CHAPTER 386: CHAPTER 159: THE SAME CHOICE

The third time reversal.

The sound of commotion faintly drifted in from outside the door. Belli rubbed her eyes, glanced at the time, and wondered who on earth was making noise so early in the morning.

Annoyed as she was, Belli didn’t plan to get up and stop it. The past few days had exhausted her, and now she was dead tired, keen on seizing every moment of precious sleep.

She buried her head under the covers, hoping it would reduce the noise interference. However, the noise didn’t diminish in the slightest, but instead grew louder and nearer, until Belli couldn’t take it anymore and sprang up from her bed.

Every sector had a dormitory area for subordinate employees, which meant all the residents here were staff of the Sublimation Furnace Core. Belli got up with a fierce look, ready to see which daredevil was disturbing the minister’s sound sleep.

As Belli stepped out of the bedroom, a deafening roar echoed, followed by a series of violent knocks on the door, as if the Death God itself were pounding to claim a soul.

When she opened the door, Belli was ready to burst into rage but saw Bologue standing there with a somber expression, emanating a chilling aura that immediately extinguished her anger.

Bologue’s complexion wasn’t looking good, with bloodshot eyes, a red-tipped nose, and fresh traces of blood around it.

Though it was early morning, Bologue had the exhaustion of someone returning from a great battle.

"We’re caught in a time reversal. From my perception, this is the third time reversal, likely triggered by Aimou and Teda..."

Bologue quickly summarized the information he knew, then stood at the door waiting for Belli’s response.

Belli seemed a bit stunned. After rubbing her eyes repeatedly, she gazed at Bologue in horror, then without saying anything, dashed back into the bedroom to search for keys.

Bologue exhaled in relief with a hint of appreciation. Even after countless reversals, Belli would still make the same decision.

"Since this is already the third time reversal, I will..." Belli started to say, but was interrupted by Bologue.

"Let’s not waste words; after all, everything that needed saying was covered in the last time reversal, right?"

Bologue repeated Belli’s words with a grim smile. Belli was momentarily at a loss, then smiled as well, but her smile soon froze.

No words were necessary anymore.

This was already Bologue’s third time down this route. With the experience from the second time reversal, he could save much time on the way. He only needed to further determine Aimou’s location once inside the Great Rift.

Additionally, from the last time reversal, it became evident that the reset node for the time reversal had been delayed, allowing Bologue more time for action.

Belli gave Bologue a gentle push, and without looking back, Bologue left. Watching his disappearing figure, Belli felt conflicted. Bologue felt the same; even though it was their third meeting, he couldn’t help but admire Belli’s decisive choice.

From Belli’s perspective, Bologue seemed like a madman by suddenly pounding her door and ranting about time reversals.

During the second time reversal, Bologue was ready to threaten Belli using fake accounts and embezzlement, or even drag her to the office without much talk.

But to Bologue’s surprise, Belli showed absolute trust in him.

She not only trusted him but also had unwavering trust in herself, in every version of Belli in each time reversal.

Belli understood and believed in herself, anticipating all possibilities. Like a consensus, innumerable Bellis across timelines would make the same choice.

Trust Bologue and provide assistance.

Things already spoken countless times in countless time reversals now needed only action.

Though Bologue had already provided answers, Belli impulsively pushed open Aimou’s door and stared at the empty room.

Her mood dropped a bit, and who knew what Belli was thinking. Fortunately, she didn’t stew for long, soon realizing another thing.

"Does that mean, Bologue, that you can retain memories during the time reversal?" Belli murmured to herself.

Bologue’s hurried demeanor revealed that the time span of the reversal was very brief, forcing him to race against time. During this brief period, only someone like Bologue, who could retain memories, could act freely, while she would completely forget everything after the next time reversal, repeating the original path.

No... this cannot happen.

With trembling eyes, Belli bit her nails hard. She couldn’t just wait idly; she had to do something within this limited time.

Once the third time reversal ends, everything except Bologue will be reset to the beginning.

Belli believed the Belli of the fourth time reversal would still firmly assist Bologue, yet leaving Bologue alone to shoulder this was undoubtedly a huge burden for him.

"Think, Belli. What else can you do?"

