Invasion - Chapter 120

Chapter 120

"The City of Mantis…is a little special."

In the backyard, Yun Luo explained the situation of the City of Mantis to everyone. His nimble metal fingers flipped through the information and pictures from different eras, the unique clicking of metal joints.

"Oh, it’s a 'Heaven-Opened' zone," said Rachel, the Golden Lion. He was a warrior who had been stationed at outposts, only recently transferred back to the capital this year. Having experienced hundreds of battles, he was familiar with the different types of contaminated zones.

“Heaven-Opened zone” was a slang term among border sentinels.

Experienced sentinels were mostly familiar with the differences between contaminated zones from different eras.

Newly formed contaminated zones had distorted and dangerous spaces. The Deviants active inside were unintelligent, muddle-headed, ferocious, and violent, killing humans was their instinct, and communication with them was impossible.

But for some reason, over time, some contaminated zones would gradually stabilize.

The monsters inside would also gradually become stronger, more intelligent and conscious, and communication with them became possible.

They would even develop their own social systems and ways of life.

The world inside was like a real, alternate dimension. Although still twisted and strange, seemingly incompatible with the human world.

But there was a real society there, with rules, and inhabitants.

A very few Deviant groups with relatively gentle personalities would even allow humans to enter and exit, peacefully exchanging rare resources from their respective worlds.

These zones were rare and called "Heaven-Opened" zones. Although it wasn’t an officially recognized term, they did exist.

Many people, for survival or for profit, would risk their lives, secretly carrying goods into Heaven-Opened zones, interacting with those Deviants.

Some even made huge profits.

Only, Deviants were emotionally unstable, cruel and twisted, their values completely different from humans’, interacting with them was incredibly dangerous.

But in this world, where it was easy to starve to death, countless people were still willing to risk their lives for a meal.

"You’re saying that if we communicate nicely with the Deviants, they won’t attack us?” Nicole, having never heard of this before, her eyes widened, gesturing with her hands.

Not just her, even many sentinels who rarely went to contaminated zones didn’t know there were such places, such possibilities, in this world.

The empire used the harsh environment, the terrors of contaminated zones, to unite people, and to collect heavy taxes. Of course, it was impossible for them to spread the idea that monsters could communicate, that they could safely enter and exit some contaminated zones.

"Not only can you communicate, but you can even learn about their lives, as long as you follow the rules within the contaminated zone," Yun Luo said, “But that doesn’t mean it’s safe. Sometimes, it’s even more dangerous, crueler.”

That cold, mechanical finger picked out an old photograph from the many documents and showed it to everyone present.

The photo was yellowed, with a few dark brown bloodstains on it.

In the photo, a dozen sentinels were hanging, being executed in the wilderness. When the photo was taken, they were clearly still alive, the way they were being punished made even the strong warriors present shudder, they couldn't help but look away.

In the foreground of the photo, a Deviant, wearing a pink Rococo-style dress, stood before the camera.

With a human face and an insect body, she held bloody internal organs in her serrated, sickle-like arms, posing for the camera, an innocent smile on her face.

"This is a photo from ten years ago, of what happened to a team of sentinels who entered the City of Mantis, they all died in the end, the leader… was my teacher during my academy days.”

The photo held between Yun Luo’s mechanical fingers, dark and yellowed, stained with blood, like a window peering into hell.

That dark, bloody, incredibly cruel moment was frozen in the image, making one unable to imagine that there could be such horrific torture and abuse in this world.

In the peaceful and quiet capital, in Lin Yuan's backyard garden, with its blooming spring flowers, everyone, looking at the photo in Yun Luo’s hand, was silent.

Du Yuanyuan clapped her hands, changing the heavy topic, "The City of Mantis is a matriarchal society, very unfriendly towards men. I think, this time, you guys shouldn’t go."

She reached out and put an arm around Lin Yuan’s shoulder. "This time, it’ll be just Yuan Yuan and me, a girls’ trip."

"I'm going too," Nicole said, not convinced, silver scales on her cheeks, beneath her afro, shimmering in the sunlight.

Du Yuanyuan, her long arm extending, put her other arm around Nicole's shoulder, looking incredibly smug, as if she had both of them in her arms.

The pair of fluffy black ears on her head twitched happily, the iconic dark circles of a panda appearing on her face.

Du Yuanyuan and Nicole had just had a fight during training, and it had been a draw. Neither was willing to admit defeat, and the materialized forms of their mental bodies hadn't dissipated yet.

They had already forgotten their animosity, even blurring gender lines, the three girls happily huddled together.

Lin Yuan, her face blank, while Du Yuanyuan and Nicole, their faces and hair covered with mud and grass, laughed at the other boys.

"I have to go, even if I have to dress as a woman," Rachel said, a fearless smile on his face, “Captain Yun, don't force yourself this time."

The Golden Lion was tall, with golden proportions, but there were also many burly female Sentinels. Du Yuanyuan was almost as tall as him.

