Uncle, I am not an ordinary office worker.

And Carmen's dark blue right hand is a bloody lesson.

His physical condition continued to improve, and he seemed to have returned to his peak. It was not only because he gave up the shackles of the secret technique on his mind and released power like squeezing life, but also because while he was slaughtering those sea-born fish, he himself was also constantly and passively accepting transformation.

His body was approaching Haisi. Along with the powerful force came the consciousness of the group.

He didn't want to die, and he had a thousand ways to convince himself that he could play a greater role and make greater contributions to Iberia if he were alive.

But he had only one reason to reject these ideas.

How can I be sure that my current "reluctance to die like this" is the result of being infected by the ocean?

Carmen knew that Hai Si would also have such thoughts. They had achieved a kind of disgusting nobility. Even if they died, they would want their own kind to devour their flesh and blood to become stronger. They did not care about their own death and did not regard sacrifice as a sacrifice, but they firmly followed the principle of "dying in a useful and meaningful way."

Carmen didn't dare to think whether her infection had reached this point, and whether her "thoughts from the heart" were proof that the swarm had invaded her heart.

But he believed that at some point before he was infected, he must have made a clear judgment!

So he reached for the cannon at his waist and removed the magazine of "Last Word".

There was one round left in the clean magazine.

The corner of Saint Iberia's bearded mouth raised into an arc of victory.

He beat the big group again.

........

"Child, take this book and give it to my apprentice. It will definitely save the people of Iberia."

"Your Excellency the Judge, are you leaving?" The young man looked at the old man in front of him. He was just an unlicensed doctor who relied on his meager medical knowledge to make a living on the coastline full of ruins. The Great Silence came suddenly, and the sea monsters almost attacked some cities on the coastline, but surprisingly did not immediately affect the young man in the wilderness.

There was genuine fear in his eyes. He had just been rescued from the mouth of a terrifying fish by the old man. The way he wielded the rapier and his dress looked very much like the Great Inquisitor in people's eyes.

This was the first time he had met such a person, but this sense of security was so short-lived that the old man left before he had time to thank him.

"I have to do what I have to do, kill, die."

Pulling down the brim of his hat so that the boy could not see his face, the old judge said,

"Go east. The Inquisition is in that direction."

He pointed the way to the young man and then left without looking back.

His life has entered a countdown, and the fire ignited for him by the secret technique is constantly going out, just like the swaying light in the lantern on his waist, which will go out in a moment.

But he was able to control his life accurately, with one hand always on his gun.

However, he still had to kill a few more before the last bullet was fired.

Kill a few more monsters and traitors who caused the second destruction of his hometown.

Otherwise, there is no way to quell his eternal anger!

Volume 1: Chapter 296 Carmen's Death

As the sun sets, the setting sun of Terra hangs above the sea level, as if it will set in the next moment. The twin moons are eager to reveal themselves, replacing the red of the setting sun with their bright light.

Most people will look up at the sky at this moment. This is a habit they have recently developed, because in this way, they can use the hole in the sky to add a little mystery to their ordinary and boring lives.

What is outside the star pod? Do the twin moons above our heads look like that? Why is there a big hole in one of the moons? Has it existed forever?

These questions may still be immature, but they are exciting enough. This means that after tens of thousands of years, finally, on the planet called Terra, so many people have begun to look up at the stars and wonder about the universe.

Where will this curiosity lead Terra? Will it be a journey to the vast sea of ​​stars or an abyss of no return? No one can say for sure. But on the ground, an old man who is also looking up at the stars has his own opinion.

"The starry sky, like the ocean, should also be the boundary of civilization."

There was a fire in front of Carmen, with a few wooden boards removed from the building burning, making crackling sounds. The flickering firelight illuminated his face and reflected in his gray eyes that seemed to be always in deep thought.

Suddenly, he seemed to sense something and loosened his hand on the cannon at his waist, with a look of relief on his face:

"I thought no one would find me."

Roy got off his horse and took off his helmet, revealing his bound long green hair and cheeks. He looked at Carmen and was about to ask about his condition when he saw Carmen smiling and shaking her head, stretching out her hand and pointing to the other side of the fire.

Roy understood what he meant, hesitated for a moment, and whistled. Rohinant immediately understood and leaned down, using his body as a backrest for his master to sit and lean on.

Carmen watched this scene in silence until Roy was done, then he sighed:

"I thought it would be Dario who found me."

"Iberia just repelled the Great Silence, and Inquisitor Dario has a lot of things to deal with. He really can't get away." Roy explained. Dario must be thinking about Carmen's whereabouts, otherwise, he wouldn't have asked Roy to look for her. But in his heart, Iberia's safety is above all else.

