<h4>Chapter 98: Viin Simtor, Ch 97</h4>
Sucrose was a simple and pure-hearted girl; aside from her research in alchemy, she had little interest in anything else.
And Lucas was her guide on the path of alchemy. Over the years, her respect and admiration for him had slowly evolved into moreplex emotions, simmering silently beneath the surface.
Of course, Sucrose dared to be so bold this time because she hadced the dandelion wine with a potion called "Forget-Me Powder," whichpletely erased the user''s memories for the next twelve hours.
However, what Sucrose didn''t know was that due to his long history of using his own body for alchemical experiments, Lucas had developed a resistance to most alchemical drugs. For him, the Forget-Me Powder only erased six hours of memory.
Sucrose had been studying biological alchemy for years, which naturally required frequent observation of living organisms. As a result, she had acquired some knowledge in that area.
Though not entirely proficient, the process was ultimately sessful.
When a person loses their sight, their hearing bes more sensitive. In Lucas''s case, with his limbs numb, the sensitivity in the rest of his body was heightened.
Even though Sucrose''s "collection technique" was not particrly professional, she handled the task skillfully and didn''t waver for a moment.
Perhaps worried about insufficient materials, after allowing Lucas to rest for a while, Sucrose began a second round of collection.
Since it was the second attempt, the pace was slower, but Sucrose showed great patience. Despite the fine sheen of sweat on her forehead, she didn''t stop.
Luckily, although the second collection yielded less than the first, it wasn''t without results.
Sucrose considered a third round, but after seeing Lucas tired, she reluctantly decided to stop.
"Please rest well, boss," Sucrose said, carefully storing the DNA she had collected, her voice tinged with exhaustion. "I won''t waste your efforts."
Watching Sucrose leave, Lucas felt conflicted.
This girl really thought he would forget everything by the next day.
[Switching to text mode]
[The next day, when you wake up, the effects of the neurotoxin have indeed worn off, but you haven''t forgotten the events of the previous night.]
[When you return to the shop, Sucrose has already been there for a while, brewing potions. Upon seeing you, her face reddens slightly, though she doesn''t reveal the truth. She merely says that you passed out after drinking too much, and she moved you to theb to rest.]
[Faced with Sucrose''s clumsy lie, you decide...]
[1. Reveal the truth.]
[2. Pretend not to know.]
Uh...
After a moment of hesitation, Lucas chose the second option.
If he revealed the truth, given Sucrose''s shy nature, she would likely feel so embarrassed that she would resign. And right now, he couldn''t afford to lose such a good assistant.
Let''s just treat what happenedst night as a "beautiful mistake."
[You pretend not to remember anything, telling Sucrose with a helpless smile that you have no memory of what happened. You notice a look of relief cross her face.]
[However, with the DNA you provided, Sucrose''s experiment proceeds smoothly. A weekter, she brings a "limb" to you.]
[It is an arm that looks almost exactly like a human arm. However, you quickly realize that it is an alchemical creation, synthesized using the tissues of various monsters. Its bones are from a Hilichurl Berserker.]
[In the past, you always wondered why Sucrose was so keen on collecting monster bones. Now, you understand—she had been searching for suitable materials to create an arm for you all along.]
[You had previously tried using alchemy topensate for your physical shorings, but the process proved unexpectedly arduous. The most challenging step was dealing with the severe rejection response between the inorganic alchemical arm and the human body.]
[Moreover, attempting to connect human nerves to an alchemical arm is a delicate and precise operation. It''s nearly impossible to maintain a calm and precise state of mind for such a nerve connection while enduring extreme pain.]
[However, the bio-alchemical arm Sucrose created perfectly resolved this first issue. Of course, you pretended not to know that the reason the arm did not reject your body was because it contained your gic material.]
[As for the nerve connection surgery, you left that to Sucrose. The process was excruciating, as you had to verify the connections by feeling pain to ensure each nerve was linked correctly without anesthesia.]
[But you endured it. After an entire afternoon, the surgery waspleted, and the towel soaked with your sweat was wrung out into a small bucket.]
