Chapter 359
The main reason is that Skyfire and Provence are Rhodes Island Operator. Black, Ceylon, and Croning are all from the Sistag City government, so they aren't considered part of their own group.
"After we return to Liyue City, I will entrust the scroll to Patriot for safekeeping. It's best not to let a fourth person know about this, except for him."
Xi didn't have a habit of actively leaking secrets, so she nodded happily:
"Okay, I'll do whatever you say."
Shi Lei looked around and saw that there wasn't a single Originium Crawler still alive. He prepared to leave.
"Xi, it's time to go. If people outside ask, you'll have to answer. Just say we've taken care of the Originium Crawler and thrown their bodies into the lava."
"Okay, I'll do whatever you say."
Seeing that she kept repeating this sentence, Shi Lei grinned and joked:
Why do you keep saying that?
Xi didn't think there was anything wrong with her answer; her red eyes looked very clear.
"But I should listen to you."
The four people from Provence safely evacuated and waited at the entrance of a cave on the mountainside of the volcano.
Ceylon floated in mid-air on the black iron platform, maintaining a certain distance from them.
She noticed that the powerful man hadn't appeared, and asked with a puzzled look:
"Why are only you guys out? Why didn't the other person come out? What's going on inside?"
Seeing that the four people below did not look well, Ceylon immediately imagined a classic movie scene.
Could it be that something happened to them after they entered the cave, and it was the man who stayed behind to Rearguard, thus giving the four of them a chance to survive?
In fact, their grim expressions were mainly due to the corpses of those Originium Crawler. Stepping on them once to go in, and then stepping on them again to come out, was practically double the damage.
As time passed, the yellowish-green blood congealed, and the sensation of stepping on it became even more viscous and nauseating.
Faced with Ceylon's question, Skyfire and Provence covered their mouths, clearly unwilling to answer.
Finally, Black stepped forward, looked up, and answered:
"Eldest Daughter, we found a very large Originium Crawler inside. That gentleman's friend arrived here earlier than us, and the corpses of these Primogem worms at the entrance were left by her. The two of them are currently in the deepest part of the cave, discussing how to deal with the large Originium Crawler, so they let us out first."
"So you came out?"
Black felt the question was a bit strange, but he still answered it anyway:
"Eldest Daughter, we can already see the volcano spewing lava from inside. A battle of this scale is not something we should be involved in. They probably sent us out because they were afraid we would be a hindrance."
Ceylon nodded to himself, then turned his gaze to Croning looked somewhat dazed.
"So? Do you now believe that this volcano has reactivated from its dormant state?"
Croning grinned bitterly, cursing under his breath.
Whether a volcano is active or not is completely irrelevant.
The important thing now is that this man who suddenly appeared has ruined his entire plan. To survive, he has no choice but to go along with their broadcasts.
As long as the residents of Sistag are alive, they will prevent the mine owners and developers from moving in. Croning's envisioned idyllic life will ultimately vanish like a bubble.
He pondered for a long time outside the cave, but couldn't come up with a way to deal with the man. Since he couldn't change the outcome no matter what, he might as well be pragmatic.
For example, cooperate with their actions and try to clear yourself of any suspicions.
When Mayor Herman returns, he can continue serving as the mayor's assistant and Catastrophe Messenger. Although life won't be luxurious, it's still better than working at a sewing machine in prison.
"Ring ring ring".
While they were waiting, Provence's phone suddenly rang. Because the volcano was so close to Sistag, she could receive a signal from the local cell tower even here.
Provence glanced at the caller ID, saw it was Amiya's number, and pressed the answer button. He then reported to her and the Doctor what he had just seen and heard.
After understanding the cause and effect, the Doctor remained silent for a moment before giving the order:
"Provence, do not interfere with Mister Zhongli's actions. If you have any equipment with you, you can collect some samples of Originium Crawler corpses. Then give them to Doctor Kal'tsit to compare the differences between Originium Crawler in a volcanic environment and ordinary Originium Crawler. Perhaps we can improve our research on Originium by understanding the differences in the environment."
