Erica felt as if she was buried in a pitch-black fog.
She was running one second, and the next second she seemed to have missed a step and fell from a height. Before she could react, a voice came from all directions.
"Erica Bacon."
She instinctively turned her head, trying to find the direction of the voice, but there was nothing in sight. The voice was pleasant and familiar, but the tone was cold and distant, with a hint of condescending indifference. Strangely, Erica didn't feel it was arrogant, but rather took it for granted. Like a traveler who had been walking in the desert and suddenly saw an oasis, she couldn't help but feel joy and closeness, and happily replied, "Yes."
In the black fog, the owner of the voice was silent for a long time.
Erica wasn't in a hurry. Like a child who had discovered a fairytale castle, she sat on the ground in this unknown world, one hand hugging her knees, the other tentatively tugging at the tails of the surrounding black mist. Just as her index finger was about to touch a wisp of mist, a voice spoke quickly, attracting her attention:
"I have something I need you to do."
At this moment, a realization came to Erica's mind.
"Lord God? Is that you?" She looked up, still unable to see anything more, but the joy in her heart grew stronger. "Erica will follow your instructions!"
"...In Port Alple, let more people spread the name of God."
"Do you want me to tell your name to others?" Erica's face showed hesitation, "But those people..."
She thought of the 'companion' with whom she had argued and even nearly fought, and the teenage thugs who had brought people to teach her a lesson because her grades had surpassed her brother's.
——Those people don’t deserve to know your name at all.
No matter how smart Erica was, she was too young to think of the right way to express herself. She could only imitate her mother's soft voice and said, "There are many bad people. Although the gods are powerful, my mother said that bad people will act with ulterior motives. Can you please not trust them?"
After a pause, he added, "There are still many, many good people in Port Yarple! They will definitely stand on our side... Well, if they are lucky enough like me and can hear the voice of God."
Azathoth, who was classified as a good guy, blinked.
He had never come into close contact with a human like this. Or rather, he had never seen many humans at all. He had always admired Igor's calm and reserved demeanor, but he had never imagined that one day he would have a little follower who could talk a lot in an instant while worrying about himself.
...But if we meet occasionally, it's not as annoying as I imagined.
"Don't mention my real name. Go tell the people you trust," Azathoth said a few more words, "Tell them that a grand event will be held in Port Alpre soon. Everyone can come and participate, because I will be watching them..."
He remembered the Archon the secretary had mentioned, and his voice grew colder. "By then, sin will be washed away, the haze hanging over our heads will dissipate, and humanity will see the truth with their own eyes under the sunlight."
Erica responded crisply.
**
At this time, many people still did not know what unusual changes would happen on the planet where Port Alpre was located during the ordinary summer of the 594th year of the Star Calendar.
People went to school and work as usual, rushing about, strolling under the scorching sun. Hover cars' exhaust trailed long plumes in the sky, sparrows chirped and perched on the emerald treetops. Under a sun so bright that even a hundred-story building couldn't block it, life continued to roll on as usual.
For some people, this is an extremely difficult season.
Benson Peters hung up the mobile terminal in his hand with a smile, and the next second his expression suddenly changed. He could no longer hold back and threw the mineral water bottle in his other hand to the ground!
"Where's Ford Hill? He hasn't arrived yet!" He stood in the scorching sun, sweat on his cheeks and neck, and roared to the people around him, "It's okay if he doesn't come, photographer! Where's Noyce!"
"I'm here." Noyce picked up the water bottle from the ground. "What are you yelling about? Do you want to be arrested by the Environmental Protection Department and lectured so that it'll be on tomorrow's headlines?"
"What if I don't shout?" Benson's face twisted. "Headquarters has issued an ultimatum! Tomorrow is the deadline. We must prepare everything for the live broadcast!"
"Aren't we already ready and waiting to start up?" Noyce said in confusion. "This isn't your first day in this business. Are you so anxious like a newbie?"
Benson let out a breath. "I can take my time. The problem is, what's the headquarters' purpose in having us do a livestream in a desolate place like Port Alple? What do they want to show the entire Federation? And now, look at this street. Where can you do a livestream and guarantee you won't record a blatant cultist?"
