Chapter 291: Dekan and Talomati’s Fate |
"Please—wait a moment, this top-level spy you mentioned, it wouldn't happen to be a Bishop, would it?"
Dekan looked at Ludwig with some disbelief and asked.
"Mmhmm, I don't know either."
Ludwig directly started acting cute.
"I..."
Dekan held back the impulse to summon the Ruined Poet, frowned, and began to think.
At any rate, Ludwig was willing to share this intelligence with him for free.
This was probably the biggest concession she could make given her position.
After all, a qualified superior could not just arbitrarily hand over the life of their ace subordinate to Dekan behind their back.
It was a long-term plan.
He did not expect that this church had already nearly turned into a distillery.
Originally, it wasn't that exaggerated.
But after Dekan removed two reliable Bishops, Ivans and Fahim, and then "strongly joined" himself...
Now this church... probably had spies making up half the sky!
The problem now was...
Dekan was not sure if the three aforementioned acts of internal betrayal were the work of the same person.
Based on the intelligence he knew, he could not determine exactly how many moles there were.
And even if there were multiple moles, these moles might not necessarily be from the same faction or work well together.
In this chaotic state, when several forces with their own hidden agendas crashed into each other, it often resulted in some dramatic scenarios.
It could only be said that whatever the Resurrection Church did next, it might produce a strange ending that no one could predict.
Dekan suddenly had the feeling of playing a round of San Guo Sha.
And it was the kind of round where one didn't even know how many Loyalists, Rebels, or Defectors there were.
Whoever played the Lord would have their blood pressure explode.
"By the way, exactly how strong is the Pontiff?"
Dekan asked.
The biggest trouble for the Resurrection Church right now must be this Pontiff.
Even Dekan could find almost no intelligence regarding the Pontiff.
Appearance, name, age, race—everything was unknown.
It wasn't until the Pontiff personally banned Dekan's authority a while ago that Dekan was certain this Pontiff really existed.
Hearing Dekan's words, Ludwig smiled helplessly and shook her head.
"He is not an enemy you can defeat at your current stage. You still need a very, very long time to grow before it's possible to defeat him."
"Everyone thought the same way when I took out Ivans back then."
Dekan immediately retorted.
"..."
Ludwig opened her mouth but could not speak.
Thinking about it carefully, she realized this guy indeed never fought bosses in the usual order...
Back then, a tier-3 Dekan dared to go after the tier-8 Ruin Bishop Ivans; even Ivans definitely hadn't expected that...
Generally speaking, in the ending of a story, the protagonist would level up to the max level.
But Dekan's story was really uncertain.
This guy was an anomaly in combat power. Regardless of the tier, he was always 'underworld'—it was just that the higher the tier, the more 'underworld' he became.
What restricted him was not his tier, but his morality.
"Did you leave your vocal cords at home? Lord Astrologer?"
Seeing that he had finally silenced this little reporter, Dekan instantly felt much more comfortable.
For some reason, Ludwig gave Dekan a complicated look, sighed as if she had made a decision.
"Anyway, if we were both tier-9... I would probably be defeated by him in two or three moves... That guy just feels strong in a way that doesn't seem human. Of course, no one has seen his true form either..."
Ludwig said somewhat grievously.
"Could he be a creature like a Demon or a Vampire?"
Dekan understood Ludwig's meaning.
Ludwig might really be suspecting the Pontiff's race.
Just like how Demons not only possessed powerful physical abilities and vitality but also had long lifespans and extremely high magical creativity.
And the Blood Clan possessed innate authorities and immortality.
Compared to humans, their racial characteristics were simply outrageous.
The only advantage humans had was their reproduction speed. When the base number was large enough, luck would eventually produce some guys with outrageous talent.
Only these individuals could fight single-handedly against the strong powerhouses of the Demon and Blood Clans.
And Ludwig could already be considered an outstanding prodigy in human history.
An opponent that even she felt was inhumanly strong was very likely not a human.
"No, the feeling is different. It might be a more mysterious and dangerous race, one that cannot even be encountered in the Shadow World."
Ludwig's gaze became rare and solemn.
"Dekan, have you ever thought about whether races like humans, elves, goblins, orcs, and so on—races that are either mediocre or flawed—really have the ability to wipe out the Demons and Vampires, two perfect races that can be called the darlings of the Creator, from the world?"
