He Intended to Descend Early

As dawn broke, Ju, who hadn't slept all night, finally fell asleep.

Jie La Er stood to the side, looking at the girl on the iron bunk bed who still looked so young, and fell into a long silence.

"Hard to believe, isn't it?" Bai Wei's voice slowly echoed in Jie La Er's mind, "Such a small body harbors such a big dream."

His words were full of teasing.

"This isn't funny," Jie La Er said.

"Really? Then tell me something even less funny," Bai Wei asked. "What are you planning to do?"

What do you mean?

"Of course it's this child," Bai Wei said calmly. "Although she's still very young and extremely malnourished—so much so that one second she was saying she wanted to destroy Lyra, and the next she's fallen asleep because her body couldn't take it anymore—it's like a little kid spouting nonsense without thinking... But you should know that she wasn't joking, and..."

Bai Wei paused for a moment, then looked around the warehouse and said.

"You know she really has... well, let's not say she has the ability, but at least she has the potential."

Jie La Er knew that Bai Wei was right.

Ju is only ten years old this year. Without any teacher, she has been able to learn to this extent on her own, relying solely on the warehouse of relics left to her by Eric. She even used these low-end parts to help Jie La Er create [Overload]. This can no longer be simply described as outstanding talent.

Jie La Er has no doubt that if she had a normal upbringing, and if her father Eric were alive today and could personally teach her, her future would be absolutely immeasurable.

However, she did not have this premise.

From beginning to end, she was alone.

Because of her status as a rebel, most people in the city loathe her... No, it's not just a matter of loathing. Even Jie La Er experienced that kind of bullying once, so how many others haven't?

Jie La Er gently pulled up Orange's sleeve and saw that her slender arm was covered with fine scars, as if telling the story of everything this quiet little girl had suffered.

However, Ju did not show any of these signs.

Even after being bullied like that, Tachibana didn't cry. She just watched coldly and didn't ask Jie La Er for help. She only knew how to retaliate through her own means.

At Bai Wei's prompting, Jie La Er rummaged through a small cabinet and pulled out a bunch of small "tools" that Ju had made himself.

These tools are so rudimentary, yet so effective. They all skirt the edges of Lyra's rules, inflicting as much pain as possible on the other party without endangering their life.

For example, tearing off someone's fingernails, or delivering a blow to a private area.

Looking at these small tools, Jie La Er could imagine how many nights Tachibana, all alone, had spent making them.

Everyone knows that this is not her limit.

Jie La Er picked up the small tool that looked like nail clippers, placed it in front of his finger, and pressed the button.

Then came a "snap," and the nail clipper instantly transformed into a guillotine, the sharp steel nails hidden beneath instantly "biting" at Jie La Er's finger, like a cold, venomous snake.

Of course, it did not harm Jie La Er's finger.

Because the finger Jie La Er used for the test was... his left middle finger.

"I think this is pointless." Bai Wei slowly pulled the small head out. "Don't you think you should use your own fingers to test it to better understand her pain?"

Jie La Er did not object, but moved it to his Ring Finger and pressed it down.

Another "click" sound.

This time, the venomous snake successfully bit the wound, and blood gushed out.

"Tsk, you actually came."

Jie La Er ignored Bai Wei and simply stared at the "venomous snake" before him, as if he could see it growing into a colossal creature and tearing the Lyra apart more than ten years later.

Yes, the orange really does resemble a venomous snake.

She never complained, nor did she seek help from outside. In front of Jie La Er, she never asked for assistance and acted as if she didn't care about anything, making it impossible for anyone to guess what she was thinking.

She only briefly revealed herself today.

It was clearly because she thought Jie La Er was the same kind of person as herself, and she believed that she could achieve her dreams more directly through Jie La Er, so she wanted to cooperate with Jie La Er.

"She's still too young," Bai Wei said slowly. "If she were more mature, perhaps no one would have noticed until she actually did something."

As he spoke, Bai Wei added in a slightly wistful tone.

"To be honest, I really admire this young girl. I think all she needs on her life's journey is a guiding light like me."

Jie La Er immediately became alert. "What are you going to do?"

Bai Wei's words made Jie La Er suddenly realize that if Ju and Bai Wei got mixed up, the consequences would be truly unimaginable.

"Don't worry," Bai Wei said calmly. "Although this little one's personality is indeed to my liking, she's too young and can't do anything except mechanical things. Choosing her as my next host would not benefit me at all. I'm not that bored to take care of a child."

Bai Wei's words did nothing to put Jie La Er at ease.

Because he understood that as long as the core problem wasn't solved, caring about other things was completely meaningless.

The core issue, of course, is...

Jie La Er looked at Tachibana on the bed again.

"So, are you planning to have a serious talk with her after she wakes up?" Bai Wei said calmly, "To persuade her to give up destroying the Lyra and turn to good?"

Jie La Er shook his head.

"Hmm... that's really not very useful." Bai Wei nodded slightly and made a guess. "After all, given her personality, as soon as she realizes that you're not the kind of person she imagines, she'll immediately put away her venomous fangs and agree to whatever you say. But you'll never know what she's really thinking, right?"

"That's not the reason."

What is that?

"What right do I have to advise her to let go?"

Bai Wei raised Jie La Er's eyebrows. "I'm quite surprised that you can say something like that, considering that just half a day ago you killed your own son for Lyra."

Upon hearing this, Jie La Er fell into a long silence, as if Bai Wei had struck a nerve in that instant.

Just when Bai Wei thought Jie La Er wouldn't say anything more, he heard Jie La Er speak softly.

"That's precisely why I don't want her to follow in my footsteps."

"Hehe, is that so?" Bai Wei asked with interest, "So what do you plan to do?"

