Listening to Meow-Da's description, Andrew nodded seriously.
"A dark red mist... I understand. I'll ask Belle and Wise, who have more comprehensive information in this regard, to help look for it later."
From beginning to end, Andrew had never considered taking on everything himself or attempting to solve all problems directly on his own.
After all, for any Hunter, from the very first day they become a Hunter...
Whether it's the intelligence support of the Scriveners, the hunting assistance of the Palicoes, or the most important forging of equipment by the Blacksmiths—his hunting career could never have been spent fighting alone.
Without these, one can simply never become a complete Hunter.
Under these circumstances, compared to someone like himself who didn't understand the situation that well, it was naturally more appropriate to ask people who understood all the Hollows around New Eridu extremely well.
One had to realize that inside a Hollow, one couldn't rely on Scoutflies.
And as Proxies who ran into Hollows every day, Belle and Wise would inevitably be much faster at finding things that only existed inside Hollows than he would be searching blindly inside.
Although they now had what could be called a major clue, due to the lack of any overly explicit intelligence, Andrew still couldn't resist casting an expectant gaze toward Meow-Da again.
However, regarding Andrew's expectation, Meow-Da racked his brains for a long time but could only shake his head helplessly and say:
"Sorry, Boss. Because I was busy collecting samples and the corpse dissipated very quickly, I didn't have any extra discoveries after that, meow..."
Looking at the somewhat dejected Meow-Da, Andrew, who understood the situation perfectly, didn't feel any unwillingness.
Instead, he immediately reached out to rub Meow-Da's head and comforted him:
"You've already done very well, Meow-Da! You have to know that just this piece of intelligence you provided is directly related to the clue of the Frenzy Virus's source! You've helped a ton!"
Although Andrew's comfort was already very timely, sometimes, a person being too responsible when facing serious business would also bring about a little bit of unnoticeable disadvantage.
Looking at Meow-Da in front of him, who was still unable to stop feeling dejected about not doing better despite the comfort, Andrew understood the situation the instant he saw his expression, knowing him well.
Knowing that the dejected Meow-Da was just drilling into a dead end a bit, Andrew immediately started looking left and right, attempting to find something that could divert Meow-Da's attention.
Generally speaking, in this kind of situation, as long as he helped him find something to do, he would walk out of it on his own very quickly.
But as Andrew scanned the surroundings...
Although he didn't find anything to divert Meow-Da's attention, Andrew suddenly discovered a fatal issue.
Compared to the personnel configuration when they arrived, although Miyabi had already regrouped with Section 6 and didn't need their concern, even so, his side seemed to be missing a person.
Andrew, who finally realized this matter, immediately looked at Meow-Da beside him and asked:
"Wait, Meow-Da! Stop tangling with those small matters for now! Have you seen Soldier 11?! The battle has been over for so long now, why haven't we seen her return yet?"
"Meow?"
Reminded by Andrew, Meow-Da, who also realized a person was missing, immediately tossed his original conflictions aside and snapped back to reality.
After looking around in a circle, Meow-Da slapped his head and realized with a start:
"This is bad, meow! Boss, we accidentally forgot Soldier 11 at the Obols Squad, meow!"
For a moment, looking at the battle line where almost all the Defense Force squads had already evacuated during the time the two were synchronizing intelligence... where was there even a shadow of the Obols Squad?
Inexplicably, Andrew felt that he and Meow-Da were like two parents who were so busy going to work that they forgot to pick up their child from school.
After exchanging an unconscious glance, the two, who had both forgotten about this matter at the same time, couldn't help but look at each other in dismay.
After a moment of silence, Andrew chose to take the initiative to break this wordless stillness.
He said:
"Anyway... given Soldier 11's personality, let's go together to the Obols garrison in the Defense Force to look for her first."
Meanwhile.
In a dimly lit underground structure.
From the outlines that could only be vaguely distinguished under the extremely dim light overhead, one could see that although this underground building had undergone quite a few modifications by this group of people, the main structural framework still allowed one to clearly recognize that this was actually the unified decoration style found in factories built by enterprises belonging to TOPS.
It was just that the people here now undoubtedly no longer had a trace of TOPS members about them.
Aside from those dim lights that were almost ineffective, the light source that truly illuminated this place was the crimson energy formed by the incomparably dense Defilement, which seemed almost substantial.
If Meow-Da were here, he would inevitably be able to recognize it immediately.
This was exactly the same as the crimson color emitted from the Gore Magala Ethereal earlier. Although there was a slight difference in density, other aspects were completely identical.
