Chapter 21
Since the time of traveling through time, much - or even most of the information - has been obtained by humans through their own exploration.
For example, the seven minutes and twenty-four seconds time difference in the transportation of supplies, his empathy when the base members were resurrected, and the expansion of the map around the campus and Yi Yan's change in status...
And most importantly, the relevant information about the other civilization.
It is precisely because of the lack of this important information that human exploration of other worlds becomes so difficult and cautious.
"Cannot be resurrected..."
But what worries Gu Liangyi the most is Yi Yan's condition.
Late at night, he tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep, his mind full of thoughts on how to lift the curse on Yi Yan, and whether Yi Yan would suffer irreversible harm in the process.
"Hey," a faint sigh suddenly came from the bunk below him, "Guliang, I woke up at 5:30 yesterday..."
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry." Gu Liangyi's body froze, and he realized that he had disturbed Zhuge Xiao by turning over. He apologized quickly, "You go to sleep, I won't move."
"Are you still worried about Boss Yi?"
Gu Liangyi was quiet for a while, then uttered a muffled "hmm" in his quilt.
“Although I think you don’t need to worry about Boss Yi’s ability, but considering his current condition and your personality, it is normal to worry.” Zhuge Xiao said.
After thinking for a while, he snapped his fingers while lying on the bed and said, "How about this, I will accompany you to see Principal Zong tomorrow. The information we got from Priest Central today is enough to ensure our safety. In my opinion, you will definitely be on the list of the next wave of teams entering the fortress! Do you believe it?"
Gu Liangyi certainly didn't believe it, but that didn't stop him from hoping that his dream would come true.
"I know the thoughts of these big leaders too well. Don't think they are too conservative. Principal Zong doesn't seem to be the old-fashioned type," Zhuge Xiao said, turning over. "We are already at a disadvantage. If you don't go into the city to find that special item, who knows what will happen on Earth."
Yan Beichen, who was listening to their discussion, couldn't help but ask, "No, what does your family do? Didn't you say you didn't grow up in the mainland?"
"It's just that my household registration is not in the mainland," Zhuge Xiao said lazily, "and don't ask, I won't tell you. The old men in my family must be watching the live broadcast all the time. I still have to save face."
Yan Beichen was silent.
“… Really? I didn’t realize that.”
Amid the sound of Zhuge Xiao grinding his teeth, Gu Liangyi laughed in an unkind way.
But he didn't expect that Zhuge Xiao's words would actually become a reality.
"That light screen did not reveal the most crucial information to humans."
The subordinate stood in front of Lu Lang and reported in a very solemn tone: "It only tells us that if the civilization fails to upgrade, the earth will be completely destroyed by an asteroid impact in twenty years, but before that-"
"After several days of summary analysis, the monitoring department found that the earth has entered a period of earthquake activity. The number of global disasters has increased significantly. Especially since this year, the frequency of natural disasters such as tsunamis, hurricanes, floods, droughts, etc. has increased by 1203% compared with the past decade.
Lu Lang listened to the report with a gloomy face and asked, "What does this have to do with the light screen?"
The subordinate pushed up his glasses and said seriously, "Experts believe that 'the complete destruction of the Earth' and 'the destruction of human civilization' are two different concepts. The light screen is probably playing word games with us. It is known that human technology has not yet developed to the level of being independent of extraterrestrial civilization, but before the destruction of the Earth..."
He paused and whispered, "If the disaster continues to develop like this, the human race will most likely be completely wiped out in just a few years."
Lu Lang clenched his fists.
"Ten minutes ago, the five permanent members of the UN Security Council held an emergency video conference," the subordinate said. "They are now arguing over whether to allow Gu Liangyi to risk entering the fortress. Minister Lu, your decision is very important."
He had already brought the computer, and it was obvious that he had prepared it before reporting to Lu Lang.
Lu Lang was stunned for a moment and sighed.
He knew that now he had to make this decision himself, and if he failed... forget it.
Lu Lang curled his lips, thinking that the advanced civilization behind the light screen had never given humans a chance to fail.
It's just a matter of taking a gamble.
If that's the case, then what does it matter?
"As the head of the Earth Command," he said solemnly, crossing his arms across the screen, "my decision is—"
"Tomorrow afternoon, let Gu Liangyi leave the school with the team and enter the fortress!"
*
Gu Liangyi learned the good news as soon as he woke up.
"Really!?"
He sat up from the bed with a start, staring at Zhuge Xiao who was also excited below with wide eyes: "Principal Zong agreed to let me enter the city?"
