Chapter 947: 545 It

So that’s how it was…

Looking at Atiph00 who had taken over the Queen’s body, Li Ang’s eyes flickered with sudden understanding.

No wonder my luck was so good—I barely stepped into the Preservation Hall and happened to witness a little drama about the truth of that time; it was clearly meant for me.

“Good enough.”

After nodding noncommittally, Li Ang stared at the gentle-smiling “Queen” and asked:

“Did Andre know about any of this you just showed me?”

“Of course not.”

The Queen—or rather, Atiph00—smiled and replied:

“Philya’s computational power far exceeds mine, but souls and memories aren’t something you can handle with computation alone. As the developer of soul-coding technology, I think it’s not difficult to hide a little something of my own ‘creation.’”

“I see… So your relationship with Prince Andre is worse than I imagined.”

After slightly narrowing his eyes, Li Ang spoke:

“You kept this memory hidden just so you could use it against him when the time came?”

“Don’t put it so crudely.”

Atiph00 smiled and answered:

“I am still Andre’s aunt. Maybe I just couldn’t bear to tell him the truth because I feared he’d break down?”

“…”

I believe that ghosts...

Li Ang gave her a silent, unimpressed glance and didn’t respond further, instead pondering what lay behind this memory.

If what Atiph0 had shown him was true, and Prince Andre remained unaware, then the massacre in the Krook royal family was a tragedy born of misunderstanding.

Unable to bear watching his two children die in unbearable agony from illness, the old king decided to sacrifice one to save the other—and, unwilling to burden Andre with the guilt of having survived only because his sister was killed, he chose to conceal the truth from him.

But in Andre’s eyes, the entire Krook royal family had gone mad: to resolve the kingdom’s crisis, they pressured the old king into demanding the sacrifice of his own twelve-year-old sister.

His own parents didn’t protect Philya—they gave the order, and the other turned a blind eye. On the day of his sister’s birthday, they had her brain removed while she was still alive, turning her into a cold machine.

Honestly, if this happened to me, I’d probably go insane too.

Standing from the perspective of a fellow sibling-obsessed person, Li Ang couldn’t help but shake his head slightly—he now understood the roots of Andre’s every action.

King and Queen Fein didn’t want Andre to live burdened by guilt, but in the end, their actions took even more from him.

From Andre’s viewpoint, if his father could sacrifice his sister for the kingdom, he could sacrifice Andre too—so every past moment of happiness became a lie, and the more perfect his former life had been, the deeper the pain.

Honestly, if Prince Andre bore the Uchiha surname, this alone would’ve been enough to unlock his Sharingan—probably at least a three-tomoe version. Given such a devastating blow, who wouldn’t snap?

But understanding doesn’t mean mercy. Given the current situation, if this information could be used against Andre, I’d use it without hesitation.

Understanding and sympathy? Those come after the fight. Once I drag him out of Research Zone One and strip him of all resistance, I’ll have all the time in the world to feel sorry for him.

As for whether this information can actually be used against Prince Andre…

Yes.

If Prince Andre truly knew nothing of this, then revealing this “truth of the past” would certainly inflict deep psychological damage—but the outcome might not favor my side.

Considering the Krook royal ancestors were powerful Cleaners, if Andre’s mind suffered a “severe shock,” the likelihood of him producing an anomaly, like Joshua in the future, is extremely high.

If he doesn’t break down and surrender, but instead spirals further into madness and goes full power, I’ll be the one who picked up the stone and smashed my own head. Exposing the truth of that time to Andre might not be wise—this information’s value isn’t as great as it seems…

Still, this information isn’t entirely worthless.

As this thought crossed his mind, Li Ang glanced at the “Queen” before speaking up:

“Atiph… I’ll just call you Atiph. There’s something I’m curious about—could you answer me?”

“Go ahead. Whether I answer depends on what you ask—if you’re asking about Andre’s secrets, I won’t tell you.”

“Relax. I’m not asking about his secrets. I still want to know about what happened back then.”

Gazing into the “Queen’s” emerald eyes—identical to Philya’s—Li Ang spoke slowly, each word deliberate:

“Were Andre and Philya really ‘ill’ back then?”

“…”

“What do you mean?”

After a brief silence, the “Queen’s” smile faded slightly, and she frowned:

“I just showed you everything that happened back then. Except for Fein’s movements, which I simulated after his brain was removed, all memories related to this were entirely from their own minds—I have no ability to fabricate such memories.”

“I’m not doubting you falsified anything.”

Li Ang shook his head, pressing forward:

“I’m doubting whether King Fein received accurate information.

Can you tell me: were Andre and Philya truly sick, and was sacrificing one the only way to save the other—or did someone tamper with things secretly, hoping to create a synthetic intelligence ten times superior?”

“You suspect I fabricated their illness?”

Hearing Li Ang’s words, the “Queen’s” expression turned cold, her tone hostile:

“Don’t be absurd. Our Krook Kingdom has deeply studied the brain—over three hundred scholars have made breakthroughs in this field. If I’d tampered with anything, wouldn’t Fein have sought verification from others?”

“Many scholars understand the brain, but back then, you were the only synthetic intelligence—and Krook royal brains differ vastly from ordinary ones. Those scholars might easily have been deceived.”

Looking at the “Queen,” who now stared at him with visible anger, Li Ang concluded:

“So the possibility that you interfered in this matter isn’t zero. Am I right?”

“…”

“Of course, I could be even more direct.”

Li Ang slowed his speech, eyes locked on her:

“What matters isn’t the truth itself—it’s what Prince Andre is willing to believe.

On one side: he, in his misunderstanding, slaughtered his own family and kin—he himself is the greatest error, and he has no one to blame for revenge.

On the other: someone manipulated a conspiracy, using his hands to create this tragedy, giving him a clear villain to target… Which do you think he’d choose to believe?”

“…”

He’d choose the second… And if Andre learned this “truth,” he’d immediately move to destroy you!

Watching the relentless Li Ang, the “Queen’s” face lost all its earlier mockery and ease. Regretting having contacted him, she frowned sharply and demanded:

“What exactly do you want?!”

“Of course, deeper cooperation with you.”

Li Ang’s expression didn’t change:

“I don’t want a weed swaying with the wind—I want your complete, unreserved support… Atiph, you don’t want your good nephew to learn the truth about what happened back then, do you?”