Magical Girl's Knight Brother

Chapter 682 Shangguan's Defenses Broken (Happy New Year)

"Yes...yes." Tang Zijun looked at the weathered ship and nodded. "The power of this ship is very useful to me."

"Then take it. I don't have the power to control it anyway." Afran smiled. "Although sealing it has always been our family's responsibility, making it a force for justice means I'm fulfilling the trust of my ancestors."

At this point, Afran became slightly serious. "You want to use this ship to solve the problems in the dream world, right? There probably aren't any usable ships on the river front right now, and building one would be very troublesome... I just... talked to Tangcao and the others about the situation. Don't blame them, I begged them to tell me. I just wanted to ask if there's anything I can do to help?"

Tang Zijun had no intention of hiding anything about the dream world, not even from Afran, the foreign magical girl. After all, when it came to the threat of nightmares, everyone in the real world stood on the same side.

Therefore, Tang Zijun didn't intend to blame Tang Cao. He waved his hand and said, "I'm working on the issue of the dream world. That's why I came back to find the trident. As for help, you've already been a great help by coming here with me."

"What I mean is, I can go to the dream world too. I'm quite capable, so you don't need to worry about me holding you back." Afran stepped forward.

Seeing Afran's eager expression, Tang Zijun chuckled. Perhaps it was because the dream world was set in the Middle Ages, but she felt that the girl in front of her had some kind of DNA power.

"Don't worry, if I really need your help, I won't hesitate to ask. It's just that right now, there are too many mysteries to unravel." Tang Zijun paused, then shrugged slightly. "To be honest, I still don't know what the enemy is."

"Boss, it's time to go." At this moment, Chang Lei's voice came from not far away. Tang Zijun and Afran looked over and saw him walking towards them. "The Queen Anne's Revenge can't be exposed to sunlight for too long in its current condition, or it will rot."

Tang Zijun was stunned for a moment upon hearing this, and then realized that the Queen Anne's Revenge was not immune to the damage from the sun at all, and if it stayed here any longer, it would probably sink.

"It's time to go. The time in the dream world hasn't aligned yet, so we need to get back as soon as possible." After thinking for a moment, Tang Zijun continued. "How about this, Lao Chang, you take Tang Cao and Poseidon to the New Tree Crown Royal City first, and also send Miss Afran back. I'll go have a chat with Director Shangguan for a bit, and then I'll come find you."

"New Crown City, what kind of place is that?" Poseidon asked curiously, hearing this unfamiliar name.

"It's the name of a dimension that I lent to the Tree of Life, Trova, in the Reverse World. Strictly speaking, it's also a divine realm. In any case, the life force there is very strong, which is very suitable for your recovery. You'll like it there."

Poseidon finally understood, though he was still somewhat surprised. "The Reverse World... is it the world on the other side of the mirror? I've always wanted to go and see it, and now my wish has come true..."

'

The Reversal World is considered the stronghold of the greedy. Under normal circumstances, except for hunting, the greedy would not casually bring people in, let alone bring in a god who possesses divine authority.

Moreover, before Tang Zijun cleaned up the Reverse World, it was filled with endless negative energy. This power was incompatible with Poseidon, a "positive god" who absorbed positive energy such as the power of faith, so it was naturally impossible for him to enjoy the privilege of being invited to visit the Reverse World.

But things are different now. The Reverse World no longer has a strong negative energy, and Poseidon is no longer a god, so there won't be any problem pulling him in.

Just then, Afran spoke up and asked, "Can I come along? I feel like I'm about to break through, and the environment of New Crown Royal City is perfect for my secluded cultivation."

"You mean seclusion? Of course, I can. Let Lao Chang take you with me, so you won't have to make an extra trip." Tang Zijun casually agreed, then greeted Poseidon and prepared to leave.

Headquarters of the Demon Surveillance Bureau, Director's Office.

Outside the thick, bulletproof glass curtain wall, the bustling city lights shone brightly, but the atmosphere inside the office was even more oppressive than the seabed of Bermuda.

Shangguan Su, the director of the Demon Surveillance Bureau known for her calmness, rationality, and toughness, was currently rubbing her throbbing temples.

Behind the large desk in front of her, Tang Zijun sat relaxed in a guest chair, her face as calm and composed as ever, as if she were just reporting on a routine business trip.

However, there was something extremely unusual in the photo on the phone screen in his hand.

