Chapter 414: Teleportation Shock |
In the evening, outside the office, Guan Tong met with Uenoshi and chatted for a while.
Guan Tong told her about the Beixing team's suspicions regarding the Suroma side and also asked about their situation.
"According to the person sent by Luruiguo, aside from Beixing, Suroma, and Xisiya, the other six small countries only sent one person each not because they didn't want to send more, but because the Human Consortium required them to send only one or simply not send anyone at all," Uenoshi said.
"Oh? Why is that?"
"Fear of spies. The person from Luruiguo said that Suroma is worried the higher-ups of several small countries have already been infiltrated by the Fire Thief Worship Cult or parasitized forms. If they send too many people, there's a risk spies might leak intelligence, leading to the failure of this operation."
"I see."
Guan Tong now understood.
Indeed, infiltration from parasitized forms and the Fire Thief Worship Cult has always been a major problem for member states of the Human Consortium.
Even an organization as tightly guarded as the Beixing Countermeasures Research Office was infiltrated by parasitized forms, let alone several small countries with more chaotic internal situations and looser management.
The reason Beixing hasn't dealt with it temporarily is, first, they don't have the capacity, and second, the border between the two countries is currently closed, so parasitized forms can't enter Beixing. The parasitized forms remaining in Sakura Prayer are limited by the country's current situation; even if they wanted to stir up trouble, there's no stage for them to perform on.
If this operation is primarily handled by the three countries, Beixing and the others, then whether the other six small countries send people or not is indeed irrelevant. Sending more might actually increase the risk of information leaks.
"These current team members are all fine, though," Guan Tong said. "I can confirm there are no parasitized forms among them."
Previously, when the entire Action Team gathered in the operations room, Guan Tong secretly tested all members using the Mind Network during friendly handshakes and did not discover any parasitized forms.
Uenoshi nodded: "The few people from the small countries all plan to follow behind you after teleporting over tomorrow. If you want me to operate alone, I can also separate from the main force."
Guan Tong thought for a moment: "No, you should stick with us. That way, we can watch each other's backs. Besides, since there's only one target location, there's not much point in splitting up... However, unless absolutely necessary, you should try to minimize using your abilities and avoid exposing them."
Uenoshi's ability to transform people into Serpent Servants carries some horror elements and is too distinctive. In Guan Tong's view, it's better not to use it if possible.
"Mhm, I understand. I'll help you keep an eye on the Suroma team."
Since Guan Tong suspects the Suroma team, Uenoshi, as a "non-key member" of this Action Team, is more convenient for secretly observing the Suroma team members.
"That works too."
Then Uenoshi asked: "Troupe Leader, are there any more clues in Suzuki's case?"
Guan Tong shook his head regretfully: "No. I've been looking for that 'Wei Huo,' but she seems to have evaporated from the human world, completely untraceable... She probably left Pinglu long ago."
Despite the Countermeasures Research Office using the official extensive surveillance network, plus the Shadows Guan Tong himself released, a dual search still failed to find any trace of that woman. It can only mean she has already left.
Although Beixing isn't like Fahe, operating with only one city left, over ninety percent of its hundreds of cities nationwide have already been abandoned.
Even before the earthquake rule, Beixing was promoting population concentration into large cities. After the earthquake rule, this trend accelerated significantly. Now, aside from a few major cities, other small cities in Beixing have indeed become ghost towns, with water and electricity supplies cut off.
However, even so, these small cities still contain residual reserves of food, batteries, and other daily necessities. The quantities might not be large, but if the users are individuals or small groups, even that limited amount is a massive supply.
It's like a large supermarket; supplying food for ten thousand people might deplete its reserves in a day.
But if there's only one person, or a few people, a dozen people, the supplies within one large supermarket are enough to sustain them for years.
So, after the authorities relocated the main population from these small and medium-sized cities to large cities, these ghost towns became new homes for wilderness groups. The supplies left behind in the cities are enough for them to use for a lifetime.
If that "Wei Huo" ran off to such a city, it would be extremely difficult for Guan Tong to find her.
"The lead in Sakura Prayer is also dead," Uenoshi said. "Will this matter just end like this?"
"No," Guan Tong stated decisively. "The person who harmed her must have a reason, likely targeting me. As long as I'm alive, the mastermind behind it definitely won't stop. They'll jump out on their own sooner or later."
"..."
