Love Turns to Hate

Mr. Aisen's expression stirred something in Karen's heart; he keenly sensed that Mr. Aisen seemed to have realized something. Karen walked up to the platform where Mr. Aisen was sitting. Climbing the stairs, Karen felt no warmth at the prospect of family recognition; instead, he felt uneasy, along with a sense of... impending crisis. His secrets weren't entirely kept from others—Neo, Ventura, and Muri all knew—but none of them could possibly betray him. On the contrary, toward the Guman family—his mother's kin—Karen had always harbored deep vigilance. Yet when he reached the platform and saw more clearly the smile and tears on Mr. Aisen's face, Karen couldn't help but feel a twinge of remorse and guilt. "Captain." "Yeah." Mr. Aisen raised a hand and set up an isolation barrier. Then, spreading his left palm, the Key to the Rubik's Cube appeared, and he quickly established a simplified Mind Bridge Formation meant only for two people over a short distance. These actions proved he really had guessed something. Karen sat down across from Mr. Aisen and proactively connected to the mental bridge. "Captain, there are some things I want to say to you." Not an inquiry, but a statement. Karen nodded. "Go ahead." "I misunderstood your identity many times, especially that time in the research space. For a very long time, I believed you were a Temple Elder. "And you... admitted to it as well." An awkward smile appeared on Karen's face. "Karen, you are my sister's son. You are my nephew." Without hesitation, Karen nodded and replied, "Yes, Uncle." Mr. Aisen lifted his head and parted his lips. The moment that word—"Uncle"—reached his ears, the tears in his eyes broke through all restraint and streamed down uncontrollably. He began to weep, clutching his head, weeping with all his might. His body trembled incessantly, yet his sobs remained stifled and suppressed. ... Philomena, who had fallen asleep sitting nearby, woke midway through. She turned her head to look toward the cat and dog, then glanced over at Karen's side, letting out a cold sneer in her heart: *Since when did whispering in secret become popular in the squad? How did the atmosphere suddenly turn into this?* However, she had never been a particularly curious person. Closing her eyes, she went back to her "Awakening." ... Facing Mr. Aisen, whose emotions had clearly spiraled out of control, Karen—who was usually so adept at comforting others—found himself at a loss for how to handle him. Because he knew just how deep the bond between the man before him and his late mother had been. If their affection hadn't run so deep, his mother's death would never have driven him to become what he once was. In the bloodline of the Arte family, the closer family members were, the deeper their bond became. It was not the bloodline that forged familial relationships, but genuine familial bonds that triggered the resonance of the bloodline. Finally, Mr. Aisen lifted his head again and took a deep breath. His eyes were thoroughly bloodshot, yet a distinct smile hung at the corners of his mouth: "I really never imagined that you would be my nephew. Truly. Not until two days ago by the well on the island, when I was deducing that concluding ritual and sensed a rush of anxiety and panic. "Everything was identical to what I felt in my dreams when I looked upon my sister. "It was as though a voice in my head kept shouting over and over that I had to succeed this time, that I had to save your life, that I could never let anything happen to you! "Back then, I hadn't thought about any of this. "The moment I deduced the concluding ritual, I suddenly understood." Mr. Aisen pointed to himself, then to Karen. "Between us lies the bond of family." "Thank you, Uncle." "No, no, no, don't say that. Don't say that." Mr. Aisen vigorously wiped his eyes with the sleeve of his clerical robe. "I'm the one who should thank you. I thank the great God of Order for letting me see my sister's child." Mr. Aisen leaned forward, seemingly wanting to open his arms and embrace Karen, but his arms failed to spread. When all was said and done, his established perception of Karen still carried an awe that could not be erased in a short time. In the end, the hug Mr. Aisen envisioned turned into him extending a single hand toward Karen. Karen reached out and shook his uncle's hand. Mr. Aisen sighed. Karen lightly hooked his other arm around Mr. Aisen's shoulder. Mr. Aisen froze for a moment, then hooked his other arm around Karen's shoulder as well. In this manner, nephew and uncle awkwardly completed their first close contact after recognizing each other. After a moment, the two parted. "You knew all along that I'm your uncle?" "Yes." "You knew all along that Richard is your cousin?" "Yes." "And you knew all along that Richard's grandmother is your maternal grandmother?" "Yes." "Did Richard's grandmother recognize you too?" "I think... yes." Mr. Aisen nodded. His son was a fool and probably hadn't realized Karen was truly his kin; his mother, however, had shown a special warmth toward Karen from the very first time she laid eyes on him. Looking back now, it could only mean she had recognized her grandson long ago. After all, as her son, he knew his mother's temperament well. She was only warm toward children of her own family; to outsiders... she was actually very cold. She was by no means a kindly, universally loving elder. "Why not make your identity public?" Mr. Aisen asked. "Because my identity cannot be disclosed," Karen replied earnestly, looking at Mr. Aisen. "Once my identity is exposed within the Order, I will face terrible consequences I don't wish to meet." "But we're your family. How could you think we would..." "Between