Some time after Kallen's holy manifestation, another United Government high-level meeting convened.
However, this time the atmosphere was quite oppressive. Nicholas's disgraceful defeat not long ago had already declared their action to contain the 'Messiah' a failure.
Now, they had to face a powerful existence with enormous prestige whose strength could rival the Second Herrscher.
Just as the atmosphere hit rock bottom, Nicholas stood up, gesturing for everyone to look over.
"Everyone, look at me. I have a brilliant idea for dealing with Francis's daughter."
But after hearing his words, quite a few frowned.
"Nicholas, if I remember correctly, you still have a marriage agreement with the Francis family. Tell me, this isn't you two families working together to scam us, is it?"
Facing everyone's doubts, Nicholas candidly said:
"Everyone, you know me. Family affection to me is just a handy tool. The marriage alliance with the Francis family was only to seize family assets."
"Now, because of his daughter's existence, Francis's prestige already far exceeds ours. If we proceed with the marriage alliance, then he'll be the one seizing my family assets. This is why I excluded him from the meeting."
"I think this is also why you were willing to come. After all, letting that stubborn Francis fellow dominate alone is disadvantageous to us all."
Hearing Nicholas's words, everyone's surface hostility gradually dispersed. At least, they were willing to hear what worldly wisdom Nicholas had concocted this time.
"So Nicholas, what's your idea now?"
Seeing them finally willing to discuss this topic, the smile at Nicholas's mouth corners gradually curved upward, then he said: "Kallen's prestige must be contained. I think you also can't tolerate an uncontrolled living god, right?"
"Heh! Nicholas, you don't need to teach us this. If you have a method to take her down, just say it."
"But I must remind you—she's very strong. Even the Herrscher of the Void we deployed failed. Without a foolproof plan, don't expect us to gamble with you!"
Hearing their words, Nicholas cursed them as cowards internally, but the smile on his face remained undiminished.
"Everyone, do we really need to compete with her in martial prowess? She's not an inhuman Herrscher. As long as she cares about something, we have methods to act."
"Oh? You mean?"
"Since we can't beat her head-on, why not use some less honorable methods? For instance... as a filial child, she probably wouldn't want anything to happen to her father, right?"
Hearing Nicholas's suggestion, everyone couldn't help sighing: "Nicholas, you're truly callous!"
"You flatter me, you flatter me." Nicholas said modestly. "Compared to you all, still somewhat lacking. I still have much room for improvement."
Someone showed worry on their face, saying: "They say political struggles don't involve family. Isn't doing this a bit too much?"
Hearing this, Nicholas sighed, saying somewhat regretfully: "In that case, those willing to withdraw, I won't force to stay. However, if we truly research immortal power from her body later, those who left might miss out."
Once these words were spoken, no one expressed hesitation anymore.
They'd all witnessed Kallen's death and resurrection miracle not long ago. No one could avoid greed toward immortal power. At least they couldn't.
Nicholas took their changes in, rubbing the holographic recording pen in his pocket, laughing madly in his heart.
"Right, just like this. Fight, fight. Best to kill each other with Kallen."
"Hehe... for my Second Brother, all of you give me rivers of blood!"
...
Soon, 'Francis' was seized by a squad of guards when entering United Government headquarters.
"Wait, what are you doing?!" 'Francis' was shocked, continuously struggling.
"Mr. Francis, your corruption has been exposed. Please come with us for investigation!"
"Nonsense! Would I not know if I'm corrupt? You're just framing me!"
But no matter how he struggled, couldn't change the outcome of being captured.
As Francis was arrested, a squad of Fire Moth guards brought video of Francis's arrest to Francis's manor, finding Kallen.
The leading officer was a man with white hair, blue eyes, and a black highlighted tuft atop his head. Upon seeing Kallen, he got straight to the point: "Miss Kallen, please surrender. You wouldn't want Mr. Francis to suffer, would you?"
Kallen glanced at this person, then headbutted his stomach, making him curl up on the ground clutching his belly.
Just as the remaining soldiers were about to go on alert, they saw Kallen obediently raise her hands, saying: "I surrender. Please be sure to harm my 'father.'"
"Ah?"
"No, I mean, please don't harm my 'father.'"
...
Kallen was smoothly detained. This left the United Government high-level delighted yet confused.
Although based on Kallen's personality, this operation's success rate was quite high, such smoothness still made these people who'd faced setbacks recently feel unreal.
However, soon a piece of information spreading wildly online supplemented the missing sense of reality for them.
—That footage was precisely the video of them previously discussing controlling Francis to force Kallen to comply.
Several days later, United Government high-level meeting convened again.
"Fake news! Have our media mobilize, promote these are all fake news!" Nicholas cried out, appearing extremely angry.
Simultaneously, his gaze swept over everyone present, saying in low tone: "Seems there's a mole among us who leaked our information..."