Bai Wei paused.

"And if that day ever comes and she is determined to destroy Lyra, will you make the same decision as last night?"

Jie La Er fell silent once again.

This is clearly not a question that can be answered easily.

But he didn't have that much time to think about it.

Because not long after dawn, shocking news suddenly spread throughout the entire Lyra City.

That is,

Bishop Ao Li Wei of the Tower of Babel has returned.

The Lyra City has five bishops, each of whom is responsible for governing a district.

Although he did not have a supreme Pope like other churches, Bishop Ao Li Wei of the Tower of Babel was clearly of higher status and greater power than the other four bishops.

Although he had not appeared in public for more than ten years, the Lyra People had almost forgotten that they even had such a bishop.

It was only when Bishop Huo Er Man of the Fourth District passed away that people suddenly remembered they had such a bishop.

But Ao Li Wei was clearly different from Huo Er Man. The news of his return spread throughout Lyra City in the shortest amount of time, and everyone who went to the Tower of Babel could see Ao Li Wei standing on the top of the Tower of Babel, smiling and waving to the believers.

This instantly invigorated the entire Lyra.

Because of the series of events that have occurred in Lyra City during this period, more than one Lyra People has sensed danger and even felt a sense of impending doom.

At this time, Ao Li Wei's return was like a shot in the arm for the Lyra People.

The public's support for him reached its peak in an instant.

Countless people rushed to the foot of the Tower of Babel, watching Ao Li Wei make a resounding promise to his followers.

"People of Lyra," he said with a smile to those present, "I know we are facing a great crisis now."

"Bishop Holman has passed away."

"The Source Oil Processing Plant was burned down."

"Someone wants us destroyed."

"But we refuse."

"Two days later, our hero will bring back new hope!"

"At that time, we will be reborn!"

People roared in response to him, their applause seemingly reaching the heavens.

Only a very small number of people showed some confusion.

"Crisis? What crisis are we facing?"

"Didn't they say the Source Oil Processing Plant was destroyed and the crude oil supply was exhausted?"

"... Is this the crisis?"

"And what is this new hope?"

No one could give them an answer, and they themselves didn't even have time to wonder for long. When everyone started clapping, they found that their mechanical prosthetics were also clapping uncontrollably.

The moment the applause erupted, the doubt in their eyes instantly turned into fervor.

"Tell me, where did Jie La Er go?" A beam of light shone on Ina's face.

Sitting in the interrogation room, Ina looked at the two skeletal Knight interrogating her, then said calmly, "I don't understand what you're talking about. Jie La Er? I severed ties with him ten years ago."

"Then who were you waiting for last night?!" the skeletal Knight pressed.

"I'm waiting for the wind," Ina said calmly, "And also for the rain. Is that alright?"

Ina's tone made the two skeleton Knight feel both angry and helpless.

Last night, Ina didn't see Jie La Er, but instead encountered three fully equipped Skeleton Squad carrying heavy weapons who were waiting impatiently in the carriage.

It was at that moment that Ina realized that her and Jie La Er's plan had been exposed, and she understood why Jie La Er had not shown up all night.

In other words, the father already knew that his whereabouts had been exposed, or he discovered something amiss after he went there, which is why he did not show up.

This annoyed Ina.

Regardless of the possibility, why didn't she sense anything and just waited there like a fool? If those skeleton Knight hadn't revealed themselves, she still wouldn't know the reason.

Even though her father has been retired for so many years, she is still the current Trail Blazers Knight.

Is the gap really that big?

Ina has been thinking about this question since last night.

As for the interrogation by the Skeleton Corps, she didn't pay much attention to it.

Because she knew very well that the Bone Knight had no evidence.

If her father really did show up last night and was captured, that would be solid evidence. Otherwise, these skeletal Knight wouldn't be able to do anything to her, especially since she has the identity of Devil Knight as a guarantee, and generally speaking, skeletal Knight can't interrogate Devil Knight have run into trouble.

As expected, after receiving Ina's reply, the two skeletal Knight whispered to each other for a while, and then said with dark faces, "Alright, you can leave now, Miss Ina."

Ina nodded, said nothing more, and got up to leave.

But halfway there, the skeletal Knight called her back.

"Miss Ina, there's something you might not know yet," the skeletal Knight said. "Last night, Jie La Er broke into the Tower of Babel and killed a very important staff member."

Ina paused for a moment, but she didn't turn around. She simply asked calmly, "So? What does this have to do with me?"

"There's nothing special about it, I was just mentioning it casually," the skeletal Knight said indifferently. "Is it possible that your adoptive father never intended to see you in the first place, and that last night he was just using you as bait to lure us in? You'd better watch yourself."

Upon hearing this, Ina stood there for a while, but ultimately said nothing, Open the door, and walked out of the interrogation room.

She is currently at the headquarters of the Skeleton Corps.

She came here yesterday, and the ground was covered with wounded people, but now there is hardly a single person to be seen.

In the empty hall, only the sound of her footsteps could be heard; the skeletal Knight seemed to have vanished.

But Ina knew that this was because the returning Bishop Ao Li Wei was giving a temporary speech at the Tower of Babel, and most of the Skeleton Knight had gone there to maintain order.

But... do we really need so many people?

In the past, Ina wouldn't have thought anything was wrong, but now that she had learned most of the truth from her father, she couldn't help but wonder if this meant anything.

She couldn't figure out the answer herself.

Fortunately, she no longer needs to think about it herself.

She quickly stopped in her tracks, staring in astonishment at Jie La Er, who had suddenly appeared before her.

"Father, you..."

"Take me to the Contamination Zone, now."

Jie La Er said it in an unquestionable tone.

"That New God... plans to descend ahead of schedule."