188. Leader: Become My Agent, Houraiji Kyuushou
"Troublesome." Outside the G Nest, Kyuushou bit her finger, her brow furrowed.
The current situation was indeed thorny.
With G Company at its core, and in alliance with F, J, H, T, and other companies, they had reached a stalemate with Kyuushou's team, relying on the power of Singularity Technology.
But it was less a confrontation and more a delaying tactic.
The "Singularity Technology - Lock" provided by J Company enveloped the entire nest area, forming a powerful encryption barrier that completely isolated information from the outside world. Kyuushou and her team couldn't ascertain the situation inside the nest, making their next move difficult to decide.
A direct assault wasn't impossible, but the enemy had already issued a threatening statement: if they launched a forced attack, they would activate "Purge Plan," taking all the nest's inhabitants hostage. This tactic was extremely ruthless and effective, striking precisely at Kyuushou's team's weakness.
Although with their current strength, a single devastating blow could wipe out the entire nest area, would they do it?
The answer was clearly no, they can't.
"As expected… I still have to ask Xiling for help?" Kyuushou muttered to herself. Of all the people she knew, only Xiling could easily break this deadlock.
Even Kevin could only destroy a city.
Radahn, Morgot, and the others also fell silent.
Faced with a singularity as extraordinary as this, they were equally helpless.
That power seemed too outrageous to them. The demonic singularity they had encountered before had almost caused Radahn to capsize. If he hadn't reacted quickly and killed it before its full power was unleashed, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
Kyuushou had no hesitation in asking Xiling for help. But that was contingent on Xiling being in a normal state.
The problem was precisely that something was amiss with Xiling.
Initially, she thought it was nothing serious, but as time went on, the change in his aura became increasingly obvious—no longer pure, but mixed with some indescribable impurities.
How could Kyuushou dare to rashly ask Xiling for help with him in this state? What if the situation worsens?
Besides, she's the savior. If she can't even take this step, how can she talk about saving the world?
"That's true..." Kyuushou thought helplessly, "But I really can't think of another solution right now."
"Perhaps we can change our strategy," Radahnn broke the silence, "while the other forces think we're still tied down here, we can suddenly switch targets. This will save a lot of time."
"This is war," Morgot chimed in, "No need to fight to the death here. Unifying the overall situation as quickly as possible is the priority. Since this place is temporarily difficult to attack, we might as well move our position."
"That's the only way." Kyuushou sighed, agreeing with their suggestion.
Just as everyone was preparing to retreat, Kyuushou, Radahn, and Morgot almost simultaneously sensed something and abruptly turned their heads to look in one direction. They saw a person dressed in an ordinary company employee uniform standing there.
Under the watchful eyes of dozens of people, the man calmly took out a letter and said, "A letter from Company A. Recipient: Houraiji Kyuushou."
"Huh?" Kyuushou blinked, looking completely bewildered.
"Company A...is looking for me?" She pointed to herself in confusion.
"I'm just delivering a letter," the man said in a flat tone.
"Please see the contents of the letter for details."
Kyuushou: "..."
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[Founder of the Fire Moth—Houraiji Kyuushou]
[I'm sending you an invitation.]
[Sender: Leader]
The chat group exploded:
[I Don't Want to Be a Hero Anymore]: Huh? How come the leader has appeared, too?
[Fire Moth Warrior]: Are you stupid? He's The City's highest administrator; how could he stand idly by?
[I Don't Want to Be a Hero Anymore]: You don't understand! I always thought he was just a background character!
[Great Magician Tarnished]: What's going on now? He invited Kyuushou to meet him at Company A?
[I'm not Him]: Xiling, the leader... just who is he?
Even though they had integrated numerous nest districts, their understanding of the leader remained fragmented: The City's creator, the one who set countless taboos, and most people's opinions of him were far from friendly. As the administrator, he seemed to coldly observe all the changes in The City—he knew everything, yet... he let things drift.
Like now, the Fire Moth had long declared war on The City, and this administrator had remained inactive until this moment.
He even extended an invitation to the founder of the Fire Moth.
[I Don't Want to Be the Hero Anymore]: Completely a background character! No information whatsoever!
[I Am the Savior]: Then I'll go meet him. Everyone okay with that?
[Wheelchair Sniper]: I bet you've already set off, Kyuushou.
Kyuushou, who had already moved quickly, saw this message and smiled awkwardly—indeed, she was already on her way to Company A.
[I Don't Want to Be a Hero Anymore]: If there's a problem, retreat to my side!
[I'm not Him]: Be careful.
[Fire Moth Warrior]: Or... should I go with you?
[I Am the Savior]: No need. Since it was an invitation extended to me, I should go alone.
