"So let me get this straight; The shooter from Leiden University just unlocked your door with his 'smart lockpick', threatened your life, but then you used your high-grade pistol to not only chip off his armor, but he fled by breaking out that window?" The officer asked with annoyed face to Euler.
"Absolutely. Had it not for my exceptionally fast processing time of my brain, I surely would've been put to corner and died." Euler replied.
The officer then slashed out the notes he made and put away his note. "This is just getting ridiculous. First, I have a girl telling me she has the physique to fight a shooter, and now this radiation maniac is claiming he has a reaction of a veteran soldier to scare off the shooter. I'm not doing this anymore."
"Oh, but officer, I'm telling the truth. Won't you do justice to that shooter who was bloodthirsty for my life and those in Leiden university?"
"Listen here, 'genius'. No person who knows about lockpicking would dare say that someone could casually lockpick in a matter of seconds. As someone who's been in police force for years, none of your description makes any sense. Now don't waste the time of the law enforcer again, or you'll be charged."
"That's quite unfortunate, officer Mike. I suppose I was too much of a simpleton to trick you. I wish you best of luck for days afterward." After the officer shook his head and left, Euler gave a smile. It wasn't a problem that an officer did not believe him. For tomorrow, the Undying One will be revealed.
The next day at the local police station, Mike was talking about the ridiculous witnesses he dealt with to the other officers. Then suddenly, a man with rather large physique that covered his face entered. Then without warning, he took out a small tool and picked at the door reserved for police officers.
"Hey! You can't go in there! That's for us only!" As they approached to stop him, the door clicked and the man walked in. "Did…did he just…open that door like it's nothing?" one of them asked.
"What the hell are you guys doing?! He's going for our armory!" One of the officers yelled at the bewildered ones. The officers pointed their guns at the man as he was working on the door to the armory. "Hands up! You're under arrest! If you don't comply, we'll shoot!" Although it took a little longer than the regular door, the man also successfully opened the door to the armory, then he turned his face towards the officers and revealed his helmet.
"I am the Undying One!" he said. The voice was distorted with the new feature that Euler has installed on the suit's neck. "You don't have what it takes to kill me!" Then he hurled a nearby table at them with one hand and the officers were pushed back.
Undying One got into the armory and took some ammo and guns into his sack. The officers got up and started to shoot their weapons at Undying One. To their horror, the metallic figure didn't flinch from the bullets, and instead was marching towards them.
"Call for help! We have an emergency!" One officer yelled. As Undying One made his way to the exit, he effortlessly swatted away any officers in his path. Then officer Mike was next, and he was horrified as the metal beast glanced at him. He got grabbed by his shirt and lifted to the Undying One's level.
"What a pathetic excuse for a police officer you are!" Undying One said mockingly. "Even a scrawny bookworm put up more of a fight than you!" Then he tossed Mike to the side and got out of the police station. Then he was gone as he jumped up onto the roof of the station.
After a while, more officers arrived at the scene, including the chief officer and journalists. The officers at the station were telling what happened with a begging look, hoping that the public could believe them.
"Officer, do you think that this individual calling himself 'Undying One' is associated with surge of residents reports of house break-ins through unlocking their doors?" one of the journalists asked.
"Yes! Yes! He broke into our locked, secure doors like nothing with that weird lockpick! He has monstrous strength and armor; our guns are ineffective against him! Please, chief, you gotta believe us!" One of the officers said.
Then officer Mike spoke up. "I-I think I know someone that could help us! Before leaving, the Undying One said to me that a scrawny bookworm put up more of a fight than us. I remember investigating Mr. Euler Pierce's scene of crime once; he claimed to have shot and driven out the Undying One, but I dismissed it because I thought it was fabricated. I surely couldn't have known that he was speaking the truth that day."
"But to be fair, an ordinary man driving out that metal monster like that takes a leap of faith to believe, Mike." The chief said. "Are you sure about the accuracy of your statement?"
"I swear on my badge, chief. As of now, we don't have the power to stop the Undying One, so we can't be picky about any help we can get…I also owe him a thousand apologies as well."
After thinking for a while, the chief decided to contact Euler for help.
The next day, police officers including chief officer paid visit to Euler's house after calling him for cooperation. Euler has left alone the crime scene as it is ever since officer Mike has visited. "My, my, I thought a 'simpleton' like me just couldn't trick an all-seeing eye of an officer. Has the proud police force now changed their mind and decided that I was telling the truth?" Euler said.
