The situation was at a stalemate.
The return of Lucas Reeve from his trip should have been a very happy occasion for Jessica and Franka. However, Surtr's pointed hostility made them feel as if they were facing a formidable enemy. And it wasn't just Surtr; who was this beautiful girl with dragon horns?
Why hadn't they heard Sora and the others mention her?
Surtr snorted coldly.
An aura of aloofness and superiority washed over them.
Surtr was quite a bit taller than Jessica. After straightening her back, her slender figure revealed a near-perfect S-shaped curve. Her ample chest was something one couldn't tear their eyes away from. Compared to Jessica's petite frame, Surtr had a huge advantage.
The advantage is mine.
Franka was suddenly not having it.
So you're just going to bully Jessica, huh!!
She also straightened her back, attempting to fight fire with fire, her presence even faintly showing signs of overwhelming Surtr's. For a moment, they were locked in a confrontation that no ordinary person could interfere with. In any case... the four members of Penguin Logistics were not qualified. The confrontation between 'Emperors' was far too intense; ordinary mortals didn't even have the right to watch.
Jessica took a deep breath, trying to make herself seem more amiable.
Actually.
She didn't really mind Lucas Reeve bringing a girl back. She really didn't. At most, she just felt very sour inside, really! (crying cat face)
If her personality was nice.
Jessica wouldn't mind getting along with her. After all, she was here first. Plus, whenever Mr. Reeve had free time, he would often keep her company, and even proactively paved the way for her future. And Raythean Industries could also help Mr. Reeve in many ways, so there was nothing to be afraid of.
But...
This Miss Surtr was just too cold and arrogant.
Her face was icy and condescending, as if she looked down on everyone present. It reminded Jessica of Rhodes Island's Kal'tsit, except Kal'tsit was just purely expressionless, while Miss Surtr was like a big dog whose favorite bone had been taken away, hostile to anyone who tried to get close to Lucas Reeve.
As for the other one with dragon horns, her eyes shimmered as if they contained a starry sky, and her aura was just as ethereal and ancient as Mr. Reeve's. If Mr. Reeve was a tranquil pond that had existed for thousands of years, undisturbed, then the dragon-horned girl before her was like a volcano of lava that had existed for millennia, passionate on the inside, but a casual splatter could easily annihilate everyone around.
This unknown dragon-horned lady.
Just one glance.
And Jessica already didn't quite dare to look her directly in the eye.
It was as if her very soul would be drawn in.
.....
Huff...
God...
This thought flashed through Jessica's mind.
A god, just like Mr. Reeve!!
No wonder she seemed so easygoing, yet when she looked at everyone present, the pressure from a higher life form deep within her eyes was very unsettling. It was the kind of look a human gives to small animals around them—I can be friendly with you, I can even be your friend, but an animal is still an animal, and a human is still a human.
"Hello, my name is Jessica. The chairman of Raythean Industries is my father. Thank you very much for taking care of my Lucas Reeve these past few days."
Jessica also began to show her aggressive side.
After all, one was a condescending god, the other was cold and arrogant.
She couldn't possibly let her own presence weaken in front of Mr. Reeve.
Nian was taken aback, and then a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes. After all, even as a Divine Fragment, she couldn't underestimate the fabulously wealthy Raythean Industries.
Jessica...
At the mention of this name.
Nian seemed to remember something, and then her face lit up with joy.
She grasped Jessica's small hands with her own crimson ones and said happily, "You're Jessica? I've heard my good confidant, my kindred spirit, talk about you. He said you can contact the chairman of the Columbia Pictures Group?"
"Oh right, my name is Nian, the most famous film director and screenwriter from Lungmen, Yan. This is my business card! My dear sister Dusk is the best painter in Yan, and one of my older sisters is the most famous drunkard... I mean, poet in Yan!"
Nian actually pulled out a business card she carried with her from the pocket of her white shorts.
Jessica was also taken aback by Nian's sudden change in attitude. She then coughed and nodded in a friendly manner.
"Hello, Miss Nian. That's right, my family is indeed a major shareholder of the Columbia Pictures Group..."
"That's fantastic!!"
Nian beamed and patted Jessica's shoulder.
"As Lucas Reeve's confidant, friend, kindred spirit, and fellow being, according to the Yanese way of putting it, with this string of connections, we can be considered one of our own. Please, contact the head of the group for me. I want to make a movie. Of course, as payment..."
