Chapter 93

"Yukina?"

A sudden call came from behind her, Yukina's hand trembled. She took a step back and saw Shinomiyami Nami looking at her with a puzzled expression.

"You just came from the elevator...?"

"I just..."

Her voice was a little off-key, and her vision blurred for a moment. Yukina quickly squatted down and buried her head in packing her commuter bag.

"I'm so sorry!"

"Wait, Yukina!"

Shinomiyami Nami wanted to say something, but Yukina had already run away without looking back.

The rain outside the window continued unabated, with no sign of it clearing up.

The sky was perfectly clear last night, and it didn't look like it was going to rain at all, but it's been raining non-stop since this morning.

Masaki Hina slowly explained to Efnir about her right eye.

"Okay, I understand. You don't need to say anything more."

Efnir interrupted Masaki Hina.

"I haven't finished speaking yet..."

Masaki Hina pouted and gave Efnir a resentful look.

Efnir gazed at the gloomy sky outside the window, her fingers twirling a strand of hair that had slipped down her shoulder.

"You just need to tell me the result. Since it's an incurable injury anyway, it doesn't really matter... It's just an eye, it shouldn't be a problem for me."

Efnir's voice was soft, as if it were drifting from a great distance.

She quietly withdrew her gaze, lowered her eyelashes, and slowly raised her hand, placing her fingertips over her right eye and gently stroking it.

Layer upon layer, her right eye was tightly padded with gauze. Efnir couldn't see her own hand, and even when she moved her eyeballs, all she saw was darkness. Through the gauze, she couldn't feel either temperature or the slightest tremor.

Only a sharp pain rose from deep within, piercing straight into my mind.

"I will personally seek Qinglan for this arrow wound."

Masaki Hina silently gazed at Efnir.

She didn't see anything particularly special on Efnir's face.

Of course, Efnir couldn't be completely indifferent, but as an agent, Efnir was mentally prepared for this.

They might die at any time, in any way, or in any place—it wouldn't be surprising for the agents; every day is a countdown, and they are aware of that.

While lying on the operating table, Efnir learned about the general condition of her body from the doctor. Because she had been directly exposed to Qinglan's "beam of light," Efnir's right arm was the most severely injured, followed by her right eye, which was also affected.

Agents can repair most physical wounds thanks to the catalysis and extension of bodily activity by the Order Force, but this self-repair mechanism, based on the instinct of the organism, is completely ineffective against wounds that are inherently irreparable.

For example, broken limbs or missing internal organs.

When Efnir's eyes were directly exposed to the beam of light, their internal structure underwent "Mutation," or "infection." The structure of the eyeball was Mutation, rapidly degenerating into Dregs.

These residual energies were highly reactive and were quickly consumed and absorbed. The rest were completely devoured by the Order Energy, leaving nothing behind. However, the damaged eyeball structure was utterly irreparable, which was the direct cause of blindness.

In contrast, the right arm is covered with skin. After the outer layer of skin is removed, new skin will grow back under the stimulation of the drug and guided by the Order Force.

Surgical excision is one of the most effective methods for inhibiting Corruption rates for agents, but obviously, this surgery cannot be applied to the eye.

Once removed, it's gone and won't grow back, so Efnir opted for conservative treatment at the time.

In the end, no miracle occurred.

"Hmm... okay then."

Masaki Hina sighed, no longer insisting on anything, and neatly folded the report in her hand, putting it into her bosom.

Medical reports or medical records related to the agent are also classified information and should not be discarded casually.

"If you'd like, I can have someone custom-make a prosthetic eye for you. Although it's a replacement, it can look exactly like your original eye. I happen to know an old friend who's very good at this."

"I'll consider it."

Efnir lowered her eyes and turned her head to look at Masaki Hina.

"However, Chufei, you didn't come here just to tell me bad news, did you?"

"Yes, of course, there are a few things I'd like to get your opinion on..."

Masaki Hina said.

129. I'll give it to you.

"We traced back the existing intelligence, investigating their intelligence routes, the amount of communication, and its destination, and have obtained some valuable information. But, how should I put it, there's one point in the intelligence they provided that I'm particularly concerned about."

Masaki Hina was unusually serious today. She lowered her gaze and took something out of her pocket that was in a plastic box.

--A silver ring.

There are also some research materials and reports.

"I'll let you see these things first, because they involve content related to the Apostle. Once they're reported to the Union, access will be restricted immediately, and it will be difficult to retrieve them after that, haha."

Masaki Hina smiled.

Efnir frowned in surprise and looked up.

"Is this the Apostle Beacon? The one we got from Uzuki Saori?"

"Yes, as one of the rare research materials you brought back, it was sent to the lab for analysis. The final result was: this ring is no different from the one in Sakurai Sachi's hand. One such sample is enough, so I took it out."

When he first met the Apostle Sakurai Sachi, he obtained his first Apostle Beacon from her, which was also a silver ring.

In just a few days, the researchers from the Orderkeepers Organization responsible for this project did not obtain any valuable information from the Apostle Beacon. There was only one Beacon, so they had to be extremely careful. Even if they had some guesses, they dared not casually borrow agents from the Orderkeepers Organization to conduct experiments.

But now the situation has changed, because new ideas have begun to emerge in the research on Uzuki Saori.

Has any progress been made in the research on this thing?

