Cyber Era Witch
Chapter 213 - 189: Undersea Expedition

Chapter 213: Chapter 189: Undersea Expedition

Xu Yang finally gave Asa Katsuragi the gift that belonged to her, a gold-plated pistol, codenamed "Leopard", which had commemorative significance and was quite valuable, worth about 120,000 funds. Asa Katsuragi happily accepted it.

"Kanako still remembers everyone, remembers every single person!" Asa Katsuragi felt great, "I originally thought she had changed, but she hasn’t, she’s still that adorable Kanako."

"She really has become thoughtful," Xu Yang agreed, "What progress has the Katsuragi Gang been making now?"

"We are attempting to attack the final hideout of the Chainsaw Angel Gang," Asa Katsuragi explained, "After becoming a security contractor, our first order was to take them down, which resulted in fierce resistance from them. The methods in Hui City District are different; we can’t rush in all at once like before, they have hidden inside corporate territories."

"It’s because they have legal identities," Xu Yang pondered, "They also make contact with various corporations on a regular basis."

"Yes," Asa Katsuragi nodded, "One minute they’re gang members, the next a member of some corporation, they usually have dual identities, and now they are starting to use their public-facing identities, unveiling their security packages, acting like lawful citizens."

"They must be taken care of without delay," Xu Yang pointed out, "before they can grow again in secret. Even if we have to infringe on the interests of several corporations, we must do so, after all, we are now the chief of Aizu City’s security. First, locate and execute their leaders and executives, the Witch Division will be assisting during this time. I will have to leave for a while."

"Where are you going?"

"To a place that will be on the news headlines soon." Releasing Zenith, the world was about to tremble, just as the revival of the Ice Giant had previously drawn global attention.

"Understood," Asa Katsuragi agreed, "...When you come back, we will definitely have subdued the Chainsaw Angel Gang."

"And then?" Xu Yang asked further, "Have you ever thought about getting involved in Anjiu City?"

"Climb higher?" Asa Katsuragi sighed, "Sometimes I think that I’m not cut out for dealing with matters too high or too far. I should stay here, doing what I can manage and see in front of me. That’s enough for me."

"Your brother has come back to life, what about his future?"

"I’m thinking of sending him to the Taixi Continent to study abroad for a few years, to keep him away from the troubles here. He’s different from me; he’s more suited for pioneering in unknown places," Asa Katsuragi explained.

"...I respect your decision," Xu Yang nodded.

Xu Yang archived all the information, intelligence, and keys he had obtained so far in preparation for the release of Yan Duo.

The last thing before departure was to meet with Du Qianqian, who had been wanting to see Xu Yang for a long time.

Being known by Du Qianqian for his name and true appearance would be troublesome, so Xu Yang still disguised himself to meet this Witch known for her shape-shifting abilities in the office of the industrial park.

When she learned that her master was willing to see her, Du Qianqian was naturally overjoyed. 102 didn’t understand why Du Qianqian was so happy as she had seen Xu Yang countless times before.

After putting on makeup, doing her hair, and donning captivating cosmetic contact lenses, Du Qianqian hoped to leave a good impression on the man in charge of the entire organization. She also changed into a white dress. She had been originally trained as a spy and had even been a Dancing Girl at a bar, memories of the past that she bitterly reminisced about. The current her just wanted to cut ties with the past and avoid any associations with the profession she had once been part of.

Unlike other Witches from whom Du Qianqian didn’t want advice, aside from 101 who had reached out to help her and to whom she felt some respect, she didn’t approve of others from the Witch Division.

was too naive, Mizuiro Yoshioka too worldly, and Shallow Dream too ambitious, fancying themselves as time’s gatekeepers. To Du Qianqian, they seemed as ignorant as a child playing with matches. When she was the same age as Shallow Dream, she was still learning to endure electric shocks and poison, yet now Shallow Dream had already moved into the exquisite homes arranged by Nestor Corporation, which made Du Qianqian feel the injustice of fate.

Then, everything was at its most perfect moment.

Punctually, she pushed open the door and entered to see the master seated behind his desk, hidden behind a mask and synthetic coat, revealing no flaws whatsoever.

With a practiced sweet smile, Du Qianqian sat in front of him and scrutinized him repeatedly. Mystery begot respect, and she found the person in front of her unbelievable, especially when thinking about all that he had achieved so far.

Controlling both the Katsuragi Gang and this immense industrial park, and what awed her the most was that... even her mistress, Lady Farosa, the undoubted Witch Goddess, now resided within this domain. Other Witches were more or less sheltered by him and owed him favor.

The industrial park was deep under the sea, and upon first seeing it, Du Qianqian felt it was like a deep-sea prison, suffocating her, but the moment she saw her own room, she fell in love with the place, and her passion and interest for its owner surged as a consequence.

