Rumble—!!!
A deafening clap of thunder tore through the curtain of rain, suddenly jolting Cerydra awake from her deep slumber.
She sat up with a frown, rubbing her sleepy eyes. A trace of displeasure at being disturbed still lingered in her icy blue eyes.
Outside the window, the gray sky hung low. Dense lines of rain washed against the glass like a waterfall, making a continuous splashing sound.
"Rain..." she muttered softly. Then she walked barefoot to the window, her fingertips lightly touching the cold glass.
This was the first time she had seen the rain in this world since arriving. The gloomy sky and the frantic downpour enveloped the entire District 3 of the Hive District in an oppressive layer of water vapor.
Pausing for a moment, Cerydra turned around. After swiftly and neatly putting on her clothes, she pushed the door open and walked out.
Almost at the instant she stepped out of the room, two figures silently appeared by her side. These two figures were none other than the two Cleaners.
They bowed slightly, their posture respectful.
"Lady Imperator, the interrogation has yielded results."
One of them reported to Cerydra in a low voice, his tone completely devoid of emotion.
"Speak," Cerydra said, not stopping her steps as she walked towards the main hall.
Seeing this, the Cleaners followed closely behind, stating at an even pace:
"It has been confirmed that the two were dispatched by Arasaka Heavy Industries. They knew in advance that assassins would act last night, and their purpose was to lie in wait, observe, and record your capability display at that time. Furthermore, the footage of the battle early this morning has already been transmitted back to the Arasaka Heavy Industries headquarters in real time via their equipment."
"As expected."
After hearing the Cleaner's report, Cerydra spoke in an indifferent tone.
Back then, upon seeing those miniature recording devices on the two people's chests, she had already guessed the gist of it.
"My lady, how should those two be handled?"
"Clean them up."
"As you command."
After receiving the order, one Cleaner's figure wavered slightly, then vanished from the spot.
The other Cleaner continued to report:
"Lady Imperator, we have sensed a large number of unidentified personnel carrying hostile intent rapidly approaching the eastern side of the church. Based on the current intelligence combined, we deduce that they should be the follow-up forces of Arasaka Heavy Industries."
"Heh, Arasaka Heavy Industries." Cerydra paused her steps. Her icy blue eyes looked towards the giant stained glass window of the church, as if able to pierce through the heavy rain curtain to see the scene outside. "I thought you could really keep your composure. It seems... you couldn't hold back anymore?"
As if to confirm her words, right after she finished speaking, a cultist ran over with a panicked expression:
"Lady Imperator! Bad news! Arasaka Heavy Industries... they're here again with a large number of armed personnel! Their troops are about to arrive at the church entrance!"
"I know." Cerydra withdrew her gaze and looked at the cultist. "Notify everyone to evacuate the church immediately and stay far away from this area. Before the battle ends, don't come running over to throw your lives away."
"Yes! Yes!" The cultist felt as if he had received a grand pardon and hurriedly turned to run and convey the order.
"Lady Imperator," seeing this, the remaining Cleaner asked her, "Do you need me to wait for an opportunity to eliminate the enemy commander?"
"No need." Cerydra shook her head slightly. Then she walked into the hall and looked at the high-backed chair that was still placed in its original position. "Since they saw the combat footage from early this morning, they will definitely be on guard against you. So unless necessary, you don't need to show yourself for now. I will personally 'welcome' this guest from Arasaka."
"Yes," the Cleaner responded, and then his figure similarly vanished without a sound.
After finishing this, Cerydra sat down on that chair.
The moment she sat down, an exquisite chessboard materialized out of thin air, floating by her side.
Clack—
Accompanied by a crisp sound of a piece being placed, a faintly glowing "Pawn" piece rapidly condensed into shape on the chessboard, and then automatically fell onto it.
Instantly, the figures of eight spear-wielding soldiers solidified around her.
Two of the soldiers, without needing an order, strode in tacit agreement towards the large double doors at the church entrance. Then, they pulled forcefully inward to open them.
(PS: The broken doors had already been replaced yesterday, so they are intact.)