Nian looked around. The other party seemed to have money and lacked nothing.
"How about I give you a divine weapon?"
On Terra today, only she could forge true divine weapons. Although modern industrialized and technological forging techniques were very mature, they were far from being able to forge a true divine weapon.
"A divine weapon?"
Jessica was stunned.
Then.
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Nian raised her head, opened her mouth, and a halo of flame emerged from within. Crimson lava even trickled from the corners of her mouth. This scene left everyone so astonished they were speechless.
When the lava from the corner of Nian's mouth slid down her chin and throat to the floor, and they heard the sizzling sound of burning, everyone instantly understood.
That's real lava!!!
Spitting lava from her mouth??
The four from Penguin Logistics in the back were completely petrified.
They had seen Surtr grab lava with her bare hands, that was one thing, but how could there be someone who spits lava? What exactly was inside this Miss Nian??
A forging furnace??
The flame in Nian's hand transformed into an incomparably sharp Tang sword, completely different from the modern staff-swords of Columbia and the swords of some other countries.
It wasn't flashy at all.
But the blade was incredibly sharp. Just by looking at it, Jessica and Franka felt their eyes sting from the cold glint of the blade. Even just getting close, they felt a sense of panic, as if their bodies were about to be torn apart by the sword's invisible aura.
*Gulp*....
Jessica now used a sword as well.
She could clearly sense that this sword was far, far stronger than the [Fire-Lightning Cloud] she used. They weren't even in the same league. And the [Fire-Lightning Cloud] was basically the highest-grade forged product of Raythean Industries.
As expected of a god!
"How is it?"
Nian showed it off a little to the others. With a casual swing without using any power, the inherent sharpness of the sword's edge directly carved a long trench into the lobby floor. It was hard to imagine what would happen if power were infused into it; it could probably slice a building in half.
Of course.
If Nian used it herself, she could split a small town in two.
Jessica was tempted.
Franka was tempted as well.
Both of them were now sword users, and they coveted such a true divine longsword.
This was the kind of thing that money truly couldn't buy.
Hee hee~
Seeing that Jessica was tempted.
Nian directly handed the hilt to Jessica.
Only then did Jessica snap back to reality and hurriedly refuse.
"No, Miss Nian, this is too precious!"
Nian scratched her head.
"Is it precious? I have plenty more. If you think it's not good enough, I can customize one for you."
"No.... no need... thank you, Miss Nian. I will help you contact that big shot in the film industry."
Jessica didn't refuse too much either. Putting herself in the other's shoes.
Money was very precious to ordinary people, but to Jessica, it was just a number. And this kind of divine weapon, while precious to Jessica, was just something casually knocked together for a god like Nian.
"Thanks a lot!!"
Nian happily hugged Jessica.
With Nian's intervention.
The rather tense atmosphere between Jessica and Surtr was temporarily diverted. Since they were in the lobby, although the employees had been asked to leave, it wasn't quite appropriate. Jessica instructed her secretary to find construction workers to fix the large gash Nian had made on the floor, while the group returned to Jessica's spacious office.
Surtr still had a cold expression on her face, sitting on the sofa with a 'do not approach' look.
Jessica couldn't be bothered with her either and asked about Lucas Reeve's situation.
After all, she had been too anxious earlier, and Lucas Reeve hadn't had much time to go into the details, only saying there was an unexpected incident.
And after Lucas Reeve's simple explanation.
Jessica and the others finally understood. The three from Penguin Logistics already knew. Only Sora had a complicated expression as she looked at the little fire person on Surtr's shoulder. Just as she thought... Tex was right earlier. The one who saved her half a year ago was Mr. Reeve. His speech and aura were exactly the same...
"So, Mr. Reeve, you and Miss Surtr's Laevatain have fused together?"
Jessica asked. Such an event sounded like something out of a fantasy. A normal person would never believe it.
"Mhm."
However, Jessica didn't dwell on it too much.
For her, as long as Lucas Reeve was safe, that was all that mattered. It didn't matter what he became; even if he turned into a monster, he would still be her Mr. Reeve.
Afterward, Lucas Reeve asked about Lisa's situation.
Jessica had specifically sent powerful, professional bodyguards from Raythean Industries. They provided 24-hour close protection, which could basically guarantee Lisa's personal safety.
However, during the chat.
Surtr's tsundere expression grew worse and worse.
