Bologue sat on the bench in the corridor while technicians in protective clothing hustled about, not paying him any attention. The roar of machinery was constant, and howling winds echoed through the ventilation ducts.
The Sublimation Furnace Core was a bustling place, noisy and restless. Few people lingered here to rest, but Bologue was an exception.
Compared to the days spent living in trenches during his time in the military, this harsh environment of the Sublimation Furnace Core seemed unexpectedly pleasant, mostly because Bologue was in a very good mood.
Having passed the triple trials, he was close to being promoted to a Prayer Believer, and Aimou had recovered. Despite some unexpected events, everything had gone smoothly.
It seemed like everything was developing in a positive direction, a rare and precious situation for Bologue.
Looking at the time, it was almost midnight. He had been waiting here for several hours, but being a patient person, Bologue didn’t feel irritated.
A few more minutes passed, and as midnight approached, the tightly shut iron door slowly opened, with metal scraping against metal, producing a hoarse sound.
Finally, it was over.
Bologue stood up and walked to the door. As the faint mist dispersed, a hazy shadow gradually emerged, and a figure in protective clothing came out.
She waved a hand to dispel the rolling mist, sat on the bench in the corridor, and pulled off her breathing mask to inhale the not-so-fresh air outside the corridor.
After a brief rest, she unzipped her suit and slid out like a fish, simply folding and stacking the protective clothing to the side.
Belli was drenched in sweat, appearing tired as she sat on the bench. Her clothes were soaked and clung stickily to her skin, causing discomfort. She resolved to take a shower later.
"What are you looking at?"
Belli noticed Bologue’s puzzled gaze and rudely spoke out.
"I just didn’t expect you to actually wear protective clothing." It was the first time Bologue had seen Belli adhere to the safety regulations.
"The fumes are bad for the skin."
Hearing Belli’s response, Bologue finally felt a hint of femininity from her. His gaze fell inside the iron door, waiting for something, but the door closed again, leaving him outside.
"She needs some time... hmm? To adjust a bit. We’ve waited this long, so waiting a bit longer isn’t a problem, right?"
Belli understood what Bologue was thinking, flashed him a wicked smile, then patted the seat next to her.
Bologue couldn’t refuse Belli; today she had been a great help, and he anxiously but obediently moved over to sit beside her.
After a short rest, Belli regained her energy, crossed her sleek legs, and gave orders to Bologue.
"I plan to have Aimou stay with me for a while," Belli said.
Recalling the friendly interaction between Belli and Aimou earlier, it seemed like she was pushing Aimou into a pit of fire. Just as Bologue was about to strongly protest, Belli’s next words left him speechless.
"She has my junior sister’s Philosopher’s Stone in her. The teacher will definitely try to get her back. If we let Aimou leave the Order Bureau, she might get knocked out and taken away by the teacher the moment she steps outside."
Belli looked seriously at Bologue, "You’ve witnessed the teacher’s power, right? Pure Illusion Creation can craft a utopian paradise or bring about a despair-filled hell."
"But as long as we hold Aimou firmly in our grasp, she becomes bait that will draw the teacher to us. All we need to do is set a trap and catch him, reclaiming the Immortal Heart."
Listening to Belli’s plan, Bologue felt a surreal sense of confusion, unable to reconcile the bawdy Belli earlier with this meticulous and serious one. The disparity was stark.
"What kind of expression is that? Don’t you trust me?"
Belli seemed completely unaware of her dismal image in Bologue’s mind. Even if she knew, she probably wouldn’t care.
Leaning lazily against the back of the chair, Belli casually spread her arms, one even slipping behind Bologue’s back, resting on his shoulder, as if she was about to embrace him.
"Don’t worry; she’s my junior sister, and I won’t let anything happen to her."
Belli’s tone was firm, and combined with her current demeanor, she resembled a big sister of the underworld in Opus.
This was Belli’s turf. Whoever she said she would protect, she definitely would.