"Moreover, if conventional methods can't find her, perhaps we can use some unconventional methods."
"Unconventional?"
"Like that woman in the Suroma team wearing the purple starry robe."
Uenoshi's pupils contracted slightly: "Moon Key... using the power of divination to find someone? Is that feasible?"
"Actually, I'm also..." Guan Tong paused. "But Mind Power itself transcends common sense. Since she has a related ability and has accepted many divination commissions, there's no harm in trying. If tomorrow's operation goes smoothly, I'll find her alone afterward and commission a high-priced divination from her."
"Alright."
After speaking, the two returned to rest separately.
The next morning, the entire Action Team assembled.
The Senator from Suroma took out four teleportation-type items, handing them respectively to Guan Tong, Adam, the Xisiya team captain, and the Luruiguo team member.
"These are items for group teleportation once coordinates are set. Each can teleport up to five people, so we need to teleport separately. One for the Suroma team, one for the Beixing team, and the Xisiya team and the other countries' six people will share the remaining two. Although the items are separate, the teleportation destinations are all the same.
Each item can be used twice and has two coordinates: the target location and this office. For you to teleport over and, after completing the mission, teleport back."
After receiving it, Li Meng, fearing a mistake, had Guan Tong double-check the coordinates.
After checking, it was confirmed to be the coordinate point determined in yesterday's operational meeting, the location being right at the entrance of that large library, or rather, the Fire Worship Cathedral.
"Teleportation will commence in one minute. Make your final preparations."
After speaking, the Senator glanced at Adam, his gaze meaningful. The latter remained expressionless, his thoughts unknown.
Li Meng said to Guan Tong and the others: "After you teleport over, we'll observe the peripheral situation via satellite feed from the operations room. If large numbers of Cultists converge on the cathedral, we'll warn you promptly. Everyone must be careful, especially you, Yang Ran. Remember, this isn't a variety show; it's a battlefield of slaughter!"
Yang Ran nodded vigorously: "I know. But Section Chief Li, you should probably remind this little girl Chen Na separately, right..."
Bai Xuewu snorted lightly: "Xiao Na is young, but she's been to the battlefield many more times than you."
"Really?!"
Yang Ran looked at Chen Na. The latter showed no pride; instead, her small face was very serious.
It showed that despite her young age, she already understood how cruel real combat could be, and that negligence could truly get people killed.
Her reverence for actual combat and serious attitude made Yang Ran realize Bai Xuewu was right, and he no longer regarded Chen Na as an immature girl just because of her age.
"Time's up. Let's begin."
As the Senator announced, Guan Tong and the others used the teleportation items.
Teleportation arrays appeared beneath the feet of those grouped with them, completing after about five seconds of activation.
In an instant, all eighteen people vanished without a trace, completing a teleportation spanning thousands of miles.
...
Before the National Library of Liruo'an, stone steps full of mottled patterns told of this nation's long history.
Ascending the steps, at the end stood the wide doors of the large library, symbolizing the nation's civilization and wisdom. At the top, an ancient inscription left by wise men once read: "Knowledge changes destiny."
However, this inscription, which had existed for centuries, had been scratched out with a blade, replaced by a proclamation of the Fire Thief Worship Cult: "The God shall guide the glorious path."
The glow from the teleportation array illuminated this proclamation.
The figures of the action team members gradually materialized.
But almost as soon as they completed the teleportation, the doors beneath that proclamation opened.
Two figures wearing red ribbons representing the bishop's identity walked out. Surging out behind them in a flood were countless, densely packed priests and disciples.
A large, eerie dark brown array also manifested beneath the feet of the action team members, seemingly prepared well in advance.
Bishop Bake, with his youthful physique, clapped his hands and laughed: "The intel was really accurate. Time and location, both correct."
The teleported individuals now wore expressions of shock, the same thought flashing through their minds: "The intelligence was leaked! The Fire Thief Worship Cult set up an ambush in advance!"
Immediately followed by a second, even more terrifying thought: "The spy might be the entire Suroma team! Because only the Beixing team, Xisiya team, and the six-country team teleported here. The entire Suroma team is nowhere to be seen!"
This meant the Suroma team's teleportation destination was not the same as the other teams.
At this moment, standing beside Bake, another bishop with his left eye covered by black cloth, Bishop Hiss, issued an order expressionlessly: "All faithful, hear the command! Activate the grand array immediately and eliminate these heretics!"
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