Chapter 485

"Yes, we can certainly begin now, if there are no problems with the Shrine... Seele, what about you?"

Durandal looked at Shen Gonglin, who had been unusually obedient with her head pinned down by Li Sushang since earlier. This was a bit out of character for Shen Gonglin. Was it because they had some differing opinions?

"Of course I have no problem with it, but... I am indeed a little concerned about Xiao Kong's situation. Let's go back and check on him when we have a chance during the intervals of the investigation."

Shen Gonglin was quite pleased with his current posture, so he didn't bother to offer any opinions. As a qualified leader, knowing how to use people effectively was crucial, and entrusting the task to Durandal was definitely the right thing to do. Seele, on the other hand, brought up the matter. Previously, because she was busy looking for Li Sushang and Durandal, Seele hadn't been able to help Xiao Kong, which bothered her greatly. Now, if she had the time, she still hoped to go back and take a look. She knew that feeling of needing help, so she also wanted to help others.

Chapter 297

Of course, there was no problem. The group quickly reached a consensus. With Li Sushang's lively voice, they continued their investigation. Li Sushang led the way, holding the hand of Shen Gonglin. "Let's go!" they said. "First, we'll take Junior Uncle and Seele to see those strange stones. Speaking of reinvestigating, we should definitely go and see those suspicious stones." Along the way, Shen Gonglin shared her experiences with the two of them.

"So, Theresa is probably trapped in Kaslana's Stigmata Space now. The succubus Kevin's power is a bit too strong. In that environment, even I'm not confident I could beat him up. Then I returned to the Hyperion. After that so-called passing heroine's antics, I woke up to see Seele dreaming. Durandal, do you know what that passing heroine is all about?"

As they moved forward on the silent lunar surface, Shen Gonglin inquired about things like Durandal. While speaking, he also gestured, saying that the passing heroine looked like a larger version of Ai-chan, tall, slim-waisted, and with long legs, which was quite eye-catching.

"Based on your description... I don't think that being is malicious. I've reviewed the Far East Branch's mission logs and also looked into Theresa's entire resume. It should be something that Theresa brought out from some ancient ruins, an ancient artificial intelligence system. Perhaps Ai-chan from the Hyperion was developed based on her."

Not quite understanding the matter either, Durandal could only offer her speculation. Shen Gonglin nodded, "Sure enough, everything can be explained by ancient times. It's just like Honkai energy; in the current environment, everything can be explained by Honkai energy."

"It feels like something really complicated has happened. I wonder what the others are going through... Junior Uncle, look! Those are the strange stones we were talking about before."

Li Sushang scratched her head in distress. Too much had happened, and thinking too much was useless. At this time, she could only focus on the present. Moving forward in this boundless desert, they soon arrived at the place Li Sushang had mentioned earlier. The girl pointed to a huge rock on the wall in the distance. The rock was emitting a purple aura, and just looking at it made one feel that it was something extraordinary.

"I always felt that these huge rocks didn't seem to be formed naturally..."

"Looking at those stones gives me an uneasy feeling," Seele said softly. Judging from the expressions of the others, they felt the same way. "What are these things?"

"Hey, Seele, do you feel the same way? I feel the same way. I feel like they must have had some... practical function in the distant past? It's a pity they're so badly damaged that it might be hard to restore them to their original state."

Surprised that Seele had the same feeling as her, it seemed that it wasn't because she was being overly sensitive. Li Sushang wanted to get closer, but Durandal stopped her. A group of enemies had appeared in front of them without them noticing.

"Ha, we just took down a bunch of them... and in such a short time, these guys have already gathered around here again. What's so strange about these odd rocks that they attract us?"

With a soft sigh, Li Sushang released Shen Gonglin's hand and walked forward. Her flying sword circled around the girl. She and Durandal had already fought here when they were exploring. She didn't expect that things would turn out like this in just a short while. There was no choice but to fight again.

"Seele, I'll leave Shen Gonglin to you."

Durandal also raised her knight's lance. Before the battle, Durandal did not forget to tell Seele about this. Neither she nor Li Sushang seemed to have any intention of letting Shen Gonglin take action. In their subconscious, Shen Gonglin was someone who needed to be protected. Upon hearing this, Seele nodded her little head firmly. She would definitely protect Shen Gonglin!

This feels like... Do they think I'm some kind of nobody? I'm actually pretty good, you know. But whatever, since they're willing to do this, Shen Gonglin is happy to relax. He sat on some rocks with Seele and watched Durandal and Li Sushang's battle.

What makes these monsters so special that they can withstand the combined attack of two world-class beings? Their lives must have been worthwhile.