"Okay, I understand."
Skyfire's black hair was stained with thick, sticky fluid, and he looked disgusted. Only Provence would do this dirty work of collecting corpse samples.
Not long after she finished collecting the materials, Shi Lei and Xi emerged from the cave.
Shi Lei raised his hand and brought the Xuan Tie platform to the side, making it parallel to the Cave Entrance.
Ceylon looked hesitant, wanting to ask what had happened inside but not daring to.
Finally, Skyfire couldn't suppress his curiosity and cautiously asked:
"Has that Originium Crawler been dealt with?"
Shi Lei looked at her and replied casually:
"Um."
"Will the destruction of the Originium Crawler prevent this volcano from erupting?"
"Who knows? They might have already loosened the earth's crust here. To be sure, we'll have to go to the top of the mountain."
After saying that, he manipulated the black iron platform to rise into the air. Gradually, they arrived at mid-air above the crater.
Looking down from here, you can clearly see many places where golden magma is boiling.
Even someone who hasn't studied volcanology can tell that this volcano isn't very safe.
The departure of the Originium Crawler stopped the Earth's crust from thinning further. However, the already thinned crust cannot be repaired like a hymen with money.
Therefore, the eruption of Sistag volcano is a foregone conclusion; the only difference is when.
Skyfire and Provence took photos of the area below, intending to provide Ifrit with research data to predict the timing of any future volcanic eruptions.
If it weren't for Doctor Zhong's protection, they would never have been able to get so close to the volcano.
Shi Lei withdrew his gaze, looked at Croning was squatting in the corner, deliberately trying to make himself inconspicuous, and asked:
"So? Can you now determine whether the volcano is dormant or active?"
"Absolutely certain! Once I get back, I'll use the broadcast tower to notify the people to evacuate."
Shi Lei had no intention of letting him go and walked straight up to him. He lifted the man up with one hand like a chick and carried him outside the Xuan Tie platform, keeping him suspended in the air.
"If you fall from here, there's no way to save you. I'm giving you ten seconds to tell me what you're hiding. If you don't, you'll face the consequences."
Upon hearing this, Croning felt as if he had been struck by lightning.
This guy just abandoned the broadcasting tower without hesitation. Should I gamble that he won't let go, or should I honestly tell him the truth?
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"10, 9, 8..."
Croning wanted to gamble, but he didn't dare to.
This man is completely unpredictable and capable of anything. Maybe after counting to ten, I'll really throw him into the volcano.
When your entire body is burned to ashes, you won't be able to take any money with you.
"7, 6, 5..."
Croning hung upside down in mid-air, his face ashen, and pleaded with the darkness:
"Blackie, save me! If I die, all of Herman's deeds will be exposed!"
Shi Lei didn't care about any hidden reasons; he acted like an emotionless countdown machine.
"4, 3, 2, 1..."
Croning closed his eyes in anguish, making a choice with extreme reluctance:
"I said, don't leave me behind! I took money from the developer to ensure the Obsidian Music Festival went ahead as scheduled. When I heard the Eldest Daughter say she was going to announce the volcanic eruption, I lied and said those two women were spreading rumors!"
Just then, Hei raised her phone. It was unclear when she had established a connection with someone else.
"Croning, that's not all, is it? You knew about the volcanic eruption all along, and even tampered with recent data from the Sistag volcano monitoring station. You didn't just hear them say there was an eruption and then slander it as a rumor."
Upon hearing the voice from the microphone, Ceylon paused, then said:
"Father?"
The only person she could call that was Herman Dorkos, the current mayor of Sistag.
Seeing that Croning did not reply, Herman continued to press on through the microphone:
"Go ahead and tell me, didn't you want to expose what happened in the past? And while you're at it, tell everyone what you did while I was pretending to be gone."
Upon hearing the words "pretend to leave," Croning's face turned ashen, and he remained silent, offering no response.
"Croning, do you really think I've been mayor of Sistag for decades for nothing? You think you can deceive your superiors and subordinates all by yourself and those lackeys?"