It was a humanoid figure, about three meters tall, composed entirely of flowing, deep blue seawater and condensed, fragmented starlight. It wore a simple robe in the style of ancient Greece, conjured from energy, and its curly, deep blue beard resembled solidified waves. Its face was resolute and ancient, and its eyes, which had no pupils but instead consisted of two slowly rotating, deep blue vortexes, were staring at the camera with a pure curiosity and scrutiny.

He exuded a faint yet incredibly pure divine power of the ocean, which, even when deliberately concealed, was enough to give the surrounding air a unique, salty, and heavy quality characteristic of the deep sea.

Shangguan Su took a third deep breath, trying to suppress the breath that was stuck in her throat.

With difficulty, she shifted her gaze from the "humanoid self-propelled ocean climate regulator" in the photo and refocused on Tang Zijun's calm and composed face.

"Tang Zijun." Shangguan Su's voice carried a barely suppressed disbelief, yet it was still clear that it was forced through clenched teeth. "Can you...can you repeat to me again the identity of this...this guest in the photo?"

With her slender fingers, she touched the phantom of Poseidon in the photograph with extreme restraint, through the air.

Tang Zijun picked up the coffee her secretary had just brought in and calmly took a sip. "Poseidon, the sea god in ancient Greek mythology, one of the twelve Olympian gods. To be precise, he is the embodiment of divine power left behind in the ruins of the divine kingdom, fused with some of his memories and will."

"...the god of the sea... Poseidon..." Shangguan Su repeated these words in a low voice, feeling her temples begin to twitch again.

She slammed her hand on the table, leaned forward, and her usually calm and composed face was now filled with an expression that said, "Are you kidding me?"

"Tang Zijun! This is the ownerless thing you casually picked up?!"

Her voice suddenly rose, carrying an almost collapsing question.

"First there was Trova, leading an entire horde of Flower Fairies, then there was the Shadow Queen who fled back from the wasteland—Scáthach, and now! You've brought me back another one! A living, breathing Poseidon!!"

Every time Shangguan Su pronounced a name, she would poke the air with her finger, as if she were taking stock of Tang Zijun's spoils.

"Poseidon! Not a storybook illustration! Not a theme park cosplayer! He's a genuine god, carrying the scent of the sea and the pressure of water! Even if you call him an incarnation... he's still a god!"

Her speech became faster and faster, almost incoherent.

"Tang Zijun! Confess! How many ancient relics from mythology are still hidden in this world?! Are you planning to open an ancient deity re-employment exchange center?! Who's next? Zeus? Odin? Or are all the gods and Buddhas of the East about to descend to earth for an inspection?!"

The atmosphere in the office seemed even more tense.

Tang Zijun put down her coffee cup, ignoring Shangguan Su's outburst, her tone remaining as calm as if discussing the weather. "Director, calm down. Trova is an individual shaped by special circumstances. You know Scáthach's situation; she's just an immortal without power. As for Poseidon..."

'

"His situation is more unique; he is the last echo after the destruction of the divine kingdom, only able to temporarily maintain his existence through the power of the Tree of Life. Strictly speaking, none of them are considered 'living' complete gods."

He paused, met Shangguan Su's "I don't believe you for a second" look, and continued.

"As for how many more... to be honest, I don't know. The age of mythology has long since ended, and the truth of Ragnarok is far more brutal than recorded. Those who could leave a trace or have the means of reincarnation in such a catastrophe were already extremely rare. As far as I know, there were almost none who survived and retained their complete sanity and power. Your Excellency Poseidon's situation is already an extremely rare exception."

He added, with a hint of uncertainty, "However... the world is vast, with many dimensions. Perhaps in some unknown corner, or in a form we cannot comprehend... there are indeed old guys slumbering."

Tang Zijun dared not tell Shangguan Su about the gods in the dream world, for fear that the "nuclear power bureau chief" in front of him would be unable to resist pouting.

Of course, the main reason is that Tang Zijun cannot determine how many gods will survive after the Void Realm is shattered.

Looking at Tang Zijun's perfectly normal expression, Shangguan Su felt a deep sense of powerlessness welling up in her heart.

She slumped back in her wide chair, covered her eyes with her hands, and let out a long sigh filled with a magical realism and absurdity.

"Alright... alright... Poseidon it is... at least this one seems... easier to communicate with than Scáthach..."

'

She lowered her hand, looked at Tang Zijun resignedly, her eyes filled with exhaustion and a sense of helplessness that she truly owed him. After a pause, she spoke again.

"So, this...Sea God you picked up this time...do you have any constructive suggestions for our great cause of saving the world? Or...does he require any special...uh...offerings?" Like, does he have to stay in the sea every day? Or does he need to be fed whales regularly?