"And then there's Angela, who's been always around you this past year. Is she an old god or demon possessing a doll, or a spy for the Smoke Mirror Company or the Wotan Company?"
Wait, what?
Why did the topic suddenly change like this?!
Hayden was completely baffled.
Incidentally, Angela didn't come to the underground lab with him; she was waiting alone outside the flower shop. So, right now, Hayden and Karen were the only two people in this underground area.
Perhaps that's why Karen's voice sounded even lower, as if she were very sad and melancholy.
"...Never mind, I don't really care that much about the answer anyway."
It's too late, but it's soon.
Before Hayden could react, or even use any spells or tools, sparks of divine power flashed in Kallenmi's orange eyes. The invisible divine power emanating from her had frozen and suppressed everything in the surrounding space.
Caught off guard, Hayden, who could normally hold his own against the gods, was subdued in an instant. Several faint morning glory vines even climbed out from the void, binding his hands and feet tightly, rendering Hayden completely immobile.
Rather than being surprised, he was completely dumbfounded: "Huh? Wait, Karen, what are you doing?!"
Karen did not answer directly.
She looked around the underground laboratory she was in, glanced at the various flowers being cultivated in the greenhouse on the other side of the glass window, and then spoke with a complicated expression: "No matter who Angela is behind you, I just want to know what you think."
"Whether it's other big corporations or the remnants of the great devils, Hayden, why are you colluding with them? I know your ideals might be a little different from mine, but I've always thought you should be..."
As Karen spoke, a bitter anger even crept into her words.
"—I always thought you were a better, more ambitious person! So why? Why did you do this? I thought we were at least friends, but why did you become a lackey of other gods and deceive me!?"
Hayden finally understood.
He finally understood why Karen was reacting this way before and now.
Because Karen’s current feelings are almost exactly the same as Hayden’s feelings last year when he learned that Adam had conspired with the devil for profit!
But isn't it normal for her to misunderstand?
Hayden's previous attitude and concealment, Angela's many suspicious points, and now his revelation of information related to the devil, his visit to Karen to offer advice, and his inquiry about her father, the Peacock King—putting yourself in her shoes, how could Karen not think things through?
She was already suspicious when Hayden ran away, saying he was going to investigate the devil. Now, after hearing Hayden's words, the pressure had reached its peak!
Now, Hayden remembered what Abigail had told him about an hour earlier, and it dawned on him—didn't the Dark Witch just say that if he didn't speak frankly with Karen, even the best hand would be ruined!
Hayden finally understood—so this is how it can be destroyed!?
"Since things have come to this, I'll lock you up in this underground laboratory for now. I'll deal with you slowly after this is over."
Karen was still speaking, her voice seemingly calming down, yet still carrying a complex, unidentifiable emotion.
"Don't worry, I won't kill you. In fact, it's safer for you to stay here until this is all over. I'll give you a mental health check then to see if you did these things of your own free will..."
Meanwhile, Hayden finally recovered from his initial shock—if he hadn't, he would have faced the terrible fate of being locked up in the basement by Karen!
Fortunately, Hayden was always quick-witted and immediately shouted, "Wait! I still have some last words to say!"
Karen was about to wave her hand to have the morning glory vines completely bind Hayden, but upon hearing his shout, she couldn't help but pause: "Huh?"
"I, Hayden, am a man of integrity, I say what I mean and what I say I mean! Although I really don't want to die, if I die because of my own mistakes, then I have nothing to say!"
Now that the situation is urgent, Hayden, instead of showing any arrogance, has become defiant and full of bravado.
“I did hesitate to believe you before, but after hearing what you said today, I believe you are truly a kind-hearted person who wants to make this damn world a better place no matter what. I have a few potions hanging on my belt. Take them and examine them carefully, and you will know what really happened!”
After saying this, Hayden obediently stopped moving, closing his eyes as if awaiting death.
Karen was both surprised and suspicious by him. After hesitating for a moment, she finally had the morning glory vine remove Hayden's belt and place it on her lab table. Hanging from the belt were four crystal vials, all filled with emerald green potions. Karen waved her hand and quickly cast several analytical spells on the vials.
