Chapter 282: Mission Accomplished?
Chapter 282: Mission Accomplished?
"The situation outside... is going smoothly for now."
As he watched the burned man drag out a struggling sniffer, who was quickly subdued and knocked unconscious, Lyon couldn't help but relay the peculiar scene:
"A sniffer just came out with a cigarette in his mouth, probably taking a break. He conveniently opened the cabin door for us, but... um... the bottle attached to your butt, Senior Piony, got knocked down by the opening door. It's probably fallen off the tower by now."
"..."
"Don't worry, Senior Piony."
Sensing the complex emotions of the "Little Silver Person" senior, Lyon quickly reassured her:
"To prevent anyone from attacking the airship's gas bags with long-range weapons, a large area beneath the boarding tower is restricted. Your butt shouldn't fall into the wrong hands. Once we finish here, we'll go down the tower immediately to retrieve it! I promise we'll get your butt back."
"..."
It was more about the butt itself... but mainly the thing in front of it. That couldn't be lost!
"Okay... alright."
Having finally boarded the private ship, with the mission almost complete, it wouldn't do to have a group of people immediately go looking for her butt. Piony reluctantly instructed them:
"You'd better hurry. The feeling of not having a butt... is really strange."
"Don't worry, Senior. So far, aside from the unexpected incident with your butt, everything has gone very smoothly. This mission will be over soon."
After comforting the little silver person who had lost her beloved butt, Lyon, to prevent any further mishaps, handed the thermos to the burly burned man to carry, while he himself checked the situation inside the airship by touching the small section of the horn protruding from his sleeve cuff.
Soon, as the mirror world before him slightly rippled, the locations of the soul flames, one by one, were directly "marked" by the black goat's soul vision.
"There are five people in the front cabin, probably the operators of the airship. Twenty-three people are in the rear cabin, likely guards escorting the mineral samples. Only eleven people are in the middle cabin, and they're spread out."
Accordinging to the airship's blueprints, the middle cabin is divided into many small rooms. Those with private rooms on a private ship should be the sniffers."
After summarizing what he "saw," Lyon began to assign tasks:
"A little further ahead should be the cargo hold. Next, use your spatial abilities to twist this unconscious sniffer into the cargo hold and lock the door.
Then, we'll head down the corridor to the front cabin's control room and close all the airlocks between the cabins to prevent the guards in the rear cabin from coming out. Finally, we'll go back to the middle cabin to find the remaining sniffers and alter their memories... Any questions?"
"No."
"Simple!"
If it were a task like giving a speech to win votes, the chaos party members might struggle, but when it came to infiltration, sabotage, and attacking targets, this group of old "criminals" were experts.
As soon as Lyon finished speaking, except for Lucy and Phoebe, who were only responsible for memory alteration, the rest of the group swiftly and silently entered the cargo hold, moving as quietly as cats.
Within twenty seconds of their souls reaching the control room, as seen through Lyon's soul vision, the five operators had already lost consciousness, and the airlocks between the cabins were swiftly closed.
Their infiltration skills were far superior to his own.
After admiring the group's efficiency, once the others returned from the front cabin, Lyon led Lucy and Phoebe into the middle cabin of the airship. The sniffers, having just noticed the anomaly, had barely stepped out of their rooms when they were each struck by the mental shockwave of the 【Holy Spirit Pendant】, causing them to roll their eyes and faint one by one.
The operation was executed with such fluidity...
In less than a minute since they had boarded, they had controlled the entire length of the airship, exceeding 300 meters, and successfully subdued all critical targets. Lyon nodded in satisfaction and, while Lucy and Phoebe altered the sniffers' memories, he led the group into the sniffers' rooms to retrieve their scouting reports.
...
【Report Number: 941001】
【Location: Northern parts of Lane County and Merino County, Hespit Volcano Group, Gray Ridge Valley】
【Objective: Geothermal Hotspot Investigation】
【Leader: Isaac Asimov】
【Geological Conditions: Primarily composed of basalt and andesite, making excavation difficult...】
【...】
【Quality Analysis: A-, presents significant processing challenges, requiring the construction of an S-rated mega-mining facility and all related infrastructure...】
【Estimated Reserves: SS+, under stable geological conditions, the crustal energy can provide semi-permanent energy output, with a total duration expected to exceed 300 years...】
【Value Assessment: Standard cooperative mining is rated B+, while extreme special extraction is rated S-.
