(North America, Aion)

After more than three hours of continuous flight, we finally arrived at our destination - Aion, the Window to the World!

According to ancient super-ancient prophets, this place will be the culmination of all liberation. At the moment of the world's destruction, our charges will be washed away and redeemed, and the true meaning of life will be truly understood and all things in the world will gain equal value.

As soon as we got off the plane, we could feel the unique coolness of the northern region. Because it is located near the North Arctic Ocean in North America, the temperature here is not too high.

As for Yu NaiYuanhui, they split up and went to reserve the armored car ready to go to Irena at any time. Before that, let's enjoy this luxurious tranquility.

After basking in the sun for seven or eight days in Africa, we finally arrived at a cool country. The cool sea breeze still blows between the sunny island and here during this hot summer.

"It's been five years..." I lazily stretched and couldn't help but sigh, "I haven't been back to my hometown in five years. My parents, who are busy with work all day, have never had time to take care of me and Grandma. When you see Grandma, you must be careful of what you say and do!"

"Let's not talk about that for now!"

"Oh, then what should we talk about?"

Yu Xiang's forehead was already filled with blue veins, as if she wanted to punch me in my chubby face but couldn't. It was a helpless feeling.

"Don't worry," I quickly and seriously said my plan, "Let's go see my grandmother first and establish contact with my parents."

"Contact your parents?"

Yu Xiang stared at me with an expression that said it was useless, as if she had entrusted everything to me and I had messed it up.

"Well, my parents have been working for him since your father started. They have an important position in the Irena Group."

Wait...oh wow...another inexplicable pain. When I opened my eyes again, I was completely stunned by the scene in front of me.

It was still that park, with a lawn and a swing. There was a boy sitting on it wearing a gray shirt and white shorts. Not far away, there was a slide with a girl in a white dress sitting on it. The tall buildings covered the distance, and among them, the widest one had the badge of Shuangying Irena on its roof.

"Why are you here?"

A pair of azure blue eyes stared at me roundly, afraid that I didn't hear it, and asked me softly again.

"Did you also have a falling out with your dad?"

What is she saying...my dad? The innocent and romantic face of the girl gradually appeared, unexpectedly...it was Yu Xiang! Although Yu Xiang when she was younger was very cute, why did she appear in my mind?

"They always do some experiments that I don't know about. Sometimes my father even personally dissects animals like squirrels and moles...they are really cruel!"

"I actually don't like those people either!"

"Really?" After finding a confidant, the little boy immediately stopped crying, "Is sister's father also a scientist?"

Even though Yu Xiang was still very young, she personally went to comfort someone else, especially a male boy whom she hated. But when the boy, which is me, mentioned Yu Xiang's father, I clearly saw that she didn't want to mention or even think about that person.

"My father..."

"My dad and your parents..."

A series of memories flashed through Yu Xiang's mind, gradually revealing the deep hidden memories.

I can also slowly realize that the truth has been approaching me, and I am getting closer and closer to the answer I have been searching for.

"Xiao Xi, is it really you?"

Well, Xiao Xi is equal to Juxi. Could it be that we really had a forgotten bond once?

"Hehe, after all, those are things from our childhood. Let's not take it seriously."

The atmosphere on both sides became a bit awkward, so I quickly tried to diffuse the situation and give Yu Xiang some face.

After such a commotion, the two of us were like meeting for the first time, and we couldn't say a word for a long time. But I don't mind at all. After all, Grandma's apartment is only two or three minutes away. If there's nothing to say, then let's not say anything. After all, each of us shouldn't let the past bind our future.

"Xiaoxi..."

Yukari couldn't help but try to strike up a conversation with me, but I interrupted her with a slightly foolish smile brought about by my courage.

"Let's not mention the past, the present feelings are the most important, right?"

"I..."

"Don't worry, I promised to accompany you until the end, and I won't break that promise. It's valid until the day you no longer need me, right?"

"...Is it really okay?"

In the end, Yukari still didn't want to make a decision, and I could only shrug helplessly.

The crowded streets and alleys felt devoid of substance, and only the two of us walked alone on the road to the unknown.

Familiar streets and unfamiliar crowds, everything felt familiar yet slightly out of place. Many of us grew up here and even trained together.

I still remember that back then, I was weak and often needed vaccinations and isolation.

It was Yukari, my sister Yukari, who always brought me strange and unusual snacks to taste. Although they were sometimes bitter and sometimes tongue-burning spicy, they were much better than the tasteless food in the quarantine area.

