novelraw Chapter 1194 - 609: Clues
Chapter 1194 - 609: Clues
"?"
Tong Shan was surprised. He never expected that after sneaking into Ji Jue's workshop to slack off, he would still overhear someone discussing work. But recalling Ji Jue's usually absurd style and reliable plans, his spirits lifted:
"Tell me more."
Ji Jue reached out and pointed at the screen. An image at the corner of the screen suddenly enlarged, revealing a pile of numbers, and soon, distant images emerged before them.
A rather busy market appeared, with numerous shops and a dense array of stalls under white towers, displaying from wilted vegetables and fruits, damp clumped herbs and spices to metal wares or handcrafted blankets and second-hand clothes...
People came and went, haggling and bargaining, a rare hustle and bustle compared to the desolation of other areas.
In the distance, a flash of military trucks could be glimpsed passing by a junction.
That was live video streamed from surveillance cameras.
Mercy Market, now one of the largest markets in Tower City.
Finally, the image locked on a shop in the corner, with flood marks still on the closed door panels and uncollected trash at the entrance.
"There's something wrong here."
Ji Jue pointed at the store and said.
"Are you sure?" Tong Shan asked doubtfully, "Where did this intel come from?"
"Well, just treat it as a tip from an informant," Ji Jue grinned, not elaborating further.
Informant?
There certainly was one.
The werewolf, Kaelbasu, who was instantly refined into a tool after being caught by Lu Changsheng's grasp, ultimately meeting a tragic end under the Empire's Fifth Generation Power Armor.
Thinking he had secured a powerful ally, he disclosed a lot of useful and useless theories and clues, most of which led nowhere after Ji Jue's investigation, while another large portion was unearthed after the Empire's thorough search.
One of the few clues came from here.
As a double-crosser between the Evil Cult and the White Country Wolf Pack, out of a unique trait of reserve traitors to keep an eye out and prepare to jump ship at critical moments, he would notice clues that his companions wouldn't.
Once, during a meeting with others at a White Country Restoration Front outpost, he noticed a piece of paper being used to pad a box by someone among them.
Ordinary print patterns were on the paper.
Since Kaelbasu had spent a long time in disguise as a printing worker, he was particularly sensitive and, when he remembered it, spotted the key.
One should know that Central Earth did not have any formal printing factories, only family-run black workshops, each with their own unique pigment formulas using rudimentary methods. As a result, by paying a little attention, one could easily identify them.
The packaging paper with similar printing techniques mostly came from this market area.
Thus, he speculated that his kind probably hid in the Mercy Market during normal times.
Considering the possibility of alerting the targets prematurely, Ji Jue did not rashly investigate but instead watched the market's surveillance and sold a batch of lighters instead.
Until today, the Fly King's Spirit hidden within the surveillance noticed traces of dye leading directly to a store selling water pipes and related items.
Tong Shan was taken aback for a moment: "The city has been so heavily fortified lately, and yet there are still wolves undiscovered?"
"It's almost done."
An Ning raised her hand to speak: "According to Uncle, they've already searched this market and didn't find traces of the wolves."
"Even if they were wolves, they couldn't possibly stay in one place 24/7, right?"
Ji Jue shook his head indifferently, keeping his own activities with the lighters secret: "Anyway, even if nothing comes of it, it'll just be a wasted trip anyway.
So, Brother Shan, interested? I can accompany you."
"Then let's go."
Tong Shan had already risen, not questioning Ji Jue's intentions, and put on a coat, taking out his phone: "The terrain is a bit complex; I'll ask Liang Mo for some manpower... Are you sure there's someone inside?"
"Guaranteed."
Ji Jue made an "ok" gesture, "I just hacked the wifi inside."
"..."
Tong Shan was momentarily speechless with surprise.
In this modern society filled with complex technologies, the Mechanical Descent seemed all-encompassing; even if a person speaks nothing but lies, their browser history never lies.
Even in the face of disasters, earthquakes, floods requiring evacuation, before leaving, people will always grab their phone.
According to the router's history, starting from the night of the Empire's major investigation, there had been no device connections until just now.
With the spiritual dyeing using the lighters, claiming no issues existed, not only Ji Jue wouldn't believe it, even a dog wouldn't.
Tong Shan immediately made an "ok" gesture and made a call.
Ten minutes later, a plain, dirty little van parked downstairs, with Ji Xue excitedly poking her head out of the rear window and waving at Ji Jue.
"Master Ji, long time no see!"
"Huh? Sister Xue, you're here too? Why haven't you come to find me in so long?"
Ji Jue was taken aback, unexpectedly seeing Ji Xue had followed him to Central Earth. He glanced meaningfully at the indifferent Tong Zhiwu beside him and continued to ask, "Where's Brother Liu? Didn't you two come together?"
