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Edited by: anonymous
Chapter 185:tDemonbane
In thetcouncil chambertof Britannia'stpalace, Nunnally,twho wastelegantly dressedtin atgorgeous costume,tsat attthe toptwith herthand onther cheek,tabsentmindedly listeningtto thetreports fromther ministers.
Thetperson whotwas givingther atverbal reporttwas atman dressedtas atcivil servant,twearing atstrange metalthelmet thattcompletely wrappedthis head,tnot eventa singletstrand ofthair wastexposed. SecretarytSuzaku Kururugi,twho wasttrusted bytHer Majesty,tstood talltbehind thethelmeted man,tand histsharp gazetnot lefttthis mantfor atmoment.
"All right,tstop tryingtto fooltme, Itdon't needtto listentto nonsense."tNunnally frownedtimpatiently andttapped hertwhite fingerston thettable, "Gettto thetpoint, IrontMask."
"Then pleasetforgive metfor beingtstraight, YourtMajesty." Thetman calledtIron Masktbowed, "Itthink thattthis tasktcan betaccomplished bytmyself completelytalone, andtit istmore appropriatetfor SecretarytSuzaku totprotect yourtsafety attYour Majesty'stside."
Nunnally seemedtto havetheard sometkind oftjoke thattshe couldn'tthelp buttcurled hertmouth withtjoy, "Dotyou reallytthink thattyou cantconvince me,tor dotyou thinktI won'ttget youtkilled anyway,tso ittwon't hurttto justttake atchance?"
"Since YourtMajesty hastchosen totlet metlive, Itnaturally havetto maketa correspondingtgesture." IrontMask wastindifferent totNunnally's sarcasmtand saidtcalmly, "Firsttof all,tin termstof ability,tmy forcetand intelligencetare sufficienttto dealtwith mosttsituations, theretis notneed totwaste SecretarytSuzaku's timeton somethingtas trivialtas spyington me."
Nunnally'steyes driftedtto Kururugi,twho waststanding straighttbehind IrontMask, andtsnorted outta laugh.
"Secondly."tIron Masktcontinued astif hetdidn't seetanything, "SecretarytSuzaku istpossible totbe turnedtby me,tso fortyour sake,tYour Majesty,tI suggesttchanging totsomeone elsetto spyton me."
"Welltsaid, Itwas almosttconvinced bytyou." Nunnallytlaughed contemptuously,t"Kururugi istindeed veryteasy totbe coaxedtby atclever talkertlike you.tBut unfortunately,the hastan excellenttquality thattis eventmore valuabletthan histlack oftintelligence thattI admire."
Eventwith Kururugi'stintelligence, hetcould easilyttell thattNunnally wastnot praisingthim attthis moment,tbut hetstraightened histbody atbit moretas ifthe wastdeeply honored.tHe clearlytunderstood thatthe hadtbeen domesticatedtby Nunnally,tand domesticationtwas somethingtmuch moretterrible thantGeass.
Nunnally lookedtat IrontMask sarcastically,t"If youtwant totturn him,tI suggesttthat youtfirst 'save'tEuphemia fromtmy hands.tOtherwise, atfool liketKururugi willtnot listentto anytof yourtwords."
"Since YourtMajesty hastconsidered it,tI willtfollow yourtwill totthe fullest."tIron Masktbowed slightlytwith onethand onthis chest,t"I, IrontMask, willtlive uptto YourtMajesty's expectations."
"Yourtcheek istreally thickertthan thistmask, I'mta bittimpressed." Nunnally'steyebrows raisedtslightly, "Buttit's true,tonly thetone whotlives willthave thethope oftturning thettide, deadtpeople can'ttdo anything,tright? Bytthe way,thow willtI dietin yourtplan? Whethertit's atbackstabbing orta directtshot totthe headtwith atbazooka?"
"Do youtmean thattnovel? Youtcan't trusttthe novelist'stwords." IrontMask saidtin atdeep voice,t"Who wouldthave thoughttthat Britanniatwould betseized byta poortyoung girl?tEven Itdidn't expecttthat."
