Chapter 235: She Knew All Along She Was the Original

He hadn’t planned on saying any of this, but she clearly didn’t realize how much she meant to him.

"Since I was the one who rebuilt The Sterling Group, what does it matter if I’m also the one to destroy it?"

He was still smiling, but the determination and resolve in his eyes were unnerving.

Building a company as massive as The Sterling Group had been difficult, of course. But compared to her, it just didn’t seem that important.

Besides, if his suspicions were correct and this world was merely a playground for the ’gods’... what was the point? What good would it do to become the richest man in the world, to stand at the pinnacle of wealth?

Jane Lancaster: "Are you insane?!"

Jasper Sterling, however, smiled slowly and sighed. "See? You don’t actually care that much about money."

Jane Lancaster’s head throbbed. "You just don’t get it..."

"No. Perhaps... I understand you better than you think," Jasper Sterling said, taking her hand.

"You’re so proud. No matter the circumstances, you always fight back. You never compromise, and you never give up."

"Intelligent and perceptive, determined and brave. ’Though a million men stand against me, I will go forward.’ You would never surrender the world to those scumbags."

He smiled brilliantly, as if the entire car had been filled with a dazzling light. "The reason you’re doing this... it’s to help Pauline Shaw one last time, isn’t it?"

"Even though some people can’t be reasoned with, you still have a soft spot in your heart. You know how the world works, but you haven’t become jaded by it. Your kindness is just wrapped up in a sharp exterior."

Jane Lancaster looked at him. The man before her was so sincere and earnest. He was so handsome; his charming, expressive eyes held an affection meant only for her.

Her heart grew warm, as if some emotion was about to break out of its cocoon.

"Perhaps... it’s not really me you’re in love with," Jane Lancaster said calmly after a long pause.

’He’s in love with the original her, isn’t he? It’s a shame I’m not the real deal.’

She tried to pull her hand back, but it wouldn’t budge.

"From start to finish, you’re the only one I’ve ever loved. Three years ago, and today, three years later—this heart could never mistake you for another."

He placed her hand over his heart. Beneath her palm, it pounded uncontrollably, as if constantly speaking of his longing.

Jane Lancaster sighed softly.

————

「In Aethelgard」

The forums were about to explode.

[OMG someone actually figured it out! Jasper Sterling is sooooo in love!!]

[I thought they’d need Timothy Lancaster to show up to confirm she’s their real daughter.]

[Haven’t you guys noticed? The Tasker’s expression has been calm this whole time. She knew she was the original all along!]

[Oh my god, I’m getting goosebumps!]

[What the hell is going on? Wasn’t the Tasker’s memory supposed to be erased?]

[Jane Lancaster, how many more surprises do you have that We know nothing of?]

[So what if her memories are back? She signed the contract anyway. She’s the one who voluntarily gave up her protagonist’s halo.]

[Yeah, aren’t we being generous enough? As long as she completes the mission, we’ll bring her to Aethelgard, grant her status as a lower-class citizen, give her immense wealth, and bestow upon her eternal life.]

[It’s not even certain she’ll be a lower-class citizen. If her sins are heinous, she’ll go straight to Aethelgard’s prison. All that wealth will be useless to her then (smirks).]

[We secretly activated the mind-reading feature on the Tasker so everyone could have a good time. So what the hell is going on? It seems like she knew she was the original person all along, yet her inner monologue kept denying it.]

[Is it a bug?]

[If she’s really doing this intentionally, that’s terrifying. All I can say is, she’s incredibly shrewd (takes a drag from a cigarette).]

[Star Power +100. I can’t take it anymore! I request a check to see if the Tasker has recovered her memories! If she has, and she’s intentionally hiding it to mess with the citizens of Aethelgard, I want her dead! Her soul scattered and her bones ground to dust!]

[Star Power +500. It is We who insist on liking Jane Lancaster, the fault is all Ours! We forbid you from putting her on trial!]

Inside The Sanctum, a series of footsteps rang out.

White-robed attendants prostrated themselves on the floor, kowtowing toward the newcomers.

The Black-Haired Oracle looked up, his expression calm as he gazed at them.

Besides the red-haired one, several others dressed in the brocade robes of priests had also arrived. They had been summoned by No. 14.

No. 14 was the first to speak, a smile on his face. "Lord No. 3, my apologies. The Tasker may have recovered her memories long ago. We have to check if she’s been intentionally deceiving us."

No. 3 was expressionless. "And what if she has?"

"Then it’s a capital crime, of course! We must answer the call of the people and carry out the ultimate death sentence." No. 14’s eyes flickered.

He was thoroughly fed up with this Tasker. She kept deviating from his plans. ’How dare an ant challenge a god?’

No. 3 said, "Is that so? Then by all means, execute her now." He stepped aside, clearing the way to the main control console.

No. 14’s expression froze. How was he supposed to execute her now? As long as she was still in the small world, they were powerless against her.

"Lord No. 3, you’re being too hasty. I meant after the mission is over, after we bring her to Aethelgard."

The other priests quickly tried to smooth things over. Everyone was working for Aethelgard; there was no need to make things tense.

"Let’s just check her memories first. We need to give the populace an explanation."

No. 3 stood with his hands at his sides, his voice nonchalant. "Weren’t you going to check? Then hurry up."

Seeing that he was no longer standing in the way, No. 14 eagerly walked up to the main control console. He condensed Divine Power at his fingertips and began the brain scan.

No. 3’s gaze fell upon the star representing her world on the console. On the screen, Jane Lancaster suddenly frowned and passed out without warning.

He remained expressionless as he silently cursed, ’Idiots.’

Just as he’d expected, after a round of scanning, the display showed that the Tasker had not recovered her full memories.

Her current memory unlock progress was proceeding normally, with no anomalies.

No. 14 couldn’t believe it. He gritted his teeth and scanned again.

After a long while, No. 3 spoke. "Still checking?"

No. 14 was covered in sweat and looking wretched. He didn’t have enough energy left for another scan. No. 3 certainly had the power to do it, but he definitely wouldn’t be willing.

He looked at the other priests, about to ask for their help, but they all averted their gazes.

"Since the check came up with nothing, let’s just drop it."

"Yeah, No. 14 has already checked so many times. He wouldn’t have missed anything."

"There’s no need to waste any more Divine Power. All right, let’s leave it at that."

No. 14’s heart sank, his face turning livid.

He thought he had found some leverage on Jane Lancaster, so spending a little Divine Power wouldn’t have mattered. After all, compared to the generous rewards, the cost would have been nothing.

Now that he had found nothing, the Divine Power he had spent felt like a complete waste.

His other colleagues were just as crafty and cunning as he’d thought. They had managed to stay beautifully uninvolved.

Putting Jane Lancaster on trial would have brought huge benefits to every single one of them.

It turned out that every one of them wanted the rewards but was unwilling to lift a finger to get them.

————

Soon, the results of the memory scan were announced, sending the forums into an uproar.

[Priest No. 14 scanned her six times? Then the results are definitely solid.]

[Don’t you guys think Jane Lancaster is so cool? She didn’t get her memories back; she figured it all out purely with her own intellect.]

[Team Jane! She’s seriously awesome!]