"Um, Brother Rin... Miss Sushang, you two are really close, and so are Miss Durandal, they're both very good to you."

In front of Li Sushang and Durandal, Seele felt embarrassed to address Shen Gonglin in that way. But when it was just the two of them, Seele didn't worry so much. The girl said with some concern, "I'm a little envious of Miss Sushang. She was so open and friendly with Shen Gonglin just now. Come to think of it, I've known Shen Gonglin for much longer than Li Sushang, haven't I?"

But she just couldn't do that kind of thing herself. And Durandal, who is such a rigid and serious person, often comes to the Salt Lake Base to help Kiana improve herself. So Seele knows the personality of this strongest Valkyrie. She is gentle, strong, and very serious. But when she treats Shen Gonglin, she just seems to spoil him.

"Of course, I'm the head of Schicksal, so of course they have a good relationship with me."

Shen Gonglin proudly puffed out her chest, while Seele shook her head gently. The reason they were so close to Shen Gonglin was definitely not because of that. Shen Gonglin still didn't understand. She always felt that Sister Bronya's future path would be very difficult.

"Phew, all done! Junior Uncle, Seele, come and take a look at these strange rocks. They seem quite special."

The battle ended quickly thanks to the combined efforts of the two extremely powerful Valkyrie. After the fight, Li Sushang waved to call Shen Gonglin over. As soon as they got closer, the feeling was very familiar. The energy emanating from those strange stones was indeed Honkai energy.

"Just as I thought. They look like things that are tens of thousands of years old, but there is still such abundant residual energy on them. What kind of monsters were the two sides that fought back then?"

As Li Sushang examined the boulder, she exclaimed with genuine admiration. It was just like what was said in the stories: the energy released by ancient powerful beings during battles changed everything around them. This must be the so-called product of the battles between ancient powerful beings.

Chapter 298 French Jackal

There are so many of these strange stones over here. Each one is covered in dense Honkai energy, as if it could explode at any moment. Just looking at them makes you not want to get close. What is the purpose of these things, and how did they get damaged like this?

The group began their investigation, but without concrete information, the investigation could not proceed. Shen Gonglin wanted to try to absorb the Honkai energy, but her actions were stopped by the three Valkyrie. They felt that Shen Gonglin's behavior was exactly like that of a spoiled child who picks up anything outside and stuffs it into his mouth. Couldn't Shen Gonglin give them a break?

"Oh, so you guys have also noticed the suspicious points about this thing. But if you can decipher the hidden information on this sacred relic, perhaps you'll be able to discover the true nature of the sketching and the plan. Good luck, I have high hopes for you guys."

Suddenly, such a sound rang out as everyone was investigating. Shen Gonglin thought it was the sound coming from the stone, while Durandal pressed his head to divert his attention. On the nearby rocks, a dark-skinned beauty dressed in a research suit appeared before everyone's eyes. Durandal immediately became alert at the sudden appearance of someone, while Miss Li Sushang of the Society had a different reaction.

"Hey, I didn't expect to find other explorers like us here... Nice to meet you. Were you also sent to the moon for no apparent reason?"

The sword fairy first performed a fist and palm salute. The dark-skinned beauty obviously did not expect her to respond in this way. She had originally entered with the air of a behind-the-scenes mastermind, but she was greeted so politely. The Jackal subconsciously tried to return the salute by imitating Li Sushang's actions, but she felt embarrassed before she could finish the action. This kind of etiquette full of ancient Shenzhou style was really awkward for her to do.

"Me? It's not that it's inexplicable. As for my identity, I think Shen Gonglin should know very well."

A little embarrassed, the dark-skinned beauty lowered her hand and looked at Shen Gonglin, wanting him to reveal his identity. Although they had only met a handful of times, and strictly speaking, they had never actually met, Jackal felt that he must have left a deep impression on Shen Gonglin.

"Who are you? I've never seen you before."

However, Shen Gonglin's response made the atmosphere awkward. The Jackal clenched its fists quietly. This was bullying! It didn't remember him at all, and judging from the look of it, it wasn't joking but really didn't remember him... It must be because he took off his mask.

"I think the reason we were teleported here is probably related to you, Jackal, Dr. Cleo Hypatia."

In the end, it was Durandal who spoke up and eased the awkward atmosphere. Sure enough, someone recognized him. At that moment, the Jackal was even a little grateful to Durandal. As expected of the strongest Valkyrie of Schicksal, her brain was much more useful than some of the stupid new bishops. Meanwhile, Shen Gonglin looked at the brown-skinned mature woman in front of her in shock.

"What? You mean she's that dog-headed doctor?"

