Volume 2

Chapter 42: The Snake Grants No Rest

The absurd farce at the Ether Academy had come to an end.

In hindsight, before the Sainthue Family was fully subdued, Conrad had secretly diverted a batch of resources.

He used these to hire a fifth-tier mercenary from the Zero Point Explorers and purchased a top-tier forced teleportation scroll, nearly impossible for even fifth-tiers to resist, to whisk away Ronggor and Barnes, leaving him alone to kill Mingfuluo.

It could only be said that Conrad’s obsession with personally killing Mingfuluo, that noble “sense of ritual,” led to his deserved defeat—even hiring an assassin to kill me would have had a near-perfect success rate.

But Conrad’s death didn’t mean… everything was over.

The struggle over the Sainthue legacy continued, with various forces still vying for it.

Solen, who had held the greatest advantage, lost his overwhelming edge due to this sudden event.

It was clear to all that the chaos and battle that day were a grand performance orchestrated by Anselm for his prized Contract Head.

The stage was the Ether Academy’s headquarters, perfectly positioned at the center of this massive storm, with at least a dozen fifth-tier transcendents gathered, casting their gazes.

The opponent was a desperate heir of a deeply rooted ducal family.

Empowered by madness and resources, Conrad’s displayed strength… was undeniable.

A stage under the world’s scrutiny, an opponent giving his all, and our star, Miss Hitana Lansmarlos, lived up to expectations, claiming a crown that inspired awe.

Whether it was her eerily powerful Spiritual Essence, her astonishing talent, or her synergy with the Contract Heads’ power… no one doubted Hitana’s potential.

If her growth went smoothly, in three or four years at the shortest, or five or six at the longest, a monster capable of flattening the Empire would emerge in Anselm’s hands.

Even more chilling was that, given Hitana’s growth trajectory, it was likely to be smooth—unimaginably smooth.

Unyielding Calamity—this was the name gradually spreading among the Imperial Capital’s transcendent circles for Hitana.

Unyielding, straightforwardly highlighting her most prominent trait in battle; Calamity, derived from her notorious reputation in Chishuang Territory and the terrifying cruelty and savagery she displayed in combat.

Every person who watched the recording of this battle would ask themselves—if they faced Hitana, that monster so eager for battle and slaughter, staring into those dark red eyes that seemed to want to devour their flesh… How much fighting spirit could they muster?

Hitana’s victory was undeniably perfect and it was this perfection that made the great figures speculate about Anselm’s true intentions at the Ether Academy.

Was he really there to support Solen or was it to ensure Conrad wouldn’t hesitate to take the bait, so he attended Solen’s lecture instead?

Did he truly care little for Babel Tower?

If so, what about the undeniably revolutionary 【Data System】 Mingfuluo presented?

She had personally claimed it was Anselm’s invention.

Who in the world would dare use Anselm as a shield?

And if Anselm was generous enough to give this to Mingfuluo, how could his relationship with Babel Tower not be close?

Every time someone thought they’d grasped the young Hydra’s intentions, events would shatter their assumptions.

Because of this, Anselm’s stance became murky once more, and Babel Tower became an entity worth vying for. Their value soared, but it also meant, in this still-swirling vortex… they had no escape, no way out.

—One more misstep, and the consequences would be unthinkable.

“Hendrik.”

Before Hendrik’s desk, a middle-aged man in a black robe adorned with gems nodded slightly: “What do you think?”

“…Your Grace, I cannot make a decision on this matter.”

The current leader of Babel Tower gave a wry smile: “The Data System belongs to Mingfuluo—no, to Lord Anselm. I truly cannot decide on my own.”

“Since Anselm gave it to you, he naturally entrusted you with the decision.”

The Essence Grand Duke, one of the Supreme Nine Seats of the Ether Academy, spoke calmly: “This thing, I must have. If my current offer isn’t satisfactory, name a higher price.”

