Southern District, Outer Gate 90,000, Umbrella Corporation Headquarters.
Dressed in a neat, authoritative women's business suit, Aishelia lounged casually on a leather sofa, observing the girl before her—Asagi—with her braided hair and ordinary appearance.
"Miss Aishelia, we've clearly outlined our advantages. By combining your biotechnology with our Magitech, we can fully collaborate to further develop biological weaponry."
Asagi pushed the documents in her hands toward Aishelia and spoke with perfect calm.
Inside, however, she couldn't help but sigh—yes, sigh about Aslan's irresponsibility. Could an industry of this scale really be tossed aside so carelessly?
As a result, they now had to clean up Aslan's mess.
More precisely: take over Umbrella Corporation and use it as a pretext to join Hydra, becoming one of its serpent heads.
Ever since Angra Mainyu's exile, the Umbrella Corporation founded by Aslan had unexpectedly thrived under Aishelia and Merlin's management.
But this created a problem for Aslan. Strictly speaking, it was his industry—but reclaiming it wasn't easy. He could only approach it indirectly through cooperation.
And Aishelia was even more awkward about it. With Ouroboros disbanded, she—a former Ouroboros spy—was left in an extremely uncomfortable position.
The crux of the matter was this: she couldn't just abandon Angra Mainyu's legacy, yet continuing it felt equally impossible.
Athena remained silent, offering no guidance on what she should do next.
As for Merlin, the pressure on her was immense due to King Arthur's return. She also had to support Arthur's successor.
Now, faced with another party's cooperation request, she found the whole situation deeply troublesome.
She was an exceptional knight and a capable leader—but somewhat lacking in technological expertise and negotiation skills.
This ultimately led to the current abstract outcome. The real issue? This entire operation had been built by the "Last Trial of Mankind." She couldn't find anyone suitable to hand it off to.
Just as she was lost in thought, the communication Gift embedded in her body suddenly vibrated. Aishelia excused herself briefly, pulled out her phone, and checked the message.
"You're going to keep playing your management game forever? It's time to return."
A faint smile appeared on Aishelia's lips.
Had Goddess Athena finally remembered her? Though it was common in Little Garden for missions to last anywhere from a few years to centuries…
A meaningless vacation where she didn't even know what to do—that was something she'd never experienced before.
"Yes, Goddess Athena."
After silently praying in her heart, Aishelia lifted her head and studied Asagi—the envoy sent by the Blood Empire, which had recently gained fame after occupying Outer Gate 6666, formerly the domain of the Asura Tribe.
"Cooperation?"
Aishelia tapped the table, deep in thought. What if she simply withdrew right now?
No. That cunning woman, Merlin, hadn't said a word yet—it was better to maintain the status quo.
But… Goddess Athena was calling her back?
Aishelia smiled faintly and fixed her gaze on Asagi.
"Cooperation is possible—but I have one condition…"
Ten minutes later, Asagi stared blankly at herself, now seated as acting leader of Umbrella Corporation, lost in thought.
What had just happened? It seemed she'd somehow taken on extra unpaid work.
The fate of hardworking employees truly was tragic…
After sighing deeply, Asagi immediately resumed her tireless duties.
In truth, with Aslan and Leticia's backing, the Blood Empire—founded by refugees from the Strike the Blood world—had grown at a staggering pace.
Especially after Aslan captured a certain Asura Tribe queen and seized their territory.
Though only one or two months had passed, the Blood Empire was already recognized as a Four-Digit-influential Community—qualified to rival even Avalon.
After all, the other three Primogenitors possessed formidable strength. Having absorbed the merits of ruling their world for millennia, all had reached Four-Digit levels and could summon a significant number of Five-Digit Beast Vassals.
Their power was strong, their morale rivaled that of Little Garden's knights, and with Aslan and Leticia's support, their backing was anything but weak.
They'd purged Demon Lords, established livelihoods for communities—and their rise had been meteoric.
Now, they stood as the strongest force under Aslan's command.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Outer Gate 1224, Perseus Headquarters.
A goddess adorned with an olive wreath gently stepped through a doorway.
Beyond it lay the true sealed chamber containing Algol's separated power and God-Spirit.
Though the Baphomet Star currently in Aslan's possession was Algol's original body, nearly all her strength had long since been stripped away.
Athena sighed helplessly.
"If I could, I truly wouldn't come here."
