Chapter 327
Chapter 327
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 327
Chapter Title: Eve (2)
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"Yes, it's been a while....... You look a bit different now?"
Oliver added a comment belatedly as he examined Eve.
In truth, Eve looked very different from the first time Oliver had seen her.
Back then, she had been a dizzying swirl of vibrant colors, but now she was unified in shades of green, and her form was far more stable than before.
'Above all, there's a faint human shape emerging....... A woman, maybe?'
Oliver thought as he observed the subtle outline protruding from the mass of energy.
He had no idea why she had taken this form, but at least she seemed mentally calmer than when they first met.
Eve responded.
[......Yes. Does it look alright?]
Her voice was alien compared to a human's, yet not unpleasant, as she asked.
"Hmm....... It feels more settled than before, so I personally like it."
[Thank you. It's thanks to you.]
Oliver tilted his head at Eve's words. It sounded like she meant it was thanks to him, but he didn't recall helping her in any way.
"Ah....... If it's because I released you, then you don't need to thank me. I got something in return, after all."
Eve fell silent without answering. She seemed extremely cautious and shy.
Human emotions were hard enough to understand, but Eve's were even more elusive.
Well, that wasn't the urgent matter at hand anyway.
Oliver recalled the current situation and prepared to ask Eve for help.
With the abilities she had shown, she could at least figure out what was happening here.
Just as he opened his mouth, Eve spoke a beat faster.
[I looked into them, like you did, Oliver.]
Oliver paused mid-sentence, his eyes widening slightly.
"People?"
[Yes.]
That's right. The first time Oliver met Eve, he had said something like that.
Well, it had come up somewhat incidentally.
When Oliver first encountered Eve, she had been furiously bound by the druid, and Oliver had asked her to hold back just a little.
Surprisingly, Eve had complied with his request.
Afterward, Oliver had made a deal with her: in exchange for releasing her, he received information on Seamus and ABC Investments.
Once the deal was done and he was reviewing the documents on Seamus and ABC Investments, Oliver glanced at Eve, who was still simmering with anger, and casually remarked.
'Please don't be too angry at people. I get why you're upset, but there are interesting ones and impressive ones too. I learned that by looking into them myself. So, Eve, try not to get too mad. I'm asking you....... I've checked all the documents. Thank you for keeping your promise. You can go now. Thank you.'
The moment Oliver finished speaking, Eve departed, leaving behind a secretive message that he could call her again if needed.
Even in that urgent situation, Oliver's curiosity was piqued.
"You looked into people?"
[Yes, I looked into many people.]
Oliver was slightly surprised....... No, maybe it wasn't that strange.
Eve was a being born from the World Tree. If she wanted, she could observe far more people than he could.
In theory, anywhere the World Tree reached, she could peer into countless past events.
He was deeply curious about what Eve thought after observing people.
"What did you think?"
[They weren't interesting or impressive.]
Eve stated firmly. Her voice carried disappointment, which stood out more without the initial anger or malice.
"I see."
[Yes.]
"May I ask why you think that?"
Eve fell silent for a moment, then suddenly pulled up countless images in the air and played them.
Women eating tea and cake, and a woman jumping into the river with her child, unable to overcome poverty and hunger.
A wealthy family touring the slums.
A man enjoying a party, and a worker dozing against a line.
A family on a picnic, and families watching another family die without helping.
A politician preaching freedom and equality, followed by colonial invasion.
A soldier pledging courage and loyalty, followed by soldiers slaughtering civilians with guns and blades.
It was all vividly real. After all, these weren't Eve's creations but the raw truths drawn from the World Tree.
[Is this interesting or impressive?]
Eve asked Oliver. She sounded a bit angry, or perhaps confused.
Eve was serious, and Oliver matched her sincerity in his response.
"No. It's not interesting, and I don't think it's impressive....... It just raises questions. Why do they do that?"
[Is that so?]
"Yes. When I first went to the city of Landa, I had similar thoughts. The city center was clean and prosperous, but the outskirts weren't. People's emotions were all over the place too."
[Did you find out why?]
"Hmm? I'm not certain. For now, I chalk it up to money. You need money for a stable life and to invest in environment and security. So I asked why people have such unequal amounts of money."
[Who did you ask?]
"Paul Carver."
[Landa's Minister of the Interior.]
Eve stated immediately.
Oliver was surprised again but soon accepted it.
Eve was an artificial spirit born from the World Tree. Identifying Carver was trivial for her.
"Yes, that's right. Impressive."
At Oliver's praise, Eve faintly glowed with pleasure.
[What did he say?]
