Chapter 336: Questioning Forward

———Wiina———

<3: 14 pm>

“Hmm… It’s been quite a long time since you came here. Is there something that needs us to meet face-to-face?” He asked with that smooth feminine voice of his. Despite the drastic change in voice compared to his old self, he can still put on a dignified voice like when he has to talk in public.

“You know why. Even if every faction said to each other that they won’t publicly announce suspicion towards others during a big event like this, an envoy still usually came by to ask certain questions.” Of course, there are really only two clear factions that exist within the States, at least the ones with actual influence and signs of activity and not merely a friend group that happens to consist of powerful and influential beings, that is quite an important distinction to make.

“Oh really? Is it simply not an inquiry you seek of your own initiative?” He said, barely containing the condescending tone. Despite my lack of tell, he can still see through that excuse. “You know, if either of those two want something out of me, they will get their hands dirty if need be. They’re not afraid of confrontation or beating around the bush.”

“Take it as you will. I do have a voice in the matter as well, so I want information.” While I don’t have the seniority that would automatically garner respect like these guys have, I am still someone they simply cannot ignore. “What will you do next? Your entourage has only been increasing in numbers as of late. You already have a private military even before now. The opposing side has been disrupted, so I’d imagine you have some plan in mind.”

“Afraid I might go too far with it? I suppose that’s a fair concern.” He said before leaning back a bit. Not much movement to be made with both of us sitting down at this table. “But just to be clear. While we have known about the movement, we haven’t been planning anything. Haste makes waste, and we want to know if anyone is going to retaliate and cripple them. That anomaly in human shape certainly does her job. Did she even need convincing?”

“Naturally not. She had the idea the moment she became aware of them. No one needs to convince her to start that carnage.” I explained. A different can of worms that doesn’t need to be discussed right now. We have more pressing matters to concern ourselves with. “So? What is your plan now? I know for a fact that a good amount of soldiers that have deserted following the Eclipse came to you specifically. Heaven for battered veterans, they said.”

“Come on now. I know my predecessor was not the most stable of people, but having such prejudice against me is a bit much, isn’t it? Especially for someone who is only aware of my modest ambition not even a whole year ago.” He said, talking like I am not privy to treating him with suspicion like the others do. “I know that considering what you are, that sort of judgement is perhaps irrational, but I wouldn’t say it’s not understandable, right? You could even say it’s a human thing to say.”

“Said one of the highest forms of human’s natural predator.” I pointed out. Even if vampires are technically not demons, specifically the True Ancestors and its offshoots, due to their similar roles of culling and preying on humans they often got conflated and figuratively demonized.

The unnatural white hair and red eyes screams vampire when combined with the black suit and red tie. He isn’t being very subtle about it even if he never said it out loud.

Compared to that tracksuit woman, he is certainly not ashamed to go with the stereotypical look.

“And what does that make you?” He said with a smirk. “If I am so inhuman, then you must be something that should never exist in reality. You are basically a ticking time bomb that will spell the end of us if nothing else gets there first.”

“I’m not unique in that regard, and my mental state cannot deteriorate beyond a certain point, so it’s unlikely that I will be the Final Singularity.” I corrected his assumption. There are actually a lot of candidates to be the one who will proclaim the end, but that list is nothing we need to concern ourselves with either.

“Final Singularity? So there is a term for that…” He remarked.

“You still haven’t answered my question yet.” I pointed out. He’s delaying the conversation enough as is.

“Right, that…” He said as if it’s not the entire point I’m even here. “I got nothing. I didn’t expect them to be so hasty that they deploy so many troops so suddenly. Even if I have ways to learn government secrets, by the time I am made aware of it they already began gathering troops. It was swift and hard to believe. Therefore, I don’t have any plans.”

“I see.” I couldn’t see any signs of falsehood in those words. “Well then, what will you do next then? Surely now you have a plan.”

“We’re not at that stage yet. I think you can drop the topic for now. Like I said before, those two will probably come knocking on my door if I did anything suspicious anyway. You coming here of your own initiative is… weirdly flattering, but there is nothing for you to learn.” He answered while echoing his earlier words.

“Perhaps I set expectations too high for you.” I said in response to his take on my appearance.

“Ow. Well, I do apologize for that.” He playfully said. “…Still, what a transformation. I might not know you personally, but I know that the kid from last year can never act like you are now. It’s quite spooky, actually. The sudden gain in confidence and competence made it seem like you were replaced and overwritten, but that is simply a consequence of changing into something that simply holds the power of everything.”

