Chapter 363
"Is this the legendary Rhodes Island? It looks like a pretty good place."
Seeing Feline emerge from the sound, Aya greeted him with a friendly smile. She sniffed the air and prompted:
"Can you smell it? There's a very familiar scent in the air, like the scent of Iberia. If I didn't know where I am, I would have thought I was still at the seaside."
Upon noticing the strangers entering the laboratory, Kal'tsit's face did not show excessive surprise:
"Miss, you didn't register in advance, did you? I'm sorry, I can't accommodate people who aren't on the visitor list."
Aya, as if she had ADHD, casually picked up the test tube, glanced at it, and then put it back. Hearing Kal'tsit's indication that she should leave, she jokingly said:
"Oh, don't be so formal. I just have something to do and I'm leaving. I won't be staying for long."
"So, Miss. Aya, what brings you to my lab out of the blue?"
Upon hearing this, Aya's eyes immediately lit up:
"I haven't even introduced myself yet, how do you know my code name?"
Kal'tsit stood within Mon3tr's attack range to ensure her safety at all times:
"Among the tourists visiting Sistag these past few days, there shouldn't be anyone who doesn't know the Superman band Sunset Fades. Although I haven't been there in person, I've still heard your names. Lead singer Aya, bassist Alty, drummer Dan, and keyboardist Frost. But I need to remind you that Rhodes Island isn't a place you can just walk into anywhere."
As if to echo Kal'tsit's words, Mon3tr bared his Fangs at Aya.
"Hey, don't be so nervous. Can't you just think of it as a friend showing up uninvited?"
Kal'tsit had no connection with her, but she still politely pointed to the chair next to her, indicating that she should sit down.
Aya treated the lab like her own home, showing no politeness whatsoever. She picked up a small item from the table, examined it for a moment, and then put it back.
"Don't worry, I killed my way here. In fact, I didn't even run into them. Maybe I was just lucky."
Kal'tsit's eyelids twitched slightly, but nothing seemed amiss on the surface, and she continued to communicate politely.
"Don't use modesty to embellish your abilities. The fact that you're here shows you have some skills. For important guests, we can make exceptions as needed. I just didn't expect that the lead singer of the 'Fleeting Sunset' would be interested in my lab. If you're looking to catch up with Sargol's friends, you've probably come to the wrong place."
"Friend? No, no, no, I'm not friends with her. Let me put it this way, I'm looking for a Silver-haired Woman who wears a shark hat and carries a greatsword. Besides that, I've come here specifically to see you."
Kal'tsit didn't believe their nonsense and crossed her arms in a defiant gesture.
"Miss Aya, I don't know you, nor am I an exhibit at the zoo. I don't need you to come and see me."
"Oh, don't be so formal. Frost talked to me about you before. Her friend is my friend, right?"
Kal'tsit's wariness hadn't faded; she still didn't know what the other party wanted to do here.
"Miss. Aya, if you are unwilling to reveal why you came here, I will have no choice but to ask you to leave."
Seeing Mon3tr roar in response, Aya released a trace of her Great Beast aura.
This made Mon3tr bare its teeth and reveal its ferocious nature.
"Mon3tr, stop now."
Kal'tsit's shout made it abandon its attack stance, but it still emitted a low growl that was difficult to decipher.
Kal'tsit knew Frost, who was only visible at sunset, and knew that all four of them were Great Beast from the sea. One must be extremely cautious when dealing with such Long-lived Race.
"So, Miss Aya, you still haven't told me what you want with that woman from Sargol?"
"I want to know why she has the appearance of Sargol Person, but also the aura of Sea Creatures within her?"
Kal'tsit knew from the beginning that the other party was after Skadi. But she habitually played the role of a riddle-maker to prevent important information from being leaked.
The most common tactic is to avoid giving a direct answer and instead change the subject.
"Miss. Aya, I believe you know just as much of the truth as I do."
This statement seems like an answer, but it actually doesn't.
Seeing that Kal'tsit was changing the subject, Aya forcefully steered the conversation back on track:
"We have different information. Although we come from the sea, we spend most of our time walking on this land. You should know that Sargol's tranquility is just an illusion."
"Really."
