Chapter 52 Completing Tasks with Surplus

Initially, Mike was quite happy, because he thought he had helped the little girl find her family, and maybe he could even help her gain some rights to return to her true home.

However, it now appears that her family does not welcome her.

He had heard stories before about stray cats and dogs being able to travel dozens of kilometers back to their original homes after being abandoned. But this is the post-apocalyptic world, where even adults have a hard time surviving on their own. For a small, resourceless girl to escape to the outside and cross the wasteland to return to her hometown is truly incredible.

How stubborn and how much suffering she must have endured.

Although Isabelle has not known Mike for long, she is willing to build a house for him, do his laundry, cook meals, and even help keep his secret by bandaging his wounds and teaching him extraordinary knowledge.

This team they are part of has managed to survive this long, all thanks to that painting of hers.

Otherwise, they may not have been able to break free from the encirclement of the aberrant tide.

And the girl is also quite cute, quiet, and doll-like.

What's wrong with her that makes her a "witch"?

If the "witch" brings misfortune, why has Mike been doing fine?

Instead, his luck has been good since meeting the young girl.

He suddenly has an urge to just shoot the old crone in front of him.

But after thinking about it, he decides against it, as it's unnecessary.

These primitive people have not received any education, their minds are hopelessly outdated.

There's no point in trying to reason with them.

Shooting them won't even make them understand how they died.

It's useless.

Moreover, these primitives are still useful, at the very least to make them spit out the frequency that affects immortalization.

For these feudal old-timers, he can just raise the young girl well, and then in front of them, spit on them and curse them before leaving.

Of course, Mike won't be around to see that later.

"I think, don't always blame the 'witch', after all, she's been gone for a long time, right? If your tribe has been having bad luck all this time, you should reflect on whether your god doesn't like you fools," Mike shrugged, his tone rather nasty.

No one expected Mike to say something like that.

Lisa was the first to break, chuckling out loud. She almost couldn't hold her bow steady.

The other comrades didn't find it funny, they just felt an intense urge to pinch their thighs hard.

Only Jack didn't laugh, because he felt that one day he might be the one getting scolded like that.

The remnants of the Afterlife Department were stunned for a moment before reacting with furious anger. However, faced with Lisa's flames, they could only grit their teeth and submit.

Guboo frowned and coldly said, "Do you have any other questions?"

"One last question, why did they come to hunt you down today?" Mike asked calmly.

Guboo, thinking about it, revealed an irritated look and said resentfully, "Because that scourge has disappeared, maybe she died on the way of escaping. The people of the Necro Cult think we sheltered her, so they've attacked us repeatedly, wanting us to hand her over."

After Mike finished asking, he turned around and nodded slightly.

Lisa hummed, "Attention, all units."

The officers and soldiers immediately became serious, their killing intent evident.

"Capture them all. Don't let a single one escape!" Lisa said coldly.

The remnants of the Afterlife Department changed drastically in expression.

Especially Guboo, who said resentfully, "You are betraying your promise!"

Mike turned his head and glanced at her, "I only said I wouldn't kill you if you answered the questions honestly. But I never said I wouldn't capture you, did I? You know so many secrets about that ancient deity, I have to make you spit it all out."

"Oh, by the way, the one interrogating you next won't be me."

He shrugged, "That person is much more ruthless than I am."

"You're full of it! Don't think we don't know, is this the responsibility of the external battlefield? Heretics have even appeared within the city! They have implanted Dark Matter in their bodies and have almost mutated into aberrants. Can you say this has nothing to do with the external battlefield? I'd say this aberrant tide is a man-made disaster from the inside out!"

A classic case of passing the buck.

This directly shifts the main responsibility to the Inquisition and the Law Enforcement Bureau.

The High Priestess's cold gaze fell on the two seated at the far end of the long table.

Chief Charles said coldly, "Recently, the Law Enforcement Bureau received a tip and went to the underground district to investigate. However, the Inquisition overstepped its bounds and privately apprehended over ten Necro Cult followers. I don't know if it was with ulterior motives, or to cover something up."

Williams was well-prepared. "Sorry, we found out."

Snap, a finger snap.

The priests of the Sanctuary entered carrying a stretcher.

A foul stench wafted over, directly making everyone nauseous.

Even the High Priestess's eyes revealed a stern gaze as she looked at the young white-haired man, then gently waved her hand, and a strange fragrance permeated the air, covering the stench of the corpse.

Everyone could see this was purely to disgust people.

As the shroud on the body was opened, the mutilated remains were exposed to the crowd.