She had no friends, no family. From the moment she gained consciousness, she had been all alone. Over the years, with just her sword, she had traveled to many places, from the wilderness to small towns to mobile cities. Surtr had seen far too many people and things.
She had witnessed happy families with her own eyes, with friends and relatives, while she herself had nothing, not even the most basic memories.
Was she envious?
She was truly envious.
On the surface, Surtr was cold and aloof, but in her heart, she also longed for this feeling of companionship.
Although the time they had spent together was not long.
The month Lucas Reeve had spent with her had also brought some joy to Surtr's heart. Although it didn't show on her face, she actually enjoyed this feeling. However, upon knowing that Lucas Reeve might be leaving her soon, Surtr couldn't hold it in any longer. In front of everyone, she shot up to her feet.
Her face cold and unsightly, she rushed out, as if afraid someone would snatch Lucas Reeve away.
"Hiss! She took Lucas Reeve and ran!!"
Franka was about to give chase, but Nian stopped her.
On the way, Nian had learned about Surtr's origins from Lucas Reeve. She had naturally heard of this concept of a host for a divine fragment's power. Such people were not many on Terra, but not exactly rare either. After all, there had been a great many Gods and Behemoths in the past. Moreover, their immortality meant that humans could only shatter them but could hardly kill them. And these shattered Divine Fragments with blurred consciousness would also wander aimlessly in search of someone who could inherit their power.
And these chosen people were very pitiful...
While gaining power, they also lost a lot.
Memories... humanity... emotions... even their lives. If they were lucky, the Divine Fragment would never awaken in their lifetime. If they were unlucky, they would directly become nourishment for that Divine Fragment and have their bodies taken over.
Nian had Franka sit down, then crossed her legs, sipped an expensive coffee, and carefully explained Surtr's experience to everyone. It involved many secrets, but since everyone here was a friend of Lucas Reeve, it probably didn't matter if they knew.
On the other side.
Surtr rushed out of the Raythean Medica building, dashing recklessly across the road in an attempt to leave the city.
Lucas Reeve sat on her shoulder and didn't try to stop her. He knew Surtr was feeling terrible.
Finally.
After running for a long time, Surtr stopped in a corner of the mobile city.
"Done running?"
Lucas Reeve said with a smile, sitting on Surtr's shoulder.
Surtr snorted coldly, a rare occasion for her to speak.
"No matter how fast I run... you'll still leave..."
"When did I ever say I was going to leave?"
Lucas Reeve said jokingly.
"Just now... you were chatting so intimately with that little girl.. it made me feel very uncomfortable... and.. you said, you might be able to separate in two or three months..."
Surtr's icy expression gradually became more dejected. She sat in the corner of a secluded street, hugging her knees, looking a little pitiful.
"You might not know, Sur..."
"I never said I would leave you. What I have in this world are all soul fragments. There's a soul fragment with Jessica, one with Alina, and that includes one with you. It's just that my soul and Laevatain's soul are fused too tightly, making it so my consciousness can't leave. So, what I mean by separating is that my fusion with Laevatain will loosen a bit, allowing my consciousness to attach to other soul fragments. Besides, I still have my own things to do."
"Doesn't that still mean you're leaving..."
A shadow of gloom crossed Surtr's eyes.
"Don't worry, I won't leave. My soul will always be here with you. When the time comes, just call my name, and I'll be there whenever you need me."
Since there was no one around.
Lucas Reeve directly manifested Laevatain's form and ruffled Surtr's crimson hair with his large hand.
"Really...."
"Really!"
"Pinky promise..."
Surtr held out her pinky finger.
"I saw many children like to do this when I was traveling. It seems to mean a promise, though I don't really know what it means."
Lucas Reeve smiled, extending Laevatain's large pinky finger to hook it with Surtr's delicate one.
—————————,
Raythean Medica Office.
After hearing Nian's explanation.
The kind-hearted Jessica was a bit dejected. She sympathized with Surtr's plight. It was these experiences that made Surtr rely on Lucas Reeve even more. Compared to Surtr, the lives of many ordinary people were incredibly fortunate.
Just imagine.
If it were her, she would definitely feel terrible too...
"Should we... go find Miss Surtr?"
Jessica asked for the opinions of those around her.
Nian immediately said, "No need, Lucas Reeve is with her. Forget about that!"
"Miss Jessica, are you interested in looking at my script? I think your temperament is perfectly suited to play a rich woman in my script who gets played by a scumbag!"
Everyone: "???"