Volume 2

Chapter 88 : “The Gamble”

In the lounge, Anselm, stroking Hitana’s head, gazed through the window at the workshop’s production line below.

“According to Mr. Hendrik’s report, the output of Ether Collectors has reached five hundred units daily. If material and manpower constraints are resolved, production could increase by about half.”

Marina, standing behind the sofa with a record board, reported softly to Anselm: “Mr. Anselm, should the first batch of Ether Collectors be deployed to the territory?”

Scratching the chin of the wolf miss comfortably purring on his lap, Anselm chuckled lightly: “Make the arrangements. Someone will coordinate with you.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Marina didn’t know the Ether Collectors’ purpose, but Anselm seemed to value them highly.

Since taking full control of Babel Tower, Anselm rarely visited, and when he did, it was usually for Helen, his “daughter,” not projects.

A special project warranting Anselm’s personal inspection was rare, so Marina mentally elevated its priority.

“By the way, Miss Helen—”

Her words were cut off by a knock at the door.

“Father, may I come in?”

Hitana, previously relaxed, tensed as if facing an enemy.

After Anselm’s response, the petite scholar, now in a different style, entered.

Miss Helen no longer wore her usual white lab coat but a gray long coat, its waist tie accentuating her slim figure and pronounced hips.

Her hip-hugging skirt was replaced by black shorts, semi-sheer black stockings wrapping her full legs.

Strappy high heels propped up her height while adding a subtle allure.

Despite her mature, glamorous appearance contrasting her petite frame, Helen carried it flawlessly, perhaps due to her deceptively delicate build with notably full hips and legs, exuding a subtle sensuality.

“Ether Collectors… Are you sure about pushing for mass production now?”

Helen seemed nervous, clearly aware of the Ether Collectors’ purpose.

She approached Anselm, asking softly: “Isn’t it a bit early?”

“No, it’s perfect timing.”

Anselm stroked Hitana, who was glaring warily at Helen, and reached to pat Helen’s head.

“It seems that day left too deep a shadow on you. You haven’t moved past it.”

He whispered fondly: “Don’t worry, leave it to me. The mistakes Mingfuluo made won’t happen under me. You’ve seen that, haven’t you, dear Helen?”

“…”

Helen’s expression softened.

She clasped Anselm’s hand, murmuring: “Yes, Father. If it’s you, it’s certain.”

The overly harmonious atmosphere irked Hitana, who, despite Helen calling Anselm “Father,” felt oddly childish.

This wasn’t right!

“Ahem… ahem! Anselm!”

Hitana loudly interjected: “S-so… what are those Ether Collectors for?”

“You can think of them as… devices that gather, store, and refine ether with remarkable efficiency. They’re outstanding, effective, yet not exactly revolutionary.”

The confused girl mumbled: “If they’re not that impressive, why did you come personally?”

“Because they’re a crucial foundation.”

The young Hydra smiled, gazing at the seemingly ordinary vessels on the production line, a flicker of fire in his eyes fading quickly.

“They’re… the eve of a revolution.”

With that, Anselm stood, extending a hand to Helen: “Come, Helen. Let’s take a look.”

The petite scholar gripped Anselm’s hand tightly.

Hitana, unwilling to be outdone, hugged his arm.

Marina, behind them, smiled helplessly, shaking her head, unbothered by her lack of a place.

On the contrary… she felt nowhere was safer than behind Anselm.

Anselm’s group left the lounge.

Hendrik, overseeing the production line due to Anselm’s visit, hurried over, bowing respectfully: “Your Excellency Anselm! The Ether Collectors’ production is going smoothly!”

Before Hendrik appeared, Helen had let go of Anselm’s hand, dutifully maintaining her Mingfuluo identity in public, as Anselm required.

“Marina already briefed me,” Anselm said, smiling at Hendrik.

“Good work, Hendrik.”

“No, no… serving you is my, and Babel Tower’s, honor and duty.”

Hendrik bowed deeply, avoiding looking at Mingfuluo beside Anselm.

Her words, from the girl he’d raised as his own, filled Hendrik with grief and powerlessness.

He asked himself, never once intending to deceive Mingfuluo, but under Erlin’s orchestration, the reality was cold and cruel, regardless of his intentions.

He also feared Mingfuluo’s secret work for Ivora could bring disaster to Babel Tower.

But thankfully, Anselm seemed unaware of her actions.

He not only poured more resources into Babel Tower but entrusted it with his needs, treating it as his own, easing Hendrik’s worries.

“Hendrik, what do you think… the value of these Ether Collectors is?”

Anselm, touching the smooth surface of a finished product by the production line, asked suddenly.

