Chapter 209: I Don’t Swear Loyalty to the Empire, I Swear Loyalty to You
Shaq felt that Lydia wasn’t lying; those were indeed words Doyle would say.
But if Doyle had turned into a super insect mother because of such a wish, then he had to suspect Lydia of misleading him!
And Lydia’s guilty conscience was indeed extremely suspicious, forcing them to investigate further.
Lydia kept deflecting, and when she could no longer hide it, she finally confessed truthfully:
“Um… I just casually said a few things. His conscious time is very limited, and his obsessions are very strong, so subconsciously, he chose this form among many evolutionary possibilities.”
Lydia chose her words carefully, “He probably wanted to help the Sea Kingdom, but he was powerless before. Now he wants some ability… Sigh, forget it, I’ll show you the original record of our exchange!!!”
She was cornered. She thought this matter was over, but a careless slip of the tongue was caught by Roger.
It could only be said that the intelligence chief’s professional skills were still intact, which was extremely annoying!
After searching through the complex and chaotic experimental records, Lydia actually found the magical projection record of Doyle’s sudden awakening and communication with her (the flowerpot).
Doyle did have a very brief period of consciousness, but he woke up at the wrong time. Shaq was confronting the old Sea Emperor then and couldn’t be contacted.
In helplessness, Lydia had to communicate with him personally.
Doyle first asked about the outcome of the war with the Naga. Upon learning that the Sea Kingdom had won and the Crown Prince was forcing his father, the Sea Emperor, to abdicate early, he showed a gratified smile, conveying joy and happiness.
Then he inquired about his own condition.
Lydia casually mentioned his treatment process and spoke of several possible outcomes. She casually mentioned that if he evolved properly, he could help the Sea Kingdom bring hundreds of millions of elites.
She dared to swear by the Source Sea that she was truly just talking casually, wanting to prove that her treatment method was very effective and that its results should not be doubted.
“Who could have imagined that Doyle’s conscious time would be so short!” Lydia sighed to the heavens.
Base Coral already had the ability to select genes and autonomously control the evolutionary direction of the main body and biochemical fish schools.
With Doyle as the main body, merging with the evolutionary life of Base Coral strengthened this ability. Unconsciously, his genes had already evolved many times.
This included many genes that were mistakenly born in nuclear radiation. Many of these errors were very powerful. If utilized properly, they could greatly enhance their own abilities.
Thus, the current result came about. Every autonomous choice Doyle made was a branch that enhanced his reproductive capacity, which was his subconscious wish and desire.
Of course, in the final analysis, this was still the result of Lydia’s casual remarks. It was precisely because she mentioned that Doyle could produce millions of troops on his own. Doyle’s judgment was impaired in that state, which led to this situation…
She was still guilty. Roger and Shaq came knocking, and she tried her best to avoid the topic, but she couldn’t escape.
After reading this conversation and Lydia’s analysis, silence fell in the room for a while.
Lydia was merely providing normal information. Doyle’s loss of memory was not intentional on her part, and his “evolution” into his current state was indeed his own choice.
Finally, the memory of guarding the Black Shark Fortress arduously must have been an unforgettable memory for Doyle, given his pride.
Shaq was silent for a long time, then suddenly bowed to Lydia:
“Please forgive my rudeness, Ms. Lydia. Please take good care of my brother.”
“Ah… of course, it’s what a doctor should do.”
“Then thank you. Sorry for bothering you this time.”
“It’s no bother…”
Lydia suddenly didn’t know how to respond. She was the type who was soft on the gentle but hard on the tough.
At this moment, Shaq wasn’t referring to himself as “朕” (zhen – imperial I) but as “I”. He thanked her as a patient’s family member, and she couldn’t assert her authority at all.
Although the Biochemical Witch was unscrupulous in her research, she still had medical ethics!
Doyle had managed to survive such a situation. Lydia’s contribution was undeniable, and one couldn’t ask for more. She had even returned a perfectly intact mermaid.
The current outcome, given Doyle’s desire for war, might not be too bad…
The battles with the Naga would not stop, so one could only hope that on that battlefield and on a broader battlefield, Doyle could grow all the way and break through the limits of his current life form!
Beside the collapsed Dark Tree, in a dilapidated camp, a prison cell sealed by layers of magic arrays at the end.
Roger returned with a squadron of Night Guards. He had his subordinates stop outside and entered the prison cell, where he met Nicole, who had proactively requested an audience.
