People are collapsing, but the integrated strategy is launched

Chapter 36: Jizi: Why does this person speak in such a riddle?

As her eyes slowly opened, what appeared before Jizi was an unfamiliar ceiling.

Looking around, Ji Zi found that she seemed to be in a room of no apparent style.

The light in the room was not bright. It was rather dim, as if taking Ji Zi's situation into consideration.

It seemed that all the old hidden injuries on her body had disappeared. Although her body was still very weak, Ji Zi dared to guarantee that as long as she recovered, her strength would far exceed her previous self.

But, what is the price to exchange for such a healthy body... Ji Zi's mind couldn't help but flash back to the last time she saw Xia Ling before she passed out, and waves of pain surged in her heart.

No, now is not the time to think about these things... Putting aside these complicated thoughts, Ji Zi looked to her side.

The source of the voice just now was a lady who looked young. She had short hair, and some light green was mixed in with her silver hair. On the top of her head, there was a pair of cat ears with a hint of green, and a small ear tuft on the tip of the ear. It seemed that she noticed Ji Zi's gaze, and the cat ears trembled slightly, and the vivid look seemed to declare that this was not a cosplay decoration.

Her doctor's attire was consistent with Ji Zi's guess. She was able to pay attention to adjusting the lighting in the room so that it would not make people feel insecure but also not be glaring. She must be a meticulous person in this profession.

"Excuse me, are you..."

"Rather than talking about these irrelevant topics, I hope you can pay more attention to your physical condition first."

Ji Zi saw the other party glance at her indifferently, then took out a notebook from his pocket and began to ask about his physical condition.

"Wait, let's put my physical condition aside for now. Isn't it more important to figure out our identities? At least you should tell me who you are, right?"

Ji Zi was a little confused. Logically speaking, no matter where the other party found her, even if he took her in with good intentions, he should at least care about her identity first.

"Since you have accepted my medical treatment, your highest priority in my eyes is that of a patient."

As if realizing that he had no intention of cooperating with the treatment, the other party put the small notebook back into his pocket, his tone sounding somewhat helpless.

"But this is also possible. Although I roughly guessed what happened when I saw you, the person involved's account may correct some of my mistakes."

"Out of courtesy, you can ask questions first. Of course, after answering all your questions, I hope you can also answer a few questions for me truthfully. This will mean a lot to me."

"Your speaking style is really... strange." Ji Zi shook her head weakly, trying to better extract information from the other party's somewhat complicated words.

"First of all, who are you and where is this place?"

"My name is Kal'tsit. There were many dazzling or precious prefixes before this name, but those titles are gone now. Now I am just a doctor and a parent."

"I have another companion who is not here now. As for where this place is... I don't know enough about this land to answer your question. Perhaps I can give you the answer after my companion comes back."

Her name is Kal'tsit, she has a companion, but she doesn't know where this place is... Ji Zi quickly extracted the useful information, and then she quickly asked the question that concerned her most.

"Where did you find me? Was there anyone else around me?"

"You were unconscious on a floating rock wall in the imaginary space. As for the specific coordinates, I think this is not the focus of your inquiry."

"As for the situation when we found you, there was no sign of any life activity around you, and the rock wall you were on was empty."

Nothing... Where is Xia Ling's body? Ji Zi's mind flashed with doubt. Although Xia Ling was seriously injured, it was obviously not to the point where there was no body left. There were generally no creatures visiting the imaginary space. She was still thinking about going back to collect Xia Ling's body and bring it back to Saint Freya, but now, this person said there was no body?

"Are you sure there is nothing around...like a corpse or something." Ji Zi frowned slightly, stared into Kal'tsit's eyes, and asked again.

"If you have a clear purpose for your question next time, you can just state it directly. As for the corpse, I haven't seen it."

Ji Zi clearly noticed that there was a hint of surprise and understanding in Kal'tsit's eyes, which made her feel relieved. Although the other party seemed to be still hiding something, it was better than Xia Ling's body really disappearing inexplicably.

As long as she is still willing to communicate, then there is a chance for me to get some information out.

But it was obvious from the other party that she didn't want to answer too many questions, otherwise she wouldn't have such an attitude of a riddler... In that case, why not see what she wanted to know.

Thinking of this, Ji Zi nodded slightly and looked at Kal'tsit: "I can't think of any questions for the time being. Why don't you tell me what you want to ask first?"