"Hey, didn't you notice?"
The driver in the seat, with a scraggly beard and a full face of stubble, took off his sunglasses, revealing a gold tooth, and grinned at Ji Jue: "Disguise Technique, kid!"
"Eh? Who's this little sister? Haven't seen her before. Is she your girlfriend?"
"Yes!"
An Ning suddenly wrapped her arm around Ji Jue, smiling sweetly.
Then, Ji Jue coldly shrugged her off, "How many times have I said, I don't date people without a college degree."
"Then... a girlfriend without official status?"
An Ning blinked, her eyes filled with mist, looking pitiful: "A secret lover is fine, too?"
"Yikes—"
The siblings couldn't help but lean back in unison, exclaiming, and their eyes on Ji Jue were clearly filled with sorrow—how could you be so heartless? You're even manipulating her! Wait, is this young girl even an adult?
Beast! Scoundrel! Scumbag!
No doubt, they believed it outright!
As for Ji Jue's ethics and personality?
Are you kidding, does a craftsman really have those things?
Regarding the lack of moral baseline, Ember usually has a notorious reputation.
Compared to the industry's callousness, Ji Jue actually only engages in disorderly behavior, practically deserving a small red flower reward.
Moreover, even if it's fake... you can still ridicule it as if it's real!
"If you keep on talking, I'm going to send 'I love the Federation' from your phone a hundred times!"
Ji Jue, expressionless, pinched her mouth, then pulled back before she could bite down.
Close call, almost rewarded you!
Thankfully, Zhiwu was straightforward, stepping in to help Ji Jue out, "This is the White Deer Hunter from the An Family, Hunting Finger·Flying Light, who will cooperate with our actions. Everyone, get acquainted."
Upon getting on the vehicle, the coordination and allocation from Liang Mo's side had already been arranged.
To avoid alerting the snake, no manpower was mobilized nor were the mission objectives communicated; they simply took temporary control over several checkpoint teams near the market.
No choice, the ultra-sensitive skin of the Wolf is too much of a bug.
Fortunately, Tong Zhiwu was considered half ether, his Blessed Creation enough to suppress the killing intent and malice inside the vehicle; otherwise, in case of meeting a master, the wolf at the other end might just run away at the start of the engine.
Once leaving the most bustling city district, the roads became considerably harder to travel on, the outside scenery gradually becoming more desolate and untidy, occasionally showing traces left by explosions. On the dusty roads, a few poorly clothed children squatted by the roadside curiously watching the passing vehicles, and now and then, a flock of sheep bleated past.
And whether large or small, the incomplete white towers gradually became prominent.
Occasionally, there were a few monks, sunburnt and shirtless, carrying water drawn from afar, cleaning the mud and dust marks off the tower's body.
Perhaps these white towers are the last traces left in this world by the King of Compassion and Generosity of yesteryear.
Ji Jue sighed.
According to the few historical records, this Ci Ji King, among the various complex, minimally human-filled Kings of Chaos, somewhat counted as a significant figure.
At the end of the chaotic era, he was revered as the Compassionate Savior, the Saint of Resolution and Insight, with countless followers, yet never recorded any struggles or savage battles.
More importantly, he never engaged in the brutal acts comparable to those of Fire Stealers, Weavers of Fate, or the likes of Hua Xu Monarch!
True transcendence, however, was in that king's moral conduct.
It's said that in that chaotic and disorderly era where odd species and abominations were rampant, scumbags and beasts crawling everywhere, no matter who it was, as long as they heard the Ci Ji King's teachings, they could comprehend their true self from inner chaos.
If there were tough undecided choices or decisions impossible to make, consulting the king would plainly show the consequences of change, revealing all the outcomes of your actions.
Listeners and consultants, after meeting the Ci Ji King, were without exception subdued by the king's compassion, drastically reforming themselves and loyally following the king.
Not for evil, nor for good, simply to help people recognize themselves.
Even so, still in a world rampant with disasters, he crafted a piece of dream-like Pure Land—Shangrila—for everyone.
And as the chaotic era ended, Ci Ji King vanished without a trace.
It's said that the last place he stayed in this world is now the White Country region of Central Earth, leaving the legend of Pure Land Heavenly Kingdom.
To this day, it has unexpectedly evolved into a religion, where mortals worship clay statues and wood carvings, hoping the Compassionate Savior on the altar might grant them entrance into Heaven after death.
Shangrila... the remains of the White Country's Sacrificial King...
Ji Jue pondered, then after snapping back from his thoughts, couldn't help but press against An Ning, who claimed the seat was too narrow and almost squeezed onto him, then looked up at Tong Shan in the front seat:
"Brother Shan, what was the real cause of death for the White Country's Sacrificial King before?"