Chapter 159: On the Scale of the Darkest Blame and the Depth of the Deepest Trap (Part Four)

All "control" and "domination" begin with "fear"—Navigator, Explorer, and World-Class Sadist, Edward Newinsteindon (Sea Circle Calendar 1400–1440).

Spending time alone with Cavendish was bound to feel like "a year for every day," but that had to be an illusion; in reality, less than three hours had passed inside the cabin.

This meant there was still plenty of time ahead.

When the unlucky young Celestial Dragon girl opened her eyes once again, compared to the previous dim environment, the "sunlight" now was exceptionally bright... To create a favorable "teaching environment," the ship had clearly ascended quite a distance.

"Oh, little girl, you're awake?"

A voice came from beside her ear, and it wasn't until the person bent over that she could clearly see his face—it was none of other than the mastermind behind her kidnapping.

It was then that she noticed her perspective was somewhat strange, far too level and far too low. Yet when she tried to "stand up," she found it utterly impossible no matter how hard she tried.

"If it's convenient, could you tell me your name... unless you want to be locked back up?" Qiubai asked, doing his best to put on a gentle and amiable expression.

Yet this was a blatant threat.

She instantly recalled her recent ordeal; the breathing of the monster in the dark cabin still seemed to linger right beside her ear, and so the "arrogant" look she attempted to put on was instantly replaced by overwhelming terror.

"Charlotte... Charlotte Karasij."

Involuntarily and instinctively, her name slipped out—which was only natural. Having undergone no special training, how could she possibly withstand such "special care"?

"Then, according to your customs, should I call you Princess Charlotte? Or Saint Charlotte?"

The answer, of course, was the former, captured as she was under the condition of being "female"—had she forgotten already? Yet Qiubai's attitude toward her seemed just as cordial as it was toward Princess Shirahoshi.

While he was speaking, a masked figure pushed in a stand holding an upper-body human anatomical model... the kind most commonly seen in an infirmary.

The only peculiar detail was that the "model's" colors seemed a bit too vibrant, and it was a size smaller. One wondered if this Saint Charlotte found it somewhat familiar.

Lacking a head and lower extremities, yet equipped with arms, the entire upper torso was presented as a transverse section, with all internal organs clearly visible.

As Luo pushed the object closer, Saint Charlotte finally realized that what felt discordant about it wasn't the color, but rather... that it was alive.

The veins and arteries on that heart pulsed with every single beat, and the slight undulations driven by the pumping action could be clearly observed.

The more she looked at the half-torso, the more familiar it felt. Suddenly, Saint Charlotte thought of a terrifying possibility, and her breathing grew rapid once more.

Next, her gaze was entirely captured by the lungs of this "human model"... The mesmerizing part was that the rise and fall of those lungs matched the frequency of her own inhalations and exhalations with absolute precision.

Total synchronization with "other" things, or a synchronization rate of 100%, is a very, very interesting matter. Do you know what happens at a synchronization rate of 400%?

Such an experience is bound to be thoroughly unpleasant, however, because what truly achieved this synchronization was not anything "other," but her own self.

"Oh, my apologies, are you thirsty?" Qiubai seemed to remember that she hadn't had anything to drink for some time, so he turned and brought over a glass of water.

She was indeed very thirsty. Regardless of thirst, however, under such extreme tension, she mechanically opened her mouth.

"Relax, relax, don't get too excited. Do as I say: exhale~ inhale~"

Such deep breathing naturally made the state before her eyes even more pronounced; and so, although her breathing was artificially controlled, she was actually growing increasingly tense inside.

"Very good."

Qiubai brought the glass to her lips, and then... she felt a sip of cool water enter her mouth and throat, followed by the action of swallowing...

Even while drinking with her head tilted back, her gaze remained fixed entirely on the "model" before her.

The sensation of fluid passing through that esophagus, the minute details of those changes, caused her suppressed breathing to abruptly resume, panting violently like a bellows.

"Cough, cough!"

Qiubai got sprayed right in the face... Which proved that not bringing her lower body along was indeed the correct choice. In such an intensely stimulating situation, what would they have done if the most noble person in the world had suffered incontinence? Who would take responsibility?

"Calm down, calm down. Hydration is still necessary; it wouldn't do if you showed symptoms of dehydration—the World Government would hold me accountable then. Listen to my instructions..."

"Exhale~"

"Inhale~"

Then, at the exact moment she had slightly calmed down, he pinched her cheeks and forced this large glass of water down her throat.

"Very good. Now that your physical state is stabilized, I can show you an interesting sight."

As he spoke, Qiubai began to slowly rotate something, and Saint Charlotte's field of vision shifted along with the rotation. When it had turned 180 degrees, she saw a dressing mirror placed right behind her.

And reflected within it was her own appearance—merely a head resting upon a round table.

Witnessing such a "mind-bending" scene, a severe lack of cerebral blood supply was practically guaranteed. The noble Celestial Dragon began to roll her eyes, but through heavy panting, she managed to push past the wave of dizziness. Then, glancing back once more at the "vividly living" internal organs on the half-torso behind her, her entire digestive system began to spasm.

With those spasms, she could clearly see something surging upward from the bottom of her stomach, into her esophagus, and then reaching her throat and mouth.

When this physical change was perceived by her vision, the resulting stimulation inevitably reinforced the process in return, and consequently...

"Ugh..."

Gagging was inevitable. Anyone who viewed their own internal organs from this perspective would undoubtedly gag.

"Saint Charlotte, breathe. Listen to me, take a deep breath..."

Qiubai was still standing nearby, issuing random commands.

The scene was becoming somewhat unsanitary. She could clearly see this wretched state reflected in the mirror, and then this man carefully and meticulously helped clean the stains from the corners of her mouth, just as if he were wiping a delicate piece of porcelain.

"So you must stay calm. Although you've been placed on display, you are still alive and well."

Her head was lifted up by him once more, and then tucked under his arm like a basketball.

Qiubai carried her closer to her upper torso until the tip of her nose was practically pressed against the internal organs.

"You are still alive."

Qiubai's other hand picked up her palm—oh, the texture was quite nice.

Then, he placed her hand directly over the exposed heart.

"Can you feel it? The beating of your own heart?"

This wasn't a matter of whether she could feel it or not; never in her entire life had she felt her own heartbeat so distinctly... nor did she ever wish to experience such a thing in this manner.

Then, ten fingers extended inward, and behold—the heart was lifted right out.

Qiubai's palm cushioned the underside of Saint Charlotte's own hand, and resting upon her hand was her very own continuously beating heart.

He brought the heart close to her ear and said:

"Listen... thud-thud, thud-thud, thud-thud."

Yes, she heard it—thud-thud, thud-thud. The beating of this heart was brimming with the breath of life.