Invasion - Chapter 72

Chapter 72

"You knew my mother?" Lin Yuan asked.

"Of course, didn't anyone tell you? Your mother had royal blood," the Queen replied with a smile. "I’ve met her many times, your mother, Lin Lan'er, was a beautiful and powerful person, I liked that child very much."

Lin Yuan was a little surprised. Since she was young, she had rarely heard anyone mention her parents, this was the first time she learned that her family had royal blood.

Actually, the fact that her family could own such a large manor near the White Tower meant they must have been a wealthy and influential family, at least they had once been prominent. But for some reason, Lin Yuan had never met any relatives from either her mother's or father's side.

It was as if all those related to her family were dead, leaving only her alone in this world.

She had grown up in the White Tower, almost no one ever visited her, other than Roy, her mother’s former colleague, almost no one ever mentioned her parents to her.

The Queen came down from her throne, holding her hand, walking with Lin Yuan in the spacious and magnificent palace, talking about her mother as they walked.

Her hand was very soft, her mannerisms elegant, the gaze behind her veil gentle, making one feel close and comfortable.

"When Lin Lan'er was your age, she would often come here to play, I would also hold her hand like this," the Queen looked at Lin Yuan as she spoke, the tentacles sensing a faint sadness and nostalgia in her emotions, "You look very much like your mother.”

"Really? I’m like my mom?"

Lin Yuan didn't think she was very much like her mother.

She had seen her mother's photos, her mother was a tall, strong, and cheerful woman, with a high ponytail, a pair of fast legs, she loved to smile, a bright smile in every photo.

She and her mother didn't seem to be the same type at all, inside and out.

The Queen looked at her, a gentle smile on her face, as if she knew what she was thinking.

"Your mother, Lin Lan'er, was a strong and intelligent girl, she had her own opinions and a clear understanding of everything, although you are a Guide, your personalities are almost the same."

A sense of happiness surged in Lin Yuan's heart, so her mother had been a wonderful person. For some reason, her emotions here seemed stronger than usual.

"I heard you broke off your engagement, applied to the Special Research Department, and have been to many contaminated zones, you even opened the Golden Tree Contaminated Zone?" the Queen asked.

Lin Yuan made a sound of affirmation.

"I should thank you. Humanity hasn’t conquered a contaminated zone, hasn’t taken back any land from a contaminated zone, in countless years," the Queen said with a smile, holding her hand. "You truly are your mother's daughter.”

Lin Yuan couldn't quite remember what her mother looked like, what kind of person her mother was?

She was too young at that time, she only vaguely remembered that her mother’s embrace had been very warm, her hand, holding hers, very gentle. She really wanted to hear those who knew her mother talk about her, tell her about her mom.

She unknowingly walked forward with the Queen, feeling very relaxed being held by this beautiful and elegant Majesty, a desire to be close to her welling up in her heart.

As if she wanted to hear her talk more, be closer to her, be held by her like this, and walk on forever.

No wonder so many people loved Her Majesty.

She really looked elegant and gentle, like the embodiment of everything beautiful in the world, like a mother.

She walked with the Queen to a rectangular window.

The entire White Tower had smooth, porcelain-white outer walls, pure white, its structure dense, like an ivory tower, without a single window.

She hadn't expected that in such a high place, near the top, there would be such a small, square window.

The Queen took Lin Yuan to the window and looked out together.

The view from here was very high. Through the thin clouds, they could see the entire imperial capital. The small houses, the roads, the rivers, and the city walls in the distance, everything was clearly visible from here.

Closely surrounding the White Tower was an area of magnificent buildings, with green tiles and red walls, brightly colored, but only a small area.

Further away, the houses gradually became dilapidated, densely packed, messy, a grayish color spreading into the distance.

Standing here, they could very clearly see the holy light emitted from the top of the White Tower, the pale white light spreading from the spire, like an inverted bowl, covering the entire capital.

The ant-like pedestrians on the streets, the countless houses on the earth, were all protected within this screen of holy light.

Humans huddled around the White Tower, crowded under the protection of this holy light, struggling to survive in this dangerous, twisted world.

A breeze blew in from the small window, slightly lifting the Queen’s veil, revealing her fair jawline and beautiful lips.

"Human lives are becoming more and more difficult, now, we can only rely on the White Tower to continue existing in this world," those thin lips sighed softly, "Sometimes I also feel a little lost, not knowing whether the path we’re on is correct, whether we can still reach a distant future."

