Skarson remained silent for a moment before sitting up from within the stone casket. He glanced at his left arm and found it had completely recovered.
Only, because it had remained motionless all these days, the muscles and mutated tissue still appeared somewhat slack and lean; yet as he focused his awareness upon it, in nearly the blink of an eye, it swelled and grew robust once more.
Chen Chuan knew what Skarson cared about most was still the state of the investigation. "If I am not mistaken, Mr. Skarson," he said, "this time, you used yourself as bait?"
Skarson did not conceal his thoughts, admitting frankly, "Yes." Then, with an apologetic tone, he added, "I am sorry, Mr. Chen, for dragging you into this as well."
"It doesn't matter," Chen Chuan said. "Upholding the Ring of the World is a duty shared by all nations of the world. However, I would like to remind you, Mr. Skarson, that the International Investigation Delegation cannot do without you right now. If you were to disappear, it would be a profound loss to the delegation."
Skarson said in a deep voice, "My power is not great enough. All I could do was magnify the impact and force figures of sufficient weight to step forward and resolve this matter."
Chen Chuan nodded. While he did not think this method was ideal, without international intervention, it truly was an effective way to break the deadlock.
"Your delegation leader, Mr. Meteora, sent a telegram to both me and your colleagues, stating he would come in person if necessary. Mr. Skarson, I can also inform you that the Great Shun Delegation will support you in this."
Hearing this, Skarson said solemnly, "Thank you."
Chen Chuan understood that rather than thanking him for the rescue, he was thanking him for backing the investigation.
Because in this man's eyes, the Ring of the World could not be allowed to suffer any more breaches. As for whether he himself was ultimately saved, that had probably never crossed his mind.
"This is no place to talk," Chen Chuan said. "Mr. Skarson, let us leave first."
Skarson nodded and followed him out.
When he stepped out of the palace, the blinding radiance outside made him squint. This was not because of sunlight, but rather the Fire of Truth floating there.
To him, this thing was a volatile danger, something capable of aiding communication with certain beings on the other side. Yet he also knew that as long as the New Light Cult was not eradicated, even if this radiance were cleared away today, it would soon reemerge. His long years of investigative work had taught him that one could only focus on a single priority at any given time; if one tried to manage everything, one would ultimately manage nothing.
What he needed to address right now were the acts of tearing open fissures across the wasteland and summoning beings from the other side. That was the greatest threat to their present security. So even though he found this sight an eyesore, he remained silent and said nothing.
Chen Chuan said, "Mr. Skarson, no need to be in too great a hurry. This time, I also found a witness for you. He took part in the operation to capture you, and I hope he will be of use to you."
Skarson was taken aback, then said once more, "Thank you!"
As he and Chen Chuan made their way along the path, they came upon cultists of the New Light Cult strewn across the ground, as well as Samaruga, who was still enduring agonizing torment and had not yet perished.
He could tell at a glance that most of the mutated tissue on this man's body had vanished, leaving him with no hope of survival. Yet under the empowerment of the surrounding ritual, he might be kept alive for another four or five days, or even longer.
Chen Chuan glanced at him and felt the man was suffering far too terribly. Opening his palm, another flash of light flared instantly, and another tremor rattled the mountain summit. By the time the brilliance and sound faded, the man had vanished without a trace.
Then the two batons floated up, drifting before his eyes.
Although the weapons had not accomplished much just now, they were left behind by a martial artist who had crossed hands with him, so he reluctantly accepted them.
Right at this moment, some of the core cultists, having endured the initial agony, finally began to tremble. Their memories were still stuck at the moment Chen Chuan and Samaruga had clashed, and they happened to witness Samaruga's final annihilation. Terror involuntarily crept onto many of their faces.
Yet there was no shortage of zealots among them. Someone shouted, "May the Light of Truth endure forever!"
"May the Light of Truth endure forever!"
As echoes rose one after another through the crowd, these people drew their weapons and stumbled forward, attempting to launch an attack on Chen Chuan.
Before they could even reach Chen Chuan, however, a powerful spiritual shock swept through the area. Their eyes instantly rolled back, and they collapsed to the ground in heaps. Silence promptly returned.
Durozier had made his move. He offered Chen Chuan a fawning smile, his intention to curry favor blatantly obvious.
Chen Chuan cast him a glance and said nothing.
When the delegation members saw Skarson walking over alongside Chen Chuan, expressions of pleasant surprise broke across their faces. The team lead and other members rushed forward, surrounding him. "Captain, are you all right?"
Not only was Skarson conscientious in his duties, but he also used any personal wealth he did not need to support his colleagues, making him immensely beloved by his subordinates.
