Cyber Era Witch
Chapter 386 - 347 Youthful Glory_3

Chapter 386: Chapter 347 Youthful Glory_3

"Hmm," Fumihiko Kawa nodded.

"We are friends—keep that firmly in mind," Farosa said.

"Thank you for helping me root out all the rot," Lady Honma Noriko said, "to see that they didn’t have a shred of value. Now I finally don’t have to play charades with them anymore, nor guess which one still holds a loyal heart. It’s a pity that technology can’t see into a person’s heart."

Honma Noriko realized that she had been manipulated by Farosa.

The betrayal of the children was inevitable; they were as ambitious as Honma Noriko herself. But Farosa had manipulated her into triggering the bomb earlier, thus giving her less time to react.

There were benefits as well.

That was its original function: to sift out the true loyalists.

Honma Noriko still couldn’t afford to fall out with Farosa. Legend had it that Farosa wielded the twin powers of healing and killing, and the current Honma Noriko couldn’t withstand either. Would she revert to being the old woman, or be truly killed?

She and Farosa were wary of each other.

"The heart may be inscrutable, but the body can be destroyed," Farosa said.

"You really have good taste."

"Yes, invest your money in me," Farosa said, "I am the guiding light of progress for all the world."

Farosa opened the canteen at her waist, pouring out Yamano Sanae, who flowed over the sea’s surface, immediately emitting a dazzling deep-sea fluorescence that enveloped Farosa’s body—all of it precious Divine Power of the sea.

Clouds swirled around her, and the storm and thunder became Farosa’s new Armor.

Yamano Sanae morphed into the shape of a whale, using mist and great waves to cover Farosa’s escape, lest she be pursued by warships.

Once they reached the high seas, Ocean Descendant Clares the Second would appear to meet them. Sanae was actually a backup—if Farosa was hit by an Anti-Magic Bullet, Sanae would sacrifice herself to create a tsunami that could engulf everything, and also help Farosa barely get away.

Now, Farosa was to flee over the sea, heading back to perform the Seven Witches Ritual and leave the slaughterhouse that was Zhonggui Town far behind.

Staying here any longer might draw her into Honma Noriko’s tempest of rage. In fact, she turned to see some snipers repositioning themselves, prompting her to hasten her departure to avoid being forcibly detained.

Once at sea, Farosa mused. She had accomplished the purpose of her poisoning: weakening Honma Noriko’s wits, seizing the opportunity to implant Farosa’s influence, and also, prematurely igniting the immense schism between mother and children.

From Farosa’s perspective, she understood the causes and consequences very well.

It was clear to everyone that Xisheng’s children would eventually rebel. The more successful the ritual, the more the children feared.

Who wanted to live under their mother’s eternal dominion? They longed for Honma Noriko’s death and the splitting of the family. Day after day, unable to bear the disappointment of hopes dashed, they were bound to fight desperately.

The issue was, if Farosa didn’t interfere and allowed Honma Noriko to return unscathed, she would have been able to exert her authority to suppress them for months, or even completely negate their rebelliousness. Too many changes could occur in a few months, so Farosa acted to accelerate the process and trigger the children’s actions ahead of time.

The outcome was good.

Look at the rivers of blood.

After Farosa had left, Honma Noriko also stood up.

"Let’s go," she said, as she departed the beach under Fumihiko Kawa’s escort, "That Farosa has a unique aura; it confuses me as well. I can’t concentrate around her. Fortunately, that feeling has dissipated now."

"Let’s discuss it back home, ma’am," Fumihiko Kawa said as he pressed a button on his face.

They contacted Nilu, the Reality Manipulator.

"Control the situation," Fumihiko Kawa said.

"Yes," the Reality Manipulator, who had been wandering in the outskirts, received the order and turned toward Zhonggui Town, extending her right hand.

Fossil turned to sand.

The rocky foundations that supported the entire town’s houses rapidly collapsed, with buildings toppling en masse. The shouting crowds realized the Ground beneath them was not safe and would quickly be buried if they didn’t leave rapidly.

Earth turned to mud.

In every corner of the village, the land began to crack, and the robots and mercenary groups that were mobilizing discovered their footing had become deep mud, rendering their navigation through it challenging. Even the sturdiest treads were bound to be ensnared by the mud.

This was "landform manipulation."

Some of the rebellious Shuttle Machines ascended to the sky; Nilu released slicing blades of air that cut them in half midair. Other Battle Witches by her side powered their jetpacks to seal off the scene.

"...Controlled it," Nilu signaled back, "I’ve also used the key for you, locking down most of the transactions. Your vaults, robot legions, and secret storages are all secure. Kurokawa Kana and her lot aren’t here; the key figures have all withdrawn early."

"Mm, we know. We’ll deal with them elsewhere later," Fumihiko Kawa signaled back and then turned to Honma Noriko, "Madam, the night’s hooligans in the village have been subdued. Your era has come. Yet, families such as the Kamibayashi Family and the Kurokawa Family are still part of the rebellion."

"We have prestige, friends, Seven Seals," Honma Noriko calculated, "and my children have real factories, fleets, and war machines. We don’t hold all the cards."

"But you are Xisheng," Fumihiko Kawa said coldly, "Xisheng is your enterprise."

Honma Noriko gazed at Fumihiko Kawa.

"You’ve done so much for me, what reward do you desire?" she walked toward Fumihiko Kawa, "Come on, how did you use to sneak peeks at me, why were you looking from over there, why didn’t you come over."

Fumihiko Kawa hesitated. Such a swift sword, it pierced through his heart.

With trembling, he extended his heavily modified mechanical arm, its segmented fingers glittering metallically.

This was the Lady Honma Noriko he had longed for.

Youth returned.