After each spell was cast, the expression on her face became increasingly confused.
A few minutes later, she leaned against the wall, feeling even a little dizzy.
Because all those potions were concocted by Hayden using Angela's scent as an aid.
"For the past year, I have indeed been keeping a big secret from you. But I assure you, this secret has nothing to do with the devil. It's a secret I made up myself!"
Taking advantage of the easing of tension, Hayden reopened his eyes and immediately seized the opportunity to explain.
"It was this power that revived the dragon vein of the abandoned industrial area. It's true that I had contact with the [Bo Xun] organization before, but I really didn't collude with big companies or demons. To put it another way, you've seen this yourself now—do you really think that smoke goggles or demons could easily create something like this, and in such large quantities that I have to carry several bottles with me?"
impossible.
If the Smoke Mirror Life Construction Company or the devil could mass-produce this potion, they could have used it to revitalize spiritual veins across the land, generating enormous profits. Instead of using it at all and having Hayden carry such a valuable item around carelessly.
To put it more bluntly, if the Smoke Mirror Company or the devil really had the power to easily change the world, they would have used it to change the world long ago.
Only individuals like Hayden, who walk through a bustling city like a child carrying gold, are unable to directly transform this power into something tangible.
Karen wasn't stupid, and she was a reasonable person, so she naturally understood when she was pointed out like that.
"However, these are all secondary."
So Hayden didn't let this opportunity slip by.
He only needs to emphasize one truly important point.
"It was my fault for not fully trusting you before. I was still troubled until just now. I apologize for my doubts."
Despite being bound by morning glory vines, Hayden spoke in a solemn tone.
“But, Karen, I’ve always been on your side—I want to protect your dream of making the world a better place.”
That line might have gone a bit too far.
At least Karen's face turned bright red after hearing Hayden's words. Blood even rushed to the tips of her long elven ears, almost making them steam, causing her to let out a strange "Eek!" and stumble onto the chair next to her.
"Maybe I'm a bit stupid. We were just classmates for four years in college, so we can only be considered friends. And I'm just an ordinary person, yet I'm spouting nonsense about wanting to protect you and standing on your side. You'll probably feel very uncomfortable. But that's really what I think."
But Hayden continued.
"The contents of my potions will surely help you realize your dream of improving the world. After that, you can do whatever you want with me."
Then he closed his eyes and waited to die.
Karen was completely bewildered.
If that's all, it's not a big deal. Karen will eventually come to her senses. But what she'll do to Hayden then is another story.
So the next problem is that the lab door was opened at that exact moment.
"Excuse me, Master? Miss Karen? Are you in this room?"
And it was Angela who walked into the laboratory.
She paused for a moment after entering the room, first looking at Hayden, who was bound by morning glory vines and not wearing any pants—his trousers had fallen to the ground after his belt was removed—then turning to look at Karen, who was slumped in a chair next to her, her face flushed, and then revealing an expression of sudden realization: "I see."
At the same time, Hayden reopened his eyes and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
His exaggerated words to Karen were certainly sincere, but they were also a way to buy time—and sure enough, Angela, his savior, has arrived!
Even if Kallen is incredibly powerful now, how could she possibly stand up to Angela in a direct confrontation? Now that Angela is here, Hayden certainly won't be captured and imprisoned in the basement by Kallen!
This was Hayden's quick-thinking plan!
After all, he had just talked to the Black Witch about the will to live, so how could he really be willing to wait for death!
It's too late, but it's soon.
"Don't worry, Master."
Angela quickly bowed to Karen and Hayden.
"No need for further words, I understand!"
She said with great interest.
"I apologize for disturbing you two. Please call me again after you've finished your 'sexy' business."
Then she backed out of the lab, and very considerately closed the door behind her.
085: It's not that it's bad, but that it's not possible.
In the end, Karen released Hayden, returned the belt to him, and urged him to quickly call Angela back.
"I'm so sorry, Master, I thought you two were just playing a bit too intensely..."
