent negotiating with Theresa and the person in charge of the Oceanic Branch during this time, but seeing him move like the wind made her feel at ease.
"I heard the Far East Branch is close to the Far East. Once the experiment succeeds, we need to find a way to soak in a hot spring for a whole day."
Chen Ran kept talking as he walked.
Wendy listened quietly, her lips pressed together.
She knew Chen Ran was a little nervous.
Soon, the two arrived at the air harbor where the Oceanic Branch was located.
A woman with fiery red hair, like blazing flames, stood at the air harbor and looked toward Chen Ran and Wendy.
"Murata Himeko of the Far East Branch, here to escort the target."
She paused before saying, "If nothing unexpected happens, let's go."
Chen Ran let out a breath of relief.
He had chosen to leave under cover of night because he had thought World Serpent still wasn't willing to give up and would stop them.
Thankfully, everything had gone smoothly.
Wendy greeted her from the side. "Sorry to trouble you, Ms. Himeko."
"You used to be a student of St. Freya. It's no trouble."
Himeko and Wendy had not known each other before; they had only heard each other's names.
Wendy had been St. Freya's genius, the student Theresa always boasted about most proudly. Himeko had a good relationship with Theresa, so naturally she had heard of Wendy.
However, when Himeko joined St. Freya, she was still unused to being a teacher. Moreover, Wendy had been directly taught by Theresa, and most of her time was spent on the training grounds, so it was perfectly normal that they did not know each other.
"As for Theresa..."
Himeko shook her head slightly. "Theresa said she was wrong about this. We'll talk when we get back."
The aircraft from the Far East Branch slowly started up. Chen Ran sat beside Wendy, unable to stop himself from sighing in relief, though his brows gradually furrowed.
For some reason, he felt uneasy.
"What is it?"
Wendy looked at him from beside him and asked in confusion, "You still seem worried about something?"
"Ah, nothing." Chen Ran spoke casually. "I was just thinking, what if you don't want me anymore after you can stand up?"
"I won't not want—Pah! When did I ever want you?"
Wendy rolled her eyes at him.
The gloom in both their hearts was scattered by that moment.
The night scenery outside the aircraft window swept past. Chen Ran suppressed his unease and gently closed his eyes.
"I'm a little tired. I'll sleep for a while."
Wendy said nothing and closed her eyes as he had.
Then, she felt a weight settle on her shoulder.
Chen Ran had leaned directly against it. He had been tired these past few days, constantly moving between reality and the simulated world, all for this matter.
Now that he had relaxed, sleepiness quickly overtook him.
A trace of embarrassed annoyance appeared on the girl's face. She opened her eyes and looked over, only to see that the young man's expression was weary yet gentle.
Her eyes gradually softened as well.
Though she didn't know what Chen Ran had been busy with during this time, persuading the Far East Branch to come and escort them was no easy task in itself.
He must have worked very hard.
Thinking that, Wendy thought, Then I'll let him lean on me once... just once.
She was tired too.
Since she didn't want to push him away, then she would draw closer instead.
Sitting in the pilot's seat, Himeko watched the boy and girl who seemed to be leaning against each other through the rearview mirror and couldn't help but smile.
"Youth is wonderful."
But just as she let out that sigh.
Something happened.
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