Act.12 Hand of Fate

Foreword:

A decisive battle should only be waged when the probability of victory is extremely high.

[Part 1: Humiliation]

Flies are organisms belonging to the family Muscidae, suborder of the order Diptera, order Diptera.

It can be found in almost every city in the world, and it has an extremely high reproductive rate.

The Fly Man has this nickname not only because his "ground promotion" work involves buzzing around retail stores like a fly, but also because of his Blessed Holy Blood.

The blood of the calamity beast flowing through his body comes from the immune system of the calamity beast fruit flies in the underground world.

BF64 and BD2, two spherical proteins, are the ultimate weapons for flies to deal with bacteria. Currently, the field of human biological and biochemical science still wants to seize this innate ability of flies to kill bacteria.

The fly's life cycle has only four stages. Compared to the Madness Butterfly's life form, it transforms into an adult much faster and more rapidly. However, the power of Soul Might, like the Broken Morpho Butterfly of the Hand of Omnipotence, is also incomplete.

At this very moment, A Xing, holding the cake, was preparing to close the door and see the guests off.

The Fly Man began to feel anxious, rubbing his fleshy palms with anticipation. He couldn't let anything go wrong with what the Cult Leader had instructed. It would be terrible if S272 didn't eat the cake or gave it away to someone else.

"Hello"

A Xing gripped the doorknob, looking guilty as well. After Hasben was in the study, and how was he going to explain to his Little Brotherhood if others found out he was hiding a man in the house?

Fly Man: "Hey Miss Stas, could you please help me?"

A Xing: "Is there anything else?"

Both the Fly Man and the A Xing wore awkward, embarrassed expressions.

After about ten seconds, the Little Brotherhood member finally spoke, getting straight to the point.

"Could you open this gift and eat the cake in front of me?"

A Xing suddenly became suspicious.

"--Why?"

The Fly Man calmly explained, casually telling a half-truth, "Because I'm genuinely curious. I worked for the Cult Leader, starting in the kitchen, and I haven't made desserts in a very long time. I want to see the expressions on the diners' faces after they eat the food."

A Xing's eyes lit up, thinking to herself, "Isn't that what Chef Jason said?"

Hey, is this guy the same type of person as Jason? That's interesting!

The amused man immediately opened the lid of the plate in front of the Fly Man. His weak arms wobbled as he tried to lift the plate, which startled the Fly Man.

His gaze followed the swaying cake, sometimes in surprise, sometimes in clenched teeth, sometimes in a fierce expression, like a fish on a hook, its mind captivated by the meteor's rough movements.

Some cake crumbs landed on the clumsy girl's skirt!

That hallucinogenic drug was something he painstakingly prepared over two days and two nights, after conducting several human experiments!

If this girl accidentally knocks it over, I'll make her lick the entire carpet clean!

But the next second, Meteor picked up his fork and spoon, but hesitated to eat.

Fly Man: "What's wrong? What's wrong?"

A Xing pouted, as if she had been greatly wronged.

Fly Man: "What's going on?! Hey! Say something!"

The A Xing didn't speak for a very, very long time.

I don't like it.

"Don't like it?!" The Fly Man covered his cheek, almost screaming in terror, "Why don't you like it?! Why?!"

"Because it's a matcha mousse cake." Meteor toyed with the green mousse cream. "You can tell the quality of a dessert just by looking at it. Although I can feel your culinary spirit burning brightly, Fly Man, this cake is just awful."

The Fly Man started stammering. "Lala la la cha?"

"Yes." Meteor gently patted the oily crust of the pastry with a spoon. "My family's cook's apprentice makes cakes that are five times better than this stuff. Besides, I really don't like matcha and mousse. Matcha is too bitter, and mousse needs to be stored at low temperatures. I'm someone who exercises regularly, and those two things are bad for my heart. My mom doesn't let me eat them either. I only ate some once out of curiosity, and I never want to eat them again."

"There's actually such a saying?!" The Fly Man felt only profound frustration. "Just because of this? You? Go to the gym?"

Looking at A Xing's slender figure, he was almost certain that this woman was there to cause trouble.

"Are you mocking me, Miss Stass?"

With sincere eyes and a proper attitude, A Xing held up the cake. "Why don't you try it yourself first? A chef's palate is definitely more discerning than a customer's."

Under the bright yellow light of the corridor, the Fly Man's distorted and tense shadow was cast.

He never expected this young girl to be so picky. The 45 million Hui Stone Currency hidden in the cake couldn't break her guard. She wouldn't even give the Little Brotherhood this simplest and most transparent courtesy. Was it really that hard for her to take a bite of cake?

This money can buy you the best cake in the world!

"Aha!~" A Xing immediately put on a cheeky grin. "Just kidding! Why are you so nervous!"

"What does 'joking' mean?" the Fly Man, not understanding. "What does it mean?"

A Xing: "I'll eat it right now! Mommy also told me that you shouldn't refuse other people's kindness and that wasting food is wrong!"

