"Ow, ow, ow!!!"
The very next second after her bold declaration, Evangeline was clutching her stomach, trembling on the small stool with her legs shaking.
As the perpetrator, Luo Shu just gave a cold laugh, looking down at the unreliable primogenitor who was suffering from a kidney stone attack. "Now, do you still think I'm worried about you dying?"
Evangeline immediately waved her hands, begging for mercy. "I don't, I don't! Stop, please stop, it hurts so much I could die!!"
Seeing this, Luo Shu withdrew the bestowal of kidney stones, then looked at Evangeline with disgust. "Seeing you so full of spirit, it seems the consequences of triggering the Scales of Order aren't too severe."
Hearing this, Meer, who was beside them, added, "It's probably because the impact isn't serious enough yet."
Pausing, Meer picked up a green navy cap from the table and spun it. "Based on the intelligence we've gathered so far, the people who have died suddenly due to the Scales of Order often have one thing in common: they killed or controlled high-ranking officials of various countries, causing major incidents."
"Perhaps because this little vampire hasn't made the prime minister do anything major yet, the situation isn't too severe?"
"What do you mean, 'little vampire'?" Evangeline grumbled. The auras of the people before her were so young they weren't even a fraction of her age, alright? Who was the little one here!
However, as she spoke, Luo Shu turned his head and glared at her.
Instantly, Evangeline didn't dare to make another sound.
After silencing Evangeline with a look, Luo Shu turned his gaze back to Meer. "So you're saying, she's missing the step of usurping power and issuing orders in the prime minister's place?"
"That's more or less it."
Meer quickly understood what Luo Shu was trying to say. She nodded, then turned her gaze to Evangeline. "But judging from the current situation, the mark left by the Scales of Order should have already disappeared."
"Huh?" Evangeline was taken aback, saying with some surprise, "Disappeared? How is that possible? It was clearly there just now... eh? It's really gone..."
Feeling the relaxed and easy sensation in her consciousness, no longer seeing the reflection of the scales, Evangeline was stunned.
At this moment, Lacus, who had already guessed this might happen, sounded much more relieved. "So, the Hidden Management Zone can indeed block the effect... no, should I say it eliminates the effect?"
"Strange, it was clearly there just now..."
Evangeline looked around at her surroundings with a conflicted expression, then suddenly remembered something and muttered to herself, "The common knowledge seemed to mention that the Hidden Management Zone can suppress the side effects of Abyss Artefacts, but can it also suppress a Divine-level Abyss Artefact of the Five Great Powers?"
Luo Shu glanced at Evangeline upon hearing this, but didn't answer. Instead, he turned to Lacus and said, "The situation isn't very clear yet. Should we run another test?"
Hearing the word "test", Evangeline's heart skipped a beat. 'Wait, why do I have a bad feeling about this?'
Seeing Evangeline's reaction, Lacus reassured her, "Don't worry, it's just a simple test."
"The specific procedure is for you to leave the Hidden Management Zone, re-enter the present world, and we'll test if you get targeted by the Scales of Order again."
"Of course, to ensure your safety, we will place an emergency return device on you to ensure you are teleported back here before any danger occurs."
Evangeline looked at Lacus, who was explaining the situation to her, and her lips quivered as she said, "...Can I not do the test?"
Instantly, Luo Shu's sharp gaze shot over, his eyes filled with a threatening meaning.
Needless to say, Evangeline knew it was time for her to be sensible. "Alright, I know what I have to do."
After speaking, Evangeline paused, trying her best to bargain, "Please, make sure the safety measures are maxed out."
With that, Evangeline shakily stood up from the small stool and, like a ginger cat testing the water temperature, tentatively exited the Divine Kingdom.
As soon as Evangeline had risen, Luo Shu had mobilised the power of his Divine Kingdom to bolster himself and called upon his Calamity Authority. Using the connection between a Chief God and his Familia, he was ready at any moment to use Possession to take over from Evangeline and use the authority-level Calamity Absorption to withstand the attack from the Scales of Order.
However, less than a minute later, Evangeline returned to the viewing platform with a strange expression and announced to the group:
"It seems like it's fine now."
Upon hearing this, both Lacus and Meer looked towards Luo Shu.
Kirika Tachibana, who was standing to one side, couldn't hold back and asked directly:
"Can you confirm if there was anything unusual?"
At that moment, Luo Shu, who had been monitoring Evangeline the entire time, mulled it over before giving his answer:
"The lock from the Scales of Order should have been cleansed by the Divine Kingdom."
Hearing this, everyone present, apart from the newcomer Evangeline, understood the situation.
"Does that mean the authority of the Scales of Order is lower than this place?"
Lacus turned her gaze to the restless blue ocean and the pure, golden beach before them. She then let out a soft sigh, a smile gracing her face as she said to Luo Shu:
"It looks like we've found a way to evade the sanctions of the Union's Divine-level Abyss Artefact."
Luo Shu glanced at Lacus upon hearing her words, then nodded.
"For now, we can consider it a method of removing the lock."
Seeing the two of them say this, Kirika Tachibana, who was sitting to one side with her legs crossed, made a suggestion:
"Should we test it again?"
"For example, have Evangeline control the Prime Minister once more?"
In an instant, Evangeline shot a resentful glare at Kirika Tachibana.
"You don't have to look at me like that. If you could transfer the control, I wouldn't mind doing it myself."
"How about this? We'll allocate some points from the SDS's points bank and supply Miss Evangeline with a main material for the Demigod Rank..."
Before Lacus could finish, Evangeline immediately replied:
"Deal!"
"The bet is made, no take-backs."
Luo Shu was also taken aback, looking at the instantly agreeable Evangeline.
'Is this the kind of person Evangeline is?'
Luo Shu looked strangely at Evangeline, who was suppressing a smile, his expression exceptionally subtle.
"Greedy guts," Meer pouted and muttered.
Hearing this, Evangeline's old face flushed red, and she began to make excuses:
"You're the ones who said I'm the only one who can test this sort of thing right now, so I'm reluctantly helping out."
"I'm not doing this for some promotion material, but because of my spirit of sacrifice. Yes, the spirit of sacrifice."
Watching the prevaricating Evangeline, the corner of Luo Shu's mouth twitched, and he turned his head to glance at Lacus.
Noticing Luo Shu's gaze, Lacus just smiled and shook her head, indicating that he shouldn't mind the expenditure of points. After all, the points were being used within the Familia.
Moreover, in Lacus's view, if the test was successful, Evangeline could maintain long-term control over Japan's Prime Minister.
If that could be achieved, the value this would bring to the SDS would far exceed the points spent.
Therefore, paying a certain price to test this matter was worth it.
Seeing Lacus's insistence, Luo Shu said no more. He turned back to Evangeline, pondered for a moment, and then said:
"In that case, let's test it one more time!"
Hearing this, Evangeline composed her joyful expression and nodded solemnly.