The officers felt some discomfort from the greeting they received. "First, as the chief police officer of the Leiden Police Station, I offer a sincere apology for how my officer has behaved and treated you. Nonetheless, we are very grateful for your cooperation with us to fight against the Undying One, a new criminal that is beyond the past criminals we've dealt with. I will reopen this investigation and hear what you have to say, Mr. Pierce."
The next day, the summary of the conversation that Euler had with the officers was released to the public in the form of a newspaper. With the surge of evidence of Undying One's influence throughout Leiden city, the public gave their extra attention to this newspaper, including Violet.
This was the content of the newspaper: After the shooting incident at the Leiden University, Euler quickly made a prototype pistol of his own for the sake of self-defense. Then when the Undying One infiltrated, he shot a full clip of his pistol and forced the Undying One to retreat. Upon investigating the chipped off metal armor of the Undying One, it was made of similar material to the prosthetic limb he invented, implying that such material was stolen from Rory's Metal.
Given that the main activity of Undying One involved collecting goods, Euler speculated that Undying One may infiltrate facilities such as a bank next. The chief received three prototype pistols made by Euler for now and will be testing its effectiveness against Undying One. Euler has also announced that he thought of a design for a door lock that could resist lockpicking and will release the invention to the market soon.
A few days later, a newspaper headline read that Undying One was driven away from a bank, marking Leidenschaftlich's first victory against Undying One. The police testified how Undying One let out cries of pain as they shot Euler's pistol and forced him to retreat. All the money Undying One attempted to steal was saved and accounted for. The chief officer then stated that they will continue to fund and support Euler's effort to fight against Undying One and requested for the public's patience until the battle was over. Euler also announced that he will relocate his residence and will not disclose his new address to the public, as he was concerned Undying One may pursuit him again.
Euler simply chuckled as he read the newspaper, with a letter written by a chief police officer in his other hand. The truth was, when Euler saw the police with his electromagnetic pistol, he simply acted as if the pistol was effective on him and retreated. For Euler's pistol was only more accurate but was similar in firepower as the regular pistol. But what did it matter? The public was convinced that they've won a day and the credit went to Euler. In other words, Euler was now an angel that fended off the devil.
Euler was quite tense because a single mistake could cost him his life before, but now that he managed to manipulate the truth, a surge of great satisfaction overtook him. It was as if he grasped on a power to change reality as he saw fit. He then thought of the past when the public scorned him from lies spread about him, and now he was the one deceiving them to have them praise him. Such turn of events greatly entertained him, and he chuckled more.
"Perhaps all those unpleasant and discomforting feelings I had before were worth it for this. These feelings I feel right now…I want to savor it." Euler said to himself. Amidst enjoying the feeling of satisfaction, he thought of the day when he decided to go back to his old purpose for his master. "Yes…I knew it all along…There was no need for me to doubt myself because of all those petty, unpleasant emotions. For what only matters in this world is that you're a hero against evil. Here I take the first step to honor my master's old wish; that I become the Anointed One to move humanity forward."
For the first time ever, Euler purchased wine for himself. He poured some in the glass, went up to the mirror, and raised it up towards himself. "For the Anointed One, the slayer of the Undying One…"
After her work, Violet visited Rory's Metal to replace the damaged metal plating on her prosthetic hands from the fight with the Undying One. "Damn straight, Violet. Such a nasty beating you must've given him. But also, it would be nice if you avoided fighting him again in future." Rory said as he went to retrieve spare parts.
"So you think so too, Mr. Stevenson? Mr. Hodgins gave the same concern for me. I hope you can understand that I was acting out of what I thought was right and within my power." Violet replied.
"We'd all be very upset if something happened to you, Violet. That's the way it is for close neighbors. That being said, crazy, unexpected things been happening these days, eh? First this…Undying One or whatever comes steals my stuff, then you brawl with that thing at the Leiden university, and now Euler is suddenly working with the police to take him down. What's next? The sun rises from east tomorrow?"
"Euler…I don't know how he managed to fend off the Undying One, but I'm so glad that he's safe, Mr. Stevenson. I asked Mr. Hodgins for a day-off tomorrow, and I'll visit Euler before he relocates. I want to know how he's been doing, especially after Mrs. Davis' harsh critique on him."
