Apocalypse Circular

But still, someone unwilling to let it go spoke up again, "Maybe everything Lu Luo did was just an act? He was putting on a show just for you. Do you feel that way, Miss Yuan Mian?"

If the previous questions were still somewhat leading, then this one was purely malicious.

Yuan Mian looked at the other party with some disgust. However, the other party didn't mind at all and just calmly waited for Yuan Mian's response.

Yuan Mian took a deep breath and began to refute the other party using the laws of the Inner Ring, "I think it's wrong to speculate about a person like that. Even if it were brought before Chief Justice Qi Lin, the presumption would be innocence. A person is born innocent. To convict someone, strong evidence is required—not like you all, starting with the assumption that Mr. Lu Luo is guilty, followed by all kinds of malicious speculation and slander. As for your talk of acting, I have never felt that Mr. Lu Luo had any need to put on an act in front of someone like me. I am very tired. May I leave now?"

Yuan Mian didn't want to talk about Lu Luo anymore. If I continue to be questioned like this, I might give myself away. I'm not a person of strong will; I'm very clear about that. Right now, the best I can do for Lu Luo is to state my most genuine feelings. That should be enough.

The interrogators looked at each other, and although somewhat reluctantly, most decided to wrap up their questioning of Yuan Mian.

"Alright, Miss Yuan Mian, thank you for your cooperation. We will remember your merit, and it won't be long before the Alliance gives you adequate compensation and rewards."

"I don't need compensation or rewards. Give my share to the families of Captain Liu Wei and his team."

Yuan Mian's expression was cold, but her words and actions still earned her some people's respect. Two of the interrogators nodded. "We will promptly relay Miss Yuan Mian's request. However, why don't you go to them yourself, Miss Yuan Mian?"

"Because I don't have the face to see their families again."

Yuan Mian felt extremely guilty about this matter because she knew very well that Lu Luo was innocent in this affair. Captain Liu Wei and the investigation team members were also innocent. The real culprits are me and that man, Yin Wei. It was our conspiracy that led to this tragedy.

Yuan Mian left the interrogation room wearily. As soon as she stepped out, someone stopped her.

"Miss Yuan Mian, Mr. Yin Wei would like to see you."

"Tell Yin Wei I don't want to see him! Not at all, not ever!" Yuan Mian's tone carried a distinct hatred. Perhaps that's just how women are. The more she had loved in the past, the more she hated now.

"Miss Yuan Mian, everyone has times when they have no choice. We are no different!"

"What do you want?"

"Miss Yuan Mian, we too are acting on someone's behalf. Please come with us."

Yuan Mian stiffened, about to resist, but just then, she recalled Lu Luo's theory of self-protection. In Lu Luo's system, self-protection was paramount. No talk of sacrifice or dedication; everything had to be based on the concept of self-protection. If a person couldn't even protect themselves, then how could they protect others?

My constitution is weak; resistance at this moment would be meaningless. For my own safety, and to be able to do more meaningful things in the future, the most correct choice is to go with them and see that person.

"Alright, don't touch me. I can walk on my own."

Yuan Mian's compromise made the other party smile; it seemed she was quite aware of her situation.

"Good, Miss Yuan Mian. This way, please."

...

At the Luo Family residence, Bai Yuetong was lying on the sofa in the grand hall, utterly bored. Her relaxed posture was almost identical to the "Ge You slouch" Lu Luo had seen in his previous life. Although she hadn't been back here for a year, her reputation as the Luo Family's top dog remained unchanged. Lying in the living room of a council member's family like this was quite unseemly and improper, but no one dared to provoke Bai Yuetong at that moment because she was the Family Head's most beloved daughter.

At night, Luo Xuemin, having just finished a day's work, finally returned home. After changing his shoes, he waved his hand wearily at Zhang Yifan, signaling him to leave. Luo Xuemin already knew that Bai Yuetong would be returning from the Fourth Ring today, but when he saw her carelessly sprawled on the sofa, he was still slightly taken aback.

"Oh, you're back?"

"Oh, you're back?"