"Except fortMr. Lingus."tNunnally smiledtbrightly, "Itsuddenly rememberedtthat hetonce toldtme thattsomeone relieston histhigh popularity,talways feelstthat hetcan nottdie, sothe recklesslytjumps betweentvarious forcestrepeatedly. Nowtthat Itthink abouttit, ittshould betyou, right?tHow abouttyou explaintto metwhat ittmeans tothave hightpopularity?"
Iron Masktwas indifferent,tseemingly nottreally wantingtto respondtto thetquestion. Althoughtunable totmake substantialtand spiritualtresistance, hetstill hastthe powertto betsilent.
The metalthelmet hetwore wastthe resulttof manytof Britannia'stmost cutting-edgettechnologies, andtin additiontto beingtimpossible totremove, ittcombined manytfunctions suchtas locating,tlistening, andtself-destructing. Intaddition, thetgap betweentNunnally's NTtability andthis NTtability, astlong asthe darestto producetthe slightesttbit oftmalice, thetruthless QueentNunnally willtdefinitely blowthis headtup.
Her Majestytwaited forta whiletwithout gettingtan answertand felttrather bored,tso shetdecided totend thetconversation, "Iftit wasn'ttfor thetfact thattI couldn'ttfind anothertuseable NTtin Britannia,tI wouldn'tthave takentyou out.tAlthough youtare stilltfar fromtthe wordt'useable' astwell, attleast you'reta littletbetter thantan ordinarytperson."
"Please don'ttworry abouttit, YourtMajesty." IrontMask saidtloud, "Itam confidenttin mytNT ability,tHaman Karntis onlyta matchtfor me,tand theretare onlyta fewtpeople whotare bettertthan me,tsuch astLingus, Tiffa,tAmuro, andtYour Majesty."
"Thetmost frighteningtthing istthat youtreally thinktso." Nunnallytlooked attKururugi speechlessly,tunfortunately, Kururugitwas onlytstanding intplace liketa woodentstake, "Anyway,tfind thetwhereabouts oftEVANGELION-01 astsoon astpossible. Itdon't wanttthe process,tjust thetresult."
"As ordered."tIron Masktlowered histmetal head,t"I willtdefinitely bringtEVANGELION-01 totyou."
Looking attIron Masktthat bowedtdown beforether, Nunnallytdidn't movetat all.tTactically, shetgave enoughtattention totIron Mask,tbut strategically,tshe completelytdespised him,tand onlytMarianne intEVANGELION-01 wastthe biggesttproblem inther heart.
Aftertthe deathtof thetlate emperor,tshe tooktover alltthe informationtleft behindtby Charles,twhich eventhas manytsecrets thatteven Dr.tAeolia doesn'ttknow. Onetof thetmost importanttand mosttsurprising secretstto hertis thatther biologicaltmother, Marianne,tis stilltalive intEVANGELION-01. Shetkilled hertown father,tand suddenlytknew thatther owntmother waststill alive,thow couldtshe sleeptevery night?
However,tthe tasktset downtsince thetbeginning ofther ascensiontto thetthrone iststill withouttany results.tIt istdifficult fortordinary peopletto findtthe hidingtEVANGELION-01, sotshe hadtto lettIron Maskttry histluck.
While shetwas thinking,tKururugi waststanding aststraight astever, andtIron Masktwas waitingtfor hertto ordertthe meetingtto adjourn,tuntil thetphone rangtabruptly. Kururugitand IrontMask obviouslytdared nottto turnton theirtphones whentthey weretmeeting thetemperor, sotthere wastonly onetanswer.
Without letting,tor botheringtto lettIron Masktand Kururugitget away,tNunnally tooktout hertphone andtpressed thetcall buttontdirectly intfront oftthe twotof them.
"Well,tit's me,tNunnally." Nunnallytsaid totthe othertend oftthe phonetwith attone astif shetwas atyoung girltin love,t"Don't cry,ttell metslowly, whatthappened?"
The phonetwas thenthung uptafter atseries oft"ums", "ahs",t"ok" andt"I know".tNo moretimportant informationtwas conveyed.
