Was Serie really being protective of her food?
Of course not!
...Alright, maybe just a tiny bit?
That black spear did have a unique taste when gnawed on, a crispy texture with a hint of ancient curse?
But the truth was—Serie's emerald-green eyes seemed to be staring blankly into space, but in reality, she was fixated on the "Quest" interface that only she could see.
Unbeknownst to her, Serie had already completed six quests.
Now, the "Quest" interface only showed a single, lonely [Witch Quest: Bloodthirsty Nature].
The content was for the Mad Eater Witch to hunt and consume any animal, including humans, though these guards were clearly not included.
Immediately after, several more quests refreshed, consisting of three main quests—
[Main Quest: Know Thyself and Thy Enemy]
[Objective: Explore the Supernatural Anomaly Containment and Control Bureau, current progress 0.02%]
[Rewards:
Progress ≥ 30%: Rebirth Count * 1
Progress ≥ 60%: Gain Ability "Machine Affinity"
Progress ≥ 90%: Inherit the Former Director's Legacy]
"Machine Affinity": Long-term experimentation and detection have allowed your unique magnetic field to subtly influence the instrument systems within the Supernatural Anomaly Containment and Control Bureau.
When this ability is activated, you will be immune to all instruments within the Supernatural Anomaly Containment and Control Bureau detecting your anomaly status.
At the same time, you can selectively block or falsify any physiological or energy indicators you wish to conceal.
"Oh... my god!"
Serie's emerald-green eyes widened in shock, and she cursed internally.
This ability... it's practically a BUG!
What did this mean?
It meant that she, an anomaly, could freely move through the Control Bureau, a den of dragons and tigers!
Those cold instruments that once bound her, analyzed her, and made all her data transparent would now turn a blind eye to her, and even... she could falsify data; whatever data she wanted those white coats to see, that's all they would see.
Even if Hayato Kurosawa tried to cause trouble, it would be useless!
She just needed to push the exploration progress to 60%!
Serie's hands trembled with excitement; she wished she could return to her own body right now and have Linette take her to explore the Control Bureau.
Then she'd turn it inside out, every nook and cranny!
The reward for reaching 90% progress was also very mysterious: the Former Director's legacy.
As the grand finale prize, and left by the Former Director, Serie knew with her toes that this thing was definitely more powerful than "Machine Affinity."
Just how powerful, Serie didn't know, and the quest didn't say, but just thinking about it made her itch with anticipation.
Unfortunately, the progress bar had only just begun to crawl.
[Main Quest: Witch Union]
[Objective: Facilitate a real-world meeting between any two Witches]
[Rewards: Rebirth Count * 1, all Witches automatically gain the permanent passive ability "Witch's Philanthropy"]
"Witch's Philanthropy": When your Witch operates near other Witches, she will receive significant positive emotional boosts.
If they cooperate to kill enemies or achieve common goals, exclusive favorability will accumulate.
When favorability reaches a certain amount, exclusive items and resources, unique Witch linkage abilities, and richly rewarded special cooperation quests will be unlocked.
"Hiss..." Serie gasped as she read the description.
It wasn't that this quest was bad; on the contrary, it was practically a free benefit.
She just needed to find a way to get the Witches together, and she could earn rewards by doing nothing.
The cost-effectiveness was ridiculously high, making it an extremely economical quest.
But... developing a friendship with herself, wasn't that a bit too strange?!
Serie only felt a strong sense of mischief, and what made her even more speechless was the quest description—
Why would two Witches meeting grant a Rebirth Count?
Serie was full of questions. Was it an energy overflow causing a slight split when they shook hands and befriended each other?
Or did the small boat of friendship accidentally escalate into a giant ship of love, and then... ahem...
This quest description was too easily misinterpreted!
However, despite the complaints, Serie knew perfectly well that the quest rewards were indeed ridiculously good.
But!
The problem lay in this "getting together"!
Her only two Witches—
One was lying dead in snowy Russia, and the other was eating in a scorching hot American country.
The straight-line distance was almost across the Pacific Ocean!
Get them to meet? How?
She couldn't possibly make one of the Witches swim across the Pacific, could she?
The good news was that, compared to the first two quests, the other quests were relatively simpler—
[Main Quest: Hatred from a Thousand Years Ago]
[Objective: Investigate the identity of the holder of spear]
[Rewards: Attribute Point * 1, Ability Point * 1]
And two Witch Quests—
[Witch Quest: Eat More to Be Strong]
[Objective: Increase the Mad Eater Witch's Gluttony Count to 3000 (Current Gluttony Count: 2741)]
[Rewards: Ability Point * 2]
[Witch Quest: A New Journey After a Thousand Years]
[Objective: Follow Chloe out of the tomb]
[Rewards: Ability Point * 1, and a memory you should not have forgotten.]
Chloe?
It seemed to be that woman just now...
Serie's consciousness had just pulled away from the information-overloaded quest panel, and her mind was still a bit muddled.
She closed the interface that only she could see, and her vision refocused on reality.
But in that instant of virtual-to-real transition.
Chloe's heroic yet gentle face appeared without warning right in front of her.
"Woah!"
The distance was so close she could almost see her own non-human reflection in the other person's pupils.
This was what led to the "food protection" scene.
It was purely a stress reaction from being startled, not food protection at all!
"Uh... that..." Chloe was startled by the sudden low growl and defensive posture, and quickly raised both hands in a completely harmless surrender gesture, her voice carrying a hint of imperceptible nervousness and... awkwardness?
"Don't... don't worry! Gorutos, I swear! I absolutely had no intention of snatching your... uh... food!"
What gibberish was she muttering?
Chloe seemed to be communicating with her in a very primitive language, but Serie surprisingly understood it, just as she could smoothly understand most languages; this seemed to be a Witch's talent?
Gorutos?
Chew chew chew...
Serie watched her warily, but her chewing didn't stop.
Is she calling me?
Gorutos... could it be the Mad Eater Witch's true name?
But how did Chloe know?
Serie didn't even know it, but she did?
Who exactly was Chloe?
Seeing Serie's wariness slowly recede like a tide, replaced by utter confusion, Chloe felt a little more at ease.
She cleared her throat, her voice cautious: "Gorutos, my name is Chloe Abysmo. Please believe me, I have no ill intentions. This is no place to linger. Would you... be willing to come with me to a safe place to talk first?"
Serie didn't hesitate and nodded.
After all, putting aside the quest, Serie originally wanted to follow Chloe to find an exit anyway.
Seeing Serie nod in agreement, Chloe's taut nerves finally relaxed a little, and a relieved smile involuntarily curved her lips.
She stepped forward and extended her right hand to Serie, who was still squatting on the ground.
Serie hesitated for a moment, but finally raised her hand, which was covered in crumbs.
The moment their fingertips touched—
A surge of memory struck her like an electric current!
The scene before her began to distort.
Chloe's hand, smudged with dirt but still fair, slowly overlapped with the image of another hand...
As if in endless ages past, someone had once extended a hand to her like this, and shown her a smile.