CHAPTER 1022: CHAPTER 215: NEGOTIATION

Bang—

The mist-filled sewer manhole cover was pried open.

A figure crawled out of the sewer, stepping onto the damp cobblestone road.

Sea water falling like rain made the grey-black streets resemble late autumn, surrounding areas were deserted, a few silhouettes passed by at the distant intersection.

In the rain, the distant burning flames formed a haze, the alarm echoes in the air.

A sharp whistle accompanied by chaotic footsteps suddenly sounded, a squad of police pursued a thief clutching jewels that kept falling.

As the police picking up stolen goods gradually left, Lu Li emerged from the shadows of the alley, gazing at their departing figures.

The police were overwhelmed dealing with the unrest erupting everywhere in the Vena Ice-Free Port.

Heading in the opposite direction of their departure, Lu Li observed people leisurely walking on broad streets where the harbor could be seen, as if the chaos wasn’t related to them.

Lu Li then saw more similar scenes. Citizens anxious and wanting to leave, carrying luggage with family, couples gazing at the bay from the observation area. People snatching goods from store windows, mixed with drivers casually driving steam cars.

Vena Ice-Free Port was merging into a strange contrast of calm and turmoil.

The citizens were yet unaware of the 24-hour countdown.

Now, the time left was less than 4 hours.

"This umbrella is for you."

A lady with long brown wavy hair proactively spoke to Lu Li, bringing her umbrella closer to him, asking unusually, "Have we met before? I feel... you are familiar."

"No."

To Lu Li, she was a stranger.

"I thought so, not many have black hair and black... you’re an Exorcist—" The lady thought of the answer in disbelief, stifling her gasp.

She then shoved the umbrella into Lu Li’s hand, earnestly saying, "Take it. The Judiciary is looking for you, run, leave here!"

"What did the Judiciary say to you guys." Lu Li accepted the umbrella but didn’t leave, asking further, "About the water membrane enveloping the city."

"They said anomalies surrounded the city, staying in Vena Ice-Free Port is safe... Is there a problem?"

The lady nervously observed the surroundings, but frequent glancing around only made her look more suspicious.

The Judiciary concealed the God of the Deep Sea, and also the countdown.

"Do you know where the Ancients are." Lu Li asked.

"Ancients...?"

"God of the Deep Sea, the root of all this evil." Lu Li gazed at the circulating glow of the water membrane.

"...Perhaps you can check the port, it’s swarming with soldiers. But be careful, they’re after you."

Indeed, it’s a hint: soldiers confronting anomalies.

Upon arrival they hadn’t found the God of the Deep Sea in the bay, soldiers gathering may be unrelated to Him: "Besides the port, are there other places with many soldiers?"

The lady shook her head in confusion.

Lu Li thanked her, heading towards City Hall with the umbrella.

As time passed, Lu Li began seeing Judiciary Guards on patrol in the streets, becoming more frequent.

Whether to protect City Hall or not, the Judiciary already knew Lu Li had escaped the dungeon.

Lu Li stopped at the checkpoint set by the Judiciary. Here, City Hall lights could already be seen, but layers of checkpoints blocked the road, impeding Lu Li’s advance.

With 3 hours left, Lu Li had no time to break through City Hall, nor to seek other help.

After a brief pause, Lu Li turned away before distant checkpoint guards noticed him.

...

Knight Vino turned to stare at the slender figure holding an umbrella standing before the coastal street railing.

He knew Lu Li would come, but he shouldn’t appear.

Taking a deep breath, Knight Vino pointed to the far street, his shout reverberating over the port: "I found the Exorcist!"

The orderly port outskirts turned chaotic, hidden Judiciary Guards rushed out of houses and shelters, moving toward Knight Vino’s direction.

It was a trap.

Lu Li watching from afar thought. Knight Vino was seized by the Judiciary. Even proving innocence, he shouldn’t be here.

Regardless, Knight Vino helped Lu Li clear the port outskirts, allowing him to stealthily enter the port interior.

Huge port searchlights lit up the sea surface near the port, this might be Lu Li’s destination.

The port interior was empty, Lu Li quickly found the reason—

Port workers lingering here exuded a tide scent stronger than seawater, they held harpoons blocking Lu Li’s path, mumbling incoherently.

"Outsider... why... approach here."

"To resolve the invasion of the God of the Deep Sea." Lu Li replied.

The workers’ faces showed hate and ferocity, raising their harpoons: "Blasphemous detestable creature of the Ancients..."

The pollution of the God of the Deep Sea revealed its signs.

"I am a guest of the God of the Deep Sea, this is the token." Lu Li changed his approach, taking out the congealed sea pearl from his neck.

The worker believers trembled, kneeling down to prostrate: "Please forgive my rudeness, the exalted master is right ahead."

Lu Li continued forward, putting away the umbrella, reaching the sea area illuminated by searchlights before the dock.

That sea area bulged, swelled, slowly rising an indescribable shadow.

Waves spread, harbor ships surged and retreated, piercing alarms echoed through Vena Ice-Free Port, distant ant-like figures scurried around.

Huge searchlights were like matches lit in houses, illuminating a trivial corner of Him, while the figure on the dock gazing upward was smaller than dust.

"Mortals, you are God of the Deep Sea, state your purpose." He gazed down at Lu Li, uttering softly.

"You should not transform Vena Ice-Free Port."

Lu Li knew He remembered him, that’s why he was granted an audience: "Humans are the last known intelligent life native to this land. They only gather in Midnight City and Vena Ice-Free Port. You transform here, humanity will be halved."

"Ants cannot glimpse the distant tsunami..."

"What did you see on the other side of the Spine of the World Mountains?"

Events over there drove the God of the Deep Sea to attack the city.

"...Corruption and death."

"So you want to transform humans to gain power?"

"It’s about killing humans..."

People always have the illusion that divinity protects them. But the Ancients, seen as divinity, never care who reproduces on this land. Humans? Past generations? Even earlier intelligent life? They exist only to guard the world.

"Lu Li... what will you do."

Lu Li’s name accompanied the low utterances of the God of the Deep Sea, reverberated through the city.

"Stop you." Lu Li calmly answered.

"This is... betrayal!"

The furious God of the Deep Sea raised pressure claws larger than battleships, grabbing at Lu Li.

Unexpected conflict didn’t occur, his claw tip lightly touched the sea pearl worn by unmoved Lu Li, which shattered into fluorescence, claws gently retracted.

The God of the Deep Sea radiated divine coldness and obscurity, slowly sinking into the sea surface. With unnaturally spreading waves, He swam away from Vena Ice-Free Port.

The water membrane silently dissolved, ready to bring brief and urgent rain to Vena Ice-Free Port, then froze under the cold embrace.

Snowflakes like goose feathers fell, cloaking the city in tranquility.

Vena Ice-Free Port, crisis averted.