Although the Great Silence has passed, it does not mean that Iberia has overcome the crisis. What is more terrifying and troublesome than the disaster is the comfort, stability maintenance and reconstruction after the disaster.

Carmen nodded, her old face full of satisfaction: "He took over the responsibility from me and made a promise to me. He should do so."

"I said that just now not to complain. I just felt nostalgic." He sighed, "Which elderly person doesn't want to take one last look at his or her children before dying?"

Carmen y Iberia had no children in his life. The secret technique of prolonging life did not deprive him of his fertility. However, since he established the Inquisition and vowed to become a saint, he had put aside all personal feelings and never married.

Therefore, Dario, Elini, and the Inquisitors he personally raised and taught were all like his own children. The older he got, the more he wanted to do more for them and leave more behind.

He didn't want much, just to be able to watch over these descendants for a little longer.

But just as he said, although he felt sentimental, he did not complain. He understood and even praised Dario's choice. There was no need for him to waste his precious time on this half-crazy old man. He should save more people.

"Cough, cough, cough—" Carmen coughed heavily several times, as if he was going to cough out his lungs. Roy noticed that although he looked fine, his mental state was indeed depressed.

"Sir Carmen, are you okay?" He immediately stood up and came to Carmen's side. Just as he was about to reach out to check, he was forced back by the cannon that Carmen pulled out almost instantly.

"Ahem, sorry." Carmen moved the muzzle of the gun away with a bit of helplessness. "You have the scent of Hai Si on you. It's a subconscious reaction."

Roy frowned: "Can you feel it?"

Roy had met many people who could detect the smell of the sea on him. But that didn't mean it was so easy to detect. Roy had never been to the sea, so he didn't smell fishy or seawater.

Anyone who can detect his sea heir's aura, whether they are deep-sea hunters or deep-sea believers, actually belongs to the same species - creatures that have merged with the sea heir.

Kal'tsit is a special case and is not taken into consideration.

And since Carmen can subconsciously distinguish and react to the aura of Hai Si on his body, it can almost be concluded that he has been infected by Hai Si, and to a deep extent!

"Yes." Carmen nodded and confirmed Roy's guess. "So, I also want to ask you for help with something, Knight."

"I'm Roy." Roy finally realized that he had not introduced himself to Carmen, nor even announced his identity. But Carmen trusted him and did not open fire immediately when he approached because of his aura.

"Mr. Roy, please do me a favor. After I die, make sure I don't get up again."

Carmen said, raising her hand and pointing the muzzle of the gun at her head.

He had seen many humans infected by Haisi cells, but they were not truly destroyed after death. The consciousness contained in his infected flesh and blood replaced him, reanimate the dead body, and join the horde.

This is also the reason why Carmen did not commit suicide with a cannonball immediately. He did not want to see himself become one of them.

Roy opened his mouth. He wanted to say that he might have a way to save him, but after thinking about it, he didn't say anything.

His method was actually very simple. He used his own Hai Si ability to activate the infected parts of Carmen's body, replacing the aging parts, allowing Carmen's body to be reborn. He then activated the [Water Moon] module to separate Carmen from the large group network and turn her into a solitary Hai Si.

Although Roy has never tried this method, it is theoretically possible, and the probability should not be low.

After all, Mizuki himself in the original world line was an out-of-group Kaiji created by Cicero through such brutal human body transformation.

But he knew without even saying anything that Carmen would never agree to this approach.

He would undoubtedly think that this was a blasphemy, a blasphemy for his efforts to persist until this moment and wait for Roy to arrive, a blasphemy for his anger and persistence in fighting against Hai Si for more than a hundred years, and a blasphemy for his determination to never compromise even if he died.

Saints die after hearing the truth, and never live in disgrace.

"Is there anything you'd like to leave behind?"

Roy asked finally.

Carmen smiled with satisfaction, took out a key from her waist and handed it to Roy:

"Give this to Dario. This is the key to the Fire of the Inquisition warehouse."

"As for the rest, if you wish, you can take up my gun and lamp and interpret the wrath of Iberia on my behalf."

“——————Boom!”

The sound of gunfire in the wilderness startled the homeless winged beasts.

Volume 1: Chapter 297: Promise to Send Troops

The Inquisition's chariot arrived quickly. Roy watched the coffin being loaded onto the chariot. When he came to his senses, Dario was already standing beside him.

Roy pursed his lips and said from the bottom of his heart:

"I'm sorry, Carmen Saint, he has already..."

"I understand. I expected that."

Dario looked much calmer. As the current manager of the Inquisition and the leader of Iberia, he could not show any instability at this time. But Roy clearly remembered Dario's deep breaths when he called the Inquisition to report Carmen's discovery.