"Um......"

Kal'tsit looked at Ji Zi with a thoughtful look on her face.

"Do you know a girl named Xia Ling?"

Ji Zi suddenly felt that her heart skipped a beat.

......

"My Lord Bishop, I have sorted out all the follow-up information about the Far East Branch's attack on the Sky Mandate Headquarters. Please take a look."

In the restored Mission headquarters, Otto sat in the bishop's office and received the briefing from Amber.

"The Far East Branch used the weapons provided by Anti-Entropy to severely injure Xilin, and then Xilin fled to the imaginary space. Wuliangta Jizi and Xia Ling from the Far East Branch chased into it. Currently, the whereabouts of all three are unknown."

Otto skipped over the information he had already guessed and went straight to the end of the briefing.

"Sirin disappeared into the imaginary space, but it can be confirmed that she is not dead. The collapse caused by her has not stopped, and no fluctuations caused by the Herrscher core have been detected worldwide."

"Himeko Muruta from the Far East branch is missing, but judging from her physical condition, she is most likely dead... Well, there is no problem with this."

"Xia Ling from the Far East Branch... confirmed dead?"

Otto raised his head and looked at Amber in confusion: "Where is this news from?"

"The source of the information is our insider in the Far East Branch and Anti-Entropy. The news of Xia Ling's death was confirmed by Yaezakura, so it is highly credible. At the same time, the insiders of both forces received the same news, and they can also verify each other."

"Also, Lady Theresa has been in a very bad mood recently and has hardly shown up. I think this can also be indirectly confirmed."

"..."

Otto looked thoughtful.

"Your Excellency the Bishop, do you think there is any problem with this intelligence? Do you need me to contact the insider to confirm it again?"

"No, the evidence mentioned in your briefing is enough to form a chain of evidence. The intelligence they received should be true." Otto pondered for a moment: "At least, the Far East Branch and Anti-Entropy both think so."

"Your Excellency, what do you mean?"

"But who can guarantee that the news received by the Far East Branch is definitely true?"

"After I was resurrected, I reviewed in detail the arrangements made by Xia Ling during the entire Destiny War." Otto tapped his fingers on the table and said:

"Throughout the entire plan, she never revealed her true plan and purpose to other members of the Far East Branch. And because Theresa trusted her, she never asked for detailed reasons. She just acted as a perfect executor."

"The situation this time may be the same."

"I don't think that a person who can kill my combat-specialized Soul Steel clone silently will die so quietly in Xilin's hands."

"Amber, retrieve all of Xia Ling's files from Saint Freya and seal them up. Set them as top secret. Only I can access them."

"Also, don't cancel her Valkyrie status. Let's just assume she's alive and see how the Far East Branch reacts next."

Chapter 37: An episode full of guilt

"Who did you say...?"

Ji Zi tried her best to suppress the trembling in her voice and pretended to be calm.

"Oh, Xia Ling is her real name. In this world, she may not be called this name." Kal'tsit was stunned for a moment, as if she was afraid that she didn't understand, and then added.

"He's about 1.5 meters tall, short, with black hair and black eyes. He looks a little weak, very cute, and a bit playful."

Ji Zi felt that every word Kal'tsit said was like a knife stabbing her heart. The other party's description was very accurate, and almost immediately reminded people of Xia Ling's usual appearance, but now...

"Can you tell me why...you're asking about her?"

Ji Zi didn't know how she said this. Although she had vaguely guessed a possibility from Kal'tsit's previous words, she still had a sense of escape and didn't want to face reality.

At this moment, she even hoped that the other party would say that she actually had a grudge against Xia Ling, so that she could fight with peace of mind, or do something else, instead of being here... enduring such questioning.

"I want to know her whereabouts. I just said that I can be considered a parent, and the child here refers to Xia Ling."

Almost without hesitation, Kal'tsit gave the answer that Ji Zi least wanted to hear.

"From the looks of you, you should know her, right?"

Without giving Ji Zi any time to catch her breath, Kal'tsit threw out information one after another.

"After all, there are traces of using the End of Time on your body, and you are almost free of injuries now, but your abnormally weak state is the same as the state after using the End of Time."

"The end of time...?"

"You should have an impression of it. It's a pendulum-shaped amulet that is automatically triggered when the wearer falls into a near-death state. As for the effect, I think you have already experienced it." Kal'tsit spread her hands and said, "It's unlikely that this thing will be duplicated. Even in our place, there is only one of this kind."

