Chapter 97: Little Devil Luo Ling
As planned, after leaving Jiangcheng County, Luo Ling entered the nearby Realm of Nothingness.
Stepping into the Realm of Nothingness in her original form, Luo Ling realized that only in this form could she navigate this terrifying darkness.
Whether she transformed into the White Witch or her new Naraku form, she would be lost within the Realm of Nothingness.
“It seems my first Authority, Devour, is indeed connected to the Realm of Nothingness…”
A strange thought crossed Luo Ling’s mind.
Could it be… that she was the embodiment of the Realm of Nothingness?
Hiss, thinking about it, it wasn’t entirely impossible…
“Never mind, I’ll find the answers later. My priority now is to contact the Company…”
The reason Luo Ling chose to reveal this ability was, firstly, to explain how she had survived the Realm of Nothingness, and secondly, it was a bargaining chip.
The Company wouldn’t give her what she wanted for free. Without something to pique their interest, she would just be an ordinary employee.
And it would take forever to reach a position where she could access the truth of the world…
Luo Ling couldn’t wait that long.
However, to her surprise, as she stepped out of the Realm of Nothingness, a train screeched to a halt beside her.
She had just happened to arrive at a train station.
Luo Ling turned and saw dozens of gazes fixed on her.
…This wasn’t an ordinary train. Due to the Jiangcheng County disaster, although the world’s rules had partially restored normalcy for ordinary people, the area was still considered a disaster zone.
So, everyone on this train was an Awakened One.
News of the Jiangcheng County incident had spread throughout the Boundary, reaching all Awakened organizations. So, encountering Luo Ling alone here naturally piqued their curiosity.
Soon, the Awakened Ones on the train disembarked in small teams.
“Did the Company send so many people?”
Luo Ling wondered inwardly.
Having controlled the Kingdom, she knew how many Company elite teams were near Jiangcheng County, each member at least a P7 specialist, a Seventh-Order Awakened One or above.
And these newly arrived Awakened Ones… were also around the same level.
Luo Ling remembered Artist mentioning that the Company’s power wasn’t at its peak in this Boundary.
…If this was considered “weak,” how powerful were they at their peak?
Luo Ling suddenly felt that her High-Risk Grotesquery power might not be so invincible after all. After all, the Company had successfully eliminated High-Risk Grotesqueries before. It was best to stay cautious.
The newly arrived teams stood around, chattering in languages Luo Ling couldn’t understand, seemingly discussing something.
She could vaguely make out some English words from the foreign Awakened Ones, but their accents made it difficult to understand.
They seemed to be talking about the Company…
As Luo Ling hesitated whether to approach them, the leader of one of the teams, a tall, almost imposing blonde woman, walked over and extended a hand.
“Hello, miss, I’m Fiona, codenamed Northern Crown.”
Despite her foreign appearance, she spoke fluent Chinese, even more standard than Luo Ling’s southern accent.
“Mm, my name is Luo Ling. I… don’t have a codename yet.”
Luo Ling hadn’t expected her to approach her, but she indeed didn’t have a codename in this form. She couldn’t just reveal her “White Witch” identity, could she?
Even without access to outside information, Luo Ling knew that the White Witch was probably… quite infamous now.
“Hmm? No codename?” Fiona looked surprised. “So you’re… not with the Company?”
She looked in the direction Luo Ling had come from, her expression turning serious.
“Not yet,” Luo Ling replied.
She had received the offer, but she hadn’t signed the contract yet.
Just then, the leader of another team, a handsome young man, approached.
He smiled brightly at Luo Ling and said,
“Miss, you possess the ability to traverse the Realm of Nothingness, correct?”
As he spoke, he erected a sound barrier around them.
After all, such information shouldn’t be heard by Awakened Ones who hadn’t encountered an Authority.
“Ah, yes,” Luo Ling was taken aback. She hadn’t even said anything, how did he know?
“Heh, it seems this young man has a keen eye.”
Fiona looked displeased. She had been planning to recruit Luo Ling, but this Torchbearer had revealed everything.
Luo Ling emerging from the Realm of Nothingness had indeed been witnessed by everyone on the train.