She had already read the information provided by the Azurevine Empire and understood that the Seven Gods’ factions were united and were launching a sweeping war across the Multiverse, engaging in cruel wars on various Planes.
In this context, all races and forces in the Eternal Night World indeed had a common stance and should unite to seek a way to survive.
Any religion was accelerating their own demise.
Nicole had pondered many things.
The grand deeds her Empire was undertaking, her past life as a Saintess, the history of this World, and her attempts to understand the gods’ true attitude towards their Believers through contact with the Sea God’s consciousness…
The result was, of course, disheartening.
Gods were beings far beyond Mortals, with completely different lifespans, abilities, and thoughts.
Gods took the exploitation of Mortals for granted, treating them like livestock raised by the Naga.
Believers were the gods’ livestock. While alive, they could pull carts; when dead, they could be eaten. Their hides could be made into clothes, and their fat could be rendered into oil…
In short, nothing would be wasted. Over countless ages, the Seven Gods’ craftsmanship had continuously improved, and they could be said to have utilized their lambs completely, leaving nothing behind.
The Saintess could be considered a sheepdog, possibly having higher value. The gods would grant her a certain degree of protection, but no more.
They didn’t even have the right to face the gods as equals. Entreating for a response was the gods’ mercy; not receiving one merely meant your value was insufficient.
This was a completely unequal relationship. The gods drew their power from faith. This was not a transaction, but plunder, and Believers had no means to counter the Seven Gods.
Otherwise, what awaited them was destruction.
Fanatical Believers would not think of these things. The environment they grew up in and the information they accessed formed a cognitive bubble, limiting their potential understanding.
It was only this failure that broke this bubble.
However, Nicole also had some questions about the Empire. After thinking things through, she needed to talk to Roger again before making a final decision.
In the prison cell, Nicole’s face showed unconcealed fatigue, as if she had been up for a long time without rest, but her eyes were clearer and sharper than when first met.
She no longer seemed lost, having rebuilt her spiritual world within reality.
Now was the time for her to make a decision based on this worldview.
Roger was satisfied with Nicole’s state. Even if she didn’t find common interests with the Empire, she wouldn’t return to the embrace of the gods.
It was like Tasika back then.
Nicole smiled and asked Roger:
“Lord Charles, are your promises to the Empire still valid?”
“Of course, the Empire will not force you.”
“I’d like to know, how much certainty does the freedom the Empire pursues have?”
“1%? Perhaps even less. At least on paper, we are at a complete disadvantage.”
“Then why do you still choose to resist? If the Empire cooperates with the Seven Gods, it will undoubtedly receive their support and controlling this World might be even easier.”
“Because the Seven Gods want to turn this World into nothingness!”
“The timeline is incorrect. Before knowing this information, the Empire had already broken ties with the Seven Gods.”
Nicole’s gaze was like a blade piercing through time. Through these documents, she grasped the contradictory details in Roger’s words.
Roger was also stunned, but it wasn’t intentional deception. It was because too many things had happened, blurring the details.
“Oh, at that time, perhaps because a certain woman was very arrogant, thinking she was invincible.” Roger felt the Empress of Eternal Night should bear this blame.
Out of the blue, she expelled the churches of the Seven Gods. Blood Empress was truly too inflated!
Nicole remained noncommittal, staring at Roger: “But you are not an arrogant person, Lord. Why did you never consider dissuading the Empress?”
Roger gave an awkward yet polite smile: “Dissuade her? I’m just an employee, a exploited tool. Will anyone listen to a tool?”
Nicole pressed the documents in front of her and said seriously: “Lord, these documents show that your opinion carries significant weight with the Empress.”
Facing her confident gaze, Roger suddenly flickered and hesitated.
Did he truly hold a position in the heart of that increasingly mysterious and manipulative Empress?
He was clearly just a subordinate!
He didn’t want to discuss these matters and said impatiently, “So, is this important? Regardless of whether I stopped the Empress or not, the Empire’s current stance will not change. The one who needs to make a choice is you.”
Nicole stared at Roger, making him feel uneasy. He wondered what this young Saintess was plotting.
Just as Roger was about to explode, she suddenly smiled and said gently, “Lord, this is very important because I need to know if you are the Hero I’ve been waiting for.”
“Hero? Whoever wants to be one can be one. I just want to live well.”
“Is that so? Then, Lord, I have made my decision.”
Nicole’s smile suddenly disappeared. “I don’t swear loyalty to the Empire; I swear loyalty to you.”
