Chapter 721 — The Whitefrost Twins

"Perhaps they lived too long, or perhaps they never saw any hope. In the end, the Whitefrost sisters lost control. What a pity that... I do not even know whether 'they' are Firna or Lerna."

"I have a premonition that sooner or later we shall have dealings with that pair of 'sisters' again," Gao Yang shook his head. "A ghost so relentless will not truly fall silent."

"Perhaps," Verodai pursed her lips. "Then apart from that, what else have you gained?"

"Technology—the technology of the Society of the Final End of All Things," Gao Dai said. "We recovered an immense trove of technical data from that underground palace, along with complete laboratory equipment and all manner of samples, half-finished products, and specimens. These will be shipped in batches to the research facility at Piyun in the near future. But we all know there is more than druidic knowledge in there..."

"I understand," Verodai lowered her eyelids. "I will assist in identifying and analyzing the Defiant technology among them. If I discover any dangerous elements, I will give warning at the first opportunity."

Gao Yang nodded in satisfaction, while Verodai, after a moment's silence, suddenly fixed her eyes on Gao Song's and asked: "Then once the dangerous elements are excluded—what do you intend to do with those 'achievements' of the Society of the Final End of All Things?"

Gao Yang glanced at her and smiled faintly. "Use them, of course."

"Even though they were created by the Society of the Final End of All Things?"

"Technology is technology. Whatever is useful, we naturally take and use. The criminal can only ever be a person; there is no meaning in putting a tool on trial," Gao Dai said. "Those flesh magics are indeed chilling when used to create monsters, but if used to heal the wounded, they must surely be very effective."

"But some may harbor misgivings, and even criticize you in private for employing black witchcraft. The ignorant always feel unnecessary fear toward what they do not understand. For a thousand years, however the world has changed, it has never changed in prejudice and conservatism."

Gao Yang and Verodai looked into each other's eyes, and suddenly both broke into laughter.

"Of course, such people always turn up. Blaming dead objects for one's own failures is always easier than admitting one's incompetence and ignorance. But it doesn't matter—the ignorant can be taught, shown the reasoning until they understand. Those who cannot be taught, or who stir up trouble on purpose, well, we lay down rules and write contracts. I graciously permit them to have no contact with the technology excavated from the ruins of Sorinborg and its derivative products. After all... at the stage when new technology is being applied, our society's resources are already insufficient. If some people volunteer to isolate themselves from new technology, why not satisfy that loyal heart of theirs that wishes to conserve social resources?"

"...I admire the way you do things."

Verodai departed, and the study fell quiet for a time. Gao Yang let out a breath, stretched his limbs a little, and prepared to return to his work.

Yet he had barely picked up a document from the desk, not even having had time to read it closely, when he heard a faint rush of wind sweep past outside the window.

The next second came a solid, resounding thud as someone slammed into the window frame.

Since this had long since become routine, Gao Yang had no sighs or complaints left in him. He simply rose naturally, opened the window, and let the dazed Amber in.

The moment Amber landed, she started squawking: "What's the big idea, shutting the window and locking it in broad daylight..."

Gao Yang's face was expressionless: "The weather's turned cold. Old people feel the chill."

Amber: "..."

"What's so urgent that you had to come like this?" Having successfully choked off the disgrace of all creation, Gao Yang's mood improved somewhat, and only then did he ask in earnest.

Though Amber's window-jumping counted as standard procedure, even window-jumping came in different styles and circumstances:

Standing outside the sill and carefully studying the anti-Amber traps and locks for ages, cautiously dismantling every trap before climbing in—that was the regular operation, usually a routine work report when nothing much was going on. Rushing in so hurriedly that she accidentally stepped in a trap—that was an ordinary emergency, usually meaning there was a report Gao Yang needed to read personally at once. But a case like the present one, where she hadn't even noticed the window was locked and went headfirst into the frame—now that was impressive. Gao Yang had witnessed it only twice—

The first time was to report the assassination of Francis II. The second was to report that Rebecca's test aircraft had malfunctioned and plummeted from the sky, crushing Tyr to death.

At Gao Yang's question, Amber immediately forgot all about the indignity of being choked off. She really had come to report a major development, and once she had caught her breath she rattled off at breakneck speed: "Rebecca's aircraft over there..."

Before she could finish, Gao Yang's brows knit: "That unlucky siren Tyr got crushed to death again? It's fine, you know she can revive..."

"No!" Amber nearly jumped out of her skin, her short, squat face alight with uncommon excitement. "It flew! This time it flew successfully!"

Then she drew a deep breath and went on: "And it landed safely—right side up!!"