Chapter 338 Blood Smoke and Thorn Flowers Bloom (3)
One day ago, the secret room.
"Do you know how the sacred tree 'senses' the city-state?" Wang Quan asked.
It looked at Lerna as it spoke, and the assassin subconsciously avoided its gaze: "How would I know. It just... you know, the city-state was built on it."
"You take it for granted that the sacred tree can control every action in the city-state, just as humans can sense pleasure or pain in their own bodies. This is the most common understanding, and I think 99% of the citizens in the city-state think so." Wang Quan said, "But, Lerna, can you sense the actions of the bacteria in your body?"
"How is it possible..."
"See, even at Sephiroth 5, you can't do it. You have to reach at least the level of a Holy Son to know every part of your body." Wang Quan drew a fat spider. "However, the Senluo Divine Tree walks the path of the submerged world and the floating light. The body is not the foundation of its enlightenment. This trunk, as huge as a city, is not flesh to the Divine Tree, but its 'organism'.
"To sense the movements of even a single bacterium among the countless bacteria on its surface would be too much, even for the Divine Tree! This isn't a question of power, but rather a subjective timescale. A single moment of perception for the Divine Tree is almost half a lifetime for the beings within its trunk."
"So it must rely on methods other than subjective means to 'perceive' the city-state, relying on a surveillance network built by the divine power system. Its divine power is its 'nerves,' and the Divine Guards are its cells, its ears, its eyes, and its hands. If the Divine Guards sound an alarm, this defense system will be instantly activated. However, if a high-level Divine Guards member continues to send 'harmless' signals..."
Wang Quan drew a tree wearing an eyepatch and a small flame next to the tree.
"It would be unaware of this, even if a flood were raging somewhere within its body."
"That makes sense. Even a ship as powerful as an aircraft carrier wouldn't be able to detect a fire in a single room after hacking into the system," Guo Yutu said. "But allow me to raise two small questions... First, if Jingsha's divine network is so weak that even I can hack into it, how did this old tree survive until now?"
"Great question! If this were 1,000 years ago, we'd already be hanging from the gallows at Mansa Star Castle. If this were 500 years ago, the captains of the Divine Guards would be waiting at the gate, waiting to surprise us." Wang Quan smiled. "But now it's the 3001st year of the Candlelight Calendar. The Jingsha clan is riven with internal strife, and the city-state, known for its unity, is actively embracing a ridiculous bill. The Jingsha sacred tree is old, like a dying creature lingering on its sickbed. People only see its magnificent robes, basking in the splendor it has spent its entire life creating."
Guo Yutu nodded. "Second question, why are you so sure you can hide this... old man with Seismic Point 7?"
Wang Quan turned his hand and revealed a black full moon. The full moon opened its mouth and smiled silently.
"Because I am the Son of God of the First Abyss." it said.
·
Now, the third pulse sequence.
"Nothing for now, the weather is so hot, I really want a holiday..."
The unremarkable male voice still echoed in the channel, identical to Jas Trick's usual tone. The real Trick used both his mental power and voice to warn, "The Third Pulse is in critical condition, requiring assistance. That's a fake!"
But there was no response.
His voice wasn't even transmitted to the channel; his voice had been taken away by some bizarre technology and grafted onto the person pretending to be him. The imposter had imitated Jas Trek so vividly that his tone even made him doubt himself.
The fake Trek continued to grumble to his colleagues, "But seriously, I hope everyone takes responsibility for the safety of their respective areas. If something happens back home while I'm providing support, how should I put it? My performance will be very bad..."
"Can you please stop saying such embarrassing things now, Jas Trick?"
"I don't need to rely on your help."
"If the economy is struggling, I can lend it to you for free~"
The colleagues ended the conversation with a joke. In the high-pressure atmosphere of the festival, being able to speak a few words was a rare moment of relaxation. Benintic started a private message with him: "Trek, what's the actual situation?"
"There are several demon-possessed individuals. Their purpose is uncertain at the moment. I'm observing the situation. I may send you an application once I'm certain."
"Okay. Don't worry during this period. If you need to, just request a divine strike. I'll take responsibility."
The communication ended, and Trek moved the bomb silently. He seemed to hear the prisoner's snickering.
Blocking his communications, yet still allowing him access to a certain level of control, was undoubtedly a form of psychological warfare designed to disrupt his mindset. The prisoner used this sense of complete control and restraint as bait, attempting to disrupt his composure. In this race against time, one wrong move could lead to another.