Roger was shocked by her answer: “Huh? What does this mean? You refuse to be a vassal of the Empire, but you insist on becoming a servant of the Charles family?”
“I swear loyalty to you. With my status, wisdom, and abilities, I will help you complete your plans in the Naga Empire. In the future, the Naga who follow me will also swear loyalty to you.”
She gently twisted her true serpentine waist, moved behind Roger, and extended her small hand to knead the muscles on his shoulders, saying softly, “Of course, if you need me to be a servant, that is also my natural loyalty.”
The legendary priest was proficient in human anatomy. Her strength and perception far surpassed ordinary maids. Even though her technique was unpracticed, and quite clumsy, the relaxation effect was top-notch.
Roger felt quite comfortable, but his vigilance grew. He put his hand back, lifted Nicole’s chin, and said, “I still don’t understand. You are a dignified Saintess, why would you demean yourself like this?”
Nicole looked him directly in the eye and smiled with helplessness: “Because the Naga have no choice. Your Empress is too ambitious; I cannot understand her, nor do I have the right to stand before her. Your Empire is too vast, and the Naga might be exploited by those with ulterior motives. Only you, Lord, have your own pursuits and sufficient kindness. You are also the Empress of Eternal Night’s most trusted person. If I swear loyalty to you on behalf of the Naga, you will, to the best of your ability, guarantee our interests. Of course, in the future, the Naga will also provide ample returns to you.”
Roger frowned: “You think too highly of me, don’t you?”
Nicole smiled: “It’s already a moth-to-a-flame gamble anyway. What’s the harm in raising the stakes a bit more?”
Roger fell into thought. Nicole’s choice did not affect the completion of the Empire’s mission for him.
Because Nicole followed his orders, it was equivalent to giving the Empire one more Naga Saintess as a mole to carry out their desired plan.
However, Roger personally gained too much. The loyalty of the church and related forces, expanding influence with the Empire’s support, and a Saintess who could be used at will…
Admittedly, this Naga girl was extremely beautiful.
Her appearance and figure were flawless. More importantly, her contradictory nature, appearing cold on the surface but crazy on the inside, formed a unique charm.
Of course, she was also too intelligent and too ruthless, willing to gamble everything for success. A femme fatale, she was not someone ordinary could handle.
As Roger pondered, the girl’s soft, hot body moved closer, pressing against him, and she said in a sweet voice, “Lord, you will make the choice that is most beneficial to the Empire, won’t you?”
“Oh, if I refuse you, will you not cooperate with the Empire?”
“As a Saintess, to avoid humiliation, my teacher taught me many methods of suicide.”
“You want to die, what does that have to do with me? This is moral coercion.”
“But Lord, you fall for this. Because I represent not just one life, but the lives of so many Naga believers.”
Nicole continued her massage and muscle-relaxing movements. The temperature of her body against Roger’s grew hotter, whether from nervousness or some other emotion.
“Have you studied me?”
Roger felt a pang of sourness.
Nicole was right. He really didn’t want to see that situation happen.
If Nicole cooperated with the Empire and, in her capacity as Saintess, guided the Naga believers to transition to non-believers, then when war was declared against the Seven Gods, the Naga would not erupt in internal strife.
But if the Naga had a new religious leader, they would surely have a bloodbath to resolve internal issues.
This was a slaughter that could be avoided. This woman, Nicole, had accurately calculated Roger’s weakness.
Moreover, no matter how one calculated it, Nicole would suffer the loss, and Roger would profit.
This was because she was placing all her hope on Roger’s moral standards.
Roger’s refusal and hesitation were simply because he found this woman inexplicably strange and couldn’t see through her intentions!
“You always have better choices.”
“Perhaps the Naga do, but I don’t.”
Nicole suddenly stopped her actions, placed her face in his shoulder socket, and hugged Roger’s waist tightly with her arms, her voice as light as a dream: “The god I believed in since childhood was destroyed by you. My life is full of sin, and I cannot bear the trust and worship of those lambs… I need a new faith, Lord, you are the only figure who fulfills this requirement.”
Roger forcefully pushed her hands away: “You are sick!”
“What believer is not sick? And you are the only medicine.”
Nicole gracefully turned and sat directly on Roger’s lap, embracing him face to face.
Only then did Roger realize that at some point, this Saintess was already in tears.
After enduring more than ten days of pressure, she was releasing it unrestrainedly in front of him.
“What a mess…”
He gently patted her back, and all that was left was a sigh.
