LIGHTNOVELONLINE The successor: First Arc – End
"So Charlotte, would you mind explaining what you did?", Issac spoke gently, but there was a hint of stress in his voice.
Charlotte knew she was in trouble, she drank her carton of milk with a straw while still not breaking eye contact.
An awkward silence rang out between the two as Charlotte finished her drink.
"Survive want to fight.", Charlotte simply said.
"So do you have control over your Devil?", Issac asked worriedly.
"I do, I just let it control me. Survive doesn't want to be confined."
"That's dangerous, what if it took control of you permanently?"
Charlotte leaned back on the sofa, "Would you, Survive?"
No.
Charlotte nodded, "It said no."
Issac took a deep breath, "I see, but the records said otherwise. You destroyed a whole wing of a facility."
"If I have no memory of it... I am innocent.", Charlotte looks to the side, avoiding eye contact.
"How did you get so snarky?", Issac let out an amused chuckle.
"Silla."
Issac blinked, nodding his head lightly, "That explains a lot."
Charlotte tilted her head, "Silla is Silla."
Issac typed something on his keyboard very fast, he glanced at Charlotte and smiled brightly, "Charlotte, would you like to go out?"
"Out where?", Charlotte perked up.
"As a part of your... uh... socializing program, and to get you ready for school, do you want to go anywhere?"
Charlotte thinks a bit. Where would I go? Do you guys have any idea?
Las Vegas please, my dear.
Australia.
Let's go to Mu~!
"The Akashics are suggesting Las Vegas, Australia, and Mu. For me... I want to go to Greece."
"Hm, Australia is a bit dangerous, you would easily get lost on Mu... Greece is still recovering from the civil war and debt... Las Vegas is the safest but... I don't think you would be able to do much there with your age. Any other suggestion?"
AFGHANISTA—
Shhh!! You aren't supposed to speak yet! Be quite!!
Oh, another voice.
"Another Akashic said Afghanistan.", I said.
"That is a no.", Issac gave Charlotte a serious look.
"Then... let's decide by a dice roll.", Charlotte took out a D4 out of her pocket.
Issac stared in surprise, "Do you just carry dice around now?"
"I have a lot of dice... and these pockets are deep.", Charlotte pats her baggy pants, making noises in them.
"...I can see that.", Issac let out a helpless sigh while smiling, "You do you, Charlotte."
"One for Mu, two for Australia, three for Las Vegas, and four for Greece.", she rolled the pyramid dice, and it landed on the number 3.
Fufu, I win.
Issac sighed, "Las Vegas it is. Might as well give Arco her leave, she will be your guide."
Charlotte frowned, "Why?"
"Because she lives there, and technically the mayor? I don't get what you mean, Charlotte."
"It's Silla.", Charlotte pouted, "I don't like Silla."
"I can see why that is a problem, I will tell her to mellow out a bit, not sure if that would work though."
"So... when will I leave?", Charlotte tilted her head.
"Next week, once Athen recovered her power."
"Is there something wrong with Athen?", she spoke with a hint of worry.
"No, just her penalty for using her Anima Pactum.", Issac shrugged, "By the way, what is your penalty?"
"What is my penalty..."
20 minutes per week.
5 minutes per day~!
I cannot reveal mine yet, my dear.
"For Survive, it's 20 minutes per week. Reverie said it's 5 minutes per day."
"Are they separate?", Issac squinted.
"Yes."
Issac leaned back on his chair, spinning it around to cool off his head for a plan or two. It looks fun to Charlotte.
I need to get that...
"Very well, I will rent out a hotel, or do you want to stay at Arco's place, it's a casino and also a hotel."
"Away from Silla, please."
Issac smirked a cheeky smile, "The Illumination Hotel is very expensive, so how about I use Arco's salary for it? She doesn't care much about her salary, I only need her brain and she is here to have fun for the most part."
"Are you sure... that's a good idea?"
"No, but it's much more reassuring to have her on our side. She solved the Pandora's Sin incident just a few days ago.", Issac shrugged.