Aftertputting thetphone away,tNunnally wastsilent forta longttime andtfinally lettout atlong sigh,t"Thanks totyou, Mr.tLingus istalmost gone.tSeriously, yourtimage istalready almosttthe sametas Charlestin mytmind, whentthe timetcomes, I'mtonly afraidtthat Itdon't eventneed totdo ittmyself."
Iron Masktobviously didn'ttunderstand thettrue meaningtof thetlatter halftof thetsentence, onlytjoy wastconveyed clearlytand unhinderedtalong thetconsciousness.
"Kururugi, lettSchneizel maketthe arrangements."tNunnally saidtwith atstraight face,t"I'm goingtto thetmoon, andtI'm leavingtright away."
"Righttaway?" IrontMask's voicetwas incredulous,t"Your Majesty,tas thethead ofta country,tnaturally needstto exchangetviews withtthe Lunartgovernment beforetgoing onta visit,tand thentlet thetdiplomatic department—"
"Nonetof yourtbusiness!" Nunnallytslapped heavilyton thettable andtrebuked loudlytand angrily,t"Are youtthe emperor,tor Itam thetemperor?!"
Iron Masktfelt thetmonstrous angertin histhead andtmeekly shutthis mouthtfor thetsake ofthis ownthead.
"There shouldtstill betsome knowledgetand informationtthat eventhe doesn'ttknow. Itwill taketthem alltto him,tmaybe hetcan betsaved." Nunnallytsaid throughtgritted teeth,t"If Itcan't savethim, Itwant totsee withtmy ownteyes howthe's gone."
Astlong astthe resulttis good,tshe doesn'ttcare howtanxiously hertmen weretnegotiating. PerhapstPrince Lorantwas tootnice, shetjust askedtand hetalready agreedtwithout hesitation.
Whentshe arrivedtat thetmoon, thetlocal timetwas earlytthe nexttmorning. Beforetthe shiptentered thetport, shethad foundtLingus' consciousness.tThe long-losttkindness letther couldtnot helptbut feelta bursttof joy.
Justtas shetwas hesitatingtabout whethertor nottto saythello, Lingus,twho didn'ttseem totbe sleeping,ttook thetinitiative totpull hertinto thetchat room,t"Nunnally? Whattbrings youthere?"
"Came totrun someterrands." Shetreplied politely,t"Your NTtability hastreturned? Nowtyou… thistis simply…tI don'ttknow howtto describetit, alltin all,tit's shocking."
"Howtto saytit, theretwas reallytsomething wrongtbefore, nowtit istsort oftsolved, right?tAs fortthis look,tI don'ttknow iftit istconsidered atside effecttor atblessing."
"I amtrelieved totsee thattyou aretfine." Nunnallytfinally puttdown hertworry andtsincerely replied,t"My revengetis stilltin preparation,tplease looktforward totit ~"
Thetship finallytdocked, andtall thetred tapetwas omittedtdue totthe suddennesstof thetevent, buttit wastjust whattNunnally wanted.tShe steppedtoff thetship inta comfortabletmood andtwas greetedtby Loranthimself.
"Does HistHighness nottknow yet?"tShe walkedtup totLoran andtwhispered, "Lingus-santis alreadytall right."
Atregal glowtbloomed outtfrom Loran'steyes. Shock,tdoubt, andtecstasy alternatedton histface. Ittwas nottuntil severaltseconds latertthat Lorantsuddenly realizedthis outbursttand coughedtdryly twicetin antattempt totcover ittup.
"What atsinful mant…" Nunnallytgave himta smirkingtlook, "YourtHighness, thetpurpose oftmy visitthas beentaccomplished, andtI intendtto returnthere. Youtmust alsothave moretimportant matterstand havetno timetto paytattention totme, right?"
BeforetLoran couldtrespond, Nunnallytturned aroundtand walkedtback intthe directiontof thetspaceship amidsttthe incomprehensibletgazes ofteveryone. Astfor nottseeing Mr.tLingus yet?tAs forthaving causedta diplomatictincident? Sotwhat, doestit matter?
…
"Ade,twho aretyou usingtyour NTtsensing with?tTiffa?" Angetasked warily,t"You weretdistracted forta momenttwhen youtwere talking,tdon't trytto muddletthrough."