However, ordinary Awakened Ones, unable to see the Realm of Nothingness, had perceived her as appearing out of thin air.
But Fiona and this young man had seen her step out of the Realm of Nothingness.
This meant… Luo Ling possessed the ability to traverse it.
Fiona had assumed she was a special talent of the Company and was thinking of how to approach her when this information was unexpectedly revealed.
The Torchbearer had also overheard and immediately jumped at the opportunity.
“Easy there, miss,” the young man smiled politely at Fiona, then turned his attention back to Luo Ling. “Apologies, beautiful miss, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Cheng Jianming, codenamed Bard.
“I’m from… the Torchbearers. Would you be interested in joining us?”
Fiona’s eyes widened. She hadn’t expected this Eastern young man to be so direct. Weren’t Easterners supposed to be more reserved?
Cheng Jianming maintained his smile, thinking inwardly, If I don’t act now, it’ll be too late once the Company recovers.
In this Boundary, there were about five to six hundred Awakened Ones.
The Company, a global organization, had over a hundred members. Small, independent groups like the Qingshan Psychiatric Hospital Exchange Group had about two hundred members, and the rest belonged to first-rate organizations like the Torchbearers, which also had about a hundred members each.
So, within this Boundary, the Torchbearers’ strength wasn’t inferior to the Company’s.
“I’m from the Fate Society, miss. Please consider us!”
Fiona said, handing Luo Ling a small, printed booklet, clearly promotional material for her organization.
Cheng Jianming also respectfully presented a book with an antique feel, also seemingly promotional material.
Luo Ling finally realized that these two groups weren’t from the Company at all, and she was now in a dilemma.
Fiona and Cheng Jianming exchanged glances, sparks flying between them.
Just as Luo Ling felt flustered, a familiar voice, filled with surprise, echoed from behind her.
“Miss… Luo Ling?”
“Hmm?”
The three of them turned and saw a tall woman in fashionable clothes, her face hidden behind sunglasses, a mask, and a hat, standing near the platform, staring at Luo Ling.
Luo Ling paused for a moment, then recognized her.
“Cen…”
Before Luo Ling could finish, the woman rushed forward and hugged her tightly.
“That’s great, Miss Luo Ling, you’re not dead, that’s really great…”
“…”
Luo Ling raised her hand, then lowered it, her expression softening slightly.
“Yes, I’m not dead.”
After being sent to another train car by Scientist during the battle, she had lost contact with Cen Xiangyun and the others.
Combined with the Realm of Nothingness and the information from Elsa, everyone present must have assumed she was dead.
Cen Xiangyun had certainly thought so, even blaming herself, thinking it was her fault for trying to recruit Luo Ling into the Company. So, seeing Luo Ling now, she couldn’t help but cry tears of joy and relief.
Fiona and Cheng Jianming, seeing this scene, discreetly stepped back, giving them some space.
“Sister Su Wan…”
Cen Xiangyun stopped mid-sentence, noticing the sadness in Luo Ling’s eyes, and quickly covered her mouth.
“I-I’m sorry…”
“It’s okay,” Luo Ling whispered.
She didn’t blame Cen Xiangyun. Even without her involvement, everything that had happened… would still have happened.
Perhaps even worse.
If Scientist and Artist had carried out their plan in Jiangcheng County, whether Luo Ling died or not, it would have revealed her sister’s true form.
And then, even the Awakened Ones who hadn’t been turned into Lambs would have been trapped within the Kingdom, unable to escape.
At least the Realm of Nothingness had bought them some time…
“I know, it’s all in the past now.”
Luo Ling gave Cen Xiangyun a weak smile, which, at this moment, was more painful than tears.
“Honestly, why is the victim comforting the bystander…?”
Cen Xiangyun wiped away her tears, then, noticing the onlookers, remembered why she was here.
Although Lu Fangling felt it unnecessary to deal with the other Awakened organizations who had come to Jiangcheng County, either to scavenge or investigate, Li Shaoheng still felt they should check the situation.
Cen Xiangyun had returned after the situation in Jiangcheng County had stabilized, but because of her relatively low strength, she hadn’t been allowed to enter the city, leaving her with some free time, so she had been sent to the train station.