He was sadder than anyone else.

It was difficult for Roy to comfort Dario. The most painful thing in the world was the separation of life and death. No amount of words of comfort could fill a wound that had already been opened. All Roy could do was reach out and hold Dario's slightly trembling shoulders, and said seriously:

"Carmen asked me to tell you that he is very pleased that you made the decision that made him most proud and that you did not disappoint him."

Dario took a deep breath and nodded slightly without answering.

Roy took out the key from his arms:

"He asked me to give this to you. It is the key to the Fire of the Tribunal warehouse. As for his gun and lamp..."

Dario took the key solemnly and said, "He entrusted the gun and the lamp to you, didn't he?"

"Each Inquisitor's lamp is unique. They burn with the will of the Inquisitor and never go out. If an outsider picks it up, the light in the lantern will dim, but this lamp has not changed in your hand. This means that the teacher has recognized you in the end and handed the lamp to you."

Dario managed to put aside his sadness and forced a polite smile: "Although there is no precedent for this, the Inquisition welcomes you."

Is this a forced sale? When Roy took the lantern, he didn't know that it had a choice of owner. In the end, the old man Carmen took advantage of him.

Roy complained in his heart, but he did not reject Dario's invitation, but shook his outstretched hand.

He was not opposed to becoming an inquisitor. On the contrary, he always felt that the Iberian inquisitors were very much in line with his taste in terms of principles, clothing, weapons and symbolic meaning. Moreover, for him who was about to "go deep into the sea", having an official identity in Iberia, the country closest to the ocean, would undoubtedly provide a lot of convenience.

As for the responsibilities that the judge has to bear, Roy thought, hasn't he already been doing them?

He had been doing these things in Iberia for almost half a month, including expelling Hai Si, fighting against the Deep Sea Cultists, and maintaining law and order. All he lacked was the title of Inquisitor. As for the Inquisitor's national duties, such as whether to help Iberia fight the war or not, he had to decide.

Not to mention whether Iberia has the ability to do so given the current situation. Even if a war really breaks out, the newly established Terra International Conference is not the League of Nations or the United Nations.

Trevor Friston wrote to me specifically to teach me to be "efficient". If the League of Nations sees that you are not following the rules in fighting a war, they may just impose international sanctions on you. If the International Conference led by Trevor Friston sees that you are not following the rules, they may give you a divine judgment!

Roy thought it was unlikely that any Terran nation would want to try this feeling.

"Then it's better to be respectful than to obey."

After accepting Dario's invitation, Roy paused and suddenly asked:

"How many troops can Iberia still recruit now?"

Dario was obviously stunned by this sudden question. He looked at Roy in surprise, hesitated for a while, and then answered with a lack of confidence:

"If you count some retired punitive troops, there are less than 10,000."

Less than 10,000 people, for a country as vast as Iberia, this is almost completely demilitarized.

Moreover, according to Dario, among these less than 10,000 troops, there are quite a few retired veterans. Given their age and disability, it is questionable whether they can be considered a complete combat force, let alone defending the country.

To put it bluntly, the Ursus Army that Roy wiped out at the Baibo River had 60,000 to 70,000 soldiers. Rounding it off, if Roy wanted to, he could even accomplish Kal'tsit's achievement: destroying a country single-handedly.

Surprised, Roy quickly realized that combat units could not be calculated in this way. Iberia implemented an elite soldier system. The combat power of the Grand Inquisitor, who could fight Skadi, naturally could not be simply one-to-one with the soldiers of the Ursus Army. Although the total strength was less than 10,000, if a real fight broke out, they would probably not be afraid of the 20,000 or 30,000 on the opposite side.

However, this cannot conceal the fact that Iberia's military strength is stretched thin.

Seeing that Roy didn't respond for a long time, Dario felt a little uneasy: "Why do you ask this?"

"I was just wondering if we could get a large army together to counterattack the sea, but now it seems unlikely," Roy answered honestly.

This made Dario break out in a cold sweat.

My goodness, I'm still thinking about how to rebuild after the disaster, and you're already thinking about attacking the sea?

To be honest, has Dario never thought about leading a million soldiers to the sea one day to give Haisi a little land shock?

Of course he had thought about it, but he could only think about it. If the ocean was so easy to conquer, the old capital of Iberia would not be submerged in water now.

Therefore, he advised, "Mr. Roy, let's hold off on this matter for now. Under the current circumstances, it will be difficult for Iberia to spare the manpower to form a fleet for an ocean expedition."

Roy nodded in approval: "But what if I can borrow the army myself and solve the Haisi problem once and for all?"

He looked into Dario's incredulous eyes, making it clear that he was not joking:

"I wonder if Inquisitor Dario could help me?"