Although the red light emitted by the strange, tide-like Defilement was eerie, whether by the specific design of someone with intentions or not, the light of the Defilement happened to illuminate the incomparably huge, bizarre symbol belonging to the Originator on the wall.
In the empty and massive space, dozens of people wearing religious garments resembling white lab coats were constantly bustling back and forth in front of various instruments, as if recording something.
And on the bodies of these researchers, without exception, was that same symbol.
All signs indicated that this was one of the large strongholds hidden by the Exaltists, which Public Security had been bitterly searching for over many years.
Unlike those small strongholds occasionally discovered and destroyed by Public Security—where even if they captured everyone, they would only catch two or three ordinary members—this place was different.
In this massive space, there was countless professional equipment, class hierarchies clearly distinguished by the magnificence of their clothing, bodies that had obviously undergone mutation, and bizarre staffs.
And most importantly, the figures standing on the two podiums at the highest point.
As the anomaly amidst a sea of white clothing, Sarah, dressed in a black suit, casually brushed her long black hair, which had fallen in front of her and blocked her vision, back behind her head.
Looking through the intelligence on the mission operations sent back by the undercover agent in the Defense Force, no expression could be seen on her coldly beautiful face.
Standing on her other side was a figure wearing a magnificent white robe, hiding everything under a mask so their original body could not be seen.
However, even though his clothing was already quite magnificent compared to the ordinary congregants, while standing beside Sarah, he not only lagged half a step behind in position but also maintained a humble posture when facing her.
These actions all indicated that he had not reached the highest tier in the Exaltists: Bishop.
Although Sarah, the highest-ranking Bishop, was present, the others on the scene still habitually maintained a state of faintly regarding him as the leader.
He was the original person in charge of this underground base.
Looking at Sarah in front of him, who was staring at the intelligence without saying a word, the man, who was incomparably dissatisfied with the current result, could no longer resist speaking up to ask Sarah after waiting for a long time:
"Lord Sarah! Why did the Originator hand over the duties of Bishop to that woman Isolde, who has absolutely no heart of piety?"
As someone who was equally clear about the result of this operation in Hollow Zero, he couldn't help but say angrily:
"If she hadn't sat by and watched idly during this operation, how could it possibly have ended with such a result!"
But regarding this man's anger, Sarah just coldly lifted her head and glanced at him.
With just this one glance, the words the originally indignant man wanted to say were all subconsciously swallowed back down by him.
"Lord Originator's decision inevitably has its own reasoning."
But seeing that not only him, but several others who were also core members of this area looked like they dared to be angry but dared not speak, Sarah finally spoke to offer a slight explanation in order not to affect the Originator's plan.
"For Lord Originator, as long as his will can be completed, whether one is pious or not is not important. Moreover..."
Speaking to this point, the corner of Sarah's mouth couldn't help but hook up into a cold arc as she said:
"Regardless of whether she is pious, as long as she still wants to complete that vengeance buried in the bottom of her heart, then the only power she can rely on in the entire New Eridu is undoubtedly only the Originator."
As her voice fell, Sarah had no interest in explaining further.
Rather, she actually had no thoughts in this regard from the beginning.
If it weren't to help this Bishop, who had been temporarily parachuted in, to grasp this area more conveniently and quickly, and because these researchers were still useful... regarding these tools used purely to assist in Lord Originator's great cause, she actually didn't want to say a single extra word.
And just at this moment, a phone ringtone suddenly rang out from Sarah's pocket.
The moment she saw the caller, Sarah's cold gaze immediately scanned the surroundings. Her silent look made the people around understand instantly upon seeing it.
The following conversation was no longer something they could casually listen into.
Silently clearing out a distance that was quiet enough, only then did Sarah press the answer button to connect the call.
The next moment, Bolinger's voice, rough and carrying an obvious attitude of sending a punitive expedition, came out from the receiver.
"Sarah, your mission this time did not fulfill Lord Originator's expectations."
However, just as the questioning of the punitive expedition ended, Bolinger immediately exposed the main reason he was so impatient to call.
"Since that is the case, rather than having those resources wasted casually by you, it is better to hand them over to me, allowing me to further complete the goal Lord Originator gave me. How about it?"
Regarding an existence of the same rank as herself, knowing the other party was, like herself, a true, irreplaceable aid to Lord Originator, Sarah's speech no longer held the condescending coldness she had used when facing those subordinates earlier.
Regarding Bolinger's inquiry, Sarah said unhurriedly:
"Oh? Who said I didn't fulfill Lord Originator's expectations?"
