The Little Karl

At the entrance to the core of the Known Universe, Ximen Lang held Carl's soul origin in his grasp. Looking at Carl, who had lowered her head even further, Ximen Lang spoke with an inscrutable expression.

"You still have a choice. As long as you speak up, you can still leave with your dignity intact. For the sake of how 'pleasantly' we all got along before..."

"Otherwise, for the rest of your life, you'll truly be completely under my control."

Feeling that explanation was still unclear, Ximen Lang added,

"This control isn't limited to your life. It includes your thoughts—everything about you."

"Even the most secret, darkest corners of your heart, and flashes of inspiration that pass through your mind without a second thought. As long as you've genuinely thought of something, I can see it all, and I can probe through it repeatedly whenever I want."

Imagining the terrifying scene of having everything entrusted to someone else, Ximen Lang shuddered and seriously considered Carl's position.

"The helplessness of having everything in someone else's hands is enough to fill me with despair just hearing about it. I'm doing this for your own good. Think it through carefully."

Listening to Ximen Lang's heart-wrenching explanation, Carl forced herself to empty her mind completely.

After briefly adjusting herself into a state of inner calm, Carl recalled Ximen Lang's earlier words about leaving with dignity and spoke solemnly.

"Dignity like Du Kao's?"

"Dignity like Du Kao's. That is my promise to you, Ximen Lang's promise."

"And the price?"

"Become an ordinary person, a law-abiding god, and stop all dangerous research. Of course, it would be best if you stopped all research altogether."

The words "become an ordinary person, a law-abiding god, and stop all research" nearly shattered Carl's composure on the spot.

After several