Act 14: Pure Imagination

[Part 1: The Magical Candy]

"Duran! Duran! ~ Help me out! Duran!"

In the guest room of the Church of Dionysus, Flavia was about to show off her skills. The separators were neatly arranged, and the extraction flasks and reagent beakers were polished to a gleaming shine.

This darling of Lawrence Madison, this poisoner in the sugar and wine factory, has forgotten how to make the blissful poison that leads straight to heaven—she's going to prepare real happiness candies for the upcoming duel with the General of Tears.

There was originally a can of cocoa beans in the suitcase, but Duran couldn't find it anywhere. At first, Flavia thought the raw materials had been cruelly swept away by the tide, until Captain Quack and First Mate Ethan started burping and farting, their stomachs making all sorts of strange noises.

The Queen of the Fairy Tale Kingdom then realized—it was those two mischievous kids who had secretly eaten the cocoa beans!

With no other option, Cici approached Lady Goelia and asked her to help procure sixteen kilograms of cocoa beans. This stuff wasn't cheap, and in a place like East Horse Port that was frequently hit by typhoons, evergreen trees of the sycamore family couldn't survive.

Upon hearing Gloria 'Flavia request, the generous and straightforward duchess made no attempt to refuse and obtained the raw materials in just one day—she had extensive connections in East Horse Port.

When it comes to cocoa beans, you might ask, are they really that important?

For Flavia, it was a crucial psychic tool for the upcoming bet.

"That jar of beans we brought will make us bloated! I really didn't expect Captain Quack to be so non-picky!" Flavia said as she used a knife to cut open the straps of the crate, picked up a hammer to pry open the planks, and separated the cargo from the straw.

Duran joined in to help, taking out a hard leather scroll from Flavia's alchemy case. This scroll had glass tubes attached to it—the alchemical base material for the candy.

There's a lot to learn about classifying these alchemical base materials.

Do you remember Teacher Su Ling's combat record at Red Star Hill? Do you remember the buffs brought by the special food that this "big eater" ate? It was a divine technique that enhanced physical strength through food supplements, and it was also a health preservation secret passed down to Teacher Su Ling by the Taiyi Xuan Sect Rootless Tree School.

Flavia's alchemical base materials were similar; these glass jars contained a variety of ingredients from all over the underground world, including all sorts of monstrous beasts, bizarre plants, and even pyroxene ore powder reagents.

These alchemical base materials are further processed by Flavia's soul power, and the soul power and spiritual energy of [Twilight Zone· Yin Yang Demon Realm] are used to mix organic proteases to create candies that target the immune system and organ receptors of Homo sapiens, thus perfectly exerting the different effects of alchemical potions.

"The materials are all here. What can we make? Will it allow General of Tears to escape unscathed in the upcoming duel?" Duran was worried. She still felt that if Meteor continued to gamble like this, he would eventually become Gloria's blood slave—if Flavia could use these candies to solve the problems caused by the Holy Blood, that would be wonderful.

"I can do anything!" Flavia patted her chest, put on goggles and gloves, and closed all the doors and windows to reduce dust during the sugar-making process. "It's just that the results definitely won't be as good as the second-grade product from Tashi Delek's Big Sycamore!"

This is a Tibetan phrase meaning "good fortune and auspiciousness".

Flavia's cocoa beans come from Zula, where there is a scorching sun. The three types of cocoa beans that grow from the blessed sacred tree Tashi Delek can make food that can improve blood circulation and make people feel refreshed. However, if you eat them raw, you will experience bloating symptoms like Captain Quack, such as farting and burping.

These things are the treasures of the Greenstone People, a legacy left to all living beings by a group of psionicists who were born with a love for nature and a passion for farming and animal husbandry.

"These cocoa beans were sent by Gloria Sebastian." Duran was still uneasy. She picked up the jar and shook it vigorously. Seeing that these semi-finished products—fermented and matured, with the white pectin removed—had already been processed by farmers as raw materials for pre-made products, the beans looked very good, judging from their dents and luster. "She agrees to whatever you say?"

Flavia neatly arranged the alchemical substrates and responded excitedly.

"If what you say is true, Gloria is an ogre, she's a generous ogre."

"Look, the beans that were delivered have no aphids, no thrips, and no psyllids."

"This is top-notch quality. Even if I went back to the company headquarters and went to Lion King Avenue to find buyers, I still couldn't get raw materials of this quality—I would have to travel all the way to Adulis."

"The beans have a smoky flavor, but even more so a fruity aroma—that's exactly what I'm looking for!"

"Don't rush! Watch me do a magic trick!"

Flavia picked out about ten plump, large fruits, crushed them, and ground them into powder. Then, she rummaged through the alchemical raw materials, covered her eyes, grabbed a bottle of reagent at random, and moved swiftly and skillfully.

Simmering over low heat, extracting in layers and liquids, and finally shouting out the true name of an unfamiliar Soul Might.

"[Fairy Tale Fairy Tale Kingdom]! Imbue it with Magic Power!"

Under the influence of [Hell Highway], Flavia seems to have forgotten the name of [Yin Yang Demon Realm Zone].