"There's been no significant progress, but we've obtained some intelligence. I think you might be surprised, or perhaps you already guessed it— the Apostle Beacon is essentially the same type of equipment as the Agent Beacon. It turns out that only Eligible can use it. Naturally, all Agents have the ability to awaken the Apostle Beacon, Uzuki Saori is not an exception. In fact, the 'suitability' of different Agents for the Apostle Beacon is almost exactly the same as their suitability for the Agent Beacon."

Masaki Hina paused.

"Research into this equipment has begun. Ayse volunteered to try and Synchronization with the 'Apostle,' and succeeded. We are currently observing her physical condition and comparing it with that of Sakurai Sachi and Uzuki Saori."

"..."

Efnir listened quietly, neither refuting nor agreeing.

Conducting experiments in this way when the information is unclear is not a safe approach. Efnir can understand these people's actions, but she cannot agree with them.

Seeing that Efnir remained silent, Masaki Hina roughly knew what Efnir was thinking.

She spoke softly and handed the ring to Efnir.

"I want to give this one to you."

Masaki Hina's eyes were very serious; Efnir rarely saw such an expression on her face.

When they were together, Masaki Hina always acted in a quirky and mischievous way that was beyond her years, which even gave Efnir the headache of dealing with a child. Unconsciously, when facing the real Masaki Hina, this impression created a sense of disconnect.

However, when it comes to official business, Masaki Hina appears particularly reliable.

After a moment's hesitation, Efnir lowered her gaze and looked at the plastic box in Masaki Hina's hand.

The silver ring lay quietly inside the box.

"The power of the Apostle... aren't there any other suitable candidates? This thing might not be very useful to me."

Efnir said, rejecting Masaki Hina's suggestion.

Taking enemy weapons for their own use is not a despicable act of betrayal. If the power of the Apostle could be used by them, that would be even better. But in fact, putting aside the safety of the Apostle's power, Ephnel herself would be more comfortable using it than the unfamiliar power of the Apostle Efnir.

Therefore, Efnir had no reason to abandon Ephnel and choose the Apostle, but after saying this, Efnir suddenly felt a slight stirring in her heart.

She thought of Fengling Shiyin.

If she doesn't accept it, then who will ultimately receive the Apostle Beacon? Undoubtedly, giving the Apostle Beacon to Fengling Shiyin is the best option given the current situation. Having lost an arm, she can no longer continue to be active as Fifina and should have retired, but if she can use the Apostle's power, she can return to the battlefield, which would be a great help to Xijing City.

But such an ending is far too cruel for Fengling Shiyin.

Efnir pursed her lips and remained silent.

Fortunately, it seems that Masaki Hina has no Beacon of leaving the beacon for Fengling Shiyin.

"Not really... I made this decision after careful consideration, and it's not that I want you to give up 'Ephnel,' I just want to entrust it to you."

"Um?"

Efnir was somewhat surprised.

Why me?

"I can't think of anyone else..."

Masaki Hina hesitated for a moment, stared at the plastic box in her palm, and said softly.

"Efnir, you've fought against the 'Apostle,' so you should be able to feel how obvious their advantage as 'Apostle' is, right? Compared to agents, their way of using power is more primitive, but also more direct, possessing a variability and destructive power that agents can hardly match... However, we know nothing about where this power comes from, when it was born, or what it will bring."

Masaki Hina took a deep breath.

"I'll be stepping down soon, and what the future holds, where it will lead, none of us know... I need to return to the Central Province, and there are also some things I care about to do... The current alliance seems to have changed somewhat. Efnir, continuing from last time, why do you think so many people from the Apostle' side suddenly flooded into the organization right under my nose? Their files and identities haven't raised any questions, so in other words, the suspicion should lie with the auditing and record management department, or rather... the Human Federation. So... who is it that's stepping me down at this time?"

Masaki Hina asked a long string of questions, then raised her eyes and said solemnly.

"Those who stood up to save the world are all dead, Efnir, you know that better than I do. So if at some point in the future... perhaps soon, the Human Federation will extend its reach to Xijing City, whatever you do, absolutely, absolutely do not have any illusions about the people sent by the Central Province."

130. Yukina Xue

"Hmm..." Efnir suddenly smiled, "Not even for you?"

"I am the exception!"

Masaki Hina glared at Efnir with annoyance.

"Not all people in the Central Province are as easy to get along with as I am. Of course... there are some decent people among them, but no matter what, I feel for you..."

Masaki Hina looked away, her fingers tightening as if she wanted to say something but hesitated.

"Ah, never mind, it's nothing... You can have this."

She opened the plastic box, took out the ring, placed it in Efnir's palm, and as it slid across Efnir's fingertip, she gently curled her finger and then quickly released it.

Masaki Hina looked out the window, her eyes unfathomable.

"This thing might be a clue to an opportunity... What it hides behind, no matter which power it falls into, will probably not end well. Efnir, if this power will ultimately bring misfortune, I hope you will bear it."

Efnir looked at the silver ring in her palm; it felt cool and, like other Ruins Technology equipment, had a weight disproportionate to its size.

At that moment, Masaki Hina suddenly raised her eyes.

"Hmm... it seems your parents are here."

She said this, and slowly stood up.

"Well then, I should go too."

"It's alright if you stay..."

"Let's leave it at that this time... Your parents are leaving Western Capital today, right? I won't take up your time together."

Masaki Hina waved her hand dismissively, but a fleeting look of disappointment crossed her eyes.