But hearing these words, Bolinger immediately couldn't help but sneer and say:
"Being stubborn is useless, Sarah."
His tone became very playful.
Although he was trying his best to make his stuff look gentlemanly, to bystanders, it was simply as clumsy and laughable as a black bear attempting to imitate a human.
It was just a pity that Bolinger felt very good about this posture of his.
He gently counted on his fingers, speaking slowly and methodically:
"First, making the Bishop appointed by Lord Originator submit through this operation. Second, spreading that unique Frenzy Virus inside Hollow Zero. And the most important third, making that monster incubated within Nineveh's body be successfully born."
Gently shaking the three thick fingers he held up, Bolinger's face became incomparably grim in an instant.
A sharpness belonging to his time as a hero inadvertently flowed out of his eyes for a split second as he said in a deep voice:
"In this operation, you didn't achieve a single one of Lord Originator's goals."
"Among them, you actually failed to achieve even that simplest goal of letting the monster be successfully born?"
Speaking to this point, his tone became mocking once again.
"Clearly, before starting, you vowed solemnly that as long as Nineveh was allowed to get close to Shiyu Tower, regardless of whether the Defense Force detonated it or not, the energy bursting out from within could allow that monster to be born. And relying on Nineveh's flight ability, no matter how they obstructed, getting close to Shiyu Tower could definitely be achieved."
"As a result, you guys actually didn't even manage to let Nineveh get close to Shiyu Tower, and Nineveh was already killed by someone halfway?!"
But regarding Bolinger's words, Sarah was not flustered in the slightest.
Her eyes narrowed slightly, and her voice sank accordingly.
"Oh? I didn't expect that Officer Bolinger of the Janus District could understand the matters here in Waifei Peninsula so clearly at the first moment? Thinking of it this way, there must be certain enthusiastic congregants specifically conveying these things to you, right?"
But regarding Sarah's sarcastic words, Bolinger just gave a cold laugh and didn't take the bait, wearing an expression waiting for her to give a reasonable explanation.
Knowing that everything else had to yield before this inquiry, Sarah very quickly gave up continuing this meaningless dialogue and returned to the main topic.
"It's just that, Bolinger, you might have understood one thing wrong."
But as Sarah spoke, the next sentence immediately exceeded Bolinger's expectations.
Returning to the main topic, Sarah was not anxious; instead, her tone directly returned to normal, and she continued to speak unhurriedly:
"Those things you mentioned were never Lord Originator's true purpose. These were merely some minor details."
"What?"
Hearing this, Bolinger couldn't help but frown.
His sitting posture, originally mocking and carrying a smugness, also changed back to a normal state in an instant.
For a time, Bolinger's face was uncertain, not knowing if Sarah was just being stubborn or if it was really as she said.
After all, as the person in the Exaltists who had currently followed the Originator for the longest time, and was also publicly recognized as the most fanatical among everyone...
Her understanding of the Originator's will was indeed the strongest among everyone.
After hesitating for a moment, he ultimately chose not to continue mocking, but chose to wait quietly for Sarah's explanation through silence.
And regarding Bishop Bolinger, who was of the same rank as her, Sarah did not hide it.
She spoke casually:
"Actually, in this operation, Lord Originator's goal was already completed the moment Nineveh appeared."
Amidst Bolinger's somewhat surprised gaze, Sarah continued to speak:
"That was to confirm whether this unique virus could truly birth a new monster through parasitism, and whether that monster glimpsed in the memories truly exists."
Recalling that time when they found and began researching this unique virus...
Because of an accident where it came into contact with Defilement by chance, causing it to reproduce that memory scene hidden deep within the DNA, allowing them to catch a glimpse of that white figure with wings on its back.
In the image, under the bright moonlight, the pitch-black body transformed as if molting into a pure white that surpassed the extreme of moonlight.
And beneath Him was a purgatory akin to a natural disaster.
No, not akin to.
After that black phosphorous powder flowed past like a tide, all living creatures couldn't help but slaughter each other, finally leaving behind only a terrifying scene of corpses covering the ground.
That was undoubtedly the incarnation of a natural disaster in the truest sense.
Recalling that image which had only appeared for an instant before disappearing completely, never to be found again, Sarah's eyes couldn't help but become somewhat blurred for a time.
The moment she saw that image, she was already certain.
"Compared to that body of the Qingming Sword's wielder originally designated by Lord Originator, which still needs to grow and develop..."
"In the virus's memories, that perfect existence which has never appeared in this world—where holiness, power, terror, and tyranny coexist—should be the most perfect vessel for Lord Originator to possess when he descends!!"
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