137. The Riddler Is Defeated / 138. Who Are You Calling a Newborn?

"I am Bai Ye, an ordinary Catastrophe Messenger," Bai Ye introduced himself.

"So you are Bai Ye." Ulpian suddenly realized.

Bai Ye was somewhat surprised:

"You know me?"

"Unlike Gladiia, I don't mind contact with land dwellers when I'm on land. I've heard your name many times; your legend is everywhere on this land." Ulpian then said slowly, "An ordinary Catastrophe Messenger ... how modest."

"Since you survived, why didn't you rejoin the team?" Gladiia still didn't trust this former colleague who had suddenly appeared. "Besides, you're still hanging out with those cultists."

"Because I must find out the truth." Ulpian's gaze remained fixed on Skadi. "After leaving that battlefield, I tried to go deeper. I tried to penetrate further into the Seaborn Nest..."

"But my injuries were too severe. All I could hear were the unborn Seaborn, whispering the same name in their various embryonic forms."

"Ishar-mla -mla, is that right?" Bai Ye answered directly, "They are calling that name."

This time, it was Ulpian's turn to be somewhat surprised. He noticed that the Abyssal Hunter's expressions didn't change much when Bai Ye mentioned the name.

"You're not surprised," Ulpian said.

"Yes, we also know that those Seaborn are calling for Skadi. However, all of that is in the past. The Skadi of today is not actually the Firstborn the Swarm is looking for."

"The Swarm, the Firstborn ... you know just as much as I do." Ulpian was even more surprised. He had learned this information through cultists and by searching for the archives left behind by the Aegir had escaped to land.

Gladiia answered calmly:

"So you should get back to the team sooner. You're not the only one looking for clues. You should also listen to our plan."

Although Gladiia's tone was calm, Bai Ye had a feeling that she was secretly pleased. Seeing her old nemesis get the short end of the stick was indeed an interesting thing.

Ulpian was indeed stunned. He realized that the information he possessed seemed outdated, and the hunters before him, even the simple-minded Skadi, seemed to know just as much as he did. So many years of wandering; it was indeed better to rejoin the pack sooner.

"It's alright. Having an extra Abyssal Hunter at the last minute is a good thing. We needed more help anyway," Bai Ye said with a smile. "And I'm sure he hasn't been corrupted; he's a qualified hunter."

Indeed, no one understands the deep sea better than Bai Ye.

"We still have some time. We can consolidate our intelligence. You've just rejoined the team, so it's also good time for you to familiarize yourself with our current situation." Bai Ye glanced at the system panel; the so-called "game" was still updating.

The judges in the Inquisition were also unprepared.

Bai Ye and his group still had some time to familiarize the fourth Abyssal Hunter with the situation.

"Thank you very much." Ulpian genuinely had no objection to Bai Ye's kindness. And even with the addition of an Abyssal Hunter captain, Bai Ye maintained control of the situation without anyone noticing. With Gladiia's covert support, he still held the power.

Bai Ye didn't notice this. He just wanted to finish the work he was supposed to do. Bai Ye tapped his head lightly with his finger, glanced at the judges who were far away from them, and then pulled up his right sleeve and took off the glove he was always wearing.

Bai Ye showed his right arm to the Abyssal Hunter.

This is a right arm that is no different from that of an ordinary human, and it doesn't even look particularly strong. It is also somewhat pale. It seems difficult for such an arm to exert any amazing power.

However, Ulpian's eyes widened. The Abyssal Hunter sensed an indescribable aura emanating from Bai Ye.

Amaya, the bishop of the Abyssal Church who was being trampled under Laurentina's feet, was also shocked, and her body began to tremble for the first time.

"You need not worry about your hunter, Ulpian. Skadi is safe. Although on that hunt, She, Ishar-mla, chose Skadi as her target. However, for some reason, She eventually left Skadi."

"Well, in that case, Ishar-mla chose me. Now, she is sealed and imprisoned within my body."

As he spoke, Bai Ye clenched his right fist tightly. With a burst of strength, silver chains slowly emerged from his arm, binding it tightly. Even after cooperating with Ishar-mla, Bai Ye still had Luna reinforce the seal once more. He could tolerate having something imprisoned within his body, but he would never trust her.

Exploitation and collusion are different; there are clear boundaries and distinctions between the two.

"This is impossible..." Ulpian muttered to himself, looking at Bai Ye's arm.

However, reality told him that Bai Ye was not lying. The blood in his body was heating up and circulating faster because of Bai Ye's influence, as if it were about to boil. He could feel that familiar aura. He had once lay on the seabed with Ishar-mla's remains, hiding in her body and relying on her remaining flesh and blood.