If you mention Jackal, Shen Gonglin has a vague recollection of them. World Serpent has always liked to use animals as codenames: Raven, Gray Serpent, Jackal, Red Dragon... And Shen Gonglin remembers this Jackal. Back in Sky City, this Jackal was the culprit. She even captured and tortured Kiana, although Kiana ended up extracting a lot of information from her instead.

"It's Jackal! Not a dog! I can't believe... that I can be recognized so quickly after taking off my mask, and that people even call me by my real name. It seems I have quite a bit of influence. Valkyrie, Bianca Atagina."

Emphasizing her codename, Jackal immediately started praising her. In fact, she meant it sincerely. If Durandal hadn't come to her rescue, Jackal really wouldn't know how to continue. She had even forgotten who she was. What was going on in Shen Gonglin's head? She was just as annoying as Raiden Mei.

"Likewise, let's get straight to the point. What brings you here, senior executive of World Serpent?"

Her words revealed the identity of the Jackal. Shen Gonglin should know her identity, but the others did not. Only then did Li Sushang and Seele realize what was going on. The sword fairy girl stepped forward and did not bow this time.

"So you're a core member of that World Serpent organization? You use a two-character animal name as a code name, just like what Junior Uncle said before. Do you have anyone named Panda in your organization?"

Suddenly, she asked this question. During her travels in Shenzhou, Li Sushang had become very interested in pandas. If there were members in the World Serpent who used pandas as their code name, what would they be like?

"... As far as I know, no. And it's definitely not a core position, since I've already retired. Also, Valkyrie of Schicksal, I don't intend to be your enemy, so please put away your weapons."

What kind of people are Schicksal? It seems like only Durandal is somewhat normal now. No matter who they are, no one would want to ask such a question at a time like this. And are you serious about drawing your sword while saying such a thing? Durandal also looked at herself warily, gripping her lance tightly. The little girl in white was holding a huge scythe that didn't suit her image at all. If these people wanted to kill her, it would be too easy for them.

"Given what the World Serpent has done, your way of expressing friendliness doesn't seem very credible."

Durandal wasn't so easily trusting. Although she said that, the girl's vigilance remained undiminished. She had finally met someone here, and a high-ranking member of the World Serpent at that. How could Durandal not be on high alert?

"That's true. How about this? This way, it will prove my sincerity."

He also understood that Shen Gonglin and the others did not trust him. After all, they had been enemies before. If he wanted them to believe that he was harmless, he should show some sincerity. In this situation, the only thing he could do to convince them was to surrender.

"Don't get me wrong, I just want to surrender."

As he spoke, the Jackal emerged from the shadow of the boulder under Durandal's wary gaze. The dark-skinned beauty raised her hands in a standard surrender gesture, which was the only option she could do in this situation. The enemy's combat power was not something a mere researcher like herself could contend with.

So being a French Jackal is fine too.

Chapter 299 I'll Confess to Everything

"Don't be so tense. I don't have the ability to fight the Valkyrie of Schicksal in close combat, let alone in this situation. All my research results have been left on Earth... It's unrealistic to expect me to fight the three of you... no, the four of you, all by myself. But in my opinion, our relationship shouldn't have deteriorated to this extent."

The surrendered Jackal approached Durandal and the others. At this distance, regardless of its intentions, Durandal and Li Sushang were confident they could kill it with a single blow. Therefore, it was clear that her surrender was quite sincere. Indeed, whatever her backup plans, the fact that she could communicate with them at this distance meant Durandal slightly lowered the tip of her knight's lance.

"That's right, after all, the hunting season is over, and both hunters and prey will return to nature... But may I ask, what do you want to do with this?"

Durandal was quite satisfied with her behavior, but after seeing Jackal 'Shen Gonglin actions, the dark-skinned beauty's expression turned a little ugly. Shen Gonglin's hand was covered in blue starlight, which eventually coalesced into a rope. Not only that, Shen Gonglin was walking towards him with the rope in her hand. What did this mean?

"You've already surrendered, so I think you know how to treat those who have surrendered. Come on, relax, take a deep breath... Sushang, come and help me."

Shen Gonglin circled behind the Jackal, intending to tie her up with a rope. Upon hearing this, Li Sushang immediately jumped over to help. The Jackal looked at Durandal speechlessly. Was she being too wary? There were three Valkyrie with superhuman combat power watching him. Was this really necessary?

Durandal turned her head away as if she hadn't seen anything. Ignoring the Jackal's gaze, the girl pondered for a moment before finally asking, "What you're saying... is it also related to the Stigmata Plan?"

