My Notoriety Spreads Throughout the World-Chapter 403 - 343: A Heart Missing a Piece

"The Isabella diamond ring, I remember it was discontinued and destroyed four hundred years ago due to the 'Isabella Rose Miracle'. There are less than five left in the world now. How did you get it?" Deep White Midnight's gaze lightly touched.

Isabella Rose Miracle, he had dabbled in this miracle during his free time.

Back then, the Eternal Oath Company heavily promoted their new product under the slogan—'Diamonds are forever, one binds eternally'.

They claimed that this ring was imbued with the magic power of love, capable of forever binding two people wearing it face to face. Should either party break the vow of love, the ring's thorns would pierce their heart.

Indeed, the Eternal Oath Company's promotional claims were true. Lovers who made oaths to each other through the ring would be bound together, and if either side broke the vow, committing an act of betrayal, the thorns would deeply embed into their flesh, turning them into a withered corpse.

Upon purchasing the ring, people signed a risk contract, naturally leaving the Eternal Oath Company beyond reproach. Many absurd incidents ensued at the time.

Desperate to escape the curse of the ring, people employed every means, even enduring excruciating pain to sever their ring finger. Yet like magic, the diamond ring would regrow from a different finger the next day, taking root even deeper.

Ironically, the vow of love became a curse at the moment they entered the marital hall.

Deep White Midnight touched his forehead with his fingertips; only when the situation blew up did people realize that the ring's magic power stemmed from a miracle—the twelve thousand five hundred acres of Isabella Rose garden was the manifestation of the miracle. Whenever someone died from breaking a vow, the Eternal Oath Company would dispatch employees to collect the bodies, using them as nourishment to feed the miracle, allowing it to flourish.

The power of a miracle always has two sides.

One morning, when the number of oath-breakers reached one hundred twenty-five thousand, the testament of beautiful love turned into a withered curse, transforming hundreds of thousands into thorn-covered rose monsters, madly thrusting sharp objects into their lovers' eye sockets, embracing in fervent kisses.

The wildly blooming roses absorbed people's bodies into withered branches, causing lovers to grow together forever, never to part.

Lovers achieved everlasting love,

but at the cost of death.

After the miracle erupted, the Eternal Oath Company was hardly affected, as all who hated it for love were dead. They merely symbolically reclaimed and destroyed the Isabella rings, and the matter was hastily concluded.

"You really are something." Deep White Midnight was lost for words.

"For love, there's nothing that can't be done." Gloomy Blue Tide packed the ring box away, pressing his hand to his chest. "I searched the world, found an Isabella rose that hadn't withered, cut off a part of my heart to nurture it, and harvested this ring fruit it bore."

"Xiaobai, you understand better than me what it feels like to love someone."

Upon hearing this, deep veins surfaced on Deep White Midnight's forehead; he clenched his fist tightly, his tone unprecedentedly icy.

"Shut up."

"Alright, alright, let's not mention little Chichu Yin's affairs, after all, she died heroically in Yuyuan City, respect the dead."

Gloomy Blue Tide's eyes held a hint of mockery, deliberately accentuating the word 'heroically,' observing Deep White Midnight's expression with interest.

Unexpectedly, the latter's breath merely faltered momentarily, restoring calm with his breathing. He appeared somewhat weakened, like a white wolf wounded while patrolling his territory.

Gloomy Blue Tide didn't plan to further antagonize, continuing to speak on his own accord.

"The strong can only depend on another strong presence, it's an eternal truth. From the first glance I saw her, I was deeply captivated by her beauty, those radiant and vivid eyes, soft lips, and a face weathered by trials yet still enticing."

"There will never be another creature as perfect as her. I think, strong beings lack beautiful appearances, and beautiful beings are incapable of emerging from the void of their empty shells to enrich the framework of their souls."

"Her gaze gave me endless longing; I believe she needs me, like the spring waters of the Crona River need warm sunlight."

"I'm not in the mood to hear your nauseating sentiments." Deep White Midnight's gaze projected a bone-chilling cold, "Just try if you dare to touch Nest City under Cosmos Heavy Industries."

"I assure you, this time I won't let you go, nor will I ever compromise with you again. I will always find a way to make your life a living hell."

Gloomy Blue Tide shrugged helplessly, watching Deep White Midnight's departing silhouette with an ambiguous gaze: "Xiaobai, even if you choose not to inform me, I will certainly find her."

"I will soon locate her and convey my intentions."

Dramatic scenes flashed in his mind, Gloomy Blue Tide lowered his head, clutching his chest tightly, caressing his heart missing a fragment:

"Then, I will slowly strangle her, let her forever remain in the most beautiful moment."

"Stay in the moment where strength doesn't fade, and appearance doesn't fade with the passing time."

...

Chichu Heaven, inside the Northern Territory Bank.

The glass dome shed light dust, humongous gears suspended below the dragon-bone structure clattered, a steam-punk-style clock followed the gear's movement, advancing its hands, emitting a distant hum.

True Marrow Fluorite lamps embedded into the walls connected to copper-colored pipes extending underground, radiating a warm temperature. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Exquisite murals were adorned with gilded frames, oil paintings captured scenes of merchant ships sailing away and bountiful rice fields; grey cushions spread evenly in front of the arched bank counters, looking around, such counters persist every few dozen meters, with scattered customers handling transactions.

Since the Northern Territory Bank only supports the most traditional storage methods, there are rarely crowds handling banking transactions, and over time, it unavoidably became somewhat bleak.

Behind the bank counters, a young man in a black uniform crossed his arms, resting them on his chest, his fingertips stroking his chin, a thick ledger placed on a polished dark wood desk, as he stared too long, his thoughts involuntarily began to disperse.

How should I persuade Dark Gold Rose to join Assassin's Creed now that Silent Sequence has already extended an olive branch?

And, for this league competition's personnel arrangement, he needs to think more deeply, tonight he can't afford to be idle, he has to watch recordings of other guild star players, to grasp their current season's situation as much as possible.

"Xiaohang, come and lend a hand."

The woman's gentle call pulled the young man back from his thoughts; he lifted his head, responded a few words, closed the ledger on the desk, and ran hurriedly towards the woman's direction, brushing past two young girls in the process.

"You, You, look at that, Fenrir Wolf Titan is used for guarding here, and those biomimetic Blade Dancers, let me secretly tell you, they are the latest models jointly developed by Jiulong Message and Chichu Military Industry..."

Lu Shuhang hesitated slightly, turned his head, watching the two girls' distant backs, especially the black caped blonde girl, always giving him a strangely familiar feeling; did he mistake her for someone else?

"Xiaohang?"

"Oh, sorry Sister Chen, got a bit held up, I'm coming!"

Lu Shuhang merely assumed he misjudged, shook his head, quickened his pace, swiftly departed.

He surely mistook them; Dark Gold Rose ought to be still immersed in Oasis by now, let alone the mysterious and powerful Cleaner appearing in such a remote place.