NOVEL NEXT Ch. 92
Chapter 92: Three Tasks
【Miss Ai, could I receive the spell specially approved by the Disaster Management Bureau in advance?】
That night, Han Su carefully pondered over the capture plan framework provided by the Doctor, then asked Miss Ai.
【Detected relevant permissions, sending now】
Miss Ai's reply was as swift as ever. Han Su saw the spell: 【『By My Command, Appear in the Light』】
A Zero Sequence spell?
So the principle was this simple, similar to the idea suggested by Monster Investigator back then.
By using this spell to forcibly activate contamination, it disrupted those hidden grotesque trajectories and led them to a designated target location.
Only, this spell originally had two uses. One was to chant it in a suspected contaminated area, forcibly activating the contamination and drawing it toward oneself. The other involved visualizing the grotesque in one's mind and reciting the spell to lure it into reality.
【What about the interruption procedure?】
【『What I Think Becomes the Boundary』】
【……】
Han Su continued asking one by one, and gradually came to understand in his heart. The Zero Sequence encrypted spells might be limited in power, but they were indeed the most widely used type in the Disaster Management Bureau's operations.
Both the luring and interruption procedures could be completed using spells from the Zero Sequence.
【Then, how do I obtain the special weapon that can eliminate this Ghost Freight Truck?】
【This must be issued immediately after Mr. Butcher submits the Ghost Freight Truck capture task. Furthermore, within twenty-four hours after issuance, regardless of whether it is damaged or not, it must be returned to the Disaster Management Bureau. In other words, once Mr. Butcher receives the special weapon, he must complete the task within twenty-four hours.】
Miss Ai replied: 【However, it has been detected that Mr. Butcher has the permission to access information about the special weapon in advance. Please check it!】
Along with the transmission of the information, Han Su saw what the Doctor had previously mentioned — the Nail of the Dead Sea.
Rather than a nail, this item resembled a spear with a complex structure.
Composed and assembled from various different metal components, it had a bizarre appearance and a distinct sense of technological sophistication.
Its method of use was exceptionally simple: once activated, it only needed to be driven into the core position of the Ghost Freight Truck to destroy the grotesque's anchor in reality and eliminate it.
Just like the low-sensitivity fiber material he currently wore on his hand, this so-called Nail of the Dead Sea was also a unique special item of the Disaster Management Bureau.
"Seems pretty simple after all..."
Han Su was studying it intently when his phone suddenly beeped. It was Miss Ai sending a new message: 【D+ Level Commission: Please proceed to the Central City Library between 8:00 PM and 11:00 PM to investigate and resolve the infiltration incident of the Death Followers】
Han Su felt a bit incredulous and replied: 【I’m about to take on the Ghost Freight Truck, and I still have to accept other commissions?】
Miss Ai replied: 【Respected Mr. Butcher, after completing the Crystal Plague incident with outstanding performance, has automatically received a seven-day rest and adjustment leave. That leave has now ended. Accepting daily commissions is very reasonable and logical.】
【Given that Mr. Butcher is currently in a special status between Execution Member and Investigator, the three issued commissions have also been selected through a special procedure!】
【Haste makes waste. Perhaps among these three commissions, Mr. Butcher will gain better ideas and inspiration!】
【Good luck!】
【……】
Han Su looked at Miss Ai’s reply and just found it odd: if it's a machine, can it please not use sentence-ending particles?
Moreover, he always had an inexplicable feeling that there was something off about her words, as if hinting at something. This made him hold back from refusing and instead take a closer look at the first task she sent. He was slightly surprised:
Central City Library — wasn’t that the place he used to frequently visit for research?
He was extremely familiar with that place, yet there was contamination?
And Death Followers?
After a moment of contemplation, he didn’t dwell on it. He fully charged the Electric Baton, hailed a ride, and headed to the library.
Upon arrival, it was only 7 o'clock, still quite a while before the mission started. Han Su, well-acquainted with the place, sat down and took out some ancient texts from the Reconstruction Era to browse through.
Now he was very certain — that eerie ancient castle must be connected to many real-world things.
Was it because of that peeping fellow Song Chu‑shi mentioned earlier that he couldn’t find clues before?
Now that he was undergoing transformation, would his search be more fruitful?
Bit by bit, he became engrossed. Even after the task time had passed, Han Su merely looked around briefly and continued reading.
The entire library was empty. Aside from the stark white fluorescent lights, there was nothing else.
"Hello, classmate."
Just then, while he was absorbed in reading, a pleasant voice suddenly sounded in his ear: "I saw you flipping through information on the Radiation Era earlier. Are you also interested in the history of that era?"
