Changes in This World

"So those Light remnants were waiting for me?" "Yes, and then you screwed them over completely." "Are you saying I should feel bad about that?" "Do you really think I've lived this long just to be that naive?" "I'll make you squirrel mandarin fish tomorrow." "Good heavens, really?!" "See?" "Those are two entirely different things, alright? I certainly wouldn't expect those Light remnants to drop to their knees and bow to you as their master if they found out you were the one they were looking for. Look at how they treated Piaget and Mr. Bede. They'd probably keep you in captivity and control you like some mascot." "Most importantly, my identity already can't bear the light of day. Getting mixed up with Light on top of that would be a disaster." "Fair point. Sticking with the Church of Order offers far better prospects." "Still, since Mr. Bede left behind those two paintings, why didn't he just tell me directly?" "Didn't he tell you to come back and see his daughter? If you hadn't returned, you wouldn't have seen them at all. Consider it a father's stubborn pride." "To be honest, I've never been able to see through my future father-in-law." "That's precisely why people who believe in the Church of the Mural God are called lunatics." "Alright, let's get some rest. We have to head back to the city tomorrow morning; the squad has a mission." "So what about my squirrel mandarin fish?" "Next time." "I don't suffer from excessive drowsiness, so why do I have to wait for next time?" "You really were eavesdropping outside that day." "Guess what else I heard? Speak louder, I can't hear you! Louder, meow!" "Fine. Don't ever expect to eat squirrel mandarin fish again in your life." "Karen, are you seriously a sore loser, meow?!" ... At the crack of dawn, Karen was packed and ready, while Boge loaded all the luggage into the car. Karen went to Eunice's room, gently kissed her on the forehead, then walked out, bade farewell to Old Anderson and the others, and sat in his car. Once the car drove out of Allen Manor, Karen pulled out the wallet Eunice had given him. Opening it, the photograph inside showed him and Eunice leaning against each other on horseback. Beneath the thick moonlight, a white steed and a beautiful lady. It was a scene countless men had dreamed of, just as many girls had fantasized about their prince on a white horse coming to take them away, and many boys had dreamed of riding a white horse to fetch the girl they loved. "You can still turn back now," Purr said. "I don't mind." "If I hadn't left Allen Manor, would the Raphael family have been destroyed by the Church of Order? Would Allen Manor be able to pick and choose from the workshops and businesses the Raphael family abandoned, like it's doing now?" Purr was momentarily left speechless. "Once Eunice has fully digested the power in her bloodline, I'll bring her over." Sitting in the passenger seat, Purr played with her tail while glancing back at Karen. "Karen, I've noticed people of the Inmerlais family seem very devoted. In all my years with the Inmerlais family, from Diss to your 'father,' and then Mason and Winnie, they've all been completely faithful in their relationships. Even though Winnie chose the wrong man at first, she never had any other romantic entanglements after that." "It's not about being devoted. It's because the Inmerlais family values family above all else." "Ah, when I was young, I thought romance was so foolish—utterly uninteresting. The idea never even crossed my mind." "May I ask what stage of life you're in right now?" "Just shedding my youth, meow." "Heheh." Karen couldn't help but chuckle. Uncharacteristically, Purr didn't get angry and laughed along with him. At that moment, Kevin, sitting in the back seat, offered an agreeable laugh as well. Purr instantly whipped her head around and glared at him. "What the hell are you laughing at, stupid dog?!" "..." Kevin went silent. After a long while as they drove, Purr suddenly spoke up: "Karen, even the Church of Light has received divine guidance. I feel like this world might have already undergone some changes—or is undergoing them right now." Because they had departed early, Karen arrived back at Blue Bridge Community around noon. He dropped Purr and Kevin off at home first before driving to the funeral parlor. When he arrived, he found the backyard renovation was already in its final stages. The efficiency was extraordinarily high. To Karen's even greater surprise, Alfred had specifically built an extra room onto the original two storefronts. Although Pavaro Funeral Parlor was located at the end of the street and had room to expand, this was undoubtedly an illegal structure. However, Blue Bridge Community was densely populated yet far from the city center, so illegal additions were commonplace. In the small commercial street not far beneath Allen Apartments where he lived, almost everything was made up of unauthorized corrugated iron shacks. Stepping inside, Karen saw Alfred installing doors and windows alongside Dinkum and Pike. Once the doors and windows were in place, only the soft furnishings remained, which would take very little time. It seemed they would be able to move in soon, as there was no need to wait for formaldehyde to disperse. This was not because the building materials of this era were environmentally friendly, but because Karen could simply purge the formaldehyde room by room using purification spells. Seeing Karen, Alfred hurried down at once. "Young Master." "Thank you for your hard work, Alfred." "It wasn't hard work at all, Young Master. It was actually quite fun." Karen noticed Pike and Dinkum continuing their work. Seeing him arrive, they were now working with energetic drive, whereas earlier they had looked entirely like coerced slaves. "Has anything happened at home these past few days?" "Nothing. Mrs. Lake and