Chapter 281

Chapter 282: Going Home Means Driving the House Back

What Bai Li Qing laid out left Yu Sheng a bit dazed. [People in an organization who build theories really are something. The Holy Revere Hermitage is way sharper than those crazy Angel Cultists. No wonder they can build something as over the top as an Artificial Saintess and still hold territory, while the Angel Cultists just keep getting themselves killed hoping to spook a Dark Angel so their “lord” will glance their way. The difference in execution is on a whole other level.]

[As for whether Holy Revere Hermitage’s idea of “healing mortals and the whole world through sanctification” has any real logic, he had zero interest in picking it apart.]

[Cult stuff is made to sound exciting. Even if it’s crooked at its core, they always polish the outside until it looks smooth. Otherwise, how would they recruit anyone?]

[Most people aren’t born wanting to burn down the world. If your flashy grassroots group announces you want to watch the world burn, you’ll only attract beaten down losers with a chip on their shoulder. But if you say “our organization aims to bring warmth to the world through scientific innovation,” it sounds cultured and classy at once…]

His thoughts ran wild for only a few seconds. Then he asked: “Does Holy Revere Hermitage make a lot of trouble for Borderland? Have they done much here before?”

“Because Borderland is special, we’ve dealt with almost every cult and any bigger criminal group, Holy Revere Hermitage included,” said Bai Li Qing, her tone growing heavier as she went on, “but the clashes mostly happen out at distant Border outposts or on colony worlds. They rarely dare to stir things up on Borderland’s home turf. The few times they did act here, it was just smuggling or rescuing members. This time is different.”

“Artificial Saintess units aren’t deployed lightly,” she continued. “Their killing power is one thing, but more important is what they mean inside Holy Revere Hermitage. An Artificial Saintess often serves as the core of a major sanctification action. Her appearance protects key assets of the Hermitage Order and symbolizes the Saint’s guidance and shelter… you get what I mean.”

Yu Sheng frowned and thought for a while, then broke the silence: “Could it be tied to this thick fog?”

“…I suspect so,” Bai Li Qing nodded. “This ‘fog’ is strange. A large-scale Otherworld like this couldn’t have started in Boundary City and stayed hidden for so long. And the timing is sensitive: it appeared shortly after Angel Fall. Anyone pulling tricks in Borderland right now is extra suspicious.”

Just then, the forensics team returned.

They brought back the black Head Veil and the blades Yu Sheng had asked for.

“We checked it. It’s an N-12 Artificial Saintess, with less than five years in service. N-12 is a new model, so the database is thin,” the Special Affairs Bureau technician reported to Bai Li Qing. “The outer shell uses military Type II armor-grade Orton Alloy. We detected trace Carbyne Crystal Clusters, likely from the Great Cross Sector. The blades are the mature Unidirectional Crystal Alloy Blade tech from the previous N-11 model. Origin unknown, suspected to be from a secret forge of Holy Revere Hermitage.”

He paused, pointed at the Head Veil, and added: “We examined this too. It’s a ritual style, local brand, distributed through the Council trade network to more than twenty outside channels. It’s popular in some regions out there, so there are lots of knockoffs and rebrands. The official anti-counterfeiting is poor, which makes tracing the source difficult.”

Yu Sheng listened, stunned again, and thought [professionals really are on another level], though the material specs and production details went right over his head.

“For them to send an N-12… a cutting-edge unit like this wouldn’t be a branch decision,” Bai Li Qing mused. “At least a mid-level Hermitage Order Sage had to give the order.” After a moment’s thought, she nodded to the staffer and said: “Alright, you can head back.”

“Yes, Director.”

The forensics team left.

Bai Li Qing turned to Yu Sheng. “We’d like to keep that arm and analyze it. Samples of an Artificial Saintess body are rare, especially of a new model. We need it. The Special Affairs Bureau will buy it at the high-grade oddity rate. Is that acceptable?”

“No problem,” said Yu Sheng with a grin as he waved it off. “I only want these ‘long knives.’ Handle the rest however you like. I don’t really know the market anyway… I’ll take these first.”

Carefully, he picked up the blades, each one impossibly sharp and tough, and passed them to Foxy so she could store them in her tail. He hesitated, lifted the black Head Veil for a look, then glanced at Irene and asked: “Want me to turn this into a dress for you?”

