Chapter 1232

Alas, what a pity. I thought there might be some good treasure hidden beneath that goat's head.

Sai Feier crossed her arms, looking utterly dejected: 'The contents of the treasure chest have been soaked by the River Styx, worth nothing now. Those artifacts were once priceless, but after being eroded by time for too long, they've lost their original form.'

——

A Certain Scientific Railgun

"She's probably alluding to Aglaea here..." Chuchun Shili muttered softly, her voice thick with a nasal tone, "Although she keeps calling her a seamstress, in her heart she still cares deeply about Aglaea."

……

Yuban fell silent for a moment, she lifted her head and quietly gazed at Sai Feier. Every expression on her face spoke of sorrow and desolation, yet she had to feign nonchalance before this thief spirit, making her heart ache as well.

Big sis, thank goodness Sai Feier's attitude has improved a lot compared to before; if she can truly help Bai E complete the Fire Pursuit Journey, then Aglaea's millennium-old obsession could be considered resolved.

Indeed. But there are several tough problems now facing Bai E——

Yuban let out a deep sigh, pressing and rubbing her temples as she spoke:

Undoubtedly the hardest is that mysterious fire-stealer, then Aigele, but now it seems the most urgent and thorny is actually the Senate led by Kaines.

If the conflict with the Senate were made public, it would surely cause an uproar within Aohema City. Zuotian also showed a troubled and bewildered expression, "But if we don't deal with them, they'll grow even more reckless, and their poisonous hands might reach Fengjin and Tibao…… If the fire-stealer could storm into Aohema and wipe out those Senate folks, that would be great."

——

"Oh… hearing it from your mouth feels so sad," Baterus wiped his face, quickly shook his head, "No, why am I sighing about this! I haven't recovered from what just happened——that terrifying woman, when exactly was she…"

Baterus suddenly recalled the scene from a few months ago in Aohema's urban district, when Aglaea dragged him out.

"Hmm, could it have been then…"

"You remember? Looks like I don't need to help you recall. She surely took advantage of your carelessness, secretly slipping that worm into your 'pocket.' Don't underestimate that worm—it's as powerful as the seamstress's golden thread. If you let your guard down even a little, it could take over you, like puppeteering a marionette—then you'd blurt out things you'd never say normally."

Baterus sucked in a cold breath: 'Whoa, it's just like… just like a brain‑eating monster spawned from the Heichi, terrifying!'

"Then, Big Sis Sai Feier, how did you notice the abnormality? I'm curious—what weird things did that little worm make me say?"

"Hmph, actually it's been exposed for a while… We've been partners in crime for a thousand years, and we've exhausted all topics we could share. The only thing I've never told you about is my experience at the Dawn Cloud Cliff." Sai Feier took a deep breath, gritted her teeth, and said, "I absolutely… absolutely could never mention that to anyone."

"Besides, in my memory, the embodiment of Deception bears a deep hatred for the golden thread that forces people to speak the truth. You could never defend Aglaea…"

Sai Feier's words trailed off, and she curled the corner of her mouth into a faint smile.

"Right, Zhagesi?"

"... Mm." Baterus, unusually without his usual joking, looked seriously at Sai Feier, "You… are really terrifyingly perceptive, hehehe…"

"After all, I'm the only one in this world who knows you're still alive. To get you through the Titan Trial, I went so far as to deceive the whole world. If you don't want the lie to be exposed… you'd better behave yourself from now on, okay?"

"Even if it weren't for my own worthless life, I'd gladly brave fire and water for Big Sis Sai Feier!"

Sai Feier couldn't help but chuckle: "Hmph, after being shrunk to this form, the only thing you haven't degenerated in is the art of speech."

"Cough… getting back to it, Big Sis, you probably won't take to heart what that black‑hearted woman said, right? We're having such a blast with our leisurely days—why bother wading into this muddy water… you agree, right?"

"To be honest, I'm thinking…" Sai Feier looked toward Aohema, "Maybe it wouldn't hurt to go back for a visit."

——

Fate/ Emiya Family's Meal

It, it…… is a Deception Titan?!

Yuanban Lin widened her eyes, scanning up and down this thief spirit that looked a bit timid yet kinda cute.

Who would've thought a Titan would be willing to be Sai Feier's lackey…… This really refreshed her understanding.

"However, according to what Sai Feier said, the Deception Titan seemed to have been destined to die a thousand years ago; although I don't know what sort of whopper she lied, the price Zaghesi paid to stay alive isn't small either."

Archer leaned against the wall, arms crossed, speculating: "As long as everyone believes it true, a lie can become reality—Zagres's body has changed, and now it can survive in the world, perhaps because it abandoned its original name and was forcibly retained in the world as a 'phenomenon' by Sai Feier's lie."

Lancer frowned at the words: "Hey… forcing someone who should have died to stay in the world is a bit too defying heaven, isn't it?"

Archer spread his hands: "It's not surprising; every Titan's power of Weng Falos is formidable. Even Mimi, who isn't a Titan, is also defying heaven; her control over 'memory' can directly interfere with causality, creating an effect that can 'traverse time and space.'"

"As for that Bartrus—no, let's keep calling it 'Zagres,' it was probably because Sai Feier was clever enough, clever enough to lie and deceive, that it was willing to make a deal with Sai Feier, right?"

——

"…You're back again, Sai—ah."

Aglaea lowered herself and discovered a thin slit cut on the girl's cheek.

"Sai Falie, on your face…"

"…I need clothes," Sai Feier whispered, "Anything, just toss me a piece of clothing. A scrap of cloth will do, as long as it covers the wound. The money I owe you… I'll pay it back… I promise."

"…" Aglaea inhaled deeply, staring at the wound on her cheek, "You… are bleeding golden‑yellow blood."

"…Yes, so what of it?" Sai Feier puffed up his chin in spite, his eyes reddened, "Right, I'm what they call the Golden‑Blooded—an immensely strong hero! A world‑renowned swordsman! A supremely wise scholar!"

"Sai Falie…"

Her voice grew lower and lower, as if something caught in her throat, ending in an almost self‑mocking murmur: "I'm really sorry… among such a formidable group, there are even people like me—a poor thief, a swindler! Maybe I should cut another slit on my body and let all this yellow stuff drain out…"