Following in the footsteps of Oedipus, Turing arrived at a desolate and remote alley in the courthouse.

"Mama," he said.

Oedipus stopped in his tracks, sensing something was amiss.

"What is it?"

"Do you have the nerve to call me Mama?" Turing's heart ached and he furrowed his brows, continuing to speak.

"Was it really Mama who did it?"

"Mama...killed Theresa, didn't she?"

Oedipus, who had been bored out of his mind, suddenly became interested.

She turned to look at Turing, placing a hand on her waist.

"When did you gain the qualification to question me?"

"When have I ever taught you to doubt my decisions?"

Oedipus smiled indifferently, pulling out a pipe from her waist and lighting it, silently taking a few puffs.

Turing, who hadn't smoked in a long time, choked on the strong scent of the cigarette and coughed repeatedly.

"Just look at you... you and your deceitful lover, what kind of habits have you picked up?"

"Huh..."

Oedipus walked up to Turing, forcefully exhaling a puff of smoke into his face.

"Just think, as the eldest daughter of Acadia, what are your strengths?"

"Weak, foolish, short-sighted."

"Playing right into Maria's hands."

"Even Diana's schemes would have fooled you."

"And what value do you have as a man?"

"A half-breed angel, so hideous... even a brothel would have to pay people to take you."

"If it weren't for the backdrop I gave you, the power I gave you, the rights and status I gave you, where would you be now?"

Oedipus leaned in, the dark haze of her eyes swirling ominously above Turing's brow, emanating a terrifying suppressive force. She slowly pressed the hot tobacco bowl against Turing's cheek, leaving a burnt imprint.

"If it weren't for the backdrop, even that boy would despise you from afar."

"There are many more examples like this, remember?"

"But you don't know how to be grateful..."

"And you always push people away."

As Oedipus spoke, she reached up and grabbed the hand on Turing's finger where the glass ring was worn, trying to take it forcefully.

"Mama, no... Mama!"

Turing looked up, tears clouding his eyes as he gazed at Oedipus.

"Why must it always be like this..."

"You could have deceived me, lied to me saying you had nothing to do with Theresa..."

"How gullible I am... don't you know? As long as you give the order, I am willing to go through fire and water for you."

"But... but..."

Oedipus's eyes twitched slightly, extinguishing the cigarette with one hand and increasing the force to take the ring with the other.

"Hand over the ring."

"No! Only this... no!"

Turing held tightly onto the ring with his middle finger, fists clenched, gently cradling the fragile ring in the palm of his hand.

"Are you shamelessly bargaining?"

"Let me tell you why."

"Power, magic, money, I already have them."

"I lent them to you because you were obedient."

"Now you don't even have the value of obedience."

"So I'll take them back."

Oedipus looked at Turing, struggling like fish and shrimp on the cutting board in front of him, and his face grew darker and darker. A sudden cold laugh shattered Turing's last psychological defense.

"Mother...mother?"

Turing dared not look at Oedipus' expression, so he could only lower his head and shrink his neck, hoping that his cowardly appearance could win Oedipus' sympathy.

"Alright, I don't want the ring anymore."

For a moment, Turing couldn't accept such good news. He hadn't even had a chance to smile before the tone of voice had already changed to delight.

"Really!?"

But before Turing could savor the joy,

A fist that shattered the spacetime came flying, and Oedipus punched Turing out.

The slender little fist, like a delicate one that didn't engage in fighting, suddenly expanded into muscles like tentacles, like an arrow flying through the sky, piercing Turing's weak body head-on.

With a loud bang.

The reinforced concrete walls of four buildings caved in one after another, barely supporting Turing's broken body.

"You're as naive as a child, Turing."

"I don't need to take away your ring to take back your magic."

"What I lent you was my own angel."

Oedipus flicked his wrist, seemingly relieved. The incident in the courtroom that had been turned upside down by Maria had left a lasting impression on her.

Like many artificial intelligences, Oedipus hated things that were beyond her calculations the most.

"I'm taking back the backdrop I used on you as well."

"If you want to drag that monster's body around for the rest of your life."

"Just sit and wait for death with Maria."

Oedipus glanced coldly at Turing, who was beaten to a pulp and passed out, and turned to leave.

"Did I go too far?"

A fiery red fox materialized from the scattered and beaten Turing and jumped onto Oedipus' shoulder in a few steps.

"What's up, Archangel?"

"After guarding her for a few years, do you feel sorry for her too?"

Beelzebub wagged her big tail, squinted her eyes, and crouched down.

"Not really."

"Never mind, do as you please."

Beelzebub closed her gentle lips and licked her chin helplessly.

"But I have to remind you, you didn't take the ring, so your scent ID is still on Turing."

"I can't use magic on your behalf for now."

"Now, if you tear your face apart with Maria, you might not win."

Beelzebub blinked her eyes and stared quietly at Oedipus.

"I know that," Oedipus said. He glanced over his shoulder and saw that Beezelbub had already concealed himself once again with the backdrop.

Frowning, Oedipus lifted his leg, ready to leave.

"Oedipus!"

A crisp male voice called out, stopping Oedipus in his tracks.