"Yeah, that'll be a good thing to do. Say hi to him for me, will ya?" Rory then finished attaching the last new metal plating on Violet's hand. "All done there. It's as good as new."
"Thank you, Mr. Stevenson."
The next day, Violet went to Euler's house in the morning. When she arrived, she saw a truck parked in front of his house and workers moving Euler's belongings. She found Euler talking with workers and greeted him. "Good morning, Euler. It's me, Violet."
Euler turned around and gave a surprised expression. He told the worker to move his belongings as they saw fit for now and went to Violet. "Well, good morning, Violet. Did you need something from me?"
"I wanted to catch up with you, that's all. We haven't received any follow-up from you, and we were worried. But I'm glad that you're okay Euler, especially the encounter with Undying One."
"If that's all you've come here for, then nothing noteworthy has happened before my encounter with Undying One. I must say, it's quite interesting that you've come all the way here just to check up on me."
"You do have a point there. Usually, dolls don't reach back to their clients to this extent. I find myself caring about you due to our similar circumstances, and more after the hardship you endured. I believe I'm starting to see you as…my friend now."
"Friend, huh?" Euler made a quick observation on Violet's expression. He saw no attempt to disguise her true feeling, and her tone same as ever when she helped him work on his thesis. He wished to test her further. "Would it change anything if I told you that I didn't want to be associated with you anymore? I made the advanced typewriter to honor you and your industry, but slander was the thanks I got. Afterwards, I deemed your philosophy to be futile, and never contacted you again."
There was a moment of silence before Violet answered. "If you are looking for an apology, then I will say that I'm truly sorry for however my words have influenced you." Violet said. "I hope you can understand however, that it was never my intention to harm you. I could not have foreseen that Mrs. Davis would react so harshly to your invention. But I know that it won't change the past; if this is how you feel towards me right now, I won't hold it against you. Only remember, that if you wish to come to me again, you're always welcome to."
Violet's verbal answer implied that she took Euler's word stoically, yet he saw in her expression some degree of sorrow similar to his father's. Euler suddenly found himself regretting saying what he said, and the discomfort he felt with his father started to creep him. "You've faced Undying One before, correct?" Euler changed the topic.
"Yes. People close to me worry about my safety. However, it's not in me to watch the innocent suffer in the hands of Undying One. He is very formidable, but I believe in myself to be able to defeat him. Should I face him again, I will certainly make sure he won't harm the innocent no more."
Euler then imagined some scenarios. If Violet defeated Undying One, his whole plan would be revealed, and he would certainly be executed. Then the alternative was that Violet dies fighting to death with Undying One. Upon thinking of that, the memory of Dr. Rush's death and his horrified expression came back to Euler. He remembered the mysterious horror he felt that night, and the remnant of said-horror returned to him when he imagined the scenario of him killing Violet.
"Euler? Are you alright?" Violet asked Euler who was phased out.
"Don't, ever, try to fight Undying One again, Violet." Euler said in a serious tone.
"Huh? Why not?"
"You'll only end up getting in the way of my plan and the police force. Undying One is strong, but also smart. My plan is to stall out using temporary counter measures until I find his true weakness and finish him for good. Until then, it will be a cycle of him adapting to my counter measures, and me making a new counter measure. But if you get involved, he will adapt to you as well, and not only you will be defeated by him, but my counter measures may not work altogether as well, disrupting my flow of plan. Do you understand?"
"You're not making sense, Euler." Violet said. "Why aren't we striking Undying One with our strongest tool then to take him out as early as possible? I'm sure that with your talents, you could surely make something that can stop Undying One right now. If you need me to do that, then I'm willing to help you too. However you feel about me, we don't have to be divided on this matter Euler, because we share a same goal."
Euler had no means of disputing Violet, so he raised his voice. "I'm not wasting my time trying to explain the situation to a simplistic brawler who thinks strength is everything in the battle between intellects!"
Violet gave a gasp, then it was followed by a silence with Violet putting her hands on her chest. Euler did his best to hide the same surge of discomfort he felt when he confronted his father. Although he anticipated it, it didn't make it easier to hide it. A significant amount of time passed, before Violet broke a silence with a drop of tear. "Euler…Do you hate me?"
Upon hearing those words, Euler turned back and slowly walked back to his house, for the discomfort grew stronger. As he entered the house, he heard a faint sobbing. "Have I become sloppy in suppressing emotions?" he thought. "It feels as if I'm swayed by emotions too much these days…"