Chapter 71
Ibilene, also known as Whale Island, has a unique topography. A cross-sea bridge, an underwater tunnel, and a flight path connect it to the bustling metropolis of Optics Valley City on the west. The western coastline is smooth and clean, with sharp, rounded lines. Meanwhile, the eastern coastline is scattered with islands and reefs of varying sizes, creating a complex terrain. Visitors of varying identities hide in hidden corners, making it difficult even for the authorities to monitor.
"To facilitate travel, many people have built teleportation arrays in the caves along the northwest coast, allowing them to instantly teleport to the uninhabited reef islands to the east. There are at least dozens or even hundreds of such teleportation arrays."
The pagan who hit Ango was named Mejia. When asked by Ango, he told the story of the past and present of the island. From his narration, it can be seen that Whale Island has been a den of filth for pagans for a long time.
Many years ago, pagans were divided into numerous factions, each believing in a different deity, making it difficult to unite against the United Church. Yet, they were also subjected to repeated searches from various factions. After years of negotiation and experimentation, these pagan sects unexpectedly forged a delicate balance. Taking advantage of the island's topography, they used teleportation arrays to span the eastern and western coasts, allowing them to circumvent each other's demands and maintain their peace. Sometimes, they even kept in touch, effectively tricking the United Church's searchers.
"As long as someone enters the magic circle, they will be teleported to the east, where unknown dangers await them. Perhaps it's one or two churches, or perhaps hidden secret weapons, such as...zero-degree bombs."
Listening to what he said, Ango didn't show it on his face, but in his heart he had already equated these people with dangerous elements. They were indeed just as the rumors said, crazy and paranoid terrorist cultists.
"However...ever since the opening of the underwater tunnel and flight path on Whale Island, many things have changed. Of course, it's also because of 'that guy'..." Meijia changed the subject and let out a sigh of regret. "Due to the growth of tourism, Guanggu City has more money to develop the eastern islands. The pagans' living space has been squeezed, and many have chosen to move their base to more secluded areas, leaving Whale Island. As a result, the pagan population has gradually shrunk. In recent years, the number of pagans has dropped to about a quarter of its original number."
Meijia's expression was pious, his tone was sincere, and his attitude was respectful, as if he was reporting to his leader. Even though today was the first time Ango met him, the power of faith made this believer dare not lie in front of Ango.
However, data from the Internet shows that cases of pagans on the island have reached a new peak in the past six months.
Before Ango could figure out how to ask, Xie Mu spoke up. He didn't pretend to be profound and burdened, but simply asked curiously: "So what happened recently? Why is it getting more and more turbulent?"
Mei Jia quickly raised her head with a stern expression: "Who are you? I've been wanting to ask you for a long time, why are you here?"
Xie Mu scratched his cheek awkwardly with his index finger and looked at Ango. The meaning was obvious - now everyone here only listens to Sangria, and she needs to give him a new identity.
Mo Yu also looked up, and two identical gazes fell on An Ge at the same time.
Ango raised his hand gently: "These two are my partners."
After hearing this, Meijia lowered her eyelids, as if she didn't dare to look directly at the two divine partners.
"It all started a few years ago when the followers of the Phantom God suddenly increased in number, occupying most of Whale Island. They absorbed believers from other churches, and if they couldn't, they drove them away. Until now, the Phantom Cult is basically the only one left on the island."
This was the first time Ango heard the name "Phantom God", but he felt a vague sense of familiarity, as if something was about to break out of his memory.
"Don't be afraid, the Phantom God won't find out." A soft and old voice suddenly echoed in my ears, making me feel at ease but also wanting to cry. "Go to sleep, everything will be over when you wake up."
Ango's hands suddenly grabbed her pants. For some reason, her skin couldn't stop trembling.
No one in the cave noticed her abnormality. Xie Mu was still pondering what Mei Jia had just said, trying to piece together the complete truth from the fragments of her words: "What is their purpose? They created so many incidents: kidnappings, disappearances, non-accidental deaths... just to offer sacrifices to the Phantom God?"
"Of course, sacrificing our lives to the Phantom God and restoring his power is what believers should do." Mejia licked his lips, looking at Ango with eyes flashing with desire and madness. "If the Prophet needs us, we can also go through fire and water..."
Ango shrugged and refused directly: "I don't need it."
