For a long time, Pandora remained slumped on the floor, her expression dazed and vacant.
Just moments ago, Wang Yue’s hands had gripped her waist. That eerie Power of Rules had seeped through her skin, stopping a mere half-inch from Pandora’s Box nestled within her abdominal cavity.
The phrase “at death’s door” had never felt more literal.
She had felt as though an invisible noose were slowly tightening around her neck—as though a withered spectral claw had reached through her chest to seize her very heart.
The sheer terror of that brush with death had pushed her psyche to the brink of collapse. Her Living Husk’s burnout mechanism had triggered, forcing out a burst of delusional, reality-denying laughter to maintain her mental stability.
Fortunately, Mother had been too cautious. She had only taken the ribs and hadn’t dared to touch the box itself.
I survived…
Heh… hehehe…
I get to see the sun tomorrow…
Oh, wait. This is Evernight. There is no sun tomorrow…
Pandora’s mouth curled into the wide, manic grin of someone who had just cheated the reaper.
Suddenly, a shadow appeared at the doorway.
“You lost, just as expected.”
“Senior Gymnopedie.”
Pandora looked up. Gymnopedie looked different today. The usual lethargy and exhaustion surrounding her had vanished. Her perpetually squinting eyes were wide open, gleaming with an aggressive light like a predator on the hunt.
“Interested in teaming up?” Gymnopedie’s eyes sparkled, resembling a cat whose curiosity had been piqued.
“Teaming up? To deal with Wang Yue?” Pandora gripped her knees tightly. She had been so terrified that her legs were still like jelly.
“Who else?”
“Why? You’ve never shown any interest before,” Pandora asked, suspicious.
“I’m interested now.”
Gymnopedie rubbed her nose awkwardly. Earlier, Dorothy hadn’t been the only one with a nosebleed.
Seeing that black-haired girl—who always carried herself with such frigid, ascetic detachment—suddenly act so awkwardly and clumsily cute… hearing that voice, which was usually so calm and rational, turn into a pleading, desirous whine… It had struck Gymnopedie’s soft spot with the force of a battering ram. Her whole body had gone weak.
A jolt of electricity had surged up her spine and into her brain. Even now, her scalp felt tingly and her temples throbbed with a rhythmic heat. Her mind was filled with the image of Wang Yue looking away, her cold indifference returning with a hint of disdain.
Gymnopedie was already planning to go back and have Hatsuyuki Karuta imitate that specific shift in temperament. She’d make her do it a few times tonight.
A mocking smile touched Pandora’s lips. She thought to herself that the Senior was a monster of high-intensity lust, but that suited her purposes just fine.
She reached up to brush back her bangs, only to realize her forehead was drenched in cold sweat. Her hair was stuck to her skin in wet clumps. She wiped her hands on her skirt and asked, “Fine. We’ll work together against her. But Senior Wang Yue is quite an anomaly. Do you have a plan?”
“Wang Yue possesses a rare combination: the White Gloves ‘Feline Whisperer’ trait coupled with ‘Decisive Blue.’ This implies composure, confidence, and a sense of connection… In other words, her mental strength manifests in powerful decision-making, boosting morale, and resource allocation. People like her usually play the role of the central axis or the core in any group,” Gymnopedie explained smoothly.
“You’ve certainly done your research,” Pandora noted, shooting her a sidelong glance.
“Don’t underestimate me.”
Gymnopedie smiled proudly. Even among the students of the Tea Party, she was one of the top elites. For a Witch, the fulfillment of desire was the ultimate proof of power.
She continued, “In the immortal Old Age, someone like her would be a stable, efficient coordinator, exerting influence over an entire organization or region. But in this chaotic transition into the New Age, when everyone is desperate for reliable infrastructure, her type tends to become warlords. They strive to become the ‘Father’ or the sole sovereign.”
“But she’s still a little girl,” Pandora pointed out, gesturing with her hands.
“Exactly. That is her weakness. Since she hasn’t formed a core inner circle yet, she has to constantly interact with others to find the people she needs. We just need to prepare such a person—a poisonous gift—and place it before her. A gift she will have no choice but to open…”
A sinister grin spread across Pandora’s face. A candidate immediately came to mind: Delia. She had been completely corrupted by the Sinful Fragrance. She was the perfect choice.
***
Wang Yue returned to the Silver Moon Phantasm.
The various sectors of her domain had been completed according to her plans, with the Control Tower at its heart.
Within the tower district, aside from the Clockwork Heart workshop and the material warehouses, she had constructed a laboratory to study supernatural forces.
Holding the ‘Junior’s Rib Extract,’ she hurried to the lab. She placed it into a test tube and added the chemical solution she had formulated based on data from the Rebirth Center.
The laboratory was still in its infancy, consisting of only two small rooms in a vast empty lot. One was a private lab, and the other was a Lead Chamber used for suppressing Mental Pollution.
