I'm on the Ark, and I start out as Gretchen.

However, it had already been planned

The person who had planned ahead didn't give her the chance to go berserk...

A huge, scarlet figure silently appeared behind Ifrit, shielding her from the impact and damage of the explosions, while also quickly injecting a vial of medicine into her body.

As the dark blue potion was injected, the little fire dragon, on the verge of going berserk, quickly fell into a coma.

After doing all this, the tyrant added his own flames to the dwindling fire before picking up Ifrit and disappearing into the ruined room.

All of this happened so fast that the group of people outside, who were affected and frightened by the explosion, didn't even have time to see clearly what was happening.

……

Having only tripped and fallen due to the impact while outside the lab, and suffering no real injury, Himer quickly stood up and looked up at the room engulfed in flames, searching for Ifrit's figure.

----------------

Ecological Science Database —

"Your ecology department won the bid for this project! Muirsay, you'd better give me an explanation!?"

After reading all the information about the [Flame Demon Project] on the computer, Saria glared at Muerseth with a terrifying expression.

"This...this really has nothing to do with me! All I knew at the time was that it was a high-profile, big project, and I just wanted to get a piece of the pie!"

Muirses was startled by Saria's glare and quickly waved his hands to explain, afraid that he would be beaten up by his old friend if he hesitated even a moment longer.

"You have to believe me. If I had known all this beforehand, I wouldn't have dared to come with you to investigate! Besides, didn't you sign quite a few of the documents, Saria?"

"..."

Saria gave Muerseth a serious look, and only after confirming that he didn't seem to be lying did she look away, lowering her head with a grim expression as she explained:

“Those things were all labeled as ‘technical reserves’ during the project review. I thought they were just one of countless routine research projects, which is why I signed them off.”

"This……"

"beep!"

Just as Muirsay was about to say something, Seria's phone suddenly rang, interrupting her.

P.S.: I tried my best, but I got my comeuppance for staying up all night yesterday. Today I have a cold and am on my period, with a headache, stomachache, and body aches. I can't stand it at all. Best regards everyone.

Chapter 143 Firefighting and Situation

"I understand. I'll head over there right away. Oh, and please prepare a fortified city for me."

After hearing what was said on the other end of the phone, Saria's expression changed, and she answered seriously before hanging up.

"What happened?"

Noticing her friend's even more unpleasant expression, Muirsey frowned slightly and asked.

"Something's happened to Ifrit..."

After saying that, Saria didn't linger and rushed out of the archives.

"..."

Watching Saria rush out and disappear from her sight, a hint of helplessness flashed in Muirses' eyes. She then resignedly shut down the database computer, locked the door again, and then headed towards the Structural Engineering Department.

Although she didn't know exactly what had happened, the elf lady still decided to go and see.

……

Saria didn't rush headlong into the Structural Engineering Department. Instead, she went back to change her equipment and put on her shield before heading there.

However, when she arrived, she did not see the out-of-control Ifrit as described in the report; instead, she found only a room covered in scorching black flames.

"Where are the Ifrits?"

Looking at the defense personnel who had arrived before her and were trying to put out the fire, Saria frowned and asked.

"I don't know. The structural department told us that the patient had gone berserk, but we haven't seen the berserk patient since we arrived."

"..."

Upon hearing this, Saria instinctively tightened her grip on her shield, looked at the flames that couldn't be extinguished, a hint of anxiety flashed in her eyes, and her expression became even more grim.

Just then, a clear, cold voice accompanied by a gust of cold air rushed in from behind, making the many defense team members, who were already sweating profusely from the heat of the fire, shiver.

"These flames are unusual. Director Seria, please do not rush in."

"..."

Saria sensed a chill and looked towards the sound, only to see Sakura, who should have been off work and resting. Then, as if remembering something, she asked with a serious expression:

"Miss Sakura, I remember your Originium Arts are ice-based. Do you have a way to suppress the flames here?"

When Sakura saved Ifrit with the power of the Spirit Sword Frost Prison Ice Sky last time, she lied about her abilities when filling out the report afterwards, saying that the power of ice was her Originium Arts and that her sword was a special staff.

Therefore, Sakura was not surprised at all when faced with Saria's question.

“It’s worth a try. I haven’t seen such a powerful flame in a long time.” Upon hearing this, Sakura did not give a definite answer.

After hearing Sakura's answer, Saria nodded, then said to the other members of the defense department around her, "Stop putting out the fire, all of you step back."

After hearing Saria's order, the defense team members who were holding shields and trying to put out the fire with them retreated in an orderly manner, pulling the defensive line back quite a bit.

"Give it a try..."

As she spoke, Saria stared at the scorching black flames that obscured her vision, her eyes...

A hint of worry flashed across her face as she added in a low voice, "Ifrit is still inside."

"Ah."

