Chapter 820: Chapter 820

The discussion about the missing former B-level Legion Commander of the City Defense Army did not last long, and most of the rumors about him were indeed gossip, with almost no confirmed statements coming from the official sources.

However, it had been confirmed that there was no B-level in the City Defense Army.

Moreover, the City Defense Army seemed to be in a neutral state now, with both the Eternal Secret Teachings and United Industries having infiltrated it, which resulted in neither side being able to intervene effectively.

From the lack of the City Defense Army’s involvement these past few days, one could roughly discern this situation.

And neutrality, in some sense, actually benefited the stronger party.

Now, the strongest force in Wint City was the omnipresent ’Eternal Secret Teachings’.

Of course, United Industries, backed by Rockville Energy Group, also made the Eternal Secret Teachings hesitant to strike against them.

The two major forces were maintaining a fragile balance, constantly clearing out the remaining forces in Wint City.

"Do you know the members of the investigative team that were sent?"

He Ao looked at Gast and asked in a low voice.

Gast nodded, "The leader is not from the Rockville Energy Group but from the neutral higher-ups at the headquarters; this seems to be the result of the upper echelons’ maneuvering. This person is famously anti-cult, and most of his group consists of his people."

"It seems the Federal Bureau of Investigation Headquarters isn’t completely foolish."

Lena sighed, "However, are there influences from factions opposed to the Rockville Energy Group involved?"

Gast nodded and sighed, "That’s the case with Ains."

Countless interconnected forces converged, forming a stable yet perilous network of balance.

Ains was not solely Rockville Energy Group’s territory; for Rockville Energy Group to have managed to suppress this matter and shift to an investigative approach was already the ’elastic limit’ in this complex network of powers.

To push further would require a greater cost.

Clearly, Rockville Energy Group was not willing to pay a higher price on behalf of United Industries.

Of course, it was also possible that United Industries intended this.

"Will the Eternal Secret Teachings know about this?"

He Ao suddenly asked.

"The details of the investigative team members are classified,"

Gast pondered and said, "I know because some former leaders were involved in this case, and since I’m directly concerned, detailed information was disclosed to me. However, it’s likely that United Industries might also have some information."

This referred to information channeled through Rockville Energy Group, which, since the matter was commissioned by United Industries to Rockville Energy Group, meant that it was normal for United Industries to receive the news.

But Gast’s words were not finished; he looked at the map in front of him and continued,

"Given the current composition of the investigative team, once they arrive and see the situation in Wint City, they’ll undoubtedly report immediately to Ains. Then, following standard procedures, it’s highly likely that Ains will arrange for someone to eradicate the ’Eternal Secret Teachings.’"

"So, actually, as soon as the investigative team arrives,"

Lena fell into deep thought, "the situation between United Industries and the Eternal Secret Teachings will reverse? United Industries could quickly use them to eliminate the Eternal Secret Teachings?"

At that moment, she suddenly realized why He Ao had asked if the ’Eternal Secret Teachings knew about this.’ She continued,

"So, it’s very likely that United Industries might deliberately conceal the information that the head of the investigative team is an investigator who detests cults, to catch the Eternal Secret Teachings off guard?"

Gast was taken aback, then nodded, "It’s possible."

Both the Eternal Secret Teachings and United Industries inherently harbored ulterior motives, and it was reasonable for them to set traps for each other.

He Ao said calmly, "Tell them that United Industries has already contacted the Federal Bureau of Investigation Headquarters to prepare to deal with the Eternal Secret Teachings, and they plan to act within these days."

Her subordinates were most suitable for this task.

"You’re trying to instigate division between United Industries and the Eternal Secret Teachings?"

Gast asked doubtfully, "Can that succeed?"

"Eternal Secret Teachings might not be unaware of the investigation team’s arrival,"

He Ao pondered, shaking his head, "The messages being spread aren’t actually intended for the Eternal Secret Teachings to hear."

Gast was puzzled, then it immediately dawned on him,

"Are these messages meant for those fence-sitters who depend on the Eternal Secret Teachings?

"The Eternal Secret Teachings expanded too quickly and haven’t been able to effectively reorganize the entities under their influence. This information could indeed make those fence-sitters have second thoughts. They might not completely believe it, but it will plant a seed of doubt in their minds.

"At the same time, it breaks the facade of an alliance between United Industries and the Eternal Secret Teachings. When the critical moment comes, it may play a significant role."

He paused for a moment, gazing at the young boy’s naive face.