That sigh was full of worry, heaviness, compassion, and the weight of responsibility.

These emotions were sincere and intense, easily moving others.

If it were anyone else, they would almost kneel down on one knee, swearing allegiance to the Majesty before them, who was worried about the fate of mankind.

Telling her that they were willing to go through fire and water for her, to dedicate everything to saving the precarious fate of humanity.

Fortunately, Lin Yuan was a person with muted emotions.

She only sighed softly — even this was already not easy for her.

The Queen, standing by the window, gently held her hand, her demeanor relaxed and casual. "I just wanted to ask you, did you bring back any part of the Golden Tree from the Golden Tree Contaminated Zone?”

In this relaxed atmosphere, Lin Yuan opened her mouth to answer.

At that moment, something gently knocked in her mind.

【Don’t say it.】

She looked into her mindscape and saw a bright, clear full moon appearing in the vast sky.

Lin Yuan’s slightly muddled mind, as if covered in fog, instantly cleared.

Yes, how could she say it? Otherwise, Xun Hua would be in danger.

Lin Yuan broke out in a cold sweat.

In her mindscape, she vaguely saw her mental body.

The deep-sea Kraken's amber eyes, from between the tentacles, looked at the thousands of stars in the sky, as if confronting some powerful force in the distance.

In the depths of the starry sky, in an invisible, untouchable place, someone was watching her.

"That Golden Tree, after the contaminated zone collapsed, completely withered, not a single leaf remained," Lin Yuan said.

She was still holding the Queen’s hand, the skin of that hand cold, not as warm as she had just imagined.

In a sense, what Lin Yuan said was the truth. At least in her own emotions, there wasn't a sense that she was lying.

So the gaze watching her from the distant void couldn't find any flaws in her mind.

---

The Queen, wearing a pure white crown, a white veil, stood by the window, a gentle breeze blowing. She was beautiful and gentle, pure and innocent.

She looked at Lin Yuan for a long time, only seeming satisfied with her answer after a while.

"I heard that you also went to the No. 5 Contaminated Zone," she said, her voice soft and slow. "That was the first contaminated zone you went to, did you bring anything back from there?"

Lin Yuan then complained to her about how she had worked hard to find many valuable ancient energy stones, only to have them snatched away by a group of vulgar sentinels. And they were sentinels from the capital.

"Those people were from the Public Security Bureau, the sentinel leading them was named Tan Shu," Lin Yuan reported this in front of the empire's highest leader, "I reported this after returning. Roy, the head of our Special Research Department, promised to get justice for me, but he didn’t even get a single imperial coin back.”

The Queen finally smiled. "It’s too dangerous for a Guide to go to a contaminated zone, you should be assigned a powerful sentinel.”

A nostalgic look appeared in her eyes. "There used to be many such sentinels and Guides.”

Finally, the Queen summoned Luther from the Royal Guard, instructing him to assign guards to Lin Yuan for when she entered contaminated zones.

Lin Yuan didn’t want a dedicated sentinel.

But she was still quite happy. At least the Queen of the empire didn't object to a Guide like her entering and exiting contaminated zones, and even showed support for her actions.

It would be much easier for her to continue going to contaminated zones in the future.

"I'm curious, which contaminated zone are you planning to go to next?" the Queen asked Lin Yuan before she left.

"I haven’t decided yet," Lin Yuan said.

At this moment, just as she was about to leave, at her most relaxed, she very clearly felt that intense gaze.

Somewhere, there was a powerful mental body intently watching her.

Interrogating her mental state, watching her answer for any hint of a lie.

Even the slightest hesitation or panic would be detected by the other party.

But she truly hadn’t decided yet, she still didn’t know where to go, her emotions completely sincere, calm and fearless.

"So you still don’t know yet?” The Queen reached out a finger, gently touching her temple.

"Alright, how about this, I'll give you a suggestion, if you're willing, you can consider going to the No. 338 Contaminated Zone. It’s a very old contaminated zone, with many secrets worth exploring."

Her Majesty’s suggestion was also a command, an assignment.

Lin Yuan nodded in agreement.

Luther, accompanying her as she left, asked Lin Yuan, "Do you know about the No. 338 Contaminated Zone?"

Lin Yuan shook her head. There were so many contaminated zones, she didn’t know the situation of every single one.

"That’s the Land of No Eyes, the dark dungeon, a world without eyes," Luther sighed. "Why would Her Majesty send a Guide like you to a place like that?”