familial affection and devotion to God, which one is truly more important?" Mr. Aisen fell silent. After a moment, he spoke. "You're worried about your grandfather." Clearly, although Mr. Aisen had rarely spoken in all these years, he understood his family very well. "I just felt that whether it's public or not isn't really important. Even if it remains unrevealed, I can still visit your home often to see all of you." "No, it's different. To me, it's completely different," Mr. Aisen said. "I'm just so glad that my sister still has a child left in this world." "Uncle, I'm doing very well." "I know, I know. Sister has an outstanding child. As for your family's affairs... never mind, I won't pry. All I can say is that I will guard this secret for you and tell no one. "Karen, "my nephew, "I am willing to protect you with my life." Karen nodded. "Good, that's truly wonderful. No wonder I could never stop comparing you with Richard. I used to wonder why I kept comparing a 'Temple Elder' to that lazy son of mine, and I even thought for a time that I was being too harsh on him. "Now I realize I was right—he really is just a disappointment!" "I think Richard has made great progress under the spur of your modern education." "I think so too. Still, my heart feels much lighter now. You're not someone else's child; no matter how outstanding you are, you're our own child." Then, the two men sat facing each other, slipping into a brief silence. Karen didn't know what to talk about. At this moment, he felt somewhat moved, yet he didn't want to get overly emotional. If he were dealing with "patient clients," he could perform with complete confidence; but facing his own "blood relative," he felt constrained. "I want to know about my sister's life before she passed away. Could you share a little? Naturally, without touching upon your secrets." Karen couldn't help recalling when Raniedal attempted to seize his body, how the "father" and "mother" had stepped forward to protect him, and how he had lain on the grassy lawn in that dream beside them. "Mother and Father's relationship was wonderful. Though they are no longer here, she spent a very beautiful time together with my father. They loved each other deeply." "That's good. That's good..." Aisen nodded repeatedly. His eyes, which had only just settled, began to redden again, but he quickly drew a deep breath and forced back the tears. "I knew back then that Sister was fine, but she never contacted home right up until she passed away. There must have been some special reason that prevented her from reaching out." "I think so, yes." "Actually, don't push yourself too hard sometimes." "Pardon?" "I'm saying, Karen, sometimes you shouldn't drive yourself to exhaustion. If you want to, it's perfectly fine to stop and rest." "Uncle, you misunderstand. My path was chosen by myself. Since I've chosen this path, I will definitely keep walking it with determination." "Yes, your character is very much like your mother's." Mr. Aisen leaned back on his hands, looking up at the starry sky overhead. "Thank you for always helping Richard." "Between family, there's no need to say 'thank you.'" "Right. Exactly." "Uncle, once we return, let's find another time to have a good talk. For now, why don't you rest first? You exhausted yourself severely to save me, and I worry your body might suffer if your emotions fluctuate too intensely." "All right, I'll take good care of my health, because I now have another person I need to protect... Ah, though there probably isn't much I can help you with." "Without you, I wouldn't even be sitting here talking with you. Please rest." Karen stood up. Just as he was about to dispel the barrier and head down, Mr. Aisen called out to him. "Wait, Karen." "Hm? Uncle, is there something else?" "You also possess the blood of the Guman family, so you can cultivate the Key to the Rubik's Cube as well. It's a technique of immense help when working with formations. With it, your efficiency in learning and employing formations will increase dramatically." "Uncle, there's no need." "No, there is! My Key to the Rubik's Cube was taught to me by Sister. Of course I should teach it to her child!" "Uncle, really, there's no need." "Come, let me transcribe this technique for you first, and then I'll explain the basics..." "You need to rest right now." "Even if I spit blood from exhaustion, I will teach it to you!" Karen opened his left palm, and an exquisite Rubik's cube floated above it. Mr. Aisen's eyes widened, and then realization dawned on him. "Oh, of course. Sister must have taught you." "When I arrived in Yorktown, I hadn't undergone purification yet." "Then who taught you? Surely it couldn't have been Richard?" "It was Richard." "Richard?" Looking at the delicate and evidently high-tier Key to the Rubik's Cube manifested in Karen's palm, and recalling the crude cube his son operated, Mr. Aisen couldn't help asking: "Is he even worthy of teaching you?" "I asked Richard for it. He thought I wanted to study an abridged version, so he transcribed it directly onto a scroll for me. Richard has always treated me well. Whenever he has good things, as long as I ask, he gives them to me." "You're a genius, Karen," Mr. Aisen said with a laugh. "Even Sister back then couldn't compare to you. I truly hope a day comes when you can tell me that you're ready to share your family's story." "That day will come, Uncle. It won't be too far off." "I look forward to it." "Good night, Uncle." "Good night, Karen." Karen broke through the barrier and walked down the platform. Behind him, Mr. Aisen lay back down; his back turned to Karen and his eyes closed, a smile resting upon his face. Through their conversation just now, Karen could clearly