CHAPTER 974: CHAPTER 971: "DIVINE SON, SIR.

The deity looked at him with a sad, respectful gaze.

Su Ming’an saw respect in the deity’s eyes. It wasn’t the deity looking down on him, but an equal respect.

"You can trust many people, so why can’t you trust me just once? I want to help you; I’ve shown goodwill from the first time I met you," the deity said.

The deity’s gaze was extremely sincere, and Su Ming’an watched as the time grew increasingly closer.

If he didn’t agree with the deity, the First Tower would open.

If he agreed to become the deity’s archangel, he could get a full day of free investigation time, something he desperately needed.

Through the dream just now, he realized the deity knew a lot: The deity intentionally guarded against Noel, even unwilling to create a Noel in the dream. The deity knew Su Ming’an’s family background before the World Game opened, even able to simulate identical furniture arrangements. Including the reactions of Yuanyuan, Yamada Machiichi, Lv Shu, Lin Yin, etc., all were reasonable without any out-of-character situations.

"The deity knows a lot, and we’ve been led by others all along, Su Ming’an." Chang Ge’s voice emerged: "We need free investigation time, and you can reassess the clues you’ve gathered over the past five days. If you’re afraid of being controlled by the deity, I, as an independent entity, can help you, I’m not controlled."

Su Ming’an listened to the ticking of the second hand, getting closer and closer to twelve o’clock.

He couldn’t gamble.

He didn’t dare gamble on whether the deity was truly afraid of him missing the First Tower.

If the deity was actually not afraid, then missing the First Tower fit right into the deity’s plan. It was a nested trap for both parties, and Su Ming’an believed the deity was using a fake Noel to provoke him, but who knows if the deity was deliberately inducing him to think this way.

Without the Death Rebound as an error correction measure, and while on the most difficult plot line, Su Ming’an had to tread carefully at every step. While he didn’t trust Chang Ge, he still had Su Rin and Noel as a fallback; he wanted some free investigation time of his own.

"Deity. Can you simulate anyone’s ending?" Su Ming’an asked.

"Yes." The deity nodded.

"What kind of power is this? Can I use it?" Su Ming’an asked.

"Through moment-to-moment observation, analyzing billions of possibilities to determine the most probable outcome," the deity said. "If you want to use it, I can let you feel it temporarily."

The deity held Su Ming’an’s hand.

A pure white light transmitted to Su Ming’an’s hand, and his vision suddenly went blank. Spider web-like causal lines appeared substantially around him, and just a tremor of his fingers could affect these invisible threads. He felt like a weaver on the brink of the Long River of Time, capable of pulling threads to guide anyone’s fate in any direction.

...This is the power of destiny. Much like the Shadow Hall, he could see anyone’s ending, though it was only one possibility.

He casually looked in one direction—a snow scene emerged before his eyes. He saw a blond teenager stumbling through the snow, with blazing red blood flowing endlessly. The teenager laughed as he walked, the blood flowing more and more, until eventually, with a thud, the teenager fell into the snow.

Only then did Su Ming’an realize what he had seen—that was Noel. Was it one of Noel’s endings? Noel died in the snow.

Capitalizing on the opportunity, Su Ming’an quickly looked in another direction, attempting to see more endings.

He saw a white-haired vagabond soullessly shuttling between bridge tunnels, with no light in his eyes.

He saw Yuanyuan reverse the sword blade and aim the tip at herself.

He saw Su Luoluo laughing wildly, jumping off a high building in the rain.

He saw Chao Yan being burned to death by flames on a cross.

He saw Xiao Jingsan clutch his chest, blood flowing from his heart.

He even saw... Su Rin lying on a canoe in the sea, like a leaf ready to sink at any moment, with blood continually flowing from his body, diffusing into the seawater.

He also saw a stranger, a white-haired young man, reduced to ashes amidst layers of illusions.

Their meeting and shared journey was an unlikely possibility amid billions of impossibilities, having crossed countless possibilities of mid-course death to reach this point and attain the only chance of life. Now, Su Ming’an saw the remaining possibilities of death.

The sense of crisis grew stronger. The second hand on the wall clicked, bit by bit pointing to twelve o’clock. He had a strong premonition—

"I agree." Su Ming’an said.