[Having been without an arm for so long, it was difficult to adjust to the sensation of having one again. However, as you watched the fingers tremble slightly, your heart surged with emotion.]
[This arm would not only pave the way for your revenge but also allow you to appear in front of Alice without revealing your identity.]
[In Alice''s perception, you were long dead, and even though you had concealed your identity with disfigurement, your missing arm was still too conspicuous. Someone as clever as Alice would easily notice the inconsistency.]
[But now, even Alice would never believe that not only were you still alive, but you had also regained your arm.]
[You expressed your gratitude to Sucrose, but she insisted that she should be the one thanking you. Without you, she would never have had the opportunity to make a breakthrough in biological alchemy. Of course, you both kept your own secrets.]
[The person happiest about this development was Klee. Her reason for joy tugged at your heartstrings: "Now, Daddy can hold Klee in both arms, just like other kids get hugged by their dads. Yay!"]
[You gave Klee a full embrace, knowing that it might be thest bit of gentleness you could offer her.]
[Age 30: Time has passed, and you are now thirty. Perhaps due to the constant experiments you conducted on your body over the years, your physical functions show no signs of aging.]
[To avoid scaring others with the burnt half of your face, you habitually wear a mask to cover it. The exposed half of your face, surprisingly, shows no signs of age.]
[Sucrose was the one who noticed this. One day, while organizing inventory, she stumbled upon your wedding photo with yourte wife. She expressed her surprise, noting that you looked almost the same as in the photo, which had been taken at least over a decade ago.]
[While you found this curious, you didn''t dwell on it. Perhaps alchemy had silently altered your body structure, or even caused serious side effects, but you had no way to turn back.]
[One day, the Goth Grand Hotel was targeted in an explosion, resulting in one death and four serious injuries. The authorities had yet to find any clues regarding the perpetrator.]
[The headline on the newspaper brought a faint smile to your lips. The one responsible was not you, but Klee.]
[This marked the beginning of the second phase of your revenge n: shaping Klee into the perfect "criminal."]
[At just six years old, Klee''s talent for explosives far surpassed your own. She could even independently create a bouncing bomb she called the "Jumpy Dumpty."]
[You created a storybook called Brave Klee vs. the Demon King, where Klee became a tiny hero who had to pass through many challenges to ultimately defeat the final Demon King—the one who killed her mother.]
[The so-called "challenges" were criminal ns you specifically tailored for Klee.]
[Covered in soot, Klee returned to you with a triumphant grin. "Daddy! Brave Kleepleted her first mission! Am I... super amazing?"]
["Of course. Brave Klee has taken her first step to defeat the Demon King. She used her bomb to destroy one of the bandit hideouts under his control." You opened the first page of the storybook and marked it with a cross.]
[The illustrations were drawn in a charming, storybook style: Klee used her bombs to blow up a bandit hideout. The bandits wereunched into the air with their pants on fire, running aroundically, full of childlike innocence.]
[The reality, however, was that the people Klee blew up were beyond recognition, and the severely injured were covered in third-degree burns, destined to live the rest of their lives in suffering.]
[Alice, are you seeing this? Your precious daughter is being shaped into a demon, step by step. You can hardly wait to see Alice''s reaction when she learns the truth.]
[For now, Klee is an innocent, nk te, and you''ve just left the first stain upon it.]
[Of course, this is only the beginning. That nk te will one day be filled with twisted depictions of crime.]
[To teach Klee more skills, you allow her to visit the shop and help out often. Sucrose, for her part, is more than happy to assist in caring for Klee.]
[However, Sucrose cannot fill the role of a mother. To Klee, she is more like a gentle, kind, yet quiet older sister.]
[Age 31: Over the year, Klee carried out several more criminal operations.]
[She set fire to the Mondstadt grain warehouses under the guise of the task "Burn the Demon King''s Army''s Provisions."]
[She blew off the head of Barbatos''s statue,pleting the task "Defeat the Demon King''s Allies."]