He clapped his hands, "Well, this is the end of our talk. If there is nothing more you want to ask, then you can go on your way."
Charlotte was about to get up. However, she remembered her time with Enna. The Fallen Angel pointed out the suspicious actions of the Director.
"I have a question."
"You may ask."
"Why did it take so long for you to get me out of Project Darwin?", she got to the point instantly.
Issac stayed quiet for a moment, thinking about his choice of words carefully. Charlotte heard his muscles twitch uncomfortably.
"I guess I have to deal with this someday, hah....", Issac sighed, rubbing his temple, "I'm sorry, Charlotte. I cannot say it but I have a very good reason for doing what I did. My actions were inexcusable, you can hate me for it if you want, ha... I can tell you this and hope that you will understand, my priority is the survival of humanity, it is my responsibility as the Director... your suffering, even if you don't remember it, was for the better of the world itself."
"Then what do you want me to do? What do you want me to become?"
With a heavy sigh, his emerald eyes avoid Charlotte's azure gaze, " Project Belial, named after the Demon of Vanity, Arco said that those who are empty have the most potential, give them everything and let them decide for their future. So far, the Project failed seven times. They got taken over by their greed and I must admit, their Devils are not that kind either, heh. Charlotte, you had nothing from the beginning, you now have the power to decide your destiny and even your fate."
He leaned back on his chair, "You can do whatever you want. But personally, I saw a lot of potential in you. I want you to take my place if my plan succeeds, become the next Director."
"How... I am not as smart as you... or even Silla... how can I take your place?", Charlotte frowned. How can I handle such weight?
Issac chuckled, smiling helplessly, "You have the Records of Humanity in you, they seem to be on your side— no, they ARE on your side! Besides, you haven't matured yet, so take your time and think about your choices. And I have a very long list of potential candidates, Arco is one of them."
"Again, why Silla?"
He regained his warm smile, "Well, she's pretty smart and sticks to the plan for the most part. But... she would turn this place into a circus, so I put her at the bottom of my list."
Charlotte laughed a bit, "Then... I guess I'll go. Goodbye."
"Goodbye, Charlotte.", Issac waved.
She stood up and left the room. She met Athen and Rodon, who were having a conversation until they saw her.
"So Charlotte, how did it go?", Athen asked, slightly worried.
"It's fine.", she replied.
"Well, Miss Silvi, the Director always has a soft spot for children.", Rodon laughed.
Athen tried to hold onto Charlotte's hand, but her attempt failed as Charlotte instinctually retracted her hand.
"We'll be going now, thanks for keeping me company!", Athen waved as she walked away with Charlotte.
A notification rang on Charlotte's phone, she took it out and saw a new file was sent to her. 'Project Belial - Vanity is the beginning. By Silla Arco the Pandemonium Princess'
Guess I'll be reading this tonight.
=0=0=0=
"Another win?! How?! You must be cheating!!", the dealer called out.
The person sitting across from the dealer just smiled. They pushed their bronze-colored long hair to the side, looking at the dealer with golden eyes and a simple thin smile. They are beautiful, carrying androgynous looks on their face, and no one can tell what gender they are, even the person themselves only leave the looker to their mind and do not ever try to correct anyone.
With a calm and serene voice, they spoke without defending themselves, "You can say all you want, if you think I am cheating, then I will go to another table.", they shrugged and sat up, leaving a mountain of betting chips at the table.
The dealer could only stare in disbelief as the person just left behind millions of dollars. Someone pushed a man into the pile of chips, sending them everywhere and most spectators now scrambled in to collect as many chips as possible.
A woman came up to the person, they swayed their bronze hair to look at the paper in her hand, "Olivia, how is our friend at Babel?"
"Everything is in order, Mister Umor."
"Hmm... this will be interesting. So when does the Akasha arrive and where?", they tapped their chin, looking to the ceiling expecting something.
"Next week, she will be in Las Vegas with the Princess. The Prince will also go with them.", Olivia pushed up her glasses.
"Akasha huh, a disaster is looming.", they smiled, "Get our connections, we need to meet with the Records of Human."
