Shirley Joyce stood in another helicopter, looking at the scene in astonishment, unable to recover for a long time.
Antonio, who was beside her, stepped forward and sternly asked the helicopter pilot, who was sitting in the driver's seat with a better view: "What happened just now!"
"I, I don't know!" the pilot answered reflexively, a hint of shock and fear still lingering in his eyes. "It seems like a sudden strong wind... but this area of the sea has never seen a storm, and there wouldn't be naturally generated air currents this fast. Or..." He hesitated for a moment, then said, "I think there's something underwater."
Even though they didn't know the purpose of their trip at first, they quickly understood their mission after Shirley Joyce called out the name 'Igor Sullivan'.
This should have been a sure-win emergency event with great merit!
Although as soldiers, many people have heard of Marshal Sullivan's past honors, and have feelings of envy or jealousy towards him, and also have many complicated feelings because of his later experiences, no matter what, the mission should be put first when the time comes.
But who knew that such a strange thing would happen?
When the pilot said there was something underwater, he was certainly not referring to Marshal Igor Sullivan.
"Do you understand what I mean?" He looked at Antonio nervously. This was the first time in his life that he had spoken face-to-face with the Minister of Defense, a figure he'd only seen on Starnet and in newspapers. Although the pilot couldn't understand why he'd even been in the picture, "Let's say there's a blue whale... Of course it can't be a blue whale. They rarely appear in shallow waters like this, and they're relatively small... But only a species even larger than this could suddenly engage in violent activity on the seabed, triggering a massive uplift-type tsunami, similar to a tectonic shift."
The sudden rise of the tens of meters high sea wall stunned everyone, and the driver almost didn't know what he was saying.
Antonio was silent for a moment.
Then he said, "Notify those remaining on shore to check for casualties on that helicopter. Dive preparations are suspended. I suspect Igor Sullivan is no longer in place."
Shirley said, "But..."
"Lord Joyce," Antonio interrupted her, his eyes emotionless. "You didn't mention this to me. You didn't say there was someone else around him."
He didn't even use the word 'human'.
Shirley wondered if he had guessed something.
Seeing that the white-haired woman fell silent, Antonio continued to give orders to the army. His tone was orderly and he was not panicked by this unexpected turn of events.
The report from below was quickly delivered.
"No one died, Mr. Minister! The most seriously injured person only had a broken arm!"
This result was better than anyone expected, and the driver who was listening breathed a sigh of relief. He was almost afraid to face the calm sea. If Antonio and Viscount Joyce had not been standing next to him, he would probably have to climb dozens of meters higher to stay safe.
Antonio's expression remained gloomy.
He asked a strange question: "Did anyone say they saw something underwater at that moment?"
The others looked at him blankly.
"No, sir," the person reporting said, "They didn't see anything. The wall of water came so suddenly that no one could react."
Antonio nodded and said nothing more.
The soldiers signed the confidentiality agreement without any doubt, and this secret activity to hunt down former Marshal Igor Sullivan was forced to fail. Many people didn't even know why they suddenly ran to this holiday beach and then hurried away as if they were avoiding some danger.
Antonio walked alone into Ma'an Castle, which stood in the central area of the capital star.
The fortress's buildings alone covered over 12,000 square meters, not counting the surrounding gardens and vegetation. Antonio got off the car at the outer gate and walked to the castle's entrance, a total of about 45 minutes.
He was then undoubtedly brought before the Chief Consul, Sabrina Guevera.
This powerful young man bowed to the federal leader before him, raised his head, and said respectfully, "We failed."
He said this in a very normal tone, as if he was stating something that was a matter of course.
"You're right, Igor Sullivan won't come back with us so easily."
"He won't be coming back." Sabrina was an Omega, her feminine appearance clearly betraying her gender. Perhaps decades ago, for the Federation, an Omega becoming Chief Consul would have been unthinkable. But regardless of who Sabrina Guevera was, the tactics she employed, the opportunities she seized, or how long she would remain in this position, at least for now, no one dared to look down on her because of her gender.
At this moment, this Omega who stood at the pinnacle of power, not pampered but holding a sword, looked at the scene outside the window of Maan Castle and said calmly: "Since Igor chose to leave in the past, he will never look back."
Antonio asked, "Do you know him because you have worked for the same goal?"
"Are you accusing me, Antonio? Because I put him in an unjust position, and failed to help him even when he was about to die?"
"You know I would never do that. Igor Sullivan and I have never met, and my allegiance is to you."
Sabrina chuckled.
"We may have been friends in the past."
"But he wouldn't really consider us friends, and coincidentally, neither do I."
"But the most important thing is that we were working together to achieve the same goals. Since then, the war has not subsided, and the Vatican's interference has only made the situation even more chaotic. They feel that the vague threat from the galaxy is more urgent than the turmoil I have caused in the Federation. To cope with the uncertain future, they are willing to make any sacrifice and unite with anyone they can—including me, of course."
