Chapter Thirteen Countdown Thirteen
“Excuse me, is this Miss Lan Yi?”
Lu Yibei stared at the mobile phone screen, momentarily stunned.
Who could it be? Who has my contact information?
This phone number of his was quite special; in his memory, only Jiang Li, Jumeng, Bai Kai, and Professor Ma… right, and also Uncle Zhang Shan. Only close people would know this contact information, but they couldn’t possibly know about Lan Yi’s existence.
Jiang Li had just sent a message, Jumeng and Water Brother both had self-preservation abilities…
Could it be Professor Ma or Uncle Zhang Shan?
d*mn it, did something happen to them?
No, no! If it were some person or urban legend that had captured one of them, got the contact information from them, and sent a message during this sensitive time just before the video was about to be released, to achieve some hidden agenda, they wouldn’t use the identity of Lan Yi.
If they wanted to trade or blackmail, the “Calamity” being tracked by various spirit energy organizations is of far more value than “Lan Yi,” isn’t it?
Lu Yibei thought, his fingers gently touching the screen as he typed a message in response.
“My friend, since you know me as Lan Yi, you should be well aware that, given my personality, I despise those who are secretive. If there’s something to say, why not say it directly?”
Although it was possible that someone or an urban legend had noticed the connection between the remaining alias of Lan Yi and “Lu Yibei,” at this sensitive moment just before the video was about to be released, Lu Yibei still decided to put on the Lan Yi alias.
“…”
In such times, he could not be influenced by any external factors.
As long as the video was smoothly released, those who watched the video, influenced by cognitive interference, would definitely believe that the calamity had died…
At worst, he would never use the Lan Yi alias again! Lu Yibei thought.
Just as he pondered, the phone vibrated again, receiving a new message.
“I just want to ask you for a favor, something related to the Elders’ Council of the Solar Eclipse Society… I know that the Lan Yi Party has long-standing grievances with the Elders’ Council. The enemy of my enemy is my friend; I believe you would be willing to see the Elders’ Council suffer, right?”
After reading the new message, Lu Yibei was even more confused.
The other party was actually discussing partnering with him against the Elders’ Council of the Solar Eclipse Society and seemed to really regard him as Lan Yi.
“What favor? Tell me more. If it’s just some petty trouble, I’m not interested in fooling around with you.”
Lu Yibei replied to the other party again, just as the message “Delivered” appeared on the screen, footsteps came from the direction of the entrance to the Moon Cave.
It was Zhang Huainan returning. Without thinking much, he instinctively put away his phone.
Back inside the Moon Cave, Zhang Huainan showed a kind smile to Lu Yibei, who was waiting on the meditation cushion. “As promised, they’ll help you prepare a new identity over there, don’t worry. However, you must try to avoid using urban legend powers in front of people in the future to prevent exposure.”
“Now I can release that video, right?”
“Yes, thank you, senior.” Lu Yibei nodded. “I’ll leave the video logistics to you.”
The old man only mentioned to try to avoid using it in front of others…
In other words, it could be used in case of necessity, and behind the scenes, it could still be utilized, right?
That’s right! Actually, as long as he dealt with all the witnesses, it shouldn’t be considered using it in front of others, right?
Thinking this way, wasn’t that just a huge limitation? Lu Yibei thought secretly.
————
[“d*ath of Calamity” Countdown: 1H26M36S]
At the Siye Association Headquarters, in the office of the Wordless Book.
The Wordless Book sat solemnly at her desk, with three secretaries, including Wu Yuhui, sitting across from her.
“I just received confirmed news that the guardian [Black Emperor] has personally taken action and successfully hunted the urban legend Calamity, and I have recorded the final footage of the hunt,” the Wordless Book calmly said. “Everyone, please prepare to contact the leaders of the major spirit energy organizations according to the previously established procedures!”
“Additionally, Wu Yuhui…”
“Uh, yes, I’m here!” Wu Yuhui raised her hand.
The Wordless Book nodded slightly. “Prepare accordingly. Once the two of them finish contacting the leaders of the major spirit energy organizations, we can release the announcement of the successful hunting of the Calamity on the intranet. Can you draft the content of the announcement? Two hours should be enough, right?”
Wu Yuhui, “…”
She wanted to say it wasn’t enough; the announcement involved the strongest guardian of the Siye Association and a Cataclysm-grade urban legend. The details couldn’t afford the slightest error. To submit a perfect report might not even take two days, let alone two hours.
However…
Who told her she was just a struggling “worker”?
No matter how difficult her boss’s tasks were, she still had to grit her teeth and carry on, right?
She really couldn’t take it anymore! After this year, she’d apply to transfer out of the headquarters and return to her hometown in the Siye Association… Wu Yuhui thought, nodding at the Wordless Book.
