Arknights, but the sickly pretty girl starts

"You should know best."

"……I……"

"I can't tell for a moment whether you care about me or the little guy in the incubator, Mr. Avitus."

The Coast Guard member sitting nearby coughed twice, feeling as if he had just eaten a big melon, but out of professional ethics, he still spoke out to remind the two that time was running out.

"Of course I care about you, but a newborn child is also worthy of attention in today's Agor."

Avitus lowered his head. He really had nothing to say about this matter. After all, the relationship between Cassia and him was an accident. Although Agor would not mind this kind of teacher-student relationship, and the social atmosphere was quite open, Avitus knew that he owed Cassia.

"After he is born, will you choose to raise him yourself or give him to a public orphanage?"

"I tend not to think about it. It's too far away...too far away."

"...Before coming to see you, I went to the hospital."

"……Hospital?"

"You must know about yesterday's battle. You wouldn't miss any news, right?"

Avitus raised his head and looked at the student in front of him who seemed both familiar and unfamiliar to him.

"Two fleets, over a thousand legionnaires, and only twenty-six survived. The channel plan has reached its most critical juncture, yet Miliarum has suffered the most tragic casualties since the voyage. Many anomalies have also occurred in the city recently..."

"Teacher Avitus, what do you want to say?" Cassia looked at the man in front of her, the father of her child and also her teacher.

"...Cassia, how much do you know about the missing data officer?"

Cassia did not answer this question. She was silent for a long time before she spoke.

"Teacher Avitus, you know, of all the documents you've compiled, my favorite is actually 'The Death of Life,' even though it doesn't have much academic value."

"...His appearance was just an accident."

Over three hundred years ago, four great researchers of prehistoric civilizations made a significant discovery in the mantle ruins, bringing back countless precious technical data to Agor. Compared to all those technical drawings and theoretical works, a single diary-like audio file was truly insignificant. Therefore, it lay quietly in the Academy's archives. It was Avitus, out of curiosity, who deciphered it and produced it as a popular reading material.

Yes, that was just the mumbling of an ordinary former human during a long journey.

Avitus did not realize the sensation that the book would cause after its publication, nor did he underestimate the consequences of the book's publication under the heavy pressure on the Agor people.

"But I really like this pre-human story, teacher. I like the truth I saw through his eyes. The system that once unified countless planets is crumbling, and the trust that once united many species is disintegrating. Material scarcity, technological failure, the silence of philosophy and art... No matter how much longing and imagination we placed on them, those great achievements ultimately faded silently... Just like now, just like Agor's current situation."

"...This is not Agor's current situation. His past is different from Agor's." Avitus didn't get excited, but looked up in confusion. "Cassia, are you empathizing with his despair? Yet you plan to give birth to a child in this era... I've never seen despair in you before. You even chose to give birth to your child in a future that could be destroyed at any moment. This is not a choice for a desperate person."

Cassia nodded, and a smile finally appeared on the corner of her mouth.

"I'm not desperate at all. That stuffy, decadent middle-aged man... I find it hard to sympathize with him in any way. I just admire how you, through his past experiences, skillfully peel back the beautiful canvas that now obscures the eyes of all the Agorians."

[Agor's entire system is designed to discover the value of people.]

However, value is fragile. With a different perspective, the great becomes small, and the ugly becomes beautiful.

However, most people always ignore another perspective. Out of a certain inertia, people will not think about, or are too lazy to think about, how fragile Agor's system is from another perspective.

So people always rely on unchanging values ​​to live, and when these values ​​collapse, they will collapse with them.

"It's not me who's truly despairing, but you." Cassia looked at the man before her. "When did your despair begin to grow? Since Miliarum left this realm, or even earlier, when your secret companion passed away?"

"...Cassia?"

Avitus never thought that he came to test Cassia, but Cassia saw through the truth.

That’s right, the one who was truly despairing because of that book was Avitus himself.

He didn't want Cassia to give birth to the child because of this despair. He believed that sooner or later Agor would be completely destroyed or transformed into another form due to the collapse of beliefs, ideas and systems. Those ideas that made Agor seem advanced would disappear and would be distorted for survival. In the end, he would do anything to stay alive. But even so, Hai Si would destroy everything sooner or later.

The one who truly despaired of Agor and the world was Avitus himself.

He is an incompetent father, an irresponsible teacher, and a desperate man.

Emotional words surged into his throat, but were stopped by Cassia's eyes. The decadent middle-aged man seemed to have aged several years and slumped in his seat.

"Thank you for visiting me today," Cassia stood up, ending the conversation. "You reminded me that I still have things I need to accomplish, and time is running out."

Chapter 56: Eye of the Witch King

"Jody, why are you here?"

"Eline, it feels like we haven't seen each other for ages..." Jody had been squatting in the battle arena, researching Breogan's deeds. As a descendant, his main reason for coming to Agor was to find out about his own origins. The more he researched, the more uncertain he felt, and he soon realized a truth.

I may, probably, should, or may not be a descendant of Obregán, and my life story is probably made up by Mr. Tiago. He just wants to have a goal.

As for his parents... they were probably just ordinary lighthouse workers.