Whoosh—!
The violent wind carrying the icy rain seemed to have found an outlet, violently pouring into the warm and dry church hall, instantly soaking the carpet at the entrance.
The dense raindrops beat against the ground and the soldiers' armor, making crackling sounds.
Outside the door, the storm was torrential.
At this time, a figure surrounded by dozens of armored warriors was treading through the puddles, slowly walking towards the church entrance.
The moment the doors opened, the leading figure seemed a bit surprised, his footsteps pausing slightly. Subsequently, a playful smile appeared on his face, and he led the armored warriors behind him straight to the boundary line between the inside and outside of the church entrance.
It was a blue-haired youth who looked to be about twenty years old. The rain dripped down along the slightly flamboyant tips of his hair.
He stood in the torrential rain outside the door. His gaze pierced through the curtain of rain, landing on Cerydra sitting on the throne, and he said in a somewhat exaggerated tone:
"Yo, I didn't expect Lady Imperator to actually choose to open the doors directly to welcome us? I'm truly flattered."
"Welcome?" Cerydra sat properly on the throne, her icy blue eyes calm and unrippled. She tilted her head slightly. Although there was interference from the sound of wind and rain, her voice was exceptionally clear. "I suppose that's not wrong. You can understand it as me welcoming... your deaths."
"Hey hey hey, don't be so fiery!" The blue-haired youth hurriedly waved his hands, the smile on his face unchanging, as if he hadn't heard those words full of gunpowder. "It's not like we have to fight the moment we meet, right? We should chat first, shouldn't we?"
"Oh?" Cerydra's fingertips tapped lightly on the throne's armrest, her gaze carrying a hint of scrutiny. "Speak."
"It's like this," the youth cleared his throat, trying to make his voice clearer amidst the wind and rain. "You see, for a powerful existence like you, why go against Arasaka Heavy Industries just to protect such a... well, unprofitable little church?"
Then he spread his hands, putting on a sincere look. "What can they give you? Faith? But you can't eat that stuff. Resources? I'm afraid they can't even afford to supply one of your fingers, right? Protecting them is purely a loss-making business for you!"
As he spoke, he pulled out an exquisitely packaged electronic contract from his coat like a magic trick. The holographic projection screen lit up in the rain:
"As long as you nod and agree to join Arasaka Heavy Industries, you can name your conditions! Wealth, resources, status, and top-tier technological support... I guarantee it will be a hundred times better than guarding this rundown church... oh no, a thousand times better! What do you say? Won't you consider it?"
"Join a corporation?" Cerydra's expression didn't change at all. "I have no intention of pledging loyalty to any faction."
This wasn't the first person to ask her to join a corporation. Last time, that Genesis Tech also wanted her, in her identity as Hyacine, to join their company.
"Hiss—" Hearing these words, the youth drew a breath of cold air somewhat exaggeratedly, his face written full of confusion. "But this church is the AMA's territory! Since you don't join any faction, why are you helping them protect this place? This logic... doesn't make sense?"
"You don't need to know," Cerydra's answer was very concise.
I can't very well say I need to farm you guys for Stellar Jades.
"Tsk, this is going to be difficult..." The youth ran a hand through his wet blue hair in distress. He had a bit of a headache. "Is there really no room for negotiation at all?"
"No need for nonsense." Cerydra's voice carried a chilling intent that sought to end this topic.
"Fine."
Seeing this, the youth sighed helplessly. Then, the smile on his face vanished instantly, replaced by a cold sharpness.
Boom—!
In an instant, the majestic power of the water element erupted abruptly with him at the center! The pouring rain at the church entrance seemed to be pulled by an invisible force, instantly condensing and compressing around him!
Immediately after, countless sharp water arrows formed from pure high-pressure currents materialized out of thin air around him, densely suspended in mid-air. The arrowheads uniformly locked onto the figure sitting properly on the throne.
Swish, swish, swish, swish—!!!
Dense sounds of tearing through the air rang out. The countless water arrows ripped through the rain curtain, carrying ear-piercing shrieks as they shot violently towards Cerydra!