Xisiya Capital.
Upon arriving here, Guan Tong felt it was different from other Xisiya cities. The atmosphere here was much more serious.
The street drunks commonly seen in other Xisiya cities were almost nowhere to be found here. Instead, patrols composed of soldiers and drones filled the streets, checking the identities of any suspicious individuals.
He had been questioned once, but the patrol quickly seed to receive orders from superiors, learned of his special status, and let him pass.
He arrived at the Xisiya National Museum. The massive Conqueror statue in front of the door now only had half its body remaining, everything above the waist had vanished.
Guan Tong didn't know why Yelanka had arranged to et him here. As he was thinking, footsteps approached from behind.
He turned to look. A strange young woman was walking towards him.
She stopped beside Guan Tong and gazed at the damaged statue. "The statue of the Conqueror Emperor, once considered the pride of this nation's people, was smashed and destroyed right after the first Doomsday Rule. It shows that in the face of true disaster, human rationality truly cannot be relied upon."
"..."
The young woman turned her head to look at Guan Tong. "It's been a long ti, Teacher."
"You..."
"Have you forgotten the effect of the item you gave , Teacher?"
"So that's it."
Guan Tong realized the strange woman before him was Yelanka, who had used the Passerby Transformation Device.
"Many people are watching
now. eting Teacher in my original form would not be a wise move."
"I understand."
"The transformation only lasts 3 hours. Let's finish our talk within that ti. Please, Teacher."
Yelanka gestured for Guan Tong to follow her into the museum. Guan Tong didn't refuse and walked in with her.
Like the damaged statue outside, the interior of the museum was also in complete chaos.
Nurous display cases had been smashed and destroyed. Many exhibits were missing, leaving only blank screens ant for introductions.
"After the Rules appeared, the people of this country fell into a period of madness, destroying almost everything they could. After things stabilized later, Father specifically preserved the museum in this state without repairing it."
"To serve as a warning?" Guan Tong asked.
"Yes. He wanted people to rember how much damage unrestrained emotional outbursts and venting could bring to this country and civilization."
"Your father sounds like a wise man."
"He is wise, but he is also a father." Yelanka said. "So when he received the news of Lijeka's death, he was very sad, and very angry."
Seeing Yelanka get to the main point, Guan Tong did not evade it.
"Before he died, he said that he, or rather your family, would not let
go. What I said to him was, this grudge started because of him, and his death represents its end. If his family continues to stir up new grudges, then..."
"Then Teacher, you will not back down either, right?"
Guan Tong looked at Yelanka. Though it wasn't her real face, the transformation couldn't simulate her gaze and aura.
"I will not." He said.
Yelanka nodded and continued walking forward.
Guan Tong followed her, soon arriving before a display platform.
Different from other platforms, this one held an ugly giant stone engraved with text. This type of giant stone looked incredibly heavy at a glance, solid and sturdy. This was probably why it hadn't been destroyed by people during the chaos.
"This stone has a na: 'Yalahan's Stone of Hatred.' Do you know it, Teacher?"
Guan Tong shook his head. "No."
"It's a Xisiya historical anecdote. Long ago, there was a king nad Yalahan. His son, relying on his prince status, acted arrogantly and tyrannically, bullying the weak. The people suffered oppression but dared not resist due to his noble status."
"Later, one day this prince went out hunting and encountered a passerby. He coveted the passerby's bow and arrows, tried to seize them, but was shot dead by the passerby with a single arrow."
"Afterwards, Yalahan was furious and wanted to avenge his son. But that passerby had long since disappeared without a trace. To remind himself to rember the hatred, Yalahan engraved this event on a stone. That is this stone."
Guan Tong listened silently. He didn't know Yelanka's purpose in saying all this, so he continued listening.
"If my father were still the Administrator, he would beco the new Yalahan, hunting Teacher down to the end to avenge his child. But now I am the new Administrator, and Lijeka was an enemy who once tried to kill
and Sigaochin. Grandmother was even his accomplice."
"..."
Guan Tong saw Yelanka clench her hand into a fist. He could even feel the temperature around her body drop several degrees.
It was clear her competition with Lijeka was even more brutal than imagined. The emotional changes caused by this made her unconsciously use her ability.
He didn't know the specifics of Yelanka's ability. But hearing her say this now, he knew the two sides wouldn't fall out over Lijeka's matter. This was what he wanted to see.
"What I said in my ssage was sincere." Yelanka said. "I am very happy about Lijeka's death. It's just that so people believe I was responsible for this matter and are forcing
to give an explanation. Do you understand what I an, Teacher?"
Guan Tong's gaze sharpened.
"Yelanka, do you want
to help you eliminate dissidents for you? You should know that's impossible."