"Yes, it is said that this is the decision made by the headquarters, and it has spread all over the forum now," Zhuge Xiao said excitedly while holding the railing of the upper bunk and standing on tiptoe. "And do you know that the experts on Earth found an unknown particle in the magic crystal we sent back? If we can crack it, humans may be able to figure out the secret of magic!"
"Then is it a special item of civilization?" Gu Liangyi asked expectantly.
"Well..." Zhuge Xiao hesitated a little, "Oh, right, you haven't seen what the magic crystal looks like, but it's okay, you will definitely get it when you enter the city later."
He looked at Gu Liangyi who came down from the upper bunk, leaned against the railing with his arms folded and smiled, "You guys are the second wave, and Lao Er and I are the third wave. Don't worry, the four of us in the dormitory will be reunited in the city by then."
"You guys want to go too?" Gu Liang paused.
"That's right," Zhuge Xiao said, "I can't shoot, so I have to learn a few magic tricks from the elves first, and then I can help you when I can protect myself. As for the second brother, don't you know that he has passed the assessment of the second team of the special action team?"
Gu Liang looked at him blankly, then looked at Yan Beichen who was sitting on the bed behind him and raising his eyebrows at him, and he was speechless for a moment.
After a long while, he trembled and said, "You...actually you really don't need to..."
"Hey, hey, hey, we're not doing this for you," Zhuge Xiao interrupted him hastily, "We're doing this to bring honor to our family! Second brother, what are you doing this for?"
"My words..."
Yan Beichen pondered for a moment and said, "I hope my name will appear on the liberal arts paper of the college entrance examination."
Zhuge Xiao smacked his lips, revealing an indescribable expression: "Yan Lao Er, what is this habit of yours? Do you like to be scolded so much? Could it be that you are a hidden masochist——"
"Shut up!"
There was a smile in Gu Liangyi's eyes. He looked at the two people who started fighting after a disagreement. He turned and walked to the bathroom mirror, subconsciously tucked the hair hanging in front of his eyes behind his ears, and picked up the water cup.
When he looked up, he found that the black-haired young man in the mirror was also smiling at him.
Gu Liangyi's smile faded in an instant.
Because he saw that above the small mole at the end of his right eyebrow, slightly above his temple, without the cover of his hair, a light pink scar about the size of a fingernail was exposed to the air.
He was stunned for a moment, and his hand holding the water cup froze in mid-air for a few seconds.
After a while, Gu Liangyi lowered his eyes, put down the cup, and covered that place with his hair again.
He turned on the faucet and let the sound of running water drown out his thoughts.
*
"I suspect the person living on the second floor is not a mage at all."
The Goblin shop owner lowered his voice to his wife.
His wife was also a goblin, shorter than her husband, and her figure looked like a watermelon stuck on a broom. Upon hearing this, she widened her eyes and said in a sharp voice:
"Impossible? How could someone dare to pretend to be a wizard? And the magic crystal he gave was of very good quality."
"Of course not," the goblin sneered, "Do you remember the recent rumors in the city?"
When the rumor was mentioned, the wife immediately shut her mouth tightly, with a look of fear and suspicion on her face.
After a long while, he spoke again: "Are you talking about the matter of the death row slave?"
"Yes," the goblin shop owner nodded, "and I suspect that he is the death row slave."
The goblin's wife's eyes rolled around like light bulbs: "But didn't they say that the death row slave was also a wizard?"
"Damn wizard! How can a death row slave become a wizard?"
The goblin shop owner scoffed at this, thinking it was all nonsense: "How could those lowly crickets, who are worse than animals, be favored by the demon god Seris?"
Apparently, his wife thought so too.
"So what are you going to do?" She looked a little interested. "Kill him secretly? Such a strong human, even if he's ugly, his limbs should be able to fetch a good price."
"I knocked on his door several times last night to ask if he wanted dinner, but he refused," the goblin shop owner said angrily, "this bastard is so cautious that he didn't even touch the water I brought him."
The wife immediately said, "Then he is definitely not a wizard! Wizards are very confident in their own abilities, so they wouldn't be so timid."
"Yes, and he still has gauze wrapped around his neck..."
The goblin shop owner became more and more excited as he spoke, and in the end, he even started dancing in anger.
He felt he had been fooled.
Being fooled by a death row slave disguised as a wizard! This is unforgivable!
"I'll call the city lord's guards and tell them that I suspect a spy from Fermat has sneaked into the city." The goblin thought for a long time and felt that he and his wife's strength were not enough to compete with such a strong and tall human, so he decided to kill with a borrowed knife.