“These two… should be from the Fate Society and the Torchbearers, right?”
Cen Xiangyun looked up, her expression instantly regaining its usual arrogance, as expected of a celebrity.
“Allow me to introduce myself. I’m from the Company, sent by Senior Spatial Distortion to welcome you.”
The reason she didn’t reveal her own name was simple. At least in the Awakened world, “Cen Xiangyun” was a nobody.
…She couldn’t expect any of them to be her fans.
“Spatial Distortion!”
Both Fiona and Cheng Jianming’s expressions changed slightly. It seemed Li Shaoheng’s reputation in the Awakened world was indeed significant.
Awakened Ones on the Order path were rare, and those who reached Eighth-Order and had encountered a Chaos-related Authority were even rarer.
Across all Boundaries, there were less than ten like Li Shaoheng.
However…
They looked at Luo Ling, puzzled.
Hadn’t this girl said she wasn’t with the Company? She didn’t seem to be lying, and in this situation, lying… wouldn’t benefit her.
Cen Xiangyun instantly understood what they were thinking.
“So you’ve already noticed Miss Luo Ling’s talent and want to poach her?” Cen Xiangyun smiled inwardly. “Too bad, too bad, I’ve already made my move. No one can steal my year-end bonus!”
“What a shame,” Cen Xiangyun put an arm around Luo Ling’s shoulder, feigning familiarity, and pulled out a contract from her briefcase. “Miss Luo Ling has already signed a contract with us. She’s a… eh, is she a regular employee or outsourced?”
She glanced at the contract and froze, her face turning awkward.
“…Wait a minute.”
At the same time, Fiona and Cheng Jianming also looked at the contract, their expressions turning strange.
The intern contract had the Company’s seal and the contractual imprint, but…
The signee’s signature was missing.
Luo Ling hadn’t officially signed the contract yet.
Celebrated too early…
“Come to think of it, we did say she could sign after we settled her sister’s situation…”
Cen Xiangyun broke out in a cold sweat, while Fiona and Cheng Jianming smiled.
No contract, there was still a chance.
This wasn’t an ordinary contract, but a binding agreement witnessed by the Order path, capable of influencing an Awakened One’s path.
Once signed, violating the contract’s terms would result in punishment from the Order itself, severe cases even causing backlash from their path abilities, trapping their consciousness, a fate worse than death.
And trying to exploit loopholes in the contract was impossible, because Order was absolutely just. The price paid by both parties had to be equal, or the contract wouldn’t take effect.
For example, if one wanted absolute obedience from another, based on the principle of equivalent exchange, they would also have to obey all commands from the other party.
“Hmm?”
Luo Ling tilted her head, puzzled.
“I can sign it now,” Luo Ling said, taking the contract from Cen Xiangyun. “As for my sister… you don’t have to worry about it. You’ve done enough.”
Or rather, it had nothing to do with them.
“Wait, Miss Luo Ling,” Fiona said quickly. “Don’t you want to hear our offer?”
“And ours,” Cheng Jianming added, glancing at the flustered Cen Xiangyun. “As far as I know, the Company… isn’t exactly a good place to be.”
Luo Ling hesitated, holding the contract, and looked up.
“Is that so?”
She didn’t care which organization she joined. What she wanted wasn’t a generous reward, but the truth of the world, and a way to save her sister.
Of course, the reward had to at least cover her living expenses.
After all, she no longer had her sister to rely on.
So, it was time to haggle, even if she ultimately joined the Company, she might as well get more out of it.
“Miss Luo Ling, we had an agreement…”
Cen Xiangyun’s heart sank. She couldn’t lose her year-end bonus!
“But you didn’t protect my sister,” Luo Ling said shamelessly.
“…But you just said it didn’t matter!”
Cen Xiangyun’s composure cracked, although she did feel guilty about it.
“Tell you what, prepare your bidding proposals, and I’ll consider them,” Luo Ling said with a serious expression, acting like a seasoned professional despite being a high school girl.
“Sister Cen, it’s not that I’m being unreasonable, but…”
Suddenly, Cen Xiangyun saw a mischievous, almost devilish, smile on the usually indifferent girl’s face.
Was it an illusion?