"..."
Dekan fell into deep thought regarding Ludwig's question.
If this world also had a Demon Realm population on the level of the Demon Realm in the Shadow World...
And if the Demons could also use Magic Cards...
Dekan did not think humans could defeat that terrifying Demon Realm.
Just tier-9 Demons alone numbered several.
The reason the Holy Kingdom could put up a stubborn resistance was that the Holy Kingdom also had over a dozen tier-9 powerhouses.
The current world did not have that number of tier-9 powerhouses.
The more he explored the Shadow World of the Holy Kingdom and Demon Realm, the more Dekan realized some problems with the current world.
Even in the Holy Kingdom, where the Blood Clan had declined for a thousand years, there were still survivors and Blood Clan magic.
And even if the Holy Kingdom defeated the Demon Realm in the subsequent timeline, it was unlikely they could annihilate the Demon Realm, let alone kill every last Demon.
If the Demons were really pushed to desperation, it was uncertain who would perish.
But in this current world...
There were traces showing that the Blood Clan and Demon Race once existed.
Even if specific history could be found, no legacies left behind could be found.
It was as if they had been intentionally erased or hidden by someone.
However, this was even less likely to be something humans could accomplish.
As if there was some true ruler in this world controlling everything.
Although all these speculations were outrageous.
Just as outrageous as Dekan's conjecture that the Resurrection Church attacked the Hero Festival.
But since Ludwig would seriously consider Dekan's words, Dekan would also seriously consider Ludwig's words.
In some aspects, they were the same kind of person.
So Ludwig believed Dekan could understand her meaning, which was why she was willing to tell him.
Seeing Dekan fall into contemplation, Ludwig continued:
"Of course, all of this is just conjecture. Even I cannot find a trace of evidence to prove it. But if such a group of 'imaginary enemies' really exists, I'm afraid that after exposing the point that I have 'realized their existence,' I will be erased very quickly."
Originally, Ludwig didn't seem to plan on telling Dekan all these deductions.
At least she would wait until Dekan was capable of threatening tier-9s before she would "drag him into the water" or "ask him for help."
But Ludwig discovered that this guy, Dekan, should never be underestimated based on his tier at any time.
After listening, Dekan immediately went into full acting mode, revealing a somewhat sinister smile as he looked at Ludwig and asked:
"Aren't you afraid I am one of them? Maybe in the next second, I will let you witness true terror?"
To scare Ludwig, he even changed his voice.
"You won't be. You are someone who would protect the Demon Race."
Ludwig smiled calmly and gestured with her hand to indicate Tata's short stature.
"Tsk."
Dekan clicked his tongue; he failed to scare Ludwig.
"Moreover, your fate is destined to be as their enemy."
Ludwig added another sentence.
Dekan: "My fate?"
Ludwig: "You saw the microcosm of many people's fates in the Holy Kingdom and Demon Realm, but did you not see your own?"
"!"
Dekan suddenly seemed to think of something and was startled.
In the Holy Kingdom and Demon Realm, some strong powerhouses could be found to have counterparts in the current world.
And his identity in the Holy Kingdom and Demon Realm...
Should be Delois in the dream.
Delois was originally a Demon.
"Do you understand now?"
Ludwig asked, observing Dekan's reaction.
"But in this perfect world, no matter how we search, it's impossible to catch their flaws; we will only expose ourselves for nothing."
Dekan nodded with a grave expression and replied.
He felt a headache coming on.
Ludwig proposed a hypothesis that he had to take seriously.
But this hypothesis was impossible to investigate or prove.
It only added to the panic.
After all, an enemy whose very existence could not even be identified was outside Dekan's concepts.
"They are not without flaws."
Ludwig revealed a slight smile, pointed at herself, and then pointed at Dekan.
"There are at least two people here who have realized it, aren't there? The fact that we have started to sense it means they have loopholes. There is only one way to make more people realize it—a place they cannot control either."
"You mean... the Shadow World?"
Dekan spoke in a daze, seeming to understand Ludwig's meaning.
Ludwig could realize it not only because she had a talent for intelligence magic and stood at the pinnacle of the Kingdom Federation's intelligence network.
But more importantly...
