Wasteland Echoer.

"Hoshino Shota, is he there?" Wright retracted the crocodile-like "Dark Touch" on his back, and with the fluidity of a shooting star, snatched the dagger from Dark's hand and held it against "Eternal Light's" neck.

With a slight exertion, trickles of blood slowly flowed down the cold, gleaming blade to Wright's thumb, then dripped to the ground with the force of gravity, making a chilling "drip-drip" sound in the increasingly thick, choking fog.

And the "Krusd Swift Eagle" pistol was now perfectly back in the holster on "Eternal Light's" waist!

"Swiftness, perfect." "Eternal Light" couldn't help but blurt out in praise, but he instantly realized his slip of the tongue, glanced at the two of them, and then continued:

"'Star Ninja' Hoshino Shota, who is also my superior and the second leader of the Dark Night Investigation Team. No one can harm him, at least not within the city of Nebus. As long as Kazama Reiji and Atlanca are alive, he will never be favored by the god of death."

"As for here..."

“What will happen here?” Seeing the glint in “Eternal Light’s” eyes, Dark pulled him to the middle of the wooden corridor outside the door. In front of the rushing Nebusk guards, he pressed a “Replica-Bear” pistol against “Eternal Light”’s chest and questioned him:

"What else will happen!"

"Currently...currently..." "Yongguang" simply wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, revealing a devilishly charming smile, and said:

"The St. Basil's Inn is now completely closed, and martial law has been declared in the city of Nebusk. The people inside the city will be protected by the 'Blood Array Core,' and the guards and city troops will distribute 'peaceful offerings' to residents and refugees to prevent mass deaths."

"You should know that in 15 minutes, 'blood' will spread to every corner of the city. The 'Alienated Lost Ones' will be attracted by it and rush towards the electric grid and the barrier, until they are drawn into our artillery fire. Those who are not protected by the city will be summoned by 'blood' in the wild and turn into a withered, stiff body."

"What is 'The Call of Blood,' Atlanca? Do you also want to learn from that madman Vasily?" Wright questioned, his anger almost impossible to conceal, and even the air he exhaled from his nostrils became more rapid, like a wild beast about to unleash its fury.

“Things of the same kind always attract each other, just like lost souls and lost souls, humans and humans. Because they share the same blood, they naturally feel close. But once this closeness reaches a certain limit, it transforms into a ‘calling’.” “Eternal Light” sneered a few times, seemingly looking down on Wright and Dark’s lack of knowledge.

He glanced sideways at the Nabsk guards who hesitated to approach, maintaining his previous expression and demeanor, and said:
"There is a connection between blood. Originally, only ordinal demons like the 'Blood Ritual' could produce this effect. But after Ivan XXII crushed it with his own hands, the old empire also mastered this evil technology. Yes, it is evil. It can cause the blood inside the body exposed to the blood mist to seep out rapidly through the skin until they feel suffocated and collapse, turning into a dehydrated, shriveled sac."

"Everything in this world comes at a price, and from the Dragon Age to the Wasteland Age, human life has always been the cheapest thing. In Vasily's eyes, it's a number; in Atlanca's eyes, it's still a number. In the future, in your eyes, Light Socrates, it will also become a number."

"You're slandering me!" Wright roared, slamming his fist into "Eternal Light's" abdomen.

The force was so great that the nearby bones collapsed, but strangely, "Eternal Light" only spat out a few mouthfuls of blood, and fine tentacles quickly surged up from its abdomen, repairing the originally injured parts.

"You cannot deny it, nor can you deny it, whether it's Western divination, divine divination, or Eastern divination, for you, there is only one conclusion: the [Orderer] is the 'Leader,' and you are the leader of the next era. Therefore, Atlanca does not want to let you leave Nabsk and go to Khitanris." "Eternal Light" revealed a rare glimpse of the truth, saying:

"If you become the leader, you will automatically unlock a skill called 'Cruelty,' and the ruthlessness to achieve your goals is a common trait among the 'Vasilys.' As for more details about Nebusk, the Dark Night Investigation Corps, and this fog, only the 'Heart of Truth' in the 'Between of Truth' will tell you when he hears the beautiful music of the [Singer]. I believe you will follow us."

……

At 4:15 PM, in the city of Nebsk, at the "Grandeur," in the "Between of Truth," Wright and Dark, following the arrangements of the "Dark Night Investigation Team" and the "Temporary Cooperation Council," entered the first floor of the "Grandeur" through the main entrance. Meanwhile, Adaloni, who had fallen into a coma again due to the irritating elements in the dense fog, was taken to the "City Center Military Hospital" by the Nebsk Guard soldiers for further treatment.

