"Even if you can protect yourself from all physical swords, guns and bullets, or even take her to escape into the wilderness, once people age, they will become weak, prone to illness and injury... Where else can there be trustworthy places besides habitable places? A hospital, where is a more suitable place for cultivation in old age?”
Seeing Hesta's cheeks turning slightly white, Ava let out a faint chuckle, "Why do you have such an expression, Hesta...have you never thought about these issues?"
Hesta was unconsciously frightened by this sight, but she soon regained consciousness, "Even if that day comes, Miss Chiba will never surrender. Before that, she will definitely find a suitable solution." ——”
"For example, kill yourself decently before others succeed," Ava said calmly, "Is this a solution?"
Hesta's questioning voice stopped abruptly.
Is it possible...?
Time passed slowly in the silent confrontation between the two.
When the clock's hour hand was about to reach 8 o'clock, Ava said calmly: "There is an old proverb in the 14th District. I wonder if you have heard of it. 'Those who cannot plan long-term plans cannot plan well for the present.'
"I don't care why you wanted to hide from others in the first place, and I don't care why you want to kill Fernan now. Since you appear here today, it shows that your revenge is not over yet.
"I don't plan to interfere too much in your personal affairs, but I can provide some timely help, such as providing you with false chip data when you need it..."
Hesta's eyes suddenly brightened.
"...But there are conditions." Ava said softly.
"What conditions?"
"Tell me first, how long did you originally plan to spend on this matter?"
Hesta was silent for a moment and replied, "...more, five years."
Ava burst into laughter. This shocking answer made her feel ridiculous, even to the point of irritation.
——The last thing these young people lack is time, so they always squander it!
"Five years..." Ava's sarcasm was already palpable, "You actually have to waste five years on this matter... Are you going to kill enough people to form a small country?"
"It's not much," Hesta said softly, "But my purpose is not just to take their lives, I want the remaining people to feel the same amount of pain before they die. This is a long plan. .”
Ava was unmoved, she stretched out her palm and said, "Five days."
"What?" Hesta frowned suspiciously, "...This is impossible."
"You can take them all captive to one place first. Isn't five full days of torture enough?"
"Far from enough," Hesta said solemnly, "At least... one year."
"A month."
"What is enough for one month?" Hesta stood up. She supported the table and leaned towards Ava. "What about half a year? Half a year - this is the limit I can compress to."
Ava looked at her, "In three months, I won't change my mind again. You don't have to give me an answer today... Go back first, think about it slowly, think carefully about what 'false coordinates' means, and then put your Let’s review the five-year plan again – I believe there must be a lot of water that can be eliminated.
"If you think it's feasible, come to me next time with your prey list."
After saying that, Ava rang the bell again, and the lady who came in to get the mail opened the door from the outside.
"Ava?"
"Help me take Miss Demont downstairs." Ava's voice was still soothing, "Also, you should also prepare. It's almost time for me to set off."
Hesta stood up, she bowed slightly to Ava, then turned and walked towards the door.
"Eureka." Ava suddenly called her from behind.
Hesta stopped and turned to look at Ava.
"Is there anything else you want?" Hesta asked.
The daylight outside the window gradually became brighter. During the time they were talking, the hazy mist outside that only belonged to the early morning had dissipated. Ava sat in the bright morning light, looking calm and quiet.
"Power is a very good thing," Ava said slowly, "To put it bluntly, it may be the best thing in the world.
"Don't resist it, let alone despise it. When you have the opportunity to grab it, don't give it up easily...Sooner or later, you will understand why."
Hesta frowned again, as if thinking about the meaning of this sentence.
"...I will think about it carefully." She turned around and saluted Ava, "Thank you for your help today. Goodbye."
Ava watched Hesta leave, and since there were several waiting visitors at the front door, she was led to the backyard.
Ava stood in front of her window, watching Hesta's back disappear behind the grape trellis. Until the entire yard returned to its previous tranquility, Ava did not move.
She was in a trance, remembering her first encounter with Hesta at the police station - the first time she saw Hesta, she knew what must have happened to this girl. The almost cruel joy and determined silence in Hesta's eyes were both familiar to Ava.
But at this moment, Ava couldn't understand, and even found it a little funny: why do people always like to do things that are not worth the gain when they are young, and why they are always willing to let themselves be carried away by emotions, including hatred. .
Ava still had many things she wanted to say to Hesta, but she knew that saying too much would annoy the other person, so she could only leave it to the future.
Revenge is certainly sweet, Hesta.
But until when will you see the danger in this sweetness - revenge can always only be a means, but never an end.
Maybe everyone vaguely understood this at first, but the longer you invest in this plan and the more energy you expend, the easier it is for you to be confused between the two.
If you really fall into trouble because of this... then when your revenge ends, it will be the moment when your whole life collapses.
Thinking of this, Ava felt a little emotional again.
What's the point of thinking about these things now... Hesta is only nineteen years old this year, and the beginning of her life will begin in her world. As a tool, she has been sharpened enough, but as a person, she has too many clumsy parts.
A person's character is like her destiny. Premature self-consistency often means mediocrity, but taking the wrong direction can easily lead to failure.
Perhaps because of this, these young people wandering on the fringes can always attract their own attention easily.
Ava walked back to the table and threw the secondary diagnosis she received this morning into the shredder next to her.
She doesn’t have much time left, but she should still be quite optimistic if she survives three months...
Don't let me down, Hesta.