Yun Luo, his face unusually red, said, "I want to go, that’s where my teacher is buried, it’s not like men can’t enter at all… even if their status is a bit lower there, we can just endure it."

Nicole noticed that Lin Yuan seemed a little distracted. Although her face was as expressionless as usual, as a Guide, Nicole keenly sensed that she had something on her mind, her gaze always drifting towards her personal terminal.

"What's wrong, Yuan Yuan?" Nicole stayed behind after training ended. "Is there another Sentinel you want to invite?"

"Mm, there’s one person," Lin Yuan replied honestly. "I want to invite him, but I’m not very good at typing, I’m afraid I'll say something wrong."

Both girls were covered in sweat, wearing short-sleeved, tight training clothes. They walked hand in hand, along the wall where the roses bloomed.

"What's so difficult about this, isn't there a banquet tonight? You can just ask him in person," Nicole said, "He’ll be there too, right? It’s the Queen's banquet."

Tonight, there was a grand banquet held in the name of Her Majesty, most Sentinels and Guides of slightly higher status in the empire would attend.

Yes, if she wanted to ask Little Fish whether he was going, she could just ask him when she saw him today.

Such a simple matter.

What was she even thinking about?

Lin Yuan didn’t understand why she felt a little embarrassed to see Ni Ji.

The tentacles, as Lin Yuan walked, were playing, their bodies intertwined with Nicole’s silver python.

Hearing Lin Yuan and Nicole's conversation, they raised their heads, chattering,

【You call that not being good at typing? Your spoken language might even be worse.】

【I told you I could type for you, yet you still refused.】

【You should just listen to me, don’t say anything, just take action.】

【The only thing the main body is good at is taking action.】

【You still owe us a fish. We haven’t petted a fish for so many days.】

【Poor little fish.】

【Scumbag Yuan.】

【*&$%!】

The tentacles' mental transmissions were directed at Lin Yuan herself. But because they were in physical contact with Nicole's mental body, Nicole “heard” some of the chaotic chatter.

"What fish?" Nicole linked her arm with Lin Yuan’s. “Come on, Xiao Yuan, tell me what you've been doing behind my back."

Lin Yuan looked away, kicking a stone on the road with the tip of her shoe, avoiding Nicole's question.

After a while, she cupped a hand to her ear and whispered a few words into Nicole's ear.

Nicole had known Lin Yuan for a long time and was very familiar with her personality. She knew that this girl, emotionally closed-off, was as straightforward as a rock, always saying what was on her mind, she was never coy or hesitant.

This was the first time she had seen Lin Yuan show such a subtle side.

Under the rose-covered wall, the two girls whispered their secrets.

The soft whispers, in the dappled shadows of the courtyard, not for others to hear.

…

Before the banquet began, Roy, head of the Special Research Department, excitedly brought an evening dress to Lin Yuan, saying that it was a gift from Her Majesty.

The dress was made of high-quality silk and beautiful brocade, embroidered with flowers, layers of lace, its skirt dotted with countless glittering crystals, luxurious and beautiful.

"It's so beautiful, just like a princess's," Roy said, almost moved to tears. "You're so lucky, Her Majesty's favor towards you is truly enviable, if your mother were still alive, she would be overjoyed.”

Lin Yuan turned around in front of the mirror, the tiny crystals shimmering, like she was covered in moonlight, incredibly beautiful and exquisite, it almost made one forget about this troubled world.

During the day, she had just been looking at a lot of information on contaminated zones.

In those photos and videos, there were many warriors, civilians, even children and elderly people, tragically dying in those dangerous contaminated zones, just to obtain some meager resources.

They had no choice, in this barren world, if they didn’t risk their lives, they couldn't survive.

And now, standing before the mirror, she put on silk and satin, covered in jewels, about to go to a banquet with endless food and drinks.

Inside the tower, they reveled day and night, indulging in luxury and pleasure.

Outside the bone-white walls, people were starving, corpses everywhere.

Lin Yuan looked at the richly dressed girl in the mirror, feeling a strong sense of dissonance.

The girl in the mirror, with her slender waist, her fair skin, her delicate face, her cold, indifferent expression,

She suddenly felt that if she also wore a veil, put on red lipstick, she would be very much like a copy of the Queen, that powerful presence at the top of the White Tower.

Only younger, and smaller.

The royal banquet was the grandest event in the empire, always held in the spring.

Every year at this time, tender lambs, fattened cattle, fresh seafood, mountain delicacies, would all be brought to the capital, these fresh ingredients skillfully prepared, seasoned with precious spices, continuously supplied to the extravagant banquet hall.

The lighting was artistic, the latest high-end products from the contaminated zones were on display at this banquet.

A three-dimensional virtual singer danced in a pool of wine, singing birds placed along the paths where guests passed, showing off their songs for the grand feast.

Fine wine flowed like water in small fountains, gemstones and flowers decorating the empire’s prosperity.

The banquet hall, located inside the White Tower, had no windows, no one needed to see the dark night outside,

As long as they knew that this was a land of pleasure, a sleepless city, a place where everyone could indulge.

