Chapter 47: Necro Cult, Fallen Chancellor

The totem on the chest of this Department of Rebirth remnant was indeed a symbol of the Genesis Nest, though it appeared more crude and less imposing than the original. The fervor and devotion he displayed when speaking of his deity seemed genuine, indicating that he wasn’t making things up. This suggested that there were indeed legends related to this in his tribe, especially considering his likely ignorance about what cells were, let alone referring to them as "Theo."

However, Mike felt a bit uneasy.

Infinitely proliferating cells? That’s cancer cells!

And given that there was no cancer in Ember, he became even more certain of his suspicion.

Especially with the way this remnant phrased it.

Lost!

The Genesis Nest lost its core.

Is the deity’s core cancer?

From what Mike understood of this world, extraordinary powers had existed before the cataclysm, triggered by human greed.

So, was his illness related to this?

And was it connected to his parents’ research at the time?

“Tell me everything you know now,” Mike said fiercely. “Or I’ll hang you from a tree and bleed you dry!”

The Department of Rebirth remnant turned his head stubbornly. “No, this is a secret of our tribe. Revealing it would bring disaster to this world! I would rather die than say anything!”

He then tried to bite his tongue to kill himself.

Lisa kicked him in the jaw, knocking him to the ground.

“Next time, I’ll smash all your teeth,” the female officer said coldly. “Behave.”

But the stubborn fool wouldn’t yield, struggling to bash his head against a tree, only to be held down and subdued by the officers.

Everyone was baffled. Why was this primitive guy as stubborn as a mule?

Mike was silent for a moment before speaking again. “You say you won’t tell us, but really, you just can’t keep your story straight, can you? Your so-called faith is all made up, isn’t it?”

Sure enough, the stubborn fool reacted immediately, retorting, “No way! Our tribe has worshipped the ancient deity for generations. It’s a great being that sleeps in the Holy Mountain, with eternal and immortal power. It’s said that those who receive its gift will have the life of ageless priests. Over a hundred years ago, with the help of my tribe, someone went to the Holy Mountain and gained unparalleled power. Our elders say that man conquered the world with that power!”

The officers scoffed at this.

Conquer the world? Only the Sacred Sovereign could do that.

Wait!

Including Jack, they all seemed to realize something.

“What nonsense are you spouting?” they demanded sternly.

The stubborn fool protested, “I’m not talking nonsense, it’s true! According to our tribe’s prophet, that man was the only one in centuries to be recognized by the Holy Mountain. He’s destined to be the world’s guide, the pioneer of the path to evolution, a being who could ascend to godhood! Our tribe still has his portrait and the sacred artifact he gave us!”

“It’s because of that man’s sacred artifact that our tribe has survived till now. But now that the artifact has lost its power, people are coveting our tribe’s secrets…”

He trailed off, his expression turning sorrowful.

That was the purest form of sadness from a big boy.

Lisa fell silent. Being from a holy family herself, she knew the stubborn fool was telling the truth about that king who could no longer be mentioned.

Mike also vaguely guessed who the man recognized by the Holy Mountain was and pressed on, “But that still doesn’t prove what you’re saying is true!”

The stubborn fool exploded, “Nonsense! If you don’t believe me, just kill me now. When you encounter those immortalized aberrants, you’ll understand. They’ve all gained immortal power, and they’re invincible! Those Decaying Spectres might look normal, but their bodies are immortalized. And those terrifying Thorn Demons will turn you into a sieve with their arrows.”

“Those horrible Necro Cultists slaughtered our tribe, stole our centuries-old secret, and now everything’s changed. They’re polluting the land everywhere, not only corrupting the Cocoon of Life but also harming nearby wanderers and scavengers.”

He cursed, “Just wait, you’ll be next!”

But before he could finish his rant, he realized the soldiers were all silent.

Mike spread his hands. “See, we got it out of him?”

They even learned the names of the aberrants they were after.

Thorn Demons!

The officers were speechless and could only give a thumbs up.

High.

Really high!

“Did you just get him to spill everything?” Lisa was incredulous. “How did you do it?”

Mike shrugged. “With this kind of stubborn fool, you can’t use force. You have to provoke him. Five hundred years ago, there was a movie where a man, having eaten only one bowl of noodles, paid for just one bowl, but you accused him of eating two. When he gets angry, he’ll open his stomach to prove it.”

Lisa nodded thoughtfully. “Got it.”

Mike gave her a pitying look.

Major, could it be that you’re also this kind of person?

“But if this tribe knows so many secrets, why hasn’t the Federation sent anyone to investigate? If that man the stubborn fool mentioned is who I think he is, the higher-ups should be very concerned.”

Mike said suspiciously.

Lisa shook her head. “It’s probably because of the sacred artifact he mentioned. Sacred artifacts, also known as forbidden items, are materials with special properties that have evolved. They can have stealth properties, making people overlook their existence.”

So that’s it!

Mike had learned something new.

The stubborn fool finally realized he had been tricked and angrily said, "You despicable city people! And my name isn’t a stubborn fool, it’s Gucy!"

"Alright, you’re not a stubborn fool, you’re a dimwit," Mike said, lifting him. "Anything else you want to confess?"