An astonishing light burst forth from her body, and a divine being covered in vibrant feathers appeared before the alchemy workbench. It had a snake's head and a human body, and eyes like glittering amber. With a gentle smile, it embraced Flavia, using its two hands and eight toes to manipulate the dispenser and tinker with the honey jars.

Completely different from the initial form of [Twilight Zone· Yin Yang Demon Realm], when Flavia's spirit first appeared, if your memory serves you right, it was a dirty rag, with barely visible facial features and lower limbs, its hideous and twisted fangs hidden in dirty feathers, crawling randomly on the floor and walls, spreading deadly venom everywhere.

"Duran! Duran!~ Try some!" Flavia opened her arms, reopened her eyes, and held out two bright, golden candy-coated chocolates. "I don't know what will happen if I eat them! Let's try it!"

Ms. Duran's expression became quite interesting, although this wasn't the first time—

--Queen Cici liked to do this: she would choose a random ingredient from the alchemical base, then make two candies to taste them, but most of the time, it would result in a ridiculous outcome.

"Come on! Try it! Try it! This is today's happiness candy!" Flavia brought the chocolate to her mouth, while holding the gift in her other hand, she stuffed it into Duran's cheek, trying to shove it into his snake-like mouth.

Soon, only the sound of chewing chocolate remained in the alchemy lab.

Flavia frowned, but couldn't sense anything was wrong.

Duran was well-prepared, standing in front of the mirror carefully observing himself.

"Your hair hasn't changed color?"

Flavia: "I didn't put in that... that... white cloud bird egg. I remember the taste, it was a bit fishy."

Duran: "I don't have a beard?"

Flavia: "No! No!"

Duran: "Where's my voice? Does it sound normal?"

"Coolcard's tears taste like gummy candy, it can't be that!" Flavia said. "Keep guessing!"

Duran: "Have you gotten stronger?"

Flavia: "The lava peppers are so spicy! Neither of us can eat them!"

Duran patted his cheeks--

"--You seem to have become more beautiful and younger? Did you add Mr. Wen Bucai's blood?"

"What nonsense! I can't get my hands on that kind of stuff." Flavia said with a bitter face, "If we could, we wouldn't even be able to get through Eureka customs; we'd be stuck in the Qingjin eating in jail."

Duran: "So that's just an illusion? People are all narcissistic; when they look in the mirror, they always think they're exceptionally good-looking."

"Whoa!" Flavia suddenly exhaled a bubble, "It's working!"

She was like she'd swallowed soapy water, constantly spitting out bubbles. Covering her mouth didn't help; soap bubbles were even coming out of her ears.

Duran is the same; he blows a giant bubble when he speaks!

It completely enveloped Flavia, then lifted Her Majesty the Queen's body and slowly floated up!

"I know! I know!"

Flavia then understood what alchemical base material was used in today's surprise candy.

"It's Yukari's blood!~"

"Who is Yukrili?" Duran didn't care much about the station's VIPs, so the name was unfamiliar to her.

"That's the sister from the Gunsmiths' Club!" Flavia had already floated to the ceiling. She lay in a soap bubble, and with a slight turn, the dreamlike bubble sank downwards according to her will. "I've given candy to so many sisters in the club!"

"After they receive the gifts, they also bring me souvenirs!"

"VIP blood is very precious! And there are many, many mixed-race sisters who are also willing to give me their blood!"

"You mean," Duran, sprawled in mid-air, her limbs billowing in bubbles, looking disheveled and still unable to fully control her psychic powers, "That we temporarily possess Yukrily Anunnaki's psychic powers?"

This is the dreamlike power of [Twilight Zone· Yin Yang Demon Realm] and [Fairy Tale Queendom· Fairy Tale Kingdom] after their transformation.

"I told you chocolate was a really amazing thing!" Flavia exclaimed, gesturing wildly. "The Gunsmith and Mr. Wood defeated Sixty-Three with chocolate milk! I can use it to create miracles too!"

Duran also became overjoyed, flying around the alchemy workshop with his good sister.

"Wow! This feels a lot like Blood Ceremony!"

Flavia: "Yes! Since Gloria Sebastian could influence the General of Tears's mind with blood wine, I should be able to do it too! Bringing smiles and happiness with candy! That's what [Fairy Tale Fairy Tale Kingdom] excels at!"

They held hands, seemingly having found a solution to the problem.

[Part ②: The Devil's Allure]

The room's lights illuminated Empress Cici's face; she looked as if she were drunk, completely oblivious to the effects of chocolate liqueur and honey.

"Duran!~ Duran!~"

With each shout, Duran felt his face burning, growing hotter and hotter.

"Duran! Hold me back! Spin me around one more time!"

The lights dazzled Duran's eyes; in the dazzling, shimmering soap bubbles, she could only see this innocent and naive Queen.

In the instant between light and shadow, the electric light illuminated half of Flavia's face.

The sudden split at the corner of her mouth and the long, bright red tongue startled Ms. Duran, turning her face deathly pale.

