Mystery: Chaos Path

However… Rossel suddenly thought of something, gave a wry smile, and said, "Actually, even if you really wanted to use me as an excuse to get Bernadette to work for you, I'm afraid you couldn't do it. Bernadette… she probably hates me."

Rossel still remembered the disappointed and disgusted look in his daughter's eyes after his last meeting with Bernadette. He and his little princess had completely broken off after that time, never to return to the way they were before.

"That's not necessarily true," Lorne chuckled upon hearing this, and said, "Bernadette does hate you, even loathes you, because of everything you've done, but she also loves you deeply, because you are her father. She has been looking for you all these years."

In the mausoleum, Rossel was stunned. He probably hadn't expected to receive such an answer. His lips trembled slightly before he said, "I… I'm sorry."

"You should tell her that apology, not me," Lorne said, pouring himself a cup of black tea. He was a little thirsty after saying so much.

Rossel smiled wryly again, and after a few seconds of silence, he spoke again: "You can contact Bernadette, but you can't force her to work for you."

"I never force anyone to work for me. All my employees are willing," Lorne said with a smile, even asking in return, "Aren't you?"

Rossel was speechless. Was he willingly working for Lorne? Probably!

After all, Lorne held his life in his hands, and also the thing he wanted most.

"You really are a born capitalist," Rossel finally managed to say after holding it in for a long time.

"Please call me a conscientious businessman, thank you," Lorne corrected with a smile. He then took a sip of black tea and said, "Don't be too nervous. Many people work for me, Red Angel Medici, Mr. Door Betray, the Bound God Tolzna, etc. To be honest, if it weren't for you, I really wouldn't look at a Sequence 3 Bernadette."

Rossel was speechless again.

It seemed that even being a beast of burden required connections these days.

Rossel felt desolate in his heart, but he understood that Lorne wasn't lying. With the other party's ability, there were probably countless people rushing to work for him, just to exchange it for a shelter or reunion with their relatives or something.

"By the way, will you need me to help you reunite with Bernadette when the time comes?" Lorne smiled after taking a sip of black tea, and said, "That way, you can personally explain to her what happened, and also avoid me deceiving your beloved little princess."

Rossel was silent again. He was obviously very conflicted, but after hesitating, he still said, "My side is very polluted, it's not suitable for Bernadette to come over. When the time comes, let her see the past me!"

"Okay, I'm fine with anything, but I'm quite busy recently, it will probably be a while before I can contact your little princess," Lorne smiled, nodded, and then asked, "Now that the trivial matters are over, let's talk about serious business!"

His expression became serious, and he said, "What is your current state?"

Lorne earnestly inquired about all aspects of Rossel's condition, just like a dutiful doctor, or like a researcher in a laboratory examining his little white mouse.

Because it concerned whether he could get rid of the pollution, Rossel naturally wouldn't hide anything, and answered all of Lorne's questions one by one. Finally, he complained half-truthfully:

"Speaking of which, isn't there a gentler treatment method? I really almost thought I was going to be blown to death just now."

"Of course there is, don't worry, since you've requested it, next time I'll definitely try to use a gentler method to remove the pollution for you," Lorne said with a smile, while recording all kinds of Rossel's data.

"I feel like you're treating me like a guinea pig," Rossel complained.

"Be confident, you are indeed a guinea pig," Lorne nodded without any concealment.

"Hey buddy, you just admitted it like that? Aren't you afraid I'll get angry!" Rossel felt speechless. He had seen honest people, but never one so honest.

"Why deny it? In the field of removing Outer God pollution, all those who are polluted are guinea pigs. Of course, if you don't like this title, I can also call you Experimental Subject No. 2," Lorne said seriously, his tone very earnest.

"…So, how is Experimental Subject better than a guinea pig?" Rossel couldn't help but complain, but he wasn't really angry.

After all, his current situation, by analogy, was like a cancer patient receiving a special medicine treatment when they originally thought they were bound to die. Being able to live in this situation was already good enough, what more could he ask for.

Rossel even felt like asking, "Then who is Experimental Subject No. 1?"

"The Bound God Tolzna," Lorne didn't hide anything and replied, "His situation is worse than yours. Before I treated him, he had even completely fallen into depravity. However, now, after the first stage of treatment, the Bound God Tolzna has regained a trace of clarity, and his state is roughly similar to yours before, but a little better."

Rossel wasn't surprised by this answer, but he quickly thought of something and asked doubtfully, "Then what about Mr. Door? Is he Experimental Subject No. 3?"

Even if he didn't know in his early years, Rossel now roughly understood what Mr. Door's situation was, and naturally knew that he was also polluted by the Mother Goddess.

"Mr. Door is a VIP customer and doesn't participate in experiments," Lorne said without batting an eye.

All errors are first issues, first releases, first content, first look!

"Wait, why? Did he pay extra? Didn't you just say that all those who are polluted are guinea pigs…" Rossel's eyes widened instantly, and he asked very unconvinced.

"Why?" Lorne took a sip of black tea and said unhurriedly, "Because he is a good person, because he would rather endure the torment of the Outer Gods, would rather let his family wither than give in, unwilling to let this world bear a bit of risk, because he will sacrifice himself in the future, just to protect this world, because he has never thought of escaping his responsibility."

Rossel was silent, and after a long while, he said, "Ah, then he really should be given preferential treatment."

"But what does 'future' mean?" Rossel keenly noticed this key word.

"The future is the future!" Lorne smiled, without explaining too much, only saying, "Time is a long river in front of me. I stand in the middle of the river, but both ends of the river are clearly visible to me."

Rossel obviously understood what this meant, which made him want to say something but stop, stop but want to say something, and still couldn't help but ask, "Boss, are you really human?"

"At least I have the heart of a mortal," Lorne neither admitted nor denied. He then took out his pocket watch and glanced at it, saying, "It's getting late, Rossel, let's talk next time! You probably won't be able to hold on for much longer anyway."

Rossel didn't deny it. Although the pollution on his body was suppressed for the time being, it didn't mean that he could stay awake forever. Before long, he would fall back into chaos and have to go back to sleep.

Thus, Lorne and Rossel's first meeting came to an end.