Kal'tsit merely confirmed Aya's statement without providing further information:
"Many people know nothing about the ocean."
This left Aya feeling somewhat exhausted, like punching a cotton ball, and she brought the topic back to the present:
"So, you still don't want to tell us the truth? That's right, you're not someone who's bound by emotions or tempted by self-interest. That's why Priestess chose you to assist the Doctor, Ama-10."
Upon hearing her reveal her codename and the woman's name, Kal'tsit was unusually momentarily lost in thought:
"I can't tell you what you want to know."
"Come on, what's wrong with talking about this? I just want to know what these Sargol Person went through to become like this."
Ama-10, I'd heard from Frost that communicating with you was difficult, but I didn't expect it to be this difficult.
If you are a cunning hunter who never releases your prey until you see it, then I can offer you some valuable information in exchange.
"Oh?"
Kal'tsit leaned forward, but only uttered an "oh" and then fell silent.
She will decide whether to reveal the secrets about the Abyssal Hunters based on the value of the information Aya provides.
"We have been searching for our compatriots across this land for over a hundred years. And today, we have found our compatriots on land in Sistag."
Compatriots?
Kal'tsit narrowed her eyes and began to ponder.
Only Great Beast can be considered their kin. But most of the Great Beast living on this land are either sealed away or dormant.
Sistag is a city built in the last fifty years, how could there be Great Beast living here?
Unless...
Kal'tsit was somewhat unsure and feigned ignorance:
"Is the compatriot you're referring to a man who is about 1.75 meters tall?"
Aya had never met Shi Lei and didn't know his height. Knowing that a direct answer would risk ruining the conversation again, she vaguely asked in return:
"What? You know him?"
Kal'tsit deduced that the compatriot the other party mentioned was likely Zhongli. She no longer used the riddle-like communication style in this matter, but instead issued a direct warning:
"Miss Aya, if I were you, I would stay away from that man. He is from Alien Civilization in another galaxy, not born on this land. The closer you get to him, the deeper you will fall."
"Ah?"
Kal'tsit's words made Aya laugh. Her previously playful expression instantly turned incredibly serious.
"Ama-10, or rather, Doctor Kal'tsit. I'd like to ask you, aren't you a product of Alien Civilization?"
You left behind Originium and the Sea Creatures on this land, these huge hidden dangers, have we said anything?
In at least the nearly one thousand years of our lives, we have never heard of a third civilization doing these things.
You used technology superior to Terra's to try and change this world. But what happened? Your arrogance ruined everything.
Regardless of whether that man is from Alien Civilization or a local deity, as long as he stands on our side regarding the issue of the Sea Creatures, he is an ally worth winning over.
Kal'tsit was rebuked, but dared not retaliate.
These major disasters that have kept the people of Terra in constant misery are indeed a consequence of their civilization.
If we contradict Aya at this point and continue to push her further away from Zhongli, it could very well backfire.
By then, Rhodes Island would have made more than one enemy. It would have to be agents of Alien Civilization, plus four native Great Beast with a thousand years of cultivation. This would undoubtedly be a devastating blow to Rhodes Island.
Seeing that Kal'tsit remained silent, Aya said:
"I escaped the seabed, but I have never forgotten where I came from. As a second-generation deity, I cannot defeat the first-generation deity. Therefore, we will try to unite all forces that can be united."
"Ama-10, if there are irreconcilable conflicts between you, we will discuss and decide who to cooperate with. You understand what I mean?"
The implication is quite clear.
If they had to choose between the two, Rhodes Island would most likely be the one that the four of them would abandon.
Kal'tsit hadn't expected that a few words of conversation would cause such a significant change in the situation, and she had to steer the conversation back on track:
"Let's talk about what those special Sargol Person went through first."
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In order to win over the second-generation Sea God, represented by Aya, Kal'tsit introduced the origin of the Abyssal Hunters.
These Sargol Person, who have human-like appearances, are not actually Sargol Person in the strict sense.
They were implanted with Sea Creatures's genes using human modification technology, thus becoming Sea Creature Blood.
This would grant them physical abilities several times greater than ordinary people, including superhuman strength, incredible speed and agility, and near-invulnerability. In addition, they would possess a terrifying regenerative ability that could heal even fatal wounds.