“But…”

Knock, knock, knock—

The sound of knocking interrupted Hendrik’s words and the Essence Grand Duke tilted his head slightly: “Come in.”

The petite woman with gray glasses entered. In the Imperial Capital now, few would be unfamiliar with her.

—Data System… a composite spell breaking the limits of traditional magic, a goldmine of infinite value, a treasure of boundless potential.

Even the most basic sorcerer apprentice could see its immense worth.

If not for that reckless Calamity Miss, Mingfuluo Zege would undoubtedly have become the most sought-after figure in the Imperial Capital after that lecture.

But there are no “what ifs” in this world.

The fact was that Hitana Lansmarlos, so cherished, so treasured, so valued by that young Hydra, used her power and talent to formally announce her existence to the Empire, to the world.

Everything—the Sainthue Family, the fifth-tier transcendents, the Ether Academy—was merely a footnote to her rise to fame.

And in these footnotes, Mingfuluo and her “achievements” seemed somewhat insignificant.

Of course, this was only in terms of public discussion.

From a practical perspective, the “big figures” approaching Babel Tower these past few days were endless.

The Data System… the more farsighted, knowledgeable, and willing to think deeply one was, the more its boundless potential became apparent—a terrifying thing.

No big figure would let it go and Babel Tower’s return to the eye of the storm was precisely because of this.

“Your Grace,” Mingfuluo slightly bowed to the Essence Grand Duke.

“Oh, Miss Zege, have a seat.”

The Essence Grand Duke, here to negotiate, acted almost like the host: “Hendrik told me he can’t decide on matters regarding the Data System. I assume… you can?”

Sitting on a nearby chair, Mingfuluo was silent for a moment before turning to Hendrik:

“Hendrik,” her face showed no expression, but her tone was earnest, “could you please step out for a moment?”

Hendrik froze, then nodded gently: “No problem, Mingfuluo. Have a good talk with His Grace.”

Babel Tower’s leader left his office and the Essence Grand Duke, here to negotiate, raised an eyebrow with interest: “What, planning to propose a private deal?”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Mingfuluo lowered her gaze slightly: “Before that, could you tell me the conditions you’re offering?”

“I like straightforward people.”

The Essence Grand Duke nodded with satisfaction, snapping his fingers lightly.

A head appeared out of thin air, dropping to the floor.

“Baina Kailenst, a fifth-tier retainer of the Sainthue Family.”

The Grand Duke, standing at the Empire’s peak, propped his chin with one hand: “You may not know, but the Sainthue’s mad kid only hired one fifth-tier from the Zero Point Explorers to come after you. The Sainthue Family’s three fifth-tier retainers are currently scattered, hiding well.”

“…” Mingfuluo looked at the head on the floor, pausing before responding, “Your Grace means they might come to kill me?”

“Who knows what orders Conrad gave them? But since that mad kid failed… it’s reasonable for them to target you and Babel Tower for revenge.”

The Essence Grand Duke tilted his chin slightly: “So, it’s not just you who’ll suffer. Babel Tower isn’t the Ether Academy. If they go crazy and storm in for a massacre…”

He smirked: “You could think I’m exaggerating, but if it happens, consider the losses and casualties.”

“I’ve already taken care of one of the three as a greeting gift, a show of sincerity.”

His tone was light: “Agree to my deal, and I’ll handle the other two. That’s the first condition.”

“…And the second?”

“The second, naturally, is resources.”

The Essence Grand Duke waved his hand: “Whatever you need, contact me. Large quantities of basic resources or rare, hard-to-find ones—within six months, name your price, no upper limit.”

This overly generous attitude made it clear he wasn’t just after the Data System.

Sure enough, he added: “Of course, with Anselm’s support, you might not lack for this. We can have my people coordinate with Anselm’s to fill any gaps.”

Seeing Mingfuluo still silent, the Essence Grand Duke frowned slightly but showed no impatience, continuing:

“The third condition: I’ll join two other factions in the Ether Academy to resolve any issues concerning Babel Tower, though it’ll take time.”