Father and daughter spoke at the same time, then both chuckled. Their tone and expressions were almost identical. However, their appearances differed greatly; Bai Yuetong resembled her mother, Bai Qingshuang, much more. Looking at Bai Yuetong now, she seems a bit more composed and reserved than before, Luo Xuemin thought.

"You're just lying on the sofa like that? Don't you have any awareness that you did something wrong?" Luo Xuemin teased his daughter, but Bai Yuetong glared right back at him.

"Wrongdoing? What did I do wrong?"

"Now you're just being difficult. You melted down the mecha the family configured for you. Isn't that a mistake? You can't be unaware of how much that mecha was worth, can you? That was the family's money." As Luo Xuemin spoke, he sat down on the sofa, removing his scarf and gloves to reveal his Mechanical Arm. Seeing Luo Xuemin sit down, Bai Yuetong naturally poked his Mechanical Arm with her toes.

"Since you already said it was the mecha allocated to me, then it was naturally my property. Is it wrong for me to melt my own things? Old Luo, what you're saying doesn't make sense." Bai Yuetong was quite adept at arguing illogically.

"Fine, fine, I don't make sense, you do. Happy now?"

The conversation between Luo Xuemin and Bai Yuetong was as relaxed and casual as if they were friends. But this was only true between him and her. If it were any of Luo Xuemin's other sons, even the eldest, Luo Shan, they'd be dealt with in minutes if they dared to pull something like this with Luo Xuemin.

"Dad, I'm in love," Dumb Hair suddenly said in a low voice.

Luo Xuemin heard her. "I know. Haven't I arranged to meet that young man?"

"Your daughter is about to be whisked away by another man. Aren't you angry?"

"Would it make any difference if I were?" Bai Yuetong shrugged.

"Ah, it seems I'm not your real daughter."

Luo Xuemin also shrugged. "You were a freebie with a phone recharge!"

"Old Luo, you're ruthless!"

Luo Xuemin felt he had outsmarted her and poured himself a glass of water as a reward. As he was pouring, Bai Yuetong grabbed his arm.

"Dad, the arm I got for you... has it been replaced?"

"Yes, it's been replaced. The one you gave me is in my bedroom."

"Wasn't the original one good? Why change it?" Bai Yuetong didn't lose her temper. She understood her father well and knew how much he doted on her. He wouldn't have done such a thing unless he absolutely had to.

Luo Xuemin shook his head and took a sip of water. "The Church is putting too much pressure on the Council now. Shi Haoxuan needs allies to counterbalance your mother, and I am one of those allies. After the mission to send a Seventh Tier master to the Outer Ring failed, many people grew even more dissatisfied with the Council. Shi Haoxuan is panicking, though he doesn't show it openly. Our relationship has already reached a point where it can't be easily severed. But my identity is too sensitive, so he needs to take some precautions against me. This Mechanical Arm is an unspoken precaution between us."

Luo Xuemin spoke casually, but Bai Yuetong could feel the bitterness behind his words. The seemingly prosperous Luo Family had to survive in the precarious space between the Council and the Church. All this... it's because of me!

"Dad, I can remove the backdoor in your arm."

"If I remove the backdoor from my arm now, the current alliances within the Council will fall apart. Without my alliance with Shi Haoxuan, I can't suppress those who have ambition but no brains. They've already been controlled by the Church with the Fruit of Life; they're eager to see the Council destroyed!"

Hearing her father criticize the Council system, Bai Yuetong nodded in agreement. "It's just as Lu Luo said: the Council system is a very foolish system. It appears fair and just, making decisions by vote, but it has no way to influence foolish people. When fools make up more than half, the Council descends into utter stupidity."

Bai Yuetong spoke vehemently, yet this time Luo Xuemin didn't contradict his daughter. "Your little boyfriend is right. When real strength is needed, the Council system is indeed very foolish. Why was the Church once on par with the Council? Because the Church also had a separation of powers. But why is the Church so powerful now? It's because someone like your mother appeared, unifying the Church's will. When a sufficiently strong and wise leader emerges, the power of centralized authority is fully demonstrated. Today's Council is simply no match for your mother."

