Chapter 269

...

During that secret meeting, when White said, "The people who truly struggle are those who exhaust all their energy just to live," the Fifth Apostle was shaken.

White wasn't mocking him; he was simply providing a factual answer to his question without any embellishment.

That weighty air of someone who had seen it all, weathered countless hardships, settled in the young man's calm eyes and unhurried words, giving the Fifth Apostle a dizzying, jolt.

White then said nothing more and got up to leave the meeting room.

For several days in a row, no one else summoned him. The room was empty and desolate, like a forgotten island, with only his own breathing echoing in his chest.

The Fifth Apostle almost felt abandoned and sidelined until several days later when the supervisor came to release him and take him to the assessment center for a new round of ability testing and danger assessment. Only then did he learn that it was White who had been negotiating and arguing with the Federation for several days to secure him a chance to remain under observation.

The Fifth Apostle's gaze swept over the heavily armed escort team.

Having briefly taken over the family's internal affairs, he knew how serious the trouble he had caused was, and he also knew that the price White would have to pay to quell his mistakes would certainly be more than just a "small argument".

Escorted by armed men, he walked through the quiet, silvery-white corridor, and amidst the silent observation of the other members, he stepped into the bustling central hall.

There were many people, but it was quiet.

Despite having a teleportation array that could instantly take them to their destination, the decision to allow them to march was a silent form of torture, or more like a demonstration by the Federation against the unruly.

The Fifth Apostle continued walking in silence. Suddenly, in the illusion of utter stillness, he heard someone step out from the crowd and call out his name clearly and distinctly.

"Aogutov."

He looked up abruptly and saw White standing out in the crowd with his distinctive aura, like a crane among chickens.

White walked over and naturally followed along with him. The escorting police officer only glanced at him before tacitly looking away without stopping him.

No one spoke, and there was no attempt to ease the tension by reminiscing. Both sides remained tacitly silent, with only the slow, steady sound of footsteps breaking the silence.

The afterglow of the artificial sun spilled down, casting a halo over the wide asphalt road. The prying and scrutinizing gazes slowly disappeared, the heavy and oppressive atmosphere vanished, and a gentle breeze rustled through the leaves.

The Fifth Apostle casually glanced at the young man beside him out of the corner of his eye.

Sunlight streamed down onto the young man's thick, smooth hair, falling into his calm eyes. His gaze remained fixed straight ahead, unwavering, making it impossible to discern his demeanor in the face of various obstacles. Perhaps he had always maintained this composed and unperturbed attitude.

The Fifth Apostle's inner world was not as calm as it appeared on the surface.

Although he had long since disregarded his own life and death, he had to admit that from the moment he saw White appear in the crowd, he actually felt a little regretful.

— He regrets his initial cover-up, which has caused this series of troubles for someone who is unwilling to give up on him.

They quickly arrived at the competency assessment center, where the testers and several guards came to hand over the task. White stopped in the lobby.

The young man was always busy, so much so that once he was dropped off, he had to rush to the next mission location without stopping.

Those matters involve higher secrets, and the Fifth Apostle has no right to ask further questions, nor any reason to try to keep them.

He felt he should be more self-aware and reserved, displaying the demeanor and propriety of a family heir, instead of clinging on like an old scoundrel. So he casually nodded and bowed, saying, "Thank you."

"Aogutov."

At that moment, the Fifth Apostle heard White's voice again behind him, like a pebble splashing into the shimmering surface of a summer lake.

He suddenly turned around.

The young man stood upright under the spotlight and spoke to the evaluators.

"I need an adjutant. Remember to report to me after this is over."

The Fifth Apostle knew that the young man's public pronouncements were a signal to certain people who were secretly watching him.

His life, his future, and the impartiality of the test results were all guaranteed by the young man's unquestionable voice.

His heart pounded so hard it felt like it would burst his chest. The Fifth Apostle couldn't describe the intense emotion that made his blood boil; it wasn't about love, but rather a mixture of conviction and an overwhelming impulse.

In the latest evaluation report, the deity who favored the Fifth Apostle and bestowed upon him was the ancient Titan race.

Based on his past experiences, the fifth apostle saw himself as inheriting their cruel nature and bringing disaster to the earth. He resisted accepting this blessed power, so he was not detected.