After learning what had happened, Angela immediately lowered her head and obediently apologized.
Hayden was so speechless he almost fainted: "So, next time I'm tied up by a real enemy, you're going to assume I'm playing bondage?! What kind of repressed perverted stuff is in your head?!"
"Of course not! Miss Karen is not your enemy!"
Angela puffed out her chest and said in a serious tone,
"I can tell at a glance who your friends are, who your enemies are, and who likes you!"
why?
Hayden found these words particularly terrifying.
Karen was still slumped in her chair, but she had mostly calmed down. Looking at the cheerful Angela, she was thinking about much more serious matters.
What exactly is Angela?
Hayden had practically given up on thinking about the question. He entrusted Professor Albion with researching Angela's possible mythological identity, while he himself focused primarily on developing more practical things, such as new spells, potions, and magical artifacts. This wasn't necessarily a bad thing, as Hayden had indeed helped many people through these endeavors. Besides, he had always been a pragmatist.
Abigail hadn't completely given up on the question, but she was an old witch who had lived for over four hundred years. This meant she was cautious and also afraid of death. In other words, as long as Angela continued to do things that benefited Abigail and didn't cause her trouble, the dark witch didn't really want to meddle in the affairs of a powerful, unknown, and mysterious being—this could be considered a kind of caution and survival wisdom of the elderly.
Isn't it good to be alive? Why bother investigating the powerful and potentially terrifying Angela?
Karen's ideas, however, were different from both of theirs.
She was, after all, a god, and not so easily frightened by Angela.
So if Karen wasn't frightened by Angela, how could she not suspect Angela's identity?
Even to the daughter of the Peacock King, a young lady of the divine race, Angela was truly too strange. She couldn't possibly be an old god, because if the old gods truly had the ability to revive spiritual veins with a breath, the new gods would have no power to overthrow them; however, she also couldn't possibly be a new god, because even the new gods would find it difficult to do such a thing.
Both Karen and the mainstream within the Mitra Group initially believed that Smoke Mirror Life Construction Company had revived the spiritual veins of the abandoned industrial area using some new technology, as Smoke Mirror Company was the most skilled company in manipulating life force. However, even they couldn't revive a depleted spiritual vein so easily. Powerful magic always comes at a price; this is the way of the world.
Now, well done, Angela, with a gentle breath, has blown away all the common sense of the world to Java.
If she is neither an old god nor a new god, then what is she?
What is her purpose?
This is exactly what Karen is worried and wary of right now.
But then again, Karen is actually quite happy right now—after all, Hayden just said those things to her!
I want to protect your dreams!
I will always stand by your side!
Who doesn't like to hear this kind of talk?
It was still March. However, when Karen thought about what Hayden had just said, her mind felt like it was melting like summer chocolate.
Unfortunately, there are priorities, and Karen is intelligent enough to understand this, otherwise the atmosphere would have been much more interesting.
"I understand the part about the incredible power now."
So no matter what she was thinking, Karen put on a serious expression again, glanced at Angela, and then frowned and said...
"But that's just power. How do you know about my own family affairs?"
Good question. Hayden knew Karen would ask this sooner or later.
“I only found out about it six months ago. Before the [Mars] incident, I had some connections on the black market that could help me understand the affairs of the gods.”
He scratched the back of his head and answered decisively.
"By the way, if you think I'll treat you with the utmost respect just because I know you're the daughter of a high-ranking official, you're dreaming. If you dare to act like a spoiled princess around with me from now on—I'll fuck you, you know?"
A look of utter amusement flashed across Karen's face.
"Go to hell you."
This meant that everything was as it should have been, so they sat down again in the underground laboratory and began to discuss serious matters.
“At this point, I can no longer extricate myself from this matter alone. Wanting to help you might still be considered a psychological thing. But you surely know what will happen to me if the Mitra Group follows your [Dream Flower] all the way to the source of the original technology, right?”
Hayden pointed to Angela, who was not far away.
"Even in the best-case scenario, we'll still end up being arrested by some executive."