People in Terra, governing a bizarre little country

But Ernst still decided to ask, after all, Kal'tsit was a good storyteller, and maybe she could tell another story with metaphors like the one she told last time, "Theresia and the Tower of Babel - Precys and the Originium Project"?

Ernst walked out of the room, strolled down the corridor, and glanced at the receding scenery outside the window.

He is now on a landship—4—the vehicle Mark Max sent him away from Columbia.

Unable to refuse such a generous offer, Ernst could at most decline the request to directly transfer a high-speed warship to him. However, when Mark Max offered a land-based ship as a second choice, Ernst simply couldn't refuse.

Let's just show it off in front of Ensiodis.

Oh, Ensiodis doesn't seem to be here either.

Feeling utterly bored, Ernst pouted and went into the next room.

This is his room.

Sitting at his desk, Ernst took out the stationery he had prepared in advance and decided to write a letter to Kelsey.

The message was very simple; aside from greetings and concern for Lentinium's situation, the rest could be summarized in a single sentence.

—【Do you know Priscilla?】

Chapter 652 Kal'tsit: Damn it, my mom is still chasing me!

Kal'tsit is under a lot of pressure.

Under the Duke of Windermere's leadership, the allied forces successfully advanced their lines to within striking distance of Londinium. The towering walls were now in sight, and the heart of Victoria was exposed to Victoria's blade.

But Kal'tsit felt no joy whatsoever.

The casualties and infections on the battlefield were extremely severe. Once a true state of war was established, Victorian soldiers disregarded any humanitarian considerations. They were indiscriminately killing anyone they saw or captured. There were no prisoners; any Sarkaz, even those who had surrendered, were executed without exception.

Rhodes Island's work became extremely busy as a result, with the military frequently abandoning wounded and infected soldiers and continuing to advance. These abandoned people had to be taken in by Rhodes Island and a number of medical companies.

Admittedly, the commission is very generous, but reality is not a game. Money cannot be immediately converted into medical equipment to replenish the Rhodes Island land-based ships deep in the battlefield.

This is not the most deadly thing; the most deadly thing is those who are already dead.

In Ernst's previous life, in war, opposing sides preferred to inflict more wounds on the other rather than more deaths. Because a dead person, to put it bluntly, only required identifying them, paying them a sum of money, and then hauling the body away. In extreme cases, there might not even be time to collect the body; a hasty burial on the spot was the norm. But a wounded person was different; they often required many people to treat them, thus placing a greater burden on the enemy's rear.

In the Battle of Iwo Jima, where countless cyber comrades died, the Japanese used this tactic against the Americans: deliberately crippling them without killing them, and even faking wounded American soldiers to lure and kill medics who came to their aid in English. These maneuvers made it extremely difficult for the Americans to capture Iwo Jima.

In fact, the Battle of Iwo Jima ultimately became the only battle in the entire Pacific War in which the U.S. suffered higher casualties than the Japanese.

But in Terra, especially in the war against the Sarkaz, this rule doesn't quite hold true.

Because every Sarkaz who dies, every Infected soldier who dies, every Originium bomb that explodes on this land will attract an enemy that is almost impossible to resist—the Cataclysm.

An environment with extremely high concentrations of Originium will not only cause those who enter it to suffer from Oripathy, and the condition will deteriorate rapidly, but it will also bring natural disasters!

Kal'tsit had observed and assessed the current situation on the Londinium battlefield. If the war continued at this intensity for another month, the Cataclysm would inevitably strike.

Natural disasters have no eyes, no allegiance, and do not only harm the Sarkaz. On the contrary, the Sarkaz, who occupy the super-large mobile city of Londinium, are better able to avoid the risks brought by natural disasters compared to the Victorian army, which can only rely on high-speed warships for mobility.

At least, Lentinium can withstand some minor natural disasters.

Kal'tsit conveyed this concern to the Duke of Windermere and the Duke of Caesar, who had just returned to the battlefield, and received their responses.

The Duke of Windermere stated frankly: "The war will end before Victoria's National Day, and every Victorian soldier will be able to go home for the National Day holiday."

The Duke of Caesar said, "There is no need to worry about natural disasters. If we must consider this issue, you can find a way to help me find the Breath of the Kings from within the city."

The Breath of Kings, a legendary sword said to be able to cleave through the storms and gloom over Victoria. Kal'tsit knew of its existence, and knew that it indeed had the ability to dispel minor natural disasters.

Hearing this, she did feel a little relieved, though not completely at ease.

After all, unforeseen factors still exist, and the current situation of the Shard building that she longs for is still not clear.

Has Heidi sent a message?

Upon returning to Rhodes Island, she immediately asked Ascalon.

Ascaron shook his head:

“Three days have passed since the last message. Heidi said that the city’s security has been upgraded a lot recently, and the intelligence network needs to remain silent for a few days.”

Kelsey took a deep breath.

She desperately wanted to know what had happened in Lentinium as soon as possible, but she could also understand Heidi's predicament.

In everything you do, prioritize your own safety.

She could only give the order:

“Provide them with a message at the contact point, asking them to help find the location of the Breath of Kings if they are still able to.”

Kal'tsit is now very envious of Ernst, who has the help of shapeshifters. If he can persuade the shapeshifters, everything in the city of Sanna will be basically transparent to them.

By then, he'll know exactly how many hairs Therese lost that day!

Are they talking about us?

A slightly curious voice rang in Kal'tsit's ears.

Kal'tsit's ears perked up, and almost instantly, mon3tr burst out from behind her, spreading its scythe-like legs and aiming at the suddenly appearing swarm of shapeshifters.