Even after I explicitly banned obsidian mining, new obsidian products continued to circulate in the market. Mining teams from various countries appeared near the crater on numerous occasions, yet no one reported this to me.
From that moment on, I knew there was a traitor within the city government, and one with considerable power. To find this person, I deliberately sent you on a business trip to act as mayor. I also had Black return to Sistag to help me investigate the truth.
"What a pity, Croning. I've nurtured you for fifteen years, and I was finally going to hand over the mayoralty to you. But you were too impatient."
Hearing this, Croning finally couldn't hold back any longer:
"You call that being impatient? Have you no shame? Aren't all these despicable methods taught to me by you? The Balu family ten years ago, the TV tower collapse eight years ago, and how you annexed the Tara tribe—I saw it all. It's not important that you taught me the methods; the result is what matters most. And now you're criticizing me?"
"Don't you know how much effort I've poured into this dilapidated town over the past fifteen years? Now that we can finally mine obsidian to acquire the resources to develop Sistag, you want to stop me?"
Herman sighed into the microphone, his tone one of disappointment and frustration:
"Croning, I am truly disappointed in you. No matter what I do, I would never gamble with the lives of the people. Did you deliberately conceal the impending eruption of the volcano to kill everyone in Sistag?"
Croning didn't think he was wrong; even though his life was in danger, he was still amused and annoyed by this statement.
"Disappointed? Ha, you're telling me you're disappointed? I'm the one who should be disappointed! Only with money can you start a new life. You taught me to be ruthless to others. Now that it's come to this, you say you're disappointed in me? Don't you think that's hypocritical and absurd?"
Hearing that he showed absolutely no remorse, Herman didn't want to waste any more words.
"You've followed me for fifteen years and haven't learned anything good. Instead, you've learned these underhanded tricks. You're a complete idiot. Black, hurry up and bring Croning back. Let him spend the rest of his life in prison, reflecting on what he did wrong!"
Herman was unaware of what was happening on the other end of the line when he made the call. Croning was now hanging precariously outside the iron platform, just one step away from falling into the volcano.
Hei glanced at Shi Lei, too embarrassed to ask for the man. If he abandoned the target at the volcano, he would go back and report to Herman that Croning had committed suicide out of guilt.
"You old fool, you forced me to this!"
Hanging upside down, Croning remained arrogant, shouting loudly towards the darkness:
"To ensure the eruption, I planted many sensor-activated bombs inside the volcano. Anyone who gets close enough will immediately detonate, accelerating the eruption. Evacuating the civilians now is too late! Old man, turn to ashes with Sistag!"
Even if you take control of the broadcast tower now and announce the volcanic eruption, it will only cause more panic. Hypocritical Herman, and you meddlesome fool, may you perish with Sistag!
Shi Lei was inexplicably called upon, and expressionlessly tossed Croning back onto the Xuan Tie platform.
He raised his hand and summoned Rock Constructs to lock Croning's limbs and jaw, preventing him from committing suicide.
A sufficiently powerful remote-controlled bomb could cause damage to the Earth's crust. Once this breach is created, allowing underground pressure to release, it could indeed bring forward the eruption of a volcano by several days. But if these bombs are located and destroyed, wouldn't everything be fine?
Without hesitation, Shi Lei leaped off the Xuan Tie platform.
This startled Provence, who peered over the edge of the platform and shouted:
"Doctor Zhong!"
Croning's expression was solemn, and an inexplicable sense of foreboding rose in his heart.
Why is that man jumping down like that? Is he trying to find all the bombs in the volcano?
Even if he has the ability to fly and the Originium Arts to create objects out of thin air, those remote-controlled bombs are well hidden and will explode immediately if anyone gets close.
An explosion will trigger a chain reaction. The more explosions occur, the sooner the volcano will erupt.
And with so many remote-controlled bombs, it's impossible for him to find them all... right?
Croning's face darkened, and for the first time, he began to have a slight doubt about whether the plan could succeed.
The main problem is that Doctor Zhong, who appeared out of nowhere, has abilities that are simply too overpowered. If he can fly, create things, locate bombs, and defuse them remotely...