Love, Gun, Cupid

“Yes, I knew from the beginning,” Korobochka said. “When I was six years old, I realized that I had another personality, and when I was sixteen, my deep understanding of witchcraft led me to risk communicating with that personality, and thus I learned about my past life.”

“You know, so why?” Lin Jiade asked.

"Yes, she was a traitor, an enemy of the empire. So I put her to sleep until she was thirty. At that time, two things changed my mind: First, I was arranged by the Planning Department of the Special Statistics Bureau to go on a blind date with the most suitable man in the calculations, and we were both very satisfied with each other."

Although our upcoming marriage will be without love, I am determined to cultivate love after marriage because I only plan to get married once and find a man. Without love, I think life would be very difficult.

So back then, for the future I longed for, I did a lot of things: I practiced cooking, did housework, and even read parenting books. I planned to do everything I could to love my future husband; it was a responsibility, and it was also my job.

Then, during my premarital checkup, I was told that I had a constitution that made it difficult for me to get pregnant.

Then a second thing happened in a chain reaction. My fiancé found out about this and, in order to break off the engagement, went to find a wife who could bear his child. He made a huge scene, letting almost everyone know that I was a hen that couldn't lay eggs.

I don't love that person, so breaking off the engagement isn't painful. It's just that after this, I'll never be able to find a man to marry again, and I'll never be able to have a child... I'm a defective product, and that's something I can't accept.

My upbringing taught me that Korobochka must be perfect; my sense of responsibility told me that I needed to find a man to marry and have offspring to carry on my bloodline; and my body told me that it had longed for the comfort of the opposite sex for far too long.

So, the core issue lies in my inability to reproduce. According to common sense, this problem is unsolvable. This is because the Empire's supernatural powers are controlled by the Celestial Observers, who, in order to control the Empire, have sealed off the relevant knowledge to limit its expansion.

Since the right methods weren't working, I looked for the wrong ones. After two years, I determined there was something that could change my infertility.

"The wrong secret?" Lin Jiade said.

"Yes, the false secret. It was an experimental weapon that the Empire used to study the Mirror Realm creatures after capturing them, taking advantage of their ability to confuse intelligent life."

For example, what's your favorite thing?

"Football," Lin Jiade answered without hesitation.

"The wrong secret can reverse what you love most and turn it into the opposite state. For example, if you love football, you will turn into a state of hating football after you come into contact with the wrong secret."

This is its most basic application, but when applied subtly, it can even alter a person's constitution... That's why I've set my sights on it.

However, my loyalty to the Empire and my consistent adherence to its mandates are what sustain my power, my wealth, and my authority. Therefore, even if it were necessary to exploit flawed secrets, it could not be done by me; doing so would not only cost me power, wealth, and authority, but also the offspring I had planned to raise.

Lin Jiade swallowed hard and said, "So, you gave up suppressing that pale woman, let her commit crimes, and then you came out at the right time to reap the rewards and enjoy the spoils, while pushing all the bad things onto that pale woman."

"That's right. On October 1st, when I accompanied the experimental project team and their classified experiments to Fuxing City as a member of the Special Transportation Bureau, I already knew in advance that they were carrying false secrets. This intelligence was also being spread among the anti-empire organizations."

Then, on October 4th, I received the expected attack, touched the wrong secret, released Gladiolus, and then in order to kill her, I used witchcraft to pretend that my soul was shattered, but in fact most of my core personality was hidden in the wrong secret.

Afterwards, Gladiolus used her magical knowledge and a fragment of my personality to make a contract with you, thus maintaining the bond between our souls.

Then, following the wrong secret, I came to the Mirror Realm with Jianlan and watched her carry out her plan, watching her collect fragments in an attempt to reshape me. She was a greedy and incompetent woman with a very clear purpose.

However, if I simply wait, there's a chance I'll be enslaved by the Gladiolus for a long time, or the Empire might seize the wrong secrets, causing me to fail at the last hurdle. Therefore, I must summon someone who can exert influence to the Mirror Realm.

"Why are you so sure you can summon me?" Lin Jiade asked.

Korobochka glanced at Gladiolus: "Because what I separated from is the gentlest and most sensitive part of my personality, and I also possess the appearance of Gladiolus. For a young man who is inexperienced in the world and harbors profound loneliness, she is an irresistible woman."

"Am I...lonely?"

"Although I only saw you briefly in the hospital, I am certain that we share the same loneliness—the loneliness of lacking the warmth of family and having to face life alone in many situations."

Then, the soul fragments have a natural tendency to coalesce. The person behind you cannot resist the temptation of this coalescing, and it is highly probable that you, being bewitched by her, will go to the Mirror Realm. To ensure that you go to the Mirror Realm, I used the obscure metaphor of birds and worms to attract you and arouse your attention.

"But if you've seen me at the hospital, you should know that I'm an apprentice-level magic researcher..."

"But you have a Celestial Observer by your side. Anyone chosen by a Celestial Observer must have extraordinary abilities. Moreover, you have a woman with knowledge of gladiolus with you. As long as you have an energy supply, you are a high-level magic researcher."

You did even better than I expected, arriving before Jianlan alone. Helping you defeat Jianlan is easy: when she's focused entirely on you and neglects to control me, I simply take control of the sorcery knowledge within her, and then kill her.

Lin Jiade's Adam's apple bobbed. Korobochka had been honest with him about so many secrets, and it wasn't just a story.

As expected, Korobochka continued, "You have two choices: First, I will take the woman behind you, complete my personality, acquire the magical knowledge of the sword orchid, and then use the sword orchid's magic to kill everyone present—except you."

The woman behind you is very fond of you, and her personality is a fragment of mine, which means I will also be fond of you. Therefore, I will use powerful magic to erase your memories, then take you home to marry and have three children.

You will love me unconditionally, and I will only ever love you, fulfilling my duties as a wife. You don't need to go anywhere; just stay home and be a happy, full-time househusband. I will support you for the rest of your life.

Chapter 111 Flying Birds: Clash

"So, what's my personal opinion?" Lin Jiade asked.

Korobochka tilted his head strangely: "Under the memory spell, you will definitely agree. I believe this marriage will not be a disadvantage for you. My appearance, social status, and strength are all highly rated in the Planning Department."

Lin Jiade was speechless. He was a novice magic researcher who maintained the ordinary values ​​of the everyday world, while the other party was an elite sorcerer who had been brainwashed and shaped by the distorted values ​​of the inner world since birth.

What Lin Jiade found incomprehensible was common sense to Korobochka, so he asked, "What about the other one?"

“Defeat me,” Korobochka said. “I don’t know what you’re planning, but in our world, the winner takes all.”

Throughout, Korobochka had no intention of speaking to Gladiolus. In response, Gladiolus pressed herself against Lin Jiade from behind, as Korobochka was stroking Lin Jiade's head.

Lin Jiade said solemnly, "Don't worry, Miss Jianlan. We have a contract. I will not let you perish or be merged. You are you, not that magic researcher or witchcraft expert, but Jianlan, an indispensable member of my family."

He turned around and kissed the phantom of the sword orchid. Korobochka watched curiously, touched his lips, and asked, "She is a fragment of my personality. After I absorbed her, the memories she shared with you are also my memories. We were originally one person. Her gentleness and her sensibility are also my gentleness and sensibility."

Since you can love her, why can't you love me, who has her? I am a more complete individual, possessing what she has, and also what she doesn't have.

“To be honest, I don’t understand what love is either. When it comes, everything happens so naturally.” Lin Jiade looked at the other person firmly. “But I can be sure that the happy life you’re talking about is work, responsibility, morality, and demands, but it’s definitely not love.”

Love should be something more emotional, more passionate; it should be as warm and burning as fire, even causing pain. It is a wheel of joy, pain, resistance, and submission. With you, I only feel a cold desire for control.

Korobochka looks completely different from Gladiolus. Her light golden hair is braided into three braids at the back of her head, and her icy blue eyes are reminiscent of a snowfield. She has a sickly pale complexion, an astonishing height, and dresses like a capable career woman.

Lin Jiade admitted that she was a beautiful woman, but he had no interest in her whatsoever because she was cold, because her personality was like a man's, because what she did challenged his moral bottom line, and the last point was the most important.

She said nonchalantly, "Great eyes. You'll have the same determination to protect our lives when we start a family."

"Keep dreaming! If that day ever comes, I'll castrate myself!"

From a male perspective, this was a huge sacrifice. Korobochka frowned slightly as a beam of light struck Lin Jiade's House of Representatives, causing him to stumble back several steps in shock.

"Don't worry, it's a protective spell. Now that area is under my control, you can't castrate yourself."

Lin Jiade and Jianlan exchanged a glance, then looked down at their Lower House, which was enveloped in magic. If their passion for fighting Korobochka earlier was 100%, then now, their passion had soared to 200.

Lin Jiade could use the cuckoo's chains to escape directly. No matter how powerful Korobochka was, he could not pursue him to the Empire's homeland and attack Lin Jiade, who was protected by the Celestial Observers. However, all the allies who were still alive, fighting for him, and never abandoned him would die.

Lin Jiade couldn't do such a thing. Jianlan knew what Lin Jiade would choose, and she didn't object. Now, all her attention was focused on calculating the energy reserves of both sides, the possible moves and changes, and finding a way out for Lin Jiade in the face of Korobochka's overwhelming advantage.

Korobochka gracefully stepped back, and Sword Orchid took the opportunity to whisper in her ear, "According to the memory fragments, Korobochka's sorcery manifests outwardly as ice. Her fighting style is to conjure a large number of ice spears at the start to pierce the opponent's joints, thereby restricting the opponent's movement."

In the second phase, she seeks to immobilize her opponent by restricting their movement. In the third phase, she uses witchcraft that directly affects the soul when she gets close. She extracts the enemy's soul and creates something like explosives to detonate it.

Her protective spells are centered on her, spreading outwards with ice spikes. Sometimes, she mixes curses on the soul into the ice spikes, which can immediately reverse the opponent's offense and defense once they hit them.

Finally, never look her directly in the eyes during combat, or she might try to extract your soul.

"How am I supposed to fight this?" Lin Jiade was a little desperate. "I have to aim my spells before I fire them, and I'm more likely to see her eyes in close combat."

“Close your eyes, Lin Jiade, and I will act as your eyes. Follow my instructions and trust me.”

Jianlan's tone was somewhat strange when she said this, but Lin Jiade didn't pay it any mind, assuming Jianlan was just nervous. After all, her opponent was a genuine master of top-tier sorcery, capable of destroying her own past life's soul without hesitation for her own purposes, and even slaughtering her fellow empire members...

Ironically, if Korobochka were to have her way, she could even return to the Empire as she was and have the happiness she desires.

Lin Jiade usually feels envious and offers blessings to others' happiness, but in this case, he only wants to destroy Korobochka's happiness and make her pay for her evil deeds.

The cold spread from Korobochka's center, and Lin Jiade could feel it. If the pale woman was Jeston, then Korobochka was the "Emperor's Blade" that had opened up the kingdom.

“Register ID: Korobochka, Superior Sorcerer. State your name, Challenger,” Korobochka said.

"I am Lin..."

Lin Jiade suddenly remembered the introduction that Mu Mian had given him, and he said loudly: "I am Lin Huang, a candidate dragon knight, and an unofficial disciple of the Ten Kings Peak of Jiuhua Mountain!"

"Lin Jiade, close your eyes!" Jianlan prompted.

Following Jianlan's instructions, Lin Jiade quickly closed his eyes and simultaneously broadcast a series of coordinates into the public channel. In the five seconds between broadcasting the coordinates and the 19th District squad firing their turrets, he endured a barrage of attacks. But this time, Jianlan's magical shield remained an insurmountable barrier, and he held on until the moment Korobochka was engulfed by the energy torrent.

However, Korobochka was unharmed; she crossed the torrent and got a little closer to Lin Jiade.

Chapter 112 Flying Birds: Privacy

Korobochka explained earnestly, "Order Creator Type A, Block 10/20, is the official name and production batch of that spider-shaped mech. This mech was initially conceived to deal with people with supernatural powers causing chaos in the city."

The destroyer can kill and destroy the city indiscriminately, but the guardian will be hesitant to act because of the city's residents and buildings. Therefore, the energy weapons it is equipped with should be able to penetrate most protective spells instantly, accurately hit the target, and cause less economic damage to the city.

After trying all the conventional solutions, the design team came up with a bold idea: to design this counterinsurgency weapon to target the soul and destroy the body. So they came to me, and since I had some free time at the time, I gave them the ideas.

