"……"

"You promised me that when we meet again, you'll tell me everything."

Merka fell silent for a moment, looking at the calm lake. He slowly shifted his gaze from his stiffening eyes to the silent pebble in his hand, furrowing his brow involuntarily.

"If you keep quiet like this, I won't help you take down Oedipus."

"Oedipus seems so strong, I think it would be safer for me and Turing to flee abroad, rather than face him directly."

Before the words had fully left his mouth, a pitch-black figure, wrapped in bandages like a mummy, emerged from the silent depths of the lake.

"One can't joke around with you, Mr. Merka."

The figure shook off the barely discernible water on its body and spoke with a husky, magnetic, gender-neutral voice.

"A few days ago... Turing went out of control."

"She killed many people, so many people..."

"Is that related to you?"

Seeing the figure finally emerge, Merka's face darkened as he got straight to the point.

"Hmm..."

"You're so impatient, Mr. Merka."

"Your personality and intelligence, in my opinion, outshine all members of the Forbidden Band, even Maria."

"But the downside is that both you and Turing are too hasty."

"Neither of you have the long-term perspective."

"For Oedipus, ten years of planning, laying an ambush in a single morning, all are absolutely worth it."

"Your strategies... can be said to be extraordinary."

"But compared to Oedipus, who repeatedly defeats deities in a game of wits, you still have a long way to go."

The chilly evening breeze crossed the lake, passing through Merka's core. The figure seemed to float gently in the water, strolling slowly past Merka.

"I know about your doubts."

"Turing's violent tendencies, like other angels, are innate."

"But just that isn't enough to drive her insane."

"What truly drove her mad is a thread connecting her soul to the other half of Kregatoria, excluding me."

"This thread, commonly referred to as an administrator backdoor or, in simpler terms for Acadia natives, a curse."

"This magic-like but not quite magic spell, can be understood as a form of authorization. Whenever a sub-server encounters an issue, the main server uses this authorization to remotely control and connect to the subsystem, forcing it to solve the problem."

"Turing is the sub-server, and the other half of Kregatoria—backdrop, is the main server."

Shaking its head, the figure paid no attention to Merka's deteriorating expression and his weariness of elaborate explanations, continuing on its own accord.

"If you don't understand, that's fine."

"Next, I will keep my promise and impart this great wisdom from twenty thousand years ago to you."

"You'll understand everything by then."

——————————————————————————

"Turing, are you awake?"

"Why..."

Turing groggily woke up from her slumber to the sound she recognized. She slowly shifted her body, trying to rise from the narrow, hard seat, squinting her eyes as she looked out through the peephole on the steel door beside her.

At that moment, Turing was sitting in a prisoner transport vehicle. She was handcuffed, contorting her body, sneakily gazing out the window.

"Sorry, Turing, did I startle you?"

The transport vehicle had been stopped for a while now, and an elegant middle-aged lady stood below the vehicle, giving Turing a faint smile. Her modest smile carried a hint of charm, capturing the hearts of many faithful followers.

"What... Maria, I thought Merka was coming to rescue me."

Turing caught a glimpse of the person outside, shook her head disdainfully, and leaned back on her seat. Perhaps only Turing in Acadia would dare to show such an attitude towards Maria.

"Eh hehehe, I'm truly sorry for not managing properly and letting that girl Scarlett cause chaos, leading to this situation."

Maria folded her hands apologetically and spoke to Turing through the small window on the door.

"Then why are you here? Are you here to bail me out?"

Turing slouched in her seat, lazily asking.

"No, even though I could do that... it wouldn't be right."

"I originally wanted to secretly bail you out, at least improve your living conditions, and ideally have you under house arrest..."

"But the Elders from the City of Waves are coming to see you soon, even planning to film your current life and broadcast it nationwide."

"This is something everyone cares about... people across the nation are concerned about your physical and mental well-being."

"To appease the worried citizens, I have no choice but to do this."

"So, in accordance with the democratic principles of the City of Waves... you will stay in prison for a while longer."

"Once this special period passes, I will get you out, okay?"