Luo Xuemin sighed helplessly. He was a pillar of the Council. If, one day, the Council in the Inner Ring truly falls... then the Luo Family will likely perish too, won't it?

Bai Yuetong sensed the worry in her father's gaze. She didn't know what she could do to help him. She wasn't particularly astute when it came to politics and governance. Hopefully, after Lu Luo arrives, he can give Father some inspiration!

"Dad, if Mom really becomes the Pope, what will happen to the Inner Ring?"

"No one can sway your mother's will, and no one knows what she's really thinking. So asking me these things is pointless. But one thing I can confirm: if your mother becomes the supreme leader of the Church, she will not become the Pope." Luo Xuemin said this quite calmly, but Bai Yuetong didn't understand his meaning.

"Not become the Pope? Why not?"

"Because your mother will only become the Pope, becoming the Wasteland Alliance's only Emperor in 400 years."

"Emperor? What's that?" The term was unfamiliar to Bai Yuetong—and not just because she hadn't paid attention in history class. Whether in the Inner Ring or the Outer Ring, descriptions of monarchical systems were already scarce. The term "Emperor" had long been erased from educational textbooks. Unless one was an avid reader of history, it would indeed be difficult to know this word.

"An Emperor is the sole ruler, like the Monarch of the Exotic Species."

"The Monarch of the Exotic Species?"

"Yes. All will and power concentrated at a single point—that's probably the role of an Emperor."

"I see!"

Bai Yuetong was lost in thought. As a shareholder of Circular Base and Lu Luo's woman, she knew a lot about the current situation there. When Luo Xuemin described the role of an Emperor, Bai Yuetong naturally thought of Lu Luo's methods. Circular Base wasn't particularly large at present, but it wasn't small either. And the policies at Circular Base? Well, they were just as Luo Xuemin had described. At Circular Base, there was ultimately only one will: Lu Luo's will. This was something repeatedly mentioned and emphasized within Circle Company. Lu Luo's will had to be executed. If there were any opinions or suggestions regarding work, life, or combat, Circular Base had dedicated channels to raise them. But the final arbiter was always Lu Luo!

If an Emperor is someone whose will and power are all concentrated at a single point, then Lu Luo is probably the Emperor of Circular Base.

"Tong Tong, don't you usually hate politics? Why are you so willing to discuss it with me at length today?"

"Well, people grow up. I'm older now, so it's normal to understand a bit about political issues."

Luo Xuemin smiled. "It seems your little boyfriend has had a very big influence on you."

"Not at all!" Bai Yuetong turned her head away, definitely not admitting it.

"Zhang Yifan has already briefed me on Lu Luo. Still, I'd like to hear from your perspective: what's so special about this Lu Luo?"

Seeing her father's serious gaze, Bai Yuetong knew it was time to tell him properly about Lu Luo.

"His name is Lu Luo. He's an orphan..."

…

ACHOO!

Just as Lu Luo was preparing to absorb the Dark Spirit Stone, he suddenly sneezed.

With my constitution, I can still catch a cold? This isn't right!

Sniffling, Lu Luo took out all the Dark Spirit Stones Zhou Kai had prepared for him from his ring. This breakthrough was different from previous ones. Previously, Lu Luo had been very poor—so poor it was disheartening even to himself. For each breakthrough, he would only supplement with Dark Energy after his attributes had accumulated to the absolute limit for his current tier. But now it was different; he was rich, very rich. As for Dark Spirit Stones, while he couldn't use them without any limits, he at least no longer needed to restrict himself for his personal breakthroughs. Now, after breaking through from Fourth Tier Qi He to Fifth Tier, Lu Luo could immediately use Dark Spirit Stones to completely fill his Fifth Tier compatibility.

This was the power of money, and he intended to do just that.

As Lu Luo was preparing, Qi Xinzhu, who was on the bed, slowly woke up. The moment she saw Lu Luo, she knew what he was about to do.

"A breakthrough?"

"Yes!"

"I'll keep watch for you!"

"Alright!"