Bologue was moved, thinking Belli believed he doubted her, hence her reassurance. This person wasn’t as frivolous as he thought, her delicate mind well-hidden under the guise of a quirky elder sister.
Belli didn’t say anything more, maintaining her silence as she waited quietly.
In the long silence, Bologue thought back to the stories he had heard, his gaze casually wandering inside the Sublimation Furnace Core.
Seven years ago, Belli wasn’t yet the head of the Sublimation Furnace Core; she was just an apprentice. That was the day she had a junior apprentice, and then... then Overlord Xilin descended.
That was the first time she met Alice, and it was also the last time she saw Alice.
Now Belli has a little junior apprentice, and she sincerely hopes that such a tragedy will not repeat.
"Belli, did you know?"
Bologue suddenly felt a sense of relief, a feeling that he was not alone... At least now, the head of the Sublimation Furnace Core was on his side.
"What’s up?" Belli leaned on her chin, tilting her head.
"When you keep quiet, you’re actually quite charming."
Belli furrowed her brow, then quickly concealed all her expressions, adopting a cold demeanor, and gently embraced Bologue.
Belli’s voice was soft, Bologue faced Belli’s advance with a blank expression, but the next second she let out her signature arrogant laugh, reaching out to pinch Bologue’s ear, pulling it hard.
"You, a lowly field staff, dare to evaluate me, this minister? What status are you, and what status am I!"
Belli was brimming with arrogance, like a bully, and still unsatisfied, she gave Bologue a kick, but clearly, this minister couldn’t move Bologue, this small field staff.
Bologue couldn’t help but smile; sometimes he thought Belli was like a female version of Palmer, but he also felt that using Palmer to describe Belli was somewhat insulting to Belli.
Belli was incredibly self-absorbed, indifferent to anyone’s opinion, unlike Palmer, who was a yes-man swaying with the wind.
Most importantly, Belli was at least an Alchemy Master, whereas Palmer achieved nothing.
"I never curry favour with anyone, it’s always people currying favor with me, and you think you qualify?" Belli said with an air of arrogance.
"Alright then, Minister Belli, could you spare some Alchemy Armament for me?" Bologue said, "You and Aimou are holed up in the Cultivation Room, everything’s fine, but I have to go out and match wits with Teda."
"You’re not going to die, what’s the rush," chuckled Belli, "what’s this, begging for mercy now?"
Upon saying this, Belli felt a faint pain in her forehead, anger welling up, just as she was about to kick Bologue again to vent, the iron door slowly opened.
"I have a strange thought..." Bologue suddenly said.
"Like you said before, we are like family waiting outside the operating room, and now the surgery is finally over." Bologue continued Belli’s cold joke.
Footsteps emerged from the mist, a vague figure slowly walked out, looking brand new, like a newly born life.
It wasn’t wrong to think so; Aimou was, in every sense, brand new and genuinely original parts.
Bologue glanced up and down at the brand-new Aimou, Aimou looked familiar but somehow different.
For example, her platinum hair was lighter, the previous long hair was gone, and was replaced by a chic short hairstyle, and the once slender body had grown more ample with this reconstruction...
Bologue turned his head to look at Belli, who acted nonchalantly, her eyes wandering until she couldn’t avoid it any longer, she then loudly declared.
"When the teacher created her, it was modeled after Alice; now it’s my turn, can’t I model her after myself?"
Having said that, Belli walked over and vigorously pinched Aimou’s face, "See, it feels much better now."
"Most importantly..."
Belli suddenly got serious, locking eyes with Bologue.
"Now she no longer looks like Alice, doesn’t she?"
Bologue was stunned, Aimou had harbored desires she shouldn’t have under Teda’s morbid longing, living like a shadow of Alice until this moment, where the overlapping figures finally diverged.
"Now Aimou is Aimou."
Belli said, pinching Aimou’s waist, while Aimou displayed a look of numbness and despair.