The doctor suffers from amnesia, but not complete amnesia.

"Of course I'm going with you. I told you I plan to stay with you for a while longer—are you ready? I'm coming in."

"Could you please stop using such strange language? Also, you don't need to attach yourself to me anymore; just stay in this form."

The man raised his hand to refuse Kosich's gesture.

"why?"

"I need a skilled person to stand by my side and support me. Babel is undergoing a transformation recently, so many operators have things to do. On the contrary, I lack someone who can stand firm by my side."

The woman sat down.

"can."

"Thank you for your understanding, Your Excellency."

"You don't need to call me Grand Duchess anymore, just call me Kashená—if you're going to be a student, I understand you better as an educator."

Qiao Yelan stared at the other person, noticing a change in their expression and demeanor.

"you......"

“I am Kassena, and I am Kosicheal, the black serpent who lives and dies with Ursus—form and personality are not necessary to me.”

It's interesting.

Qiao Yelan had pondered how these immortals spent their long lives—the concept of division and unity was naturally one of those methods.

"Alright, Operator Kashena, could you please take charge of my escort duties from now on?"

"At your service, Dr. Qiao Yelan—what are your upcoming schedule?"

"Before returning to Letania, I need to settle the last remaining issue in Ursus."

Qiao Yelan knocked on the driver's side door.

"Change course eastward—to Chernobog."

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

Chernobog, Boris Hospital.

This hospital, named after Marquis Boris, the lord of Chernobog, is the best hospital in the entire city. Of course, this best hospital only serves nobles and officials in the city.

A man was peering intently through the glass at the little one lying in the incubator, making gestures he knew he wouldn't get a response from, but he still seemed to enjoy it nonetheless.

Is that your son?

a voice sounded.

"Isn't she adorable? That's my second child."

"Yes, he's really cute. I hope he stays healthy and stays away from Oripathy."

"Thank you for your blessing."

The man turned around and saw a man sitting in a wheelchair, with a woman of good figure pushing the wheelchair behind him.

Are you here to see your child too?

“I would love to have a child, but unfortunately, that’s impossible—so I’ve come to you, Mr. Sergei.”

The man's joy faded slightly, and his expression became somewhat impatient.

"Didn't I tell you not to bother me during this time? I know my progress. Let's leave the second phase for the second phase!"

"I'm sorry, I'm here to inspect the first phase."

"Phase one? Wasn't the energy supply to Chernobog already completed?"

"Ah, I mean, I'm here on behalf of Dr. Kal'tsit to review the research project codenamed 'Stone Coffin' undertaken by your team, led by Mr. Astrov."

The fear and shock on the man's face were so evident that he seemed about to scream.

The reason why no sound came out in the next second was because the woman pushing the wheelchair was silently aiming the force she was gathering in her hands at the incubator inside the glass.

Sergei practically had to shove his tongue into his trachea to barely control his emotions.

He suddenly knelt down in front of Qiao Yelan, tears streaming down his face.

"You may begin your defense now, Researcher Sergei, if you wish your last words to be a plea for mercy—or you may consider the words inscribed on your tombstone, the words inscribed on your wife's tombstone, the words inscribed on your daughter's tombstone, and the words inscribed on your son's tombstone."

Qiao Yelan's smile remained gentle and refined.

"You have three minutes."

“I had no choice. My wife is pregnant, and I have a daughter! Marquis Boris is threatening me with her and the children’s lives—I really have no other option, I have no other choice, truly!”

"Two minutes and forty-five seconds."

"I can compensate, I can compensate every researcher's family, I can take on debt, I will definitely take responsibility—"

"Two minutes and forty seconds."

"Wait! Wait! I beg you! Have mercy! My daughter—my wife! I truly love them—I never imagined this would happen! The Marquis promised me! He said he wouldn't kill them! He broke his promise!"

"Two minutes and thirty seconds."

Sergei's eyes were red, and white foam was coming from the corners of his mouth; he looked like a madman.