her daughters were settled into a hotel long ago. I visit them every evening." "Good. Then I'll head over to Wutong Street now." "Understood, Young Master. Go attend to your business. If you need anything, please notify me, and I'll come right over." "Alright." Karen returned to his car and drove toward Wutong Street. By the time he pulled up outside the Church Affairs Building, it was already two in the afternoon. After parking, he walked inside. This time, instead of crossing through the main hall, Karen headed straight for the furthest corner, coming to a halt before that solitary elevator. It was evidently reserved for internal personnel. He pressed the button, and before long, the elevator doors slid open. The operator inside smiled warmly at Karen. Karen produced his plastic ring. The operator didn't even inspect it, simply gesturing for him to enter. She pressed the floor button for him, and Karen stood quietly inside, feeling the elevator ascend. Soon, the elevator doors opened behind him. Karen turned and walked out into Neo's office, though Neo himself wasn't there. Just then, the inner door opened, and the female secretary from last time stepped out. Seeing Karen, she smiled faintly. "Please wait a moment. I'll go inform the captain." "Alright." Karen sat down on the sofa. After stepping into the inner room, the woman returned shortly and asked, "Would you like something to drink?" "Do you have iced water?" "Yes, we do." She brought a glass of iced water and set it before Karen, then took a seat opposite him and introduced herself: "You can call me Fanny. I'm a member of the squad, but I handle secretarial duties for the captain on ordinary days." "Hello, Miss Fanny." Just then, the elevator doors slid open. Karen glanced over, only to find it was not Neo. Walking in was a blond woman wearing a leather jacket, sporting nose and lip piercings, who appeared to be under thirty. The moment she entered, she fixed her gaze on him, appraising him brazenly without the slightest attempt to hide it. Karen stood up and addressed her, "Hello, I'm Karen, an off-book member." The woman smiled, then stepped right up to him, threw her arms around his waist, and planted her mouth straight toward his lips. Karen instinctively raised his hands to push her away. "Oh, you like touching this area? Sure, let me unfasten it for you. Fanny, go wedge the elevator doors so the captain and the others take longer to come up. Let me have a round with my husband first." Fanny pressed a hand to her forehead in exasperation. "Peige, stop messing around." "I'm not messing around. The captain told me himself that this new member was brought in for me, specifically to solve my personal problems." "Peige, can you believe a word out of the captain's mouth except when we're on a mission?" "Hey, I didn't believe him at first, but now that I've seen him, I believe every word! That's my most respected captain—how could he possibly lie to me? Come on, big sister will... oh no, darling husband, let me serve you well and send you straight to heaven!" Karen was shoved flat onto the sofa by Peige. Then, she actually began slipping off her leather jacket, revealing skin marked by numerous scars. Karen was in no mood to appreciate the wild beauty of those scars, however, because she was already reaching to undo her bra. "Peige, that's enough messing around." Neo's voice cut through the air. Peige froze, slipped her jacket back on, and turned around to look at the captain, who had appeared behind her at some point. "Captain, you're really killing the mood, you know." Neo walked straight to his desk. "Meeting starts now." Peige blew Karen a kiss before sitting down beside Fanny. Karen sat upright as well. He had truly been at a loss just now—he could hardly have summoned Sea God's Armor right there, could he? Then Karen caught the slight upward curl at the corner of Neo's mouth, as though he took immense satisfaction in watching Karen lose his composure. "Our next assignment is an escort mission. The representative of the Dark Moon family will arrive at the harbor in two days at two in the afternoon. Our squad is responsible for the representative's security during their negotiations in York City." Another security detail? Karen recalled that the previous assignment concerning the Avanas family had also been a protection mission. Wait... That wasn't right. Karen frowned slightly. The Dark Moon family—why did that name sound so familiar? Suddenly, it hit him. Wasn't his Dark Moon Blade an artifact of that very family? "Higher-ups attach great importance to these talks. The mission rank is exceptionally high, and the rewards are generous. Moreover, if the negotiations succeed, the reward will be bumped up another grade." Peige asked curiously, "Captain, what rank is the mission?" "Rank D." "A security mission that's already Rank D? If it gets bumped, does that mean Rank D+ rewards?" "Yes." "Whoa. Captain, how did you manage to snatch this assignment?" "Higher-ups hold her and this delegation in very high regard—so much so that the Dark Moon delegation was allowed to personally select their security detail from our side. Aside from squads already deployed on assignments, all twenty-two idle or lightly tasked Whip of Order squads in York City submitted applications." "It makes sense for a mission of this caliber," Fanny said, nodding. "Plus, the venue is right here in York City. The difficulty is low and the rewards are rich, so everyone was bound to drool over it." "Indeed. However, I analyzed the Dark Moon delegation's roster in advance and found that the person leading them is Ophelia, the young master and current spokesperson of the Dark Moon family. She is only seventeen this year. So while other squads put their strongest member's profile on the cover page, with many squads featuring their captain's profile on the very first