The Fly Man nodded vigorously. "You have a wonderful mother, Miss Stass!"

A Xing: "Of course! My mommy is the best mommy in the world!"

The Fly Man pumped his fists and swung his arms, full of energy. "Mommy's the best!"

A Xing changed the subject, fiddling with the fork and spoon in her hand. "But this spoon is too big and too heavy, can you hold it for me? I'll go find my own cutlery."

"Okay!" The Fly Man took the cake and stood at the door.

A Xing was completely baffled. "Why don't you come in and sit down?"

Fly Man: "May I come in?"

A Xing: "Of course! Didn't you want to watch me finish the cake? It's so big! I can't possibly eat it all at once! You're a special guest of the Little Brotherhood, what kind of image would it project standing outside in the hallway!"

"Oh," the middle-aged uncle suddenly felt a surge of inexplicable emotion.

--Perhaps the Cult Leader's worries are unnecessary. A girl like S272 probably doesn't need mind control; a happy and simple life is enough to capture her heart.

In the short distance of just ten steps from the door to the sofa, the Fly Man's inner thoughts were quite complex.

He could vaguely recall the teachings of the Cult Leader. Lawrence Madison had always adhered to one principle: profit above all else.

Emotions are a burden. Roles like parents, friends, and lovers, if they are useless, can be exchanged for power and money.

In that instant, he immediately adjusted his mindset and erased the last vestige of compassion.

If this feeling weakens his empathy and compassion for Miss Stass, the Cult Leader would probably abandon this working-class man immediately.

--Control your heart!

The Fly Man silently told itself that it needed to change its emotions and switch to a different way of thinking.

That ungrateful brat was just harassing and insulting you repeatedly in front of the gate!

Use her pampered, refined taste in desserts to belittle your work!

She almost spilled your hard work!

Don't pity her! You should pity yourself!

After this back and forth, a strange flame of resentment began to reignite in the Fly Man's eyes.

He stared at his prey, regarding Stass as nothing more than a young, adorable antelope or fawn, whose fur would eventually be stripped off to make soft scarves or warm underwear—nothing more.

Waste has no right to live in the Little Brotherhood. Her eldest sister, Glory, was only favored by the Cult Leader because she was "useful"—this is the iron law of the jungle.

If one day Glory no longer cares about S272, this girl will be just like the other test subjects, only good for tasting poison. She will continue to shine in the Little Brotherhood's workshop.

With that thought in mind, the Fly Man killed his own weakness and helplessness.

A Xing rummaged through the cupboard and found a small fork that fit perfectly in her tiny hand. When she returned to the Fly Man, she didn't say a word, took the cake, and began to eat.

When the Fly Man saw Stas with his head down, picking off a corner of a dark green pastry with his fork, making a crisp sound as it hit the iron plate, his heart raced, and he could almost hear celestial music.

After taking just one bite, A Xing stopped and went to get the HC card from the cake.

The Fly Man was overjoyed; just one bite would be enough! Even just a taste would be enough!

The hallucinogen he concocted would take effect quickly, robbing the little girl of her consciousness. He waited for that moment, quietly waiting, for a very, very long time.

Even after A Xing took the HC card, wiped it clean with a tissue, and played with it in his hand for a long time, he remained calm and showed no abnormality.

[Part ② - Anger Attacks the Heart]

The Fly Man began to panic, and a wicked thought arose in his mind—

--Is the dosage insufficient?

"Let me have one more bite. Didn't we agree to finish it all?"

He was so nervous that his throat was dry, almost to the point of begging.

"Miss Stass, were you just joking with me?"

The A Xing still didn't speak, but slowly opened its mouth—

--Her brows furrowed, and she adopted a fierce and menacing demeanor, completely transforming into a different person.

This expression also appeared during the Skull and Bones Society' confrontation with Curator Sullivan; it was a calm born of extreme rage.

She tore the plastic wrap out of her mouth, wrapped the soft pastry in it, and tossed it back onto the table.

"My teacher taught me by example not to eat food given by strangers. Fly Man, you're trying to poison me, aren't you?"

The Fly Man's face changed drastically, and his body stiffened.

A Xing continued, "My older sister never takes me with her when she goes out on errands. She's afraid something might happen to me because my body is very weak, very, very weak—it really makes me feel so resentful I'm going crazy! I feel looked down upon! How awful!"

The gleaming light sword of the Iron Knight had unknowingly reached between the Fly Man's legs, separated only by a small table.

A Xing emphasized, "The bitterness of matcha can mask the pungent taste of chemicals; you've thought of that quite thoroughly. But if a cook isn't even willing to eat what he makes, that's probably related to your job as drug dealers. You know how terrible drugs are, yet you've never used them, right?"

"I've had enough!" The Fly Man nearly went berserk, finally tearing off his mask and calling upon his soul power, "[Hand of Fate]! -- Feed her cake! I want her to lick the plate clean!"