[I Am the Savior]: Don't worry, I'm completely different now than before. I have my own trump cards if necessary.
[I'm Not a Foodie]: Kyuushou, you must be careful! Run away immediately if there's a problem!
[I'm a Witch]: My advice is to minimize contact with such an unknown entity.
Feeling her companions' concern, Kyuushou smiled.
She solemnly promised again that she would not be reckless and would retreat immediately if danger arose. Then, she closed the chat panel, her smile fading, leaving only unprecedented seriousness.
"The Leader... I'm finally going to meet you," she whispered.
Some questions she wanted to ask him face-to-face; some words she hoped to hear answers to from him.
Passing through several nests, Kyuushou arrived at the location of Company A.
Looking up at the cold, towering building that pierced the clouds, she took a deep breath and, without hesitation, stepped through the door symbolizing the highest power in the city.
The moment her toes touched the floor inside Company A, her vision abruptly distorted. The bustling world vanished instantly, and she found herself in an extremely silent, empty room.
In the center of the room, a woman with a faint smile on her lips stood quietly, looking at her, and spoke softly:
"Nice to meet you, I am the Tuner—Jenna."
"Welcome to Company A, the founder of the Fire Moth."
"Houraiji Kyuushou."
"The head has been waiting for you."
Jenna finished speaking and gently waved her hand. A door silently slid open in the wall of the room, behind which lay a deep, unknown space. She smiled as she gazed at Kyuushou, seemingly awaiting her decision.
Without hesitation, Kyuushou stepped forward and resolutely crossed the door.
In an instant, the world spun, space seemed like crumpled paper, and time itself seemed to lose its meaning.
Kyuushou felt herself swept into a chaotic vortex, her senses forcibly stripped away and then reassembled. When she struggled to regain her consciousness and opened her eyes, she found herself in a completely different room.
This was a place far beyond mortal comprehension. An invisible torrent of information surged and intertwined in the space, like a visible spectrum yet transcending visual perception.
Countless strange, luminous dots floated and twinkled like stars.
And in the center of the room sat a figure.
Kyuushou stared at that figure. The other person was clearly within reach, yet seemed to exist in an untouchable dimension. The face was blurred, even lacking the outline of a human form, but a pure, existential quality was clearly conveyed—the essence of humanity.
"Welcome."
"The founder of the Fire Moth."
"The Savior."
"Houraiji Kyuushou."
No sound resonated in the air, only a pure flow of information, like thought itself, surged directly into the depths of Kyushō's consciousness.
The flow of information was clear, direct, and devoid of any emotional turmoil.
Faced with this being, both ordinary and magnificent, Kyuushou took a deep breath.
"You are the Leader?" Her voice was exceptionally clear in the silence.
"In your understanding, I am."
"Then, what is the purpose of your invitation?"
"Before that," the Leader's information flow responded calmly, "perhaps I can answer your questions first."
"Houraiji Kyuushou."
"Speak your confusion, your questions."
"...You seem omniscient," Kyuushou whispered.
"I only know what I need to know." The Leader did not deny it.
"So, everything happening in the city right now is under your watchful eye?" Kyuushou's voice suddenly rose.
"The back alleys, the nests, even the outskirts—everything is within sight."
"Then why did you let all this happen?!" Kyuushou's suppressed rage erupted.
"You personally built this barrier called The City, erected this wall for humanity! You gathered the survivors here! And then? You stood by and did nothing!"
Kyuushou took a sudden step forward, his gaze fixed on the being.
"I don't understand! If you truly care about nothing, why establish such intricate taboos? Tell me, Leader! Tell me, this being who sees through everything, overlooks all beings, and possesses unimaginable power—what are you thinking?!"
"What I'm thinking," the information stream came smoothly, without a ripple, "is far more profound than you imagine. What I'm doing now is also beyond your comprehension. Ever since The City's founding, I have saved it more than once—that is my answer."
"Don't mistake what you see for the entirety of reality. Beyond The City, above the stars, below the abyss… the realms you have never known are vast and boundless." The Leader's consciousness seemed to carry a barely perceptible sigh.
"But that cannot be a reason for you to allow internal decay!" Kyuushou retorted decisively, "With the power of Company A, it is entirely possible to suppress all other World Wings and force the city onto a different path!"
The Leader's presence trembled slightly, as if shaking its head silently.
"Then, the city will remain unchanged."
"...What?" Kyuushou was stunned.
"This world needs a miracle."
"I also need a miracle. A miracle that defies common sense, transcends the mundane."
"Because only in this way can humanity break free from..."
"...the current shackles."
Faced with the leader's calm declaration, Kyuushou fell into a long silence.