page..." "What did you do, Captain?" Peige asked. Neo looked at Karen. "I put Karen's profile on the first page!" "..." Karen. Neo clapped his hands together. "And sure enough, we were chosen." "Captain, he's my husband!" Peige declared. "Miss Peige, I have a fiancée," Karen had no choice but to stand and clarify. "I don't need a title," Peige shot back immediately. "We are on duty now," Neo said firmly. Peige had no choice but to sit back down. "According to standard security protocol, we need to assign three personnel for close protection. Considering the delegation's head is female, for convenience's sake, our squad's two female members, Peige and Fanny, along with Karen, will serve as the close security detail." "Yes, Captain!" "Yes, Captain!" Both Peige and Fanny placed their right hands over their chests. "Yes, Captain," Karen mirrored the gesture, though he felt the captain's earlier reasoning for the assignment sounded somewhat strange. "The other squad members and I will manage perimeter security and vigilance from the shadows. Since we've secured this mission, we must carry it out in the most flawless manner possible. Many more delegations will be arriving in York City in the days ahead. The Count of the Avanas family was full of praise for our last performance, and after returning, he even wrote a commendation letter to high command specifically for our squad." As he said this, Karen noticed that Neo's expression did not shift in the slightest. He was someone who drew a sharp line between personal feelings and private affairs. "Therefore, if our squad can execute the Dark Moon delegation's security mission to perfection, we will very likely become the default choice for all remaining security operations. High rewards, short duration, low risk—I trust you all want as many of these missions as possible." "Of course, Captain," Peige laughed. "Fanny, take the official mission dispatch later and head to administrative logistics to draw a set of equipment for Karen." "Understood, Captain." "What good is that standard gear? Who wants that junk?" Peige looked at Karen with a broad smile. "Stick with me, and big sister will give you a far better set." Fanny chuckled. "I heard from Malo that our new teammate is the kind of person who even carries ordinary handguns on him for use." Karen could only offer a polite smile, thinking to himself: *Is that dark history never going to be put to rest?* "Zema told me too. Karen, your girlfriend's family is terribly poor, isn't that right?" Peige patted her chest. "Dump her! Big sister will keep you!" "Alright, mission briefing ends here. The detailed mission sheet and itinerary will be distributed tomorrow. Fanny, keep an eye out for them." "Understood, Captain." "Furthermore, Peige: mission comes first. During this period, you are not permitted to harass Karen, because you are part of the close security detail." "I understand, Captain." Peige finally quieted down. Neo looked at Karen again. "If you find her annoying, you can shoot her, then drag her into the woods." "Phew... I'm looking forward to it. Turns out my husband likes that kind of excitement," Peige laughed. "Though the weather is a bit chilly right now. Blood flows slower in the cold." What Karen heard between the lines was: *If she annoys you, you can beat her up. Give her a good beating, and she won't dare act presumptuous around you anymore.* So, was the squad's internal dynamic really this 'harmonious'? As captain, he actually encouraged infighting among his subordinates? "Alright. Dismissed." With the meeting concluded, Fanny called Karen over, gesturing for him to follow her. In the end, Karen, Fanny, and Peige all stepped into the elevator together. However, Neo's earlier warning regarding the mission seemed to have taken effect, as Peige refrained from targeting him any further. "I'm heading out first. See you at assembly time for the mission." "Mm," Fanny nodded. "Goodbye, darling! Remember to miss me, hahaha!" Peige stepped out of the elevator with a laugh. Karen and Fanny waited as the elevator continued downward. "If you dislike her, you can show it openly. In our squad, we don't care for polite pretenses." "I think it's fine. It hasn't reached that level." "So you're actually willing, then?" "No, I'm not." "Heh." Fanny led Karen to the ninth floor. Karen followed behind her, watching as she handled the paperwork, eventually bringing him before a black iron door. In the middle of the door was a small wicket through which a form was handed out. Fanny filled it out on Karen's behalf and finally said, "Sign here." Karen signed his name: Karen Silva. Once the form was pushed back inside, a mountaineering backpack was soon tossed out from the wicket. Karen caught it with an outstretched hand; it wasn't overly heavy. "It's all basic gear. You can pick out what you want to use and sell the rest directly on the black market." "Alright, understood." Just then, a head popped out from the wicket in the iron door—a balding, middle-aged man who grumbled in annoyance: "Could you have some consideration for my feelings as the clerk and train your rookie a little further away?" "Oh, sorry." Fanny smiled and waved at him, then turned to Karen. "Do you have anything else?" "Nothing." "Then head on back. Assembly for the mission is the day after tomorrow at six in the morning, in the captain's office." "Understood." Carrying the gear bag, Karen walked out of the building, opened his car door, got in, and placed the bag on the passenger seat. Lately, many families and outside factions seemed to be negotiating and entering into partnerships with the Church of Order. It felt as though they were making preparations to face something. Starting the car, Karen suddenly recalled what Purr had said in the vehicle that morning: *"This world might be undergoing changes..."* So, what kind of changes would they be?