He grabbed a bunch of keys on the greasy table and said grimly, "Even if that guy is really a wizard, he can't use any power without the master's permission."
"Once a strong murderous intent arises in the head of the death row slave, the brand will severely punish him... Hehe, by then, everyone will be able to see his ugly appearance..."
He used his thin and skinny fingers to tug hard at the collar that was torn by Yi Yan last night, and walked out of the house cursing.
But the goblin shop owner didn't notice that a sesame-sized magnetic eavesdropping device was hidden between the folds of his stained collar, and it could hear their entire conversation clearly.
Inside the room, Yi Yan pressed the headset and connected to the school's wireless channel.
"Code 02 reporting in, requesting to be transferred to a safe zone." He said calmly, "My identity has been exposed."
A second later, a response came from the channel:
"Headquarters has been informed of the details. 02 Please stay where you are for the time being. The support team will soon enter the fortress to meet you."
Yi Yan paused, but still replied in a deep voice: "Got it."
The support team...he wondered, could it be the rest of the special operations team?
Entrance to the fortress.
Ever since meeting Yi Yan that day, the leopard orc has been in a state of anxiety.
Although murderous criminals, prisoners, and corrupt wizards can be seen everywhere in the city, the name of the demon god Seris is still an indelible dark cloud floating over the head of this continent.
His cruel and brutal methods can still frighten people deeply even thousands of years later.
Just as he was distracted, the leopard beastman suddenly raised his hand to stop the few people who were about to pass through the barrier, and shouted:
"Hey, human, where's your entrance fee?"
The sky-high entrance fee of one magic crystal, plus the city lord's rule that one must stay in the city for a full seven days, is a disguised restriction on the entry and exit of ordinary races.
In this city, apart from mages, only those with superb means or extremely vicious people can survive.
The leopard orc stared at these unruly ordinary people, clenched the spear in his hand, and had a unfriendly look on his face.
These humans in black robes were all very strong and tall, but their eyes were completely different from those criminals who had been robbing and killing people on the run. Although fierce, they were very clear and did not have any murderous aura. Furthermore, their black hair and black eyes were rare features... Could they be nobles who had fled from a certain country?
Hello, nobles.
He licked his lips, thinking that this was a fat sheep coming to his door.
Just as the leopard orc was about to take advantage of the opportunity to extort money, a questioning voice with a slightly raised ending came from behind these humans who were not wearing masks:
"They are with me. Do they have to pay the entrance fee as well?"
The leopard orc's breath was choked and his heart almost stopped beating again.
This voice... is so damn familiar!
The people in front of him silently stepped aside.
But the leopard orc noticed that their right hands seemed to have never moved.
Behind them, a thin man in black robe was surrounded and stood there, his eyes as dark as the eternal night were looking at him quietly through the silver mask.
Although he was wrapped tightly, he still exuded a peaceful and calm temperament, and his voice was very soft and pleasant.
Before he spoke, no one in the entire team noticed the existence of this wizard.
He was as indifferent as a pool of water or a gentle spring breeze. Compared to those gloomy undead and the sturdy and tall orcs, he seemed to pose no threat at all.
The leopard orc couldn't help but tremble all over.
His pupils trembled as he stared blankly at the not-so-tall man in black robe, as if he had seen some terrifying existence that was difficult to describe in words.
But the leopard orc, who was in extreme fear, did not notice the strange fragrance that had been filling the air since just now.
This is a volatile hallucinogenic powder extracted from a certain South American legume plant, the main ingredient of which is toad serotonin.
For an average human, this dose would only cause mild dizziness.
However, orcs have sensory acuity far exceeding that of humans.
"Sai, Sai Li..."
The figure in his field of vision gradually became distorted, and the originally colorful world slowly faded before his eyes. The thorns all over the leopard orc's body exploded, and the weapon in his hand fell to the ground with a clang.
But the next second, his voice stopped abruptly.
Trembling with fear, the leopard orc saw the adult quietly raise his hand, and his slender fingers wrapped in black gloves were raised in front of the pale lips outlined by the silver mask, making a gesture of silence to him.
In the silent space, an invisible sense of oppression overwhelms me.
The leopard orc was like a chicken whose neck was suddenly strangled by someone. Fear made his eyes bloodshot and he could only open his mouth in vain, but no sound came out at all.
A soft laugh sounded in my ears.
No one knew who made the voice, but it completely broke down his psychological defenses in an instant.
In his trembling voice, he heard the demon god who had returned from the end of hell, speaking in a slow, whispering, strange tone without any rise or fall, and asked him softly:
"Hello. My 'toy' is lost. Have you seen him?"
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