A strong rebuttal choked in her throat—she wanted to accuse the other party of wrongdoing, to accuse The City's mountain of tragedies of being the result of the administrators' negligence! Wasn't this blatant inaction?
However...had the other party really done nothing?
Kyuushou couldn't be sure.
Perhaps no one knew the heavy burden weighing on the shoulders of this being called the leader.
But even so—
"I don't agree!" Kyuushou's voice was resolute, her eyes burning with conviction.
"I absolutely do not agree with your actions!"
Sacrificing countless lives, merely to obtain a hollow miracle?
She, Houraiji Kyuushou, would never accept such a price!
Unexpectedly, faced with her fierce rebuttal, the leader… actually smiled.
It wasn't mockery, but rather a complex kind of acceptance.
"Yes, you shouldn't agree with my actions." The leader's voice carried a calm, settled tone.
"This is the leader's approach, because the leader… can only do this much."
His gaze fell on Kyuushou, as if piercing through layers of appearances to reach her core:
"But you are different, Savior—Houraiji Kyuushou."
These words struck like a thunderbolt, leaving Kyuushou stunned.
She stared incredulously at the blurry humanoid silhouette, almost thinking she had misheard.
The leader ceased using information flow communication. He leaned forward slightly, opening his mouth clearly for the first time, uttering a human voice:
"I said, I know a lot."
"You are not of this world. Your grand ambitions, the changes that occurred in that hero… I know it all."
He slowly rose from the chair, spreading his arms wide as if displaying the weight of the entire world.
"Savior, hero… You two are the 'miracle' I have been waiting for."
"The barrier-breakers I have sought."
"Houraiji Kyuushou."
"I invited you here for only one thing—"
"To become my agent."
"...Agent?"
"From this moment on, your will is my will. Go forth and do what you believe is right. The entire Company A will be your support." The leader pointed to countless points of light in the air.
"Furthermore…"
"Do you see these?"
"All the singularity technology here will also be at your disposal."
More than a hundred points of light! Symbolizing the core of The City's highest and most forbidden power!
Kyuushou's mind went blank instantly from the overwhelming amount of information; the immense shock rendered her almost incapable of thought.
After a long while, she struggled to find her voice, filled with disbelief:
"Why...why?!"
The leader's finger didn't lower; instead, it slowly pointed to her heart.
"I've said it before, my vision can see many essences," his voice was deep and certain.
"And your essence—is clearly visible."
"A savior."
After a barely audible chuckle, the leader firmly extended his hand to Kyuushou: "Then, savior, are you willing to accept this...burden?"
That hand, suspended in the air, carried unimaginable power and heavy responsibility.
Kyuushou fell into a long silence.
The leader waited patiently, without any urging.
After a long time, Kyuushou raised her head and asked the question that had been nagging at her:
"Why me? Shouldn't you...have someone more suitable?"
"He doesn't need my help; he can fulfill my expectations of him by himself." The leader's answer was frank and concise.
"So, I'm... the second choice?"
"No, you are all the first choice."
Kyuushou took a deep breath and asked the last question, one that had been nagging at his heart for a long time:
"Then, can you tell me... what exactly is Xiling going to do?"
"To complete the Lobotomy Corporation's plan," the leader's voice carried a distant meaning, "to ignite... the light in the hearts of everyone in this city."
"And the price?" Kyuushou's heart clenched.
"He will become an anchor point, spending endless time in an eternal dream, becoming a lighthouse guiding people forward. Until... everyone has passed the final trial, he will not awaken."
"...I see." A sharp pain and resentment flashed in Kyuushou's eyes.
This was the truth Xiling had been hiding?
Without further hesitation, Kyuushou's gaze sharpened and hardened once more.
She was willing to shoulder everything for The City, and she needed the power the Leader would provide, because only power could save everything, leaving no regrets.
She reached out and grasped the Leader's long-awaited hand!
The instant their hands clasped, a vast torrent of information surged into Kyuushou's mind.
Simultaneously, several strange power fluctuations awakened and resonated within her, and the power characteristics of certain singularities began to faintly emerge around her.
When Kyuushou opened her eyes again, only unwavering resolve remained.
"Then, from this moment on, you are the Leader's agent."
"Go do what you must do." With that, he turned and sat back down in his chair.
Kyuushou bowed solemnly to his retreating figure.
Then, she sharply drew her finger in a certain direction in the void, easily tearing open a spatial rift.
When she stepped back onto the solid ground of the city, her attire had completely changed.
A dark robe, belonging to a tuner, was silently draped over her shoulders.
Feeling her current power, Kyuushou tossed the robe behind her: "The Fire Moth must accelerate!"