CHAPTER 1041: CHAPTER 45: THE CURRENT SITUATION

"Chaldea is quite unstable now..." Jin said, "But it’s not just Chaldea; the whole Solar System is unstable."

"Oh? Elaborate."

"The Twelfth Martial God." Jin said, "The Twelfth Martial God has released heavyweight intelligence, causing the entire Solar System to be turned upside down."

Tumor Xiang Shan whispered in Jeanne’s consciousness: [What the hell, how did it cause upheaval?]

Asgard said: "The legendary direct disciple of the Martial Ancestor, that Flower of Rhetoric, is actually a member of the Six Dragons Sect... This is truly shocking."

Jin shook his head: "This is not just shocking. Those old heroes mostly possess the most valuable human societal connections. Because the Martial Ancestor was the most important historical figure, those closest to him have special historical significance. This power is meaningless in individual martial battles, but if used to build a force, it becomes terrifying."

"Makes sense." Jeanne nodded.

Kanhara Shinhara’s forces involved...

They definitely won’t be a third-rate force.

Kanhara Shinhara’s identity represents incredibly astonishing human connections. Nowadays, both heroes and protectors have major figures related to her. If Shinhara were to manage it herself, her forces could not possibly be third-rate.

Kanhara Shinhara was also Xiang Shan’s earliest disciple, witnessed the creation of cyber martial arts, and deeply understood its birth and evolution. This experience could guide others—in ancient times, this itself was one of Shinhara’s tasks. She was responsible for conveying the system articulated by the Martial Ancestor to other potential rebels.

"This news caused a stir among all parties." Jin explained further details.

The broadcast service bought by Asgard couldn’t convey too detailed content, some things needed face-to-face narration.

The Martial Artist said: "The first to move was the Moon side."

Tumor Xiang Shan remarked: [Yes, right, that Old Dog must have gone crazy.]

"He mobilized almost all of his mobility forces, trying to find clues about the Six Dragons Sect. On the other hand, the Moon also offered a bounty..."

Asgard clicked his tongue in wonder: "Is there anyone brave enough to take the bounty from that King? Aren’t they afraid of death? He gives you a USB drive storing virtual coins; dare you plug it into your device? He gives you an account; dare you log in? He sends you files; dare you download them?"

"The bounty supports multiple forms of payment. The website explains that one can choose physical goods. Once the intelligence is verified, his forces will encase the goods in a rocket head and launch it towards the Asteroid Belt or any Space City, with the orbit freely designated."

Asgard was astonished: "So generous?"

"Hasn’t that Fire God always been ’generous with rewards’?" someone chimed in.

Though King Aqini has a terrifying reputation, everyone also knows he upholds ’clear rewards and punishments’.

"The price of intelligence about the Six Dragons Sect is rising fast now." Jin said, "Some people, inconvenient or too scared to claim the King’s reward, choose to sell it to intelligence personnel infiltrating the Neutral City-State, getting resources from them, then those people claim the reward instead. While this resource is a bit less, it’s much safer."

"With this advantage, many Martial Artists who aren’t brave enough to act as heroes have started moving."

"Additionally, beyond the Asteroid Belt in the Heroic Zone, there’s also Heroic Forces offering similar bounties. But Heroic Forces have many resources tied up in the Jupiter Domain. If it weren’t for that battle, perhaps the Black Ship Righteous Followers would be patrolling the major Space Cities searching for clues on the Six Dragons Sect."

Tumor Xiang Shan said: [Yes, I think so too. That’s precisely the effect the Twelfth Martial God wants.]

"Then on Mars, it’s equally complicated." Jin continued, "The Conquest Heavenly King also values this intelligence immensely. He used to be laissez-faire with the Scientific Knight Order but recently began large-scale reorganization and inspection. A Great Knight Commander of the Galapagos Temple over-injected Restoring Enzyme into his brain, completely cleansing his past. That trail is cut off. It’s a chaotic mess over there too."

Asgard pondered: "I’ve heard that since being ennobled, the Conquest Heavenly King stationed on Mars, never casually moved, and was very lenient with the Scientific Knight Order. Now even Mars is in chaos?"

Jeanne felt a complex emotion arising, not from herself, but from Xiang Shan. Tumor Xiang Shan remained silent.

But Jeanne roughly understood.

"Because... Flower of Rhetoric is not just a disciple of the Martial Ancestor? The Conquest Heavenly King then..."

"Isn’t that history meaningless now?" Asgard said, "The Twelfth Martial God’s actions seem to be a complete break?"

"How could it be meaningless? History constructs the present..." An anger propelled Jeanne to speak these words impulsively.

Jin said: "I generally agree with Jeanne, but this isn’t the right place to discuss such topics."

"Sorry."

"In short, it’s chaotic everywhere now. The Moon, Mars, the borders of the Solar System..." Jin shook his head, "Everyone is trying to find intelligence on the Six Dragons Sect... It’s said a group of Scientific Knights escaped Mars, attempting to flee here. Many of them might be from the Six Dragons Sect. Then, the Ranger from the Moon would ride along interstellar logistics, hitching a lift. Soon they would disperse and enter the Space City. Heroes might move slower but they would also find ways to come."

Asgard muttered: "This is really... with the Twelfth Martial God engaging that Fire God back and forth, the Jupiter Domain sparking direct warfare. Once he announced the intelligence, even here started going into turmoil. The whole Solar System’s ablaze... The birth of a Martial God, indeed heralds war."

Jin shook his head: "Or perhaps the prelude to war nurtures a Martial God."

Jeanne began considering another issue: "Is it possible... that this is a ruse of the Twelfth Martial God? He deliberately accused the Flower of Rhetoric of betraying heroism, siding with the Six Dragons Sect, thus concentrating other forces’ attention on the Six Dragons Sect, and then... if he coordinates well with his disciples, it wouldn’t be hard to make people believe this, right?"

Jin said: "I’m still inclined to... not likely. History always leaves traces. If the Flower of Rhetoric didn’t do it, others could always find evidence of ’she didn’t participate.’ Besides, by doing this, he’d deceive even Heroic Forces who regard him as their own—this would expend the Martial God’s new universe. I don’t think he’d do that."

[Don’t be swayed by my emotions, dear.] Tumor Xiang Shan sighed, [That ’I’ has no reason to do such things. A veteran hero like Kotoba serves as a ’benchmark’, highly valuable. Sacrificing such a ’benchmark’ just for dealing with the Six Dragons Sect, or involving some protective force, is too great a cost. It’s irrational.]

Soon, Jin brought Jeanne and Asgard to a temporary residence.

"This safehouse has a good reputation." Jin pointed to the enclosed space, "You can check if there’s eavesdropping devices here."

Asgard bent over, about to search, but Jeanne stopped her.

Then Jeanne shouted at high volume, cursing: "Hartman, you ***** ***** ***** of no dignity *****..."