Being able to film the meeting process meant this person must be among them. Thinking of this, when examining others, suspicion appeared in their eyes.
However, while suspecting, they all subconsciously excluded Nicholas.
After all, as the meeting's initiator and also the plan's architect, he couldn't possibly screw himself.
Watching them fall into mutual suspicion, Nicholas's gloomy face concealed forcibly suppressed狞笑.
"Hehe... a bunch of fools. To revive Second Brother, I've even sold myself out!"
Amid suspicion, someone raised the current problem facing them.
"What now? Public opinion is surging. Should we release her?"
"Release her? Impossible, absolutely impossible! We've completely offended her. If released, we'll be the ones to die!"
"Then what to do? This matter needs quick resolution!"
"Then mobilize propaganda tools, promote she's a Herrscher, here to bewitch people!"
"Are you treating the public as fools?"
"Better than doing nothing!"
...
Watching them argue chaotically, Nicholas propped both arms on the table, using clasped hands to cover below his nose, concealing the already-pulled smile beneath.
"Right, right, just like this. Next, just need to kill Francis, then tell Kallen this news... hehehe!"
"Second Brother, just wait. Rivers of blood are coming!"
"—Bang!"
At this moment, violent door-pushing sounds transmitted. Everyone looked over, discovering a white-haired, blue-eyed young man had rushed in, face showing panic.
"Gentlemen, big trouble!"
"I remember you. You're the young Mu responsible for security work, right?" Nicholas recognized this young man. "Young people shouldn't be too impatient. Tell us what happened?"
Mu said: "Kallen broke out of prison."
"What!"
This time, everyone completely couldn't sit still.
"Are you people just collecting paychecks? So many people let her escape?"
Mu said somewhat aggrieved: "With her combat power, even ten times more people couldn't stop her!"
"..."
Just as the scene fell into deathly silence, they heard Mu say again: "Gentlemen, please don't worry. We've already locked onto her position."
"Oh, where is she?"
Mu didn't answer but called up a news channel, projecting it before everyone.
The news was conducting a live broadcast.
The screen showed a plaza before a great cathedral, surrounded by chains. Outside the plaza, crowds like tides had already gathered.
At the plaza's center stood a small white figure—precisely Kallen.
At this moment, her expression was solemn, holding a dagger in hand, simultaneously staring at aerial recording drones.
Although across great distance, her voice still spread throughout the surroundings.
"United Government arrested my father. I can't ignore his life."
"But I know—if I allow their manipulation, my power will become a tool for their selfish desires, will be used by them to persecute more people."
"I love my father. I love all beings. Both I cannot abandon."
"Therefore, I choose to sacrifice myself alone, protecting my beloved father and all beings."
Then she raised the dagger, aiming at her own heart.
"Today, I carve bones to return to Father, separate flesh to return to Mother, slit throat to return to Heaven."
"United Government and Fire Moth old bastards—I absolutely won't submit!"
...
Time rewinds a bit.
Fire Moth high-level unit's detention base. Kallen was arranged in a room with fairly decent environment.
Compared to surrounding tightly restrained Honkai Beasts and zombies, hers was more like staying at a hotel.
This wasn't because the old bastards had a change of heart but because they knew what could restrain Kallen was only herself. If she wanted to escape, even the strictest blockade would be broken through.
Since that was the case, no need to make things too tense. After all, upcoming research still required Kallen's cooperation.
But now, this heavily defended base received a strange visitor. The base defense system was like it had crashed—no reaction whatsoever.
In the room, Lucius and Kallen sat side by side.
"Here, this is your upcoming script." Lucius handed a small notebook to Kallen.
Kallen received it, flipping through. From between the lines, she read phrases like 'carve bones to return to father,' 'separate flesh to return to mother,' 'slit throat to return to heaven.'
Then she looked at Lucius expressionlessly, complaining: "Adaptation isn't fabrication. You don't think I haven't read the Nezha story, do you?"
"I truly didn't fabricate randomly." Lucius's tone was frank. "Just borrowed Nezha's ending intact."
"...I'm already the Messiah. Shouldn't I be nailed to a cross?"
"I actually truly considered this. But you can't nail yourself to a cross. Would need to find someone to complete it. Too troublesome."
"Besides this, I also considered gallows and guillotine. But these two also require preparing props. Also very troublesome."
Lucius somehow produced a dagger emanating cold light, stuffing it into Kallen's hand, saying: "So after thinking, you should still slit throat to return to heaven. Just stab your heart once then."
Kallen dazedly received the dagger but quickly realized something wrong, asking: "According to the script, shouldn't I be killed by a Honkai Beast?"
"Because you have Pseudo-Herrscher power enhancement, Benares might not directly kill you. To prevent not dying in one go, consider it insurance!"
"..."
"Lucius, be a bit more human!"
---
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