Chapter 535: Before the Storm
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 535: Before the Storm
"Yalur, how are the preparations coming along?"
In a secluded building, a bird swept down from the night sky, landing on a perch specifically prepared for a parrot.
However, this building—recently and crudely converted into a research laboratory—had no parrots in residence yet. In fact, it barely had any researchers at all. Robin looked down over the space, finally spotting an old man dozing with his legs crossed amidst a cluttered pile of precision instruments.
Robin froze, a flash of anger instantly crossing his eyes.
"Yalur!!"
"Mmm..."
Yalur grumbled a few times, slowly waking up. He seemed equally annoyed.
"Who is it? I told you, it's the middle of the night. Don't disturb me. Who’s so tactless that they’d—oh, it’s Mr. Robin!"
Upon seeing the grim-faced black bird nearby, Yalur finally stopped complaining and stood up languidly.
"You should have given me some notice before coming. I would have prepared a proper welcome."
Though his words were respectful, there wasn't a hint of reverence on Yalur’s face. He picked up a nearby coffee cup, glanced at it, and let out a slow yawn.
"It’s the dead of night. An old man’s sleep is very important, you know."
"Do I need to report to you before I go anywhere?"
Robin shot back with a cold, mirthless retort. He hopped over to a pile of disorganized documents on a nearby table, picking through them.
"The things I asked you to prepare—how are they?"
"What things?"
"Stop playing dumb with me!"
"Oh, don't be angry. When you get old, your memory starts to slip. Besides, those assistants I was used to using suddenly vanished. It’s only natural to forget a few things occasionally."
Yalur continued to unhurriedly pour some cold coffee.
"Most of it is finished."
"Only... most of it?"
Robin tilted his head, eyeing Yalur. A cold light flickered in his pitch-black eyes.
"Yalur, you should understand that the Inner Council’s tolerance for you is limited..."
"Now, now, let me finish. Don't be in such a rush; it’s bad for the heart."
Yalur interrupted Robin and set down his coffee cup. He carefully stepped over the clutter on the floor, which looked like it hadn't been tidied in ages, and walked toward the far end of the laboratory.
"While it’s still not perfect, it should be enough to satisfy your requirements."
Yalur snapped his fingers.
Snap.
The magic stones flared to life, and bright light instantly illuminated the space in front of him.
A massive object, previously hidden in the shadows, finally revealed its cold silhouette.
It was... a cultivation vessel.
It was enormous, roughly the size of a family swimming pool.
It was filled with a green solution that emitted an eerie, deep green glow through the glass, looking like something from the underworld.
Robin hopped over to the vessel, tilting his bird head to peer inside.
In the shadows of the solution, a slender figure suddenly seemed to sense the movement outside and swam over gracefully.
It was a young girl, perhaps only thirteen or fourteen years old. Her waist-length hair drifted in the solution like seaweed. Every part of her naked body radiated the innocence of her age.
However, her fair skin was covered in dense surgical seams. Some patches of flesh were even paler than the rest, as if they hadn't originally belonged to her.
She drifted through the solution like a mermaid, peering curiously through the glass of the cultivation vessel at the man and the bird outside.
"Has her sanity returned?"
A trace of gravity appeared on Robin's face.
"No," Yalur replied. "In fact, with the concentration of beast blood in her body reaching that level, her sanity was completely wiped out long ago. All that remains now is instinct... those few lingering human instincts."
"She looks very quiet now. Harmless."
Robin watched the girl. She seemed more interested in him, the bird, than the old man, as she gently tapped her small hand against the glass.
"Of course. I’ve injected a massive amount of sedatives into the cultivation fluid. As long as she’s in there, she’ll be good. Very, very good."
Yalur leaned in to observe her as well. Although he watched her countless times every day, he couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder at this moment.
"What a magnificent creation. Before I saw her, I never imagined there could be someone in this world with a beast bloodline so concentrated. Just the blood drawn from her body is enough to create a drug that turns people into monsters."
"Power that cannot be controlled is merely the source of calamity," Robin sneered. "When she was delivered to us, her body had been nearly torn to shreds by her own frenzy. That terrifying sight—where her heart was still beating despite it all—is certainly nothing to be envied."
"And that is why I am here! Because of the genius that is me!"
Yalur pressed himself against the glass of the vessel, his face full of fanaticism.
"Only I can enable her to control the beast blood within her. Only I... can fully unearth the potential in her body. I can even use her body to completely master that technology... Mr. Robin, you understand, don't you? That technology is the thing that could truly change this world!"
"Heh, of course. Isn't that where your value lies?"
As if thinking of something, a spark of eagerness appeared in Robin's eyes as well.
"But now is not the time to discuss that. If we don't secure the support of the positions we desire, all of this will ultimately be nothing but a pipe dream. Those ignorant fools won't let you continue down this path. After all, to them... this is what they call a 'taboo.'"
Robin tilted his head toward Yalur. "If we fail, both you and your research will be completely erased from this world. Do you understand?"
"I understand. Of course I understand. I know this is a road of no return. But taboos... taboos..."
Yalur raised his hands high, a strange and burning light flickering in his clouded eyes.
"It is precisely because these things are beyond the reach of ordinary people that they are so... fascinating!"
*
The sky was overcast, thick with dark clouds.
Belland appeared peaceful as ever, but beneath that peace, dark undercurrents seemed to be surging, making the atmosphere in the streets and alleys feel somewhat oppressive.
At a hidden street corner, Muen jumped down from a carriage and bid farewell to Celicia.
"Those things I said to you before—just forget them."
"Those things?"
"The part about asking for your help."
Muen adjusted the brim of his hat and smiled.
"Things are different now. I have the resources of the entire Duke's estate, plus my father's influence in the Royal Faction and the First Prince's own rallying power. At least in terms of strength on paper, I no longer fear those rats of the Inner Council who only dare to hide in the shadows. So, there's no need for you to wade into these muddy waters.
"Besides, given the current situation, it really isn't suitable for you to get involved. It's better to remain neutral and stay out of it."
"..."
Celicia remained expressionless, her gaze cold as she stared at Muen.
After a long silence, her statue-like body moved slightly, and she gave a small nod.
"Indeed. It is not very convenient for me."
"Then... let's say goodbye for now."
Muen waved his hand. After his farewell, his figure quickly vanished into the shadows at the end of the street.
Celicia watched his retreating back, falling into silence.
After an unknown amount of time, she finally lowered the carriage curtain and let the carriage drive toward the small courtyard where she lived.
In the darkness, she closed her eyes in thought.
"President!"
After a while, the carriage came to a halt. Wei'er, who had been waiting outside, came skipping over like an excited little sparrow.
"You're finally back!"
"Wei'er, go get paper and a pen," Celicia commanded directly, without bothering with greetings.
"Eh?"
Though confused, Wei'er obediently brought the paper and pen.
Inside the carriage, Celicia held the quill, staring at the blank paper in front of her for a long moment.
It wasn't until Wei'er, waiting outside, grew impatient and started peeking in curiously that Celicia finally began to write rapidly. Relying on her memory, she wrote down name after name on the paper.
After a moment of deliberation, she crossed out some names and added others before handing the paper to Wei'er.
"What is this?"
"Investigate everyone on that list."
Celicia paused, then added, "Use our moles in the Central Intelligence Agency. Do it as quickly as possible."