Land of No Eyes.

Lin Yuan thought about this term.

She thought of the revelation she had seen on the wooden box from the shipwreck. After the image of the Golden Tree, the map was connected to the image of a blind eye totem.

Land of No Eyes, a world without eyes.

Could Contaminated Zone 338 be the place she was going to explore?

"Her Majesty, such a benevolent person, her decisions must have deep meaning," Luther made a gesture of prayer, "Let's go, come with me to the Royal Guard, I’ll pick a few capable people for you.”

Lin Yuan didn’t want a dedicated sentinel, nor did she want to form a team with others.

But although Her Majesty was gentle, her orders were not to be questioned, Luther would resolutely carry them out.

Luther took Lin Yuan down in the elevator, to the floor where the Royal Guard was stationed.

To select a suitable candidate from among those sentinels.

"What kind of sentinel do you want?” Luther asked her.

"What kind?” Lin Yuan thought about it. “If we're going on a mission together, then of course, the strongest sentinel.”

…

The Royal Guard’s base was located inside the White Tower, occupying an entire floor.

It had the most advanced, high-tech training equipment and luxurious training grounds.

The training ground today was a little lively, many people crowding towards one spot, as if something was happening.

"I heard they’re selecting a guard for a Guide, to protect her as she enters a contaminated zone," a sentinel said to his companion.

"We, the Royal Guard, have been reduced to this? Who wants to be a bodyguard for a Guide?” his companion said unhappily.

The two sentinels walked to the registration area, looking at the electronic screen used for registration, and continued discussing.

Many people were watching the commotion, but not many were registering to participate.

Hearing that the person who needed protection wasn't a royal or a noble, just an ordinary Guide without any background,

And also needing to go to a dangerous place like a contaminated zone, most weren’t very willing, many were just here to watch.

"Seems like it’s that legendary Guide, the one who opened the Golden Tree.”

"I've also heard of that person, a Guide who actually dares to enter and exit contaminated zones, just how powerful is she?"

"A Guide like that, I bet no sentinel would dare to be with her, I bet she’ll never find a match."

"Exactly, she must look very scary, probably like a gorilla, I’m definitely not going."

As the two were talking, a sentinel pushed past them.

The sentinel’s arm was missing, replaced with a bionic mechanical arm. He raised the personal terminal on his mechanical arm, swiped it against the electronic registration screen, and a beep sounded.

“Registration successful, welcome Officer Yun Luo,” the electronic screen’s mechanical voice rang out.

"Captain Yun?"

"Yun Luo? I thought he died in the Golden Tree Contaminated Zone."

"He was trapped in the contaminated zone for several months, everyone thought he was dead. I can’t believe he actually made it out alive when the contaminated zone collapsed."

"He actually dares to sign up for this? He almost died in a contaminated zone, he even lost an arm, isn’t he scared at all? And it’s the Land of No Eyes this time.”

Whispers rose around them. Yun Luo, after swiping his registration card, turned and glanced at the two behind him.

"Only the weak fear the strength of others," the blue light from the electronic screen reflected on his thin, resolute face, "True power is always drawn to strength.”

He moved his elbow, his mechanical fingers flexing into a fist, then walked towards the entrance of the selection arena.

Not long after he left, another sentinel came. The man had a thick beard, a well-known powerhouse in the Royal Guard, he also swiped his personal terminal against the screen.

"I heard that brat Yun Luo’s even stronger now that he’s got a mechanical arm, I’m going to spar with him, haha, it has nothing to do with some Guide."

The next to register was a member who had just participated in the Golden Tree operation, he didn't make any excuses, it was very straightforward.

"I'm here for Guide Lin, don’t any of you fight me for her.”

One after another, sentinels stepped forward, swiping their IDs to enter.

There still weren’t that many people registering. But like Yun Luo had just said, each of them was a true powerhouse in the Royal Guard.

Some of them were members who had participated in the Golden Tree operation. More of them had never even met Lin Yuan.

A Guide who dared to enter and exit contaminated zones.

Perhaps those noble-born sentinels in their uniforms, who had spent their entire lives in safety, didn't understand.

But those powerhouses who often ventured into dangerous places, those who fought bloody battles in contaminated zones, keenly understood what this meant.

A rare Guide, who could be a partner, who could enter contaminated zones with them, side by side, providing assistance to Sentinels at any time.

They were very willing to meet this legendary Guide, to become friends with her.