No amount of complaining or regret will help; the point is to reflect on what you've gained. The prisoner also possesses a remarkable ability to mimic, capable of imitating "Jace Trick" with a level of detail that even he himself can't discern. He also possesses incredible hacking skills, able to penetrate the Divine Guard's communication channels in broad daylight without being detected. He's practically a criminal all-rounder...
No, how is that possible.
It's definitely not just one person.
The Supreme Transformer, a master of bomb-making and sending out challenging letters, possessed incredible destructive power. The hacker, possessing uncanny skills, infiltrated communication channels. And then there was the imposter, skilled in concealment, imitating himself in front of him. There were at least three culprits...
At least three top-level Sephiroth 5s are besieging the third pulse sequence!
For the first time since the incident, Trek felt a nagging sense of tension, knowing that the situation could always be worse than anyone imagined. He had guessed there were three Sephiroth 5s, so how many Sephiroth 4s and Sephiroth 3s were operating under their command?
·
"...Our city-state is great because of its unity! The time for the thorn flower to bloom has come once again, and now is the time to recall the spirit of our ancestors. Malice is running rampant in the name of law. Those who still have a conscience, please contribute your strength to the public!"
The fourth politician concluded his speech, but few responded. Like a washed-up actor nearing retirement, he toiled on stage, earning only polite, sporadic applause. The float continued its march to the throes of music, and Ji Huaisu lowered the curtains in the lounge.
"The popularity is terrible." Vander commented.
Ji Huaisu shook his head: "I don't mean to slander anyone, but compared to Pariman, we are simply..."
"A bunch of chickens and dogs." Councilman Klotz smiled bitterly.
The opposition legislators tried their best to demonstrate their patriotism and charisma, but they lacked Parriman's eloquence and admirable demeanor. Comparing these staid middle-aged men to Speaker Parriman was like comparing soldiers on the battlefield to a general. Even a layperson could see that the two were not on the same level.
"To be honest, this shouldn't be the case. You opposition must have a leader. How come you can't even find someone to take the lead?" Vander complained.
Councilman Klotz still smiled wryly, his face devoid of any other expression. He asked, "Captain Ji, your Huilong City is filled with powerful warriors, yet how come you were surrounded by three outsiders until last year, when you barely managed to escape?"
Ji Huaisu immediately understood the implication and said sadly, "Many people died."
"The same thing happened in Jingsha," Councilman Klotz said. "Those who were responsible, those who understood the greater good, those who could stand on their own, those who could have been leaders, all died on the battlefield 20 years ago. The military's voice is no longer as strong as it once was, and the casualties have caused divisions among the soldiers. Because the public's pain needs an outlet, we brought the former commander to court... Naturally, the commander's supporters, and even the entire faction, have suffered a heavy blow."
He shook his head and sighed, "This is the impact of war, one chain after another falling... Unconsciously, the masses chose Parryism as a painkiller, and individual thinking was swept up in the group, thus creating the current thorny situation. Those who are loyal and righteous died on the battlefield, while a coward like me, unable to kill the enemy, is still alive today. Isn't it ridiculous?"
Finally, he couldn't even keep up his smile, and he hung his head dejectedly, looking like a frustrated middle-aged man. Fander couldn't bear to watch and consoled him, "At least you stood up."
"The gap in power and background is too great. We even relied on funding from Outer Dust Island to barely gain a foothold. It's better to say we were pushed out rather than stood out."
He repeatedly rubbed the silver badge, like a victim rubbing the shell of a magic lamp, hoping that the almighty genie would come out and solve the problem. Ji Huaisu checked her watch. There were still thirty seconds until Klotz's speech. She had to talk about something else to get the politician back on track.
"It's better to have funding than nothing. Your supporters will help you even if it means they want to cut their losses."
"I've been waiting for her to contact me. After all, she's a very wise person..." Klotz stood up. "Unfortunately, I still couldn't catch up. I can only hope for the blessing of the sacred tree."
He mustered up his courage, walked out into the public eye, and started talking about the same old things, about honor, responsibility, love, and the like. Ji Huaisu felt a sense of empathy for a moment. She had just been thinking that if Chu Hengkong was there, she would feel much more relaxed.
"I don't know how his training is going." Vander muttered.
"Don't worry, if something happens he will definitely catch up."