At this, Mingfuluo finally spoke: “For Your Grace to offer such terms, you don’t just want the Data System’s template and usage, do you?”

“Of course, I want… everything.”

Greed flickered in the Essence Grand Duke’s eyes: “From the most basic, foundational ideas to the entire process of turning it into reality—that’s what I want.”

“I know you’re hiding something. Its potential isn’t as narrow as you showed in the lecture. This is a brand-new path, and I want to explore its roots—”

“I’m sorry, Your Grace,” Mingfuluo said calmly, “I cannot agree to that.”

“…”

The Essence Grand Duke narrowed his eyes.

As a fifth-tier transcendent and imperial duke, he wouldn’t lose his temper with a young woman, but the faint emotion he let slip wasn’t something most could withstand.

Yet Mingfuluo’s expression remained unchanged, still that unshakable indifference.

“…Heh, you’ve got some nerve.”

The Essence Grand Duke chuckled but didn’t waste words like “Are you sure?” Instead, he lowered his demands: “Fine, I’ll step back. Create a Data System tailored for unified spell systems, a basic one will do. I’ll test its malleability.”

“Agreed.”

Mingfuluo met the Essence Grand Duke’s eyes: “You can reduce the weight of the other terms, and… I’d like to propose the private deal you mentioned.”

“My grandfather, Erlin Zege—what do you know about his death?”

Her words caught the Essence Grand Duke off guard.

After a few seconds, he laughed heartily:

“Zege, Mingfuluo Zege, you’re bold. Asking your former enemy about this isn’t a wise choice.”

Back then, the Ether Academy and Erlin were like fire and water.

Mingfuluo’s question was indeed overly audacious.

“If the Ether Academy were a monolith, things wouldn’t be as they are now.”

In the midst of the Essence Grand Duke’s laughter, Mingfuluo remained composed: “And as the first of the Supreme Nine Seats to approach us, Your Grace’s likelihood of involvement in my grandfather’s death is naturally the lowest.”

Big figures care about profit but those who can ignore personal grudges and pride are a rare minority.

Especially for a noble like the Essence Grand Duke, it was nearly impossible for him to stoop to vying for the Sainthue legacy by approaching a former “archenemy.”

“…Fair point.”

The man crossed his legs, his posture relaxed: “I didn’t expect that to be your request… Heh, it doesn’t even need to be part of the deal. If you pursue this, you’ll definitely annoy my old friends, which is good for me.”

“…Your meaning is,” Mingfuluo’s gaze sharpened, “my grandfather’s death is indeed tied to some in the Ether Academy?”

“No, quite the opposite.”

The Essence Grand Duke shook his head: “As far as I know, none of the Supreme Nine Seats showed clear intent to kill Erlin. You could say… at least no one wanted to kill him directly—it was too difficult, too costly.”

“But—”

“But he still died, quietly. Ha… I thought it was fake news at the time.” The middle-aged man sighed with a hint of lament, “Who could’ve imagined such a thing?”

Mingfuluo fell silent, her cold, delicate face an icy mask, rejecting any attempt to peer into her thoughts.

“But you still say that if I pursue this, it’ll affect the Ether Academy.”

After a long pause, Mingfuluo spoke.

“Of course, because they’re the most likely to have done it.”

The Essence Grand Duke tapped his head: “The Alchemical Association is made of artisans chasing craft, the Zero Point Explorers harbor lawless madmen, but the Ether Academy… gathers a multitude of scholars.”

“Scholars mean richer knowledge, broader vision, more… sensitive minds.”

“Though Erlin was practically an enemy to the world back then, whose enmity was stronger isn’t obvious?”

The Essence Grand Duke said this, standing up and giving Mingfuluo a final glance:

“But I must warn you, Mingfuluo… don’t try to replicate Erlin’s creation.”

