Impure! Far Too Impure!

"So, don't treat me like a human being."

Having said that, Saundin continued without waiting for Mithras to be stunned.

"I am not your father at all."

You were born on the Fifth Layer. During one of my adventures, I happened to hear you crying, so I brought you back to the Fourth Layer.

Perhaps it was because you were an infant, lacking strength, or perhaps because you were born within the Abyss Ruins, your body had adapted to the Ascension Curse. So, during the ascent, although you were bleeding profusely and on the verge of death, you ultimately survived.

An obvious fact was laid bare before Mithras: during the ascent, Saundin had not provided any protection for her when she was still an infant.

That was also an experiment.

Even so, Mithras still trusted Saundin because he had been raised by Saundin and his feelings for Saundin were genuine.

Moreover, Mithras believed that Saundin felt she had found a trustworthy partner, which was why he allowed her to come into the experiment and witness his actions. This was to encourage her to make up her mind to leave the Fourth Layer, leave him, and follow her companions to explore the lower levels, where she could find joy and happiness.

"You've gone too far!" Seeing Mithras's eyes filled with tears, Riko hugged her with heartache. "Not only did you toy with the Life of Fallen One who was once Explorer, but you also made Mithras sad. You are not a good father."

"I've already said that I was never her father, and you know best what my purpose is." Saundin's tone was completely flat, and the purple vertical line on his helmet visor was aimed directly into Riko's eyes, as if mocking her incompetence.

Indeed.

Saundin certainly doesn't lie, but that only means that everything he says is true. And sometimes, he can simply leave things unsaid, or say nothing at all, or only say things to specific people.

In Saundin's mind, besides force, language is the most powerful tool in the world!

It can stir up emotions in people, causing feelings of joy, anger, sadness, and so on, just like now—

Riko knew his purpose from the beginning, but she still took a chance and became friends with Mithras over the course of six months.

Mithras's growth was always part of his plan, allowing her to develop into the personality he desired.

Simple and pure.

Saundin, who has spent years in the Abyss Ruins, knows all too well the impact of the environment on living things, and the same is true for humans.

He thus came to a profound understanding that as long as a person's growth environment is properly created, that person can grow into the kind of person the creator hopes for.

Even an adult with well-defined values is still influenced by the external environment and has to force their abilities and personality to adapt in order to survive and make a living.

Based on this, Riko fully understood what Saundin, she didn't understand what he was talking about when he only spoke halfway. However, Mithras was different. He knew nothing about his "father" and when he interacted with Riko and the others, Riko and the Rabbit Girl would never speak ill of her "father" because of their moral constraints. In addition, given Mithras's pure nature and his past teachings, she was easily led to think in the direction he envisioned.

And that's exactly what he needs.

However, after this "blow," who should Mithras choose?

Was it him?

Or Riko?

Saundin himself didn't care; he just wanted to collect relevant experimental data, fill in the gaps, and prepare for the next cultivation, nothing more.

The lifespan of Fallen One far exceeds that of humans. To date, Saundin has not discovered any Fallen One has died of old age in the Abyss Ruins.

Therefore, aside from the White Whistle he possessed, he had no shortage of patience in everything else.

Saundin witnessed all of Riko's anger, Mithras's confusion, doubt, and sadness... Rather than choosing him, Saundin actually hoped that Mithras would choose Riko. After all, family members know their own situation, and his efforts were ultimately just a pretense, while the friendship that Riko and Mithras had formed over the past six months was based on genuine feelings.

Although Saundin has not yet figured out the specific principles behind it, the appearance of the White Whistle represents the shared emotions between the two parties, and one party's sacrifice for the other: playing the symphony of Life!

Therefore, the probability of Mithras transforming into the White Whistle is greatest if he sacrifices himself for Riko.

If a sacrifice were to be made for him, then Mithras's value would most likely be that of a consumable that could amplify the curse he endured during his ascension.

"Dad!"

After Riko released Mithras immediately hugged Saundin's thigh. Although Mithras Riko, fifteen years old, Riko was also about the same height, only eighty or ninety centimeters tall. In front of Saundin, who was about two meters tall, he only reached Sandin's thigh.

Saundin may say he is not Mithras's biological father, but in Mithras's heart, she will always be Saundin's daughter.

Not to mention, in Mithras's mind at this moment, her father said that only to help her make up her mind.

Now that she understands her father's good intentions, there's no need to make things worse. She can muster up the courage to persuade her father to give up experimenting with the Fallen One and accompany her and Riko and the others to the next level for a great adventure!

Saundin, after all, couldn't read minds. She only felt the joy of Mithras choosing her, the deepening of their father-daughter bond, and the possibility of being further exploited. Yet, a strange sense of unease also arose in her heart.

Looks like I can only be used as consumables... I'll have to give it less attention next time.

"Riko, it seems you won't get the White Whistle," Saundin said calmly.

"I don't want that kind of thing!"

Riko yelled at Saundin and then hurriedly ran out of the cave, not wanting to stay there any longer.

Mithras wanted to give chase, but Saundin grabbed his hand, his voice slightly deep. "What are you trying to do?"

"Riko has always misunderstood you. I'm going to explain to her. Then, Dad, let's go on an adventure with Riko and the others." Mithras was completely oblivious to the change in Saundin's tone and naively fantasized that he could persuade Saundin to give up this cruel experiment later.

"It seems to be a complete failure; it's not even qualified to be used as consumables."

Saundin's tone was terrifyingly low.

He had thought that even if Prometheus was not the best, he could still become a highly effective consumable to amplify the Ascension Curse imposed on him by the Fourth Layer, based on his feelings for him as his "father".

But now it seems that Mithras has deep feelings for him, and also a very strong friendship with Riko...

Not pure!

That's not pure at all!

There are still too many uncertainties in the experiment. I need to eliminate some external factors... The experiment with the Artificial White Whistle should be put on hold for now. I should focus on cultivating the consumables and concentrate on making me feel the Ascension Curse of the Fourth Layer again, so that I can evolve to be more perfect...