MCL CH71

Chapter 71: This game, it seems, is getting...

On the top floor of the office building.

“You’re welcome, it was my mistake… Yes, I wish you a successful operation.”

Hanging up, Primo placed his phone aside, his fingertips drumming silently on the desktop.

A sudden silence fell upon the room.

The assistant beside him glanced at the director’s expression and asked, “Did Executive Gu call to hold you accountable?”

“It was my fault in the first place for letting their X-coded evolver enter an S-rank rift alone without notifying the Hua nation’s side. It’s perfectly normal for Gu Beiqiu to be dissatisfied. After all, if we put ourselves in their shoes, if this had happened to Country A, the situation would likely have become much uglier. In this regard, I actually admire Gu Beiqiu’s composure.”

As Primo spoke, he slowly looked up. “What I’m more concerned about are the arrangements they’ve made. Su Qiuyin’s ability basically makes him the number one evolver below the X-code level. The Hua nation’s other X-coded evolver is not suited for combat. Under these circumstances, it’s reasonable for Gu Beiqiu to summon Su Qiuyin for support. What surprises me now is that in the mission application he submitted this time, besides Su Qiuyin, there is actually another person.”

A trace of surprise flashed through the assistant’s eyes. “So they’ve also arranged for another director from the United Administration.”

“The key is that this person doesn’t seem to be from the United Administration. At least, I’ve never heard of a ‘Lin Ni’ before.” Primo noticed the change in his assistant’s expression and raised an eyebrow with interest. “What, you know this name?”

The assistant said, “Well… do you remember a while ago when the Hua nation reported the awakening of a new special-grade evolver? I saw the submitted documents back then, and if I’m not mistaken, his name was Lin Ni.”

“A new special-grade?” Primo pondered for a moment. “To be arranged to participate in an operation with Su Qiuyin at a time like this… it seems the Hua nation’s evolver domain has gained another great general.”

He chuckled softly. “Are there any specific details on him? Pull them up for me.”

The assistant replied, “I’ll have them sent to you right away.”

At the same time.

At the entrance of the S-rank rift.

“Achoo—!” Lin Xi tilted his head back and let out a forceful sneeze, rubbing the tip of his nose with a puzzled expression.

Strange, is someone talking about me behind my back?

Or has something happened on Yan Xingzhou’s end?

Watching Su Qiuyin conduct the final handover with other staff members before entering the rift not far away, he felt his phone vibrate twice in his pocket. He took it out and saw it was a text message from Ju Ze.

After leaving Gu Beiqiu, Lin Xi had immediately contacted Ju Ze to ask about Yan Xingzhou’s specific situation before he entered the rift.

Based on the feedback, it was clear that Yan Xingzhou had given explicit instructions before his departure. Thus, in Ju Ze’s telling of the whole event, although the cause and effect were complete, there was no mention of Joseph also entering the rift. If Gu Beiqiu hadn’t happened to find him this time, it was clear the news had been deliberately sealed off to keep it from him.

Skimming through the massive text message, which was practically a text bomb, Lin Xi couldn’t help but let out a sardonic laugh.

Yan Xingzhou, oh Yan Xingzhou, you really know how to take everything upon yourself, just like always.

That guy Joseph might not amount to much, but in an environment as unpredictable as an S-rank rift, rushing in so recklessly is just being too conceited.

“We’re going in. Are you ready?”

Hearing Su Qiuyin’s words, Lin Xi calmly turned off his phone screen. “I’m ready anytime. Let’s go.”

Their temporary base was located five kilometers away from the rift entrance. Although evolvers were not afraid of contamination radiation, the contamination levels in the area around the S-rank rift were simply too high, forcing them to set up a monitoring station from a distance to be ready for any sudden situations.

Before Lin Xi and the others arrived, the various continents of Country A were not only dealing with the sudden collective outbreak of rifts but were also continuously dispatching people here. After all, a top-tier evolver like Samuel was already trapped in this rift. Although it was basically like throwing an egg at a rock, once this S-rank rift was fully opened, these evolvers would be the last line of defense for the residents of the cities on every continent.

Getting into the vehicle heading for the rift entrance, Lin Xi watched the figures continuously receding from his vision, his usually casual and carefree expression turning slightly more serious.