He was all too familiar with that aura.

The existence of this thing can easily affect the bloodline of Abyssal Hunter.

Among those present, besides the three Abyssal Hunter who were already familiar with the matter, there was one other person who was deeply shocked.

"Hey, you cultists." Bai Ye kicked Amaya beside him. "Now you know who I am. I am the so-called Lord of all things that you praise, I am the ruler of the deep ocean, I am the spawner of the Swarm, I am your god. Now that you have seen me, why don't you worship me?"

"Pfft—" Laurentina couldn't help but burst out laughing.

Even Gladiia found it difficult.

Seeing such Bai Ye was a rare and novel experience for them.

"Captain, he's not usually like this..." Skadi explained to Ulpian on behalf of Bai Ye.

However, Ulpian was clearly unaware of what was happening before him.

Chapter 137 The Riddler's Defeat

(I'm going to try out that Dust White Forbidden Zone thing.)

"Impossible... This is absolutely impossible..."

Amaya was pinned to the ground, staring blankly at Bai Ye.

"You are just a human being, a mere human being. What makes you think you deserve the Lord's favor?"

"Why are you unwilling to accept your fate? The divisions between nations and races are tearing this land apart. Why are you unwilling to enter the embrace that can embrace everything?"

"And you, shamelessly stealing God's power and using it against His messengers, I curse you—"

Before Amaya could finish speaking, Bai Ye shook his head and gently clenched his fist, forcing Amaya to shut up.

"I see. Your essence is no different from Quintus's; you've both merged yourself with Seaborn, which is why I was able to suppress you." Bai Ye sighed, looking at Amaya who could only utter meaningless cries. "Actually, I really wanted to know if Laurentina had a cure. But clearly, I was overthinking it..."

"Judging from your current state, you definitely won't talk about it."

After a pause, Bai Ye knelt down in front of Amaya and gently placed his right hand on the head of the deep-sea bishop:

"So, I can only use some other methods. Fortunately, your body has also been modified, and it contains Seaborn's part, otherwise I would not be able to control it directly."

Amaya was stunned; she seemed to understand what Bai Ye was about to do.

Because she has already merged with Seaborn, she can be considered to have joined the Swarm, and Bai Ye, as a half-baked the Firstborn, is able to read her memories.

The barriers of thought are useless in the face of the Bai Ye.

'Ishar-mla, please.'

Bai Ye silently recited in his heart.

Although the seal on Ishar-mla was strengthened, this did not prevent Bai Ye from using this power from the Firstborn.

Ishar-mla naturally had no objections. However, she needed to temporarily modify Bai Ye's body slightly.

Bai Ye agreed and placed his finger on Amaya's head. Then, a needle-like thorn grew from his fingertip and pierced through the deep-sea bishop's skull.

In that instant, a torrent of memories and emotions surged toward Bai Ye. However, under Bai Ye's power of Thought Acceleration, this terrifying wave was easily dismantled. Bai Ye began to peruse Amaya's memories.

Scenes flashed before his eyes:

Laurentina collapsed onto the snow-white sand...

The Abyssal Church is attempting to uncover the secrets behind the Abyssal Hunter' immense power...

The girl's body was injected with a high concentration of refined liquefied Originium, enough to infect an entire small town...

The cultists, who could only learn about the deep sea through the knowledge left behind by the islanders, conducted numerous experiments on Laurentina.

"..."

Bai Ye moved his hand away, the bone spur retracting into his fingers. Opening his eyes, Bai Ye slowly sat up, then exhaled sharply.

"How is it?" Gladiia asked from the side.

Bai Ye shook his head:

"There's no way around it, at least those people don't know that. They're only using methods from land. Even Kal'tsit couldn't solve it, let alone these people. They've just found a nice toy and are trying to break it. As for fixing it? That's not something they'd even consider!"

As he spoke, Bai Ye clenched his fist.

He suddenly turned his head and looked at Amaya with a smile:

"I have seen with my own eyes what you did to Laurentina."

"I've changed my mind. Letting you die like this is too easy on you. I will hand you over to the Inquisition. Cultists should be dealt with by religious madmen."

"I'll make you taste the flavors of hell, and then I'll kill you."

"Finally, you will see the end of all this with your own eyes."

Looking at the furious Bai Ye, Laurentina suddenly stopped being angry. She realized that dwelling on past hatreds was meaningless; all she needed to do was cherish the person in front of her. This was the meaning of her life from now on, and perhaps the best reward for all the suffering she had endured.

The cultist in front of them was actually just an insignificant fellow.

