Chapter 261: Chapter 188: What Are You Carrying on Your Shoulders
Lin Lan’s expression became somewhat serious.
Did the Blood Vulture arrange for the massacre of the trade caravan sent by the Frost Falcon to the Ark Kingdom? Goodness, is that old man so extreme in his actions?
He was staring at the private chat channel; this was the first time the Frost Falcon sent such crucial information directly to him.
Before this, even though Lin Lan had assured them that there would be no ’pressure’ from his side regarding the information, the Frost Falcon rarely added even a single extra word in their daily communications.
Lin Lan didn’t immediately respond. He leaned on the white part of the dragon’s tail, letting his thoughts wander.
The ’assistance’ the Frost Falcon referred to, could it be asking him to cut ties with the Blood Vulture and help him expand his influence instead?
Currently, both Imperial Dukes have close relations with the Ark. Although there had been some friction between the Blood Vulture and Lin Lan, he had indeed sent over a batch of shipbuilding craftsmen, so Lin Lan naturally wouldn’t give up immediate benefits due to internal Empire issues.
The end is near, and Lin Lan must grasp every opportunity for progress firmly.
He placed his hand on the game console’s button, intending to let the Frost Falcon reveal more useful information for his judgment.
Seagull: "It’s the first time I’ve seen you take the initiative to contact someone."
The other party was clearly waiting for his response, and there was a reply immediately.
Frost Falcon: "I hope you understand my actions, Seagull."
Frost Falcon: "Every time we use the Holy Artifact, there’s a chance that nightmares pollute the sentences we convey. Even if just a word is altered, the consequences can be unimaginable. Therefore, when using these Deep Sea Treasures, I always maintain a reserved and cautious attitude."
An Imperial Duke, no less, actually lowered his stance to explain his actions to the leader of a small island nation.
Frost Falcon: "Based on our experiments, only when the trustworthiness of the text is above 98% will the most crucial keywords not be altered. And you, Seagull, your side always maintains 100% trustworthiness. That’s the only reason I trust you."
A gleam of understanding flashed through Lin Lan’s eyes.
The ’Dream-Submerging Holy Artifact’ and ’trustworthiness’ displayed on the game console panel were obviously marked by later generations based on actual situations as ’mods.’
Seagull: "Since it’s an internal issue of your Empire, why are you seeking the assistance of a foreigner like me?"
Lin Lan didn’t have deep knowledge about the Empire’s internal affairs, nor could he extend his influence that far.
Frost Falcon: "Because there are too many doubts surrounding this massacre. I know the Blood Vulture’s character; although our ideologies differ, I believe he wouldn’t commit an act foolish enough to destabilize the Empire."
Frost Falcon: "If I were to publicize this news domestically, the Blood Vulture would only think I’m slandering him, and the Civil Servant Group would surely seize this opportunity to instigate political strife within the Empire. I don’t want to see such a result, so I want to hear your opinion first, after all, you’re an expert in this field."
Lin Lan nodded slightly, acknowledging the other party’s explanation.
Seagull: "Then tell me the details of that maritime incident."
Frost Falcon: "The child I placed in the caravan saw very clearly before his martyrdom that the mechanical soldiers who slaughtered the innocents bore the Blood Vulture Duke’s corps insignia on their shoulders. But the strangest thing was, he said those soldiers were actually laughing and conversing, as if they were endowed with ’vitality,’ treating all the innocents as ’inferior monkeys,’..."
Frost Falcon: "I’m not sure whether the child’s message was a mad rambling before his death or a lie distorted by nightmares, but this is all the information I know..."
Lin Lan furrowed his eyebrows.
He pondered over the lengthy message from the other party.
Based on the known intelligence, Lin Lan immediately guessed the existence behind the mechanical soldiers.
One must admit, there’s a familiar note to it; he had already dealt with those guys several times.
The nightmare-induced Celestial Calamity did originate from Dr. Tianli, but Lin Lan was aware, besides the pressure from the Apocalypse’s starry skies, it was also the backstabbing from a group of company insiders that led Dr. Tianli to his desperate plight.
There were definitely no few Tianli citizens similar to executives like Martina.
From the Sun’s Holy Spirit to the Justice Hero, then to company executives and now their executive lackeys.
They enjoyed the local god’s blessing, manipulated and exploited the gods through faith while simultaneously groveling to the Apocalypse Monarch, basking in the blessings of immortality upon heaps of corpses.
Lin Lan’s thoughts became clearer.
The Empire trade caravan’s ordeal was clearly an act of infiltration by the Apocalypse.
The other party managed to download minds from a higher Divine Kingdom dimension, ultimately possessing the unconscious machinery.
In other words, were these guys a low-end version of ’players’ from the Third Era?
Lin Lan’s eyes turned cold.
In his view, these Ancient Century traitors weren’t fit to be called the ’Fourth Calamity’ in his mind.
Even if one doesn’t mention the so-called player’s morality scale and chaos degree, even if they could wantonly create panic and chaos, cruelly slaughtering innocents, they could never possess the ability to ’change the world’ like true players do.
They neither have the qualification to save the world nor the conviction to destroy it. Frankly, they’re just a bunch of dogs kept by the Apocalypse.
In Lin Lan’s eyes, as a Foreigner, these guys with bursting stat points only hold value for grinding.
Lin Lan began typing keys, inputting words in the private chat interface.
The time was ripe. Since Frost Falcon had already established a close connection with him, it was time to present the ’real’ enemy to him.
Seagull: "Let me remind you, aren’t you worried the weight of my information will crush your side?"
Frost Falcon: "Just tell me, it’s urgent, and my technicians are already prepared for martyrdom."
Lin Lan shook his head slightly. Perhaps it’s precisely because such people exist in the world that it can continue to eke out an existence.
Seagull: "According to my judgment, they aren’t the Blood Vulture’s people but the Apostles of the Apocalypse."
After a long while, the other side finally sent the next message.
Frost Falcon: "What is the Apocalypse... Seagull, all my technicians are dead..."
Frost Falcon: "What are you carrying?"
Lin Lan fell silent; he seemed to see blood flowing on the other side of the screen, scarlet trickling from the private chat channel, soaking his palm.
Seagull: "Let’s end today’s discussion here, Frost Falcon, I just wanted to tell you who our real enemy is."
The Frost Falcon fell silent on the other end, and after a moment, he exited the private chat channel.
Lin Lan sat quietly in front of the game console, his gaze becoming somewhat deep and profound. Suddenly, the thick tail behind him wrapped tightly around his shoulder.
"Don’t keep that gloomy expression, today is a rare day of victory."
Eleanor patted the shoulder of the gray-haired youth: "Don’t count their chosen sacrifices on your head. If you’re really feeling bad, I’ll help you bear it all."
Lin Lan was momentarily stunned, looking at the charming woman beside him, her eyes full of unadulterated emotion.
"Thank you, Eleanor." Lin Lan smiled as well, holding onto the hand she extended.
Just as he was about to leave the Mechanical Dream with Eleanor, the game console screen flashed again, a new private chat message appeared.
Lin Lan raised an eyebrow, approached the console, and discovered the message was from the Blood Vulture Duke!
Blood Vulture: "Seagull, I’ve heard there are some mechanical servants on your land that... uh, only handle domestic matters. My Count Martina is very interested in them."
Blood Vulture: "How much do they cost?"
Lin Lan: ...
