Ptilopsis: Bro, Take It Easy / A Rare Glimpse of a Shark Hunting a Jellyfish

"Yes, there are, and you know them too."

Kal'tsit handed the Doctor a glass of water, then stared at the computer screen. The appearance of Mizuki was a pleasant surprise for Rhodes Island. If his cells were used properly, the cure for Oripathy might be just around the corner.

Who is it?

"Cicero, the Bishop of the Deep Sea"

"Ah?"

Miss Doctor was so surprised that she took a sip of water to calm herself down; this was truly unexpected.

"It seems you really don't remember. Wasn't it you who suggested taking the initiative to find him?"

"Puff!"

Upon hearing this bombshell news, the Doctor couldn't help herself and sprayed all the water on Kal'tsit's face.

Then, for the first time, the Doctor experienced what it felt like to be choked and lifted up, hanging from the bridge. Hmm, Rhodes Island is really tall.

Chapter 110 Goldenglow: Brother, you need to be more restrained!

The District of Columbia is the brain of the entire country. Countless orders are issued and countless pieces of information flow in from here every day, making it a mysterious place for most people.

After all these years, Vice President Jackson is no longer surprised at all. He still remembers how he was when he first arrived here, clumsy and impulsive, a completely different person from how he is now.

"Phew... Old Ham's lunch is still as delicious as ever."

In the vice president's private lounge, Jackson ate lunch and couldn't help but utter such a remark.

Maintaining a perfect image as the Vice President in Columbia news and public discourse is exhausting. He must constantly be mindful of his words and actions, his attire, and the smile on his face.

Because he is the image of Columbia, in a sense he is Columbia. Even now, almost everyone knows him as the vice president, but knows very little about the president who truly supports the operation of the country. There are even rumors that the president is actually a robot, some kind of mechanical god.

"Well, he added a lot of salt today, and I don't really like this kind of food."

Just as Jackson was pondering this, the bird that had been perched on his shoulder spoke, emitting a rather shrill sound.

"Jackson, you should try eating more nutritious foods. Mizuki said it would be good for your health."

"Your Excellency, please forgive me, but I simply cannot bring myself to eat those things."

Yes, this bird that always stood beside Jackson, and was always considered Jackson's pet, was actually the behind-the-scenes manager of Columbia, President Mark Max.

Just recalling what Mizuki had served him back then, Jackson suddenly lost his appetite; his food had vanished without a trace.

I remember that at that time, Jackson even began to suspect that the president was already dissatisfied with him as vice president and was planning to get rid of him.

"Hmm, I can understand. Mizuki's dishes are indeed hard for humans to accept in terms of appearance, but you really should try them."

"I'll try my best next time."

Jackson was used to facing everyone with a smile, and even when a sudden explosion occurred in front of him, he remained calm and composed.

"Your Excellency, if I may be so bold, is this really a good idea?"

"You mean Mizuki's matter?"

"Yes."

Although he had long since learned the lesson that "the president's orders are always in Columbia's best interest," Jackson found it difficult to understand the president's choice this time.

"Tell me your thoughts."

The president jumped onto the table, staring at Jackson with his sharp eyes. He was not the kind of tyrant who wouldn't listen to advice, nor was Jackson the kind of mediocre person who spouted nonsense.

"The struggle between the Melnade Foundation and the military over Mizuki is intensifying. Whether it's the radicals advocating for utilization or the conservatives seeking cooperation, they all ultimately see the potential in Mizuki."

No action by Columbia could escape the eyes of the President, and naturally the Vice President knew a great deal as well. The Columbia military was now far too obsessed with obtaining the Mizuki, even going so far as to use E00 Cells as bargaining chips to secretly make deals with certain individuals.

The Melnade Foundation, however, worried that such reckless behavior might cause Columbia to miss out on more readily available benefits, such as gaining a deeper understanding of the secrets behind the Snowfield through the Mizuki.

Of course, the radicals in the military were extremely dismissive of this. They even believed that if it weren't for the Melnade Foundation's interference, the military would have already captured Mizuki and brought her back for research. Once the immortality potion was truly developed, no, even if it was only a semi-finished product, it would be enough to make Columbia the strongest country in Terra, even far surpassing Iberia and Victoria in their heyday.

As for Mizuki? They admitted that Mizuki himself must be formidable to possess such cells, but so what? In the end, he was just a person. Could he possibly conjure up several masters out of thin air?

(Seaborn: Hello, are a few dozen divisions enough?)

However, Jackson and Mark both knew that even if the Columbia military mobilized the entire Columbia army, let alone the group of Seaborn in the deep sea, they might not be able to capture Mizuki. Ordinary soldiers were utterly useless against him; a single rain shower would cause the deadly toxins in the water to evaporate and mix into the air. Add to that Mizuki's near-absolute control over others' senses, and how could the Columbia army possibly capture him?