He spoke a little louder. Photographers and other people from the studio were squatting in the corner of the long street to escape the heat. A few pedestrians in the distance seemed to have heard Benson's shout, and after glancing at him from a distance, they whispered to their companions.
Noyce: "Don't worry, have we contacted the city hall yet?"
"No results," Benson said contemptuously. "The secretary has skipped work and run away. O'Casey Griffin is busy with his own affairs, so how can he have time to take care of us?"
Noyce lowered his head and remained silent after hearing this.
After a while, the solemn atmosphere was broken, and a staff member shouted in surprise: "Mr. Hill is here!"
Even in the midday heat, Ford Hill was wearing his neat three-piece suit and didn't seem to be sweating from the walking. He quickened his pace and walked over. "Excuse me, I just encountered a traffic control and was stuck in traffic."
Benson forced a laugh. "It's okay, it's okay. I'm glad you're here... By the way, you've been out investigating these past two days. Did you find anything wrong?"
"I'm not sure yet," Ford said. "At first, I thought the 'evil god theory' was just a rumor, but it's impossible for one person's simple fantasy to spread so widely. Later, I gradually realized that there might be a unified force behind the rumor. They have special means of communication and organization, and..." He thought of Erica and paused. "The brainwashing ability is excellent. The followers of the evil god may be more loyal than we imagined."
Ford didn't realize he couldn't get anything out of anyone else because Azathoth had only two followers so far, and the others knew nothing at all. The young commentator had assumed the locals of Port Alpre were very tight-lipped, and wouldn't yield even under threats or inducements.
As for the earliest origin of the heresy theory, I'm afraid we have to put the blame on the Governor O'Casey Griffin.
Benson didn't care whether or not there was an evil god. He just wanted to complete the task assigned to him by his superiors. "So, do you think the evil god exists?"
He even made a joke, "He won't stop us from broadcasting live, right?"
Ford was in a trance for a moment, and the bright red eyes of birds staring at him under the full moon at night appeared in his mind.
Then he rubbed his brows and calmed himself down. "Don't worry, most people are still rational. As long as we avoid certain words that may irritate pagans during the live broadcast, there shouldn't be any problems."
After receiving his assurance, Benson felt relieved, and his anxious and irritable mood that had been lingering for the whole morning was relieved. "Then shall we officially start tomorrow?"
Noyce breathed a sigh of relief and continued, "No problem."
**
O'Casey Griffin maintained an expressionless face and paced around his lounge again and again.
He is an Alpha who is over fifty years old and has a handsome appearance. He has a neat short hair that is a mixture of black and white. Because he paid attention to maintenance when he was young, he has maintained a good body and figure even in his old age.
After a while, O'Casey stopped and turned to ask the secretary who had been temporarily promoted beside him: "No news from Elaine yet?"
The secretary didn't dare to look up and meet his gaze, and said respectfully, "Not yet."
The governor of Port Alplai sneered, "Remarkable! How could a living person disappear without food or water? Keep investigating. Also, keep a close eye on the major newspapers and renowned commentators in Port Alplai. If they dare say a single word, you will ensure they never speak again."
The secretary couldn't help but shudder and lowered his head even more: "Yes, don't worry."
Half an hour later, someone hurriedly knocked on the door of the lounge: "Sir, it's a Level 1 communication request."
O'Casey paused, frowning. "I won't answer it for now... No, wait. Connect the line and transfer it to my lounge." He picked up the fixed communication device on the table and asked bluntly, "What else do you have going on at this time? Are you short of funds for your activities?"
There were some faint sounds coming from the other end of the phone, but the secretary standing at the door didn't pay attention.
"...Is there any news?" O'Casey asked suspiciously after the person on the other side finished speaking. "Confirmed news? An Omega girl who can communicate with the evil god?"
A familiar unease rose within him, and he tapped his wrinkled fingers on the marble tabletop. "I understand. Go ahead, and let me know as soon as you have the details."
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