First, I haven’t offended Anti-Entropy!
I know, I know.
Second, I really haven’t offended Anti-Entropy!
Right, right.
Third, I truly, fucking haven’t offended you guys from Anti-Entropy!
Shut up!
Calm down first!
In the real world, the heiress Angel’s expression was frozen stiff as she stared motionlessly at the Titan mech beside her, which was equally motionless.
The Angels in the theater all took a deep breath, calmed down, and quickly began discussing:
“First, judging by the paint job, it’s neither an Ancient nor a Padrino.
It’s just a standard-issue Titan mech.”
“So the situation is probably like last time with Kiana.
They haven’t discovered we’re Herrschers.
We’ve just stumbled into trouble somewhere without realizing it.”
“Still, even if the heiress’s physique is trash, she’s still one of the Herrschers of a Thousand.
Taking apart a standard Titan shouldn’t be too difficult.”
“We can’t take it apart!”
“Right.
Otherwise, we’d have a hard time explaining the heiress’s combat capability, and it might attract more attention from Anti-Entropy.
No need to add unnecessary risk.”
“Let’s adapt on the fly.
As long as they don’t want our corpse or want to dissect us…
as long as it’s nothing that could expose our Herrscher identity, we might as well play along and see what new trouble this is.”
Within a few short seconds, dozens of thinking threads simultaneously completed their brainstorming and fed the decision back to the heiress Angel in the real world.
So the heiress Angel sat up from the sofa, her pale, soft bare feet pressing into the plush carpet.
She lifted her skirt, bent her knees, and performed an elegant curtsy like a court noble, then smiled radiantly:
“An unknown guest, visiting late at night.
May I ask how this humble lady might be of service to you?”
Clank!
Clank, clank!
The Titan said nothing.
Instead, it raised its heavy, solid mechanical arm, which looked like it could crush Angel into a pancake in one swing.
Its fingers contracted and deformed, extending a black-and-gold cannon barrel far wider than a human head.
Purple-red energy rapidly coalesced at the muzzle.
“!”
Angel maintained her curtsy and smile, but her pupils contracted slightly.
If she died, she would drop a Herrscher core, directly exposing her identity.
So if this thing had truly come to kill her, she would have to dismantle the Titan, eliminate all relevant witnesses, bury every trace of the heiress’s existence, and sink back into complete darkness.
“Please reconsider, sir.
This humble lady believes she is still worth a second look.”
Angel lowered her head in a submissive posture, but in doing so, she more clearly revealed the elegant, alluring curve of her collarbone and neck, like a harmless, beautiful white swan.
Clank, clank!
The sound of mechanical transformation rang out again.
Angel looked up to see the massive mech lower its arm, beginning to turn invisible from its limbs outward, until it completely vanished before her eyes.
In its place, an electric wheelchair slowly rolled toward her.
Seated in it was an old man with thinning hair, carrying the heavy aura of approaching death.
Tubes and wires ran from his body and arms, connected to the high-tech wheelchair, as if the device were keeping him alive.
Having absorbed the residual memories of the heiress’s body, Angel naturally recognized this old man.
“Good evening, dear Father.” Angel curtsied again, her tone respectful and polite.
The old man removed his oxygen mask, let out a shallow breath, gazed at Angel, and spoke slowly in a frail, aged voice:
“Poised, elegant, unflinching in the face of danger, calmly seeking a way to survive even in an uncertain crisis.
You are quite impressive.”
“All thanks to Father’s excellent guidance.
I owe it all to your love and cultivation.”
“Heh!
At first, the one I favored was your eldest brother.
He had connections and cunning, and knew how to project an image of generosity and honesty while hiding his fangs in the shadows.
But it seems you were the one hiding the deepest.
Like a venomous snake, you didn’t even show a crack to me until it was time to strike.”
The old man looked weary, a hint of regret in his voice.
Angel smiled on the outside, but rolled her eyes on the inside.
Of course he hadn’t seen through her.
The original heiress had been arrogant yet foolish and immature.
She hadn’t realized the vast gap between herself and her two brothers until the moment of her death.
If Angel hadn’t taken over the heiress’s identity, the victor would surely have been the eldest brother the old man had favored.
“But after eliminating your elder brothers, you immediately turned your fangs on me.
Would you say you were too hasty, or simply audacious?”
“Oh my!
Father, you misunderstand me.
How could I ever disrespect you?
Surely my two elder brothers were simply being naughty.
You can’t wrongly accuse your filial and obedient daughter, can you?”
“Why the rush?
With your two brothers gone, aren’t you the only candidate left?”
“Father, I’ve already told you those…”
“Tell me the truth!”
As the old man’s voice dropped, the silhouette of the Titan mech began to shimmer back into visibility behind him.
Angel’s smile faded, her innocent, harmless expression gradually turning cold.
“Father, your views are rather traditional.
I was never entirely sure of your stance on a daughter inheriting the family business.
Besides, who knows whether you’ve hidden a few more blood brothers for me in the shadows?
If you want to do something, you have to do it completely.
Any hesitation can lead to total defeat.
Father, you taught us that yourself.
Your daughter deeply agrees.”
“Hmph!”
The old man let out a disdainful snort.
Then he studied Angel, now like an ice-cold beauty, and sighed:
“Though it’s a grave disrespect, this ruthlessness and decisiveness does remind me of myself.
You can rest easy; my time is indeed short.
Even Anti-Entropy’s technology can no longer prolong my life.
And I could never cultivate another heir who could rival you.”
“Thank you, Father, for your recognition.”
Angel took a deep breath, clasped her hands together, and slowly bowed, using the traditional gesture of this country to express her excitement and gratitude.
This display clearly pleased the old man, so without Angel needing to “naturally” ask, he began explaining on his own:
“This world is far more complicated than you imagine.
There are technology and weapons far beyond any nation’s reach, superhuman power capable of wiping out entire armies with a single person, and terrifying monsters born from the shadows.
Come with me.
You will now learn the truth of the world, and the true foundation of the Tachibana family.
You have earned the right.”
“Yes, Father!”
Angel quickly walked to the old man’s side, even dutifully holding the wheelchair that didn’t need pushing, and followed the old man into the depths of the villa estate.