However, under extreme extraction conditions, it can satisfy over 80% of the current energy demand, but it will cause catastrophic damage to the environment within a 12,000 square kilometer area. The ash-laden dust cloud will also travel west along the ocean monsoon, resulting in years of acidic rainfall... The cost is too high, so it is advised to abandon this method.】
Geothermal hotspots, volcanoes... It seems this is the report I'm looking for.
Amidst a pile of scout reports, Leon successfully found his target and couldn't help but heave a sigh of relief. He then rubbed his cufflinks, took out a small bottle, unscrewed it, and poured its contents onto the report.
"Plop!"
With a sticky sound, a black and white worm-like creature fell onto the report, wriggling around as if still half-asleep.
【Name: Bookworm Larva (Knowledge, Simulation)】
【Appearance: A ring-shaped worm with a thickness of a little thumb, its color automatically adjusts to match the paper's natural color and the color of the text. The lower part of its body is covered in numerous strange organs resembling octopus suckers.
These tiny suckers are actually its mouthparts. Any text on the paper will disappear after it crawls over it.】
【Ability: Text Extraction, Simulation Output】
【Cost: After requesting its help, you must write a creative, knowledgeable, or interesting text as compensation. Note that it is very picky about what it consumes.】
【File: A child of the God-tier Bookworm Larva, it is one of the 'tools' issued to each Director-level member of the Purification Bureau.
Its primary responsibility is to consume confidential documents generated from purification work, preventing them from being spied upon by Outer Gods seeking to borrow divine abilities. It can also assist in modifying documents, reducing the workload of various Directors.
This larva was issued to Virgin District Bureau Director Olivia 7 years ago. During this time, it has consumed 617 confidential documents and 215,307 wine bottle labels. It is currently on loan to Third-Class Accident Handler Leon Lane of the Virgin District Bureau.】
【Evaluation: A very interesting little worm. After consuming so many wine labels in Olivia's office, it has developed an interest in the taste of alcohol. After it helps you modify documents, you can try offering it a little whiskey, just a bottle cap's worth is enough.】
【Infestation Value: 0.1】
Eat, eat! As long as you can modify this report, I'll not only offer you a bottle cap of whiskey but even a whole barrel if needed!
After being nudged awake by Leon's finger, the black and white 【Bookworm Larva】 stretched lazily and began to crawl on the sniffer report in Leon's hand.
As it moved along the report, the text was consumed line by line. Once it had eaten its fill, the larva turned around and retraced its path, pulling the consumed text back into its body, one line at a time.
Indeed, it was pulling the text back into its body.
One by one, the characters, with content vastly different from the original but with identical handwriting, dropped from the needle-sized "∗" of the 【Bookworm Larva】 and seamlessly merged with the paper. The original writer would likely have a hard time distinguishing the real from the fake.
【Number: 941001】
【Location: Northern parts of Lane County and Merino County...】
【Objective: Geothermal Hotspot Investigation】
【...】
【Quality Analysis: Rated D+. Construction of an S-rated mega-mining field and related facilities is required, but the energy contains excessive impurities, necessitating repeated purification before use...】
【Estimated Reserves: Rated S-. Under stable geological conditions, the crust can semi-permanently supply energy, but frequent crustal changes result in a low estimated mining lifespan...】
【Value Assessment: Standard cooperative mining is rated C-, while extreme special mining is rated B-.
The advantage lies in the semi-permanent supply under stable geological conditions, but the cost of large-scale mining is too high. Not only will it cause catastrophic environmental damage within a 12,000 square kilometer area, but it will also trigger extremely intense wars... The benefits do not justify the expenses... Abandonment is advised...】
Indeed, the modification method is a bit gross, but this little 'wine worm' has a genuinely impressive ability. The modified text looks so real.
After checking the modified report for any obvious flaws, Leon breathed a sigh of relief. He then took out the first three pages of the randomly written "The Tyrant Duke's Love" that he had written the night before and handed them to the Bookworm Larva, which was eagerly looking for its reward.
Well done, eat, eat. There's more if you need it...
"Leader."
