Black Flag Nation.
In a mountain hollow somewhere, Lu Cheng entered a cave, and two short blades were immediately held to his throat.
"I'm Lu Cheng." He raised both hands. "I'm here to see the Prophet."
A calm voice came from within the cave. "Let him come in."
The two short blades withdrew. Lu Cheng glanced at the unknown knife-wielders in the shadows and walked deeper into the cave chamber.
He saw the Prophet sitting by the cave wall, her eyes still covered with black cloth beneath her dark green short hair.
"What did you come to see me for?"
"Many elites from the Ascendant corps in the Front Line forces have withdrawn. Top fighters like Adam from Suoloma and Bai Xuewu from North Star have all returned to their countries."
Lu Cheng had been infiltrating the allied forces and gathering intelligence during this time. What concerned him most was the movements of powerful Ascendants.
"They should have been transferred to France," the Prophet said.
Lu Cheng was startled. "Prophet... you knew already?"
The Prophet neither confirmed nor denied it. After a pause, Lu Cheng said, "I think this is an opportunity. Without top Ascendants stationed there, if we suddenly strike from within, the allied forces will definitely descend into chaos."
"Strike from within?"
"Yes. For example, attacking when the allied commanders and other higher-ups are meeting. If we can eliminate them, the allied soldiers will become a scattered rabble without command."
"Lu Cheng, do you know that our goal is to spread, not to kill?"
"..."
"You think this way because you have not completed your transformation. You have not fully accepted the calling and become one of us."
Any parasite could distinguish its own kind, let alone the Prophet, their leader.
Upon hearing that, Lu Cheng finally could