"Don't you think so?"
"I think humans shouldn't take gods too seriously, Antonio. Faith is faith, and life is life. Why do we differentiate between good and evil gods? Because gods shouldn't interfere with the functioning of the human world."
"But the Vatican's concerns are justified, even though I don't trust them."
Antonio paused, then asked, "...Is Viscount Joyce your man?"
"No." Sabrina looked at him in surprise. "Why do you think so?"
"She's not from the Red Line Legion either. She should be considered a subordinate of the Vatican. Shirley Joyce's abilities are quite useful. She's also the aunt of 'Little Saint Anne,' the Vatican's signature figurehead of this generation. Saint Anne was a member of the Red Line Legion a hundred years ago, and they will never allow this force to slip out of their control."
She was the kind of person who found it difficult to stop once she started telling a story. Antonio played the role of listener most of the time, and this time was no exception.
"As I said earlier, I believe the Vatican's concerns are somewhat justified. Furthermore, their research direction is also very interesting."
"Do you remember the year in which the history books record the end of the Age of Magic?"
"...around the 350th year of the Star Calendar? There aren't many documents documenting this period of history, and very few related discoveries or artifacts have been unearthed."
"It's more like the constant wars have made everyone less interested in literature and history," Sabrina said nonchalantly. "That's exactly what I'm saying. The glorious decline of the Age of Magic ended with the death of Saint Anne. She's known as the late bell of the Age of Magic. She was born in Star Calendar 339 and died in Star Calendar 482. After her, no one could compete with technological advancements solely through supernatural powers and divine arts."
"She lived to be almost a hundred and fifty years old...?"
"That's right." Sabrina winked playfully. She was clearly in her forties, yet she performed this action like a young girl. "Isn't it incredible? This is one of the most significant achievements of the Holy See that has not been announced to the public. I don't know much about it, and I only know this because of the cooperation we have had over the years. They fused human bodies with the bones of the excavated divine remains to enhance the individual strength that has been declining over time."
"Although they call it a divine skeleton, I don't think it looks like a god... It's more like a dragon bone from mythology, or something else. In short, it can't be a human-like being."
"You've actually seen it?" Antonio said in astonishment. "You should have taken me with you! This could be a conspiracy! Or perhaps it could be hiding an unknown danger!"
"I haven't seen it myself," Sabrina soothed. "I've only seen photos... Relax. I'm not young anymore. I know how to protect myself."
"The point is, they actually achieved something, even though it was accompanied by a lot of bloodshed and unnecessary sacrifices before I knew it."
Her eyes darkened as she spoke. "But this doesn't stop me from cooperating with them—even though every consul has cooperated with them. I've even been trying my best to break up this relationship. But I failed. Do you know why?"
"Because of the Zerg's beliefs... the threat that is said to come from the depths of the universe?"
Sabrina stared at him deeply.
"Perhaps," she whispered.
**
Azathoth almost laughed out loud.
He rarely looked so happy, and Igor almost didn't react.
"What's wrong with you? What happened?"
"They didn't react at all." Azathoth said with great amusement, "I want to laugh when I think of their surprised expressions, just like the fish in the sea."
Igor was almost infected by him and laughed, but the human still couldn't understand: "...Just because of this? I mean, you don't look like a god who can be so..." so easily emotional?
They are now floating on the sea.
Having never seen such an endless expanse of blue life, just like humans who have never set out to explore the universe, they can never imagine how vast and profound this world is.
A moist sea breeze caressed Igor's face as he sat cross-legged on a submarine, speeding along the surface. Azathoth's tentacles enveloped the submerged machine, swimming leisurely and effortlessly. He tried to minimize the pressure exerted by his presence, so the surrounding fish remained undisturbed. They swam around the human like a small army, effortlessly swishing their tails.
Seabirds flew over Igor's head with long cries, looking at him curiously.
Azathoth sat beside him on one of his tentacles, his bare legs and feet drawing two transparent lines in the sea.
"Don't you understand?" Azathoth turned and looked at him, "I am happy because you are happy."
"I remember there's a saying among humans that goes, 'Sharing your happiness with others doubles your happiness.' Is that right?"
Igor actually laughed. "Yes, there is such a saying, but I always thought it was just a description... Can you only feel positive emotions from me?"
"Of course not."
Azathoth shook his legs, and a silver fish rubbed his calf in dissatisfaction.
"I've experienced sadness, anger, despair, anxiety, worry, as well as relief, satisfaction, joy, and relaxation."
"…Have you tried it?"
"Hmm." Azathoth picked up his tentacle and began to knead its tip, lowering his head and not looking at Igor. "Most of the time you look delicious."
Igor: “…”
He had a vague feeling that the evil god had told a dirty joke, but he had no evidence.
After a while, the human changed the subject: "Where are we going now?"
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