CHAPTER 1019: CHAPTER 212: HEADING TO VENA ICE-FREE PORT

He failed.

The attack of the Ancients was thwarted by Midnight City. It sounds unbelievable, but through the merchant’s conversation, Phantom University informed Lu Li that the newspaper did not mention that the God of the Deep Sea was already severely injured upon arrival. The blood it scattered stretched from the Spine of the World Mountains to Midnight City, and along the way, all the anomalies frantically followed the trail.

Inquiring about the direction in which the God of the Deep Sea departed, Lu Li quietly observed the map.

Did it betray?

This is obviously related to what happened to it outside the Spine of the World Mountains, but everything is shrouded in unknown black mist, unknown to anyone.

And continuing in the direction where the God of the Deep Sea departed... Vena Ice-Free Port is situated there.

Will that become the next target for its failed attack on Midnight City?

"Ophelia, you and Puxiu and the believers stay at Seaview Cliff."

Lu Li left from under the Annie Tree and headed towards the refuge.

Whether Vena Ice-Free Port repels the invading enemies, or the God of the Deep Sea occupies the port, it’s not a good ending.

Ophelia and Puxiu fiercely opposed, their sluggishness and fluency like instruments being played chaotically. Then they changed their tune in the face of Lu Li’s determination and silence, insisting that Lu Li take them along.

"You don’t need to follow."

Lu Li opened the desk drawer and took out the Spirit-Calling Gun lying quietly inside.

Dean Lawrence of Phantom University had gone to great lengths to find an identical desk.

"You won’t let... us... go, which means... you know... it’s dangerous, correct?"

"The God of the Deep Sea also knows us, our chance of awakening its memories together is greater!"

Ophelia and Puxiu persisted.

"I’ve witnessed the fall of another Ancient. It hadn’t been long since it was revived, its power not yet restored, using Arlen Kingdom as a trap to lure thousands of evil spirits and demons, turning them into nourishment for recovery."

And then it was extinguished by a gaze cast from beyond the stars.

"The power of an Evil God may be hard to define, but the Ancients are different. They are not powerful because they are ancient, but ancient because they are powerful."

Ophelia understood the significance of Lu Li’s words, and she insisted, "If you dare to go... so do I."

"Me too!"

Lu Li said no more, carefully wiping the slightly open bud of the Spirit-Calling Gun, loaded the bullets, and placed it in its holster.

Despite it being like using a stick against a fully armed army compared to the God of the Deep Sea.

Ophelia and Puxiu would follow Lu Li to leave, while the shadow church believers who could not refuse orders stayed at Seaview Cliff to protect Annie.

As for those allies, given the potential enemy is the God of the Deep Sea, numbers are meaningless, so Lu Li did not contact them.

The letter stating that the God of the Deep Sea might attack Vena Ice-Free Port was sent by Merchant Anthony to Mayor Matteus. They set out within minutes of receiving the message, boarded the anchored Andrea at the lighthouse reef area, and sailed full-speed towards Vena Ice-Free Port.

Hopefully, everything is still in time.

...

The thin letter paper floated beautifully from the powerless hand.

Assistant Valendo picked up the letter paper on the carpet and returned it to the whispering Mayor Matteus.

"You can have a look."

After a slight pause, Valendo looked at the short and heavy content on the letter paper.

"The God of the Deep Sea... is that Ancient who attacked Midnight City yesterday!?" Valendo’s reaction was the same as the mayor’s, with the letter paper slipping from his fingers.

Mayor Matteus caught the falling letter paper and spoke with a complicated emotion, "Now we must let the outside world know about this."

"But the Judiciary Guard is right outside the door, exposing our continued communication with Mr. Luli."

"There’s no other way."

Matteus lifted his eyes and looked towards the door from under his brown hair.

"Open the door."

The response of the Judiciary Guard, upon learning of continued communication with Lu Li, was as anticipated by Matteus: they disrespectfully searched the mayor’s office for letters and eyeballs.

Bang!

Suddenly, Valendo, standing to the side, was punched hard in the stomach, retching and spitting out an eyeball covered in saliva.

The hard-bottomed boots stepping past crushed the eyeball, stopping in front of the desk.

"Mr. Mayor, please cooperate with our inspection."

Mayor Matteus pushed the letter paper in front of the captain, "The God of the Deep Sea that attacked Midnight City is headed towards Vena Ice-Free Port, potentially its next target. Inform those outside to prepare for an attack by the Ancients and evacuate citizens westward via the railway."

"The God of the Deep Sea? Did that fallen exorcist tell you this? You actually still believe his deceptive words—"

"You are ignoring the lives of hundreds of thousands of Vena Ice-Free Port citizens," Matteus said indifferently.

"You are too deeply polluted, Mr. Mayor," the captain said, disappointed in Matteus’s choice, "You are under our watch, Mayor. We have the responsibility to prevent citizens from leaving the safe city and thwart the fallen exorcist’s conspiracy."

"To hell with the conspiracy!!! You are using your pathetic and laughable persistence to protect your rotten, filthy mire!" The Mayor, having lost his composure, furiously roared, headbutting the captain’s forehead.

Wiping his mouth corner, Valendo also stood up and said, "We are not Midnight City. Only warships and soldiers can fight. We must first evacuate the civilians and prepare the soldiers."

The captain ignored Valendo’s remark, focusing on the close-proximity Matteus, "Say what you will. I will deliver this to Bishop Ussar."

"...That’s fine. He’s smarter than you, knows what to do, and remembers that he is a Vena Neverfreeze Harborman."

Under the cold gaze of Mayor Matteus, the captain led the group of search-completed members away from the chaotic office.

Calmness replaced the din.

Valendo, wiping the stain on the carpet, clutched his stomach and leaned back against the desk.

"Mr. Mayor, what if Bishop Ussar aligns with them?"

"This Bishop Ussar assumed his position seven years ago. Five years ago, when His Holiness the Pope became ill and convalesced, all affairs were turned over to Bishop Ussar... He has ambitions. Regardless of the purpose, he will not abandon these people."

The situation may not be so dire after all. Midnight City managed to defeat it, and perhaps the wounded Ancient who dragged its body here can also be defeated.

The weak are not qualified to establish cities in this world.

"His Excellency Lulian said he might come, so perhaps the situation is not so—"

Valendo suddenly stopped agreeing, frowning, "Would the Judiciary use eyeballs to lure His Excellency Lulian?"

"The Judiciary is not that despicable."

Despite the contradictions and oppositions, Mayor Matteus did not believe so.

On the next morning, when Mayor Matteus and Assistant Valendo were idly confined in the office, a faint noise was heard from the street outside the window.

Matteus turned to look out the window, his eyes reflected the panicked citizens on the street below, and the shadows rising in the distant.

"Oh my God..."

The sea waters covering the sky rose like drapes, forming waves hundreds of meters high rushing toward the city. Matteus forgot the fact that all the eyeballs had been confiscated, mumbling incoherently.

"It’s already too late... It’s too late... Tell His Excellency Lulian... he doesn’t need to hurry over anymore..."