“Value…” Hendrik hesitated, then answered cautiously: “Based on your design and creation principles, their value lies in ether storage. Practically… they’d support something with high ether demands, given their remarkable utilization and conversion rates…”

Helen, beside Anselm, lowered her eyes, radiating clear disdain for Hendrik’s response.

“Mr. Hendrik’s answer is on point… haha, just a casual question, don’t overthink it.”

Seeing Hendrik sink into thought due to Helen’s reaction, Anselm chuckled, ending the topic: “Anyway, if you need anything, come to me.”

This simple promise steadied Hendrik’s heart.

He bowed again, saying earnestly: “Rest assured! Babel Tower will do its utmost to meet your demands!”

Anselm patted Hendrik’s shoulder: “I trust your abilities. Keep it up.”

“Yes, Your Excellency Anselm!”

Hendrik’s respectful yet heartfelt sincerity and Anselm’s magnanimous demeanor created a harmonious atmosphere—a visionary, enlightened lord and a capable, loyal vassal.

The partnership between Anselm and Babel Tower… was undoubtedly a tale destined for history.

But in this perfectly harmonious moment, someone spoke: “Do our utmost…”

“Why does Babel Tower exist? Can you tell me, Hendrik?”

All eyes turned to the petite scholar, hands in her coat pockets, expressionless: “Since when did it become a tool to grovel before the strong?”

“Mingfuluo, you—take back what you just said!”

Hendrik’s face paled, and he scolded sharply: “You cannot disrespect His Excellency Anselm!”

Hitana’s mouth fell open.

She shuffled to Marina’s side, whispering: “Has that shorty gone mad?”

“Just exercising the willful privilege that comes with Anselm’s favor,” Marina replied with a smile, also whispering.

“You’re the one indulging in that privilege every day, Hit.”

“His Excellency Anselm is the ‘strong’ I spoke of. Where did you hear disrespect in my words?”

Helen turned to the relaxed Anselm, suppressing the urge to call him “Father,” and asked: “Your Excellency Anselm, have I offended you?”

“Hm… I feel fine.”

Anselm stifled a laugh, indulging his daughter’s venting.

The Mingfuluo who once would’ve sacrificed everything for Babel Tower now despised it.

Beneath that contempt was a soul almost entirely devoted to him, all in front of Hendrik, who was both mentor and father figure to Helen.

Despite his busy affairs, Anselm found a twisted pleasure in this.

After his response, Helen continued her cold critique without pause: “Your reaction shows how much you want to please His Excellency Anselm.

Your understanding of the Ether Collectors proves you’ve long forgotten Babel Tower’s original purpose… no, you’ve always been like this.

I’ve known your true face for a long time.”

“…How laughable.”

She walked forward, leaving one final remark: “My identity was shaped by such meaningless, hypocritical things.”

Even with everything destroyed, Helen still clung to that possibility—or rather, that possibility was her entirety.

But Babel Tower was no longer what it once was.

Helen thought they’d merely strayed from their original intent, but now… they’d forgotten even that initial goal, not just abandoning it but willingly becoming Anselm’s tool.

From Helen’s perspective, this was not a joyful development.

The good was that Anselm gained capable allies; the bad was that Babel Tower, once more important to her than anything, was now worthless.

Anselm saw it all—this was the outcome he desired.

“Well, this is…”

Anselm gave Hendrik a half-smile: “She holds quite a grudge against you, Hendrik.”

“I…”

Hendrik opened his mouth, unable to explain, and gave a bitter smile: “My apologies, Your Excellency Anselm, for letting you… see this farce. I hope it doesn’t disappoint you.”

Anselm waved dismissively: “Your internal matters are yours to handle. I trust you’ll manage.

Hitana, Marina, let’s go.”

“Oh!”

“Is there anything else to coordinate with Mr. Hendrik, Mr. Anselm?”

The sisters reacted differently, but Anselm, having achieved his purpose, left decisively with them.

After Anselm’s group departed, Hendrik took a deep breath, clenched his fists, and walked resolutely in the direction “Mingfuluo” had gone.

It didn’t take long to find the rebellious, resentful girl.

He brought her to his office, believing they needed a formal, serious talk.

Seeing Helen’s cold face, Hendrik felt irrepressible guilt and hesitation, but recalling what had happened, he forced those emotions down.

“Mingfuluo… I think you, us, and Babel Tower can’t go on like this.”

“What are you trying to say?” Helen looked at him expressionlessly, her demeanor like a mannequin with a human face, unnervingly stiff.

“I’m saying… no matter how much you hate us, hate that time, hate the teacher’s design, you… are still part of Babel Tower.”

