Chapter 324: At Least You Can Act Spoiled with the Substitute

“That’s how it’s,” Annan mentioned. “You’ll be underneath home arrest on this constructing for the subsequent few days.”

If this counts as home arrest, then the restricted mobility you gave us earlier than, confined to only one flooring, ought to depend as solitary confinement… To avoid wasting face for the younger woman, nobody within the canteen voiced this sarcastic comment.

Nobody knew if Annan had sought consolation from Qenna, however their exercise space had certainly expanded from simply the bed room to your entire high-rise.

It was 8:00 AM, and Annan had introduced them to the canteen to debate issues over breakfast. Numerous Senhaeser passersby, from completely different races, sometimes walked by. Maybe that they had already been notified, as they not seemed on the outsiders like cockroaches however reasonably like clowns, which was a slight enchancment.

Breakfast was a self-service affair, with all kinds of choices. There have been eighteen other ways to arrange Lala Fatty alone, and it was doubtless that the native specialty, Magnificence Houttuynia, was added. Ashe nearly bit his tongue when he took a chunk.

A really fascinating facet was that the idea of “house” in Vamora was nearly non-existent or extraordinarily expansive—this constructing, for instance, was thought-about a “house.” It had devoted flooring for train, examine, gaming, eating, and even working. The Senhaesers residing on this constructing solely had their very own bedrooms, which they solely used for sleeping and resting. For all different actions, they might go to the precise flooring designed for these functions. As an example, all of them got here to the canteen for meals as a substitute of ordering takeout or cooking for themselves.

Nobody had a house, however your entire constructing was everybody’s house. In truth, your entire Senhaeser district was your property.

Undoubtedly, this sort of residing association significantly conserved assets and optimally utilized house, leading to considerably bigger bedrooms for everybody. And the associated fee… effectively, there didn’t appear to be any downsides. At the very least for Ashe, who was proof against marriage, it was very interesting. He may very well be alone when he needed to be, or head to the sport room to search out loads of associates when he didn’t. If such an house had existed in his earlier life, Ashe thought he may have lived there till retirement.

However for public services to be so complete and well-equipped, there should be sufficient foot visitors; in any other case, it could lead to enormous losses and waste, similar to how web cafes went out of enterprise when private computer systems grew to become extra widespread. Because of this the designers should be certain that residents use these public services as a lot as potential, which is sort of inconceivable. Private will and collective residing typically battle, and the purpose of personal possession is to permit individuals to progressively break away from the constraints of the collective.

It’s solely in household cities like Vamora that such a novel social ecosystem can exist. The non secular lives of the clansmen are straight glad by Magnificence Mist, and their private wills are influenced by the Household Rebirth Dream. Their dissatisfaction and needs in actuality are suppressed to the bottom degree, so that they naturally dwell like robots, following the procedures and steps organized by the household.

In a way, Vamora may be an upgraded model of the Gospel society. In any case, the residents of Azura nonetheless have immoral needs that have to be relieved by the Gospel Ebook, whereas the household residents of Vamora, having inhaled Magnificence Mist for a very long time, don’t develop any evil ideas. Everyone seems to be the very best citizen, and work effectivity, life rhythm, interpersonal relationships, and social engineering have all reached the extent of a nationwide mannequin metropolis underneath the affect of the household. Apart from the truth that nobody generates “dissatisfaction,” every thing may be very passable.

Nonetheless, the visiting vacationers weren’t right here to conduct surveys. They solely cared about whether or not they have been at present depending on others or in possession of worthwhile commodities.

Annan didn’t elaborate additional, solely leaving them with, “I’ll collect you all at 6 PM, till then, you’re free to do as you please,” and gave them 500 Gospel factors.

From that second, the Funeral Agency formally entered right into a strategic partnership with the Gospel Ebook. In case of emergencies, they may straight ask the Gospel for steering.

Ashe requested, “Aren’t you afraid we’ll ask how one can break the Pact with you?”

Annan replied, “I already requested. 500 factors aren’t sufficient.”

Watching Annan and Banjeet go away, Harvey took out a catnip cigarette, glanced at Lise, who was nonetheless battling along with her strawberry ice cream, and bit down on the unlit cigarette. “I’m actually apprehensive that mom and daughter would possibly promote us out.”

Ashe mentioned, “Annan isn’t that sort of particular person, proper? I imply, the younger woman is so grasping. She’s invested a lot effort into us; she wouldn’t simply hand us over.”

“However you may also see the massive hole between her and her mom,” the necromancer mentioned, spreading his arms. “If we have been to make use of corpses as a metaphor, the distinction between them is like evaluating a charred physique to an enormous.”

“To be trustworthy, I don’t assume that’s an acceptable comparability for mealtime…”

“Actually? I believe it makes the meals style even higher,” Harvey mentioned, with a catnip cigarette hanging from his lips. “Don’t be fooled by how Annan talked about being at odds along with her mom in jail. Her most essential reliance remains to be her blood relationship along with her mom. And as for blood relationships… my view is sort of much like Igor’s.”

“All relationships exist to permit Higher-tier People to raised exploit Decrease-tier People,” the Con Artist mentioned slowly, savoring his meals. “Harvey’s proper. Annan doesn’t have the capital to counter Qenna. As for that Pact between mom and daughter… ha, we will’t even totally management our personal Pacts, not to mention anticipate it to bind a Sanctuary sorceress?”