perceive that Uncle Aisen's ailment was practically cured, for the main knot in his heart had been untied. So if Richard got beaten again in the future, it would truly be because... Then again, if Richard suddenly stopped getting beaten and Mr. Aisen abruptly returned to normal, wouldn't that arouse suspicion? In that case, the most conservative and cautious approach was still best. As Karen walked toward his sleeping quarters, he passed in front of Philomena, who opened her eyes once more. "Not resting?" Karen asked. Philomena shook her head and said, "I'd like to talk with you, Captain." "All right." Karen sat down. Although there were "cabins" here, each person's cabin was merely an overhead canopy with curtains on two sides to block sun, wind, and rain. At night, the curtains were mostly tied up, which didn't hinder communication or conversation. Philomena raised a hand and set up a simple barrier. Karen asked in puzzlement, "What's this for?" Philomena replied, "I thought you would praise me for knowing to set it up in advance without needing to be told." "All right, you've improved a lot." "You're being sarcastic. Then again, our relationship hasn't reached the level of sharing classified secrets." "Mm. Such a pretty, lovely girl. What a pity she had to have a mouth." "I want to ask something of you." "Title." "Captain, I want to ask something of you." "Honorific." "Captain, I would like to beg a favor of you." "Just get straight to the point. You're a member of my squad, after all." "My grandmother is waiting for me to mature so she can take over my body." "Mm, I know that." "I want to beg you to help me deal with my grandmother." "On that exact matter, I believe we already discussed it that night aboard the Church of the Moon's frigate?" "It's different this time. I genuinely hope you will help me." "Why?" "Because after what happened this time, I realized you can do it. Of course, you can name your terms—any condition at all, and I will satisfy it." Karen shook his head. Disappointment flashed in Philomena's gaze. "You refuse?" "There's no need to negotiate terms. As long as you are still a member of my squad, as your captain, it is my duty to protect your safety. Even if your grandmother makes a move on you, I will definitely stand by your side to help you. "However, when will your grandmother make her move?" "I don't know. I'm waiting for her to move against me, too. Both of us... are yearning for each other." "Mm. When the time comes, notify me in advance, and I'll come help you. "After all, what I want is a young team. I don't want an elderly relative coming over and driving up our squad's average age; that would make our squad look much less promising." "Yes, Captain." Karen was about to get up and return to his bunk, but he paused and asked, "Once the outcome between you and your grandmother is decided, does that mean the curse that person placed upon your Felscher family will come to an end?" Philomena replied, "Do you think I will ever marry and have children?" "Who can tell what the future holds?" "I cannot imagine myself marrying and having children. Even less can I imagine ever addressing a man as my husband. And what I can least imagine is what kind of man would ever accept a wife like me." "When a bucket is filled with water, it usually means it's about to leak." "I cannot understand what you mean by that, Captain." "A proverb I just made up. The logic is a bit rough, but the general gist is that people who say such things usually end up getting slapped in the face by the wind." "I just think that if I never have children, the curse ends, because the curse is that the Felscher family will slaughter one another until only the last person remains." "You could try to find a way to break the curse." "Captain, I feel there's no need." "Fine. Do you hate the person who cast the curse?" Philomena shook her head. "No." "Why?" "He made me understand what a wonderful thing it would be if I were the only one left in this family. I'm grateful to him. Besides, I can feel that my grandmother doesn't hate him either. She even... yearns for him." "Don't be so negative. Perhaps you could chat more with Richard, or whenever you're feeling down, beat him up to vent your frustrations. He can take a beating." "I hope he didn't die. It was the first time I ever cared about whether someone else lived or died. But honestly, I don't really like talking to him, especially after visiting his home last time." "Oh?" "I can't help imagining: if not for the curse, could I have lived a life like Richard's? Born into a prominent church family, with a carefree childhood and a harmonious home. "Rather than walking out the door only for every person who smiles to my face to add behind my back: 'Look, there goes someone from that terrifying family of madmen.'" "It will pass. Everything will pass. It is precisely because one has endured suffering that one learns to cherish life and hold dear what is beautiful." "Thank you, Captain. Actually..." "Actually what?" "Actually, I used to wonder what kind of man could make my grandmother still remember him with longing even now. How extraordinary must that man have been in his youth? "It wasn't until I came to know you, Captain, that I gradually began to understand." "Me?" Philomena turned her head to look toward Ashley and Blanche's bunks. Neither girl ever concealed her fond feelings toward the captain, yet they both knew nothing would ever happen between them, so they were content simply enjoying those feelings. She said, "I think, if I were an ordinary Felscher girl, I would have fallen for you too, Captain." "Unfortunately, I have a fiancée." Philomena froze, and murmured, "So did Grandmother... turn from love to hate?"