Ji Huaisu said this, but he did not relax at all.
She couldn't explain where this illusion came from, but ever since the parade began, she could always smell a faint smell of smoke.
·
"Hey, smoking is not allowed in this department." A colleague reminded it.
"Wake up, brother," it said listlessly, "I'm afraid I won't make it through the day without something. Or maybe you can give me some leaves."
A colleague glanced around quickly and handed him a roll of leaves. "That's enough," she nodded, dark circles under her eyes as she headed for the bathroom. These were Zheling leaves, a stimulant, a key ingredient in certain addictive drugs, but also used medicinally. The "local tobacco" made from Zheling leaves actually treads on the edge of the law, but under such high pressure, that's all that matters. The most important thing is to keep your job.
He put the leaf in his mouth and chewed it. It tasted a bit like betel nut. Chu Hengkong had never liked betel nut. He always said that chewing it would make people sick, but when he said this, he was still smoking.
His old friend always had double standards. One for himself, another for others, content to live in his own little world. He set the standards himself, so he always had an excuse for anything that went wrong. "I'm always right, right?" she mimicked Chu Hengkong's tone, though he would never say such a thing. He chuckled at the killer's imagined reaction.
It, or she, or he, walked past the restroom and arrived at the secret room at the end of the third floor. It stopped five meters from the chamber. Huan Ge's formation could conceal it, but one step closer and the killer would be aware of its approach. There was a slight chance Chu Hengkong would embrace it. More likely, the enraged man would hack it to pieces.
Its gaze pierced through the heavy door, looking at the man sitting cross-legged behind it. Blood-red wings were growing on his back.
"You're almost there..." It applauded sincerely. "A sense of responsibility can even help you overcome the past."
Unable to sense any fixed weaknesses, his blood refining was nearly complete success, and the man behind the door had become an unshakable presence. Chu Hengkong still couldn't let go of the past, but his morbid sense of responsibility forced him to fly, like pulling his hair to fly into the sky.
The ascending transformation array drawn with blood was converging towards the center, drawing a small circle on the wall.
A black full moon.
"Let's go back to the maze of childhood." Wang Quan said.
The black moon rose and expanded, swallowing the chamber like a hazy light. No one could find the killer anymore. The gravity from the cradle of oblivion grabbed him directly, causing his wings that were about to soar to fall, and trapping him in an inescapable past.
The transformation of particle 4 is to cross the first abyss, but the person standing in front of the door at this moment is the spokesperson of the abyss.
Wang Quan chuckled, turned around, and left the secret room that could not be detected.
"The snakes won't be coming." He said in the channel, "Let's officially begin."
·
"... Citizens, I am proud of our city-state, and I am proud to be a member of the Thorns. This pride comes not only from our strength and prosperity, but also from the justice and responsibilities we shoulder. It is because of this that we have shed our status as beasts and become upright citizens!"
The floats continued to advance, and the crowds moved aside, like water flowing over an obstructing reef. But this time, some supporters paused, others listened to Councilor Crozier. He was the only die-hard councilor with some foundation. He shouted to them, "Only beasts and villains believe in self-preservation. If unity is lost, if the covenant is gone, what will our nation rely on to survive? Do not abandon our civilization!!"
Crozier finished, pouring out his heart to those who were still willing to listen. He knew these words wouldn't stop the tide of trouble, but according to his boss's plan, he could at least buy himself a chance to strike back. He stood in the car with a clear conscience, waiting for the insults and ridicule that were about to come.
"Politicians who deceive the public with their lies!" "Have you forgotten the blood shed 20 years ago?" "Do you feel honored to live in the space won for you by the dead?" "We don't want to make wedding dresses for others anymore!"
The expected curses came, but there were also faint rebuttals. "He's right!" "Where's your shame?" "Please respect those who speak for justice." There were surprisingly many. Far more than he had expected. Crozier felt an eerie familiarity; he seemed to have seen the large man in the crowd who had spoken for him.
Where was it? It seems to be a show not long ago...
He held up a restaurant at gunpoint... for...
Crozier's face paled as his gaze met the man's. The terrorist, Hiland, grinned wildly as he and his accomplices approached the citizens preparing to throw the rotten fruit. They drew their cold guns.
"You are not worthy to be a member of Jingsha!"
As opponents of the bill, they opened fire on citizens.
(End of this chapter)
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