“You don’t understand—if I don’t do it, someone else will—Astrov! Ilya! Don’t they have families too? They have children too, and they will do the same!”

“I’m sorry, they won’t, because Astrov’s wife Lilia, daughter Luisa, and Ilya’s daughter Lyudmila have all been under the protection of the Tower of Babel, as have the other research members with families—but you, Mr. Sergei, your file before you came states that you are unmarried.”

Qiao Yelan coldly pierced through the other party's fig leaf.

"I—I, I..."

"You say you love your wife and your children, and I believe that—but do you think your wife loves you?"

Sergei stared blankly at Qiao Yelan. His usually sharp mind and superior intelligence had vanished in that instant; he couldn't understand Qiao Yelan's words—

Or perhaps, he simply didn't want to think about what Qiao Yelan had said.

But Qiao Yelan will not stop.

"The Tower of Babel has always preferred to recruit researchers with families. Of course, some researchers who are dedicated to their research will also be recruited. This is because the danger and cutting-edge nature of our research means that we cannot be used as a sacrifice for power struggles by those in power."

"Among the research team that came to Chernobog, the three core members are Astrov, Ilya, and you—Astrov and Ilya's families are under the care of Babel Tower, so they will not betray us. So who is the only one who could be tempted?"

For the first time, Sergei was so terrified of a man's smile.

It was as if the gates of hell had been opened.

"Please, please..."

"Ursus' intelligence system is renowned throughout this land, and the 'Swallows' they cultivate are frequent characters in stories and novels: male protagonists often manage to win their hearts and have them betray them to elope with them—unfortunately, you are probably not a male protagonist."

“Don’t, don’t…”

"Dr. Kal'tsit probably couldn't have imagined that someone so obsessed with research could so easily succumb to false tenderness, and in the end, for this inescapable affection, even betray his colleagues, letting them die under the swords of the nobles—while his wife was merely accepting a task from her master."

"Please, please stop talking..."

"Even when others presented him with the facts, he still chose to bury his head in the dirt, believing that this would make his wife truly love him and allow him to continue to use what he considered precious love and family affection to offset the guilt he felt for betraying and killing his friends."

Sergei knelt on the ground, curled up, and burst into tears.

"You have one minute and ten seconds left."

As if he had finally woken up from a nightmare, he suddenly pounced at Qiao Yelan's feet, grabbing the other's trouser leg tightly.

"I—I'm willing, I'm willing to do anything! Just please spare my child! Please! Anything! Even assassinating Marquis Boris, I'm willing!"

Qiao Yelan's gaze shifted downwards, meeting the man's eyes.

Sergei shuddered violently—as if he had been pressed into the cold snow, his breath hitting the hard ice and then slamming into his face.

"You're willing to do anything?"

"everything!"

Seeing that things had taken a turn for the better, Sergei had no time to think it over and made a promise with great joy.

“I don’t need you to assassinate Marquis Boris—you can continue to be your chief technology advisor, but in return, you must send all the intelligence you can get your hands on back to the Tower of Babel.”

Qiao Yelan said calmly.

"You will become like your wife, continue working for the Tower of Babel, play house with her, and don't let him suspect you, unless—"

"You want your children to follow the same path as you and continue to pay the price for your betrayal."

"No—no! Absolutely not! I'll do my best, I'll give it my all! Believe me! The Marquis trusts me now, I can see a lot of things, I'm sure I can do it well!"

As if grasping at the last straw, the man made a desperate promise.

"Then so be it. We will send someone to contact you—I look forward to the day when you can atone for your sins. If that happens, the Tower of Babel will sponsor you with a large sum of money to help you and your children fly far and wide."

"Okay! Ok!"

Qiao Yelan reached out and kindly helped Sergei up from the ground.

"Please compose yourself, Your Excellency Sergei, your child has just been born—keep smiling, and don't arouse suspicion."

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

"How do you know his wife is a noblewoman raised as a 'swallow'?"

"I do not know."