Yue Ge had already left. Lingkong remained standing where he was, silently gazing at the massive blocks of solid ice. Only when he heard footsteps approaching did he turn around.
It was Nightingale.
"Kong... you're at this place again," the girl complained.
"What do you mean 'this place'? This is my treasure vault," Lingkong said with a hint of helplessness. He didn't press further, just asked, "What's wrong? Skipping your nap to come down here. You won't grow tall without enough rest."
"Did he leave?" Nightingale asked directly.
At times like this, she never held back her words, chatting with Lingkong as naturally as ever.
"He's gone back," Lingkong nodded.
"Is that so... Kong, why did you suddenly change your mind?" Nightingale whispered. "Killing him would've been fine. Illusion was there too."
"It can't be done," Lingkong replied flatly.
"But—" Nightingale seemed about to argue, but swallowed her words. Just as Lingkong said, she knew keeping Yue Ge was nearly impossible. That eerie Essence had no records; the cost to fully retain him would be too high. The Organization couldn't afford it.
"To assassinate a god—we can't bear that price yet," Lingkong chuckled self-deprecatingly. "That girl got lucky, picking up a god like that. Now we're completely powerless against her."
Bai Ya's application had no data—only Yue Ge's name. But with a little digging, Lingkong knew she'd had no "finished products" back then, not even materials to make them. The only thing she possessed was that bottle of "Essence No. 2."
Lingkong truly couldn't trace Yue Ge's past; suspicion was natural. He couldn't risk such a dubious person near Bai Ya—it was too dangerous for both her and the Organization. Yet when he saw Yue Ge fight Crow, he changed his mind.
He knew that stance too well. That Essence was born in the Organization, and he'd witnessed the experiments. After countless trials, no matter how desperately he wanted to create a new god-class Chosen One, he had to abandon the plan. It wasn't a lack of volunteers—he just saw no hope of success.
No matter how they tweaked the sedative formula, every test subject lost their will at the same stage, consumed by the Essence. Each experiment cost the Organization dearly to recover it. Even though Bai Ya insisted her Essence wasn't a "failure," Lingkong finally halted all related tests.
He knew the consequences, but the Organization had no resources left for uncertain hopes. He understood the benefits if someone absorbed that Essence and became a new "god," but that required a real chance of success.
No one pursues a guaranteed failure. So when Bai Ya proposed taking the Essence, he didn't object. Until he saw that familiar stance on Yue Ge.
Even without full Essencing, Lingkong recognized Essence No. 2's power. What thrilled him more was that Yue Ge hadn't just absorbed it—he'd unlocked new abilities. The power to strip Essence from a Chosen One had never appeared in past tests.
Under this, Yue Ge's dubious origins no longer mattered.
Whatever Yue Ge demanded, Lingkong would pay the price to keep him in the Organization. A living god-class Chosen One was far more valuable than a dead one. Even if Yue Ge never joined the Support Squad, he'd still be under the Organization. That was enough.
As for the rest... he had time. If Yue Ge was a mole, no organization would calmly let a god-class Chosen One work for others. Time would expose flaws. If not, his recruitment efforts would pay off.
For his goal, he needed people—more Chosen Ones, stronger ones.
"Kong... let's go back?" Nightingale tugged his sleeve. "I'm sleepy."
"Sleep in your own room, not my office," Lingkong snapped back, lightly rapping her head with a sigh. "When will you mature? You're almost an adult."
If Nightingale weren't so childish, he'd have released her long ago instead of keeping her as a switchboard operator. Ordinary staff could handle that; a High Danger Class Chosen One like her was wasted there.
The Support Squad required at least Danger-Class Chosen Ones, with a few High Danger Class. Nightingale was one of them—Lingkong kept her as backup. If Crow failed, she and Illusion together could trouble even Bai Ya.
Yue Ge's performance had shattered Lingkong's plan. But the outcome wasn't bad. Recruiting Yue Ge could solve many problems. The Organization lacked absolute combat power, not people. Bai Ya was god-class, but untouchable—he'd slow progress rather than risk her in fights.
"But Kong, you don't even work in your office..." Nightingale murmured.
"I'm busy," Lingkong sighed. "Alright, let's go."
"Then why keep coming here? You're busy," Nightingale asked, watching him.
"Because... without seeing these remains, my heart won't calm. Everything I do has meaning—we're moving toward that goal. Without this, it's all pointless." Lingkong stepped into the elevator, glancing once more at the ice blocks as the doors slowly closed.
"It'll be fine. You've worked so hard, Kong," Nightingale said softly.
"I know... but every time I think 'it' still lives, I can't calm down..." Lingkong's expression twisted fiercely, losing all traces of his earlier ease.
"Kong—" Nightingale called. No response. She pursed her lips, then chopped his neck with a clean, efficient strike—clearly not her first time.
Catching his falling body, Nightingale's face darkened. She didn't even notice the elevator had stopped.
That's why... I can't leave you.
Nightingale sighed deeply, hoisting Lingkong onto her back as she stepped out.
Come to think of it... she's almost an adult too. So much time has passed...
A coming-of-age gift... what should it be?
If only that day could come sooner.