The downside is that the Sea Creature Blood will constantly influence their will. Especially when they are mentally unstable, they will suffer a backlash from the blood of Sea Creatures.
The success rate of creating warriors who combine human and Sea Creatures is extremely low. Basically, out of several thousand people, only one or two are compatible with Sea Creatures blood.
Upon learning of Kal'tsit's contributions to Iberia, Aya's attitude towards her changed slightly.
For example, in early April of this year, Kal'tsit led the This Ship to Gran Falo. Together with Saint Carmen of the Inquisition, she cleared away the local Nethersea Brand and the members of the Deep Sea Church hidden in the city.
He also persuaded Saint Carmen to temporarily set aside her prejudices against the Sargol Person before the full- Sea Creatures erupted.
In the past, when Iberia was not in dire straits, Saint Carmen might not have listened. But now, Iberia has no other choice.
Aya also received a peculiarly shaped key from Kal'tsit. It was a relic left by Breoghan, the royal shipbuilder of Iberia, and was said to be able to open a room deep in the ocean.
The two discussed their future plans and decided to explore the deep sea two years later, in 1099.
July 31, 10:05 pm
The moonlight is dim, and the waves crash against the shore.
Shi Lei stood on the beach and chatted with Alty for a long time. Most of the time, he was a listener, letting the busty, mature woman do all the talking.
Besides the matter of Sea Creatures, she also talked about Iberia and the 'The Great Silence' that occurred in 1038.
Before the disaster, Iberia was arguably the most powerful maritime nation on the planet. Tens of thousands of ships crisscrossed its ports, and its coastline was ablaze with lights. Rows of lighthouses guided the ships, and its vast fleet, unmatched by any other, roamed the seas.
But that year, all the lighthouses in Iberia simultaneously malfunctioned for unknown reasons. They couldn't find the cause of the problem, nor could they repair it. As a result, Iberia was plunged into endless darkness when night fell.
The surging tide separated the lighthouse from the land. An eerie silence descended upon Iberia, and all overseas fleets lost contact. All sound was drowned out, from the crashing waves to the city's clock towers. Everything gradually faded away. This catastrophe, where the existence of sound is completely imperceptible, is called the Great Silence.
With the arrival of the disaster, all of Iberia ceased its development and exploration of the ocean. This led to a technological gap, and much maritime technology was rendered obsolete.
From then on, the once-prosperous Iberia declined and never regained its former glory.
The root of all this lies in the Sea Creatures, a branch of the evolutionary race. They emit indescribable sounds that drown out the sounds that should be produced in the real world, thus achieving a 'quiet' effect.
It's conceivable that if Sea Creatures were allowed to continue evolving, who knows what kind of monsters would emerge.
Shi Lei felt that these things were quite credible.
Not to mention that Alty's strength in the human realm has already reached a level above the Immortal Realm. Just the fact that she can fluently explain the ins and outs of the whole incident makes it seem like a story made up out of thin air.
However, Shi Lei currently has no plans to go to Iberia. He will only go to investigate if he is forced to intervene, unless the Hai Sea Creatures launches a full-scale attack on the mainland and coastal countries begin to plead for help.
The reason for doing this is very simple.
Shi Lei felt that with his current skill level, he was not absolutely certain of defeating Sea Creature Leader.
According to Alty's description, the four of them escaped from the Sea God Temple nearly a thousand years ago.
At that time, the first Sea God, who had fallen into a deep sleep, was infected and assimilated by the Sea Creatures. When Shi Lei asked about the number of Sea God, she surprisingly answered that there were as many as twelve.
In other words, after a thousand years of continuous evolution, these Sea God who have been infected and assimilated by the Sea Creatures must at least be at the lower-middle level of the Archon Realm.
It's true that Shi Lei is now at the Archon Realm, but he can't withstand being ganged up on by more than ten Archon Realm.
Since advancing to the Archon Realm, his daily fixed Roleplay Value have decreased from 4 to 2. He is expected to advance to the Seven Archons Realm around the beginning of next year.
However, even if he were to advance to the peak of the Rex Lapis, the Seven Archons Realm, Shi Lei would not be absolutely certain of success.