"Hmm....... But couldn't you know without asking, Eve?"
[I want to hear it from you, Oliver.]
Eve said, her sincerity shining through, almost pleading.
Oliver answered. It wasn't a secret anyway, and he welcomed such conversations. Wasn't it enjoyable?
"Inevitable resource investment and distribution for efficient growth, differences in the value of work itself, absence of labor laws, lack of minimum wage systems, institutional limitations, and so on. It was a systematic, logical explanation."
[Did you understand?]
"No. I get each part individually, but overall, it wasn't very clear. Just confusing....... But it was interesting."
[What's interesting about it?]
"At first, Carver answered bureaucratically, but he gradually got immersed in the topic and seriously discussed solutions with me. Labor protection laws, minimum wage laws, child labor laws, etc. He's somewhat passive on welfare but shows some interest. Know what's interesting here?"
[No.]
"Carver doesn't do it out of pity for city workers. He believes such investments will bring prosperity to the city as a whole. Stable lives mean more consumption, fueling business growth. More quality jobs will attract talent to the city, so businesses will invest to secure manpower....... He's upholding his beliefs while benefiting people. Isn't that really interesting?"
Oliver asked Eve sincerely.
It truly was fascinating.
Acting on one's own convictions.
[Is that what's interesting?]
"Personally, yes. Striving for beliefs, will, goals....... Isn't it? Of course, some break or make mistakes, but others correct them eventually. That's impressive too."
[Who is that?]
"Pardon?"
[The one who breaks or errs but corrects it eventually.]
"Ah....... That person....... Sorry, can I answer later? On second thought, I don't think I have the right to judge them. I make mistakes sometimes too."
As Oliver politely requested, Eve complied just like the first time. She was truly considerate.
[But....... There are even fewer cases like the ones you mentioned, Oliver.]
Eve interjected suddenly.
"What?"
[Like what you said. Most people are disappointing.]
"Hmm....... Maybe. But that's what makes them valuable, isn't it? Also, this is purely my subjective opinion, so you don't have to fixate on it, Eve. Thinking something is interesting or impressive is personal. You're greater than me, so you'll find even more interesting and impressive things."
Eve's emotions fluctuated in confusion as she fell silent, seemingly deep in thought. Oliver thought it was a good sign. Thinking was good.
"Eve."
[Yes, Oliver.]
"Sorry to ask, but if it's okay, could you help me for a bit? I need assistance."
[......Of course. Tell me.]
With Eve's help, Oliver disconnected and let go of the World Tree.
Some time had passed.
"Did you connect successfully?"
Oliver nodded at Kevin's question and stood up.
Terrence and Yarelli stared at him in surprise, as if questioning his true identity.
Ignoring them, Kevin asked.
"So, did you figure out what's going on?"
"I couldn't get all the details due to time constraints, but it seems Professor's guess was right. It's the work of the Life Sciences faction hosting the conference and the Life Alchemy department. They've been preparing this for a long time."
"I see. What's the situation now?"
"I didn't grasp everything, but most conference participants are trapped in the fog and being attacked one by one. By modified humans and mages. Some are holding out, but the standout ones are being swallowed by the fog and scattered to other spaces."
It matched Kevin's prediction exactly.
With so many experts gathered, it was far more efficient to wear them down gradually rather than take them all at once.
Especially since they controlled the space itself with the fog.
Terrence interjected then.
"Do you know how the elder is doing? Lieutenant General Philip Loer."
"He's fighting."
Terrence asked urgently, but Oliver answered calmly.
"Fighting?"
"Yes. He's fighting alongside Grand Master Tinda of the Scardi Minor School."
"It must be Theodore. No one else could take on both at once, and the elder went to meet Theodore secretly."
Terrence felt both rage and relief that Philip was still safe.
Kevin chimed in agreement.
"Good. If we rescue Lieutenant General Philip and Grand Master Tinda, we'll find a way. At least we can prove the Life Sciences faction caused this mess. Let's move now."
As always, Kevin tried to act without rest.
It wasn't a bad call. Lingering could invite new attacks or get them scattered by the fog.
Terrence and Yarelli followed Kevin's orders despite their own family concerns.
"May I say something?"
Amid the urgency, only Oliver raised his hand without moving.
They all stared silently, pressuring him, but when he showed no sign of budging until he spoke, Kevin finally asked.
"What?"
"Nothing much. A number of students have been kidnapped to a secret lab and tied up. Do we not need to rescue them? Derek, Felix, and quite a few other Magic Tower students."
Oliver spoke as if forcing a choice. As everyone fell silent, he added.
"Ah, I was just asking for your opinion."