“Leader Lin?”
Jiang Nuan had never heard that title before, but she was no stranger to the word “leader.”
When the team had discussed how to deal with that organization, they had referred to the person behind it as the leader.
That organization had even used Sister Zhou, trying to take her back.
…The Apocalypse Society!
The moment Jiang Nuan’s eyes widened, Lin Zhou smiled again. “Looks like you’ve figured it out.”
“The restricted zone that spread from the docks through Zone E of Whale Harbor City in the original world—it was your doing!”
“Yes.” Lin Zhou nodded without hesitation. “All for the truth tonight, and to fulfill a small deal I made beforehand.”
The prior deal he was referring to was most likely the under-the-table transaction he had made with Bai Siyuan.
“You’re insane… So many people died.” Jiang Nuan’s fingers turned cold.
The desperate cries from the Sea God Tower came rushing back to her.
And that had only been one building, in a place where Lu Shiyan hadn’t been able to arrive in time. How many others had died silently beneath collapsed buildings or in the gray fog?
“Then you must think Lu Zhaoming is insane too.”
Jiang Nuan’s breathing stopped for a moment. Her grip tightened around her gun. “You’re comparing yourself to Lu Zhaoming?”
“Why not?” Lin Zhou let out a soft laugh. “For the sake of the so-called greater good, he locked a child in a laboratory, extracted her ability, and repeatedly injected her with drugs.”
“I merely brought that buried history back into the light and placed it before everyone.”
“Which of us looks more like the madman to you?”
The cold tip of a needle and glaring white light flashed through Jiang Nuan’s mind. Her hand began to tremble around the gun.
She gritted her teeth. “If you really think he’s insane, you shouldn’t have dragged so many innocent people into it this way. You’re taking revenge!”
Lin Zhou suddenly burst out laughing. He laughed so hard that he doubled over, his shoulders shaking. Even the burn scar on the left side of his face twisted with the motion.
A few seconds later, he straightened and raised a hand to wipe away the tears of laughter from the corners of his eyes. His tone returned to its earlier calm.
“You’ve seen what you needed to see. Go back, Number Zero.”
“If you want to know the whole truth, come find me at the Apocalypse Society… The Apocalypse Society was your choice before you lost your memory. I hope it can become your choice after you lost it as well.”
The barrier in the room gradually faded, and Lin Zhou’s figure began to grow indistinct.
“Jiang Nuan, don’t let someone else decide who you are.”
The barrier vanished completely.
Lin Zhou disappeared with it.
Jiang Nuan stood where she was, the barrel of her gun still raised.
Since Lin Zhou was the leader of the Apocalypse Society, he had been the one controlling this restricted zone all along. It wasn’t surprising that he could come and go as he pleased.
But something else sent an even colder chill down her back.
If that was true, then Lin Zhou had survived the apocalyptic catastrophe.
Later, he had founded the Apocalypse Society.
The very Apocalypse Society that was determined to make the restricted zones descend completely into the real world.
The irony was almost unbearable.
A rustling sound came from outside the door.
The two base employees clearly hadn’t left. They were trying to find a way to break in.
…That Leader Lin could at least have dealt with those two before leaving.
The entire banquet hall outside had just finished broadcasting the full account of Sun Mingrui’s bombing operation. Didn’t he know how chaotic the base was right now?
If they opened the door and found her alone in the equipment room, then even if she was Lu Zhaoming’s personally invited dance partner, they would still interrogate her. And they still had the Snakewood mission to deal with.
Before the two men could break down the door, she pulled it open herself.
Without giving them time to react, she slammed the butt of her gun into the first man’s temple. He let out a muffled groan and crumpled to the floor.
The other man opened his mouth to call for help.
Jiang Nuan stepped sideways, wedging herself against the doorframe, and drove her elbow hard into the back of his neck.
He struggled for a few seconds before losing consciousness as well.
She dragged both men into the equipment room, quickly shut the door behind her, and left.
As she went, she casually tugged down the high slit of her skirt, which had ridden up.
The female agents in movies could move freely in dresses like this. In real life, Jiang Nuan only wanted to make sure she didn’t trip and kill herself.
The psychic link was restored at that moment.
Lu Shiyan’s voice immediately entered her mind.
【Jiang Nuan?! Respond if you can hear me. Where are you?】
Ye Que’s voice followed closely behind.
【The link was cut off just now. Signal interference?】
【Long story short: the Lighthouse’s Lin Zhou is the leader of the Apocalypse Society in the future. The public execution in the main banquet hall was also arranged by him. He should have already left this restricted zone. I’ll explain the details when we get back.】
After a brief silence, Lu Shiyan asked,
【Are you hurt?】
【I’m fine.】
【Good. An abnormal energy signature has been detected near the vegetation on the southeast side. Everyone, regroup immediately.】 Lu Shiyan’s voice rang out.
Had they found the core of the restricted zone?
Jiang Nuan quickly suppressed her other emotions. After confirming that the access card Lin Zhou had left behind was still in the hidden pocket at her side, she exited through the western door, which was piled high with equipment.
The noise from the banquet hall drifted through the walls.
Some people were arguing over Sun Mingrui’s punishment. Others were cursing the Federation for its treachery. Lu Zhaoming had already begun arranging for personnel to inspect the ice lake for danger.
Everyone in the base had been drawn into the farce in the banquet hall.
Jiang Nuan hurried onward.
Everything was going so smoothly that the unease in her heart grew heavier with every step.
When Jiang Nuan reached the vegetation on the southeast side, the entire team was already there, including Chen Ping'an.
She lowered her voice and pointed ahead. “That’s it?”
Under the cover of night, the Snakewood tree was completely unremarkable. Its trunk was no more than twice the width of a person’s arms and blended in with the surrounding vegetation. It would be impossible to distinguish without a careful look.
Shen Wu nodded. “Yes. Its energy signature is exactly the same as the one attached to the outlining pen.”
“Then do we destroy it now?” This was going far too smoothly. A faint unease stirred in her heart.
Lu Shiyan had clearly noticed it as well, but he didn’t hesitate. The longer they delayed, the more trouble they would face.
“End it quickly.” He raised a hand and moved.
Spatial severing was his cleanest and most efficient technique.
Jiang Nuan had seen him use it to carve open monsters and slice buildings apart. It had never failed.
A silver spatial fracture swept across the tree trunk.
And then… it was deflected?
The air gave off a shattering sound, yet the Snakewood didn’t move an inch.
Jiang Nuan sucked in a breath. This was the first time she had ever seen Lu Shiyan’s spatial ability blocked head-on.
Everyone summoned their abilities and struck at the Snakewood simultaneously from different directions.
Every attack was bounced back. Fortunately, Jiang Ce had already raised a defensive shield.
Among all the ability users, Lu Shiyan’s spatial ability was overwhelming in its dominance.
For something to block his attack so effortlessly meant that the level of the ability protecting this tree was at least equal to his—perhaps even higher.
Who in this world possessed an ability level higher than Lu Shiyan’s?
There was only one answer.
“I thought no one would touch it, at least not tonight.”
The voice came from behind the tree’s shadow, carrying a hint of helplessness.
A tall figure stepped into the moonlight.
Lu Zhaoming’s gaze swept over the group before finally settling on Lu Shiyan.