“It is simply something that happens. Nothing more to it.” It’s a sort of event that would occur only once per universe if we are being optimistic.

“It’s hard to wrap my head around that. It really feels like you’re putting up an act since you should be a fish out of water, completely lacking the insight and power to really converse about sensitive and destructive topics…” He continues to yap about it. “What do they call it nowadays… larping? It’s like you’re larping, but you’re really not. You are as capable and knowledgeable as you present yourself to be, you’re not really playing a character.”

“Perhaps we need to put this topic behind us. There is no need for you to think too much into my state of mind or what I should be doing.” We’re getting off-topic the more he opens his mouth. There isn’t even a sign of deception, just him genuinely getting sidetracked.

“You’re letting your emotions get the better of you. I thought you would be better than that.” I remarked. I know that there is no danger present so he is allowed to be more relaxed and let his mind wander, but even then we are discussing a pretty important topic at the moment.

“I just don’t like the idea of kids being involved with adult business. I’m sure you get where I’m coming from.” He explained. I do, but that doesn’t mean I agree with it, especially as it’s delaying the conversation.

“Even so, do you really have nothing better to do aside from talking to me?” I asked. I can afford to delay the conversation since I already split myself into multiple bodies before coming here as a precaution. If something happened back home there is no need for this piece to rush.

“Considering that I can afford to talk to you right now, indeed.” He shamelessly admitted it. If nothing else, that is certainly proof that he has nothing on schedule at the moment.

“Hmph. Do I need to be here anymore in that case?” I said while squinting at him.

“Your guess is as good as mine.” He doesn’t seem all too pressured by my question. Seems like he is checked out right now, for whatever reason. I do lack the information of what he was doing previously. I know his general methods of operation, but if something specific comes up, that is not something I am willing to pry into, it’s simply not important at the moment.

“In that case. I suppose I should leave.” I said before standing back up.

“Kids these days are certainly something.” He remarked as I left the office. There is a hint of something personal going on, but I am not really a focus character in his story.

“Yo.” The blue-haired individual whose gender shift on a dime greeted me the moment I left the office. Presenting as more masculine this time around, soft expression but the shoulder is wide and taller than last time, the haircut is also short and a bit messy. “So, what were you two talking about?”

“I believe you can simply ask your superior about it. It turns out to be more of a trivial chat anyway.” I said before walking away, but he still followed me close behind.

“In that case you might as well say it now, right?” He remarked.

“Just casting suspicion on him and finding nothing.” I answered since he insisted on getting it out of me specifically.

“Ah, I see. Guess that’s what would happen sooner or later. He is way too deep into political troubles to not seem suspicious.” He said, seeing it as an inevitability and doesn't mind it. “Had to say, your power is growing so quickly. So this is what the creature that is like a myth within a myth is like.”

“I don’t want to hear that from you.” He’s someone that could be considered more special than I am just due to how his existence works.

“What? It’s not as if my existence is as unique as yours. There are only two more out there like me, as you know. Heck, if you stretch the definition, there could be more.” He argued.

“I suggest sticking to your lane. You are an Angel, nothing more or less than that.” I responded, not wanting to hear him making any more baseless arguments.

“Certainly giving me a cold shoulder.” He said, dissatisfied with my attitude. “Alright then, it is what it is. I’ll stop pestering you for now. Looks like you’re not in the mood to chat at the moment.”

He stopped following me as I made my way to the exit. I could’ve just teleported out, so I was already being quite tolerant of his attempt to chat.

“Oh, by the way, when will those guys come to visit again? It’s been a long while as is, right? I’m sure they have improved a lot since last time.” He said with my hand on the door handle.

“That is simply up to them.” I coldly said before leaving the mansion.

…I really am a bit too stiff whenever I have an objective in mind, perhaps more than most people would consider healthy, but what is even considered ‘healthy’ for a lifeform like me anyway? That is not a question I can be bothered to get an answer for. Sometimes it’s hard to tell which of my behavior came from coasting off on autopilot and which is based on emotions. It seems to blur at times, and if any of that could lead to something catastrophic.

As long as I keep suppressing anything that would be excessive, perhaps that question never needs to be answered…

…I really do not need to be questioning myself like this. I am already quite certain with my trajectory. As long as I identify as myself, nothing else really matters. It’s not exactly that serious or existential. I have already resolved to not have an existential crisis if I could help it. I want things to remain lighthearted if I could help it.

…Also, I should go double-check the stadium again. Just to make sure tomorrow went smoothly. Let’s stop moping around and focus on something else.