————
After assigning tasks to the three secretaries, the Wordless Book left the office alone and headed south, arriving at an automated vending machine with internet connectivity. She placed her hand on the screen of the vending machine and activated her spirit energy, establishing a connection through the subtle awareness with the power of the Void.
Wordless Book: “[Black Emperor] has processed the video, let’s meet later? I’ll hand over the edited video to you… Remember! The process of disseminating the video must only go through your hands, and absolutely must not let those urban legends under you come into contact.”
Showing that segment of video to the leaders of the major spirit energy organizations was just the first step. To ensure that more spirit energy users and urban legends knew and believed that the Calamity had been killed by the Black Emperor, it also had to go through the hands of the Void.
Void: “Okay, got it, sister, no problem, sister! [Little Dog Cuddly Emoji]”
Void: “But, sister, can I ask a question? How did that lord add a special buff to that video?”
Wordless Book: “You’re indeed being nosy.”
Wordless Book: “But it won’t hurt to tell you a few things; anyway, you won’t be able to learn [Black Emperor]’s methods… Do you know how to hold a ritual?”
Void: “…”
Meanwhile, back in the old nest, Void looked at the floating text on the illusory screen before him, his mouth twitching.
Holding a ritual to apply a special buff to a video file…
What kind of operation was this? It could be played like this?
To be frank, this really touched on his blind spots in knowledge and ability. Just imagining an old man with white hair and a celestial demeanor, holding a ritual around a USB stick containing the video file, chanting spells to apply buffs, he found it bizarre.
That old man, what kind of cyber spirit energy user was he?
————
[“d*ath of Calamity” Countdown: 0H42M5S]
Back in the office, after dismissing others, the Wordless Book activated her powers and took out a volume titled “Missing Operative Directory,” preparing to review it carefully.
As night grew long and urban legend incidents increased, many operatives stationed in various cities of the Siye Association would either d*e during missions or vanish without a trace, leaving their fate uncertain.
Due to the special identities of the Siye Association operatives, even though everyone knew they made significant contributions before their deaths or sacrifices, and sacrificed much, the vast majority could not leave behind their real identities or names.
From a certain perspective, the “Missing Operative Directory” in the Wordless Book’s hands was the most authentic and final record they left in this world.
When Zhang Huainan had come to her asking for help in fabricating a new identity for the Calamity, the first thing that came to her mind was this directory.
Selecting an operative among the missing Siye Association members whose behavioral habits resembled the Calamity’s would not be difficult.
Hopefully, after assuming the identity of a missing operative, that guy could be compliant and not tarnish someone else’s identity!
If they could use their identity to do some beneficial things, that would be even better…
That’s right! Assuming the identity of those operatives and not continuing their unfinished business, how could that be allowed?!
The Wordless Book thought, opening the “Missing Operative Directory.” She had just glanced at two pages when she frowned.
This “Missing Operative Directory” was formed by her powers, and the more recent the recorded information was, the newer it was. The four or five people listed on the first two pages were all operatives who went missing within the past week.
Among the recently missing operatives, she noticed a particularly unique entry—Yu Yinchuan, codename Golden Toad Boy, spirit energy fluctuation level A, spirit pattern [Three-legged Golden Toad], went missing five days ago while on an investigation mission, with no sight of him alive or his corpse…
The Wordless Book had a deep impression of this operative who was under the guardian [God of Wealth]. When [God of Wealth] was busy dealing with the god of virtual currency, it was Golden Toad Boy who represented [God of Wealth] at various meetings.
However, simply being trusted and valued by [God of Wealth] was not why she paid special attention to Golden Toad Boy; the real reason was that he had gone missing while investigating a “God Kidnapping” incident, and in his last mission report before going missing, he mentioned he was about to go to the Free City for investigation.
Free City… Yu Yinchuan… Calamity… The Wordless Book silently recited these names, biting her lip.
Speaking of it, Yu Yinchuan was actually quite similar to the Calamity in many other aspects besides being somewhat impulsive.
He was unpredictable, flamboyant, always had some clever ideas, and even enjoyed playing “Love and Magic Girl.”
Hmm, Yu Yinchuan would probably enjoy playing it, right? Otherwise, there wouldn’t be a long list of recharge records in his files every month.
That being said, could it be possible for the Calamity to assume Yu Yinchuan’s identity and go to the Free City?
He could investigate Yu Yinchuan’s whereabouts while discreetly probing into the Solar Eclipse Society’s laboratory…
Getting the Calamity out of the territory of Z Country would also maximize the avoidance of the eyes and ears of various spirit energy organizations; their spies should not be able to extend across the ocean.
After a brief thought, it seemed she had made a decision; the Wordless Book nodded.
Next, the only issue would be finding a way to have the Calamity cooperate with the operation…