Just as Leon was curiously observing the 【Bookworm Larva】, wondering what its reaction would be after consuming "The Tyrant Duke's Love," a pot-bellied middle-aged chaos faction member squeezed through the door with a smile.
"Lucy's side is done. The memories of the relevant personnel have all been altered. If you're finished here, we can retreat."
"Alright!"
Upon hearing that Lucy had also finished her task, Leon's mood improved significantly. He tossed the bookworm larva, which was feasting on the book Tyrannical Duke, into the Mirror World and asked the Black Goat to open a bottle of whiskey for it. Then, he exited the sniffer's room.
"Let's do one last check to ensure we haven't missed anything. Let's try to erase all traces of our presence as much as possible. If we can avoid leaving any evidence, we should do so."
After making this request for a final inspection, Leon habitually touched his cufflink and, with the help of the Black Goat's Soul Vision, checked the surrounding situation.
"Wait!"
Seeing someone with a familiar scent guarding the entrance to the Secret Harbor, Leon was taken aback.
Nathan... No! Using the Gate to the Other World, he had returned to the middle-aged Joshua from the past? Wasn't he taken away by the Aquarius Director? How did he end up at the Boarding Tower?
"What's wrong?"
Noticing Leon's unusual expression, the chaos party members became tense. The pot-bellied middle-aged man couldn't help but ask, "Chief, did the guards find something wrong with our documents and come to look for us?"
"No."
After shaking his head slightly, Leon furrowed his brows and said, "It's Joshua who's here... Not the confused prince, but the former leader who goes by the name Nathan."
What? Nathan?
After hearing Leon's words, the chaos party members were surprised and looked at each other in bewilderment.
As the founder of the chaos party and their leader in the rebellion against the kingdom, middle-aged Joshua still held some authority among them. Now, they were carrying out the raid on the Boarding Tower as he had wanted, using the information he had provided. However, they had been caught red-handed by him, and this situation felt a bit strange.
"Let's go out and talk to him first."
After checking the soul states of the chaos party members and confirming that no one had wavered, Leon looked at middle-aged Joshua's soul flame and made a decision.
"What we're doing now is exactly what he has always dreamed of. So, if Joshua is in control of his body, he won't take action at this time. But the people behind him might cause trouble.
If something changes on his end and he really takes action against us, I'll go and stop him first. You guys should retreat back to the airship and open the thermos flasks you're holding. The contents inside will protect your safety."
"Understood!"
Hearing Leon's instructions, the chaos party members nodded in agreement and followed him out of the airship as if facing a formidable enemy.
...
"It's been a long time since we last met."
Knowing the maximum damage radius of the Holy Spirit Pendant, middle-aged Joshua did not approach them. Instead, he waited for them to exit the airship and stood seventy to eighty meters away, taunting Leon, who was at the forefront, with gritted teeth, "I thought that after taking over as the leader of the chaos party, you would do something extraordinary. But all you're doing is using the information I gave you to carry out my plans? Then, what's the difference between you and me, huh?"
"The difference is huge!"
The pot-bellied middle-aged businessman took a step forward, his face filled with anger. "Nathan... Joshua, to you, we're just tools. You only need us to follow your orders and carry out your tasks. As long as we can help you achieve your goals, it doesn't matter how many tools are sacrificed.
If you were leading this operation, it would be impressive if half of us survived. But Baron Montiel not only ensures our safe retreat but also shows us the path to the future. He truly values us!"
"Hmph, fine, think whatever you want."
Having given up on reclaiming the position of chaos party leader, middle-aged Joshua was too lazy to argue. He sneered disdainfully and asked, "But are you sure that following this 'Little Baron' will get the job done?"
Hmm? What did he mean by that?
Leon glanced at Joshua's soul and noticed that it wasn't a bluff. His brows furrowed slightly, and behind him, the burned man, who had been holding back, couldn't contain himself any longer. He scowled and said, "How can we not do it? If it weren't for you getting in the way, we would have finished and retreated by now!"
That damn barbarian...
Joshua's face darkened at the insult. His cheeks twitched a few times, and he wanted to retort but knew he couldn't win in a fight. So, he gritted his teeth and followed through on his word to "let go," saying, "Just altering memories won't work. If you want to hide the volcano's information, you'll have to completely blow up the entire airship!"
(End of Chapter)
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