“Plus, Annan remains to be being secretive and unwilling to disclose her plans. Our present scenario is mainly like that of Lala Fatty, simply ready to see if the chef’s final identify is Dolan or Senhaeser.”

Lise was startled. “Are we going to be eaten?”

“Do you like salted egg yolk or baked salt?” Ashe wiped the clump of creamy happiness off the nook of Lise’s mouth with a serviette. “When you’re scared, don’t eat a lot. When you get too fats, you would possibly get killed.”

“Then I’m not scared. Dad is fatter than me and even fatter than Aunt Bukin.”

“I’m not fats; I’m sturdy and wholesome. I’m nothing like your scrawny Aunt Bukin.”

Igor couldn’t be bothered to take care of this father-daughter duo. “A wierd metropolis, xenophobic locals, a secretive employer, and an area safety pressure with ulterior motives… Even underneath the Blood Moon, the one place that would collect these 4 suspicious components is my hometown, Feimeng Metropolis.”

“What sort of hellish place did you crawl out of, demon…”

“Anyway, let’s begin investigating,” Igor mentioned, standing up and choosing up his tray. “I don’t anticipate you to uncover any groundbreaking data, however at the least strive to not appeal to an excessive amount of consideration. Particularly you three: suspicious males in black robes in broad daylight, style disasters following Abyss traits, and a low-IQ baby who solely is aware of how one can act cute and clueless. After which there’s Harvey and Little Lise.”

“If we have been within the Blood Moon Kingdom, I’d positively sue you for private assaults,” Ashe mentioned.

Harvey additionally acquired as much as go away. “I’m going again to coach. Anybody need to be my analysis materials?”

Deya: “In keeping with our division of labor, you, Lise, have the ultimate say in actuality, similar to I’m the undisputed chief within the Digital Realm. You possibly can fully determine our plan of action in actuality…”

Black Butler: “Pfft.”

As Lise’s eyes started to brighten, Deya continued: “However simply as you belief Ashe, I additionally belief the Observer and the sword Princess. Are you aware why I went to the Con Artist early this morning to discover ways to naturally conceal secrets and techniques?”

“Why?”

“As a result of not revealing secrets and techniques prevents change. Sustaining our present Masks permits us to proceed having fun with our present relationships.”

Little Witch, unconvinced: “However revealing them may additionally result in optimistic adjustments, proper?”

Deya: “Actually? Within the Digital Realm, the Observer may not care, however the sword Princess clearly values the Observer way over me; in actuality, Ashe may not have ailing intentions in the direction of you, however that can assist you, he would positively search help from the Con Artist and the necromancer. Even when he doesn’t, these two will ultimately discover his uncommon habits… They may not essentially have unhealthy intentions in the direction of us, however in comparison with us, they positively care extra about Ashe, similar to the sword Princess would defend the Observer and oppose me.”

“If Ashe is keen to turn into an enemy of the Gospel for you, would you be keen to do the identical?”

Lise fell silent. The White Queen, Black Butler, and Scarlet Useless Apostles additionally remained quiet.

Lise: “So, ought to I distance myself from Dad?”

Deya: “No, fairly the other. You must proceed to make use of Ashe. This has all the time been our plan. Use his affection so that you can information him into serving to you, however by no means reveal our secrets and techniques.”

“Higher for us to make use of him than to let him actively assist us. Essentially the most terrifying facet of the Gospel is its means to show good intentions into malicious destiny.”

“Once we have been within the Tower, we skilled an excessive amount of of this sorrow. Those that tried to cease our Armored Sanctification grew to become money owed our souls needed to bear; these we deceived survived as a substitute.”

“Till the Weaving Competition is over, our love is a curse, our belief is poison.”

Little Witch, dejected: “So, Lise nonetheless has to turn into a foul witch who lies and makes use of others?”

“Sure,” Deya replied. “We’re all unhealthy witches.”

“I’m sorry,” the White Queen all of the sudden mentioned. “We sisters couldn’t offer you a cheerful life and as a substitute made you bear all this.”

“Hey, hey, White Queen, what are you apologizing for!” Black Butler mentioned. “That is clearly the witch’s fault, not ours!”

Scarlet Useless Apostles: “Little Black, simply shut up.”

“It’s okay!” Lise cheered up. “I’m your sister. I’m not that straightforward to knock down. A witch is a witch. I’m the Little Witch!”

Lise turned to the Substitute. “Let’s go discover the library right here…” She hesitated, then added with a pleading look, “Are you able to maintain my hand?”

Although she couldn’t be trustworthy with Ashe, at the least she may now freely act spoiled with Ashe’s Substitute.

The Substitute glanced at her and prolonged its hand to carry hers.

Little Lise’s despondent expression vanished, and he or she bounced round like a cheerful little rabbit.

“Let’s go, assist me discover the library flooring.”

“I’m so drained from strolling. Carry me.”

“Assist me examine which books point out the Gospel Incarnation, and likewise discover books about historical past from a thousand years in the past.”

“I’m so sleepy, decelerate.”

“Are you able to sing?”

Ten minutes later, within the library, the Substitute fastidiously pulled out the requested books, aware to not disturb the sleeping Lise, whereas buzzing a lullaby expressionlessly.

Instantly, it observed a ebook on the shelf titled Generations of Enslavement: The Infinite Tyranny of the Evil The Aristocracy. For a short second, a fancy gentle flickered in its hole eyes.