This guy, could he be a little too genius?

But for some reason, as the young boy displayed both strong martial capabilities and outstanding wisdom, his previously anxious heart somewhat settled down.

During these two days of injury, he had pondered countless times on how to break the game, but the more he thought about it, the more he reached a hopeless conclusion.

The enemy they faced was not only strong but also exceptionally calm.

Furthermore, both organizations were equally cunning and brutal.

He now actually had a ’chance to survive,’ provided he was willing to defect to United Industries, become their lackey, and turn into United Industries’ ’blade’ against the Eternal Secret Teachings.

United Industries wouldn’t attack him, and they would protect him, allowing him to become a witness who could ’testify’ against the Eternal Secret Teachings.

He might even gain the ’appreciation’ of the Rockville Energy Group and be recalled to Ains.

But if he would choose that path, he wouldn’t have been sent to Wint City initially.

The reason he felt oppressed and desperate was that, within this system, it seemed his only choices were to be a dog or to die.

But for some reason, he saw a different light in this young boy.

It seemed, this kid could change the world.

He took a deep breath, gazing at the boy before him and said softly, "If there’s anything you need me to do, just say it."

Beside him, Lena looked up blankly, seemingly not understanding why Gast suddenly said that.

At this moment, He Ao slightly looked up, gazing at Gast before him, and smiled, "Good, pleased to be working together."

"Pleased to be working together!"

Gast paused momentarily, his gaze fixed on the boy’s face, and nodded gravely.

Lena glanced at He Ao, then at Gast, scratching her head.

The three of them discussed for a while, then the data from the Security Union regarding the Eternal Secret Teachings was sent over.

He Ao gathered all the information, then left the house with Lena, Gast, and others.

"Isn’t your charm a bit outrageous?"

Sitting in the driver’s seat, Lena looked at He Ao beside her and said somewhat nostalgically.

He Ao looked up at Lena, then realized she was referring to Gast’s earlier offer to help him with anything needed; he chuckled dryly, glanced around, then pointed at an outdoor advertising screen right ahead of the vehicle, laughing, "After all, it’s eighty-five million in charm."

Lena looked up following the direction He Ao pointed, and saw a massive ’WANTED POSTER’ being played on the screen, written on it,

[Extremely dangerous mechanical driver, 85 million federal coins reward, previously active along the coastal routes in the Storm Zone, up to 10 million federal coins reward for providing valid clues.]

Below it printed was a photo of a pristine Fallen Angel Mech standing before a crashed Sky Behemoth taken that night.

It had increased by five million since she last saw it, seems like United Industries also knew they couldn’t catch him, so they symbolically increased it.

However, it seemed a bit stingy.

"The photos turned out pretty cool."

Lena gazed at the enormous Mecha photo.

That night, when the Mecha had destroyed the Sky Behemoth, she wasn’t there, only managing to obtain some fragmentary recordings afterward.

However, from those recordings alone, she could see the critical situation at the time and the Mecha’s impressive turnaround operation.

She knew that the young boy on that night had just emerged from a big battle and had just escaped from the Inner Church with severe wounds.

She turned her head and looked at the young boy beside her, who was now lowering his head to look at the wristband in his hands.

The sunlight hit the boy’s profile, sketching a mix of youthful and resolute features.

Well, indeed quite charming.

"So, where are we going?"

She shifted her gaze forward to people cloaked in black robes embroidered with the insignia of Eternal Radiance wandering the streets.

This attire seemed to be that of the lowest-tier members of the Eternal Secret Teachings.

Lena could distinctly feel the former gang member’s demeanor on them.

They must have been gang members recruited by the Eternal Secret Teachings.

The Eternal Secret Teachings had indeed expanded rapidly.

"I’ve set the route," He Ao lifted his wristband, and several ’points of interest’ lit up on the map, "all the way to the seaside."

Lena looked at those points, deep in thought.

"Locations of the suspected key churches of the Eternal Secret Teachings in the Storm Zone."

Lena glanced at the boy’s slightly excited face and couldn’t help but feel that he was not heading to confront enemies, but rather hunting for treasure.

— Thirty minutes later —

"You filthy unbelievers, the Eternal Radiance will punish you!!! Your souls will be torn apart and immersed in eternal agony!"

Amid a loud bellow and charge, He Ao backhandedly thrust his sword through a White Robe Priest attacking from the front.

