Chapter 38

In response, Adonis nodded his head with a smile. He observed Alice's ruby eyes and noticed that something seemed off. Her demeanor was unusual, considering her newly gained freedom. Could it be that the ordeal had damaged her mind?

With these thoughts in mind, Adonis asked, "Do you remember me?"

Alice shook her head and lowered her gaze with a tinge of guilt. She admitted, "You feel very familiar to me, and I sense you're an important person, but I've forgotten who you are."

Adonis assured her, "It's okay. You can simply call me Adonis if you like." He then continued his inquiry, "What about Herta? Do you remember her?"

Upon hearing the name Herta, Alice's face contorted in disgust, and she replied, "I hate her."

Adonis found Alice's response even more intriguing. He raised an eyebrow and glanced at the dirtied Alice. 

Then, he phoned Cocolia to his office, as she wasn't on seat currently.

When she came in, he quickly instructed, "Cocolia, please take her for a bath and provide her with clean clothes."

Cocolia who just came into the office let out a soft sigh and turned towards Adonis with a conflicted expression. She questioned, "Why waste time on such a minor matter? You already read about the horrors of the antimatter legion in the records."

Adonis seeing her conflicted expression lightly responded, "Cocolia, the antimatter legion might be terrifying to you, but from my perspective, they pose no real threat."

He emphasized that these antimatter legions were not the harbingers of catastrophe or the bringers of destruction as she thinks; they were mere pawns.

Adonis didn't feel any urgency about such trivial adversaries and believed there was no need to fret over them. Were it the doomsday beast or the Lord Ravagers, then, maybe he could be a little serious.

Hearing Adonis serious words, Cocolia didn't know what to say she simply followed the order and left with Alice.

.

After Cocolia and Alice left.

Hook took Clara's hand and they happily rushed into the Supreme Guardian's office. 

Once there, Hook enthusiastically approached Adonis table, leaned on the table, and asked, "Lord Guardian, what did you want to tell us?"

However, Clara appeared somewhat reserved. She gently tugged on the corner of Hook's clothing and said hesitantly, "... Hook, this is the Supreme Guardian's office."

Hook, scratching his head in confusion, responded, "I know that...."

Clara blushed in embarrassment. She thought, 'Even though we're here, can't you just stand still for a moment?'

However, she found it challenging to express her reprimand. She attempted to speak several times but couldn't voice what she wanted to say.

Adonis affectionately ruffled Hook's head and commented, "It seems like you've become great friends." Hook, holding Clara's arm, enthusiastically proclaimed, "Clara is now the fourth member of the Mole Party!"

This took Adonis by surprise, and he gazed at Clara with curiosity. He had never expected Clara to join the Mole Party.

Clara blushed shyly as she explained, "Hook said that if I join the Mole, I can also include Mr. Svarog in our future games of hide and seek."

Adonis couldn't help but chuckle. Playing hide and seek with a robot? That was something only Hook would come up with.

Adonis smiled at Hook and Clara, "Hook, Clara, if you both do well in the final exam in half a month, I'll give you a gift."

Hook's eyes lit up, as Hook eagerly asked, "What's the gift?"

Clara, with determination in her eyes, paused for a moment, then, "I will... definitely get a good grade."

Two people, two very different personalities.

Adonis looked at Hook to answer her first, as he posed a rhetorical question, "Hook, are you sure you want to know?"

After a moment's thought, Hook nodded but then quickly shook his head, saying, "Uh-huh, I take it back. Sister Natasha calls it an 'old witch trick.' She says that knowing the gift in advance spoils the element of surprise."

Hook then changed the topic, saying, "My dad's birthday is coming up, and I'm preparing a gift for him. I haven't told anyone about it to make it a surprise. But I haven't decided what to get him yet. Lord Guardian, do you have any suggestions?"

Adonis found it surprising that Hook and her father shared the same birthday, but they had apparently forgotten about this detail. As for the gift, Adonis chuckled and said, "Hook, if you can achieve good grades, the best gift would be your report card."

Hook eagerly agreed, "Got it! Then I won't play for the next few days."

He then turned to Clara and asked, "Clara, can you help me with my studies?"

Clara nodded and softly replied, "Sure."

Hook exclaimed, "Alright! Lord Guardian, I'm going back to study now."

Adonis shook his head and smiled, saying, "No need to be in a rush, and wait first."

...

Some minutes after.

Entering Adonis office, Cocolia returned with a renewed Alice.

Alice wore a black gothic dress with her hair styled into two drill braids, adorned with a blue bow. 

(PS: Refer to Honkai Three Bronya hairstyle.) 

Adonis wasn't quite sure how Cocolia had managed to braid her silky black hair into such intricate curls, but he couldn't deny that Alice looked incredibly cute with this hairstyle.

Adonis turned to the two children and said, "This is Alice, and she's not very familiar with Belobog yet. Hook, Clara, your mission today is to show her around and help her get to know this place."

Hook, being his cheerful self, exclaimed, "Wow, what a cute girl! Lord Guardian, you can count on pitch-black Hook to complete this mission!"

He then approached Alice with enthusiasm, took her hand, and introduced himself, saying, "Hello, Alice, I'm Hook, but you can call me pitch-black Hook."

With Clara on his left and Alice on his right, Hook led them out of the Supreme Guardian's office.