But Jordi had already prepared himself mentally. After all, the claim of being a descendant of Breogane was just Tiago's own words, with no supporting evidence, and thus lacking credibility. He figured he was just a descendant of those islanders.

But apart from that, he is still obsessed with the scientific research records left by Breogan, and has been studying them until now. His thirst for learning is indeed that of a typical Agor.

"It's okay. We were also very busy when you were away—" Elini complained, "but you have a lot more free time."

"Well..." Jody scratched his head awkwardly, "I didn't pay attention to the time... If you hadn't come here, I would probably have stayed here for half a day."

Elini did not blame Jody. If she put herself in Jody's shoes, she would probably do the same as him and check her own background first.

"From the looks of you, you've already looked up Breogan's information?"

The young Agor first nodded, then shook his head. It was indeed difficult to judge his own situation from what he had found.

"I can't say for sure, but I'm probably not related to that great ship designer."

"What's the big deal?" Seeing Jordi's distressed expression, Elini patted his shoulder. "When you were guarding the lighthouse with my master, was it because you were a descendant of Breogan that you mustered up the courage? I think you're already a hero. Maybe you'll even be in Iberian textbooks."

"...I just thought...Uncle Tiago wanted me to leave Granfaro and Iberia. He didn't tell me where to go...Now Uncle Tiago is dead, and after I came to Agor, I discovered...A person always needs a certain connection, even if it's just a name or a notebook, to truly trace his origins."

In the final analysis, for Jody, Agor didn't seem to be what he thought... or rather, he didn't feel any sense of belonging here.

"If I'm not a descendant of Breoghan, then which of these islands did my grandparents live in before they became islanders? Or rather, which of the ones that have disappeared..." He paused, then continued, "What kind of work did they do, what kind of life did they lead... Who were they? I just want to find these things. I want to know where my roots are."

"..." Elini didn't know how to answer. She was a native Iberian and had never had such troubles. But if you put yourself in her shoes, if you leave your hometown, you will have the same troubles.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said this in front of you. You've only just arrived in Agor, yet you're already helping the Coast Guard investigate cases. And I..." Jody lowered his head, distressed by his own weakness. "You're a determined person, but unfortunately, I'm not..."

"...You're wrong about that," Elini sighed. "I'm an Iberian who can't do much here. Dr. Kel'tsit is in charge of contacting the city's leaders, the Deep Sea Hunters have returned to their familiar battles, and Miss Noya has begun tracking down members of the Deep Sea Church. My lantern and hand cannon are of little use for the time being."

Elini and Jody were both outsiders, wanting to help but realizing their own limitations. They couldn't offer much, like the unbridled combat prowess of a deep-sea hunter or the charisma of Noah. Elini lamented her own insignificance; here, she was just another mortal.

"Agor allowed a Liberian to visit their ships and port, but they won't allow her to join the legion and engage in direct combat with the Sea Si. I truly cannot comprehend that kind of warfare. Deep in this ocean, all I can do is investigate the anomalies occurring in the city and eliminate any potential risks to the cooperation between Iberia and Agor."

Jody was stunned for a moment, then tentatively asked, "Then why are you telling me this?"

"Jordi, my hometown was destroyed by a natural disaster, and I don't remember much about it. The scroll I carry with me is my only remaining connection to my homeland. It saved my life, became my guide, and my faith. But it wasn't until I visited the dungeons of the Inquisition, boarded the Fool, and nearly lost my teacher...that I finally understood what faith truly is, accepted its unbearableness, and found its meaning."

Elini raised her head.

"Jody, I'm not as determined as you think. I'm not without my share of confusion and loss. It's just that more often than not, it becomes a series of specific problems that need to be solved. Capturing the troublesome Deep Sea Cultists, reclaiming the lighthouse taken over by the tide, finding a ship lost at sea, and helping our allies investigate an unexpectedly missing data officer. Hometown or faith, they're nothing more than the "connection" you just mentioned. Keep looking, you will find it, but the process won't be quick, and it might even be painful."

Elini patted his shoulder and turned away.

"As I said, you're not as incompetent as you think. Neither am I—you helped Iberia light the last lighthouse and rescued three deep-sea hunters. Miss Noya praised your bravery and fearlessness to me. You and my teacher fought against so many sea monsters together until the Fool rescued us. You bought us time. Without you, the Fool wouldn't have returned to Iberia—you've accomplished so many great things, and yet you still consider yourself an ordinary and shaky person?"

"Whether as an Agor or a clerk of the Inquisition, you can accomplish a lot." Elini said with a smile, "Now, let's find something we can do, shall we?"

Jody's confused eyes gradually cleared. He wasn't one to dwell on himself. He stood up. "Yes, we will have our role to play."

-

"Tulia has been missing for over ten hours now..." In Agor, Noya couldn't tell the difference between day and night, but she could still tell the time. This was a very dangerous situation. If anything happened to Tulia, Noya felt she would be devastated. She considered using the same method she'd used to find Maria: shadow magic to track Tulia's whereabouts.

However, the scent left behind was too complex, and his control over shadow magic was completely unable to allow the shadow dog to identify these scents...