The Fifth Apostle waited until his initial enthusiasm had cooled before going to find White. He was grateful for White's help, but knew he couldn't overcome his inner hurdle and could only be a foot soldier charging into battle, not qualified to be the commander-in-chief's adjutant.

White glanced at him, and as if he had expected it, took out a round object made of alloy, silver-white all over. The moment the young man placed it on the table, it sounded like a siren.

The young man told Ogutov to step back to the doorway, which he did without understanding why. Then, amidst the increasingly loud alarm bells, he listened to the man's explanation.

"This is the latest miniature bomb developed by the research institute. After precise adjustments, it will deploy a spatial barrier to control the blast radius within one meter, but its power is enough to annihilate an S-class monster. It is used to destroy pollutants in confined environments."

Ogutov: "...Why is it making a sound?"

White glanced at the sphere on the desk, seemingly counting down the seconds on the monitor: "Because it's about to explode, five seconds, four seconds, three seconds..."

Augutov thought White was joking, but the instant the countdown reached its final second, he sensed an energy fluctuation on the sphere that increased exponentially.

His hair stood on end, his mind went blank, and he rushed over like a madman, snatching the ball away abruptly.

Bang.

The sphere exploded above his head, scattering colorful ribbons all over Ogutov.

In an indescribable silence, Ogutov stiffly lowered his hand and looked at the remnants left after the sphere exploded: an appointment letter.

White blinked, meeting Augutov's incredulous gaze with an utterly innocent expression: "Congratulations on passing the test. Your fingerprints have been uploaded via the collector, and the official employment document will be stamped by the Federation and sent to your email in five days. This is an extra copy I made; there's only one, so try not to tear it up."

"You bastard...!" Even the good-tempered Ogutov was so angry that he turned red in the face.

For the first time, he realized that, aside from his reliable superiors and gentle little animals, the young man also had a devilish, unscrupulous, and cunning side, but it was too late to regret it.

Soon after, the Fifth Apostle officially became White's lieutenant and was taken under his wing.

This identity allowed Ogutov to be in contact with the front-line battlefield more than ten times more frequently than before.

The battle lines were stretched thin, supplies were running out, casualties were heavy, and blood flowed like rivers. Limbs were piled up everywhere, as if every minute and every second was spent walking on a tightrope.

His experience as a family heir allows him to handle these crises with ease and composure.

But the monsters sent out by the system possess god-level power that could crush anyone and drive them to despair.

The Fifth Apostle witnessed countless killings and screams, the growth of hatred, the recurrence of tragedy, and the lingering stench of blood permeating skin and clothes. Everywhere he looked was a living hell.

One second your comrade is smiling shyly and looking forward to the future, the next second your head might be bitten off by a monster and swallowed whole.

They had no time for sadness, not even for a second. In the blink of an eye, they had to throw themselves into the endless tasks and the pursuit of monsters.

A trial battle so difficult it was unprecedented that only one in ten members of the Fifth Apostle's team survived.

The Fifth Apostle led a group to rescue the wounded soldiers, but the last few warriors, not wanting to be a burden, decisively injected themselves with a powerful injection, shouldered explosives, and charged into the monster horde to perish together with them.

Blood stained their brows, their eyes blazing with fury as they roared, their cries like thunderclaps in the Fifth Apostle's mind. A massive surge of power swept out like a storm, shattering the surging tide of monsters.

He accepted, and out of his desire to save his comrades, he accepted the blessing of the Titans' divine power.

It was three days after the battle that Ogutov saw White again.

The young man was pale, listless, and extremely thin, as weak as a candle flickering in the wind.

But compared to the horrific state he was in at the end of the battle, with broken bones and a bloody mess, and being rushed away by the medical team as soon as he logged out of the instance, it was already quite good.

Ogutov's arm was also wrapped in bandages, and his leg was slightly lame because the contaminants had not been completely removed.

White instinctively wanted to treat him, but Ogutov, seeing that he was panting as he walked, quickly refused and even offered to get him a wheelchair.

White didn't insist and used props to disguise his appearance. Then the two of them, like brothers in distress, helped each other to a clothing store to change into more casual clothes.

Augutov didn't understand why they were doing this until White led him through the streets and alleys, passing through several teleportation arrays.

With each teleportation, Augutov could feel the cognitive interference being applied to him. The power piled up layer by layer, eventually reducing the system's sensing power to nothing!