His gaze grew dangerous:

“Because our Anselm, the future Lord Hydra, seems to… resonate somewhat with Erlin in this regard.”

“The reason Erlin could research such a mad idea for so long and keep some neutral was because everyone knew he couldn’t succeed. But you—”

The Grand Duke, steeped in transcendent privilege and noble status, narrowed his eyes: “You might inspire Anselm, and Anselm… might actually create that thing.”

“When that time comes, heh… I can assure you, your fate will be no better than Erlin’s.”

“Do well, young one. What you have now and what you’ll have in the future didn’t come easily.”

With that, his figure shattered like an illusion, piece by piece, until it vanished.

Only Mingfuluo remained in the office.

She removed her glasses, her hand unconsciously tightening, her surging emotions no longer suppressed by reason, reflected vividly in her actions.

Was it disappointment from not gaining valuable information, or anger at the Essence Grand Duke’s parting warning—anger at him and those he represented, so arrogant, malicious, and cruel in their attempts to keep this world stagnant, frozen?

Both, but not only that.

The Essence Grand Duke said the young Hydra resonated somewhat with her grandfather.

After that day, Mingfuluo tried her best to avoid anything related to Anselm… She told herself it wasn’t avoidance but a need for calm.

Calm to think about everything concerning her and Anselm.

But the more she thought this way, the more, while working, thinking, researching, and studying, a sudden thought would flash through her mind—

I… lost Anselm.

After that day, after that grand performance, when Anselm carried Hitana on his back, ignoring me sprawled in the ruins and leaving, that thought… no matter how I tried to forget it, it would appear in my mind without warning, regardless of place, time, or situation.

It was like… a thorn wrapped around my heart.

And the Essence Grand Duke’s casual words tightened that thorn, piercing my heart constantly.

Anselm resonated with my grandfather… No, not just that. Anselm resonated with me, our only resonance.

But I… I lost him. No, he betrayed me first, he—

Whenever I tried to find reasons for myself, Marina’s words pierced my barriers like a sharp sword.

【Anselm was forced to give up something.】

Then, the meaning of that test, Anselm’s refusal to walk with me despite our closeness, the chained, profound pain easily shattered the defenses pierced by that sword.

I couldn’t… couldn’t verify Marina’s words.

My fragmented, missing memories left me unable to confirm what happened that day.

That test made me realize Anselm was no longer the Anselm who walked with me.

There needed to be hierarchy, deference between us.

Then I realized, even when I thought I’d chosen temporary submission, my actions, my attitude, my psychological responses… weren’t they still subconsciously following the way I interacted with Anselm three years ago?

I was still immersed in… the time before the dream shattered three years ago.

And Anselm mercilessly broke my dream.

Yes, after that indulgent, ambiguous, entangled night, he showed me this reality, giving me the greatest fall, tearing everything deep in my heart to shreds.

Yet no matter what… I couldn’t muster any resentment toward Anselm.

The most laughable part was that all of this, everything…

It was just a bonus.

I didn’t know how I left Hendrik’s office or returned to my alchemical workshop.

I only knew I shouldn’t be thinking about this.

I should focus on finding clues to my grandfather’s death or, at the very least… think about new designs.

How could I waste so many thoughts on one person? Why couldn’t I shake these things from my mind?

Why? Deep down, I knew.

Because the most important things in my life were nothing more than Babel Tower, the ideals I pursued, and…

And the only companion, the only one who could resonate with me.

Mingfuluo closed the door of her alchemical workshop, sitting exhaustedly against it on the floor.

“What am I even thinking…”

She murmured, covering her face: “Enough, the truth… Yes, wait until my memories recover, then think about this. Now’s not the time, it’s not—”

“What’s not the time?”

“…”

The petite woman, sitting with her knees drawn up, froze instantly.

She instinctively wanted to flee, to escape, but her head turned uncontrollably to look.

At the one she had already lost, her only one.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep