He changed Tiwat

The fisherman's body flew up due to inertia, then crashed to the ground, his head bleeding profusely, and it seemed that several bones were broken as well.

The fisherman finally managed to open his blood-covered eyes and realized that he was on the coastline of Narukami Island.

His boat somehow struck a reef on the shore and was already broken into pieces...

Beside the wrecked fishing boat stood a foreign man—gray hair, red suit, staring motionlessly at the sea, as if waiting for something.

"Help! Help!" the fisherman cried out to the foreign man in a weak voice.

The gray-haired man turned his head in surprise.

Upon seeing the fisherman's miserable state, the man seemed to find it amusing and smiled.

Why is he laughing?

This was the fisherman's last thought.

The strange black cloud swept down, and with a single bite, half of the fisherman's body disappeared.

Half an arm protruded from the black cloud's mouth and landed with a "thud" at the gray-haired man's feet.

Amid the fisherman's despairing gaze, the man picked up the half-arm and, as if feeding a dog, kindly fed it to Hei Yun...

The fishing boats and fishermen seemed to have never existed in this world.

The "scattered soldier" slowly clenched his fist.

He finally understood—the reason why Miyazaki and the others' ship failed to reach Narukami Island that day, and the true nature of the dark cloud that attacked him in the storm…

"So, it was you..."

In a daze, the scene changed again.

The "scattered soldiers" saw a familiar sight again—a simple, unpretentious yet vibrant room.

The room is filled with various potted plants, such as pine trees, plum blossoms, and red maples, some leisurely and elegant, others in full bloom... Each potted plant is a masterpiece of ingenuity, allowing people to feel the owner's cleverness at first glance.

This is Niwa's room.

"Sanbing" recalls that Niwa's favorite thing to do was trim potted plants.

At that moment, he heard the voice of "Doctor": "Mr. Niwa, are you really going to take this risk? It concerns the core furnace of the Steppe Sand, and acting rashly might be..."

The "scatterer" looked up in surprise and found the "doctor" disguised as Escher sitting upright opposite him.

And he also heard "himself" reply: "Besides me, there is no better candidate to enter the heart of the furnace."

——It’s Niwa’s voice!

The "scattered soldier" was suddenly shocked. This was actually Dan Yu's memory! That Eightfold Divine Child had actually found Dan Yu's memory!

And... it seems like Dan Yu is saying that he wants to enter the core of the Tarim Sand Furnace himself? Didn't he run away back then?

“Is that so… If you insist on doing so…” Escher sighed, no longer trying to persuade him, and made a reluctant farewell gesture: “It has been some time since I came to Tamasa. You, Lord Mikoto Nagamasa… and indeed everyone here is very kind. Tamasa, which you lead, is like a warm gathering place, a huge village. People live busy and meaningful lives, living with passion.”

"As far as I know, General Raiden has dealt with many evil spirits that have ravaged the land of Inazuma over the years. The place of Tatarasa was originally established to consume 'Crystallized Bone Marrow'. In order to consume 'Crystallized Bone Marrow', the forging industry flourished, and generation after generation of swordsmiths were born, some famous, some unknown... and then, the legacy was passed down."

"Technology, lineage, dreams... all the craftsmen involved in this industry seek themselves in the knives and steel. You are the best of these craftsmen, and I admire you very much. I really don't want to see you go into danger."

Dan Yu shook his head: "It's my duty, I can't shirk it."

“Mr. Escher, Akame mentioned that if you hadn’t come to Inazuma and become friends with him by chance to discuss technology together, he wouldn’t have come up with a plan to optimize the forging process so quickly. You attributed the technology that you both developed to Akame, and later, he sold the technology to me.”

“Today, the furnaces of Tabuan are filled with ores smelted using new technologies. And you, as one of Tabuan’s consultants, have stayed here to accompany us. Your arrival has changed our production and forging methods.”

Escher smiled and said, "You flatter me. Inazuma's forging industry is worthy of my appreciation, and it is my honor to be friends with you gentlemen."

Niwa's voice was serious: "...But, Mr. Escher, is that really the case?"

Escher blinked curiously: "What do you mean by that, sir?"

Dan Yu slowly began to speak: "...Before today, I never connected everything because I didn't want to speculate like this, nor did I want to believe that things would develop this way."

"What have we gained by adopting new technologies in actual combat? Strange black smoke, backlog of problems... The proportion of workers' physical exhaustion and injuries has increased, and the rate of increase is getting faster and faster."

“Until recently, as you know, someone died because of the strange filth in the furnace core. We suppressed the news and didn't let outsiders know the truth, but you know better than I do.”

"...None of those who went out to seek help have returned. Our friend, the 'Kabuki', has gone to Narukami Island with that golden feather to see the Shogun. This is our last hope."

“To be honest, I’m very worried, I’m afraid… afraid that something will happen to him too, and even more afraid that this furnace will really explode… But even so, Mr. Escher, you must not be afraid of anything. Otherwise… why would you be smiling like that?”

Escher subconsciously touched his face and found that the corners of his mouth had inexplicably turned up in a smile—this was the "smirking face" among the masks of the Fools.

He didn't suppress his smile, but tilted his head with interest: "I'm just surprised that you spoke so sincerely to me, sir... This speculation must have been in your heart for a long time."

Niwa took a deep breath: "...Lord Mikoto Nagamasa may have also noticed the commonality behind a series of events—that is, you, Mr. Escher. However, Lord Mikoto is upright throughout his life, and his actions are more cautious than mine..."

Escher's smile remained unchanged: "It is said that Lord Mikoto is the adopted son of the demoness Torachiyo, whom the general killed, and is fighting to clear his family's name. It is only right that he acts cautiously."

Dan Yu's voice grew increasingly solemn: "...You understand the nuances of this matter, yet you're merely a 'mechanical craftsman who came all the way from Fontainebleau.' Isn't that a waste of your talents?"

Escher smiled and shook his head: "Is Lord Niwa suggesting I find a government job? Unfortunately, my heart is set on my craft..."

“That’s enough, Escher.” Dan Yu interrupted the other’s lie. “I’m staying here because the evil energy inside the furnace is rampant, and someone needs to take the device you gave me to absorb the evil spirits and go into the high-risk area to solve the problem.”

"...I am in charge here. I will shoulder this responsibility and bravely face death. What about you? What are you waiting for?"

Escher feigned grievance: "Judging from your eyes, you seem to distrust me."

Niwa finally stood up: "Enough. Things have come to this point, there's no need to continue this charade. Whoever you are, the plan to destroy Futabasa seems to have gone well. I just want to know, what are you waiting for? Is there anything else here that you're curious about?"

Escher's face broke into a wide smile.

"Lord Niwa, I am waiting for a moment."

"—Like this, the moment I hear you finish speaking, the moment that completely prevents you from entering the hearth."

Niwa moved her hand.

He was a swordsmith and a samurai.

The blade flashed like a bolt of lightning, appearing in an instant.

"Niwa Isshinden" Drawing Sword Technique - Ryufu Akino.

However, his opponent was faster than him.

His knife was only halfway through its swing when Escher's hand was already plunged into his chest.

Blood splattered everywhere.

With a clang, Danyu's sword fell to the ground.

He finally ran out of strength to resist.

"Ugh! You, you..." Dan Yu tried desperately to say something, but Escher's hand gently twisted in his chest, and he couldn't continue speaking.

Escher's sneer was so vivid—

"...Hehe, you're a little smarter than I thought. I thought I'd at least put on a good act for the first few days. But I never expected you'd start asking around about me from then on."

"The journey from Inazuma to Fontaine is long, and your people spent a lot of time confirming that 'Escher' is an alias and that I am not from Fontaine... But, but, you still can't imagine who I am, or what is there in this Tasaka that attracts me. Do you really think you can break the trap I've set?"

“…Cough…” Dan Yu coughed up a mouthful of blood. “If you kill me, no one will be able to enter the heart of the furnace…Do you really want to destroy…this place?”

Escher could have done it more thoroughly. If he just wanted to destroy this place, gunpowder would have sufficed.

Why did he go to such lengths to modify the treadmill, and why did he stay in this factory that was about to explode? What were the layers of intention behind all these actions?

Niyu couldn't understand.

As if he were looking at a hopeless student, Escher shook his head in disappointment: "No, no, there's one more person. Although people might not necessarily think he's human... but this is what you told him: 'You're not a puppet, you're a human being, you're just missing a heart.'"

“…!!” Dan Yu’s eyes widened. “It was all for him…”

"You... have a powerful force behind you... Lord Mikoto no Nagamasa will investigate everything... You'll be exposed sooner or later..."

Escher's sneer grew increasingly arrogant: "Naturally, it's for appreciation and experimentation. You know, I'm not your average patient person. Of course, if you're curious, I'm willing to reveal my real name. You can call me the Executor of the Fools—'Doctor'."

“…Fools…the crowd? What…are they going to do…” Dan Yu’s eyelids grew heavy, and every word he uttered became incredibly difficult.

"Just want to cause a little trouble for your country."

The "doctor" answered casually, as if he were talking about something trivial.

"So, that's why you... 'improved' the technology to maximize the... evil power in the crystallized bone marrow..." Dan Yu felt his chest getting hotter and hotter, not knowing whether it was from the trauma or the burning anger.

The doctor's smile remained unchanged: "Heh, someone as noble as you, even in death you can show a ferocious expression."

"The device I made isn't a scam. We need it to solve this disaster without telling anyone outside. It's just that the device wasn't made for you."

"Those filled with hatred are more susceptible to possession by evil spirits—go be angry, I want to see what happens when such a heart is placed inside a puppet. Anyway, even without you, someone else would eventually take advantage of that pure puppet. Otherwise, why would humans befriend something that is not of their kind?"

"...Haha...ha...cough!"

Dan Yu gasped for breath; he knew his time was running out.

"Should I give my heart to him...? Then... I'll tell him... Lord Nagamasa... and I... will both consider him... as one of us."

"He doesn't need to do anything to prove himself. Relationships between people...aren't just about exploitation. Only someone like you...would act that way..."

His breath grew weaker and weaker.

The "Doctor" brought his face close to his ear, making sure he could hear every word: "What a beautiful ideal, it makes me feel a little guilty. Well then, I'll respect your opinion and change my self-definition. If you're willing, just consider me a monster, a ghost. That way, even if you die, it won't be because you were stupid and harmed by someone, but simply because you lost to something insurmountable."

"Lord Niwa, let's wait and see. Can your doll friend become human? No, no, of course not."

He didn't receive a reply from Niwa—

"...Lord Niwa?...Oh dear, he's already passed away. What a pity."

The doctor removed his hand from Dan Yu's chest cavity, and in his hand, he held a still-beating heart.

"Hoo... In that case, 'Clown,' the task you gave me is complete. Create gaps so that we can embed ourselves into Inazuma's operation... Hehe, how interesting. Let me introduce you to a puppet. If he is useful, he will become our comrade; if not... he will turn to dust."

Everything turned to darkness.

In the darkness, only the frenzied roars of the "skirmishers" remained: "...Dotore? Hahaha...Dotore!!!"

Chapter 151 You Can Choose Whether to Become Human [4k]

The voice of the Divine Child rang out: "Just as you have seen, the mastermind behind the Tamasuna incident is 'The Doctor'. What you call 'betrayal' is actually a lie that has lasted for hundreds of years, the root of chaos planted by the Fools in order to infiltrate Inazuma."

“Niwa Nagahide did not ‘flee from justice,’ nor did he force you into the furnace… He protected you with his life and his heart; he always treated you as family.”

“Mikoto no Nagamasa knew that the Tamasa incident involved a huge power, but he himself was in a precarious situation and even had to sacrifice Katsuragi... So he could only exile you to keep you away from the vortex of trouble. When he told you, ‘I hope you won’t resent me,’ his heart was probably filled with helplessness…”

"And there's Miyazaki Ken'o, Akagi, Ano... The swordsmiths of Tatarasa didn't treat you as an outsider. They all genuinely accepted you and treated you as a true friend, a true human being."

"But because of the 'Doctor's' lies, you completely misunderstood those kind people. You forgot their kindness towards you, and instead hated them, resented them, and sought revenge against them..."

"In the words of the 'Doctor': 'This is all just a small experiment on human nature.'"

"So... how does it feel to be an 'experiment'?"

The "scattered soldiers" remained silent.

He recalled returning to Inazuma more than a decade ago to modify the "Divine Sword" manual and take revenge on the "Five Transmissions of Thunder"...

He felt a sense of satisfaction at the time, believing he had seen through human nature and was watching from a superior "divine" perspective as foolish insects hurt and struggled for false lies...

But now it seems that he was the most foolish insect.

A god high above?

What kind of foolish and ugly god could there be?

"And also... the matter of 'Five Transmissions of Thunder and Lightning'."

As if seeing right through him, the divine child brought up the very thing he dared not face at that moment.

"General Raiden... She passed on the art of sword forging to the craftsmen and built the Tatara Sand Factory, not because she coveted famous swords or precious blades, nor to flaunt her power. She was using the act of forging swords to dissipate the resentment of Orobas and protect the people of Inazuma."

"According to the forging blueprints of the 'Divine Sword' passed down by her, and with the addition of 'suppressing objects' to suppress it, the stability of the sword has been maintained for more than two thousand years."

"'Crystallized bone marrow' is inert remnant of the demon god, and under normal circumstances, it will not affect human life and health. As long as people strictly follow her instructions and mine and consume 'crystallized bone marrow' in moderation, the stability of Tasha Sand can continue, and it can even transform the demon god's remains, which were originally a calamity, into a resource that people can use..."

"The reason why the 'Raiden Goden' (Raiden Five Masters) received honors equivalent to the Shogunate's Hatamoto (Handmasters) was not only because they possessed superb forging skills, but also because they risked being harmed by 'Taishin' (demons) during the forging process. Therefore, the Shogun compensated them with wealth and titles. In reality, the swordsmiths in the factory were fighting against 'Taishin' for the people of Inazuma."

"...Until the Tadanara incident more than four hundred years ago. 'The Doctor' entered the Tadanara factory and, under the guise of improving the technology, interfered with the factory's forging process, leading to the leak of 'the evil spirit'... And with the death of the person involved, this secret was completely covered up, and since then, Tadanara has been produced using a dangerous forging process..."

"The leakage of the 'evil spirit' energy in Tamasa started to occur frequently after the 'Doctor' infiltrated Inazuma... The suffering of those swordsmiths, workers, villagers... and children all began from that time."

"Even so, the successors of the 'Five Transmissions of Thunder and Lightning' have been working hard for the past few hundred years. They have not remained stuck in the failure of four hundred years ago. They have been constantly refining their skills and trying to truly improve the production process of the 'Ta Bei Furnace'... The situation of the 'Ta Bei Sand' is also gradually improving. With the 'Five Transmissions of Thunder and Lightning' in charge, the situation of the 'Ta Bei Sand' would not be as bad as it is now."

"But what did you do? You altered the 'Divine Sword' blueprint, causing the 'Five Transmissions of Thunder' to wither away; you instigated the Akame family to betray the 'Isshinden' lineage, causing the Shaman Magistrate to lose power. As a result, the Shogunate government was controlled by the Kujo clan, the Tenryō Magistrates, and the Tsutsuna factory also fell into their hands..."

"Before the 'Yuying Furnace Heart' was built, there were dozens of production accidents, large and small, in Tabaisha over the past ten years. The suffering of the workers who died or were injured in the accidents, and the people who were contaminated by the 'evil god', was brought about by your own hands."