"The Isabella diamond ring—I remember it was discontinued and centrally destroyed four hundred years ago because of the 'Isabella Rose Miracle.' There are no more than five left in the entire world. How did you get your hands on it?" Deep White Midnight's gaze brushed over it.
He had briefly researched this miracle in his spare time.
Years ago, the Eternal Vows Company had heavily promoted their new product with the slogan: 'A diamond is forever; one ring binds for eternity.'
It was said that the ring was imbued with the magic of love, capable of eternally binding those who wore it face-to-face; should either party violate their vows of love, rose thorns sprouting from the ring would pierce their heart.
The reality was exactly as the Eternal Vows Company had advertised: once lovers exchanged vows and bound themselves through the rings, if one betrayed that love, the thorns would take deep root in their flesh and drain them into a desiccated husk.
At the moment of purchase, people signed a risk contract, so they naturally had no grounds to blame the Eternal Vows Company, though many absurd incidents occurred because of this.
To escape the ring's curse, people went to extreme lengths, even enduring the agonizing pain of cutting off their ring finger, yet as if by magic, the diamond ring would grow back from another finger the next day, taking even deeper root.
Ironically, the vows of love became a curse for both parties the moment they stepped into the wedding hall.
Deep White Midnight tapped his forehead; it was only after things spiraled out of control that people realized the ring's magic originated from a miracle.
The 125,000-acre Isabella rose garden was the manifestation of that miracle; whenever someone died for breaking a vow, the Eternal Vows Company would send employees to recover the body, using it as fertilizer to feed the miracle and ensure its robust growth.
The power of miracles always has two sides.
One morning, at the moment the number of vow-breakers reached 125,000, the witness of beautiful love transformed into a decaying curse, and hundreds of thousands of people turned into monsters covered in thorny roses, frantically stabbing sharp objects into their lovers' eye sockets while embracing and kissing.
The wildly blooming roses drained their bodies into withered branches, causing the lovers to grow together forever, never to be separated again.
The lovers achieved the eternity of love, albeit through death.
After the miracle erupted, the Eternal Vows Company wasn't significantly affected, as those who hated it because of love were already dead, so they merely made a symbolic gesture of recalling and destroying the Isabella diamond rings, and the matter was quietly hushed up.
"You really are quite something," Deep White Midnight said, speechless.
"For love, nothing is impossible." Deep Blue Tide closed the ring box and pressed her hand against her chest.
"I searched the world and found an Isabella rose that had not yet withered; I cut out a piece of my own heart to nourish it and harvested this ring-fruit it produced."
"Little White, you understand the feeling of loving someone better than I do."
Hearing this, veins pulsed on Deep White Midnight's temple as he clenched his fist, his voice colder than ever.
"Shut up."
"Fine, fine, I won't mention Little Akane anymore; after all, she already died in Mihara City, and we should respect the dead."
Deep Blue Tide's eyes glinted with mockery as she deliberately emphasized the words 'died in battle,' watching Deep White Midnight's expression with interest.
The latter's aura only faltered for a brief moment before returning to calm; he looked somewhat weak, like a white wolf injured while patrolling its territory.
Deep Blue Tide didn't intend to keep digging, continuing on her own.
"The strong can only be attached to another strong person; this is an eternal truth."
"From the first moment I saw her, I was deeply captivated by her beauty—those radiant eyes, soft lips, and a face that has weathered much yet still stirs the heart."
"There will never be another perfect creature like her in this world; I think powerful beings lack a beautiful shell, while beautiful beings lack the strength to emerge from their empty shells and fill the skeleton of their souls."
"Her eyes give me endless longing; I think she needs me very much, just as the spring waters of the Corona River need the warm sun."
"I have no time to listen to your nauseating sentiments," Deep White Midnight's gaze pierced with bone-chilling cold.
"Try laying a hand on the hive cities under Universal Heavy Industries and see what happens."
"I promise you, I won't let you off this time, nor will I compromise with you again; I will find a way to make your life worse than death."
Deep Blue Tide shrugged helplessly, watching Deep White Midnight's departing back with a profound gaze.
"Little White, even if you're unwilling to tell me, I will definitely find her."
"I'll find her soon and tell her my feelings."
Breathtaking scenes flashed through her mind as Deep Blue Tide lowered her head, clutching her chest and stroking that heart which was missing a piece.
"And then, I will slowly strangle her to death, so she stays at her most beautiful moment forever."
"Stay at the moment where her strength won't fade and her beauty won't wither with the passing years."
In Red Heaven, inside the Northern Bank.
Light dust fell from the glass dome as huge gears hanging under the keel structure turned with a rhythmic click.
A steampunk clock followed the gears, ticking forward with a distant chime.
Wall lamps made of essence fluorite were embedded in the walls, connected to copper-brown pipes extending underground that radiated warmth.
Exquisite murals were set in gold frames, with oil paintings depicting merchant ships traveling far and harvest-ready rice fields.
Gray carpets were spread before the arched bank counters; every few dozen meters, there was a counter with a few customers scattered about handling business.
Since the Northern Bank only supported the most primitive storage and processing methods, there were usually few customers, making it feel somewhat desolate over time.
Behind a counter, a youth in a black uniform leaned on his arms, stroking his chin.
A thick ledger lay on the polished dark wood table, and as he stared at it for too long, his thoughts began to wander.
How could he convince Dark Gold Rose to join Assassin's Creed when the Silent Sequence had already extended an olive branch?
As for the roster for this season's league, he needed to give it more thought; he couldn't idle when he got home tonight, as he had to watch the match recordings of other guild star players to grasp their current status for the season.
"Xiao Hang, come give me a hand."
A woman's soft call pulled the youth from his thoughts; he looked up, responded, and closed the ledger on the table.
He hurried toward the woman, brushing past two young girls on the way.
"Yuzu, Yuzu, look at that! A Fenrir wolf-type titan being used as a doorman here!"
"And those bionic blade-dancers... Let me tell you a secret: they're the latest models co-developed by Kowloon Information and Red Heavy Industries..."
Lu Shuhang paused slightly, turning his head with some hesitation as he watched the receding backs of the two girls.
He looked especially at the blonde girl with the black shawl, who gave him a very familiar feeling; had he recognized her wrong?
"Xiao Hang?"
"Oh, sorry, Sister Chen; I got distracted by something. Coming!"
Lu Shuhang assumed his eyes had deceived him, shaking his head as he hurried away.
He must have been mistaken, as Dark Gold Rose should still be immersed in her consciousness in Oasis right now.
Furthermore, how could that mysterious and powerful fixer appear in such a remote place?
Rate on N.U.
