Chapter 310: An Unsettling Resonance
The moment Bochi bounced out of the teleportation array's radiance, the first
variable it localized was Auntie Lust.
She was standing in the center of the Arcane Legion's transit hall, arms crossed
over her chest, a cryptic, lingering smile playing on her lips. That smile sent
a phantom chill through Bochi's gelatinous core, but it gave its body a quick
shake, dismissing the sensory data as a "Logic Error."
"Auntie Lust! I have achieved return-transit!"
Bochi bounced frantically toward her, tentacles waving with manic energy. "This
expedition was a total success! I negotiated a monumental business contract for
the Master! The humans of that world provided me with an infinite supply of
cakes!"
Lust looked down at the slime, her smile widening until it reached a "Most
Displeasing" frequency.
"Oh? A monumental contract?"
"Uh-huh!" Bochi performed a series of joyful vertical leaps. "They petitioned
for vassal status! They offered 'Tributes'! They even produced a high-density,
three-hundred-page report!"
"I have archived it all! The Master will surely provide a high-tier commendation
for my initiative!"
Lust's smile turned even more peculiar. She knelt, extending a slender finger to
poke Bochi's springy body. "That is... most excellent, little Bochi."
"The Sovereign will undoubtedly be... moved by your performance."
Hearing this, Bochi's black eyes shimmered with a radiant hope. "Truly?!"
"Naturally."
Lust didn't elaborate. She stood and turned to depart the hall.
"Auntie Lust!" Bochi undulated after her. "Why do you not query the tactical
details of the negotiation?! I also wished to share the sensory data of the
cakes with you!"
Lust didn't look back. "Gratitude is unnecessary, little one. You should focus
your processing on the Master. He has been... awaiting your return for some
time."
With that, Lust's silhouette vanished into the corridor, leaving Bochi alone in
the echoing hall.
"Peculiar..." Bochi tilted its head, muttering to itself. "Auntie Lust's
behavioral parameters are skewed today. Usually, she demands a full narrative
playback of my adventures."
It paused, then gave its body a dismissive wobble. Whatever. She is likely
obsessed with a new magical theorem.
Bochi bounced out of the transit sector, heading toward the main command center
to deliver the report. Along the way, it encountered Uncle Avarice. The Deputy
Commander was heading toward a laboratory, clutching a stack of files.
"Uncle Avarice!"
Bochi intercepted him with a high-velocity bounce. Avarice looked down, the
soulfire in his sockets flickering once.
"Bochi. You have manifested."
"Uh-huh! I just extracted from the Eldritch Realm! The mission was a flawless
victory! The humans were remarkably submissive and provided a mountain of
glucose-based rewards!"
Avarice's jawbone clicked. "Is that so?"
"Exactly! And they petitioned for vassalage! I projected it would be a benefit
to the Empire, so I accepted the role of Envoy! Do you project the Master will
offer a 'Grand Prize' for this?"
Avarice was silent for several long seconds. Then, he reached out and gave the
top of Bochi's head a gentle, almost mournful pat.
"He will. The Sovereign will provide exactly what you deserve."
Avarice didn't linger, resuming his march toward the lab at double speed.
"Uncle Avarice!" Bochi called after him. "Why the haste? Do you not require the
data on the alien world?!"
"Negative. My current research projects take precedence. I do not have the
bandwidth for your narrative."
Avarice vanished around a corner. Bochi stood frozen once more.
"Again...?" The slime's black eyes reflected a growing confusion. "Uncle Avarice
is also misaligned. Usually, he queries every variable of a new coordinate."
A sense of "Unsettling Dissonance" began to ripple through Bochi's core. It
decided to seek data from the other Generals.
Next stop: The Punishment Legion.
Skele-Pride was standing on the training grounds, supervising the drilling of
the new recruits.
"Uncle Pride!"
Bochi bounced into his immediate perimeter. Pride looked down, his blue soulfire
flat and unreadable.
"Bochi."
"Mmh! I have achieved return! I negotiated a high-value contract for the
Master!"
Pride offered zero vocal response, watching the slime with a stillness that made
Bochi's surface turn a shade colder.
"Uncle Pride? Why have you entered a state of silence?"
Pride waited for five seconds. Then, he turned his back on the slime.
"It is not my presence you should be seeking currently."
He resumed his supervision, ignoring Bochi entirely.
Bochi felt its frame turning rigid. "Even Uncle Pride...?"
Panic, a Tier-5 emotional debuff, began to seep into its logic. It sprinted
toward the Fearless Vanguard sector. Skele-Wrath was currently roaring at a
group of Death Knights, directing a high-intensity charge exercise.
"Uncle Wrath!"
Wrath terminated his shouting and looked down at the blue blob. A jagged,
terrifying skeletal smile stretched across his jaw.
"Oho. Little Bochi has returned to the coordinate."
"Uh-huh! I performed a great feat for the Empire!"
"Did you?" Wrath's grin widened. "Then you should proceed to the Sovereign's
presence with maximum velocity. The Master is quite eager to... greet you."
Wrath turned and walked toward his office.
"Uncle Wrath! Wait! Do you not wish to hear the tactical summary?!"
Wrath offered a dismissive wave over his shoulder. "Unnecessary. The Master will
query you personally."
Bochi was now in a state of total system-alarm.
It performed a frantic circuit of the remaining Legions. At the Aegis sector,
Gluttony smiled and said, "Go to the Master." At the Silent Extinction base,
Envy let out a dry sneer and muttered, "The Sovereign is waiting." Even Sloth,
slumped in a pile of cushions, yawned and whispered, "Hurry along... don't keep
the Master waiting..."
Every single General had the same response. A smile. A dismissal. A directive to
find the Master.
The smiles felt like a "Death Protocol." It felt as if he had committed a
catastrophic logic error, yet he was certain his expedition had been high-value!
Bochi stood outside the Shadow Guard barracks, its small body shivering with
fear.
"Something is wrong... very wrong..." "Every Auntie and Uncle is
miscalibrated..." "Do I... did I commit a Violation? But I secured a
vassal-world!"
Bochi spun in circles several times, its brain near a state of "Blue-Screen"
failure. Finally, it drew a deep breath.
Forget it! The Master treasures me above all else! Even if I committed a minor
error, he will surely provide a pardon!
Bolstering its resolve with false logic, Bochi began the journey toward the
Valley Base. Toward the Master. Toward the crooked little wooden shack that was
the heart of the world.
☆☆☆
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