"Of course, didn't anyone tell you? Look at that Earth in the sky, the Stigmata Plan, it's completely finished. The anomaly of this Earth is proof that the spaces of real and imaginary numbers have been rearranged and reorganized together. The gears that have been engaged for 50,000 years have finally meshed, completely crushing the old order that cursed humanity. Now, all we have to do is wait for the new order to descend upon the world."

It seems she has accepted this treatment. There's nothing she can do; when you're under someone's roof, you have to bow your head. The Jackal obediently got tied up, but this didn't affect her mood. She looked up at the Earth, which was surrounded by a rotating ring of stars. In the past, she would look up at the moon, but now, she was looking up at the Earth.

"As for our current problems, it's alright. As the chosen ones, we can witness all of this with clear minds. Isn't that Mofa's good fortune?"

If you're captured, you have to act like a captive. With his hands bound, the Jackal leans against the wall and chats with his former enemies. They used to be enemies, but they aren't anymore. The Stigmata Plan is complete, the World Serpent has been disbanded, and he's retired. We're all chosen ones, so let's not fight to the death.

"The chosen ones, you mean the Stigmata Awakener, right?"

"It's obvious. New Atlanta... How does this name, inherited from Mu, sound to you? We will spend a brief period of chaos in this man-made home, and then return to the newly born Earth that has Honkai and ceased to exist. What a hopeful future, isn't it?"

Jackal briefly explained why he was here: Earth had been demolished, and before the resettlement housing was redistributed, he was just staying here for a short while.

Jackal spoke casually, as if it had no impact on the chosen ones, but Seele had grasped another very important matter: the chosen ones were here waiting for Earth to be rebuilt, but what about the unchosen ones?

"But what about those who weren't chosen..."

"Of course they'll stay where they are. Yu Tu really did some unnecessary things."

The Jackal curled her lip, looking at the Earth enveloped in purple light with disdain. What a boring thing.

Feather Rabbit? Judging from that name, he should also be a member of World Serpent. Just how many strange people does this strange organization have? Jackal seemed to have only mentioned that name casually, without delving deeper into it. Jackal also knew what they were more concerned about right now.

"Let's leave the matter of Yu Tu for now. Strictly speaking, she does have some connection with you, Durandal. But let's talk about what you're really concerned about. To answer that little girl's question, don't worry. For ordinary people who can't activate their Stigmata, the Stigmata Plan won't cause them any suffering. For them, it's just a dream, a beautiful dream that can fulfill all their wishes. And in the process, they will transform into Stigmata, sinking into the Imaginary Space, becoming the foundation for building a new world. Quite the opposite of my style, isn't it?"

This was quite different from the Stigmata Plan she had previously implemented. Judging from Jackal's style, she preferred the previous Stigmata Plan, which involved releasing Honkai energy throughout the city. Those who could awaken Stigmata would survive, while those who did not would either die or become Stigmata Honkai Beast Suicide Squad. How simple was that?

"Wait... transforming into Stigmata? What does that mean?"

There are still some things I don't understand about the Stigmata Plan, but the phrase "transformed into Stigmata" sounds very heavy. This is definitely not something that Jackal can just casually mention.

"Literally. They will lose their physical form, vanish into nothingness, and become the cornerstone upon which the entire Earth can coexist harmoniously with the Honkai. Moreover, in that eternal dream, they do indeed obtain a world without Honkai, without death. As for whether this world truly exists, and whether they themselves can be called true thoughts... that's not so important to many people, is it?"

At this point, Jackal wanted to shrug, but being tied up, she couldn't do such a thing. She really didn't understand why they were making that face; they were all chosen, they should be happier.

After hearing Jackal's words, Durandal and the others fell silent. They had heard Shen Gonglin describe the Stigmata Plan before, and now that it had been explained again by the World Serpent's executives, they still couldn't accept it. This idea was completely contrary to what they had been working hard for. Sure enough, this so-called Stigmata Plan had to be stopped.

Chapter 300 Resignation Jackal

"What? What do you mean by that expression? Please, you're not worried about something trivial, are you? We don't need to worry about those ordinary losers. They're like ants parasitizing the earth. It's already a great blessing if someone is willing to pity them."

I really don't understand Durandal and Shen Gonglin's mentality. In Jackal's view, there is no need to think so much about those who are eliminated. This also means that Jackal and Durandal and others are not compatible. Such remarks made Seele, who has a very well-behaved and gentle personality, look at them with disapproval. This idea is completely different from the idea that they have always believed in and adhered to. This is wrong.

"... Even if you say that, how is that possible? How exactly can a human become Stigmata?"

