74. The Desperate Liya
Hearing his laughter, Liya realized she was covered in a cold sweat.
This was the pressure of the strongest necromancer. According to the information provided by the Dragon King, he was a tier-nine high-ranking demon. If such a powerful existence were to be classified into a separate level, Fred would be one of the best.
But the mocked Liya didn’t speak, giving White Miry some space and a look of trust. White Miry stepped forward and approached her before speaking to Fred.
“Release the seal on my eyes, you piece of trash. The terms of our deal were to [let me see White Miry]. Not being able to see doesn’t count.”
Liya complied, trying her best to suppress her dragon pride and telling herself not to be impulsive. And when the seal was released, Fred’s deep blue eyes, she almost regretted her actions.
“Just as I imagined, Miss Dragon. You’re full of the stench of trash, just like what I smelled. Now it seems I wasn’t wrong.”
“If you talk to Sister Liya like that, be careful, or I’ll use the punishment system to cut you,” White Miry said, trying to maintain a cold tone, but the anxiety in her voice betrayed her nervousness.
“Ling, calm down,” Liya shook her head.
She and White Miry had known each other since they were young. Although they hadn’t reached the point of sharing their innermost thoughts, they were inseparable, having gone through thick and thin together for many years, developing an extraordinary understanding.
Liya admitted her own character flaws, but being able to help White Miry was a kind of comfort. Thinking of this, Liya’s smile was warm and confident.
“Mmph…”
White Miry nodded, as if she had understood.
Seeing their interaction, Fred almost laughed his head off.
“What is the Shadow of God’s purpose?”
White Miry’s voice was still a little nervous.
But Fred sighed in disappointment, as if recalling the past.
“You used to call me ‘Doctor’ or ‘Master.’ Now I can only sigh, White Miry. I’m a little disappointed in you, of course, just a little.”
“What do you mean?”
“Remember when I picked you up from the garbage heap? We were just an old man and a corpse. Now, we’re on completely opposite sides, but we both survived, hahaha…”
Liya had a feeling that if she released Fred’s main body now, he would immediately start dancing, like an orc dancing around a bonfire. She couldn’t imagine that this strongest necromancer, a leader from the golden age of the Era of Light, was such a madman.
If it were a legendary figure from the dragon race… they probably all cared about their dignity. At least their appearance and demeanor were extraordinary.
Fred continued:
“As a negative soul, no matter what kind of vessel, there is an [instinct], a ‘soul’s self-awareness.’ In this world, only three people lack this self-awareness. One is the Goddess of Light, the second is a giant from the Primordial Era named [Saluno], who could cover the sky with one hand… and the last is you, White Miry.”
“Among them, one is already dead, and the other two haven’t faced reality yet.”
White Miry froze.
Liya sensed White Miry’s abnormality and immediately stepped forward, shielding her. But seeing this, Fred’s arrogant laughter intensified, and the entire hall once again echoed with his crazed laughter.
“I’m warning you, if you don’t answer the question, I can execute you on the spot, regardless of whose orders I’m following. You will suffer the pain of having your soul and body stripped away.”
Liya said coldly.
But Fred acted as if he hadn’t heard.
“One thousand four hundred years ago, when you were reading a book on chemical reactions, I suddenly appeared, disguised as a bush, and scared you.”
“But it took you a full four seconds to show any fear, your eyes widening, your center of gravity unstable, almost falling to the ground. I wonder if you still remember that prank, White Miry… hehe.”
Liya originally wanted to retort on her behalf, but unexpectedly, White Miry lowered her head, as if recalling something. She had originally thought this was a basic reaction for a being who had lived for thousands, even tens of thousands of years, but she discovered it wasn’t that simple.
White Miry lowered her head, doing nothing.
Yes…
She had no expression, her ghostly blue pupils devoid of any emotion, like a ripple-less lake, clear and transparent, yet as silent and terrifying as the surrounding darkness. This kind of scene often occurred during their long time together, but Liya had always thought it was because of White Miry’s “brain overload” or simply being distracted.
She never thought that White Miry would show this “dazed” appearance in this situation.
Logically, White Miry should have felt fear or anger, or some other emotion, right?
“Ling, are you okay?”
Liya’s voice was anxious, feeling that her worries had come true.
“I’m fine…”
White Miry nodded mechanically, as if forcing a smile.
Fred laughed, as if everything was under his control:
“The reason you were scared for [four seconds] wasn’t because it took you four seconds to react. Your reflexes are just like a normal dragon’s, far superior to a human’s!”
“Those four seconds were the time it took for your attention to shift from the ‘book’ to ‘me,’ the time you spent thinking about whether you should react with ‘fear’ and how to do it.”
Liya’s eyes widened. Looking at White Miry, a terrifying thought gradually surfaced.
And Fred’s next words made her even more certain.
“White Miry, when you retorted me just now, you actually showed [nervousness].”
“Not because you were really nervous, but because you thought that in this situation, you needed to appear [nervous] to be normal. How skilled, hehehe… You can fool everyone, but you can’t fool me.”
“Because I am your creator.”
Liya felt something pounding against her heart, and her brain along with it, making her feel a little uncomfortable. It seemed the Dragon King was right, Fred was indeed a villain skilled in manipulating people.
But… perhaps not.
Fred laughed:
“Quickly, tell this piece of trash that your feelings for her are all an act, that you’re incapable of having emotions.”
“You’re lying!”
Liya said angrily. At this moment, she finally couldn’t suppress her inner rage, not only towards the speechless White Miry but also towards this prisoner who would never see the light of day. Saying that, she placed her hand on the “punishment” button on the control panel.
How could it be? How could the cute little girl who had been with me be an emotionless machine? After being together for so long, don’t I know White Miry?
Fred’s voice grew louder:
“Remember, White Miry! You are my daughter, the most perfect necromancer! No one else is worthy of you! Are you still hiding yourself?”
Just as Liya was about to press the button, a cold, emotionless voice, one she almost didn’t recognize, sounded in her ear.
“Fred, what is your purpose? I’ll kill you…”
She didn’t dare to turn around.
She felt something inside her shatter.
She remembered White Miry’s smiling face, and coming back to her senses, her heart felt as if it had been pierced by an icicle.
