People often said that extreme intelligence brings harm.
That was, once exceptionally intelligent people became mired in inner conflict, it would turn against them, subjecting them to immense psychological pressure.
Disgust, hatred, anger?
A faint sense of baseness spread madly like wildfire, scorching reason already nearing its limit.
No matter how much she achieved, she still seemed to be someone who needed protection.
Did you think so too, Dio-
In a daze, Cheadle seemed to see blazing flames burrowing into her lungs and heart, pain at her own helplessness, anger at being disregarded by someone close to her-
After a long while, she suppressed every emotion.
Calm down, Cheadle. Don't act like a child. Restrain yourself, then restrain yourself again-
Cheadle lowered her head and took a painful, deep breath, swallowing all her resentment and confusion.
It was as though she had swallowed a thorn bush whole, its long thorns scraping inch by inch from her throat into her stomach.
If pain was one step toward becoming strong.
Then let the storm never cease.
So please, exercise restraint, then more restraint. Suppress it, then suppress it again-
Not far away, Chairman Netero quietly settled into the chairman's seat, silently watching Cheadle at the far end.
She was angry, wasn't she? That child had too strong a sense of responsibility-
Little Cheadle wasn't someone who could accept being ignored. Boy, if you came back, Dio, remember to let her know you were safe. Otherwise-
Netero folded his arms across his chest, each hand tucked into the opposite sleeve, and looked toward the empty stage. The meeting would begin shortly.
Having regained her composure, Cheadle remembered something else.
In the last words Dio had left her, he had mentioned [Kakin].
She knew Dio had made a special trip to Kakin, so perhaps