The deity consistently gave him a sense of déjà vu like Lin Guang. Although he believed the deity’s actions couldn’t be completely justified, the parties weren’t entirely dead enemies. Otherwise, the deity wouldn’t have been so courteous all along; the deity could just keep him locked up.

The deity smiled. It was the first time Su Ming’an had seen such a genuine smile from the deity.

"Alright. Then take a rest tonight; I’ll find you tomorrow morning to conduct the ceremony." The deity smiled and asked, "Do you prefer to be called angel or divine son?"

"Call me Lighthouse Sect Leader."

Su Ming’an retorted to the deity and returned to his room, where the deity offered him red tea and sweetheart pastries, along with a Dream Patrol Helmet. This made Su Ming’an somewhat relieved.

He didn’t touch the food given by the deity but instead put on the Dream Patrol Helmet.

...

The square was silent.

People were speechless with shock. The black-haired youth on the high platform still narrated the story, recounting the journey of fifty fire transmitters, which shattered people’s worldview.

"...Later, the Holy Alliance Army accused Ms. Su Lixian of anti-human crimes, unbeknownst to them, she was actually humanity’s savior."

"They said: ’We will further seal off past history, bury the deeds of the fire transmitters, and thereby launch the ’Ark Project’ to produce the ’castrated special medicine that cannot awaken history’, inhibiting the spread of Black Mist Disease. Furthermore, all government personnel cooperating with the fire transmitters will be warned and sanctioned...’"

"Ms. Su Lixian and the researchers supporting her were all heroes, yet they were deemed criminals. The Holy Alliance Army and those taking up positions without action covered up ideals."

"Lastly..."

Shadow recounted the past story.

Scripps didn’t stop Shadow’s speech because he himself was in intense shock. The events Shadow spoke of mostly happened decades ago, before even Scripps rose to power. Many officials were unaware of this incident.

In the world broadcast, the bullet screen kept scrolling:

[Is this really true?]

[I think it’s real; I was also very puzzled at that time. Ms. Su Lixian was clearly an outstanding person; why did she suddenly become a target for everyone?]

[A nineteen-year-old child tells a few stories, hoping to refute truths that were long established?]

[I heard his mother never loved him since he was young, maybe even abused him, how kind can a child raised in abuse be?]

[Can those who want to be slaves just die? At a time like this, still speaking for the Holy Alliance Army? I believe in the First Dream Patrol Family.]

[Society has been stable for such a long time; everyone is living well, and suddenly he comes out speaking alarmingly, what is his real motive? Isn’t it just to incite human conflict?]

[His motive is to save humanity!!!]

...

Shadow smiled slightly.

He finished telling the rest of the story. Judging from people’s expressions, many of them believed it.

——Alright, the table is overturned.

Shadow felt delighted, the scene of hypocrites being torn down was truly satisfying. The smile on Bivis’s face disappeared. Nalfas was trembling all over, pointing at Shadow, not knowing what to say.

Wanting to curse but unable, wanting to grab but unable—who dares to grab the First Dream Patrol Family?

He represents the destiny of humanity, only he can so swiftly break through the Dream Patrol game, who dares to offend him?

If the First Dream Patrol Family was a responsible good man, people could use words like "responsibility," "duty," "honor" to condemn him. But Shadow presented a fearless image. People couldn’t bind him.

"It’s so good to live freely." Shadow looked at the scene.

Nearing twelve o’clock, Scripps, under immense pressure, faced Shadow and said, "We will thoroughly investigate this matter. But you must understand, even if it’s proven true, we cannot defy the Oracle to trace history."

Under the camera, this middle-aged man’s expression was very serious.

Shadow understood Scripps’s thoughts, it’s not yet the time to wage war against the deities, these government officials couldn’t be blamed, Scripps was relatively responsible, at least he was willing to face the past.

Shadow only said, "I don’t ask you to defy the Oracle, but I demand you to clear the Transmitters of the Fire and publicly disclose the side effects of the current special medicine. Also, I want the parasites in office to be punished."

Scripps smiled bitterly and whispered in Shadow’s ear, "This is very difficult..."

Power is a massive system, eradicating decay is not a matter of one day or night.

Shadow said, "I understand, so within fifteen days, I will make your biggest enemy disappear."

Scripps’s eyes widened.

Their biggest enemy—it was the deities.

Because of the deities, people still cannot trace history openly, at least not officially.