This includes Ascalon, who stood beside the group of shapeshifters and seemed unsurprised.

"you!"

Kal'tsit said incredulously, calculating her chances of winning.

But the group of shapeshifters waved their hands, signaling her to calm down.

"We're here to deliver a message. We don't intend to harm you."

"But if you're willing to compete with us, then we're not unwilling to oblige you."

Kal'tsit frowned and glanced at Ascalon.

Ascalon nodded: "It's true."

"Which shapeshifters are you?" Kal'tsit asked.

The shapeshifter didn't hide anything: "The one in Londinium."

"What message do you want to convey? Theresis, is there anything you want to say to me?" Kal'tsit asked again.

The shapeshifter shrugged:

"It's about that one."

"The evil spirit of Babel, the doctor you speak of, has he awakened? Have you awakened him?"

Kal'tsit's brow furrowed even deeper. She wanted to retort, "What if I said it was awakened?" But the question involved the Doctor, and considering Ernst's countless misunderstandings and the "accidents" her riddles had caused, she finally suppressed the urge to say those words and instead changed her approach:

"No."

"The doctor is safe now. I advise Theresis not to make a move on him. Otherwise..."

"Otherwise what?"

The shapeshifter countered. Kal'tsit averted her gaze:

"Otherwise, I will take extreme measures."

She actually has nothing that can threaten Theresis.

Theresis has now led himself down a dead end, but even so, he continues on. If a person is not afraid of death, what else can frighten him?

Moreover, Kal'tsit is indeed outnumbered and outmatched. To be frank, unless she yields to Mark Max, she may only have Ernst to rely on.

Ke Ernst, does he understand the importance of a doctor?

He was just a Terra snow leopard who knew nothing about the previous civilization, the Observers, or the survival plan. Could he bear the weight of the Doctor and what the Doctor represented?

Don't make promises you can't keep. Kal'tsit told Theresa these things last time, and what was the result?

She can't lose Ernst too.

The extreme measures are more like an empty threat, lacking any credibility whatsoever.

If she really had to resort to extreme measures, she probably would only consider pulling out the "pre-civilization Italian cannon" to blow him up if Theresis actually stood on the walls of Londinium, tied up the Doctor, and tried to negotiate with her!

Fortunately, the shapeshifter swarm was just talking; they were only there to deliver a message and had no intention of attacking.

"Since the doctor has not woken up, let me relay Theresis's second question."

The shapeshifter paused, coughed lightly twice, and then its form gradually changed before Kal'tsit's eyes. It grew taller, took shape, and transformed into the likeness of Theresis.

Beneath deep dark circles, crimson eyes stared directly at Kal'tsit, gleaming, and the words uttered from her lips were those of Theresis:

"I don't expect you to tell the truth about this, Kal'tsit, but I do want an answer."

"Is the Doctor really the only one who claims to be a god, treats the world as a plaything, and boasts that he can create and control everything?"

Kal'tsit gasped, staring in shock at the "Theresis" before her.

She didn't know where Therese got the information or why she asked such a question, but she knew it was a big deal!

Because it's so big, you have to hold back and not snort, and you definitely can't give a casual answer.

Kal'tsit pondered for a long time, and just when the shapeshifters thought she might not answer and were about to revert to their original forms, she suddenly spoke.

"Yes."

Yes, there was only one person.

This is not a lie.

But it's not entirely the truth either.

The legacy left behind by the pre-civilization on Terra is vast. It is everywhere, from the sky to the sea.

But there was indeed only one person left on Terra.

"understood."

Theresis nodded and then transformed back into a shapeshifter.

Having received their answer, they nodded slightly to Kal'tsit and then turned and left.

Ascalon did not stop them.

Kal'tsit was somewhat puzzled as to why Ascalon seemed completely unconcerned about the shapeshifters' intrusion. But she soon found out the reason.

“Kelsey, Ernst also has a letter for you.”

Ascalon took a letter from his pocket and handed it to Kal'tsit. Kal'tsit took the letter, opened it, and asked as she did so:

"He went back to Shelag?"

"It's on its way. This letter was sent from Colombia."

Kal'tsit nodded knowingly.

It's probably mostly about Mark Max.

The idea that the president of Colombia is some kind of AI from a pre-existing civilization is indeed shocking. No wonder Ernst was so eager to find an explanation for himself.

She was the only person she had ever met who knew anything about the previous civilization.

Upon unfolding the letter, Kal'tsit confirmed her suspicions.

After sending his greetings in the letter, Ernst almost immediately spoke of his meeting with Mark Max and the extraordinary status of the Colombian president.

[What is the pre-civilization? QQ group: Lingqi-Luyisisan≈What was it? How strong was it? What is its relationship with Terra?]

Yes, these problems were all within my expectations.

Kal'tsit nodded in satisfaction; the explanation letter she had prepared beforehand seemed to have come in handy perfectly.

This was one of the few times she had been able to anticipate Ernst's thoughts.

She then looked down.

However, putting all that aside, I actually have one more crucial question.

The key question? Kal'tsit raised an eyebrow slightly, her eyes widening.

Without any warning or hesitation, she saw that last, nightmarish question.

【Kal'tsit, do you know Precyth?】

"Ho!"

Seeing Kal'tsit suddenly jump onto the table, Ascarin picked up the letter that had fallen to the ground and was being treated like a death warrant by Kal'tsit, looking puzzled.

"Dr. Kal'tsit? What's wrong?"