At this very moment!

A strange, inexplicable force pulled at A Xing, squeezing and pulling her right arm, which was holding the Iron Knight's light sword, toward the table, almost slamming her head into the iron plate.

"It's an attack from Soul Power!" A Xing's eyes widened in disbelief. "When did I get hit? Where's this guy's spirit? Why am I already affected by the special effects of Soul Power when I haven't even seen his spirit?"

A crimson spirit arm emerged from Meteor's chest, undergoing a miraculous transformation following A Xing's [B·Side].

Her once robust, armored arms were now as thin and weak as a geisha's, reduced to a [B-cup].

The meteor, clinging to its physical form with its spiritual essence, was utterly powerless against the immense gravitational pull.

--It was as if an unseen [Hand of Fate] had pressed down on her body, about to throw her into the embrace of a deadly dessert!

"Why won't you bow your head! Why, why, why!" The Fly Man stood up, stepped on the table, and kicked A Xing's head hard.

With one kick, A Xing felt the world spinning around him.

The sole of the shoe kissed her cheek, and the powerful impact slammed her head into the plate. The Iron Knight also fell onto the carpet.

The Fly Man hysterically questioned, "Why do you, you stinking woman, talk so much nonsense! Why are you making so many demands! Why are you using so many tricks! You're the client I hate the most! You're the negotiating partner I despise the most!"

One after another!

Only when his shoes were covered in blood did Fly Man suddenly realize—

--We can't let anyone die! If S272 dies, how will we explain it to the Cult Leader? Who will bear Glory's wrath?!

Seeing that A Xing's head had sunk into the iron plate, Fly Man frantically crawled to the front of the platform, trying to see S272's face. He grabbed A Xing's bloodied cheek and turned him over, only to see a large, golden wolf mask.

The Rose Shining Stone emitted a bright red light, and the mask, placed before its owner, became their final talisman.

A Xing stared wide-eyed at the Fly Man.

"You despicable and shameless bastard! You tried to poison me, but didn't want to kill me outright. If you had done a dosage test, you probably would have harmed many people! You're an incorrigible evil villain!"

The crimson spirit's punches were like bullets fired from a gun!

At such close range, the Fly Man felt as if a rhinoceros had rammed into his cheek!

He lost his balance, and his bloodied body was thrown backward, crashing into the water dispenser next to the TV cabinet, almost shattering the water bottle.

"This power. This spiritual power. You."

His teeth and cheekbones were shattered, half of his face was rotting, and he went blind in his right eye.

"[Hand of Fate]! Grab her! Grab her! Don't let her get near me! Or she'll smash my head in!"

The inexplicable pull is back!

Just as A Xing's body tilted and fell due to this inexplicable force, she suddenly tore off her dress, revealing the prison uniform underneath. The dress then flew towards the wall, following the direction of the soul's power.

--The soft fabric slammed against the wall with a thud, the impact causing terrifying spiderweb-like cracks to appear on the wall and wallpaper. The spirit of [Hand of Fate] finally revealed its true form!

It was a strange gadget made of dozens of buttons, as if they could obey the Fly Man's commands to combine two completely different things together. The reason A Xing had tipped over onto the iron plate on the table earlier was because her skirt was stained with cake.

Most of the soul power of blood-granting units is activated through blood as a medium; the Fly Man added blood to the dessert!

A Xing's face was covered in blood, and the wolf mask seemed to be embedded in her cheek, almost penetrating her scalp and reaching her skull.

She raised her warhammer and light sword, and roared.

"It's round two now!"

Inside his study, Hasben Madison had already noticed the unusual activity outside.

But he couldn't take a single step, not even one!

The Canaanite life within him was opposing him.

"--Mr Hasben! That's not on your wish list! I won't allow you to risk your life to go out and fight the Morpho Butterflies."

"Listen to me! Listen to me!" Hasben was extremely anxious. The door was right in front of him, but at this moment, if he wanted to raise his hand, he first had to fight against the alien electrical signals in his head.

Canaan: "What does it matter to you whether that little girl lives or dies? If you reveal your identity here, your biological father will likely become suspicious immediately and kill Glory. You won't live much longer either."

"Shut the fuck up!" Hasben cursed. "How could you, you beast, possibly understand?"

Canaan impatiently interrupted, "Even your renowned human philosopher Engels said that a decisive battle should only be waged when the probability of victory is extremely high. Now, are you confident you can defeat [the Heaven's Gate]?"

Hasben fell silent.

Canaan continued—

"--I can help you, it's an addendum to the contract. If we work together to save this little girl, you'll have to give me one of your arms."

Hasben: "Deal!"

"Completely hand it over to me!" Canaan emphasized, "Completely, hand over to me all the neurons in the spinal cord and cerebellum that control the right arm!"

Hasben didn't think much of it.

This time it's an arm, what will it be next time?

One leg? Waist/abdomen or torso?

But he had no time to think about it anymore.

"Make a deal!"