The soap bubble burst in an instant!

Without warning, the two of them fell back to the floor, Duran's bottom stinging from the fall, and Flavia groaning in pain.

"Ouch!" Flavia finally managed to stand up.

Duran, however, looked terrified. Just moments ago, under the lights—

--She saw the black snake, and in that brief moment, Flavia's grinning expression suddenly turned into a bulging, clenched jaw, transforming the sweet queen back into a monstrous, malevolent beast.

"Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! No! No! No! No! No!" Flavia finally managed to stand up. Duran tried to help her, but her companion quickly shouted, "Don't touch her! It's cracked! It's cracked!"

A fractured ischium is not a serious injury for Blood-giving Monster; given the Black Serpent's physical regenerative abilities, it would heal in just a few dozen seconds.

Cici tilted her body and smacked her bottom hard. With a snap, her bent tailbone quickly returned to its normal position. She bounced around a couple of times and regained her energy.

"What's wrong? Why did you suddenly let go?"

Duran didn't know what to say; perhaps the light was just blinding her, or perhaps it was just an illusion caused by psychological pressure.

She didn't want to talk to Flavia about anything related to the "Black Serpent," so she could only give a few perfunctory replies.

"It's nothing. I was just spacing out."

"Hi! Let's get back to making chocolate!" Flavia, about to continue her work, casually asked from her alchemy table, "Duran."

"Do you really hate Gloria?"

This question stumped Ms. Duran.

--Because she was not Homo sapiens, nor did she share the same hatred of evil as the anonymous person.

As mentioned earlier, she didn't have the capacity to hate Gloria, and even when she helped Meteor, it was only because of a strange belief.

There are vast differences between people; even a single heart can have different colors. Not to mention the chasm between humans and Blood-giving Monster.

"Do we really have to kill her?" Flavia casually chatted, as if reminiscing about family matters. "We were fortunate to escape the shipwreck thanks to Lady Gloria's generosity—if only she weren't an ogre!"

"We are both born of blood; if one day General of Tears suddenly goes mad and kills us too, things will get really bad!"

Duran was distracted, preoccupied with grinding cocoa beans; his soul was not in his body.

"Ah"

"Huh?" Flavia pouted, wanting to say a few words for Gloria's friends, "At first, I Gloria say that Mr. Derek Jokic, who dueled with the General of Tears, was a man with a tragic fate."

"His daughter went to sing in a bar, but was humiliated by the customers, contracted tuberculosis, and eventually died. It was Gloria who stood up for Mr. Derek, sending him her holy blood to bestow upon him divine power."

"The General of Tears seems to know nothing, understands nothing—"

"--During the duel, he chopped Christina's body to pieces!"

"I felt uneasy hearing this, and I don't know why."

Duran felt increasingly uneasy as he listened, but didn't know what to say.

Flavia continued.

"Later, Miss Bailan arrived. She came to the dance hall first and met me there."

"She was a sentimental older sister; she kept crying when she talked about the past with Gloria."

"She said it was she who ruined Christina; she killed Mr. Derek's daughter."

"If she hadn't meddled in this mess and hadn't taught Christina to sing—perhaps Derek's daughter wouldn't have died."

"They were all very good friends! They were all stabbed and hacked to death by General of Tears Ku's sword."

"Gloria is so kind; she helps those in need whenever they ask for her help."

"If that's the case, then the General of Tears should have a lot in common with her."

"But why?"

At this point, Duran finally realized something.

"Flavia, this isn't right."

Queen Cici asked in confusion, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing's right!" Duran emphasized. "If Gloria Sebastian truly pitied these poor souls, she should have given them their freedom! She should have had the courage to stand up and face powerful enemies, instead of sending blood slaves to their deaths! She's not as good as you think! She's a hypocrite! The devil will always disguise himself as the person people like best! Cici! Wake up!"

"They've fallen ill, poisoned by the Vita Imprint and the Holy Blood, turned into cannibals!"

"Is Bu Liuxing indiscriminately killing innocent people? I don't think so."

"Why would you sympathize with the enemy?!"

Flavia's expression gradually stiffened; she didn't know how to respond to Duran.

After a long time, she selected three types of alchemical base materials and made nine ping-pong ball-sized chocolates, all of which were gifts for the General of Tears.

"My mind is a mess. I don't know why, but I seem to be able to recall some strange things."

"I just think, could we try to reason with Gloria?"

"She agrees to everything I say, and she's willing to find me anything I want."

"The chocolate I made, and the cocoa beans, were a gift from Gloria. Now, I'm going to use that power against Gloria. I don't think that's right."

"If everyone could sit down calmly and have a proper talk..."

At that moment, Duran was on the verge of collapse.

She finally understood that Gloria Sebastian's goal might not just be Bu Liuxing!

The arrogant and confident devil seems determined to take Flavia away with him! Just two cans of cocoa beans are enough to captivate Flavia's heart!

At this point, Ars Claudia Duran began chanting God again.

It felt like stepping back into the days of the Little Brotherhood, back to that chaotic and evil era.

"Oh my God!!!"