"But the more people who know Mizuki's true identity, the more disadvantageous it will be for Columbia. We can't expect that one Ho'olheyak can change Mizuki's opinion of Columbia after she has lost her memory."

The President never needed Mizuki; in fact, he didn't need the military to exploit Mizuki in the same way. Otherwise, he wouldn't have invited Mizuki to Columbia and then helped him adapt a second time.

"And even though the Melnade Foundation may seem dovish now, you know, given enough incentive, they're not incapable of staining their own necks black with ink and becoming bald hawks."

The crucial point now is that, as the person in charge of everything, President Mark does not intend to step in to stop it or express support; he simply observes it as if he were watching his two children quarrel.

"Currently, the two sides are at odds and mutually restraining each other, but if the Melnade Foundation reaches an agreement with the military on this matter..."

Jackson didn't need to say anything more. Whether it was the Melnade Foundation or the Columbia military, they always prioritized their own interests, which meant that the two sides weren't necessarily destined to be adversaries.

If Columbia really goes to any lengths to acquire Mizuki, the consequences are obvious, and Jackson doesn't want that outcome.

"Are you worried that they, who were originally at odds, might choose to cooperate and do something drastic that would provoke Mizuki?"

"In fact, the military is already planning how to directly use Rhodes Island as leverage."

This is what's giving Jackson the biggest headache. Columbia's strength shouldn't be so great as to fail to discover that Mizuki has joined Rhodes Island. The military is even planning a Hongmen Banquet, pretending to cooperate with Rhodes Island, but their real target is still Mizuki.

"Don't worry, Jackson, Columbia is still my country."

Mark patted Jackson's head with his wing, his tone filled with unwavering determination. He knew, of course, that Jackson's concerns were not unfounded.

Ultimately, no one else knew about that deal except them. Neither the Melnade Foundation nor the Columbia military knew of Mizuki's existence, so it's not surprising that they subconsciously wanted to rely on him for their own benefit.

"More important than these things is when our partner will be able to embark on his journey. The Emperor should have already conveyed my message."

"He is hope, Jackson. Although, after all, I don't like these abstract things when it comes to actual data and calculations, since the world can't get any worse, why don't we place our hopes on this?"

"The instinct of life is to struggle, reproduce, evolve, and survive, and the purpose of all life is the future."

"This is the view that my father and his colleagues unanimously agree on, and that's how Mizuki was born."

Mark even considered ordering a glass of red wine, even though he didn't like alcohol, but he couldn't be stingy with the formalities.

Of course, it was time for him to step in and give his subordinates a little warning. Even without the Emperor's intervention, he had to ensure that nothing unexpected happened to Mizuki and Rhodes Island. When he heard that Mizuki only had one heart left, he was completely stunned for half an hour.

Fortunately, Mizuki's vitality was ridiculously strong, and their plan could still proceed.

On the other side, Rhodes Island experienced some minor, harmless mishaps, but overall things went smoothly.

This reunion between the siblings was touching, but not to the point of making you cry buckets like in a TV movie. The main reason is that Mizuki has amnesia, and the only thing she remembers about Goldenglow is his name.

However, Exusiai had already told Goldenglow about this situation before, so she wasn't surprised at all. She was already mentally prepared, but she just found it a little hard to control herself for a moment, after all, Mizuki's feelings for her were indeed deep.

"I'm sorry, Susie, I only remember your name."

Although he was shocked, for Mizuki, this level of electric current was only slightly uncomfortable at first, and he quickly got used to it. He even felt that he could catch a bolt of lightning on his face now; his body's adaptive evolution was terrifying.

"It's alright, I've already heard about it from Miss Exusiai. Is my brother alright?"

Just now, Susie accidentally lost control and released an electric current that could have knocked an adult unconscious. However, Mizuki seems to be completely unharmed; her clothes are fine, and even her hair didn't stand up.

"I'm fine, in fact, I'm quite energetic."

Mizuki briefly examined his body. Susie's electric shock had not only injured him, but had even made him somewhat aroused.

"Real?"

"Real."

Gently rubbing Susie's head and ears, Mizuki was indeed fine. The tentacles thoughtfully placed the snacks they had bought in front of Exusiai, instantly dispelling her previous gloom and making the halo above her head brighter.

There's no Laterano who can't be appeased with a dessert; if there is, then have another one.

"It's been so long since I've seen my brother! Whew, I'm so excited, I don't know what to say!"

Goldenglow patted her chest, then suddenly remembered that her hair had been all frizzy from static electricity. She had been worried about this, and since it was a rare reunion, she should at least tidy herself up, and at least fix her hair.

It's a complete mess now, and they even gave Mizuki an electrotherapy session.

(Seriously, I ruined what should have been a nice meeting.)

