Enforcer Manual
Chapter 971 - 887: Survivor_2

Chapter 971: Chapter 887: Survivor_2

The archaeological team found that the records at the surface level of the ruins ended there. In the last of those intermittent records, The Bishop alone took the miraculous stone that could create life deep into the ruins.

And the archaeological team unanimously made a decision.

They did not contact the headquarters of the merchants, to report their findings in the ruins.

If the meteorite was as magical as the legends described, why should they hand over this life-creating power to someone else?

Everyone, including the survivor, tried to pry open the stone door leading to the depths of the ruins that very night, knowing that great treasure lay hidden behind that door.

Unsurprisingly, everyone paid the price for their actions.

In the deepest part of the ruins, they witnessed The Bishop’s end.

The depths of the ruins were shrouded in unknown vegetation; as they followed the steep stairs and the guidance of the plants to the bottom, they found The Bishop almost fused with a tree stump.

The meteorite was placed on the altar unguarded, and a wealth of research materials were scattered haphazardly all around.

But by then, people no longer had the mind to care about these things, as they frantically rushed towards the meteorite, seemingly hearing indistinct whispers beckoning them, just as described in the records—as if the God of Life was truly leading them.

When the first person touched the meteorite, the vegetation in the ruins went mad, attacking everyone.

All, including the archaeologists, died under the assault of the vegetation; she saw the lush plants absorbing their flesh and blood, and eventually, everyone became nourishment for that tree.

It was not until a few days later that she opened her eyes from chaos and Nothingness.

Death and pain seemed like a nightmare, but she was still deep in the ruins, her companions gone without a trace, and she herself had become a fruit borne by the tree, bestowed with a second life.

The price was that she had to take the meteorite back to Lute City.

This was the command of the "God of Life."

"Nothingness" took the stone out of the display case and scrutinized it carefully.

Although the abilities were the same, the energy levels were worlds apart.

Their old friend was not here; this stone was, at best, only a small part of her energy, but even so, it was more than enough to create an oasis in the desert.

Then, he tossed the stone to Song Lan, "Better for you to keep it safe. It’s not easy to raise a few excellent crickets these days; I don’t want them to get wiped out by your personal disputes."

If destiny truly existed, perhaps the consciousness remaining within the meteorite knew that Song Lan would come to this place, which is why the archaeologist brought it to Lute City.

And Song Lan and their old friend were undoubtedly the beings who had been closest to destiny.

This made "Nothingness" think of what he had seen in District Four.

Apart from catching up with an old friend after a long time, he had also seen some interesting things.

For instance, Song Lan, as a Law Enforcer from District Seventeen, had actually fallen in love with someone.

This was really unusual.

Although the Oasis is filled with romanticism, believing that every encounter between people is a coincidence, it is not so for those who can glimpse the paths of destiny.

Why District Seventeen, and why at this point in time?

Every link in destiny is intriguing; "Nothingness" felt that every thread was a reflection of the past.

"If I were to use human language, our old friend seems to be in a vegetative state now, and you were the last person to see her," said "Nothingness" casually. "You really don’t remember where her consciousness went?"

"I forgot."

That was what Song Lan said after arriving at the vault, as he pocketed the stone.

"I must remind you that this thing is big trouble right now."

It was foreseeable that the "Father God" of those Worms would send more Assassins to get it, and "Nothingness" knew that Song Lan was a person who despised trouble, a trait that had not changed to this day.

There weren’t many opportunities to coax someone like him into pocketing such a big problem.

It was like walking through the streets of Lute City with a wad of thousands of watts, eagerly telling everyone he was a Big Fat Sheep.

But this actually settled "Nothingness"’s mind quite a bit.

Song Lan’s behavior indicated that he and the old friend hadn’t fallen out. The fall and disconnection of consciousness must have had another hidden story, and he didn’t need to play the role of a worried middle-aged man, trying to persuade them to make up over a drink at the Cloud String Inn.

"Now that our ’Three Musketeers’ are short one member, it’s time to revive the group!"

"I don’t recall us ever forming a group, and none of us are swordsmen anyway."

"We did form one."

Nothingness insisted, the ’Three Musketeers’ being a name he’d come up with on the fly.

As the first and most prestigious champion of the cricket fighting competition and its organizer, he felt ’Three Musketeers’ was the perfect description for their group, since the three of them were the only players in the upper world who had all won the championship.

"According to the latest clues from the Merchants’ Association, the last known location of the archaeologist was the Cloud String Inn in Lute City. It’s time to set off, Mr. Detective Song Lan."

"Hold on a minute."

Song Lan put a hand on Nothingness’s shoulder, immediately exposing his attempt to fudge the facts, "What do the Cloud String Inn and ’detective’ have to do with anything?"

"Ah? Didn’t I tell you before? The archaeologist disappeared the day after she returned to Lute City. The Merchants’ Association discovered she had stayed at Cloud String Inn the night before her disappearance. Surveillance footage showed she never left, and, well, that place happens to be Skull Gang territory. Given their influence in Lute City, they’d have a hard time intervening."

"I’m quite sure you’ve never mentioned it before."

"Then it might be because I’m getting on in years and my memory’s not what it used to be."

Nothingness said, "But you’re different. You’re young, one of the Law Enforcers in District Seventeen, and..."

"And what?"

Song Lan pressed as Nothingness hesitated.

"And your girlfriend says you’re a Jinx Star. She always feels that if she brings you along, even if you do nothing, the criminals will end up exposing themselves... From now on, I’m your assistant. Most people don’t get this chance. I suggest we head to the Cloud String Inn right away. Considering the law and order situation in Lute City, if we go any later, the archaeologist’s body might just get cold."

"You’re an assistant?"

Song Lan glared at Nothingness, who puffed out his chest, responding proudly to Song Lan.

"Typically, an assistant is in charge of combat, just like Zhan Zhao to Holmes or Watson to Bao Zheng."

"...Who’s Bao Zheng?"

Nothingness racked his brain, but he couldn’t recall anyone by that name in the upper world.

"That’s not important. What is important is that, in case a conflict breaks out later, you will be the one fighting."

Before setting off, Song Lan had to lay down some ground rules.

He had already severely violated the Slacking Teaching’s principles and couldn’t let the situation deteriorate any further.

He absolutely couldn’t allow himself to play both the roles of famous detective and combat specialist.

"No problem, partner."

Nothingness was confident, "I’ll ensure that everyone dies in despair and emptiness!"

"There’s no need to go that far; that’s the behavior of a serial killer."

"Then how should we act?"

"For instance, you could attack their joints with grappling techniques, or use a shoulder throw to take them to the ground."

Song Lan illustrated using the scenes he had recently seen in a spy-themed movie.

"Grappling, shoulder throws? I don’t know how to do that."

"You don’t know and you still have the cheek to be an assistant?"

"What about you? Can you do it?"

"...No."

In that moment, Song Lan and Nothingness simultaneously realized a serious issue.

They were so accustomed to using Spiritual Energy attacks that neither knew how to actually fight in a real street brawl.

"Hold on."

Song Lan flipped through his contacts to find Lu Xiang’s number, "I’ll ask for help outside the ring."