[The reason you went through such lengths wasn''t just to have Kleemit crimes but to cultivate her "nature."]
[Rather than simply turning Klee into a viin, you aimed to make her instinctively believe that all her "bad deeds" were justified—that they were prerequisites for defeating the "Demon King."]
[You nted the seeds of evil deep within Klee''s subconscious, patiently waiting for them to blossom.]
[For Klee, the most exciting thing waspleting the "missions" in her storybook. Every time she opened a new Chapter, she was filled with exhration, as if she were one step closer to final victory.]
[Of course, your n was top secret. You told Klee that all the actions of "Brave Klee" were ssified; if a third person ever learned about them, she would never be able to defeat the Demon King, and the storybook detailing her great adventures—Brave Klee vs. the Demon King—would be destroyed.]
[Klee took this very seriously, vowing that she would keep the secret no matter what.]
[Age 32: Sucrose had now worked at your shop for six years, and you had watched her transform from a shy, young girl into a mature, intelligent woman.]
[Though she remained as quiet as ever, she had be much moreposed, no longer blushing at every little thing.]
[Some new customers even mistook Sucrose for your wife and Klee''s mother. Sucrose never confirmed these assumptions, but she never denied them either, always responding with a smile.]
[You aren''t oblivious. Given the events of the past, it was clear to you that Sucrose had developed feelings for you. However, you couldn''t reciprocate those feelings.]
[You understood that the end of your quest for revenge was destined to be tragic. Whether Alice or Klee survived, they would despise you once they learned the truth.]
[Of course, you felt no fear. As long as you could fulfill your revenge, you would ept death calmly and reunite with your wife and daughter in another world.]
[But Sucrose didn''t need to be part of your revenge; she didn''t deserve to sacrifice herself for your n.]
[Age 33: Through your efforts with Klee, the nine-year-old had be the youngest criminal bomber in Mondstadt''s history. Naturally, no one knew her true age; no one could believe that the perpetrator behind these explosive incidents was a girl under ten.]
[Nevertheless, Klee inevitably left behind some traces. Witnesses insisted that the criminal was a dwarf with severe antisocial tendencies.]
[Klee became a frequent figure on the Knights of Favonius'' wanted list, with her bounty increasing year by year. She even earned the nickname—the "Evil Sun."]
[Age 34: Six months ago, Grand Master Varka led an elite unit of the Knights of Favonius on another expedition, leaving Mondstadt temporarily under the leadership of Dandelion Knight Jean.]
[Unlike the hearty and carefree Varka, Jean immediately began handling the umted cases upon assuming her temporary role, paying special attention to the "Evil Sun" and vowing to apprehend the culprit within three months.]
[Faced with Jean''s challenge, you naturally wouldn''t back down. You nned a major heist as a gift for Klee''s tenth birthday.]
[While Klee usually carried out these operations alone, your workload was not light. Before each mission, you conducted reconnaissance, gathered intelligence, and meticulously nned every step. During the operation, you monitored the situation and kept watch. Afterward, you handled the cleanup, eliminating evidence.]
[In other words, if Klee were not a viin but a superhero like Batman, you would be her Alfred.]
[You devised an explosive heist targeting the "Sword of the Wind''s Gift," a symbol of the Knights of Favonius. It was said that this sword had once belonged to the founder of the Knights, Vennessa. Stealing it would be a huge blow to the Knights'' reputation.]
[The n progressed smoothly. After all, you had bombed the Knights of Favonius headquarters ten years ago; this time was no different.]
[You even added a new page to the storybook, illustrating an adventure where Brave Klee infiltrates the Demon King''s fortress to steal the Demon Sword.]
[It''s worth mentioning that you seemed to have a natural talent for drawing. For you, drawing wasn''t an art form but a mechanical process—merely replicating the world on paper.]
[Like a human camera, this talent allowed you to document alchemical materials efficiently. You also created a detailed map of Mondstadt to n escape routes.]
[Klee was just as enthusiastic about this operation. From the bombs packed in her backpack, it was clear she was eager for action.]