After listening to Saria's instructions, Sakura nodded slightly, then opened her sword pouch and took out the exquisite-looking, translucent Spirit Blade, Frost Prison.

Then, without anyone, including Saria, seeing it clearly, she drew her sword.

The long sword was drawn, and with a single slash, an extremely cold wind and snow instantly swirled up in the room along with the sword energy, extinguishing all the black flames in its path.

Noticing that most of the flames had been extinguished, Saria glanced at Sakura with some surprise, but didn't say anything. Instead, she took the opportunity to rush inside, searching for the person she had been thinking about.

Sakura noticed Saria's gaze, a hint of helplessness flashing across her face. Finally, she shook her head and followed, helping to extinguish the remaining black flames.

Honestly, Sakura felt she had already held back enough; that last strike was just an ordinary slash...

If she got serious, those black flames wouldn't have been extinguished so easily; they would have been frozen instantly and then shattered.

……

After searching several rooms in the vicinity that had been damaged by fire and explosions to no avail, Saria's face was now terrifyingly dark...

Because she couldn't find the child Ifrit, and because of the flames, she couldn't even see a trace of her.

After checking again and confirming that she had found no clues related to Ifrit, Saria turned to the members of the defense department outside and said:

"Take a count of the wounded, then investigate and find out exactly what happened!"

"Yes!"

After giving her subordinates various tasks, Saria turned to Sakura, who had been following her, and said, "Next, I'll need you to do some work and check if there are any more of those flames around here."

"Once you've made sure nothing's been missed, you can go and rest."

"Yes."

Upon hearing this, Sakura nodded slightly, and then went to investigate with her mission in mind.

Of course, this investigation was just for show. Just now, she had contacted Gretchen in her mind and asked her to instruct the tyrant to extinguish all the flames he had released to ensure that nothing was missed.

After checking the flames, Sakura didn't rush back. Instead, she checked for other potential hazards and traces. Once she confirmed there were no problems, she reported back to Saria before leaving.

However, before Sakura had gone far, she encountered Muirsey pacing anxiously outside.

When Muirsey saw Sakura, her eyes lit up, and she rushed over, asking, "Sakura, what happened inside? How is the situation?"

Originally, Muirsay intended to go directly to Ifrit's place after leaving the archives, but before he could get close, he was deterred by the scorching heat and flames and remained anxiously at a distance.

"I heard that Ifrit went out of control, but I don't know the specifics... As for the current situation, although the flames are very hot and terrifying, they are not spreading widely... So, apart from the damage to the equipment, only a few people suffered minor injuries, and there were not many casualties in this accident."

Seeing Muirsey's anxious expression, Sakura calmly and earnestly recounted the details of the accident to her.

"Is that so? What about Ifrit then?"

After hearing Sakura's words, Muirsey first nodded slightly, then seemed to remember something and quickly asked.

"Ugh……"

Upon hearing this, Sakura sighed softly, then lowered her eyes and gently shook her head, saying, "She has vanished without a trace. Neither Director Saria nor I have been able to find a single trace of her."

"!"

P.S.: There will be another chapter later. I'm feeling better now. I almost sent it yesterday. To make matters worse, I had my period, a cold, and a recurrence of hives. Ugh...

Chapter 144 The Right Time to Clarify (Physical)

"!"

Upon hearing Sakura's answer, Muirsay was slightly taken aback, her expression a mixture of confusion, shock, and sadness.

To be honest, before receiving this answer, Miss Elf had already prepared herself mentally for all sorts of things, and even thought that ifrit's physical condition would completely deteriorate because of this loss of control.

However, she never imagined that the child would simply disappear without a trace...

Whether Ifrit was merely missing or burned to ashes, Muirsay dared not ponder the question at this moment…

"Don't overthink it. There's no trace left at the scene, and no remains were found..." Noticing Muirsey's unusual mood, Sakura reached out and gently patted her shoulder, comforting her in a soft voice.

"Phew... I won't overthink things. The fire over there should be completely out by now, right?" Faced with Sakura's gentle reassurance, Muirsey took a deep breath to calm herself down before continuing.

"It's been completely extinguished. Do you want to go and see? I can go with you." After hearing Muirsey's question, Sakura nodded gently and replied.

Upon hearing this, Muirsey shook her head in disapproval and said, "I will go and see, but you don't need to come with me. You didn't sleep all night, you should go and rest now."

"Don't worry, I'm not a child. In fact, I'm older than you, Sakura."

"We'll make up for today's breakfast next time we have the chance. You go and rest now. I'll go see if there's anything I can help you with."

finished,

Muirsey gave Sakura no chance to say anything more, nimbly bypassing her and running towards the scene of the accident.

"..."

Sakura watched someone's departing figure for a moment before shaking her head helplessly, then turned and left to rest.