Mejia lowered his head in disappointment again. "Besides offering sacrifices, they also want to strengthen their own power, so they designed a series of attacks against people with special abilities."
The attack on people with special abilities... Ango immediately thought of Xie Mu, whose abilities had been taken away.
Xie Mu obviously also realized the unusual taste: "Why target people with special abilities?"
"They have a pair of gloves called 'Snatch'. As long as they put on the gloves, they can take away other people's extraordinary abilities."
This description immediately awakened Xie Mu's memory.
"Where are they now?" Xie Mu suddenly jumped up, excited, "I'm going to kill them!"
Ango's attention was immediately drawn - the followers of the Phantom God were the same people who locked up Duran!
After many twists and turns, all the clues finally formed a closed loop. The followers of the Phantom God obtained Duran, and in order to test his special extraordinary abilities, they attacked people with special abilities everywhere to strengthen their own power.
In other words... whoever controls these pagans will be the one who locks Duran up.
Dulang claimed that the MAA was the one holding him captive, but Xisen told her that Dulang was already dead. So, is there any connection between the MAA and the Phantom Cult?
Thinking of this, Ango asked, "Do you know MAA?"
Xie Miao and Mo Yu had never heard of the name of this organization, and Ango was just testing the waters when he asked. After all, there wasn't much information about MAA on the Internet, and these pagans might not know about it. Maybe they had changed their appearance and had been operating under other identities for a long time.
Mejia shook her head. "It sounds familiar, but I can't quite remember. It's probably an obscure organization."
"I remember..." Another prostrate believer next to him raised his hand tremblingly.
Ango raised his chin slightly: "You say."
"I grew up on Whale Island, and I remember hearing adults talk about the MAA. They said the organization was originally founded by the Guanggu City authorities and had their own secret laboratory on the island. However, the residents didn't welcome them because they thought they were terrifying... and even suspected that they were pagans who had infiltrated the authorities. Later, the MAA was suddenly wanted by the authorities, accused of treason and illegal research, and then they disappeared."
Ango had heard of this story, but not in such detail as the cultist's account. She had also never heard of Whale Island or the MAA's secret laboratory...
"Are there any rumors about where the lab is?"
"I don't know about that." The man shook his head. "But it's probably hidden on the small islands in the east, which is a difficult area to regulate."
So, it's possible that the MAA kidnapped Dulang, Ango thought to himself. But he couldn't rule out someone else... perhaps the Interhead Group...
Ango's breathing became a little faster. This speculation made her nervous - if the person behind the Phantom Cult was Intrihede, then they controlled Duran to lure her back, because they knew that if she knew that there was such an extraordinary ability in the world, she would definitely try her best to obtain the experimental samples.
If the truth of the matter was really like this, Interhead would never have approached her under his own name, but would have changed his appearance and used other identities to lower his vigilance.
Even now, it doesn't matter if they are exposed, because there is no way she would give up such a tempting delicacy at such a close distance.
Two choices, two doors, continue to lie before Ango: to believe Xisen and MAA, or to believe Duran.
Being in the torrent of changing times, it is not easy for Ango to break free from all control and make his own way.
"If you want to track down the Phantom Cult, we can show you the way. The temple they occupied was originally our stronghold."
The Phantom Cult's hidden temple is located on a rocky island. Mejia and her group know the portal leading there and want to follow Ango to fight for their god, but Ango refuses. She orders them to guard the Zero Bomb and seal this extremely lethal weapon to prevent any accidents.
All the clues converged on the Phantom Cult. Xie Mu naturally wanted to go to the temple with Mo Yu. However, Mo Yu felt that it was still not safe. Judging from the previous fight, they did not have the advantage. If there were more pagans in the temple...
However, Ango could no longer care about anything else. Four students were kidnapped by pagans and she didn't know when they would be sacrificed to the Phantom God. She touched the reagent in her pocket and followed the guidance of Mejia and others. She quickly passed through the teleportation circle and arrived at the reef island.
At this time, the sky has become completely dark, merging with the turbulent sea, forming a black curtain that envelops the world. All the plots are being played out in front of the curtain, and all destinies have revealed their own threads.
The red feathers on Ango's retina burned, as if reminding her that she had walked into a large net woven by the gods, hinting at the dangers ahead.
"It's so cold." A gust of sea breeze swept over, and Xie Mu hugged his arms.
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