Cyber Era Witch
Chapter 238 - 212 Honma Noriko

Chapter 238: Chapter 212 Honma Noriko

```

After all the work had ended, Kanako went to see Honma Noriko, her mother.

Kyoto Infinity was located in Shangjing. It was a gigantic building, 636 meters high and 159 floors tall, which served not only as Honma Noriko’s private abode but also as the heart of Xisheng Investment Group.

The building was built for the sole purpose of serving Honma Noriko, and all the personnel stationed within were her servants, confidants, and advisors.

Anyone wishing to visit had to first enter through the helipad on the 80th floor, undergo a lengthy procedural process, and only then might they have the opportunity to be granted an audience with Honoma Noriko.

Kanako wore a virtual helmet to rest in the waiting room, where the electronic coils in the lining influenced her cerebral cortex, creating a wonderful environment that made her feel as though she was actually in a hot spring, maximizing her relaxation. This was necessary work before meeting her mother, otherwise, she worried she would be too nervous to speak.

Long-term seclusion had diminished the presence of Honma Noriko, but still, no one dared to challenge her authority.

Kanako harbored mixed feelings toward her mother. On one hand, she adored her for always protecting Kanako and preventing her from being harmed by other family members; on the other hand, she was filled with immense hatred and jealousy. As long as the mother stayed alive, the core power of Xisheng would never shift elsewhere. The group’s dynamics would remain unchanged, and no matter how hard Kanako tried, she could only be a marginal figure within the limited span of her life.

The alert sounded, and Kanako took off the helmet.

Following the sound of heavy footsteps, she turned her head to see her mother’s personal guard approaching her. This person was highly modified, with a spherical mechanical head under the helmet, fitted with an advanced combat core and cameras that allowed for a 360° view. He wore heavy white-painted armor that showed no hint of damage despite countless battles, with a long and a short katana slanted at his waist, having slain numerous enemies of Honma Noriko.

Kanako was deeply impressed by him. His name was Yanagawa Fumihiko, a man deeply enamored with her mother.

To follow Honma Noriko for eternity, he underwent biological modifications to gain greater power and a longer life. Serving Honma Noriko for over 70 years, he was now her leading guard and the most formidable warrior among the skyscraper’s direct troops, a "Sword Saint."

"Lady Honma Noriko is available to see you now," Yanagawa Fumihiko said as he bowed to Kanako, his voice a synthesized electronic sound, cold in tone.

Yanagawa Fumihiko, despite having exhausted the Martial Arts Path, was meticulous even in Kanako’s presence, resting one hand on the hilt of his long sword.

Kanako did not doubt his combat prowess. In the early days of Xisheng, he was utterly devoted to her mother, achieving great feats, and now he had reached a state of transcendence in swordsmanship. With him as the personal guard, the mother would surely never be in danger.

This also meant that it was impossible for herself to shake her mother, Kanako thought privately. Whether it was she or Farosa, if they truly intended to harm the mother, they would first have to defeat this formidable man.

"I’ll come right away," Kanako said, giving a slight bow to Yanagawa Fumihiko, then followed him to the top floor of Kyoto Infinity to meet with Honma Noriko.

135-year-old... "Mother."

With such a status and age, naturally, Honma Noriko was not the one who had physically given birth to Kanako. Kanako had a different mother who had actually borne her, but that "Mother" had long since been executed. Her family received a carefree life, with everything being completed according to an agreement predetermined by Xisheng.

With a heart full of trepidation, Kanako arrived at the top-floor teahouse to meet her mother.

She took a deep breath, putting on a perfect, pure expression, making herself look like an innocent and naive daughter, then gently stepped inside.

As she entered, Kanako noticed that even the air she breathed was different. The environment was repeatedly sterilized, and the air smelled entirely natural, free of modern urban pollution.

As soon as Kanako saw her mother’s figure, she held her breath.

Mom...

The current state of Honma Noriko was very particular.

In pursuit of eternal life, she consistently consumed spices. This was a mysterious mineral harvested from the Near East Region, known for its longevity-enhancing properties, and was highly efficacious.

Moreover, she only consumed the highest quality and most potent Purple Spice, making her the most prolific spice user in history. It was estimated that as much as 20% of the Near East Region’s premium spices were monopolized by Honma Noriko. She had spent 470 billion funds on this the previous year.

The spices had altered her constitution and slowed the aging of most of her organs, even achieving the effect of reversing her age.

Kanako watched her mother unwaveringly.

Honma Noriko was graceful and pretty in appearance, with an affable temperament, her long black hair slightly put up. Her makeup was light and faint, and her skin flawless, drawing Kanako’s envy. She looked to be in her thirties, at the peak of maturity, with a full and well-proportioned figure that was considerably more endowed than Kanako’s. Today, she was dressed in a simple, light gray dress, looking like a homemaker with an abundance of friendliness.

She smiled softly at Kanako, but did not speak.