"No way, so many people actually signed up," the sentinel who had spoken earlier nudged his companion with his elbow. "A violent Guide who’s not even afraid of Deviants, always hanging out with sentinels, and so many people want to know her?”

His elbow hit air. He found that his companion had, at some point, squeezed to the front of the screen and swiped his ID card.

---

Ji Xuan and Ni Ji returned from the upper levels of the White Tower by elevator and noticed the commotion at the training grounds of the Royal Guard.

"What’s going on?" Ji Xuan stopped a passing sentinel and asked.

"It’s a selection," the sentinel panted. "Organized by Commander Luther, to select the strongest sentinel. We’re all going to watch.”

After learning what was happening, Ji Xuan took Ni Ji to the selection arena to watch.

"No. 338 Contaminated Zone, Land of No Eyes," Ji Xuan frowned slightly, he remembered what the Minister of Finance had said not long ago.

"Such a coincidence, Her Majesty actually sent a Guide to explore that place, and even had Old Lu choose a Sentinel to be her partner."

The selection arena was a martial arts arena normally used by sentinels for training.

The huge circular arena had protective barriers that limited energy overload, and high stands surrounding it, allowing the competing sentinels to fight freely.

Ji Xuan brought Ni Ji to the stands, the two sentinels on the arena were already in a fierce battle.

Many sentinels were watching, and more and more were getting ready to compete.

At this time, Commander Luther of the Royal Guard appeared in the stands, a young woman beside him.

The girl was wearing a pure white Guide uniform. She smoothed her skirt and gracefully sat down on a seat in the stands.

Not at all like the tall, muscular, gorilla-like figure in the rumors.

She was almost like all normal Guides, her face delicate, her body slender, beautiful and moving.

But she was completely unlike an ordinary Guide.

The sentinels believed that if any other Guide from the Guide Academy were to stand here, with so many sentinels staring at her, she would definitely blush, shy and uneasy.

In this world, it was always the noble sentinels who chose the Guides graduating from the academy.

Guides were the ones being chosen.

Waiting, being shy, not taking initiative, not casually interacting with sentinels, these were the labels this world had placed on Guides.

But the girl appeared under everyone’s gaze, standing high up, her hands on the railing, looking down at the sentinels fighting for her, her expression calm and composed.

Her expression, as if telling everyone that this was normal, that she was a powerful Guide, qualified to choose the strongest sentinel here as her partner.

She stood high up in the stands, the breeze blowing her white skirt, her figure slender, her expression cold.

Fearless, arrogant, calm, and powerful.

That kind of aura couldn't be faked, it was the aura of a warrior.

The powerful Guide who had faced terrifying Deviants, who had opened the Contaminated Zone that had been sealed for four hundred years.

She was a bright flower that had bloomed on the battlefield, stained with blood, having experienced life and death.

Not some fragile decoration from a greenhouse.

She stood on that high platform, her eyes scanning, choosing her sentinel, her combat partner.

She said she wanted the strongest sentinel here.

Ni Ji stood in the stands, looking up at that figure. At this moment, everyone’s eyes were on the Guide in the white dress.

"She’s very charismatic," Ji Xuan said to Ni Ji beside him, "You should have met her before, I heard that after she obtained the key in the contaminated zone, she gave it to you."

He saw the sentinel beside him look away from the distant stands, and softly give him an affirmative answer.

Ji Xuan suddenly felt like he had missed something.

There was a lot of noise around them.

Ni Ji turned his head, a light in his eyes, his expression calm, his emotions restrained.

"How is it, are you interested in this mission?" Ji Xuan smiled and asked him, "Do you want to see what this Guide, sent by the Queen, is like?"

"If it is your wish, Vice-Commander, that I go," Ni Ji said slowly, his voice steady.

His gaze fell on the arena, watching the two competing sentinels, his face as calm as still water, not showing much interest, nor excessive attention.

Just waiting for Ji Xuan’s assignment.

The sentinels on the arena reached a critical point in their battle, summoning their mental bodies, which clashed.

Ji Xuan thought for a while.

He was very curious about this Guide, and also wanted to know what the Queen wanted from the No. 338 Contaminated Zone. Ni Ji was the most suitable candidate.

Only, he had a feeling, as if Ni Ji, before him, had suddenly become a fully armed warrior, all his emotions perfectly concealed.

"Then go and participate in this selection. Just do your best, try to stay by this Guide’s side, enter the contaminated zone with her," Ji Xuan finally instructed Ni Ji.

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