No, it wasn’t!
Miss Luo Ling’s smile was… wicked!
“Where did you learn the term ‘bidding proposal’? You can’t use it in this situation…”
“Anyway, that’s it,” Luo Ling nodded, returning the contract to Cen Xiangyun. “Let’s go back now.”
“Miss Luo Ling!”
Cen Xiangyun put on a pitiful expression, trying to appeal to their past camaraderie.
My year-end bonus, my precious year-end bonus…
But Luo Ling, having made up her mind, remained unmoved.
“Alright, little Luo Ling, we’ll see you later. We definitely won’t disappoint you!”
Fiona, seeing a glimmer of hope, started thinking about what she could offer to entice this girl.
“Please look forward to it, the Torchbearers will do our best to satisfy Miss Luo Ling,” Cheng Jianming added with a smile.
To poach someone from the Company, they would have to offer something substantial.
After saying that, they returned to their teams, preparing to enter Jiangcheng County.
After all, Luo Ling’s appearance was just a small interlude; their priority was the aftermath of the disaster.
Luo Ling also went back with Cen Xiangyun. Along the way, this beautiful woman, known for her heroic and aloof demeanor in films, clung to Luo Ling like a lovesick puppy, trying to win back this little devil’s heart.
She wasn’t a Company HR representative; she couldn’t offer anything more, even if she added a bit more, it wouldn’t be as much as the other two organizations.
Her year-end bonus… was slipping away…
Beside a burning fireplace, a hunched old man sat on a sofa, his hands gripping his cane.
His eyes were half-closed, his wrinkled face unreadable, only the flickering firelight casting shadows.
“So… we failed…”
Not a hint of frustration in his voice, just a calm statement of fact.
The old man looked up at the clock on the mantelpiece.
The usually lively clock now seemed lifeless, its eyes closed.
The bony hands on the clock face continued their duty, but without the spark of “life.”
It no longer chimed cheerfully like before.
“It’s a shame. This ‘artwork’ from Artist, without its master’s life force, is just an ordinary clock now.”
The old man sighed, seemingly more regretful about this than about Artist and Scientist’s deaths.
“Philosopher, even you… couldn’t save them?”
A clear, childish voice echoed, and a small figure, clearly a child, appeared on the sofa beside Philosopher.
Although he looked like he was only five or six years old, his expression was unusually solemn for a child. He wore a monocle similar to Artist’s and a miniature scholar’s robe.
Besides his appearance, he was a miniature version of an old scholar.
Clearly, he wasn’t just a few years old; his appearance was a result of some “Price.”
“Yes, Educator, I couldn’t stop them,” Philosopher admitted, then added after a moment of hesitation,
“I didn’t dare to.”
“Hmm?”
Educator raised an eyebrow.
Artist and Scientist were different from Performer to the Harbingers of Calamity. If possible, the three Authority wielders would personally intervene to save their lives.
That was how they had evaded the Company’s pursuit for so long.
Unfortunately, Artist had died in the Realm of Nothingness, a forbidden zone even Grotesqueries avoided, a place the three wouldn’t dare enter.
But Scientist had escaped… yet she still… died?
“An attack from a High-Risk Grotesquery, within its domain, a mere avatar… intervening would only make me its nourishment,” Philosopher chuckled. “If it were within my domain, it might not have been able to defeat me, but… never mind.”
Although he had dispelled his avatar in Jiangcheng County, he had left a trace of his perception.
So, Philosopher had learned of the Puppet Ballad’s demise even before the Company.
“However, such a major incident in that place… will distract the Company, which is a good thing.”
Educator breathed a sigh of relief. The Company’s pressure on the Harbingers had been immense recently. With their plans in motion, they couldn’t afford any mistakes.
Although Artist and Scientist’s positions were now vacant, affecting their plans… it was a minor setback.
“It won’t distract them. The Company knows their priorities, they won’t abandon their surveillance of Victoria,” Philosopher said, staring intently at the fireplace, as if trying to see something within the flames. “This is… the ‘Origin,’ the beginning of all Disorders.
“The legendary, mysterious Seventh Path, the ‘Original Path’ from which all six paths originated, its secrets are hidden here.