It was because Ludwig had seen Dekan's first four Shadow Worlds.
This was also the reason Dekan could understand Ludwig's words and seriously consider them.
The Holy Kingdom and Demon Realm not only had characters corresponding to the current world...
I'm afraid even the entire direction of the world had a certain correspondence with the current world!
The Holy Kingdom and Demon Realm... seemed to be undergoing an evolution of the destruction of the Blood Clan and Demon Race.
It was to the point where no one could even detect who was manipulating it from behind the scenes.
And the current world was like the state after this evolution had been completed.
So, inside the Shadow World of the Holy Kingdom and Demon Realm...
Perhaps the true face of this group of unknown existences could be probed indirectly!
Once they were found...
Every one of Dekan's previous Shadow World records would become ironclad evidence to prove Ludwig's hypothesis to the world.
"So, as a team that can stably enter the Holy Kingdom and Demon Realm, you must reach the final ending of the Holy Kingdom and Demon Realm. There, you will definitely be able to find the answer to all this, or at least catch their tails."
Ludwig's eyes revealed a deep anger and persistence.
She had obviously been waiting a long time to be able to confide all this to someone.
"Don't worry, we are already allies."
Dekan nodded seriously, then changed the subject.
"But what does this have to do with you smearing me earlier?"
Dekan suddenly asked.
"Eh..."
Ludwig was instantly speechless.
In this atmosphere, was it appropriate to make such a transition?
Ludwig was thrown off a bit by Dekan.
But she felt that if she spoke her true thought—that she "simply thought smearing Dekan was fun"—this newly formed alliance might shatter.
Ludwig hurriedly changed the topic:
"Of course, please do not mention any of this to anyone! Not only would they find it hard to understand, but it would also put them in danger!"
Displaying her professional basic skills by finishing this sentence in one second, Ludwig dispelled the barrier and then ran away in a flash.
"...You really are material for a reporter."
Only after meeting her today did Dekan discover that this tier-9 Astrologer was completely different from what he had imagined.
Reliable, yet carrying a bit of absurdity.
And she had a personality that made one's blood pressure soar.
If not for the fact that he couldn't beat her, he really wanted to call people over to teach her a good lesson.
"Whatever, one day I will make you, a tier-9 Astrologer, suffer social death."
Dekan felt that the scene would definitely be spectacular on the day the entire Kingdom Federation learned that the dignified and holy Astrologer Sheen was actually a paparazzo who liked to act cute all day.
However, Dekan was not in a hurry to leave.
Today was quite leisurely for him.
The breeze in the park was also quite comfortable.
He leaned back on the bench and looked up at the sky.
"Is this world better or worse compared to the Holy Kingdom and Demon Realm?"
Dekan muttered to himself.
Originally, he thought that compared to the Holy Kingdom and Demon Realm, the current world was like a perfect world.
Although there were dangerous people like the Resurrection Church, the Empire in the north might have ill intentions, and there were many internal struggles within the Kingdom Federation...
Compared to the northern part of the Holy Kingdom, where flames of war raged and one couldn't see tomorrow if they lived through today, it was truly too wonderful.
But if what Ludwig worried about was true, was the crisis lurking beneath the surface of this world actually more dangerous than the Holy Kingdom and Demon Realm?
Because the Demon Race and Blood Clan were no longer here.
The opponent's goal might have already succeeded halfway to some extent.
"At least you are more 'underworld' than Delois. Although I don't have memories of him, I don't think he was a guy who could make me angry."
Shijiang suddenly spoke in Dekan's heart.
This was Talomati-style comfort.
Dekan smiled and shook his head.
This old woman's personality had always been this awkward.
So Dekan conveyed in his heart to Shijiang:
"Heh, if you were as well-behaved and sensible as Tata and would call me Big Brother, would I need to argue with you? It's not too late for you to take me as your teacher now; I don't mind accepting an elderly disciple."
Shijiang was silent for a while, then responded with some shock and anger:
"Are you rebelling?!"
Dekan felt his vision gradually turning black.
It was a sign that lunch was about to be skipped!
No, listening to Shijiang's tone just now, she was going to eat afternoon tea, dinner, and a late-night snack too!
His stomach would break!
"I was wrong, I was wrong! You are the Shijiang! Sister! I was wrong, Sister!"