Chapter 195 - Advice To Neera

Meanwhile, in the outskirts of Heren City, Nature has finally reached the gazebo with the Empress following her. The latter had her eyes widened, realizing that they just walked tens of miles just to find a gazebo.

Maybe we'll be there soon.

I cannot question her.

I cannot strike a conversation or I will be manipulated.

I just have to be patient.

These thoughts restrained her from speaking the entire time. She had gone through worse, a lot worse. Therefore, walking for a few hours under the sun might be difficult for other people but to the Nuke Empress who ranks second in CWR, it was nothing.

But what spoiled her mood was the pointlessness of that walk. Maybe the Ancient have something to show her there?

The Empress' impression of the Ancient was that she's shrouded in mystery, unpredictable, and just plain weird.

"Please, sit down."

The Empress then sat down just like Nature said. She patiently watched as Nature brew some tea.

'It doesn't seem like she's stalling for time. If she wanted to, she could just tell me to leave or force me to do my task later on. The Ancient just acts of its own will. It seemed that one description fitted her. However...'

She found it strange that the Ancient was stronger than she thought. In the SSDA's records, it says that the Ancient can morph into any kind of form. Taking another form will decide the Ancient's strength accordingly. The biggest problem was that the Ancient is said to be capable of morphing into otherworldly beings that can destroy the world.

One of them, the Hellbeing. As its name implies, a being from "Hell"

In other words, a demon. A demon is a Hellbeing but not all Hellbeings are demons. Even a top-ranking member of the SSDA like the Nuke Empress only has a brief knowledge about these beings. The only thing that she knows is that they are godlike creatures.

But it seemed that the Ancient is more than just a transforming Aberrant, the Empress gravely learned.

'If I ever survived, after my task, I will immediately report what I've found to the director and the SSDA intelligence.'

She determined.

All those thoughts happened in just a few seconds, Nature has now finished brewing the tea. She gently pushed it towards the Empress with her usual robotic expression.

"Try"

She urged.

The Empress was usually fearless because of her immortal nature. But in front of this fairy-like woman, she has to steel herself before taking a simple sip.

Sip*

She waited after that sip but... nothing happened. The Empress opened her eyes and saw Nature waiting for her response.

"It's... a good tea."

"Thank you for the praise."

The Empress just nodded, unable to keep up. Everything that had happened was too unpredictable to her, a cautious Condign. From a stranger's perspective, nothing might be out of the ordinary but the Empress was tensed.

Soon, Nature got into the agenda.

"Neera, soon, Dehian might become your colleague. Be kind to her, but at the same time, don't tell her anything... heavy."

'Heavy...?'

The Empress pondered. Nature then continued, satisfying her internal questions.

"Just always keep her in the dark but... not actively."

"So, you're saying that I shouldn't just put my fingers in this matter."

"No, I know that you wouldn't have a choice."

"..."

Of course, the Empress was skeptical which Nature predicted.

"I'm not controlling you, making you a spy, ordering you, or anything like that. This is for the greater good. Hmm... how about I put it like this; if you follow my advice, you will not provoke Teren."

"The Devil Himself... him again? Just how much of a threat is he?"

The Empress asked that question as an expression, she didn't expect an answer, but she got it right after.

"To explain his threat, let's just say that if he knows what he's doing, he can tell me to turn this world into Hell."

"..."

What?

There was too much in that one unexpectable sentence that the Empress needed some time to digest it. She repeated what Nature just said in her head.

"Are you saying he has the power to control you? And if he knows what he's doing? What do you mean by that? Is him telling you to turn this world into hell just an example or is that what he will really do if I don't follow your advice?"

"I don't answer questions."

Nature just simply said. This irritated the Empress but she continued.

"Finish your tea first before returning to your task."

"Eh?"

'Does that mean the talk is over?'

The Empress looked at the tea. If she didn't drink it, would that mean she can still continue talking to the Ancient?

But she didn't take the chance. She's aware she's not in control of the situation.

After a thought, she finished her tea.

"Goodbye, see you again in the future."

Nature said before standing up and walking away.

"..."

The Empress just stood there, watching her leave. When the alluring figure finally disappeared into the woods, she woke up from her daze.

'Did she really just bring me here to give me tea?'

After that question, she turned around and ran towards the fields. It was already afternoon. She had used too much time. But since that time is not really a waste, if she looks at the whole picture, it didn't particularly trouble her.

She just wanted to finish the job quickly and return for her report. However, she wasn't particularly fast. The Empress was just as fast as an athlete, unlike other Aberrants and Condigns on the same league as her.

Only because her stamina is "infinite" that she's able to keep up running. With this pace, she will be able to return to the fields in under an hour instead of a few.

Meanwhile, clouds were getting thicker and thicker by a moment. A normal person wouldn't be able to suspect anything since it was gradual. However, some with knowledge about the weather knew that something abnormal was happening.

The wind began to pick up.

The Empress was too focused on her running to notice this abnormal change.. She was already tired but because of her immortality, she just have to endure and keep going.