Seele shook her head. She couldn't understand it from a physics perspective—how could a person be transformed into something completely unknown? Could this also be explained by Honkai energy? If so, it would truly become the situation Rosaria described—omnipotent Honkai energy that could explain everything. Hearing Seele's question, Jackal paused. For the first time, a gloomy expression appeared on her usually smug face, like the frustration of discovering that her painstakingly completed exam was merely at an elementary school level.

But even so, there was nothing I could do.

"... To be honest, I don't know either."

As if such words were a blow to his pride, Jackal practically spat them out through clenched teeth. As an important executive of World Serpent and the apparent driving force behind the Stigmata Plan, how could anyone remain calm when he was completely clueless about such a matter?

"Huh? What nonsense are you talking about? Aren't you a member of the World Serpent? How could you not know?"

The outspoken Li Sushang didn't notice the Jackal's expression and immediately started to deliver the finishing blow. The girl's calm attitude made it impossible for anyone to be angry, while a strange sense of humiliation spread in the Jackal's heart. His knowledge, which he was so proud of, was nothing more than that of a toddler who had just learned to walk in front of others.

"Hoo... Now that I've explained so much to you all... there's no need for me to hide the rest. You might think I'm the most active promoter of the Stigmata Plan, but in terms of results, the truth is far from that. The Stigmata Plan is now realized thanks to the technological achievements that the Lord preserved from the previous civilization era. It was this achievement that created the Feathered Rabbit and that dual existence that catches dreams for snakes."

So that's how it is. So the Jackal was all show and no substance, but he was just a clueless soldier? This time, Shen Gonglin was listening intently to the Jackal's words. After all, there was no idea what Theresa's situation was, and the more she knew, the better she would be at rescuing her. And this Yuto was probably the key to the next step.

"Dual existence? You mean, Yu Tu has been... from the very beginning..."

Dual existence? Having caught this phrase, Durandal deduced an unbelievable result from its literal meaning: it was a dual existence from the very beginning. This Feathered Rabbit was probably not a normal human.

"Yes, she was Stigmata from the beginning, and she's human. That sounds really strange, doesn't it... Hmm? I don't see any surprise on your face, Shen Gonglin. Can you understand this situation directly? As expected of someone considered by World Serpent to be the most suitable person to serve as the Herrscher of Reason."

He was very satisfied with the expressions on everyone's faces, but Jackal didn't see the expression he wanted to see in Shen Gonglin. Why was he so accepting of this situation?

"Ah, you don't need to flatter me like that. I just suddenly remembered hearing about similar cases before, where someone is both Stigmata and a human, both light and a human... By the way, that Yuuto, could she transform into a Giant of Light?"

He asked this question out of the blue, and in the situation Jackal described, Daigo exclaimed that he was an expert.

"Giant of Light? As far as I know, it seems not... Although I call myself the chief scientist of the World Serpent, I must say that compared to 50,000 years ago, the progress I have made is like that of a child who has just learned to stand. It is neither practical nor original. For the organization, the greater role of my research is probably to attract your attention and make you underestimate the World Serpent."

Having revealed her greatest role, Jackal let out a self-deprecating laugh. Durandal and the others remained silent, still trying to process everything they had just learned. Shen Gonglin had come to understand Jackal's true role in World Serpent; simply put, she was World Serpent's tactical deception bureau—a truly fitting title.

"After the transfer was completed, I was unable to follow the Lord to complete the further plan, but instead appeared directly at the camp of New Atlanta. Perhaps this also proves that, for the Lord, my last bit of use has already been completed, and it is time for me to officially retire."

Jackal shrugged. For a useless employee, there's nothing to say if the boss fires him directly. He probably has no say in what happens next, which is why he was sent here. This is probably his last employee benefit. Otherwise, Jackal felt he should be on Earth with those people, accepting his predetermined fate.

"Further plans... Where exactly is Kevin now?"

Without time or opportunity to discuss the emo of the former World Serpent employee, Durandal stated her problem directly: her primary objective now was to find Kevin, and this plan had to be stopped.

"Naturally, it's a space that can neither be reached nor disturbed. As for its exact location... how can we presume to know the Lord's thoughts?"

At this point, Jackal's attitude turned wicked again, making it hard to tell whether she was telling the truth or not. In the end, it was as if she hadn't said anything at all. From the beginning, Su Chang was completely confused, but now Sushang finally understood. This woman was just rambling on and on with them. The sword fairy girl was so angry that she wanted to go up and question her, but Durandal stopped her.

"Forget it. Otto was right before, that's just how she is, there's no point in getting angry with her."

Durandal shook her head. Otto had made the same assessment of the Jackal before, so even if she grabbed her by the collar and questioned her now, it would be useless.