At this moment, gazing at each of the colleagues looking at him with deep concern, he said, "I am fine. I apologize to all of you for causing such worry."
Chen Chuan spotted several reconnaissance airships appearing in the sky and surmised they had been dispatched by nearby garrison forces to investigate. The New Light Cult was deeply intertwined with the military, so once the military learned of the situation here, there was no guarantee they would not deploy their forces.
He was not afraid of this, but there was no need to enter into a direct conflict with the Federation military right now. Thus, he said, "There is no need to stay here. Report what happened to all parties first. Anything that needs saying can wait until we return."
The people from the delegation nodded repeatedly. Following the two of them down the mountain, they came upon a curious sight: quite a few tourists were holding cameras, snapping photo after photo of a bird, their faces beaming with excitement.
The bird would strike poses with wings spread one moment, and fly up high the next, looking down upon the crowd as though reveling in their adulation.
Skarson immediately noticed the bird's peculiarities, but since it had nothing to do with him, he kept quiet. Durozier, on the other hand, cast several suspicious and startled glances at it.
Chen Chuan paid it no heed. Leading everyone directly into the vehicles they had arrived in, he departed the area.
After bustling about for a while, the robin suddenly lost interest. It stared at them for a few moments, but did not follow this time. Instead, its eyes darted about, and with a flap of its wings, it flew away amidst the crowd's disappointed murmurs.
One day later, in Pacifica State Center City—the largest central city on the West Coast aside from Vea State, and one of the core regions of the Federation.
The headquarters diocese of the New Light Cult was established within this Center City, occupying a vast stretch of land along the coast.
Directly across from the beach towered the cult's grand edifice. Its exterior walls were composed entirely of white metal and glass, glistening brilliantly under the sunlight. Its overall shape resembled a colossal torch, topped with a unique crystal that flashed with dazzling brilliance to symbolize the Light of Truth—serving also as one of Pacifica State's landmark geographical monuments.
Surrounding the skyscraper were complementary architectural complexes. Beyond religious activities, the New Light Cult had developed immense commercial enterprises across this area; almost all the commercial districts and major corporations within Center City had investments and shareholdings from the cult.
On the top floor of the tower, Pope Irose was perusing ancient tomes left by predecessors. He stood a full four meters tall, yet his bodily proportions were nearly perfect. He wore a silver mask that revealed only a pair of golden eyes.
Draped in an elegant, opulent tasseled robe, his fair, slender hands held an ancient scroll.
The cult's adjunct of rites stood behind him, reporting on what had occurred not long ago.
"After Great Shun's Section Chief Chen defeated the cult's protector, Samaruga, he found Skarson, the member of the International Investigation Delegation, in the subterranean palace in Sannoy.
"We originally instructed Samaruga to dispose of him as quickly as possible, but he likely wished to wait for a suitable sacrificial day, so he kept him alive."
The adjunct spoke for a bit, glanced at the Pope, and seeing that he remained silent, continued, "Furthermore, there is the participant Durozier, who took part in cornering Skarson. He has now sided with the investigation delegation and is testifying against us.
"The International Investigation Delegation has already sent us an inquiry telegram demanding an explanation for this matter—" Pausing, he added, "The Great Shun Delegation has also sent an inquiry. We anticipate that within the next two days at latest, the world's major powers will follow suit..."
After finishing, he waited for a moment. Pope Irose finally spoke: "Samaruga is dead?" In the cavernous hall, his voice sounded exceptionally graceful and pleasing to the ear.
"Yes." The adjunct of rites relaxed his taut nerves slightly. "Yes, it has been confirmed."
"What is the cult's plan?"
The adjunct replied, "This was Samaruga's rogue action. The cult can provide a degree of compensation for it. However, the delegation's demands this time are extensive; they also require us to halt sacrificial activities everywhere."
Irose said somewhat casually, "Is that all?"
"Yes."
"Then suspend them for now."
The adjunct attempted to remind him, "Your Holiness, doing so will heavily impact our ministry across all regions, and we also need—"
The Pope seemed unconcerned. "It won't be long. Their attention won't remain on us for much longer." Turning slightly, he said with profound meaning, "The arrival of truth cannot be stopped by them."
The adjunct roughly understood these words. It seemed that with the approach of the Great Impact, the opportunity the cult had awaited for many years was drawing near. Moreover, since it was the Pope's decision, they had to obey unconditionally. Bowing deeply, he drew a circle upon his forehead. "As your will dictates." Then he respectfully withdrew.
Irose looked down once more at the ancient scroll. Illustrated upon it was a chart of stellar orbits, seemingly in slow motion.
Chapter 1133