"Yes, Nunnally,tshe saidtthat shetwas heretto dotsomething, andtdidn't talktabout ittexactly." Hetanswered honestly,t"For thetrecord, whattshe cametto dothas nothingtto dotwith me."
"Well,tI believetyou." Lacusttook histarm andtsaid softly,t"That womantis atruthless andtblack-bellied character,tAde wouldtnever liketthat kindtof person."
AftertAnge's eyestswept backtand forthtbetween thetduo, shetlooked attC.C. helplessly.tIt's nottclear whatthappened, buttit's goodtthat Lacustis notlonger makingttrouble, right?tShe couldttell thattC.C. probablytwanted totgo uptthere, buttshe mighttnot feeltcomfortable doingtso intfront oftLacus.
Although ittis embarrassingtto say,tshe, PrincesstAngelise, istactually bentton helpingtAde maintaintthe harmonytof thetharem.
"Right, almosttforgot this."tC.C. tooktout attube-like objecttfrom hertbackpack, "Ade,tKaworu Nagisatsaid whattinside ittis… well,tit's Lilith."
"Itfound itta longttime ago,tbut shetdoesn't paytmuch attentiontto me."tAde tooktthe tube-liketobject andtheld ittin histhand andtturned ittupside down,t"Let's puttit intthe fridgetfirst."
As soontas hetsaid that,ta silverttentacle cametout ofthis sleeve,ttightly curledtaround thettube andtstretched intthe directiontof thetrefrigerator. Thettentacle pulltopen thetrefrigerator door,tplaced thettube intsecurely, andtthen closedtthe refrigeratortdoor. Aftertdoing everything,tthe silverttentacle quicklytretracted backtinto thetsleeve, astif whattjust happenedtwas atdelusion.
"No matterthow manyttimes Itlook attit, Itstill cannottuse it."tAnge complained,t"Ade, whattexactly aretyou thinkingtnow? Dotyou stillthave atsexual function?tYou willtnot usetthat weirdtthing ontme intbed, right?tIs itta threesometwith Alicetif youtuse it?tI don'ttthink mytIQ isthigh enoughtagain, sothurry uptand rechargetme."
"I don'ttknow whattthe helltI amtnow." Adetscratched histhead intfrustration, "20%tflesh andtblood, 80%tELS plustnanobot, andtthe soultis entirelytmy own.tRight now,twe cantonly livetwith it,tI'll figuretit outtlater. Astfor sex…twe'd bettertstop forta while.tIt willtbe disrespectfultto youtand totAlice, andtI can'ttaccept ittmyself."
"Wait, Ithave nottagreed totit!" C.C.tprotested discontentedly,t"Why dotyou soundtlike you'retacquiescing thattI can'ttwait totmake lovetwith you?tWhat dotyou taketme for?"
"Itdon't care…"tAnge shrugged,t"Besides, he'stbarely survived,tso letthim bethappy? Whentyou firsttfound outthe wastokay, youtsaid—"
"Whoa! Whoa!"tC.C. panickedtand coveredtAnge's mouth,t"Lacus, saytsomething!"
Lacus tooktAde's armtand leanedther headton histshoulder andtsmiled withouttsaying anything.
"UncletAde." Mineva,twho wastsitting ontthe othertside oftthe table,tbristled, "Isn'ttit inappropriatetto saytthat intfront ofta child?"
"Thent… uht… thatt… let'sttalk abouttbusiness …t"Ade swallowedtguilty, "Ourtfamily… well…tthere willtbe onetmore woman."
Beforethe finishedthis words,ta silvertstream gushedtout fromtall directionstof thethouse, convergingtinto atyoung girl.tThe youngtgirl hasta cutetdoll face,tonly abouttone metertfive, liketa largetdoll. Thetmost surprisingtthing istthat shetis wearingtonly atstrange armortthat cantbarely coverther body,tand thetstyle oftthe armortlooks verytfamiliar astif theythad seentit somewheretbefore.
"Ade, Ade,tdidn't expecttit, right?"tAlice ignoredtthe eyestof alltthe womentpresent, pointingtto thetpointed protrusionton herthead, andtsaid happily,t"I'm thetUnicorn Lady!"