There is only one...So, she left me the things that saved her life without hesitation...

Ji Zi tried her best to control her facial expression, and even used some disguise techniques she learned when she took the A-level Valkyrie assessment. She didn't want her expression to reveal something, even if it would be exposed sooner or later.

"It seems that you don't know the preciousness of this item. Also, that kid wouldn't say that when he's helping others."

Kal'tsit smiled helplessly, seeming to be used to it.

Ji Zi keenly noticed that Kal'tsit seemed to rarely speak in riddles when talking about Xia Ling.

"By the way, what is your relationship with her?"

Unconsciously, Jizi had changed her name.

"Xia Ling? Well... Strictly speaking, we are not related by blood." Kal'tsit paused and continued, "But for a long time before, I was the one who took care of her. To some extent, I played the role of a parent."

"Xia Ling used to call me Kal'tsit Mom when she was little, but she became more reserved as she grew up, and she changed back to calling me Doctor Kal'tsit."

Kal'tsit added some dark history to the main body as if nothing had happened.

"Later, due to some external reasons, we were separated for a long time. During this time, she experienced a lot and grew up a lot. But I have been looking for her and believe that when I see her again, her growth will bring me surprise and comfort."

Ji Zi suddenly felt her mind go blank. The thing she least wanted to face had already happened.

"Well, I think the answer just now has convinced you that I am not someone who has any ill will towards Xia Ling." Kal'tsit's eyes flashed with excitement: "Then, can you tell me..."

"My child, Xia Ling, where is she now?"

Kal'tsit's question hit Ji Zi's chest like a huge hammer. Her injuries had clearly healed long ago, and Kal'tsit's tone was as calm as water, but an inexplicable pressure made Ji Zi almost breathless.

What should she do? What could she say? Should she tell Kal'tsit that Xia Ling gave her her life-saving props and then died in front of her?

For the first time, Ji Zi felt dizzy.

"You look a little strange, is this a side effect of the end of time?"

Seeing Ji Zi feeling chest tightness and shortness of breath and unable to speak, Kal'tsit asked hurriedly with concern.

"I......"

"Alas, I have already reminded you to pay attention to your physical condition." Kal'tsit did not give Ji Zi a chance to explain and pushed her back onto the bed.

"Rest for a while. When my companions come back, I will prepare some medicine for you to recuperate."

"As for my question...I've been looking for her for so long, so there's no rush. You should take a good rest first."

Kelsey sighed and walked out of the room.

Suddenly, Ji Zi was the only one left in the silent room.

Ji Zi lay blankly on the bed, her eyes empty, staring at the ceiling quietly.

She was thinking about how to explain all this to Kal'tsit, but as she thought about it, she felt that no matter how euphemistic the words were, it would be difficult to conceal the deep sadness of the facts.

Soon, she found that she seemed to have difficulty concentrating, and her thoughts kept drifting back to the time when she was still in college.

She suddenly wanted to go back a few days ago, back to the time when all this had not happened yet. Sometimes Xia Ling would feel sorry for her health and would take over some work on her own initiative. She could then go home early and enjoy a bottle of cold beer while no one was in the villa.

Then Xia Ling would find out after she finished her work, and the other party would snatch the bottle from her hand with a reproachful tone and warn her to drink less. However, Ji Zi would always happily tease Xia Ling by bringing up Theresa's matter and just passing over the drinking matter.

When Ji Zi thought about these daily things that she usually didn't care about, her eyes became moist.

Why couldn't she be more decisive? They were all going to die anyway. If she had charged before Xia Ling arrived, wouldn't it be Xia Ling who died?

She always thought that it would be okay to die, but when her companions died, she realized that those who were rescued often suffered greater pain than those who died.

"Xia Ling, what should I do..."

In the silent room, Ji Zi's murmuring self-questioning echoed.

Outside the door, Theresa had a strange look on her face.

"Kal'tsit, is it really okay for us to bully Miss Jizi like this?"

"Don't worry, I care about her more than you do." Kelsey paused: "But this is necessary."

"People like her who like to burn themselves to pave the way for others should be made to feel the heaviness of life."

"Let her know what kind of pain and regret the survivor would have to endure if she died this time."

Chapter 38 Ji Zi: I am so emotional and you are telling me that I am not dead?