Loyalty

In a secluded corner unnoticed, the three new warriors who had joined the Warrior Unit —Litt, Bazel, and Ivanor —Newt Aili.

"Doctor Ebson asked me to give you his regards," Bazel said with a smile to Aili and Newt.

Upon hearing the name Ebson, Aili instinctively shrank back, while Newt lowered his head and clenched his fists behind his back.

While enduring Ivanor's eager gaze, Aili asked Bazel, "What do you mean? What is your purpose in contacting us?"

Bazel turned to look at Litt beside him, but Litt had a cold face and didn't seem to have any intention of explaining. Hearing this, he just turned away. Ivanor on the other side looked more like a pervert. Bazel shrugged helplessly. It seemed that he was the only one who could explain.

Bazel: "Aili, Newt, you should both know where your powers come from, and you should also know who gave you these powers."

Aili and Newt both looked at Bazel lowered his voice, "It was Doctor Ebson who bestowed upon you your powerful Titan Power. You must understand, this Titan Power strength doesn't come from the Titan Warriors that the Marleyan have always relied on. Our strength is stronger! More superior!"

Seeing that the two didn't react, Bazel continued, "You've probably heard about the price of becoming Marley Warriors, haven't you? Only thirteen years of lifespan. But did you know that Doctor Ebson can completely rid us of this weakness, allowing us to become warriors with the Titan Power forever!"

Hearing this, Aili and Newt finally reacted. Aili opened her mouth in astonishment, "How is that possible?"

Ivanor, standing to the side, widened her eyes. "Aili-chan's surprised look! So cute! So adorable! I want to kiss her!!"

Ignoring Ivanor's infatuation, Bazel nodded. "Of course it's possible. Since Doctor Ebson can grant us the Titan Power, he can certainly help us overcome this weakness, but on the condition that we pay a certain amount of loyalty."

"Loyalty? Ha, loyal to whom? Marley?" Newt had been silent until now, spoke coldly. His voice sounded hoarse and dry. Aili found Newt's voice very novel, because she had almost never heard Newt speak so many words in the Warrior Unit.

"Marley? No, no, no, of course not. All we need to do is pledge our loyalty to the Doctor. And of course, the Doctor's reward for our loyalty will be far more than just solving the thirteen-year lifespan problem."

Aili sensed something different in Bazel's words. "I remember, isn't Doctor Ebson a Marley Nobility? Doesn't he pledge allegiance to Marley?" Aili clearly remembered that Ebson, dressed in a suit, had come to the Liberio Internment Zone with several Marley Officer to select her to become Sea-Swimming Titan.

A glint flashed in Bazel's narrowed eyes, and he continued, "That's true for now, but it might not be in the future."

Newt: "Really? Then why didn't you call on the little guy who throws claws? Wasn't he also created by your Doctor?" There was a hint of sarcasm in Newt's voice, but Bazel didn't seem to care. Instead, he said, "Him? Porco? The Flying Claw Titan? He was just the Doctor's first experiment. The Doctor doesn't even think much of his strength. Besides, that Porco has been tamed by the Marleyan for too long. The Doctor doesn't need anyone else's loyal hound."

Bazel's words were full of disdain for the Flying Claw Titan, but neither Aili nor Newt refuted them; instead, they both fell silent.

Seeing that the two were still hesitating, Bazel added, "Think it through. Think about your families. Aili, you have your Younger Brother Younger Sister and your mother. Newt, your wife is waiting for you at home. Are you really willing to only stay with them for thirteen years?"

Bazel's words seemed to be meant to persuade the two, but Aili and Newt weren't fools. They understood the threat in his words; the deeper meaning was that their families were in someone else's hands.

Left with no other choice, Aili and Newt had to agree to Bazel's request to pledge allegiance to Ebson.

"Very good. Next, we will continue to cooperate with the Marley Warrior Unit. After all, the Doctor is still thinking about Marley." Bazel said with a smile.

"The Middle Easterners ignored our warnings, Master," Bill said to Ebson, who was busy at the lab table, in the brightly lit room, a cigarette dangling from his lips.

Ebson didn't react much to this. He calmly put down the equipment in his hand, took off his gloves, and picked up a handkerchief to wipe non-existent sweat from his forehead.

"Really? Then these Middle East bearded men are even dumber than I expected. Since they won't listen to advice, they can't be blamed. Let them reap what they sow." Ebson said casually as he took off his white coat.

Bill nodded. "Furthermore, as you instructed, we have secretly taken control of the Federation in the Far East, but, Master, there's something I don't quite understand."

Ebson slowly folded his white coat, glanced at Bill, and asked, "Is there something you don't understand?"

Seeing this, Bill asked the question that had been bothering him, "Master, since you were aware of the Tybur family's underhanded tactics, why did you tolerate Tybur? And why did you help Marley during the war? You could have easily replaced Tybur."

Ebson suddenly waved a finger, interrupting Bill. "Don't ask too many questions. I have my own considerations. Marley and Tybur are dispensable to me, but their presence can attract what I want." As he spoke, Ebson folded his white coat, then walked slowly to the door, pulled it open, and outside was a beautiful view of Shimizu.

Ebson took a few deep breaths of fresh air, then said, "Marley or the Middle East, there are too many ignorant people in this world. The Eldians are truly useless. Only I can bring a new future to this world. I will prove it. Just you wait and see." As he said the last sentence, Ebson looked up at the sky. Bill, standing behind him, felt something was off. That last sentence didn't seem to be directed at him. Who was it addressed to?

(I'm so sorry, everyone! My schedule was packed Muzi, from afternoon until 9 pm, so I couldn't update. Muzi just didn't have time, and I didn't even have dinner. Although everyone calls me a short guy, I'm still very responsible. Here's my double update as compensation for today!)