Lin Yuan's arrival attracted a lot of attention.

The young guide, with her indifferent little face, her long dress trailing behind her, not even bothering with a bit of lipstick, yet she seemed to be dragging moonlight as she passed.

"See that dress? A gift from Her Majesty herself."

"Truly an unparalleled honor."

"Guide Lin is such an exceptional person, so captivatingly beautiful, I heard Her Majesty summons her every few days.”

“She hasn’t found a match yet, right?”

"A beautiful and gentle guide like this, what kind of sentinel is worthy of her?"

"I heard she has royal blood, and her family is incredibly wealthy."

"Even a prince is worthy of her."

"Isn't that right?"

Lin Yuan didn't quite understand. She was still the same person as before, her appearance and personality hadn't changed much, and she was even more unconventional, less rule-abiding, yet for some reason, the way people talked about her had completely changed.

It was like how, back then, they had called her aloof, incomplete, and strange, criticizing and looking down on her for no reason.

Now, they were giving her qualities she didn’t possess, such as gentle, beautiful, smart, generous, charismatic, and such.

Along the way, countless gazes and thoughts were focused on her, and many friends warmly greeted her.

Although she didn’t realize it herself, Lin Yuan was undeniably incredibly beautiful.

Back then, before leaving the capital, she had worn a black dress, like smoke, an elegant, solitary, aloof kind of beauty.

Now, she was told to wear a white dress, and that dress was incredibly beautiful, only the person wearing it was no longer as lonely and solitary as before.

She was a warrior who had been on the battlefield, having seen countless lives and deaths, walking through gunfire, a natural confidence and strength in her every move.

No matter what fine clothes she wore, they could no longer hide the soul of a warrior within, one who could stand tall and independent.

Many people were secretly watching her, wanting to talk to her.

Those noble sentinels who valued their status, holding wine glasses, wanted to come closer, to chat, only, they would inexplicably hesitate before they even got close.

As if it wasn't a pair of delicate jade legs hidden beneath that beautiful skirt, but countless powerful, dark things surging in the shadows beneath.

It made people apprehensive, a little scared, a little dazed, and by the time they came to their senses, that dream-like figure was already gone, who knew where.

“Didn’t you say you had to talk to Guide Lin tonight? You’ve been putting on your makeup for so long, and you’re already back?”

“Uh, yes… yes, I was clearly going to find her, but I don't know how, or when, I came back.”

“Strange, where did Guide Lin go? I can't find her, she was just here.”

“Has anyone seen Lin Yuan? Damn it, just a moment of distraction, and she’s gone, I specially dressed up tonight, just wanting to leave a good impression…”

Lin Yuan quietly had the tentacles drive away another person who wanted to approach her.

She found a quiet corner and sat down, secretly drinking.

By the artificial pond, purple wisteria branches drooped down from the trees.

Lin Yuan sat in the shadows of the flowers, pouring herself drinks.

Those people with ulterior motives walked past her again and again, yet not a single one could see her.

She had been very good at this since she was young, even at the most crowded occasions, as long as she wanted to, she could make everyone subconsciously ignore her, not approach her.

Unless there were those who were very determined to see her.

She saw Ni Ji in the crowd.

Little Fish was wearing a military uniform today, which highlighted his broad shoulders, narrow waist, and straight legs even more.

Like her, quite a few people surrounded him.

Lin Yuan listened intently. Those people were all discussing Ni Ji's outstanding contributions in repeatedly entering and exiting contaminated zones, congratulating him.

Congratulating him on his upcoming promotion to Vice-Commander of the Royal Guard. It was an important position close to the upper echelons of the White Tower, and because of this, many were trying to curry favor with him.

Lin Yuan sat in the shade of the purple flowers, happily drinking her sweet wine, secretly looking at the Sentinel surrounded by the crowd.

It had been many days since she last saw him. He seemed to have specially dressed up today, his hair neatly styled, he might have even put on some makeup.

It made his features look more defined, his aura sharper, both beautiful and cool.

She didn’t know who he had dressed up for.

Those dark eyes didn't turn towards her corner, he seemed to not notice her.

Banquets like this were incredibly boring, not fun at all.

The only redeeming quality was that the drinks were free-flowing, she could secretly drink her fill when no one was paying attention.

Amidst the noise, the scent of fish by her side, secretly sitting in an unnoticed corner, hidden by the shadows of the flowers and trees, even the taste of wine seemed sweeter.

A hand reached through the hanging wisteria flowers and took away the wine glass in her hand.

"You’re drinking so much again," a slightly unfamiliar voice rang by her ear.

Lin Yuan turned her head and saw a figure in the shadows of the trees, that figure that had already faded in her memories.

"Yuan Yuan, can we talk?" Jiang Yangshuo, standing in the shadows of the tree, looked at Lin Yuan.

He seemed to have had quite a bit to drink. The corners of his eyes were red, his hair a little messy, a golden glint in his slightly narrowed eyes.

Patreon

VerseVoyage