NOVEL NEXT Ch. 33
Chapter 33: What is... an Execution File?
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"According to the schedule previously arranged by Her Holiness the Saintess," the receptionist checked the records on the computer, and spoke respectfully to Lyle,
"The purpose of your trip this time is mainly to visit the archives, correct?"
Lyle nodded and said, "That's right, we're here to see the archives this time."
His main purpose for coming here was to fulfill the old man's last wish from deep within the corrupted zone that day.
Therefore, if he wanted to uncover the truth behind the outbreak in the corrupted zone and the transformation of the Adventurer Association into the Mecha Engineer Association, he would have to work hard to seek it out himself in the archives.
"Very well, Your Highness the Hero, this way please," the receptionist said, then led the two towards the archives.
"Creak—"
The aging, rusted door let out a creak as it opened.
However, surprisingly, not much dust fell, as if someone had just visited.
Upon entering the room, the receptionist bowed and withdrew, handing over a crystal and saying that they could call for her at any time.
Jiang Cheng nodded and accepted the crystal.
This receptionist was quite perceptive—she didn't need to be told to stop being a nuisance and knew to give them privacy for their plans.
A sensible person like this, who left private space for her plans without needing to be told, made it impossible for Jiang Cheng to even feel the urge to kill.
On the other side, Lyle had already begun seriously searching the archives for various records.
The archive room was large, and its records were overwhelmingly complex.
Looking through the materials, Lyle's vision began to blur. After a long while, he finally managed to locate two rows of historical records concerning Adventurer City, following some guidance.
Lyle then began seriously searching through the books one by one.
Jiang Cheng watched with interest from nearby. Even though they had already been filtered, there were still a full two rows of books.
If Lyle were to search through all of them by himself, who knew how long it would take to find what he wanted.
So, Jiang Cheng chuckled softly and walked over to Lyle.
A book on the shelf quietly shifted positions, moving to a spot where Lyle would find it after some searching.
Time passed slowly like this, until finally, after an hour, Lyle came across the book that Jiang Cheng had prepared for him.
Lyle paused, his eyes lighting up, and began quickly flipping through this book.
After some time, Lyle finished the entire book and fell into a daze. He turned to look at Jiang Cheng and said,
"Jiang Cheng, it says here..."
"Says what?"
Jiang Cheng raised her eyebrows, asking knowingly.
"It says that back when Adventurer City was first established, the Mecha Engineer Association already existed, and its name had never changed."
"So what?"
Jiang Cheng feigned ignorance with a smile.
"But that old man said the city was once controlled by the Adventurer Association long ago. He wasn't lying."
"Mhm~"
Jiang Cheng nodded, still pretending to be oblivious. "So, what do you think is going on~?"
"You—"
Lyle furrowed his brows and sighed. "Stop pretending, Jiang Cheng."
"I know you're the one who put this book up front. You definitely know the truth."
"Ah, you noticed?"
Jiang Cheng said, somewhat surprised.
"These books are in order—you'd have to be an idiot not to realize that book 83 shouldn't come right after book 17,"
Lyle said, speechless. It wasn't that he lacked intelligence, just information. Jiang Cheng's way of doing things made it seem like she took him for a fool.
"So that's how you noticed, huh? Fine, fine,"
Jiang Cheng shrugged.
"There's a protrusion behind the bookshelf in the corner. Hook your fingernail on it and pull it out—you'll see a hidden door."
Jiang Cheng spoke casually, "There's another archive room behind it, filled with many secrets that haven't been destroyed."
"Then why didn't they destroy them?"
Lyle frowned and asked.
"Because they can't. Knowledge the gods want to preserve isn't so easily wiped out,"
Jiang Cheng rolled her eyes.
Lyle was a bit confused, but still dashed toward the hidden door.
He felt himself drawing closer and closer to the truth. The prophecy had stated that if he completed his trials perfectly, he could find clues to his teacher and the others!
At this thought, Lyle's heart pounded with uncontrollable excitement.
"Wait,"
Just as Lyle arrived at the spot and was about to open the hidden door, Jiang Cheng sighed and caught him.
"What is it?"
Lyle turned, frowning. He didn't want to be interrupted when he was just about to succeed.
"Are you an idiot?"
Jiang Cheng glanced at Lyle indifferently. "How could the Mecha Engineer Association not have installed alarms on a hidden door like this?"
"Ah—"
Lyle was momentarily stunned. He clearly hadn't thought of this.
"If the special room card made by the association isn't detected, the moment you open that door the alarm will go off."
Jiang Cheng shrugged. "So unless you want to fall out openly with the Mecha Engineer Association, better think of another way."
That was exactly how Feran had been exposed when he last came here.
"Don't tell me we have to steal a room card too?"
Lyle said helplessly. "What a hassle."
"Of course not, ha,"
Jiang Cheng chuckled. She did have a way. When Feran came last time, she'd wanted to stir up trouble, besides being too lazy to spend much effort on him.
"I can just hack into the alarm system," she shrugged. Jiang Cheng inserted her finger into a slot in the wall.
A current flashed, and a burnt smell emanated from Jiang Cheng's fingertip.
Jiang Cheng frowned, but otherwise did not react. It was only the cost of using divinity.
After a while, Jiang Cheng nodded. "Done."
Obediently, Lyle opened the hidden door, yanking at the switch; the door slowly swung open.
Sure enough, this time, the alarm did not go off.
He quickly walked into the archive room and began searching through the files, soon finding the historical records.
"Just as I thought! The history out there is a lie. Adventurer City was originally controlled by the Adventurer Association!"
Looking at the records, Lyle said with a frown, "The Adventurer Association was wiped out during an expansion of the corrupted zone."
"What actually happened during that corrupted zone outbreak? Even the city's governors had to be replaced."
Frowning, Lyle suddenly recalled the words of that corrupted monster old man.
There was only ever one priesthood of the God of Adventurers...
Could it be? Was the God of Adventurers currently worshipped in the city no longer the original God of Adventurers?
Lyle was startled by his own guess. Just then, he spotted an open file on a distant desk.
Could there be a clue there?
Lyle was struck by a sudden curiosity and strode quickly over.
Wait—that photo on the file looks so familiar—
Lyle rushed forward and picked up the file.
It was Teacher! He would never mistake her! After so many nights dreaming, he would never forget what Teacher looked like!
Could it be that there was a clue about Teacher here? So the prophet wasn't lying after all!
However, when Lyle saw the first line of text on that file, he froze.
What did it mean... execution file?
"Plop," the file dropped to the ground. The secret room fell into utter silence.