“Although the Company is blinded by their arrogance, they understand the importance of Victoria.”
The Harbingers’ plan in Victoria was to find the Original Path, to… end this disordered world.
The world had once been normal, with a normal flow of time, a normal distribution of space. Even with the appearance of Grotesqueries, even with the manifestation of Taboos, it hadn’t fundamentally affected the world’s operation.
Until…
A being whose True Name was unknown had exerted its Authority upon the world.
Since the beginning of the 19th century, until the 22nd century, over three hundred years, thirty Boundaries had been created, separated by the Realm of Nothingness, and the world had fallen into an unprecedented Disorder.
This mysterious being possessed the Seventh Path, the Original Path, unknown to any human or Grotesquery, the source of all paths.
Its reasons for doing so, whether to change, destroy, or save something, were unknown.
But some knew that this Disorder had to end.
Even if the Price… was everyone in the world.
This was the Harbingers’ explanation for the Boundaries and the Disorder, and the reason for their existence.
Other factions might disagree with the theory of a mysterious being causing the Boundaries and the Disorder, even questioning the existence of the Seventh Path, but the Harbingers firmly believed this was the truth.
To this end, they had been working tirelessly, siding with Grotesqueries, paying any Price to increase their own power.
Ultimately, to annihilate all Boundaries, to erase these disordered three hundred years.
Even if it meant the extinction of humanity… except for the Harbingers.
But that was fine. The Harbingers had preserved the seeds of humanity’s future.
Philosopher, Educator, Historian…
Artist, Scientist, Performer…
The Harbingers would become the mentors of the new humanity, guiding the new world.
They were the Harbingers of the new world.
This was the true meaning of “Harbinger.”
“But… is it wise to focus all our attention on Victoria?” Educator asked softly, resting his chin on his hand.
“…Not exactly wise, but we can’t always expect the best,” Philosopher shook his head, his gaze distant, then he continued, “However, the Jiangcheng County incident has given me some inspiration.
“Perhaps… we, who wield Authorities, can also create… an incubation barrier, something that should only belong to Grotesqueries?”
Educator’s expression turned serious, intrigued by Philosopher’s words.
“My Traveler, your Demise, Historian’s Unsung,” Philosopher said, his hands moving rhythmically, each movement as if touching a specific point in space. “Like a web, weaving an incubation barrier that envelops all of Victoria.
“To welcome His return, and then… return all paths… to the Origin.”
As his fingertip landed, a flicker of annihilating nothingness appeared, then vanished.
…
Jiangcheng County, a few days later.
After the final investigation, the Jiangcheng County disaster had finally come to an end.
The cause of the incident was still unclear. The current theory was that the Puppet Ballad, the Sequence Forty-Nine Silent Demise Grotesquery, had been betrayed by its apostle, the White Witch, ambushed and killed during its dormancy.
The battle ended with the Puppet Ballad’s complete demise, and the White Witch successfully usurped its Authority.
Finally, the White Witch, using the four hundred thousand civilians of Jiangcheng County as a final, gruesome feast, inherited the position of Sequence Forty-Nine.
…Some also theorized that the White Witch’s actions were a sacrifice, a deal with a Grotesquery, the four hundred thousand civilians the price she paid for inheriting the Sequence.
Shortly after, the Company released the details of the incident, including the Sequence replacement, causing an uproar, as expected.
Awakened Ones in every Boundary were intrigued by this news.
Countless Awakened Ones secretly tried to analyze the incident, attempting to replicate this seemingly impossible miracle.
After all, wielding the full power and Authority of a High-Risk Grotesquery was an irresistible temptation for most.
Of course, only a few were willing to pay the price.
And the White Witch, the center of this storm, was now on the Company’s most wanted list, ranked sixth on the S-rank.
Capturing her alive would grant ten accesses to the Company vault, a Taboo Sacred Tool of their choice, and a Company black card, granting access to all the Company’s liquid assets within the current Boundary.
Killing her would grant all her Sacred Relics and the opportunity to process them, whether into Sacred Tools or potions, along with the black card, but only three accesses to the vault.
Even providing a small piece of information, depending on its value, could grant access to the vault.