It was probably just a common tactic to temporarily detain Adaloni as a hostage under the guise of treatment.

As soon as they stepped through the crimson giant gate modeled after the "Kalov Gate," the guards behind Dark and Wright quickly withdrew, replaced by a group of mecha-style soldiers wearing "ice lotus" totems.

Dark asked "Eternal Light" beside him and learned that these soldiers belonged to the First Legion of the "Temporary Cooperation Council". They were on average 2.3 meters tall and all wore "Galaxy Imitation Armor". They were a new army set up by the "Dark Night Investigation Group" in accordance with the will left behind by Nebrius, specifically to protect this core administrative area.

The materials used to manufacture the "galactic-style armor" worn by the soldiers of the "First Legion Guard" were all purchased from various places by the city of Nebusk during its brief month-long period of prosperity. The blueprints for these sturdy, pure white armors originated from the old imperial technology that was continuously being sent to the already fallen Icebound City from the "Utopia Port."

About a minute later, led by "Eternal Light" and protected by a group of "guards", Dark and Wright arrived at the first floor of the "Magnificent Tower".

Because the energy problem was solved, even as evening approached and thick fog enveloped the building, the entire "magnificent building" remained powered on and brightly lit, a stark contrast to Hoshino Shota's impromptu visit.

The crimson eye in the center of the first floor, resembling a gargoyle, is still represented by the "Oridrogen Gem." Golden light pours down from the searchlights on the top floor, like a miracle of good news from the goddess of light.

The "two-headed eagle," however, stood out strangely proudly, bathed in holy light, like a phoenix rising from the ashes from the East.

"Where are they?" Dak, who had been standing next to the double-headed eagle sculpture, stopped "observing" and lowered his head to ask "Eternal Light" behind him.

"Between Truth, Commander Dark. The members of the 'Dark Night Investigation Team' do not lie; this is a sin that the true God and the divine cannot tolerate." Under the bright, holy light, "Eternal Light" paused, then added in a voice so deep it sounded like a dragon's roar:
"Those who fabricate lies will eventually suffer the cruel punishment of having their tongues pulled out, enduring pain for over ten million years in a deep red ocean surrounded by a vast iron curtain. Only then can they gain a sliver of mercy from the Creator and be reborn as lowly beings until they atone for their sins."

"Then, where is 'between truth'?" Dark didn't care about the assurances made by "Eternal Light" in his extreme remarks, and went straight to the next question.

"Right there, beneath this spiral staircase, lies the basement of the entire 'Magnificent Building,' the 'Hall of Truth.' It's the 'office' specially granted to the 'Dark Night Investigation Team' by Commander Nebrius, and also the place for verifying the guilt of suspicious individuals." "Eternal Light" took two steady steps forward, waved to dismiss the seemingly tall and imposing "elite soldiers" of the "First Legion Guard," clad in technologically advanced equipment, and then, with his back to Dark and Wright, spoke in a slightly raised voice:
"The innocent will emerge from here and return to the 'Grand Tavern' to enjoy all the prosperity of Nabsk. The guilty will fall to the second basement level until they die. However, this rule will not apply to you."

"Apart from Hoshino Shota and leader Kazama Reiji, no one in the 'Dark Night Investigation Team' has the power to defeat you. You... are also immune to any mental attacks, unlikely to fall into illusions, let alone suffer a mental breakdown. The 'Dark Night Investigation Team'... simply wants to negotiate with the two leaders."

"Since this is a negotiation, then please lead the way," Wright said in a tone that was half request and half command.

Soon, ethereal footsteps began to echo throughout the "magnificent building" that seemed to be shrouded in a sacred atmosphere. Below the spiral staircase, the gloom, eeriness, and terror that Hoshino Shota had experienced were gone. Instead of the unpleasant mechanical noises, there was a melodious and soothing sound of piano music.

The path from the staircase to the "Between of Truth" is paved with a gold and red carpet in the style of the old Crusad Empire's nobility. Sixteen girls dressed in white and wearing black masks stand on both sides, chanting hymns without any words in a uniform tone and voice, producing almost sacred hymns.

Behind them, the piano, played by no one, was playing pieces from the "Erythian" series. With each change of melody, the giant candles behind the piano began to ignite like gunpowder fuses, emitting a golden, peaceful glow. (End of Chapter)