Just imagining sharing the same air as Algol made Athena feel nauseous.
She'd already decided: she'd hold her breath and not inhale. After all, gods and buddhas born naturally wouldn't die from holding their breath.
At that very moment, inside a palace filled with countless mirrors,
A purple-clad girl—charming, childlike, beautiful, and ageless—suddenly lifted her head with bright excitement.
Algol tilted her head and looked toward the chamber door.
Outside the exit, in a spot untouched by mirrors, olive branches sprouted from the ground, and white olive blossoms bloomed.
Then, the branches transformed into a golden-haired woman clad in white robes, wearing an olive wreath upon her head.
Seeing this, Algol turned around, lounged sideways on the bed, and spoke with three parts indifference and seven parts mockery:
"Ugly woman! You've finally come looking for AI-chan! Do you even know how long AI-chan waited for you? AI-chan didn't even get to take a pretty nap!"
Athena's expression froze the moment she materialized. The words she'd prepared lodged in her throat, unable to escape.
(You sure weren't sleeping—weren't you and Aslan playing all night? And dragging my other self into it too?)
That's why she'd failed to organize intel and plan her next move last night.
If only she'd known, she wouldn't have transferred part of her essence to that other Athena so hastily.
After three seconds of silence, Athena spoke coldly:
"I'm not here to argue! I've come to free you!"
Algol picked up a small mirror, took a wooden comb, and while brushing her hair, replied disdainfully:
"Nope. AI-chan is perfectly comfy in here—doesn't wanna leave."
As she spoke, a sly expression crossed Algol's face.
"Unless… a girl as stunningly beautiful as AI-chan herself is willing to escort AI-chan out."
Hearing this, Athena instinctively wanted to protest.
In her view, her beauty was in no way inferior to Algol's.
But she quickly grasped Algol's logic. In Algol's mind, the most beautiful girl in Little Garden was none other than herself.
And the only one whose appearance rivaled hers… was another Algol.
Algol wanted her to transform into her likeness…
"Impossible. You're dreaming!"
Athena shot back instinctively.
Algol shrugged casually, picked up her lipstick, and applied it before the mirror.
"Then AI-chan will just stay here."
"AI-chan—so exquisitely beautiful—will only leave with someone as gorgeous as herself."
"This place doesn't accept ugly women!"
As she spoke, Algol gently tapped the floor.
A grandfather clock suddenly rose from beneath the ground, its hands pointing precisely to noon.
A cuckoo bird popped out.
"Ugly woman! Ugly woman! Caw! Caw!"
The bird hopped in and out of the clock repeatedly.
This made Athena frown deeply.
"Can't we just talk reasonably?"
Algol continued applying her lipstick calmly, showing no intention of responding.
After all, though her relationship with Athena had cooled thanks to Aslan, that didn't mean she'd forgive and forget everything Athena had done to her with a smile.
Athena watched Algol silently. The noisy cuckoo kept squawking "ugly woman" over and over.
Suppressing the urge to smash the bird into dust, Athena spoke evenly:
"I can promise you any single condition you desire."
"Hmm?"
Algol paused, turned her head, and looked at Athena with mild surprise.
"Hmm? Are you insane? You'd agree to a condition like that?"
"I always thought your looks were subpar, but your brain was decent. Now even your brain's gone haywire?"
Athena instantly lost the will to speak.
Right now, she'd rather rip out Algol's revolting mouth than negotiate.
"I'll say it once more: I can grant you any single condition—as long as you agree to leave."
Athena's face was utterly expressionless, radiating icy calm.
Algol observed this, tilted her head, and spoke with faint disgust:
"What scheme are you plotting now?"
"A condition like this… doesn't sound like something you'd ever accept."
"No. I'm not scheming anything."
Athena spoke with serene composure.
"I genuinely intend to make peace with you."
Algol fell silent for a moment, then gave a helpless smile.
"Of course. AI-chan still can't understand the over-the-top thinking of ugly people like you."
Did it really have to come to this? Couldn't she just become Trinitarian Medusa through the Medusa God-Spirit path she had set?
Why did she have to oppose that Athena?
She honestly couldn't tell if this crazy Athena was doing this for pride… or to reach Two-Digit status.
Algol shook her head, set down the lipstick, admired her flawless reflection in the mirror, smiled, and said:
"Well then… how could there possibly be two girls as beautiful as AI-chan?"