Then, glancing around at the bodies of surrounding White Robe Priests, he kicked a hole in the wall and placed the ’sacrifice’, who he had just rescued and who had fainted from fear, outside the wall.

Then he walked to a computer in the corner, connecting his wristband to it.

During the data transfer from the wristband, he casually kicked a glass globe that had rolled on the floor into the air and smashed it with a palm strike.

Amid the flying splendor of the shattered globe, the data transfer swiftly concluded.

He Ao abruptly unplugged the data cable, pulled out a more intensely radiant Corona of Radiance from his pocket, glanced at it, then took a step forward, smashing through the wall.

The black SUV’s door opened just as he approached.

He leaped, jumping straight into the SUV, pulling the door closed.

With a loud noise, the building behind them collapsed.

Lena, hands on the steering wheel, curiously asked.

He Ao nodded, "The Eternal Secret Teachings are still wealthy; let’s hit the next place."

Since last night, after discovering that the glass globe could charge the Corona of Radiance, he had planned out their current activities.

The cooldown time for the "Paper Butterfly" hadn’t elapsed yet, and he was still carrying serious injuries, but dealing with some C-level priests was still manageable.

And behind the speeding off-road vehicle that had disappeared.

Some of the believers who hadn’t left yet were staring, dumbfounded, at the church in front of them, which had already collapsed into ruins.

They had just been listening to the preacher’s sermon here, how could it be that in a flash, so quickly, the church was gone?

Those church staff at the grassroots level, who had just been rallied from gang members, also stood in front of the ruins, at a loss and momentarily unsure of what to do.

Sitting on top of the off-road vehicle, watching the fiery red sun about to sink into the sea, He Ao handed the burger he’d just bought to Lena.

Lena smiled as she took the burger, gazing at the sun setting in the sky.

The red glow of the sunset sprinkled over the sky and the sea surface, as well as on the giant half-submerged mechanical wreckage that still bore marks of black flames.

Some small mining ships were circulating around this huge mechanical wreckage, salvaging valuable items.

The sky, the sunset, the sea, and the giant half-submerged artificial machinery composed the present sunset painting.

"It’s really beautiful."

Lena unwrapped her burger and took a bite, sighing deeply.

She had followed He Ao on a tense run today, and even for a C-level, it was tiresome.

From morning until afternoon, the couple had tirelessly run through more than a dozen churches.

Their actions were swift, spending only a few minutes at each church.

Most of these church preachers were unreasonable; the Eternal Secret Teachings had apparently increased the bounty on He Ao, and upon seeing him enter, they tried to trap him or directly attack to claim He Ao’s bounty.

Most of them exploded with rewards; eight of the churches had C-level preachers, and twelve had glass orbs sealed with the "Grace of Eternal Radiance," although the content of the Grace varied.

Upon realizing they were attacking churches, the Eternal Secret Teachings had even set up ambushes, but He Ao bypassed them; their travel route was specifically designed with several detours, and combined with Lena’s familiarity with the terrain, the Eternal Secret Teachings couldn’t pinpoint their exact location.

Eventually, the Eternal Secret Teachings gave up, instructing the churches in the Storm Zone to cease activities and move valuable items out of the churches, preparing to shrink back completely.

The last church they visited would have been emptied if they had arrived any later.

"It is really beautiful."

He Ao took a bite of his burger, watching the sunset, and gently nodded.

"Are we going to another church later?"

Lena turned her head and asked in a low voice.

He Ao shook his head as, thanks to the enthusiastic sponsorship of the Eternal Secret Teachings, his "Corona of Radiance" and "Phalange Fossil" had regained their full energy.

All the churches in the Storm Zone became cautious due to his actions today, according to the information he saw on a computer controlled by Eve.

All churches with Grace had been ordered by the higher-ups of the Eternal Secret Teachings to lay low, and all the glass orbs had been removed.

The Eternal Secret Teachings had reacted quickly, but because of this, those ’sacrificial rituals’ couldn’t be conducted for a short while.

And as He Ao rescued those who had been ’sacrificed’ to the Kingdom of God, the so-called ’ascending to the Kingdom of God’ process would be further exposed.

His basic arrangements had also succeeded.

"By the way, there’s a fairly famous fleet nearby..."

He Ao reached out and touched the "Paper Butterfly" on his shoulder, which had mostly regained its color.

But mid-sentence, he suddenly paused and looked up, gazing towards an alley nearby.

"What are you guys doing?!"

A somewhat childish boy’s voice came from deep within the alley, "Let go of my mom!"