For a long time, outsiders had always said that active-duty evolvers enjoyed excellent benefits and drew a fat paycheck for doing nothing, but in reality, behind every peaceful facade, everyone was waiting for the day they would have to charge into battle.

After getting out of the car, Lin Xi followed behind Su Qiuyin, and they entered the rift one after the other.

This was the umpteenth time he had entered a rift, and this time, it was truly worthy of being an S-rank rift. During the entry process, he could feel a strong wave of contamination radiation coming at him, completely sweeping over his entire body.

During this, it felt as if some force was constantly drilling into his pores. This made him slowly close his eyes and take a deep breath to prevent the cells in his body from becoming completely excited in the process.

Silently, black thorns swayed and grew from his neck, then quietly receded.

Lin Xi opened his eyes again and met Su Qiuyin’s gaze. He heard the man ask with rare concern, “How do you feel?”

“I’m fine.” Lin Xi knew Su Qiuyin had misunderstood, thinking he was hit by the contamination level. He shook his head, trying hard to suppress the faint, trembling excitement in his voice as he replied.

He lifted his eyelids slightly, his gaze sweeping over the surrounding environment, and calmly changed the subject. “I didn’t expect it to be so spectacular in here.”

Su Qiuyin remained noncommittal, but a voice echoed in his mind: Spectacular? I think it’s just so-so. No matter what, it’s just an S-rank. Can it be more spectacular than the world I created?

Lin Xi followed unhurriedly behind Su Qiuyin. Hearing these words, he asked with interest, “From the sound of it, you seem to know the contaminant here.”

There was a strange silence in his mind for a moment. After a full ten seconds, Calamity spoke again: [Who would want to know this jinxed thing.]

Lin Xi raised an eyebrow.

So you do know it.

[His name is ‘Abyss’. In our world, you should be well aware of what it means to have an independent name. This guy is just as infamous in the contaminant world. This very place you’re in was created by piecing together the inner worlds of many other contaminants.]

Just from the words, one could hear Calamity’s overflowing disdain for the master of this S-rank rift. After finishing, his complaining tone suddenly vanished, replaced by a rare seriousness as he warned: 

[But if it’s him, it’s not strange that he can trap a few X-coded evolvers in his territory. If your main purpose this time is to get people out, it’s best to leave immediately after you find them. You must try to avoid direct contact with him as much as possible.]

Hearing this, Lin Xi couldn’t help but let out a light laugh, his expression showing genuine interest. “And what would happen if I did make direct contact?”

[…How old are you, do you have to be so rebellious? Believe me, that thing Abyss is not like me.]

Lin Xi asked, “How is he different?”

He’s especially twisted!

Lin Xi thought for a moment. “Isn’t that the same then?”

…………

The voice in his mind was clearly trying very hard to hold back from cursing. [Especially! Didn’t you hear me? He’s ES-PE-CIAL-LY TWIST-ED!!!]

As if not hearing the emphasis, Lin Xi said slowly, “Calamity.”

[Hmm?]

Lin Xi asked, “Don’t you find this scene a bit familiar?”

[Huh??]

Lin Xi smiled. “Of course, I can also understand your mood of not wanting to face an old ‘friend’ in such a wretched state, but now that we’re here, are you sure you can really hide?”

Clearly realizing the meaning behind Lin Xi’s words, his mind fell into a complete, resigned silence.

Lin Xi looked up at the bottomless, reddish-black sky in the distance.

Just as Calamity had said, the sky in this rift was filled with constantly changing colors, as if pieced together from countless discordant worlds. And the “King” of this inner world, at this very moment, was perhaps also looking in their direction.

During the process of entering, he could clearly feel the strong contamination aura that was constantly luring him.

Likewise, it was impossible for Abyss not to feel it.

It wasn’t a bad thing.

Worst case, they could just compete to see who was more “twisted” in the end.

As if feeling an invisible pull, where Lin Xi’s gaze landed, the deep black clouds at the end of the horizon began to surge silently.

In the depths of a dark castle, the tall figure sitting on a black and gold throne moved slightly.

This scent is?

His scarlet pupils narrowed slightly, and a sudden smile revealed the sinister fangs in his mouth. “Calamity? I didn’t go looking for you, you wretched thing, yet you came to my doorstep on your own. And, you even appeared with a human evolver.”

The low, hoarse voice continuously struck the surrounding walls in the empty space, faintly echoing. “This game, it seems, is getting interesting.”

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