National destiny: Starting with a coffin, building an aircraft carrier is broadcast live globally.

[Waaaaah~ So our contestant has such a sad past...]

[Wait, why does this story sound so familiar?]

[Wait... I remember Ethan was the only one left in the Drake family, so where did he get a brother?]

[Besides, the Drake family is a prominent local family; why would they need him to chop wood?]

After finishing his story, Ethan said, "It's your turn," and then carefully observed the expression on the little girl's face.

But Sita felt neither sympathy, shock, nor contempt...

He didn't even stop what he was doing, and after a long while, he suddenly said:

"That's quite a coincidence."

"Your childhood story is exactly the same as that of rock singer Anderson."

[Damn, no wonder that sounds familiar! They didn't even change the detail of "one sunset pound"? This guy is so mean!]

[Attempting to exploit the sympathy of underage girls with a fabricated story, Ethan was publicly executed via live global broadcast, and now he's finally gotten his comeuppance!]

[This is so embarrassing, I've already carved out a three-bedroom, one-living-room apartment...]

The sadness on Ethan's face vanished instantly.

He revealed a helpless yet slightly sly smile.

"Uh...it seems you've heard of it too?"

He touched his nose, showing no embarrassment at being exposed. "Good stories should be shared, to lighten the mood. See, you're finally talking to me."

Sita bowed his head and inserted a small piece of blue stone into the groove at the end.

A flash of light appeared the instant the stone and bone came into contact, and a weapon with a primitive yet ferocious shape, just like the one in the blueprint, was completed.

She tossed it aside.

Then they picked up new bones and repeated the process.

Ethan wisely muted his microphone.

Perhaps he shouldn't have said that extra word...

The workshop was quiet for a long time this time.

Ethan thought the topic had completely ended, but Siddhartha suddenly spoke up.

There are nine children in my family.

She didn't stop what she was doing, and her voice was very soft, as if she were talking to herself.

"I'm fourth in line. My three older sisters got married a long time ago. There are five more below me."

Ethan didn't interrupt, but unconsciously sat up straight.

"I was kept on because I was very capable."

"The land I cultivate yields a little more grain than others... and I can also help take care of my seventh, eighth, and newborn ninth children."

Ethan didn't even notice the blade of grass in his mouth fall out.

He grew up surrounded by antiques and jewelry, roses and tea parties, while this girl was ten years younger than him...

Blue Star, India's live stream room

The barrage comments were more intense than ever before:

[That's what happens when you're a woman; she deserves it!]

[The mad dog upstairs, what era are we living in that you're still not smart enough? She's a human being, not livestock!]

[She should work hard and accumulate good karma so that she can be reborn into a higher-ranking family in her next life.]

[Looking at these comments... I take back what I said before, that her resistance was foolish, and I apologize to her.]

Situ seemed oblivious to Ethan's odd behavior and continued polishing the animal bone in his hands with his calloused hands.

"I want to leave that place."

Her voice remained calm. "I took my fifth brother to work for others, doing all sorts of jobs. Once we have a little more, it will be enough for us to leave together."

The corners of her mouth seemed to curve upwards slightly, but it was so quick it was like an illusion.

One day, we finished our work and went home.

"Sixth Sister is missing."

Ethan felt as if his heart was being squeezed tightly by a hand.

But Sita's voice was completely flat, as if he were talking about something that had nothing to do with him.

"I asked them, but they wouldn't tell me. My father beat me and told me to mind my own business."

"...took all the money I had saved, saying the family needed it."

Three days later, the person was returned.

"I'm still wearing the same clothes I wore when I left, even though they're torn and dirty."

Ethan wanted to say something, to comfort him, or something else, but his throat felt like it was stuffed with cotton, and he couldn't utter a single word.

"They also said that since we've already received the 'benefits,' we must send another one over."

"My fifth brother rushed in and had his leg broken."

Sita lowered her head and looked at the red dress she was wearing, which was now unrecognizable.

"...I was dragged in while I was running away."

The story is over.

She picked up the animal bones and stones again, as if nothing had happened, and continued her work.

Skilled, numb.

The tattered red dress now looked like a wound that would never heal.

Ethan suddenly felt very clumsy.

Faced with real suffering, the tragic story of "the woodcutter" that he fabricated seemed frivolous and laughable.

His cheeks felt hot.

"sorry"

It rolled around on the tip of my tongue countless times, but I finally swallowed it back down.

It's too pale.

"Everything will be alright," he solemnly promised.

"I know."

Sita said.

Because nothing could be worse than it was in the past.

She should thank the Ocean Era.

In this cruel game, for the first time, her fate was in her own hands.

Perhaps... it wasn't just her own fate.

Sita smiled coldly at the air, and through the live stream camera, his eyes held a hatred and resolve deeper than the sea.

The person in charge of the Blue Star India felt a chill run down their spine.

Ethan picked up the fallen blade of grass and casually stuck it into the ground.

He understood,

This girl doesn't need sympathy.

What she needs is an opportunity to tear through the darkness.

In this somewhat oppressive atmosphere,

A commotion arose at the entrance of the workshop.

The snake-men guards raised their spears, their cold, vertical pupils fixed on the newcomers.

"Hiss—"

One of the guards gave a low warning.

Ethan and Siddhartha immediately got up and looked toward the entrance.

The visitor turned out to be Elijah.

He completely disregarded the hostility emanating from those snake-man guards.

"It seems you're doing quite well."

Elijah walked in with his arms crossed, under the watchful gaze of the serpent-men guards.

He certainly didn't come to see if they were doing well.

Seeing that Ethan and Seddar were both looking at him, Elijah slightly raised his chin towards the snake-man guards and lowered his voice:

"Morrison has gone mad."

"To cooperate with these monsters is like asking a tiger for its skin. I don't want to be buried with a madman, much less become their snack."

He greedily scanned the pile of completed weapons beside Sita.

"I think... we don't need to risk our lives for him."

The air fell silent for a moment.

risk?

Of course there are.

Morrison, the Naga, and Elijah—none of them are easy to deal with.

But Ethan felt he should seize this opportunity.

"Your suggestion is very interesting."

Ethan stared into Elijah's eyes and asked slowly, "But aren't you afraid I'll tell Morrison right now?"