As a mass-produced weapon, it is quite powerful. If advanced magic researchers are not careful, they will be caught off guard by the bombardment, because only 17 protective spells can successfully resist this type of bombardment.

This is why you were able to successfully counterattack Jianlan by coordinating with the spider-like mech operators from afar. But who gave you the audacity to use something I helped design against me?

While talking to Lin Jiade, Korobochka reached out towards the spider-like mech. He hurriedly used a thunder spell to try to interrupt the other's spellcasting, but before it could touch the other's body, it was bounced back and rushed towards Lin Jiade's body.

Du Juan hurriedly cast a spell, moving Lin Jiade to avoid the attack. Meanwhile, Korobochka's spell was completed, and an ice-blue beam of light was fired, traveling two kilometers to hit the spider-like mech, turning it and its operators into beautiful ice sculptures.

93. Startled, they calmed down a few seconds later after realizing the spell wasn't aimed at them. Beside them, the mangled corpse of the old man lay piled up with the remains of his squad members.

Previously, the attack that emerged from the darkness had killed Lao Can, but afterwards 93 and ? were locked in a fierce battle because Lao Can had injected himself with the same drug he used to manipulate the four team members. Even after death, his body continued to carry out its mission until it could no longer function, and before dying, it killed Buck.

With utmost respect, 93 and ? had annihilated their enemy, though heavily wounded and already bogged down in the battle for far too long. As planned, they returned to their captain, Jianlan.

As they passed the town entrance, they saw Robinson battling Kapok, and witnessed the Perfunctory Guy and Red Leaf defeating Kapok's entire team. They greeted each other, and the Perfunctory Guy and Red Leaf went to support Fran, whose situation was still unclear.

93 and ? followed the energy fluctuations to the scene. At that time, Korobochka, who was preparing a spell, was forced to stop casting it. In the blink of an eye, she transformed into the appearance of Gladiolus. Just as she was about to speak to 93 and ?, the former raised her hand and shot an arrow. The arrow split continuously in the air and fell towards the ground where Korobochka was. The arrow shattered and turned into black raindrops that fell down.

Korobochka was instantly enveloped in darkness, but darkness is a friend to him. In the darkness, his physical abilities were greatly enhanced, so he instantly teleported in front of Korobochka and raised his dagger.

The dagger gleamed, and once it struck, it would randomly deprive the victim of one of their senses—hearing, sight, taste, smell, touch, or energy perception—thus shifting the advantage in the fight.

Just as Korobochka's dagger was about to strike, his body froze. Korobochka produced a sword—the very one Lingard had discarded during the earlier battle—and used it to pierce Korobochka's body, channeling energy into it to unleash a spell that blasted Korobochka's body away.

? collided with 93, and the two rolled on the ground together. Ice spears formed around Korobochka and were launched at lightning speed, piercing both of them. Lin Jiade was greatly shocked. Although ? and 93 were in poor condition, they were still two advanced magic researchers. Yet Korobochka took only three seconds to defeat them.

Korobochka casually tossed his sword aside and walked toward 93 and ?. Lin Jiade picked up his own sword, knocking off the remaining ice from the hilt and blade. He saw Korobochka with his back to him, a perfect opportunity to stab him from behind, but Jianlan stopped him.

“She’s waiting for you to make your move,” Jianlan said.

"Are we just going to do nothing?"

"You need to recover your energy more than she does. Let her fight the enemy and wear her down."

On the other side, Korobochka walked up to 93 and ?, reverted to her original form, and asked curiously, "How did you find out?"

93 replied: "You are completely different from Gladiolus. She has warmth, while you do not. You are a complete monster: twisted, insane, selfish, just like the empire you serve!"

“The Gladiolus is dead. Perhaps you can find a new master to serve, for I am also a Gladiolus,” Korobochka said.

"dream!"

Korobochka reached out, and icy blue runes appeared in her palm. Though not as powerful as an oracle, magic and sorcery also contained spells that could enslave souls. At that moment, the silent figure vanished, reappearing behind Korobochka with a body riddled with holes.

Korobochka dodged, stepping on the wound. The ring of ice restrained her again. She said, "I have read the memories of the Gladiolus, and therefore know your weaknesses—"