He was incredibly surprised, but when he looked up, he was even more shocked.

They found themselves in a completely enclosed space, bathed in the glow of an artificial sun. The sky was a clear blue with white clouds drifting by, and the sound of children reciting their lessons drifted from the building in the distance, mingling with the laughter and chatter from the playground.

There's actually a kindergarten operating inside!

Ogutov looked up and stared intently at the signboard, which bore the words "Hope Kindergarten" in gold lettering. To the lower right of the signboard, he saw a line of small characters that read "Sponsored by XXX Welfare Organization." Instantly, the feeling of unreality became even more vivid.

"Do you remember?" White's expression softened instantly as he smiled and said, "The reason you joined the Apostle Guild."

Yes, it's been so long that Ogutov has almost forgotten that he didn't initially intend to become an apostle. Instead, he joined a welfare organization, intending to donate all his points and provide stable sponsorship for the children in the future.

Despite not joining any guild, Ogutov was able to earn a huge number of points all by himself, which caught the attention of the organization's leader, the Apostle Guide.

The A-grade item couldn't determine Augutov's level, and he knew that this person's abilities were extraordinary. After understanding the other party's wishes, he suddenly proposed a condition that Augutov couldn't refuse.

That is, after becoming a formal apostle, all the contribution points he earns will be converted into corresponding points to support the research department in establishing the Umbrella Project, which will create a sanctuary for children aged six and under to escape the clutches of the system.

While older adults can maintain their fighting ability by strengthening their physique, there's really no way to help children whose minds are not yet fully developed.

"After the Third Apostle made a contract with the alien beasts in the universe, we finally had the opportunity to analyze the spatial laws of the Infinite Game and open up this space. More technologies will be used to crack the game's spatial architecture..."

Seeing the eagerly waiting Ogutov, White stopped the conversation and suggested with a smile, "Would you like to go in and take a look?"

May I?

Before Ogutov could utter a hesitant question, a young voice suddenly rushed over like a rocket's exhaust flame, and with a thud, a burly black figure crashed into White's arms.

Bye-bye! Bye-bye! You're finally here! Are you alright? I missed you so much! QAQ

That was actually a pitch-black tentacle as tall as a person!

The divine pressure released by the tentacles sent chills down Augutov's spine, but before he could react, White softened his voice, wrapped his arms around the little tentacle, buried his face in it, and rubbed against it: "Little One, I missed you too. I'm sorry I'm late. I'm fine, I made you worry. Come on, let's bump heads."

[Bye-bye! Let me tell you, I've been protecting this place well! The system hasn't detected us at all!]

"Really? Xiao Yi is amazing! He's the best kid ever!"

If White was a steadfast and unyielding mountain in front of the Apostle members, then at this moment, he was a fluffy and soft ball of cotton after being dried by the sun, still wrapped in small tentacles, his tightly furrowed brows relaxed, and his eyes curved into bright crescent moons as he smiled.

The extreme contrast made Ogutov even more horrified than before, and goosebumps rose all over his body.

Meanwhile, White had already been hooked up by the little tentacles and eagerly carried away. Augutov was unable to stop him and hurriedly followed.

As they entered the school, more and more children noticed them. The children who could be here were, to varying degrees, orphans left without shelter after a major disaster.

With the wariness of wild animal cubs, they observed for a while, and only after confirming that Ogutov was a "good person" brought by White did they eagerly approach him one by one.

After all, the technology to create this alternate dimension is top secret, and very few people can come here. Every unfamiliar face can arouse the children's endless curiosity.

Ogutov was surrounded by a human wall formed by the children.

Although the human wall only reached his waist at its highest point, it still made it difficult for him to move.

These children weren't reborn Apostle members with memories; they were real children. Augutov loved children, but because of what happened back then, he carried a vague fear, afraid that his hard, iron-like body would crush these soft little ones.

But the children had no such concerns. Their courage came from their trust in the institution and White. If Ogutov turned into steel in front of them, they would climb up the steel like a cat tree.

"Dear sir, you look so strong and tall."

"How can I grow as tall as you? You must be very powerful, able to drive away many monsters."

"He's incredibly strong!"

Somehow, the argument veered off into their own names and they started arguing endlessly.

The name contained the earnest hopes of loved ones, and it was a sad topic. As they talked, they began to sob, their eyes red and filled with tears.