Access to the vault was a rare opportunity. Even Cen Xiangyun, with her uncle’s help and only needing to contribute ten percent of the points, had to work for a whole year, plus her year-end bonus, to barely afford it.
Such a reward was exceptional. After all, every S-rank criminal had a long list of crimes, not even worthy of being listed without at least a thousand or eight hundred.
And the White Witch only had one crime.
—The massacre of four hundred thousand civilians.
Luo Ling looked at the information Cen Xiangyun had given her and was silent.
It seemed she was quite valuable. Should she be happy, or sad…?
As for the description and analysis of the Jiangcheng County incident, Luo Ling could only smile wryly.
Even Elsa didn’t know about her sister’s existence. The complete truth was known only to the White Witch herself.
Let the truth remain hidden in the shadows.
However, the Jiangcheng County incident had another consequence: the near-disintegration of the Qingshan Psychiatric Hospital Patient Exchange Group.
Only a few members of the exchange group were locals, like Officer Liu, An Yu, and Ji Shinian. The others had been recruited by Ji Shinian from other places.
Otherwise, such a small place like Jiangcheng County wouldn’t have so many Awakened Ones.
But… they had lived here for a long time, and after Jiangcheng County’s destruction and Ji Shinian’s retirement, the group had essentially disbanded.
Ji Shinian, his ability now useless and his previous injuries worsening, was now living with his ex-wife, Lu Fangling, unable to even care for himself.
Liu Songyi chose to stay in Jiangcheng County for the aftermath, after all, he was the officer in charge… although Jiangcheng County was now deserted.
An Yu, because of her rare Order path ability, had been recruited by the Fate Society, her ridiculous codename “Cyber Girl” replaced with “Southern Cross.”
…It seemed this organization used constellations as codenames.
However, the “truth” about the White Witch had traumatized her deeply, even more so than the Baiyan Village incident, which Luo Ling felt somewhat guilty about…
As for Elsa, needless to say, although she hadn’t said anything in the exchange group, she would follow Luo Ling wherever she went.
The other members of the exchange group had either returned to their own cities or joined the Company or other organizations.
Thus, the Qingshan Psychiatric Hospital Patient Exchange Group had officially disbanded.
Besides these trivial matters, Luo Ling was more concerned about what came next.
Cen Xiangyun’s constant pestering hadn’t been very effective, but the ability Luo Ling revealed had caught the Company’s attention.
Being able to freely traverse the Realm of Nothingness was a power no faction would underestimate.
The Realm of Nothingness was currently a blind spot for all factions; no one knew what was inside, let alone its true nature.
And Luo Ling’s ability had made the Realm of Nothingness accessible, lifting a corner of its mysterious veil.
Company headquarters took this very seriously, directly transferring Luo Ling’s file to them.
As for the other two factions, the Fate Society and the Torchbearers, they weren’t willing to give up either.
Although much smaller than the massive Company,
Their influence within certain Boundaries was comparable.
And after some discussion…
They decided to conduct a joint interview with Luo Ling.
“Such cunning capitalists…”
Not giving her any chance to negotiate, putting everything on the table.
However, Luo Ling wasn’t particularly concerned about the salary. What she wanted was the truth of the world, and a way to save her sister.
Of course, the reward had to at least cover her living expenses.
After all, she no longer had her sister to rely on.
So, it was time to play the field, even if she ultimately joined the Company, she might as well get more out of it.
However, the interview location wasn’t in Jiangcheng County, but a place called “Victoria.”
Where the headquarters of these three factions were located.
After all, Jiangcheng County was now in ruins, and the cleanup would take a long time. It wasn’t a convenient location.
Luo Ling knew almost nothing about Victoria. Li Shaoheng hadn’t told her much, only that it was in another Boundary, a hub for Awakened organizations.
And most importantly, it was the Company’s most powerful Boundary, its influence ten times greater than the current one.
“But… anywhere is fine,” Luo Ling said, picking up the train ticket attached to the file, tracing the embossed, gold lettering and feeling the high-quality paper. “Platform Nine and Three-Quarters…?
“Wait… does this count as infringement?”
(End of Volume 1)
Volume 1, “Weaving Lies”
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