The Power of Gentleness

(Ceruno)

Bang--

The Black Mud -like substance slammed into the tempered glass wall, instantly flattening into a black pancake before limply flowing to the ground and reforming into a human shape.

But his violent temper remained unabated as he furiously pounded on the walls of the monitoring room.

Liu, carrying a video camera, helplessly shrugged.

"Do you understand now? This thing can't be called life at all. Aldebaran didn't endow it with any intelligence, and it also laid insurance for its Simulacrum Factor. It's like a huge unstable factor. Even SpiCa can't do anything about it. After all, its head is solid and it doesn't have a brain."

Actually...

The lack of intelligence and insurance might both be due to Miluno's kick, Aldebaran flying and interrupted the modification of the Special Monster.

"Sister Ceruno... what is this...?"

Xiaojie showed obvious fear; the oil monster in the darkness looked especially eerie, and she shrank back behind me.

His pitiful appearance greatly aroused my protective instincts.

"Don't be afraid, your sister will protect you."

I summoned my wand and twirled it between my fingertips.

There was a time when my bubble couldn't restrain his movements, but as the saying goes, "a man should be looked at with new eyes after three days of separation," and now I can firmly trap him in place.

"Then I'll open the door. If he escapes, I'll handle it. Don't worry too much."

As Liu said this, he opened the heavy door of the prison cell.

Hmm...

The room was filled with the pungent smell characteristic of crude oil.

I led Xiaojie into the cell, the oil monster constantly pounding against my bubbles, but it was all in vain.

"Come, cast your magic on him."

"Um."

The dark-skinned, white-haired girl nodded and stepped out from behind me.

She raised her hand, and a warm ripple spread from her palm toward the Black Mud figure in the bubble cage.

The Black Mud, upon contact with the microwave, quickly stopped its agitation and gradually softened.

"Oh?"

Even the flow of people blocking the door was surprised by this change.

"So, can Xiaojie's magic soothe emotions?"

"It seems my guess was correct. It can not only soothe emotions but also relieve pain... I guess this can be considered a kind of auxiliary magic!"

Xiaojie can forcefully soothe negative emotions such as anger, resentment, and frustration. Although she cannot make people happy, she can bring their mental state back to a normal baseline.

In other words, this is magic that can bring peace of mind.

The reason I couldn't get results before was because I've always been in a peaceful state of mind, so I didn't need her magic to do anything.

Liu raised his hand and rubbed Xiaojie's head.

"What a gentle power."

Influenced by his emotions, the Black Mud inside the bubble cage transformed back into a shimmering rubber boy, sitting quietly with his knees bent, a rather pleasing sight... Wait, why do I find a handsome boy pleasing to the eye?

"Hehe! Will my magic come in handy?"

"Of course, this will be very useful."

Whether they're witches or Magical Girl Soldiers, as long as Xiaojie has her Xiaojie, she can definitely make them sit down and talk...

The same applies to those blinded by hatred; this power can help them calm down and consider the pros and cons of war and peace.

This child must be a gift from God.

You're amazing!

We hugged Xiaojie with great joy, while the quiet, rubbery boy sat there staring blankly at us.

What should we do with him?

Although things have calmed down.

But he still lacks a brain, cannot converse, and cannot understand any instructions.

Once we leave, he'll probably revert to his previous violent state and continue to undergo various experiments by the researchers...

"Princess, don't think you can do anything for him. He's now the Association's property, an important research guinea pig."

Liu seemed to have read my mind and spoke up first to remind me.

"Of course I know... but he was originally human, wasn't he?"

Even if it were, it's impossible for it to turn back.

I know that too...

I thought for a moment and asked:

Do witches all have brains?

Liu raised an eyebrow and replied, "... Theoretically, yes, after all, witches are all humanoid."

"If we give him an Artificial Crystal, will it give him a brain too?"

Although they cannot revert to being human, it is known that advanced Monster can transform into witches using Artificial Crystal... Would possessing three Simulacrum Factor qualify one as an advanced Monster?

Liu shook his head in rejection.

"This is too dangerous, and where are you going to find extra Artificial Crystal?"

"Some."

Just like Pawa.

Although the previous Cross Witch died suddenly due to the Simulacrum Factor turning into gold, the Artificial Crystal inside her body was undoubtedly intact.

"Are you really going to do this?"

Liu confirmed again, and seeing my nod in agreement, he sighed helplessly.

"Sigh, I can't make decisions about this kind of experiment myself; it requires the approval of Director SpiCa. You should wait for me to report it."

"I agree. This is a chance to obtain firsthand data on the Artificial Witch."

SpiCa responded quickly, and even rushed to the research lab himself.

She added, "Xiaojie's magic is also very suitable for use in Nabu Island Prison. She can make witches docile; she's a natural psychologist."

Feeling praised, Xiaojie scratched her head and gave a shy smile.

"But, Ceruno."

SpiCa had more to say. She looked at me and asked, "Do you know how to fuse Artificial Crystal with Monster?"

"Huh? It's not enough if it's embedded in your chest?"

This sounds like I'm just making assumptions.

"Flow."

SpiCa called out, and Liu Cai awkwardly began to take off his clothes. He took off his suit jacket, then unbuttoned his white shirt, and pulled down the collar of his vest to reveal his prismatic Simulacrum Factor.

"Artificial Crystal was developed based on the Simulacrum Factor. Research shows that the Simulacrum Factor and Star Crystal can be regarded as products of the same technology but different processes."

SpiCa was only halfway through speaking when Liu picked up the conversation.

"My Simulacrum Factor is connected to the nervous system; it can't be done by simply forcing it in... If I'm not mistaken, the creation of every Artificial Witch, or even Magical Girl Soldiers, requires an extremely precise surgery."

But Miluno said Magical Girl Soldiers are mass-produced... Oh, is that why the pass rate is so low?

After some thought, I offered my own hypothesis.

"So, Aldebaran is the only one who can perform this surgery?"

"Why do you say that, Your Highness?"

"Otherwise, how could she have had the opportunity to tamper with the Artificial Witch's Simulacrum Factor? It was as if she timed it perfectly; every time we captured a witch, she would kill us to silence us."

Liu shook his head and replied:

"She's the head of the development department, so it's normal for her to be in charge of the modification surgery, but that doesn't mean she's the only one who has mastered this technology... At least, the former head of the development department who created me should be able to do the same thing."

But given Aldebaran's ruthless methods, that former head of the development department is most likely already... gone!