```

Upon seeing Honma Noriko, Yanagawa Fumihiko’s hand that held the katana loosened, and he respectfully bowed to her. Then he silently stepped back to stand guard by the door, leaving the teahouse to the two women.

Kanako walked toward her mother, maintaining a kind expression on her face, yet her steps were unsteady.

Honma Noriko also offered her daughter a tranquil smile. Beneath this ostensibly gentle facade, Kanako could feel her mother’s frailty.

At 135 years old, after undergoing biological gene surgery, she still appeared young, but she had reached the biological limits of her functioning. Following the settings of her genes, humans were not prepared to live for such long durations. The operational lifespan of her internal organs had long surpassed their theoretical limit, her cellular condition was abnormal, and her ability to divide and reproduce had reached its end.

According to the report from Xisheng Medical Center, the great Lady Honma Noriko would die in seven months.

The date of death was precise to the hour, meaning next year on April 12th at 8 a.m., Honma Noriko would pass away.

No known human method could reverse this.

If mother were to pass away, what would become of Xisheng? What would become of the world? Kanako could scarcely imagine.

Unless, as Farosa had said, they could transform her mother into a Witch...

Kanako made tea for her mother and served it to her. At the moment, Honma Noriko was leaning against the bamboo mat, and mother and daughter shared a resemblance of seventy percent. Only, Kanako was much less mature, whilst her mother possessed a perfect, captivating appearance.

"Kanako, you really are cute," Honma Noriko gently stroked her daughter’s hair, but Kanako did not feel any strength in her mother’s fingers.

When Kanako was young, the Honma Noriko she saw was actually a hundred times more aged than now, her face full of wrinkles, her hair gray and sparse, completely resembling a shrunken old hag.

But in recent years, she had doubled her dose of Purple Spice, underwent several medical surgeries under the guidance of cutting-edge biology, and received nourishment from some special Witch Powers. Honma Noriko’s youth began to regress, at least outwardly it appeared so.

Even though she would still die in seven months, according to predictions, at the time of her death she would look as beautiful as blooming flowers, reaching the most youthful and vibrant state in her life, even younger and lovelier than now.

That’s kind of creepy! Kanako thought to herself. The rest of us keep getting older, but mom will look so fresh she could wring out water when she just died.

Honma Noriko drank her tea and started to show concern for Kanako’s situation.

"So how are things now? How are your friends?"

"They’re all good," Kanako said as she sat next to her mother, daring not to touch her. Inside, her mother’s organs were all aged and riddled with holes, barely functioning, and would easily be damaged. If she were to do anything to hurt her mother, Kanako would be killed in the blink of an eye.

"Those hackers, the Gang, and the Witch and all, you could learn a lot about how to be a person from them," Honma Noriko said gently.

As the saying goes, "When a person is about to die, their words are good." In the past, Honma Noriko was known for her iron-fisted and ruthless nature, executing and assassinating many of her descendants. However, now she started to speak kindly like a true mother, which brought a touch of warmth to Kanako.

"Okay," Kanako said with a smile, "I am your good daughter, after all. I’ll figure everything out."

"I believe in you," Honma Noriko said as she pulled Kanako gently into her embrace, "You’ve been away from home for too long... it’s mother’s fault."

"Mother..." Kanako nestled into her mother’s arms.

"Kyoto Infinity is offloading assets at a low price. You’re involved, aren’t you?" Honma Noriko asked softly.

"Uh," Kojima Kanako thought for a moment, "I bought some Professional Ninjas and a research facility, and I was planning to buy a military factory, but it’s hard to snatch it up, I’m too poor."

"Are you setting up your own force to contend for my inheritance?" Honma Noriko asked, stroking Kanako’s hair gently.

Kanako’s heart pounded wildly.

"Eh? What?" she tried to pull away but didn’t dare make any rash movements in her mother’s embrace, her body going limp.

"The Think Tank isn’t directing your thoughts." Honma Noriko’s fingers slid toward Kanako’s throat, "Who taught you to buy Ninjas and a research facility?"