Her smile was beaming, not wanting to leave him with any bad impression, and she was particularly curious about what the face under the mask looked like. Lady Farosa must have seen it with her own eyes.

"What are you thinking about?" Xu Yang asked.

"Nothing," Du Qianqian responded, "I like this place, so I wanted to meet its owner."

"If you have any questions, I would be happy to help guide you," he said.

"What is our ultimate goal?" Du Qianqian asked.

"To create a New World."

"What kind?"

"A world utterly different from now," Xu Yang said, "Technology and advanced productivity should serve everyone, and witches should be free. But now, the value we create is plundered by a select few, witches endure harsh restrictions and enslavement, the mysterious powers and Ratmen are marginalized, hence harboring resentment and unending conflicts. What we need to do is change the status quo."

"That will require... that will require a lot of..." Du Qianqian gasped, "a lot of effort."

She suddenly realized that her shallow knowledge couldn’t grasp such pursuits. Du Qianqian didn’t want so much; she only needed funds, property, and an unlimited data plan.

Yet, in that moment, she was filled with an inexplicable sense of mission. Du Qianqian believed that fate had brought her to this place, including this moment, in this office, face to face with him. It was destiny.

Everything suddenly seemed sublime.

"Your future is vast," Xu Yang said, "This place is a crevice within the corporate world, where the rules differ dramatically from the outside. You no longer need to work to the bone, you can pursue your own holistic development. Of course, there are many duties you must fulfill, and your abilities are quite exceptional."

"I... I’m exceptional?" Du Qianqian said, her voice tinged with disbelief.

"Of course."

Du Qianqian happily bowed her head.

With Lady Farosa, she received nothing but denigration and insult, prompting Du Qianqian to constantly reflect on her own insignificance and flaws. However, here she felt respected, enough to throw herself back into life with renewed enthusiasm.

How marvelous the future seemed, with funds, happiness, and unlimited possibilities unfolding before Du Qianqian’s eyes, where every step was promising, without the need to tread on thin ice as cautiously as before.

"I will do my best." Du Qianqian bowed to Xu Yang and then left the office.

Still, there was one thing Du Qianqian found perplexing.

How had the two masters, so different in temperament, come together? How were they managing this organization jointly? And what was the mysterious past of the company president... Mrs. Lila Nestor, with them?

The secrets swirling around these three individuals were abundant, and Du Qianqian yearned to understand the whole story.

But the past was a subject everyone here studiously avoided. Especially 101 and 102, who never mentioned their own histories, leaving Du Qianqian in confusion, immensely curious about everything here.

Soon, the day to depart arrived.

Xu Yang had made all preparations, even for various contingencies. He left behind the combat forces of the Witch Division and Katsuragi Gang to defend and deal with any possible reprisals from the Chainsaw Angel Gang. Then, the journey officially began to rescue Yan Duo.

The three left the industrial park, entered the Innovation, and Lila personally piloted it, steering directly from the park, opened the sea pool’s gates, and navigated the shuttle machine into the deep sea.

"Come," Farosa gently tapped the glass in front of the shuttle machine.

As she did so, the divine power of the sea rippled outward, summoning those Ocean Descendants. With Farosa’s call, young and adult Ocean Descendants began to spontaneously follow the Innovation, guarding on both sides.

It would be good to recruit some larger Ocean Descendants along the way. Farosa scoured reports of Ocean Descendant sightings, but their numbers were indeed sparse. The last spotting on their route dated back three years, with little chance of encountering them soon.

It seemed they had no choice but to sacrifice this batch of Ocean Descendants near the industrial park. If they were to be depleted, her gourmet table would be barren, Farosa thought glumly. Originally, she had raised these children for consumption; it appeared she would need to carefully collect the fragments from the seabed after their demise and painstakingly restore them.

"Cruising at a steady speed, current velocity is 35 knots, that is, 64.82 kilometers per hour. We will reach the Godbinding Plan in 31.2 hours."

"That long? To drift in the deep sea for over thirty hours? I’ll go mad," Farosa complained.

She found that even her mobile phone was unusable. The Innovation had communication modules, but using them now could raise alarms; all forms of communication had to be kept silent.

Half an hour after setting sail, Farosa lay flat, left only to play games with her imagination, watching the pitch-black seawater outside the window.

Xu Yang suddenly understood why 101 had told him to bring books. He then pulled out various books and magazines to show Farosa, hoping to help her pass the time and preserve her spirits for the rescue of Yan Duo.

"I think you might need these..." Xu Yang barely began when Farosa abruptly interrupted him with a rough motion.

After merely glancing at the assortment of magazines and books, Farosa tossed them aside and wrapped her arms around Xu Yang, kissing him. What she needed was passion, indulgence, carefreeness; they were still so young, with over a hundred years ahead of them.

Beneath the deep sea, she and Xu Yang—and Lila could watch.

... or perhaps join in. Three hundred meters under the water, what else is there to do?