But at least, the actions of the First Dream Patrol Family ignited a flame in people’s hearts. As long as that wall disappears, letting the wind in, this flame will grow bigger sooner or later. Organizations opposing the deities will spring up like mushrooms after the rain—the status of the Human Self-Rescue Alliance was recognized by the people, after all, they once desperately guarded history.

...

"Ding Dong!"

[Your speech awakened the rebellious thoughts of more than three billion people.]

[Your speech prompted the Union Government to investigate the Transmitters of the Fire event, leading to their vindication.]

[Your speech increased the prestige of the Human Self-Rescue Alliance, changing its status from (Evil) to (Neutral).]

[You have gained 40 Achievement Points.]

...

"Alright!" Shadow clapped his hands, "Next, let’s prepare for the opening of the First Tower. As for the fifty stories I told, let people slowly digest them."

The voices from the audience were still intense, but at this moment, the second hand reached twelve o’clock.

The interface before everyone’s eyes changed instantly.

[Voting ended, the tower will not open today.]

...

"What’s going on! I haven’t voted yet!" Mo Yan pressed the "Yes" button on the panel hard, showing that voting had ended.

"Who voted on our behalf, postponing the opening of the first tower?" Eli squinted, twirling a red heart playing card with his fingers.

"Tsk." Bonnie, hugging a teddy bear, clicked her tongue.

...

[The next round of voting will begin at midnight tomorrow, please come back to vote then.]

...

After discussions among various countries, it was decided to find accommodation nearby for the tens of thousands on site, and return tomorrow night.

Meanwhile, Su Ming’an opened his eyes and found Alice wasn’t at home.

He opened [Last Semester Summary] to check Alice’s current situation.

...

[Sixth Semester July 1: Alice received guidance from retired Knight of Light Morgan Maxey, and has made significant progress in swordsmanship. (Kel-1000)]

[Sixth Semester August 2: The only son of the Baron’s family, Yixi, gifted Alice a violin, Alice once again broke the string accidentally while playing. Recently, the war has extended to neighboring kingdoms, Alice wants to teach Yixi swordsmanship to protect himself, but Yixi refused.]

[Sixth Semester August 28: More relics have been unearthed, and the struggle for relics is becoming more intense, the world is extremely chaotic. (Hidden Value: Darkness +10)]

[Sixth Semester September 30: Alice and Princess Avetina became good friends. Avetina has a fondness for Alice and suggested bringing Alice into the palace for safety. However, Alice insists on waiting for the detective to return home.]

[Sixth Semester October 22: Every time Alice goes to church to pray, she feels as if she’s being summoned by something. (Hidden Value: Divinity +10)]

[Sixth Semester November 1: News of the Exotic Species King’s birth spread. The church issued a "Demon Hunt Order," executing batches of innocent residents, and searching houses for exotic species. Alice and the wild child Part saved many residents. (Prestige +1000)]

[Sixth Semester November 3: The flames of war are spreading closer, wealthy people are beginning to migrate, while the poor can only pray every day that the war doesn’t break out.]

[Sixth Semester November 27: Alice’s friend from combat class, Qiao Xi, went missing, only traces of blood were left at her home, Alice couldn’t find her. (Mood: 50%)]

[Sixth Semester November 28: The aunt at the rescue station went missing, leaving bloodstains, Alice couldn’t find her. (Mood: 40%)]

[Sixth Semester November 29: Sister Rita, who has always taught Alice theology, went missing, with more and more refugees squeezing into the church; Alice couldn’t find her. (Mood: 30%)]

[...]

[Sixth Semester December 1: War broke out.]

...

Su Ming’an looked up, seeing bloodstains on the windowsill at home.

He rushed out of the house, and the scene before him was completely different from a year ago.

The vendors were gone, and the elderly who strolled were also missing. Everywhere was desolate and quiet. The surroundings’ doors and windows were even sealed with strips, with a stench of corpses floating in the air.

A squad of soldiers passed by, saw Su Ming’an stepping out the door, and immediately raised their rifles, shouting, "Get back inside! Civilian! It’s curfew, no going out!"

Seeing that Su Ming’an didn’t move, the soldiers mercilessly thrust their rifles, actually trying to stab Su Ming’an to death. This made Su Ming’an acutely aware of the current status of civilians.