Chapter 184. The Final Deal (3)
“Ghhhhhh!”
Victoria gritted her teeth and clung desperately to No. 2.
No. 2 looked utterly fed up as she continued to hold him back without giving him a moment’s rest.
“Stop being so stubborn, Victoria Frankenstein!”
“Shut up!”
Victoria was using every ounce of strength she had to stop him.
Of course, No. 2 was far stronger while manifested in his Archon form.
But Victoria had a reason she absolutely could not back down.
And her sheer persistence had managed to keep No. 2 tied up far longer than expected.
“I do not wish to use my overtechnology weapon on you.”
No. 2 finally growled in warning.
He looked ready to draw the gun hanging at his waist if necessary.
Victoria merely snorted.
“Why don’t you just admit it?”
“You’re scared Alpha will get angry if you use it on me.”
“You can’t risk anything happening to me, can you?”
No. 2 did not deny it.
“You’re perceptive.”
“I can understand a little why Alpha chose you as her friend.”
That was exactly why No. 2 was having such a difficult time.
Whatever else Victoria Frankenstein might be, Alpha had personally designated her as a friend.
If Victoria were injured or killed because of him, the backlash from Alpha would undoubtedly be terrifying.
[Answer me! Hurry!]
While the two continued struggling, Alpha’s urgent voice suddenly came through No. 2’s communicator.
No. 2 immediately answered.
“What is it, Alpha?”
Alpha hurriedly gave him an order.
[There’s no time, so I’ll get straight to the point.]
[Nova Hanson is on the roof.]
[Go there immediately and secure Nova Hanson’s brain.]
“As you command.”
No. 2 nodded and immediately moved toward the exit.
Victoria hurriedly grabbed onto his pant leg and refused to let go.
“Stop!”
“You’re not going anywhere!”
“Let go!”
No. 2 snapped irritably.
Then Alpha’s low, restrained voice came through his communicator.
[Victoria.]
[Even I have limits to my patience.]
At that moment, tremendous explosions erupted throughout the area.
Victoria stared in shock as crimson flames surged upward.
“What did you do?!”
[You’re not the only one who can overload this area.]
Alpha answered proudly.
Apparently, she had done exactly what Victoria had done earlier, forcing excessive power into the surrounding systems to cause explosions.
And she had clearly gone all out.
The explosions continued without pause.
Victoria stared in horror at the scale of the destruction.
“Are you insane?!”
“At this rate, the entire building will burn down!”
[But you and the Archons will be fine.]
[You can just regenerate.]
Alpha answered as though it were nothing.
She was not wrong.
The Archons possessed tremendous regenerative abilities.
If they were injured, they could simply recover.
Victoria could also heal most wounds thanks to the Philosopher’s Stone.
It was cruelty born from completely excluding everyone who could not do the same.
“But there are other people in this building!”
[I don’t care.]
[Whether people who aren’t my friends live or die has nothing to do with me.]
Victoria tried to argue, but Alpha merely scoffed.
Victoria froze in shock.
“Alpha...!”
[This is all punishment for lying to me.]
[Think about the innocent people who are going to die because of you.]
Instead of overpowering Victoria physically, Alpha seemed intent on crushing her with guilt.
Then she deliberately emphasized her next words.
[And Nova Hanson will probably be among them.]
Victoria’s face stiffened.
Ignoring her reaction, Alpha ordered No. 2,
[Beta, go.]
“Understood.”
No. 2 did not miss the instant Victoria faltered.
He immediately sprinted forward.
His body became a short gray streak and vanished beyond the emergency exit.
[Capture Nova Hanson now!]
Alpha screamed from the monitor.
No. 8 spread his enormous wings, blocking Nova’s entire field of vision.
“As you command.”
Hovering in the air, No. 8 slowly began driving Nova backward.
Nova desperately waved her arms, trying not to get caught, but it was useless.
“Stay away!”
“Stop resisting!”
No. 8 shouted sharply.
Forced backward little by little, Nova finally reached the very edge of the rooftop.
There was nowhere left to run.
Her face turned pale.
“I’ll jump!”
[Go ahead.]
[If you can.]
Alpha openly mocked her.
[You can’t.]
[Because you’re afraid to die.]
Nova faltered.
In truth, what had been stopping her was very simple.
Instinctive fear of death.
That basic thought, I’m afraid to die, had kept her frozen in place, unable to make the final move.
“Heh! So this is where you were!”
At that moment, the rooftop door opened and No. 9’s massive frame appeared.
No. 8 looked at him irritably.
“Why did it take you so long?”