"The only breakthrough now is Cassia, but she has been unwilling to speak. What else can we do now?" Sikunda and Noah have the same trouble. According to regulations, they cannot torture Cassia who has just given birth, but how can they pry open Cassia's mouth without torturing her?

When Avitus had requested a visit with Cassia, they'd been thinking of a solution, but Cassia had actually broken Avitus's defenses. After listening to the recording, the Coast Guard hadn't gotten anything but the teacher-student melon. While it's not uncommon for people to sit around and watch melons, now was clearly not the time.

Noah also began to feel troubled...but if there was a solution, she did have one.

That is to use the spirit seed... to dig out the contents of Cassia's mind... But in this case... if she really did this before getting evidence to prove that Cassia is a Deep Sea Cultist... it would undoubtedly violate Noah's bottom line.

"--boring."

At this moment, Precious's words rang in her ears, and she was really bored watching it.

"You clearly have a solution, but you don't use it because of your ridiculous moral bottom line. If it causes greater losses later, then according to your personality, you will also blame those losses on yourself. Aren't you tired of living like this?"

"...I just don't want to use my abilities like this."

"That's it...that's it..." Precious sighed. "You're exactly like that guy...carrying responsibilities that aren't yours on your shoulders, gradually dragging yourself down. Even if there's a shortcut, you refuse to take it. The so-called bottom line you insist on is, in my opinion, utterly stupid."

"...If that time really comes, shouldn't you be happy? Then I'll make a wish for you."

Noah countered, "But you seem unwilling to let me go that far. What? Have you changed your mind?"

"I'm just upset. Your stupidity is beyond my expectation." Precious rolled his eyes at Noah and said, "Drown with your moral bottom line."

"..." Noah had no idea what this person was thinking and could only shake her head. After all, Precious had already disappeared. Given her personality, if she disappeared, she probably wouldn't reappear until tomorrow. But Precious was right. She couldn't put it off any longer. Although there was still no other way, she decided to talk to Cassia again.

Sikunda agreed, so Noah came to the interrogation room again. Cassia, who had been interrogated several times, was obviously a little tired, but she still forced herself to raise her eyes, straightened her back, and looked at Miss Noah in front of her with a faint smile.

"I can say that I have explained everything clearly. Do you have any questions? Noah Kyrielight?"

"...Are you related to Tulia's disappearance?"

"..." Silence, a long silence. Cassia remained silent, without answering or denying. She just looked at Noah without a trace of hostility. All Noah could feel from her was calmness.

Noah took a deep breath and asked the second question.

"Did Amaya tell you what my abilities are?"

"..." This time, Cassia had some reaction, and this slight reaction had already given Noah the answer.

"No wonder...Amaya is indeed very smart. Although my ability can sense emotions, emotions are emotions, and thoughts are thoughts. I can't read your thoughts unless I use special means."

Noah did not hide his ability, but made it public.

"Special means?"

"Do you know the Trojan Horse?"

"I've read translations of myths from pre-civilizations. My teacher translated this one, which tells the story of the battle to break through the city-state of Troy. They used a giant wooden horse to hide their forces, while the Trojan soldiers dragged the horse into the city. The soldiers inside the horse, along with those outside, worked together to break through the impregnable city."

"Yes, to explain, my special ability is this—" Noah described, "I really can't read your thoughts, but that's because thoughts are different from emotions. Emotions are outward, and I can feel your emotions, just like I can hear your words, but your mind is surrounded by a wall that separates you and me. You could call it the wall of the heart. And my method is to somehow separate a part of my spirit and sneak into your mind—"

Noah's description was easy to understand, but its meaning shocked Cassia.

"...You mean, you can...read into my thoughts in this way?"

"That's more than that." Noya didn't bother to hide her abilities from those who already knew them. "If I want, you will become my puppet."

"..."

Cassia's expression changed. This might be the first time she showed unusual emotions during the interrogation.

That's... fear.

Yes, Cassia doesn't care whether she will be punished or even her life is in danger. She is a philosopher and an Agor with her own thoughts.

But...what if someone could steal her mind, or even directly change her mind?

“…You won’t do that.”

Cassia looked at Noah in front of her and said with certainty.

"If you could do it, you would have done it long ago. You care about Tulia so much...you even needed to tell me about it first."

Cassia was smart and she quickly realized why Noah said this to her.

"...You're right, I don't want to do this."

Noah nodded, acknowledging the matter, but she looked into Cassia's eyes and spoke word by word.

"So you'd better not leave me with no choice."

Noah is indeed a person with a bottom line and morals. Amaya said this when she met Cassia.

However, Cassia felt that those words... didn't seem like a lie. The Noah in front of her suddenly became more intimidating, as if she was no longer facing the gentle Noah Kyrielight, but someone else... someone who made her feel terrified from the bottom of her heart just by looking into her eyes.

"……Who are you?"

She spoke with a trembling voice.

"..." 'Noah' did not respond directly, but just looked at Cassia in front of her with an expressionless face. Terror - fear swept over her whole body, and she didn't even dare to look away.

However, Cassia or Agor may not recognize this look, but some people will never forget it in their lifetime.

After all, these are the eyes of the [Witch King].