Belli quickly searched through all relevant information in her mind, and amongst thousands of fragmented pieces, one almost forgotten figure emerged.

Yes, them.

Belli remembered those almost forgotten individuals.

So close, yet so far away.

She believed that this group would not be affected by the time reversal. After all, they were so mysterious. To many staff who knew about them, they seemed like the Devil, capable of anything.

It’s time to seek their help.

But... will they offer a hand?

Belli felt a headache approaching. She knew she had erred, investing emotions in Aimou that she shouldn’t have. But Belli didn’t mind; she felt there was nothing wrong with it all.

So she would provide Aimou with so much equipment out of private emotions, assist Bologue, and even hand over the Alchemy Armament of the Tenth Group to Bologue.

But once the event escalated in their eyes, Belli didn’t dare to speculate on their intentions. What kind of judgment would they make?

After all, they had no personal feelings for Aimou, who in their eyes was just a research project needing special attention.

Compared to the massive presence of the Order Bureau, everything happening now seemed so trivial and insignificant.

No need to hesitate, solve the immediate issue first, as for them... Belli would find a way later, after all, she’s still a minister, right?

After making the decision, Belli almost lunged towards the phone, grabbing the receiver and pressing the digits.

After a brief beeping, Belli spoke rapidly.

"Belli Yiyeta requests a direct connection to the Decision Room."

No sound came from the receiver, but the surrounding environment began to warp and distort, with the solid walls and floor becoming soft, and sharp edges turning smooth and pliant.

Belli sensed eyes on her, unseen figures surrounding her, whispering.

"Identity confirmation, Sublimation Furnace Core Minister, Belli Yiyeta."

A cold, neutral voice sounded from the receiver.

After an irritating wait, a despairing voice came through.

"The Decision Room refuses direct connection."

Belli was silent for a few seconds, then she punched the wall fiercely, her knuckles covered in blood.

"Damn it! Those bastards in the Decision Room!" Belli couldn’t help swearing.

Belli always felt the most inhumane system in the Order Bureau was the connection with the Decision Room. As the head of the Order Bureau, these guys always remained so mysterious, lofty, hidden in darkness.

Staff could only wait for a call from the Decision Room, unable to actively contact it. Even a minister like Belli could only have an application channel. If the Decision Room didn’t want to see her, she would be rejected like now.

"Damn it, I know someone is listening to this! Listen up, a purposefully unknown time axis disorder event is happening now!"

Belli shouted unwillingly into the receiver.

"Field Staff Bologue Lazarus is handling this. He seems unaffected by Time Reversal and can retain memory. I request the Unshakable beings to assist him in action!"

The other end of the receiver still ticked at a fixed frequency, but soon, the neutral voice spoke again.

"Directive repetition."

"What?"

Belli couldn’t understand, had the Decision Room malfunctioned? That would be deadly! Thinking of this, she surprisingly laughed, but the smile was particularly bitter.

"Directive repetition.

The Unshakable beings are activated.

The program is awakening."

Successive reports sounded, leaving Belli stupefied on the spot.

Directive repetition, someone had already requested the activation of the Unshakable beings. Could someone other than Bologue know the cause of the event?

No... it’s not that.

Belli suddenly realized what was going on, her whole body losing strength as she collapsed to the ground.

"Oh my God, Belli, you are really stupid."

Belli covered her face, laughing uncontrollably, the laughter becoming increasingly arrogant, shaking on the ground endlessly.

No matter how many times the Time Reversal happens, Belli Yiyeta can make the same decision, firm and unshakable.

She praised herself loudly.

"Well done, Belli!"

...

Second Time Reversal.

Belli watched Bologue disappear from her sight, then sat down on the bed, nervously biting her nails, thinking about what she could do.

But in this Time Reversal like a curse, people like her would only have their memories reset repeatedly. Only those who surpassed the curse could intervene in changes in the future.

Her gaze wandered repeatedly until it landed on the desk phone in the corner, silently sitting there, its red lacquer finish glaring like blood.

Belli was startled awake, remembering those people far away yet close at hand. She rushed over, pressed the digits, grabbed the receiver, and after a brief beep, shouted into the phone.

"Help! Director! Something big has happened!"