Chapter 20: Aftermath

After the situation with Talulah on the control tower, Kal'tsit and the Dokutah met up with me, Amiya and Ch'en. Amiya collapsed the moment she saw the Dokutah, which led to Kal'tsit delaying her talks with me for three days.

However, three days wasn't much time. Fortunately, there were no quests issued by the system in the meantime.

"Talulah, I've got some questions for you," I said as I took my seat on a metal chair, directly opposing Talulah in a dark isolated room. There was a reinforced glass window to the side, with Kal'tsit observing closely. It was finally time.

"I'm guessing it's in relation to your memory loss. I don't know much about you, but I've heard and seen some things in relation to you from the snake," Talulah stated as she made herself comfortable in the interrogation room.

"Could you tell me everything?" I asked, inching towards the edge of my seat.

"He called you a successful failure from Columbia. I don't know where exactly in Columbia, but he did mention your origin there a decade ago. A few years after you were taken by him, you were sold to another lab just before a gun-knight visited his territory," Talulah explained as she crossed her chained arms.

"I don't know what happened after that, but you likely remained in Columbia as a research experiment," Talulah continued as a brief silence enveloped the room.

How did I go from a Laterano orphanage to a lab in Columbia? Where in this process did I lose my memories? This is getting ever more complicated the deeper I dig. Sadly, this was all that Talulah knew.

"You may be related to a famous case in Laterano's orphan program. Thirty children of different ages were smuggled out of Laterano over five years. It was one of the largest scandals in Laterano's history, connected to top officials. However, your orphanage was not included in the lists of orphanages affected," Kal'tsit interrupted, making me perk up with curiosity.

"That…" I muttered, losing my voice as I tried to form a sentence.

"I'll assign someone to look into it. However, I don't do free favours," Kal'tsit said sternly as she opened the reinforced metal door into the interrogation room with a few other Rhodes Island personnel.

"I would like for you and your squad to extend your agreement with Rhodes Island… and the truth of their origins," Kal'tsit said, only whispering the last part into my ears once the Rhodes Island personnel had left the room with Talulah.

"How-" I replied in shock.

"It wasn't Amiya. It was from your friend, Rimuru. He is too naive, showing power that was beyond arts, not to mention the lack of information on them. However, don't take this the wrong way. I don't mean any harm, I just want transparency for the sake of our future cooperation," Kal'tsit interrupted as she turned around and headed to the exit.

"We will guarantee your protection and privacy. We won't benefit much from making your group an enemy. Give me your answer once the others return," Kal'tsit said as she was about to exit the room.

With everything said, Kal'tsit closed the door to the door, leaving me to sit alone. If only the others were here, I could really use Zhongli's tea right now.

"Just go with the flow, Exusiai said," I sighed as I remembered my interactions with a certain redhead. I should probably visit her. Those apple pies weren't that bad.

As for how I will explain this to the other groupchat members... I'll just go with the flow.

---

In the office of Wei Yenwu, the leader of the global economic power of a mobile city, Lungmen, there were two notable figures. One was Wei Yenwu himself, and the other was an unknown hooded figure with blue hair, the halo of a Sankta and the features of a Sarkaz.

"What are you doing here, Laterano messenger?" Wei Yenwuu asked the hooded figure.

"I suppose I do have a message for you," The fallen Sankta replied as she took a seat on a couch nearby.

"Hoshiguma, Swire, please leave the office for a moment," Wei Yenwu ordered, forcing the two to leave his office.

"Speak," Yenwu said once the two left.

"What of it? He asked, and then he said, what did you have for breakfast? And what will you eat for dinner?" The fallen Sankta relay to Wei Yenwu.

"The first question; she is fine, I don't understand what is so particular about her, but I do have a report prepared. As for the other… odd questions. Why does he want to know?" Wei Yenwu replied, rubbing his chin at the cryptic words of the messenger.

"I think… You are the Chief, Mr Wei," The fallen Sankta replied.

---

"Something is preventing me access," A short green-haired boy said as he looked at the body of Rimuru.

"I see… Xiao, you may return to your duties. I will ask Cloud Retainer to watch over him in Jueyun Karst," Zhongli muttered.

"While Cloud Retainer watches over him, I suppose it's time I speak with the Tsaritsa's messenger about… the deal," Zhongli murmured to himself after Xiao had left the vicinity.

"A new era shall be set for Liyue," Zhongli said, picking Rimuru up in a princess carry.