Then, the Director looked at Silence, who was also wearing surgical scrubs beside her. Silence's forehead feathers were somewhat clenched. The Director promised her that this experiment would truly solve Ifrit's oripathy problem.
However... Silence felt it wouldn't be that simple.
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"The fact is, comrades, whether they are gods or god-like beings... they truly exist, and their threat is growing daily. No matter how much the world's nations try to conceal it, disaster is about to strike—while it's nothing to be proud of, Columbia, a country with no history or foundation, is somewhat safer, but this is not a conflict between nations and races, but a common calamity for humanity."
The Director reached out and gently placed her seemingly slender arm on Ifrit's forehead, closing her eyes softly.
"In this calamity, we are too weak, without power—industrial technology, Originium Arts, even I, or the Columbia Guard and the National Guard, are still as weak as unarmed individuals before these beings."
Recalling the numerous dangers she had encountered during her archaeological expeditions over the past few years, the people who had died or gone mad before her, and those Vicious Beast monsters beyond reason, the Director still instinctively felt a trace of fear.
"I have been constantly searching for a solution, and finally, I found this power—the power belonging to gods, and also capable of devouring gods."
After saying that, to the somewhat surprised gazes of Saria, Silence, and even Muelsyse / Muir Sais, the Director opened her eyes again.
Her eyes emitted starry blood as brilliant as the Universe, while Ifrit's eyes emitted a pale white glow.
"I'm very sorry, Saria, I've hidden these things from you—I've tried it on myself many times, but the power of the Pale Moon is too strong. I could only seek a solution on Sarkaz, and it proved that only they can fully bear this power..."
Looking calmly at Saria, the Director knew her old friend's principles and persistence, and sincerely apologized before stating the facts.
"Ifrit is different now, Saria. I have gained the knowledge of the gods. Now she makes other gods fear her, otherwise the starry blood wouldn't have created this illusion, and the Flame Giant's power wouldn't coexist harmoniously with her—I only bear one god's power, she can bear the power of all other gods, becoming stronger and stronger, even oripathy can no longer harm her..."
The Director earnestly explained to Ifrit's two guardians, but she only received Saria's and Silence's indifferent stares.
"Ha, Director... you've crossed the line."
Saria took a deep breath, but there was not much anger in her words—Goki had already given her a heads-up about this outcome in their recent call.
"I know, Saria—it's just that your line is too strict. This isn't just a military contract, but a crisis of human survival. This is the only solution I've found. Ifrit won't be harmed, she will only achieve... Ascension."
The Director's eyes sparkled with starlight, but she didn't fall into madness like Parvis; she maintained her rationality and composure—she believed she saw much further than Saria.
Saria, however, merely clenched her fists and silently took off the riot shield from her back.
"Heh, Director, when you brand yourself as the only solution, using it as an excuse to alter the rules of life, I am no longer on your side—I'm taking Ifrit with me."
"...You can leave, but Ifrit cannot. She is key to our fight against the threat of the gods—the danger of this illusion incident is merely the effect of a few drops of blood. I've seen things far more terrifying than them. Some living samples are even stored in Rhine Lab's storage rooms."
The Director shook her head, and an invisible sense of oppression immediately spread.
"Do you really want to put all of Terra at risk for your order? I won't sacrifice her alone for the world. This is a war no one can escape. We all need to make sacrifices—can you find a second solution?"
The brilliance of the starry blood and the silver-white smoke collided. The other department heads all took a step back—Rhine Lab's two strongest women seemed ready to fight, and no one dared to cross them.
However, to the Director's surprise, Saria, who usually wore a stern face, suddenly revealed a faint smile.
"Actually... yes. I'm just a Shieldguard with a thick skull. I can't see things too far ahead, I only care about the people I want to protect, but I might—know an expert in this area."
Shrugging, Saria held her phone to her ear. From it, Goki's voice came through.
"Saria, I'm ready—help me open the window. It seems this fight, we have to fight."
"Mm... We'll wait for you."
Hearing that reassuring voice, Saria nodded, feeling a little relieved.
"Here, take it back."
Tossing the phone to Muelsyse / Muir Sais, who was trying to sneak away, Saria lightly beckoned towards the floor-to-ceiling window on the front of the company building, not far from her.
Click—click click.
The calcium compounds in the glass were instantly stripped away. The structure of the high-strength blast-proof glass instantly changed, and large cracks appeared.
Then, suddenly, Muelsyse / Muir Sais beside Saria, clutching her small chest, erupted in a panicked scream.
"Hey, hey, hey, Goki, you pervert, you're not actually going to just jump down, are you? This is nearly a hundred meters high! Just leave me here, don't take me with you, I'll be fine by myself—Waaahhhhhhh!!!"
Crash—
The next second, accompanied by Muelsyse / Muir Sais's scream, with a crisp sound, the cracked glass shattered.
A figure in a black trench coat, holding a heavy hammer, embracing a petite Liberi girl, and grasping a... tentacle, like a special forces unit on a surprise attack, kicked open the glass from upstairs and rushed into the room.
Goki's eyes glowed with a faint white light. He finally perceived the power that he had initially overlooked, which existed within Ifrit.
Now, combining those experimental records and familiar power, Goki also understood why the two of them felt such an innate closeness.
In a sense... the current Ifrit was Goki's 'offspring.'
Adjusting the tricorn hat on his head, Goki drew a silver longsword from his stone hammer and pointed it at the Director in front of him.
"Good morning, leaders—thank you for taking care of my daughter. Now, I need to take her home with her mothers..."
After being Rhine Lab's laborer for a month, Goki was now... going to beat up his boss!
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