[Just as you did ten years ago, you used an alchemical potion to put the guards to sleep. By now, Klee was an experienced criminal. She slipped into the Knights'' headquarters with far more agility than you did in your first attempt.]
[After all, you were a novice back then, while Klee now had five years of criminal experience. Her intelligence and quick learning made her proficient at anything—even bing a criminal.]
[You waited at the designated spot for Klee''s exit. But after hearing the explosion, there was no sign of her, and a sense of dread gripped you.]
[You heard the sounds ofbat beyond the wall and realized that this mission might have been anticipated by the Knights. Without hesitation, you sted open the wall, ready to rescue her.]
[No matter what, you couldn''t let Klee get hurt. She was the most crucial part of your revenge n; even if you had to die, you couldn''t afford for anything to happen to her!]
[Inside the vault, Jean was battling Klee. It was more of a one-sided chase than a fight. Against Jean''s superb swordsmanship and her Vision, Klee stood no chance.]
[Because Klee was disguised, and the rumor was that the culprit was a dwarf, Jean didn''t hold back.]
[Klee, despite her experience, rarely encountered such danger. All the bombs she threw were effortlessly neutralized by Jean''s Wind Pressure Sword.]
[Seeing that Klee was in danger, you grabbed the Sword of the Wind''s Gift from the pedestal and shed with Jean. Seeing you wielding the Knights'' sacred relic, Jean shouted in anger, "Put down the Sword! That sword is not for someone like you to wield!"]
[Jean wasn''t just making empty threats. You could feel the sword rejecting you, but you gritted your teeth against the pain of wind des cutting into your arm and continued to fight.]
[Though you weren''t a swordmaster, you had practiced swordsmanship for some time to facilitate your criminal activities. Your physical condition was also far superior to that of an average person, thanks to the prolonged use of various alchemical potions.]
[The Sword of the Wind''s Gift resisted your body, causing sharp pain as if your arm was being torn apart. Fortunately, your arm was an alchemical construct, much tougher than a regr limb. If it had been your original arm, it might have been severed by the wind des already.]
[With your brute strength and the advantage of wielding the Sword of the Wind''s Gift, you managed to fight Jean to a standstill. But you knew in your heart that if the battle dragged on and other Knights of Favonius arrived, both you and Klee would be doomed.]
[So, you decided to go all out and use your trump card, which you had prepared long ago.]
[Your most powerful weapon was, of course, explosives. But in such an intense battle, there was no opportunity to throw a bomb. Besides, using an explosive at such close range would mean mutual destruction for both you and Jean.]
[You deliberately exposed a weakness, leaving your arm holding the Sword of the Wind''s Gift wide open. Jean, not one to miss such an opportunity, immediately swung her sword and severed your arm.]
[With her focus on retrieving the Sword of the Wind''s Gift, Jean instinctively reached for the severed arm still gripping the weapon. But at that moment, you activated the mechanism you had prepared in advance.]
["Goodbye, Acting Grand Master Jean!" The severed arm began to emit a rapid beeping sound. Before Jean could react, the arm exploded, engulfing her in the st.]
[Indeed, you had imnted a powerful miniature bomb inside the alchemical arm, precisely for such an emergency.]
["Daddy, you''re amazing!" Klee leapt into your arms, her face full of admiration. "Daddy''s bomb is even stronger than Klee''s!"]
[You patted Klee''s head, preparing to flee with her immediately. However, just as you turned to leave, a sudden chill ran down your spine—a sharp de pierced through your chest from behind.]
[You hadn''t overestimated the power of your own creation; you had underestimated the resilience of a Vision wielder.]
[Jean, though missing half an arm and covered in blood, had still mustered the strength to drive her sword through your chest.]
["You won''t escape!" Jean growled coldly, her face pale. "The Knights of Favonius, entrusted to me by Grand Master Varka—I will protect them... no matter what!"]
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Author''s Note: To all those whoin about simtions, no, I''m not going to remove them because I like them. Simple as that.
However, I will post really long Chapters if I feel it''s getting too stretched. ONLY if I feel like it. Thank you!