At that time, I never thought about escaping from that fallen and abandoned place, but the soldiers guarding Elena's compound were heavily armed. Every time I was caught, I would receive a verbal lecture and that would be the end of it.

Ding Ling—!!

"Grandma!"

"It's Xiaoxi... You're here!"

A slightly chubby white-haired old lady squinted her almost invisible eyes and looked at us. It's unbelievable that my grandmother, who hasn't seen me in five years, can still recognize me. If it were my father and mother, they probably wouldn't recognize me anymore.

"And who is this...?"

Grandma leaned over to Yukari's chin (Grandma is so short) and observed for a while, then shifted her gaze to me, wanting to hear the answer from my mouth.

"Ah, Grandma, let me introduce her to you," I explained everything to Grandma in detail.

"Mhm, so you mean... this girl is your employer?"

"It's too vague to say that she's just my boss. We're childhood friends," Yukari explained a little embarrassedly. She gave me a signal, meaning that she didn't want me to explain too much because Grandma, at her age, might not understand. Such a thoughtful person. I gave Yukari a thumbs-up to show my praise.

"I understand what you're saying," Grandma sat down in her chair with a stable demeanor and said disdainfully, "After all, I was one of the most senior scientists at that time. The existence of crystalline energy was discovered by me after a series of research."

"What?!"

Yukari and I blurted out almost simultaneously. It's hard to believe that such a great discovery as crystalline energy came from an old lady.

"But tell me, why did I publicly announce this dark research at that time?"

When it came to crystalline energy, Grandma was already pounding her chest and stomping her feet. I quickly poured her a cup of tea to calm her down.

After recovering, Grandma continued, "This research would bring disaster to humanity. Crystalline energy is not something us mere mortals can control, but that old beast disregarded our opinions and continued with his plan for crystalline energy!"

"Wait, Grandma, when you say that old beast, do you mean...?"

"Edward, the CEO of Elena!"

A bolt of lightning struck me, and Yukari couldn't believe that her father was being called an old beast by someone else. It instantly felt like her mind was in chaos.

"Grandma, she is Edward's daughter, Shinomori Yukari."

I reminded Grandma to be mindful of Yukari's dignity.

"So she's Edward's daughter, huh?!" Grandma wasn't an unfeeling and obstinate old woman. "Then I apologize."

"No, Grandma, what you said is all true and I can't deny it."

"Grandma, the main reason we came this time is to ask for your help."

To prevent any further conflicts, I quickly poured another cup of tea for Grandma.

"What is the matter?"

"To infiltrate into Elena's headquarters, which is her military base."

Grandma was about to take a sip of tea, but the cup fell to the ground and shattered. Her voice trembled as she spoke, "Really... if you go in, you might not be able to come out!"

Elena's group headquarters is stationed with 30,000 troops from the land and air forces. If they are discovered, it would be as easy as taking something out of a bag for them to kill us!

Seeing that Grandma was not willing to help with this favor, Yuka became anxious, "But my father..."

"That man is not worth risking your life for!"

"..."

"Your father has caused the deaths of many prisoners in the experiments of the Ice Angels, and even some innocent people could not escape!"

The Ice Angels incident thirteen years ago, a sinister plan that destroyed a whole city for the grand goal of giving humans eternal life through crystal energy?! I was shocked to realize that Edward was the true mastermind behind it all!!

"Even after all these years, your father is still obsessed with pursuing eternal life, and now he has turned himself into something neither human nor ghost..."

As she spoke, Grandma sighed with regret, "What's the point of pursuing immortality? If you knew that living forever meant a lonely existence, why would you suffer in this world?"

Immortality is the center of the Grand Angel Plan. Has Edward succeeded?

"I don't even know if his zombie-like state can be considered a success!" Grandma spoke with disdain about Edward, "He, well, he only managed to preserve his physical body, but your father's soul disappeared long ago."

"How could you..." Yuka couldn't believe that someone would humiliate her father like this in front of her, "My father has a soul, he also loved me before!"

"That was in the past. I'm not using artistic words to describe it, but rather it disappeared substantively!"

"Could it be that Edward..."

"Yes, he has already turned into a mirage!"

"No, this can't be true!"

Yuka couldn't believe her ears and fell to the ground, covering her ears with her hands. She couldn't believe that her father was a ruthless killer.

"I must go, I must!"