Bai Ye handed Amaya over to the Grand Inquisitor Dario, and as expected, he was very interested in such a bishop of the Abyssal Church.

"Do whatever you want with her, but make sure she regrets ever being born," Bai Ye said with a smile.

This was the first time Eirene had seen Bai Ye like this, and for some reason, she felt that Bai Ye was incredibly terrifying right now. Only those who knew him well knew that this was Bai Ye at his angrier.

Fortunately, Bai Ye rarely gets angry, so very few people are able to witness this side of her.

"The Inquisition will treat her well. Colluding with scum in the trenches, blaspheming our country, young man, Iberia's hatred for these cultists is no less than yours. They have stolen our future from us," Dario said, looking at Amaya.

"She is united with Seaborn, and also has the ability to release the erosion of the Nethersea Brand. She can also communicate with the Terrorfish Seaborn. Don't be careless," Bai Ye kindly reminded.

He had no interest in the religious fanatics of the Inquisition; these guys were even hostile towards him and the Abyssal Hunter. However, Bai Ye was quite happy to see these guys help him deal with the Deepsea Bishop. After all, the man was no longer of any use.

"The Inquisition will try her according to the law, after exhausting her value." Dario then looked at Bai Ye and said, "Regardless of your motives, we thank you. This will be the first time we have captured a high-ranking member of the Abyssal Church, and I will personally escort her to the Sancti Labyrinth."

Turning around, Bai Ye returned to the side of the Abyssal Hunter.

He shook his head and said:

"There's no good way but to go to the deep sea to find the answer. At the very least, we need to find some valuable information."

"Are you planning to return to the deep sea?" Ulpian, who had been silent for a long time digesting the information provided by Bai Ye, suddenly asked. "Not to return to Sargos?"

"That's right, we need to go to the very source and find the answer," Bai Ye replied. "We never said we were going back to Sargos. The higher-ups there have been corrupted."

"You already know this... I really can't provide any more valuable information."

Ulpian was originally considered a riddle master, but he discovered that Bai Ye and the others already knew everything.

"Yes, I know. Seaborn has never been Sargos's enemy. It was Sargos who first alerted them. And Seaborn has never launched an attack or destroyed any city. It was all a conspiracy by the Corruptors." Bai Ye nodded.

Chapter 138 Who's the Firstborn Being Cursed?

("Xiaochun, how do you use a cucumber?" "... I don't know, how would I know how to use a cucumber!" "What about an eggplant?" "I don't know!" "What about a steamed bun?" "Eh... can a steamed bun work too? How do you use a steamed bun?")

In fact, Ulpian still doesn't understand why Bai Ye is the Firstborn.

However, he did not display the same hostility as Gladiia before. Few Abyssal Hunter possess such restraint and rationality.

Bai Ye was even prepared that the hunter opposite him might immediately raise his weapon and charge at him after learning that he had the identity of the Firstborn.

However, it is clear that Ulpian is no ordinary hunter. Like Gladiia, he is the captain of the Abyssal Hunter and also the governor of Iberia.

Moreover, unlike Gladiia, he had ventured to the deeper parts of the deep sea and even attempted to enter the nests of the Seaborn. Therefore, compared to Gladiia, he had a more in-depth understanding of the Seaborn species.

He even came to the same conclusion as Bai Ye: the crisis of the Seaborn could not be resolved through combat and armies; it would only exacerbate the conflict. Humanity's enemy has never been the deep sea, but humanity itself.

The Seaborn never proactively attacked Aegir cities; they merely passively defended their territory. It was always the corrupt elements within the Aegir that provoked these creatures, ultimately causing numerous disasters.

Similarly, the "The Great Silence" that swept across the entire Iberia coast in 1038 of the Terra calendar was also the work of the Abyssal Church.

Bai Ye thought Ulpian was remarkable for having such awareness and understanding; he was not consumed by hatred and could still think rationally.

"I hope we can cooperate well. I want to go to the deepest part, to the source, to find the answer. The Firstborn sealed within me is our trump card for entering the deep sea." Bai Ye extended his hand to Ulpian.

"I never expected that land dwellers could have such insights. You've impressed me. I, you, and Breogan, we all reached almost the same conclusion at different times and through different methods." Ulpian said, looking at Gladiia. "Moreover, you've even managed to influence Gladiia. I thought she would object."

"I just came to terms with the truth." Gladiia crossed her arms. "Now that I think about it, the Abyssal Hunter Project also has many suspicious points."

"Don't doubt ourselves." Ulpian shook his head. "We are colleagues, we designed this war together. The hunt for the Firstborn was our plan, and it has nothing to do with those corruptors."