“I don’t!” Irene made a face. “It’s culty, and who knows what that machine did while wearing it. Bad luck.”

Yu Sheng chuckled: “Funny, when you play games you’re happy to skin monsters, pry off scales, and mod your gear.”

“Not the same,” Irene said, hands on hips as she stood on Bai Li Qing’s desk: “A game is a game, real life is real life.”

“Fine, if you don’t want it, you don’t want it,” Yu Sheng said as he tossed the Head Veil to Foxy. “Let Foxy keep it. There’s plenty of room in her tail.”

By the time they finished talking about Holy Revere Hermitage, it was almost three in the morning.

Knowing this investigation would take time, Yu Sheng decided to go home. Foxy was yawning so hard even her ears drooped.

He also needed to drive the house back to the real world. Even though 66 Wutong Road has built-in cognitive interference and, in theory, wouldn’t draw normal attention even if it drifted all over Boundary City, he had parked the house in the Otherworld. Leaving it there too long made him nervous.

“We’re heading back,” said Yu Sheng as he casually opened The Door to their living room. “66 Wutong Road will return to its spot soon. There might be a bit of a commotion. Please be ready and record the new signature code so your automated system can update.”

“Alright,” said Bai Li Qing, rising from behind her desk. “I’ll personally follow up on the Deep Diving Unit’s search. If we find any new lead in Mistbound City, I’ll contact you.”

Yu Sheng nodded, then stepped through The Door with Foxy and Irene.

Watching the unreal door vanish in silence, Bai Li Qing stood still for a few seconds, then let out a quiet breath.

She picked up the phone, dialed an internal number, and said: “Who’s on duty in the Technical Department… good, I have a request…”

…

“As soon as I get home, I feel human again,” Irene muttered as she jumped down from Foxy’s arms and stretched hard. “That stone-faced steel statue’s office is cold and heavy everywhere. Even the air feels pressed down.”

Foxy yawned, all her big tails drooping behind her: “Benefactor, sleepy.”

Smiling, Yu Sheng rubbed the fur behind the Fox Maiden’s ears and said: “Go upstairs and sleep. I’ll drive the house back.”

“Okay~”

Foxy mumbled and headed for the stairs. Halfway up, she went down on all fours and climbed slowly.

Yu Sheng could only laugh and shake his head.

[This fox is getting more and more relaxed.] He didn’t think that was a bad thing.

He shook off his own drowsiness, went to the entryway, put his hand on The Door handle, and began sending 66 Wutong Road back to the real world.

It was his first time doing the reverse. To be honest, he was nervous.

People get odd ideas when they’re nervous.

The instant he felt himself connect to The Door, a bold thought popped up: [If the house can move between Borderland and Mistbound City, could it move to other places too? What if I assign values the same way I do for shifting to Mistbound City and just drive 66 Wutong Road farther? Another planet? Those bizarre places I saw when I practiced Door Opening? Would the house just show up there? What if it landed in another city with people around…]

Seeing him freeze and then grin strangely, Irene guessed what he was thinking and blurted: “Hey, hey, hey, don’t try it now. It’s already past three. Calm down!”

“Ahem,” Yu Sheng said, banishing the bold ideas and focusing, “I’m only thinking, okay? I won’t mess around this time.”

Keeping his mind steady, he treated 66 Wutong Road and the entryway as one whole, set the parameters the way he had before, and finished preparing The Door.

The handle turned. The latch clicked.

Yu Sheng slowly pushed the door open.

Outside, the night street was calm. No fog. Everything normal.

Two unfamiliar Special Affairs Bureau agents stood on the open ground outside The Door, each holding something like a recorder and staring blankly at him.

After a long beat, they spoke at the same time: “Uh, you’re back?”

“Yeah, back,” said Yu Sheng.

“Welcome back…”

Seeing them hesitate, Yu Sheng asked with a nod: “Want to come in and sit a while?”

“Better not, better not,” one of them waved quickly. “Our instant noodles are already soaking…”

“Oh. Then I’m closing The Door,” said Yu Sheng.

“Go ahead, go ahead,” both said.

Yu Sheng shut The Door and traded a look with the little doll by his feet.

“These two don’t seem very bright,” he said.

“I think so too, silly,” said Irene.