Jinhsi's small face turned slightly pale with anger, her fingers tightly gripping her sleeves. "Preposterous! That beast Scar just absconded not long ago, and these lowlifes already dare to act so brazenly! Do they truly think Jinzhou has no one left to defend it?"
Changli was comparatively calm, but her eyes were like a sheet of ice. "Their wicked ambitions never die. Just yesterday, we agreed to intensify the purge of Fractsidus remnants within Jinzhou's borders, and they've already preempted us by manufacturing chaos. It seems they caught wind of something, or... they are probing our defenses in preparation for a larger scheme."
Her gaze briefly met Rover's, and the exact same flash of understanding passed through both their eyes.
This disturbance was likely not just a simple probe, but a blatant provocation against the Grand Library—possibly connected to a covert, large-scale operation orchestrated by a Fractsidus Overseer.
Rover pondered for a moment, somewhat surprised by this sudden Fractsidus attack in Jinzhou.
Although he had anticipated that this trip to Jinzhou wouldn't be entirely peaceful after his conversation with Jinhsi the day before, based on the current situation, this sudden move by the Fractsidus was definitely not a minor skirmish caused by a group of ordinary Makers. It was an operation involving the planning and participation of high-level cadres, perhaps even an Overseer.
Clearly, in the plot memories he had fused with, there was absolutely no recollection of this specific incident happening. Could this be a butterfly effect caused by my arrival in Jinzhou...?
Furthermore, there were currently three known Fractsidus Overseers operating in the open. The Playwright and the mysterious weirdo with the chest-window (Scar) should still be causing trouble in the Seven Hills. Phrolova hadn't appeared since the script-stealing incident in the Seven Hills; based on the timeline, she should currently be in Laguna setting up her "Shores of the Lost" crisis, and who knew if she had fully fallen out with that old bastard from the Convent yet.
So, who exactly was this Overseer visiting Jinzhou this time?
At that moment, Cartethyia stepped forward, interrupting Rover's deep thoughts. Her hand rested subconsciously on her waist, and her icy blue eyes shone with the sharp, unwavering resolve of a knight. "Is there anything I can do to help? I am willing to head to the front lines and wipe out the enemy!"
Rover's thoughts snapped back to the present, and he also spoke in a low voice. "What do you need me to do?"
Changli's gaze swept over Cartethyia, instantly understanding the girl's resolve. This knight from Rinascita was absolutely not a weakling who needed to be sheltered under someone's wing.
Therefore, she didn't hesitate or act indecisively, immediately making a tactical decision:
"Jinhsi, return to the Grand Library immediately. Take command, stabilize public morale, oversee this round of purging operations comprehensively, and strictly investigate the traces of the suspected Overseer's infiltration into the mountains."
"Yes! Master Changli, I will return at once." Jinhsi nodded, her small face full of solemnity and fierce determination.
"Sanhua, escort the Magistrate back to the Grand Library. Notify the Midnight Rangers across all regions to tighten security. At the same time, have the local garrison conduct a carpet search of the area surrounding Hongzhen to wipe out any remaining enemies. You must ensure the safety of the civilians."
"Understood!" Sanhua gave a martial salute, her eyes as sharp as knives.
Finally, Changli looked at Rover and Cartethyia, her tone decisive. "In that case, please come with me. We will head directly to Xuanji Ridge, where the infiltration traces were found."
"Rover, your perception can help us track the clues. As for Miss Cartethyia..." She looked at the young knight before her, her eyes carrying a mix of recognition and request. "Your combat strength is exactly what we need. Please join us in tracking the source. If we can capture one of them alive, we might uncover the enemy's true plot."
This arrangement was undoubtedly much more to Cartethyia's liking. She immediately nodded, her battle intent surging. "Yes. I will do my utmost!"
Rover also nodded. "Naturally."
With the assignments distributed, the group moved immediately.
The brief moment of warmth and delicate intimacy from just a short while ago was instantly shattered by urgent reality. Under Sanhua's arranged escort, Jinhsi hurried back to the Jinzhou Grand Library. Her young shoulders once again bore the crushing weight of responsibility.
Cartethyia and Rover stood shoulder-to-shoulder, their gazes fixed in the direction of Xuanji Ridge.
Being able to rush to a potential battlefield alongside her Righteous One actually made Cartethyia's heart feel incredibly calm. This was her familiar domain, and the perfect way for her to prove her own strength.
Changli took a deep look at the two of them, who were fully prepared to move out—especially Rover. That gaze contained concern, trust, and a newly formed bond that hadn't existed yesterday.
"There is no time to lose. Let's go."
Changli's voice was restored to its usual calm, decisive tone. She took the lead, heading toward Xuanji Ridge, with Rover and Cartethyia following closely behind.
The silhouettes of the three quickly vanished into the lush, dark green mountain trails.
The sea of clouds still enveloped Mt. Firmament, but the air within the mountains was now permeated with a chilling, murderous intent that was completely absent the day before.
...
Xuanji Ridge was located on the western side of Mt. Firmament. The terrain was far more rugged and complex than it appeared from a distance.
Massive, jagged rocks jutted out haphazardly like the sleeping skeletons of ancient behemoths, forming countless natural covers and dark corners. The twisted, gnarled branches of towering ancient trees blotted out the sun, leaving the light within the forest incredibly dim and obscure.
The air was thick with a bizarre odor—a mix of rusting metal and rotting vegetation. Even more unsettling was the omnipresent sense of energy turbulence, as if invisible ripples were constantly interfering with their perception.
Changli took the vanguard. Her red-and-white phoenix-feather ponytail fluttered behind her as she moved swiftly. Her orange eyes sharply scanned the surroundings; she seemed quite familiar with the terrain here.
Rover followed closely behind. A faint light swirled in his golden eyes as his powerful perception extended outward like invisible tentacles, screening all the discordant energy fluctuations nearby.
Cartethyia guarded his rear flank. Her icy blue eyes vigilantly watched every single shadow that might conceal an enemy, her right hand hovering constantly over her waist, ready to summon her knight's longsword at a moment's notice.
"The traces are very fresh. And... there are a lot of them." Changli stopped in front of a trampled bush. Crouching down, her fingertips brushed over a messy footprint on the ground that still carried a faint energy residue. Her tone was grave. "It seems this isn't a disorganized group of stragglers. This is a premeditated, highly organized operation."
Rover nodded. His perception had also captured many more similar traces pointing deeper into the valley. "The energy residue is very strange. It feels like a Tacet Discord, but also somewhat like machinery... Be careful. The enemy might not be simple."
The moment his words fell—over a hundred dark figures erupted violently from the mountain forest without the slightest warning!
The attackers were a massive horde of low-level Fractsidus Makers. Wearing their uniform red-and-black outfits, their eyes were numb yet wildly fanatical. The weapons in their hands spewed a torrential rain of bullets, instantly weaving into a lethal net of crossfire.
Even more alarming were the modified Echoes mixed in among them—twisted metal limbs forcibly spliced onto mutated biological tissue. Emitting ear-piercing screeches, they lunged forward, snapping their jaws!
However, this was only the first wave of the assault.
Almost at the exact same time the attack was launched, several nearly transparent figures—betrayed only by slight distortions in the surrounding energy—closed in silently like phantoms. They moved almost entirely without sound or breath. These were Executioners, horrifying hybrids formed from the coupling of machinery and Tacet Discords.
Utilizing their special cloaking abilities, they completely bypassed the frontal crossfire, striking directly at the very core of the trio!
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