Hendrik spoke bitterly: “None of us deny that. We all know the contributions you’ve made, the effort you’ve poured in, the feelings you’ve held—no less than anyone.”

“So… stop doing this. Stop doing things that endanger Babel Tower, please.”

His expression was earnest, cautious: “If you still hate us, we… we can find ways to atone, to seek your forgiveness. But please, don’t harm Babel Tower anymore. His Excellency Anselm is our pillar. Don’t say those things in front of him. He may forgive once or twice, but not endlessly.”

Since that lecture at the Ether Academy, tasting the benefits of fully submitting to Anselm, Babel Tower could no longer resist this unrestrained freedom.

“…You don’t even understand the problem, Hendrik.”

Helen stood, responding coldly: “There’s no need to continue this conversation. There never was.”

Her situation was, in fact, similar to Babel Tower’s.

Both believed “with Anselm’s help, all problems can be solved.”

But the difference was that Babel Tower’s purpose had long diverged from its original intent, while Helen, having destroyed her former self, clung to that flickering belief.

Their actions seemed similar, but their ultimate goals and starting points were utterly different.

The irony of both relying on Anselm to achieve their ideals was profound.

It only deepened Helen’s resentment toward Babel Tower and its founders, making attachment impossible.

As she said, Babel Tower was now worthless.

With Anselm, her “Father,” any problem could be solved.

Unwilling to continue, Helen turned to leave without hesitation.

“Wait—no… stop, Mingfuluo!”

But as her hand touched the doorknob, the man behind the desk stood, his voice stern, even… cold.

“This isn’t a matter of discussion anymore.”

Hendrik stared at the petite scholar, who wouldn’t even turn back, stealing his resolve.

“I, we… won’t stand by as you threaten Babel Tower. It’s not just our and the teacher’s life’s work—it carries the dreams of young sorcerers, the blood of a new era! It must not be destroyed!”

“…Mingfuluo, if you’re still part of Babel Tower, I order you—”

He leaned on the desk, enunciating: “Cease your collaboration with Her Highness the Grand Princess immediately. Stop any actions that might anger His Excellency Anselm. If you won’t stop, we’ll make you.”

In Hendrik’s eyes, Mingfuluo’s secret work for Ivora was a ticking time bomb.

If Anselm discovered it, not just Mingfuluo but all of Babel Tower would face ruin.

He wouldn’t allow it.

“…Troublesome.”

To Hendrik’s resolute will, Helen only responded with cold disdain.

Crafting Ether Armaments for Ivora was Anselm’s directive.

Though she didn’t know why Anselm, at odds with Ivora, wanted this, Helen didn’t question it.

She had no obligation to explain to Hendrik.

Moreover, since Anselm instructed her to act as Mingfuluo in public, she had even less reason to share “Helen’s” insights.

Anselm might pretend ignorance until she and Ivora’s helpers completed the Ether Armament.

Or, to avoid suspicion, he might judge Babel Tower.

But what did it matter?

Babel Tower was worthless.

Only Father could realize her ideals—in Anselm’s eyes, Helen would think this.

Compared to a Babel Tower claiming to forge a new era while falling into an old cycle, Anselm’s actions truly ushered in a new age.

Thus, even if Babel Tower paid a price, or even collapsed, as long as Anselm’s goals were achieved—

“Then don’t consider me part of Babel Tower.”

Helen opened the door without looking back: “I’ll leave this worthless place.”

Her decisiveness left Hendrik’s mind nearly blank.

He’d considered many possibilities but never this.

He thought, no matter how much Mingfuluo resented Babel Tower, calling it false and worthless, she couldn’t truly abandon it.

Yet she did, so effortlessly.

“Mingfuluo!”

Hendrik instinctively reached out, trying to stop her: “How could you—”

This time, his mind truly went blank, his consciousness stunned into a brief lapse.

Before his eyes, as “Mingfuluo Zege” stepped out the office door…

A blood-red flower bloomed from her chest.

***

Anselm, just exiting the Ether Academy’s main gate, glanced back, raising an eyebrow: “That urgent?”

“…What, Anselm, what’s—ah!”

Hitana jumped, turning toward where Anselm looked: “What’s that? It scared me! Feels like some powerful guy just erupted. Is someone fighting?”

“No, it’s nothing. Don’t worry too much, Hit.”

Anselm said calmly: “Just a trial, a game… a gamble.”

[Your obsession will destroy Babel Tower.]

“The winner gets their wish; the loser, nothing. That’s all.”

At Hendrik’s office window, an alchemical creature called Nidhogg relayed everything to Anselm.

Playing with a bracelet from nowhere, he smiled in response.