A Capriani Disciple / I Can't Teach You-Goodbye!

The Sarkaz mercenaries looked anxiously at the outline of the Core City.

They muttered to themselves, "Who's worried about these newbies?"

As they spoke, their hands moved swiftly, nocking crossbow bolts one after another.

This is the downside of working with seasoned veterans...

The crucial information simply cannot be hidden.

Lungmen.

"Miss Earthspirit, is this what you call 'further obtaining information on Catastrophe '?"

Ch'en opened a piece of intelligence and threw it in front of Earthspirit.

The attached photo was taken at dusk.

"How did you guys end up with the Sarkaz!?"

Earthspirit was a million times unwilling to be forced to work overtime.

But now is not the time for her to be willing or unwilling: Oute only gave her a plan, but now he wants her to perform it herself!

"After the failed raid on Lungmen, the leader of the Sarkaz mercenaries intended to pocket the Reunion Movement's commission, resupply locally, and then leave," Earthspirit explained. "However, considering the potential challenges of venturing deeper into the wilderness, we traded a batch of supplies for their temporary service."

This string of lies is probably why Oute didn't go himself...

"I'm afraid this little bit you're giving them isn't enough for them to risk their lives fighting against the leader of the Reunion Movement, is it?"

"Our leaders have some old connections in Kazdel," Earthspirit said sincerely. "After giving us a way out, they are willing to draw our attention for a while and buy time for our main ship."

This statement is so true that it could even be said by Doctor himself, who suffers from obsessive-compulsive disorder related to cleanliness.

"How long until we can set sail again?" Ch'en's dragon eyes were half-closed.

Due to a lack of further intelligence, Rhodes Island's occupation of Number Fourteen Facility and its construction site now appears to be viewed by Lungmen as a temporary stopover for repairs.

"Our primary mission is to gather intelligence on that Catastrophe," Earthspirit said, downplaying the seriousness of the situation. "Current data indicates that various indicators in the area remain active, and there's a possibility that it could evolve into a new Catastrophe at any time."

Chapter 183 The Disciples of Caprinae

"Ahem." Wei Yenwu's voice came from behind the screen. "I'm afraid Rhodes Island has something else in mind besides intelligence on Catastrophe, doesn't it?"

Earthspirit was startled. "What, you're ruling from behind the scenes? Have you got your role wrong?"

Oute wasn't too surprised.

This was both another crash course for Ch'en and Wei Yenwu's attempt to bypass his three supervisors and carry out his delusional plan.

With extraordinary inspiration, the Earthspirit sensed the surge of energy on the other side of the spiritual connection.

She messaged Oute before he could finish. "Doc Otter, you take over!"

"..." This was what truly surprised Oute. He paused for a moment before sending a message: "Thank you for your hard work. You can take a break for now. I'll settle your overtime pay with you personally when I get back."

The Earthspirit turned its head slightly, as if concealing something, and its lips parted slightly. "Information on Catastrophe is our top priority."

Ch'en raised an eyebrow.

The person in charge did not answer the question, but instead changed the subject.

Furthermore, Rhodes Island established a foothold on the mobile plot separated from Chernobog before Lungmen did...

"At other times, I might be more interested," Wei Yenwu said expressionlessly as he stepped out from behind the screen. "However, the situation is urgent right now, so I'll get straight to the point."

The mature dragon's chest was bare, its scales spilling out from its magnificent robe. Its claws reached into its sleeves, obscuring the movement of its arms.

"Whatever Rhodes Island's true demands are in Chernobog, whatever you want to take from that city... I will support you."

Perhaps Ch'en would view Rhodes Island's presence at Number Fourteen Facility as a last resort, or as part of maintenance work.

But Wei Yenwu was different.

Even if Rhodes Island is really repairing its ship, he will use the "virtue" of a politician to force Rhodes Island to do things his way.

However, his desire to pressure Rhodes Island... was something that Oute himself wanted him to actively push forward.

Oute raised his head, and Caprinae's pupils gradually transformed into greedy and bewitching rectangles, as if to show Wei Yenwu and Ch'en his attraction.

Even before leaving port, it was not impossible for them to further manipulate the situation and portray Rhodes Island as a completely passive "lucky one".

But such a perfect beneficiary is all the more suspicious.

In such turmoil, those who merely went with the flow or were "forced into it" reaped astonishing profits afterward...

Oute intends to "expose" some of Rhodes Island's demands in order to alleviate Wei Yenwu's inevitable future doubts.

You're the one who messed it all up!

Lao Wei!

Caprinae, though "excited," restrained himself and said, "Good!"

"..." Wei Yenwu was also somewhat surprised by Earthspirit's straightforwardness, but he made no comment, only saying, "In exchange, I need you to lure the leader of the Reunion Movement to this place."

His claws trembled slightly as they emerged from his sleeves.

