240 Chapter 240: Win Condition (2/2)
”We can't destroy the mainframe yet. We need to hack into it and delete the data from the cloud. The Dark Church-exclusive cloud server is stored in this mainframe, so as long as we hack and delete it here, we'll be able to erase any backup file in their online server.”
”How?” Shun Yin asked, confused. ”I'm not skilled at programming, but something about that logic doesn't sound right…”
”Just explain everything away with magic, okay?” Angelica interrupted. ”And before you ask about physical thumb drives and external hard disks that may contain the blueprint, well, there's nothing we can do about that. But at least destroying the main cloud server and computer mainframe will delay their research for a long while. And if they happen to not have any backup thumb drives or whatever, then even better!”
Shun Yin conceded that it was better than doing nothing and allowing the Dark Church free reign in doing whatever they wanted, so he silently nodded. However, even as he glanced around the freezing room, another thought came to mind.
”Uh, how do we hack the computer then?”
”I can do it.” Glen raised a hand. ”My lightning magic will allow me to interface with the computer mainframe, and I should be able to bend it to my will and purge it of its data. Then, as a final measure, I'll destroy the whole computer. White Tiger, watch my back.”
”We can do that,” Shun Yin began, and Glen grinned.
”I know. I'll leave it to you…”
”Actually, no.” Angelica raised a hand. ”If you and your Soul Beast can handle this place by yourselves, then Shun Yin and I should go back and assist Mr. Stuart and his bodyguard. As powerful as I am, their opponent is a spirit-possessed Cronus Wright. I don't know how long they can hold out against them.” her lips thinned. ”We already lost Brother. I don't want any more sacrifices.”
Glen watched her for a moment, and then nodded. ”We got rid of all the sentries here, so this place should be clear. Even if there are still any survivors remaining, they're probably small fries. They won't be a match for my White Tiger.”
”Thank you. We'll leave this place to you.”
Angelica then left, and Shun Yin hastily made to follow. She glanced at him with a bitter smile.
”I went through so much trouble and ordered the Assassins Guild not to kill my brother…told them to avoid hurting him if possible…and all that went to waste. I never thought he would die here…to an Assassin, of all people.”
”It wasn't your fault.”
”I'm not blaming myself…or anybody.” Angelica took a deep breath and balled her fists, her eyes glaring forward. ”But admittedly, there were a lot of things I could have done better. I was counting on Brother to be the next head, you know? And now he's…gone.”
”The Porter clan still has you.”
”No.” Angelica shook her head vehemently. ”That's no longer possible. Didn't you hear what Glen said? There's no way I can walk back and take over, not after I massacred the elders and killed my parents. And besides, I never wanted to return to the Porter clan. Not after all this.” she smiled. ”Even if Brother had forgiven me, the law wouldn't. I committed murder. There is no going back for me.”
She whirled around, almost happily, to face him briefly.
”But that's all right. After all this, I always dreamed of eloping somewhere with you. the both of us, heading toward the Amazerian or Zurum Empire and living out the rest of our lives overseas, free from the responsibilities of my clan…of the ten Great Families.”
”My parents…”
”We'll bring your parents along, of course. If they agree. If not, then…too bad, we'll just leave them behind.”
Shun Yin shook his head in amazement. Angelica was always living in a world of her own. Then again, that was what attracted him to her in the first place. When he first met her when they were both kids, she was building sandcastles in the sky…quite literally, except that they were castles forged from white flames and magic. And she aimed to be a princess.
Perhaps she still wanted to play the role of a princess…a runaway princess in a fairy tale-like romance story.
However, all hope of that happy ending shattered…especially when everyone knows what was going to happen to Angelica in future. Okay, I really should stop breaking the fourth wall. Sorry.
”Eh?”
Shun Yin was surprised when Angelica stopped in front of one of the doors. He skidded to a stop behind her.
”What's the matter, Angelica? Aren't we supposed to assist Mr. Stuart and Mr. Yuan Dao?”
”Yes, but we can't help them as we are right now.” Angelica paused before she reached out and blasted the door open. As the smoke billowed inward, Shun Yin peered inside. Past the dissipating smog, he caught sight of a strange machine.
In the center of the chamber, it stood, with a single orb revolving amidst a network of metallic veins. Glowing ethereal energies suffused the still-running machine, and for some reason Shun Yin felt the hair on the back of his neck stand on end.
”This is…” he began.
Angelica smiled sadly and nodded before finishing the sentence for him.
”…our only hope for defeating Cronus and Serena Wright.”