Han Su was slightly startled and turned his head in surprise, seeing a long-haired female student holding a book in her arms.
She had a friendly face and a youthful aura, looking at him with curiosity.
A strong sense of oddness immediately surged in his heart. Han Su's hair stood on end, but his expression remained unusually calm as he slowly responded:
"Yes. What about you? Do you know a lot about it?"
"Not exactly, but I’ve read many books on that period and understand a bit of related knowledge."
The Long-Haired Classmate sat down beside Han Su, seeming a little shy, and said, "That era was really fascinating!"
"Legend says they possessed life forms and levels of civilization completely different from ours. Can you imagine? During the Radiation Era, there even emerged a mysterious mechanical civilization constructed around copper that possessed life traits!"
"……"
The unease in Han Su’s heart intensified, but he politely looked at the classmate and followed up, "Copper with life traits? What principle is that based on?"
Seeing his curiosity, the Long-Haired Classmate seemed delighted and became more enthusiastic, explaining seriously: "That’s a high-level substance. One needs incredibly profound and esoteric knowledge to comprehend its existence."
"Once, the seekers of knowledge, machines, chaos, sea beasts, giants, and this most mysterious copper civilization all thrived in various eras, saving humanity and guiding the way. Unfortunately, they were betrayed by the Emperor and the Twelve Knights and sealed within the dust of history."
"But many believe that these abandoned gods will return to enact vengeance upon all of human civilization!"
"……"
"Vengeance?"
Han Su seemed to be hearing such claims for the first time and widened his eyes slightly.
"That’s right!"
The classmate seriously said, "Because during the Radiation Era, the gods saved humanity, which was on the verge of extinction. With fragile flesh, humans couldn’t possibly survive the intense shocks and mutant beasts of that time."
"The gods protected humanity, allowing the continuation of the human race. So, in some texts and religions, the Radiation Era is also called the 'Era of the Gods.'"
"But humans betrayed the gods and sealed them away."
"They issued religious bans to make humans completely forget the gods' existence, to obliterate them from history. This is considered the most shameful betrayal."
"Now, they’ve begun excavating the gods’ relics, trying to inherit the legacy of the Era of the Gods, but still refuse to acknowledge the gods. Even research on that history is layered with restrictions and can only be accessed with special permission."
"The purpose is to inherit the legacy while rejecting the source of all this mysterious power from reality."
"This shameless act has provoked the wrath of the gods."
"They have already decided to destroy humanity and cultivate a new species to rule the earth."
Han Su listened without revealing any emotion, slowly asking, "Weren’t the gods sealed? How will they retaliate against humanity?"
"Hehe, gods are immortal."
The Long-Haired Classmate seemed to find Han Su's question amusing. She shook her head and laughed, saying, "The gods have endless time, while human seals cannot last forever."
"Everyone knows that when the tides arrive, the gods will surely break the seals. Then, the destruction of humanity will descend once more."
"At that time, everyone will die, paying the price for their sins — unless..."
Han Su’s brows flickered: "Unless what?"
The Long-Haired Classmate was silent for a moment, then said, "Unless one devoutly submits to the gods in advance and willingly becomes a lamb of the gods to atone for one’s ancestors."
"Only then, when the gods' wrath descends, can one be spared."
As she narrated history, the Long-Haired Classmate appeared pure and sweet. But when she spoke of the gods, she became somewhat agitated. Her eyes seemed to shimmer with a strange light, and her voice carried a certain madness:
"Moreover, submitting to the gods brings countless unimaginable benefits. The gods are surreal, omnipotent. They possess the lost ability to create mechanical constructs, the genetic codes of biological evolution, the power of spiritual ascension — they can even alter reality!"
"They can help us fulfill all our strongest desires. They can even help us..."
At this point, her expression was nearly fanatical: "Escape birth, aging, sickness, and death. Escape disasters and hardships. Ascend to a higher form of life..."
"Like you?"
Han Su, already deeply engrossed, nodded vigorously while pulling up relevant information.
It was a news report sent by Miss Ai:
【A university student, obsessed with researching Pre‑Era history, hanged herself in the library!】
This report contained just a photo marked as 'cleared', indicating it had once been published but had long vanished from the public world.
Zooming in on the image, one could see the student hanging from the ceiling. Around her feet and on the surrounding walls were mysterious, incomprehensible symbols, exuding a sense of madness and eeriness.
She had long hair draped over her shoulders, her face pale purple, eyes wide open, and tongue protruding, as if glaring at the world with mockery and hatred.