An unusual feeling stirred his muscles; Wei Yenwu's spirit yearned to make up for his regrets, while his ferocious body craved a fierce battle with Draco.

Wei Yenwu's sharp claws sliced a point on the map. That point was located on Lungmen's shipping lane, geographically very close to Lungmen, which was now almost completely at a standstill, preparing for war.

"How can we attract her? I lack the fighting ability to forcibly restrict her movements," Caprinae said.

Wei Yenwu instinctively reached into his robes, only to find nothing, and then realized that his pipe was gone.

Then he said dejectedly, "Tell her myself that I'm waiting for her here."

He said with inexplicable arrogance, "She will come."

By now, he may have guessed some of the Black Snake's methods, but it is clear that his judgment of Talulah was wrong.

Perhaps when Talulah left Lungmen, she was thinking of killing Wei Yenwu.

But now?

Caprinae looked down, as if glancing at the map.

It would be more like it was Ch'en... Killing Ch'en would at least sever Talulah's ties to this world, cutting off the few remaining bonds she has with it.

Kill you?

It would do nothing to break Talulah's will or completely take over her body—it might even make Talulah's mind go straight.

The Earthspirit gently touched her chest with her delicate hand, gesturing cryptically, and said, "There is an artifact within the Chernobog site that may be valuable to our research. Its exact location is currently unknown."

"..." He was somewhat surprised. "To cure Originium Infection?"

Wei Yenwu suppressed his excitement and deliberately controlled the urge to look at Ch'en.

Oute shook his head. "Its operating principle and effects are unknown, but it can undoubtedly provide a considerable degree of computing power—possibly more powerful than any computing device we have been able to manufacture so far."

"Rhodes Island needs sufficient computing power to continue our project."

The computing power of the washing machine chip, in the era of vacuum tubes or even mechanical computers, would certainly surpass everything. As a life support device of a great civilization, the computing power hidden in the Sarcophagus is even more immeasurable.

But Oute never said he actually intended to use the Sarcophagus as a computer.

Wei Yenwu was speechless. "Treatment of a relic like this is a classic case of buying the casket and returning the pearl."

Oute has made up his mind to retrieve the Sarcophagus.

Considering the future situation, Rhodes Island might be able to keep this from Ursus, but it would be difficult to fool Lungmen in the same way.

Another reason he mentioned the Sarcophagus in this way now is to obscure Sarcophagus true purpose. But even if we dismantle one or two coffins to utilize their computing power in the early stages of development, it would be entirely worthwhile—there's no need to dismantle my own!

It has some sentimental value.

Thinking this to himself, Oute, through the voice of the Earthspirit, said, "Buying the box and returning the pearl? Let people tomorrow despise us then; we still have work to do today."

This certainty and disdain for the future caused Wei Yenwu's gaze to freeze.

The Rhodes Island plenipotentiary representative before me spoke with a strange undercurrent, just like that of Oute.

Is it just my imagination?

"Miss Earthspirit is quick-witted." Having achieved his goal for the time being, Wei Yenwu felt much more relaxed. He even had the leisure to take the initiative and dig out more information for Ch'en: "But I wonder what your relationship is with Doctor. Oute?"

Even the Earthspirit itself was curious about how Oute would answer.

"He is my direct supervisor, and I handle some simple auxiliary tasks for him."

The secretary is a trusted confidante; since Oute is a Doctor, she is likely either a student or his successor.

No wonder she was the one left behind to represent Rhodes Island.

Wei Yenwu seemed to be deep in thought.

If we have to talk about students, Oute actually prefers Eyjafjalla —W is a bit too lively, while Earthspirit is quite useful and its role is closer to that of a secondary character.

Chapter 184 I can't teach you anymore, farewell!

Tactics are the art of using troops in battle; strategy is the art of applying combat for the purposes of war. However, if the battle is lost, everything else is meaningless.

If victory cannot be achieved through the battle itself, then discussing strategy is nothing but castles in the air.

So, Talulah is quite good at building from the attic?

Near-ground aircraft patrol the battlefield.

Under the cold sun, wisps of white vapor escaped from the soldiers' mouths and noses. Viewed from above, only the muzzles of their guns, gleaming with a cold metallic light, were faintly visible among these soldiers clad in silver.

The Ursus people lined up on either side of the wilderness.

The larger side consisted of battle-hardened veterans specially selected for the covert front, while the other side comprised militia members who had received less than a week of training and used "toys" as weapons.

On paper alone, it seems obvious which is better or worse.

The perfectly round projectiles shot at high speed from the slightly heated "pipes," forming a dense network of fire in front of the Ursus soldiers. The Deepwinter Soldiers, true to their name, fired at them with the indifference of winter itself.

"Captain! We can't get through!" The warrant officer rushed anxiously into the tent.