Goldenglow couldn't help but blame herself, and she almost cried. However, more than a year had passed since Mizuki left, and she had grown a lot. She was no longer the little girl who loved to cry.

"Alright, alright, it's a rare opportunity to meet, don't overthink it."

Even without memories, the feelings remain. Mizuki does have a kind of care for Goldenglow that she can't even explain herself, just like she does for Skadi, but it's a bit deeper.

With similar faces and eyes, Mizuki himself began to wonder if there was really some kind of kinship between him and Goldenglow. He glanced at Exusiai and the others, and Specter and Exusiai immediately understood what he meant. Specter picked up Skadi and walked out of the room.

"Wait a minute, what are you two doing? Let me go! Let me go! I'm Mizuki's sister!"

"I'm still his fiancée, so don't cause trouble here."

Exusiai took away the snacks that Mizuki had bought for her and closed the door behind her, leaving Mizuki and Goldenglow alone. This relieved Goldenglow's tension considerably, as it was much more relaxing to be alone with Mizuki.

Let me comb your hair first.

Mizuki glanced at Goldenglow's bristling fur and felt that the child was unusually cute, making her want to spoil her.

"Oh, I brought a comb, please, brother."

Goldenglow moved a small stool over, and Mizuki sat on the bed. She sat in front of Mizuki, feeling the hand stroking the top of her head. The familiar feeling made Goldenglow squint her eyes. It had been a long time since she had felt like this.

Combing a kitten's hair isn't easy, Mizuki needs to put in a little more effort, but it's not difficult. He's also been helping the girls at Penguin Logistics with their hair lately, especially after each fun time, because they like the smell of Jellyfish-chan, so they always mess up their hair.

"Brother, how many sisters-in-law have you found for me?"

Thinking of the three people who had just left, Goldenglow couldn't help but feel a little curious. The lack of memories wouldn't affect her relationship with Mizuki. She was just a little curious because Mizuki hadn't accepted any of the many girls back in Caladon, yet now she had found three sisters-in-law for her all at once, and according to Exusiai...

"This..."

Mizuki thought about it carefully and realized she had never actually counted them before. However, the girls from Penguin Logistics were definitely a done deal now. And if you included Lemuen, Mostima, Specter, there were already so many people!

"It seems like there are seven or eight."

"Elder brother..."

"Um?"

"Take care of yourself."

Goldenglow spoke earnestly, making Mizuki blush with embarrassment. Everything else was easy to discuss, but this was the only thing he could refute, though he couldn't bring himself to say it.

After all, the people who wanted to push him to his limits before are now afraid to sit alone with him. Apart from Kong, this girl is even planning to resign and settle down with Mizuki.

So, we prepared dozens of safety measures that night, but in the end Croissant only used one (Croissant), and the rest were not used. We probably won't need them again in the future.

Chapter 111 Rare footage of a shark preying on a jellyfish

"The Sami are warning us..."

The howling wind and snow seemed to be crushing the houses. Although it was daytime, the sky was unusually gloomy, as if the dark clouds in the sky wanted to crush the houses. The elderly Snow Priestess couldn't help but show worry in her eyes. Beside her, a Cyclops dressed in slightly heavy clothes also looked into the wind and snow.

Many people who have never seen Cyclops often have some misunderstandings about this race, thinking that Cyclops only have one eye, but in reality, they are more like ordinary Sarkaz.

However, the Cyclops possess the power to foresee destiny, and their language is always terrifyingly accurate, inspiring fear in all who behold them.

"Thank you for your help, Ealchi and Ms. Yara."

After settling his men in and instructing them not to disturb the villagers or show any discrimination, the Tin Man came to the two women's side and watched the snowstorm with them.

"They're starting to stir; the forward observation camp has been destroyed; our expedition team may not be able to return."

The Tin Man couldn't help but feel regret. He wasn't a benevolent person, but he felt that those excellent expedition teams shouldn't have been so hastily swallowed up by the Snowfield; they should have gone much further.

"Sami is warning you, Tin Man, how long has it been since we last met? What made you choose to come here?"

Ealchi looked at the man beside him. Apart from the metal head, the Tin Man's entire body was hidden under his wide robes. He walked silently and left no trace on the snow.

"It's something we have no choice but to do."

Having lost his original body, the Tin Man spoke in a much lower voice in front of his old friends. He looked up, and the white snowflakes had never made him feel so at ease.

"Are you working for Columbia now?"

"Do you expect me to go find that young, unnamed heir, or the regent currently entrenched in Victoria?"

If others were to overhear these words, they would be astonished by the Tin Man's identity; it's not hard to guess.

As a dead soul, the Sarkaz was unfazed by the cold wind, but recent events still made him feel that something was approaching. He was not afraid, nor could he be afraid. The Demons of northern Terra fed on fear, and those who bred fear would only become their nourishment.

Besides, the snow falling from the sky right now is white.