Wang Yue was waiting for Ed’s return.
Ed had already left the Dreamland and arrived in Region K16, the heart of the entire Evernight Realm and the location of the Guild’s headquarters.
Region K16 was a rare oasis of safety within the Crimson zones. For explorers and merchants alike, it served as a vital freight hub and transportation center. It wasn’t a naturally occurring blank space; rather, it was as if a drop of disinfectant had been placed into a bacterial colony—K16 had been carved out by human hands.
Currently, ten Lantern-Bearers—including Decaying Aminata and the Lord of the Origin—had been urgently mobilized to Sector G24. They formed a response team specifically tasked with handling the situation at Balor Academy.
Meanwhile, twenty other Lantern-Bearers remained in the Dreamland, responsible for constructing Light-Paths and establishing administrative institutions for science, education, and health.
Through her contact with the G24 response team, Wang Yue had consented to the plan to modify Ed-Bear. Following this, Ed-Bear underwent his Lantern-Bearer transformation at the headquarters.
For the bear, there was no real difficulty. He simply had to sit inside a cockpit that resembled a “Gundam” pilot seat.
Based on the feedback he sent, he had been outfitted with a Lantern-Bearer armature known as “Nightglow.” In addition to components crafted from transcendent materials, he had been bestowed with three Special Grade Relics, including the “Lantern”—the most critical tool for any Lantern-Bearer.
Of course, as a newly appointed Lantern-Bearer, Ed-Bear with the Child ranked among the lowest in terms of power, though there was potential for growth in the future.
After joining the Guild, Ed-Bear was required to pull shifts at the Lighthouse for two hundred days a year, ensuring the safety of nearby human settlements. The remaining time was his for vacation, though he remained subject to emergency recall.
If Wang Yue needed him, he could simply swap shifts with his colleagues.
In short, Ed had become a civil servant.
Room 202.
Wang Yue didn’t own any plushies, so Prohibition No. 11 didn’t affect her personally. However, seeing the young girls being used as pawns in a power struggle kindled a flicker of rage in her heart.
She walked to the windowsill and watered a pot of dandelions. The spherical flower heads were heavy with fluffy seeds. With a gentle puff of air, the silver seeds drifted out the window, dancing in the wind.
Wang Yue had already mastered the art of transmitting messages through the bio-electric currents stored within spores and seeds. After communicating with the Lantern-Bearer response team, several facts had been confirmed:
First, the optimal choice was to rescue the Little Witch.
Second, if rescue proved impossible, the Guild favored joining forces with the Restorationists to annihilate the Church.
Third, Wang Yue was granted the authority to act as she saw fit.
Wang Yue frowned in deep thought. The current situation was crystal clear: the Restorationists were vying for an alliance with the Lantern-Bearers. Once achieved, the Church’s Expeditionary Force and the Order of Sisters would be caught in a pincer move. Nearly half of the Church’s elite forces could be wiped out.
Logically, under such dire circumstances, the Church should have made a major move after the birth of the Messiah. Yet, despite achieving an important strategic objective, their reaction was sluggish, lacking any follow-up plans.
“Perhaps something went wrong with the Messiah,” Wang Yue mused.
The Quicksand Lowlands.
A group of clergy members huddled around a lizardman draped in purple robes and crowned with a laurel wreath, prostrating themselves in worship.
The lizardman sat motionless, his dark green vertical pupils bulging as his nictitating membranes occasionally flickered.
“Father Dorin,” a white-haired sister whispered to the stern-faced middle-aged man beside her, “the Messiah… he seems a bit… off?”
“Do not question the Lord,” the Father said in a low, heavy voice.
Then, the man with the classically sculpted features dropped to the ground. He crawled on all fours toward the lizardman and reverently kissed its tail, chanting:
“Ed recites the mercy of the Heavenly Lord, pure and beautiful, perfect and flawless. He could not bear to abandon us sinners, and so He sent the Son of God to descend upon this world for our redemption. May His holy body and sacred blood nourish our souls. Amen!”
The surrounding crowd fell to their knees, following the prayer:
“Messiah, protect us from all calamity and suffering. Messiah, grant us peace day and night. Messiah, we rely on You with all our heart and soul; we pray You increase our Three Virtues. Amen!”
Note: The Three Virtues refer to the theological virtues of Faith, Hope, and Charity.
The lizardman remained still. His glassy eyes reflected the crowd kneeling in prayer, his gaze seemingly filled with confusion.
Just then, a beetle crawled into his field of vision.
The lizardman’s mouth suddenly snapped open. His tongue shot out like a blur, lashing against the ground and kicking up a small cloud of dust. Then, with practiced ease, he retracted his tongue, swallowing the beetle.
The church fell silent. The atmosphere became stiflingly awkward.
Everyone turned their gaze toward Father Dorin, who was still kneeling at the front.
The Father cleared his throat and said, “Clearly, that was a Scarab. The sustenance of the Son of God is no ordinary thing.”
A short while later, a box of “Scarabs” captured nearby was brought forth. Sprinkled with a layer of edible gold leaf, they looked exceptionally magnificent.
In a side hall of the cathedral, several key figures of the Expeditionary Force gathered to discuss their strategy.
“Everyone, we have the Messiah. The conditions for activating the ancient relic, the ‘Heavenly Clock,’ have been met. There is no longer any need to linger here,” Natya suggested.
“Granahl is an utter opportunist,” Father Dorin analyzed. “Seeing that absorbing the fetal monstrosities didn’t make her as powerful as expected, she’s turned to the Restorationists. Now that she has four Taboo Names under her command, she clearly intends to replicate the Academy’s methods and defect to the Evernight powers. Cooperating with her further is no different from bargaining with a tiger for its skin.”
“Then let us withdraw. Once we’re clear, we’ll detonate Pandora’s Box as planned. Let’s finish off Evernight once and for all. It’ll be like throwing a firecracker into a septic tank—all that filth will go flying in every direction…”
***
Room 202.
Wang Yue was teasing a hamster with a leaf.
“Yue, I gave Dorothy a magic potion and turned her into a hamster. You aren’t mad, are you?” Medeili asked, leaning over.
“Not at all. In fact, it was a very wise choice,” Wang Yue replied. “Since we suspected a traitor, there was no room for indecision. Taking control of her was the right move. I’m sure she understands.”
The hamster nodded in frantic agreement. I understand perfectly! But why do I have to use the exercise wheel? My legs are about to break, but I can’t stop running…
So miserable…
Sob, sob…
Master…
Please let me out…
I don’t want to live like this…
Dorothy squeaked urgently.
Wang Yue picked up the hamster and cradled her in her palm. The little ball of fur was warm, possessing that dry, cozy heat unique to small animals.
“There is no traitor among us,” Wang Yue announced. “The real culprit is Pandora. She has a detection-type Mystic Art. Dorothy is innocent.”
“I’m sorry, Dorothy. I wronged you,” Medeili said, reaching out a finger to gently stroke the hamster’s back.
Finally exonerated, Dorothy stood up on her hind legs, her eyes welling with tears as she pressed her tiny paws together in a pleading gesture.
Change me back…
Master…
Is there a reward or something?
I want to eat a huge meal…
I want Master to hand-feed me…
Huh?
Why am I being put back?
The hamster tumbled into the wood shavings, her mouth hanging open in a daze. The cage door snapped shut, and Wang Yue’s voice drifted in from outside.
“Dorothy is unexpectedly cute as a hamster! I think I’ll keep her like this for a while longer. I’m sure she’ll understand.”