Only now did he understand that Yelanka's purpose in eting him today was actually to try and recruit him.
"You misunderstand." Yelanka shook her head. "I won't ask Teacher to kill anyone. I just have a proposal."
"What proposal?"
"Stay in Xisiya." Yelanka stated directly. "Even if I don't pursue the assassination matter, the Konia Family and Lijeka's forr subordinates will investigate. This is very unfavorable for you, Teacher."
"You have long left the academy, without the academy's protection. It's hard to guarantee you won't encounter danger. I know Teacher's abilities are exceptional, but even a fierce tiger facing a pack of wolves can be helpless due to being outnumbered and isolated."
"..."
"If Teacher is willing to stay in Xisiya, in this 'hiding in plain sight' environnt, with my cover, they won't be able to find you. Moreover, I also need Teacher's help."
"Yelanka, you are already Xisiya's highest Administrator. Do you still need my help?"
"I do." Yelanka's tone was sincere. "Originally, most people in Xisiya believed Lijeka would win and sided with him. Even though I've beco Administrator, my foundation is still insufficient."
"Though I have Sigaochin as a capable helper, she is usually responsible for protecting
and cannot be in two places at once. If Teacher is willing to stay, you don't need to do anything else. Just by taking Sigaochin's place in ensuring my personal safety, I can act freely to get things done."
"..."
Guan Tong remained silent.
From their reunion after the academy, the change in Yelanka's impression on him was truly significant.
During academy days, she was just a student focused on practicing Mind Power, rarely speaking about anything else.
Now, as Administrator, her deanor was more like what an Administrator should possess.
Seeing Guan Tong didn't reply, Yelanka wasn't anxious. She changed the topic.
"From my understanding of Teacher, contacting
this ti wasn't solely about Lijeka's matter, right?"
"...Correct. I want to contact that alien intelligence to ask a question."
The mont his words left his mouth, a sharp glint flashed in Yelanka's eyes.
Though she knew Guan Tong definitely had other matters to discuss with her, she never imagined it would be this.
"Teacher, are you joking?"
"No."
"Teacher, you should know that the person asking the alien intelligence a question must be soone designated by the Human Consortium. The question asked must also be one decided by the Human Consortium through etings and voting."
"I know."
"You should know even more that this alien intelligence, which uses eating humans as the price for questions, is currently on Xisiya's soil. If it goes out of control, all of Xisiya's citizens would face a huge threat."
Guan Tong didn't speak. He raised his palm, and a whistle appeared in it.
He placed the whistle to his lips and blew. Three living dead silently appeared.
"...Living dead?"
Yelanka saw their red eyes and imdiately recognized them as the undead monsters that appeared during the Night of the Living Dead Rule.
"Correct." Guan Tong said. "During the Silent Hour Rule, after they made sounds, Sound Hunters appeared and attacked them."
Yelanka was extrely intelligent and imdiately understood the aning behind Guan Tong's words.
"Teacher, are you saying you want to use them to replace humans and parasitized forms, offering them as food to the alien intelligence? Can this whistle summon living dead infinitely?"
"Not infinitely. Blowing it consus Mind Power. As for whether they can serve as food, that requires on-site testing... So if I can ask a question, I would first ask 'What is your na?'—a question that has already been verified twice."
Yelanka's eyes flickered. "Asking this question, if successful, is best. If it fails, it would only consu a few more parasitized forms."
"Correct." Guan Tong said. "Moreover, if it fails and it's confird living dead cannot serve as food, then I would imdiately give up the qualification to continue asking questions and would absolutely not ask a second question."
Guan Tong was completely sincere. Though he had questions he wanted to ask, if the price was provided by others, he wouldn't ask.
Those parasitized forms were captured by various countries with great difficulty. Why should they be consud for his personal desires? Not to ntion others would never agree, he himself wouldn't do such a thing.
This ti, Yelanka didn't reply imdiately but pondered.
Originally, she absolutely could not agree to Guan Tong's request, because that would be risking countless citizens' lives.
But after Guan Tong demonstrated the ability to summon living dead and clearly stated they had been treated as humans during a previous Rule, the situation beca sowhat different.
Yelanka remained silent for a long ti, then looked at Guan Tong and said, "Teacher, if I agree and arrange a questioning opportunity for you, would you agree to my proposal then?"
"...Is this the condition you're proposing?"
"No. But Teacher, you should understand how much pressure I would bear by agreeing to this for you."
Guan Tong knew Yelanka was right.
Considering things from her perspective, letting soone who doesn't know what question they'll ask approach the alien intelligence indeed carries imnse pressure.
"...Alright."
Guan Tong made a promise.
"I won't let you bear this pressure for nothing. I promise you, I will stay in Xisiya to protect you until your position as Administrator is completely secure."
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