An old priest read the report, "According to the Inquisition's interrogation and analysis, these Necro Cult followers all had Dark Matter implanted in their bodies, which caused them to mutate to a certain degree. Their original identities were all citizens of this city, working in different positions, but eventually ended up in the underground district due to the expiration of their 'usage period'."

This "usage period" refers to the limit of a person's labor.

When you're no longer useful, you lose your position and are reallocated.

A typical example is the soldiers who are discarded on the battlefield.

"According to Mr. Williams' interrogation results, this group had accepted indoctrination from an organization, had an extreme fear of rotting flesh, were afraid of the smell of disinfectant, and also had a stress response to surgical knives. Especially when faced with medication, they will have extreme emotional reactions."

The old priest continued, "Therefore, it is inferred that the Necro Cult has already infiltrated Avalon City, using means such as health life extension or monetary bribery to bewitch these frustrated people into human experiments. They have a well-developed supply chain, a huge organizational system, and very advanced equipment. They will use various ways to package themselves and operate in the shadows."

The crowd was horrified and alarmed.

If this is the case, then this so-called Necro Cult has already become a force to be reckoned with.

No one questioned this conclusion.

In Avalon City, or even the entire Empyrean Federation,

You may not like Williams.

You can oppose him at every turn.

You can even try to kill him.

But you'd better not question his conclusions.

This is the experience summarized by the lives of countless dead people in Avalon City.

A bloody lesson.

Given the above report, just through a group of crazy heretics, so many clues can be analyzed.

These people are truly terrifying.

"I don't care who they are, I just want to know their purpose."

The High Priestess's indifferent voice echoed in the sanctuary, "I want them wiped off the face of the earth."

Her voice was no longer ethereal and distant but became ruthlessly domineering.

It was as if another persona had awakened within her, revealing an extremely powerful side.

Everyone changed their expression.

If the High Priestess spoke up, then this matter was indeed no small thing.

Because this was not a superior issuing a task.

But simply stating what you must do.

And what is about to happen next?

If things do not go as the High Priestess wishes,

Then she will use every means to forcibly intervene.

The consequences at that time could be dire.

For example, the higher-ups demand that there be no sick pigs in a pig pen.

If the pig farmer cannot cure the pigs' disease, the higher-ups will forcibly intervene.

She may not be able to cure the sick pigs either, but she can ensure there are no pigs in the pig pen.

Without pigs in the pen, there will naturally be no sick pigs.

It's that simple.

After all, the High Priestess is one of the six who hold supreme power over the Holy Church.

The coronation of the Sacred Sovereign requires their approval.

They foresaw the impending disaster, resisting the erosion of the ancient sky gods. They could help the people of Ember dispel the plague and ensure bountiful harvests across the regions every year. Even in times of war, they had to exert tremendous spiritual energy to aid the battlefield, approaching a god-like existence.

Olivia is the most renowned of the five high priests, as the power she has inherited is the most fierce and domineering. She is a pioneer from two centuries ago who helped humanity break out of the benighted dark ages and establish the current civilization.

After the Supreme Federation and the Akashic Records completely conquered the world, Olivia was elevated to the position of the Sacred High Priestess, becoming the guardian of humanity's future, up to the present day.

Her mode of existence has now entirely transcended the human realm, drawing closer to that of a divine spirit. But the most brilliant period of her life is the one that truly reflects her genuine self.

Many know deep down that even if the High Priestess appears as calm as water on the surface, at her core she is still the iron-fisted pioneer who has never changed.

This can be seen from the fact that in every city, the High Priestess and the city lord govern jointly - one presiding over the supernatural, the other over the mundane. Yet in the Avalon City council meetings, the city lord is never present, for the High Priestess is that powerful and unyielding.

The others feel immense pressure, knowing that if this matter is not resolved, they will have to face the High Priestess's wrath.

Just then, a high-ranking military officer burst through the temple doors. The leaders are accustomed to such interruptions - if it is not an emergency, a subordinate would not dare to disrupt the meeting. And in Ember, emergencies are hardly uncommon.

"Report, the outer investigation squad has sent a message. The mission is completed, exceeded the target!" the officer said solemnly, placing his hand over his chest.

The leaders exchanged glances, especially Williams, who had an expression of surprise.

"Yes, the mission is completed beyond expectations. The origin and purpose of the Necro Cult have been ascertained. The squad has brought back a living aberrant sample and remnants as evidence," the officer continued, producing a special pen and pressing a button, projecting a video of Mike conversing with the Necro Cult remnants on the sunset snow plains.

"Currently, the squad has lost their means of transportation and requests support from the Sanctuary," the officer concluded.

The High Priestess's gaze fell upon the young man in the projection, her expression slightly hardening. She vaguely remembered - this was the child that Williams had entrusted her to protect.