Ogutov quickly offered words of comfort, and after a few words, seeing the children bravely wiping away their tears, he suddenly had the idea to name him.

This seems to be a common trend in schools, where children from different continents give each other nicknames to make it easier to recognize each other.

Amidst their lively discussion, Ogutov was honored to adopt the Chinese nickname "Niu Dazhuang".

This nickname was generously contributed by a little boy named Niu Zhuangzhuang, hoping to benefit from it and grow up to be as tall as Ogutov in the future.

Right now, a mischievous child clung to Ogutov's leg, looking at him with the pitiful, wet eyes of a puppy: "Sir, could you hug me? That would be so cool, please."

Ogutov immediately became flustered.

He had learned about the children in the welfare home, where they were strapped to cribs with restraint straps. Neither the caregivers nor the volunteers were allowed to pick up and comfort the crying children. This was not abuse, but to prevent them from developing a dependence on being hugged.

However, he nervously glanced around and found that White was already sitting on the sun-warmed lawn, surrounded by a dozen little kids who were practically lying on top of him.

White smiled and used her mental power to create lifelike golden dolls, one for each child, which the children held comfortably in their arms with their eyes half-closed.

Ogutov couldn't help but ask telepathically, "Is this really a good idea?"

What if the children become dependent on it...

But then White looked up, met his eyes, and asked with utmost seriousness, "Ogutov, do you think this kind of life will continue indefinitely?"

Before Ogutov could answer, the children began shouting excitedly.

No! It can't be!

“Sir, please wait a little longer. When we grow up, we can help you fight against the bad guys. I eat two bowls of rice every day and grow very fast.”

"Yes, we can definitely drive away the bad guys! Defeat the awful system! Win the game! Rescue Dad, Mom, Grandpa, Grandma, and Grandpa on both sides, and save everyone!"

"Of course." White responded to their innocent yet firm vows with a gentle smile. The golden dolls in the children's hands raised their arms and gently patted their heads. "You are the future of the world. Even if the adults fall one day, you must not give up hope."

"do not give up!"

"Never give up!"

Ogutov stared blankly at the children, who had all lost their blood relatives, but their eyes did not reflect a heavy gloom.

Is it because they are still young? No...

[Ogutov, you once asked me if I hated this world.]

The thought of "white" was transmitted to Ogutov's mind at this moment, and he took it very seriously.

Now, I also want to ask you, are you willing to pour your whole being, even your soul, into winning the game, so that children filled with resentment can fall in love with this world again?

Ogutov's lips trembled.

His blood boiled again, his heart pounded restlessly, and bathed in the glow of the artificial sun, he saw White open a storybook handed to him by a child, release his spiritual power, and tell the dramatic heroic tale in a gentle and magnetic voice.

A small black octopus slowly crawled out of White's shadow, and while the little tentacles weren't paying attention, flung them dozens of meters away, took up its place in the young man's arms, and tilted its head to listen attentively.

The young man noticed, frowned, poked the octopus's head disapprovingly, scooped up the agitated little tentacle that had run back into his arms, and coaxed it gently.

The other noisy children gradually quieted down, some leaning against the young man and dozing off. The staff member quickly brought small blankets and covered the children with them.

A gentle breeze blew by, ruffling Ogutov's hair. He saw the tranquil scene before him and suddenly a word came to mind: Eden.

It turns out that the Garden of Eden he was searching for was not a legend, but right before his eyes.

Ogutov suddenly lifted his foot, and amidst the deafening pounding of his heart, witnessed by the sky and the earth, he walked to White, his eyes fixed on him.

Faith thus arose with an unprecedented resolve.

White seemed to sense something, and after a while, reached out his hand.

Augutov readily took the young man's fingertips, bent down, and solemnly kissed the back of his hand: "Augutov Bradak Antonio, I swear allegiance to the leader."

"If I ever betray this path, may my soul be burned in the sacred fire, never to rest—"

He finally understood what this impulse was.

[Legend has it that the ancient gods possessed extremely strong vitality; even if their physical bodies were destroyed and their power imprisoned, they could still rise again and make a comeback.]

Therefore, my esteemed leader, please believe me. Even if I am shattered to pieces, even if I am condemned to hell, with only this one percent of my soul remaining, I will charge into battle for you, invincible.

Author's Note:

Apologies for the late update; fifty small red envelopes will be given out as compensation for this chapter.