"You know, Maria," the orange demon that had been firmly nailed to the ground by Provence suddenly stopped struggling and calmly spoke to Maria.

A dangerously tense atmosphere filled the air.

"To me, you have always been like a goldfish in a fish tank."

"I know how much oxygen you need, how much food you need, and how much space you need to survive."

"I know how much damage will kill you, and which fish will make you happy."

"But even so, your reactions never cease to surprise me."

"Observing you has always been truly intriguing."

"But if you plan to hinder me now, you will have lost your last bit of value, understand?"

Intense heat burst from the orange demon's body, scorching Provence's skin as she held a steel needle.

Even though the heat from the needle burned Provence's skin, she didn't let go.

"Lady Maria! Please give me orders!" Provence shouted to Maria without changing her expression.

In an instant, Merka waved his hands and the three angels and power angel behind him transformed into wax figures with white rings atop their heads, normal human-sized bodies, and white wings.

They had limbs, but their bodies were naked, without facial features, and without reproductive organs – as if they were works of art themselves.

"I have nothing to say to my clones."

"Before we evaluate the results, let's exchange a few moves, Oedipus," Maria whispered as she slowly descended from the sky.

——————————————————————————

【What is Merka to me in the end?】

【I have pondered this question, but I have been avoiding it.】

【Consolation? Companionship? A means to dispel loneliness?】

【It definitely isn't love.】

【Although I have been with Merka for such a long time, my feelings seem to have never changed, as if I liked him from the beginning.】

【But how could that be possible? Can love at first sight really exist in this world?】

【I just want to be close to him; I need to give this matter a reason.】

【I can only convince myself that I like Merka because only in love can two people stay together without any reason.】

【But do I really like Merka?】

"What is this?"

The night sky of Red Port was illuminated by sparkling neon lights, clear and transparent like snow. Merka and Turing strolled leisurely along the bustling food street.

Numerous novel and wonderful things constantly caught Turing's attention, leaving her amazed and laughing.

A small pot spinning on a tripod caught Turing's eye.

Fine, colorful sugar threads were skillfully woven and entangled on a stick by the vendor, gradually forming a large colorful ball, which the vendor then handed to another girl.

"This," Merka smiled gently at Turing, "is called cotton candy, also something brought from another place. Would you like to try, Xixi?"

"Sure." Turing reached out to grab the cotton candy on the tripod.

But Merka stopped him reluctantly.

"Xixi, that's a sample," Merka shook her head, "and you haven't paid yet."

"In this noisy and crowded pedestrian street, everyone pays before taking things," Turing explained.

"Well, um, otherwise, if you take things and run, the boss won't be able to catch you," Merka scratched her head awkwardly, "of course, this is just an unwritten rule. I don't think there are such people in prosperous Acadia."

"Oh, I have to pay too. I forgot," Turing said casually, reaching for the money bag tied around her waist.

"Hey, be careful..." Merka just wanted to stop her, but tragedy struck.

The money bag, which had been full and swollen, could maintain its shape when it was tied. But when the strap was undone, the money bag couldn't be held by the small hands of a ten-year-old girl.

The bag, filled with money, leaked some, and several golden coins fell to the ground.

"This is bad," Merka hurriedly bent down to pick up the coins.

"Don't worry, there are people who might steal the money..." Turing looked around like nothing had happened, and actually found a boy with his head wrapped in a rag flying out of the corner at a speed that a peer could not achieve.

He rushed to Turing's side, picked up two coins forcefully, and then ran away desperately, bumping into many people along the way.

"Merka...I'll go and meet him," Turing said impatiently, "daring to steal from me."

"Hey, Xixi!" Merka seemed to want to say something, but Turing had already run far away.

Without much effort, Turing caught the little boy in an alley.

"This has nothing to do with money, but daring to steal from me is an insult," Turing said, casually lifting the boy by his neck, causing him to sob uncontrollably. He was choked by Turing's saliva and couldn't even beg for mercy.

"Xixi, I'm really sorry, I should have reminded you earlier..." Merka came late, seeing the pitiful little boy and constantly apologizing to Turing.

"Why are you apologizing? It's not your fault at all..."

"..." Merka fell silent for a while.

"You are the Child of the Curse, right?" Merka signaled Turing to put the boy down, gently touched his head over the torn cloth on his face, "I'm sorry, I'm really sorry, I feel really bad." Merka guiltily apologized to Turing again.

Merka's face was like a red apple under the neon lights.

"I know I stole your money, so I have no right to plead," Merka took out a colorful cotton candy from behind her and handed it to Turing, "But can you forgive me a little because of this?"

Turing looked at the boy in front of her with red eyes and sighed.

[If I punish the little boy according to the rules of the nobility, wouldn't it imply that I am a noble?]

[Since Merka is here, let it go.]

Merka let out a sigh of relief as she saw Turing's complexion gradually relaxing, and then she spoke in a cheerful tone, "Do you know, Xixi? Marshmallows are the most important thing in the world."

"Huh?" Turing took a bite of the marshmallow.

[Delicious.]

"Didn't you say last time that ice cream was the most important thing?" Turing asked curiously.

"Hehe... the answer lies within this, what could it be?" Merka glanced at something behind Turing with her eyes and noticed that the little boy had already disappeared.

"Hmph, I'm not interested in finding out..."

[What could it possibly be?]

Turing and Merka continued to stroll down the street, but his mind was still focused on this question.