Gucy’s face turned red. "No matter how you try to deceive me, I won’t tell you anything more! Because that’s all I know! Our tribe’s rules are strict, only the chief and elders are privy to the secrets of our faith. What I’ve heard are just related legends."

Mike nodded. "So you’re just a small fry. Take me to your chief then. This is not a negotiation; you have no choice."

Gucy struggled furiously, angrily saying, "When the tiger is down, even dogs dare to bully it! In our tribe’s heyday, you wouldn’t stand a chance against us! Our prophet was a fifth-realm powerhouse. And our elders were not to be trifled with either."

See, the dimwit let it slip again.

Mike was amused.

The officers, however, were taken aback, not expecting the so-called Department of Rebirth to be so strong.

It seemed they indeed possessed some form of concealment.

Otherwise, they couldn’t have remained undetected.

“So, how did your prophet and elders die?” Mike asked, raising an eyebrow.

“They died of natural causes!”

“At what age?”

“The oldest… forty-seven, I think.”

“Hmm, you believe in immortality, yet the oldest died at forty-seven. I don’t know how to comment on this… Sorry, but isn’t your tribe more like the Department of Death?” Mike couldn’t hold back his laughter. He wasn’t one to mock others, but this was too funny.

Lisa chuckled. "I’ve heard about those health experts from five hundred years ago—they weren’t very reliable. Seems it hasn’t changed much in five hundred years."

The officers exchanged glances, and the forest filled with a cheerful atmosphere.

Only Gucy’s anger was rising, his face turning red.

Mike composed himself.

Alright, thinking of the girl back home, he needed to be serious.

"Listen, since the Necro Cultists are so dangerous, you can’t stop them alone. I believe what you’ve told me, but you need to take me to your tribe," Mike said, expressionless. "Immediately."

This concerned his illness, and he had to take it seriously.

He might also uncover Isabelle’s background.

Two birds with one stone.

Suddenly, a light flashed deep in the forest, followed by an explosion.

Arrows whistled through the air, flesh tore, and blood-curdling screams filled the air.

"Enemy attack!" Jack looked up sharply. "No, it seems like…"

The Department of Rebirth's tribe was under attack!

Not only that, a nauseating stench of corpses wafted through the forest.

Gucy’s face changed instantly, muttering, "They’re here! The Necro Cult lunatics are here! Such a strong corpse smell—they must be at least Fallen Chancellor level! Let me go! I need to save my tribe!"

Mike glanced at him and laughed. "This is the consequence of attacking us indiscriminately. Now you're getting a taste of it. Will you dare do it again?"

With that, he let go.

Gucy scrambled away, not caring about anything else.

The officers were puzzled.

In a typical story, Mike should have said, "Someone as weak as you can't do anything. We’ll go together to save your tribe!"

But in reality, Mike let him take the lead.

"It’s simple now, just follow him," Mike said, spreading his hands. "Let’s go, don’t let him die."

Though facing the Necro Cultists, he wasn’t worried.

Lisa was a walking cannon, destroying everything in her path.

Nothing to fear.

Unconsciously, it seemed Lisa's command had been taken over.

But with her intelligence, she hadn’t realized it.

"Let's go, check it out!" Lisa ordered.

"Take all Department of Rebirth members. Leave no Necro Cultists alive."

Sunlight sliced through the branches, and a man walked with light steps through the dense underbrush, carrying a scythe with a chain.

Fresh blood dripped from the blade.

An iron chain was wrapped around the neck of a middle-aged member of the Department of Rebirth, dragging him forward.

"We are born from the same root, why the rush to harm each other? We share the same faith, worshiping the great Genesis Nest. Shouldn't we be working together? The Akashic Records treat you like primitive monkeys and us like aberrant livestock. We share the same plight."

He lifted his head, revealing a half-rotten face. "Secrets are not meant to be guarded but used. Look how weak you’ve become; you can’t protect your people. Why not tell me where your mother is hiding? Don’t worry, I won’t kill her if I find her. I just want to know where her extraordinarily gifted granddaughter has gone."

With a swoosh, an arrow shot towards him, but he deflected it with his scythe.

The archer from the Department of Rebirth was about to launch another attack when a Necro Cultist ambushed him from behind. A sharp dagger pierced his heart, and after a brief struggle, he went still.

“Mino!”

The middle-aged tribesman’s eyes filled with rage as he struggled fiercely.

Scenes like this were playing out throughout the forest. The members of the Department of Rebirth were surrounded by a group of decaying Necro Cultists and were being massacred in a one-sided slaughter.

Deep within the underbrush, an old woman with a face full of tattoos, her eyes red with anger, clutched a staff, ready to charge out. But she was held back by her fellow tribesmen, who covered her mouth to keep her silent.

At that moment, a young man, looking as foolish as ever, rushed out, wielding a half-broken bone club, and shouted, "Fallen Chancellor! Die!"

The Fallen Chancellor glanced at him with contempt and swung his scythe.

A flash of cold light and Gucy’s side was ripped open, blood gushing out.

Just then, the sound of gunfire filled the air.