Xu Mo looked back at Hong Jiu and spent a long time trying to think of an earth-shattering line that would sound sufficiently high-level.
—But he couldn't think of anything.
So, he chose to play the part of a silent expert and simply gave a nod.
However, seeing this casual movement, Hong Jiu felt a chill in his heart.
Confirming this news was enough to make his thoughts race.
“Your Excellency...” Hong Jiu took a deep breath, his voice becoming several degrees more respectful than before. “May I ask, what kind of existence is the Masked Hermit Society?”
Xu Mo laughed internally. He’d taken the bait.
If you don't ask, how can I make it up?
He turned around and stood with his hands behind his back. He didn't look at Hong Jiu, instead tilting his head up slightly as if gazing at something very far away.
“The Masked Hermit Society,” he began slowly, his voice carrying a deliberate sense of ancient weariness. “The name itself is already an answer.”
“‘Masked,’ because we do not show our true faces, nor do we walk the world with our real identities.”
“‘Hidden,’ because we are concealed within the gaps of history, observing the birth and death of worlds, much like those... hidden Evil Gods of the Old Days.”
Xu Mo paused, a hint of playfulness entering his tone. “Of course, walking the world is a thing of the past.”
Hong Jiu instinctively followed up, “The past? How long ago?”
“Heh.” Xu Mo chuckled.
“So long ago that I have forgotten the very concept of time. Ever since the Evil Gods of the Old Days withdrew from the stage of history, we have remained submerged within its dust.”
Hong Jiu was stunned into silence, and the eyelids of everyone around him twitched violently at the same time.
An organization that existed at the same time as the Evil Gods of the Old Days during the ancient era?
Holy shit! Just how much of an Old-Timer was this?!
For a moment, everyone was terrified by this terrifying background, their minds unable to grasp the specifics.
Xu Mo turned around, his black eyes staring straight at Hong Jiu through the slits in his faceplate.
“But recently...”
“The world has begun to change.” His voice dropped low, as if he were sharing an unspeakable secret.
“The signs of the Old Ones' Awakening have appeared, stronger than in any previous era. Those ancient existences that have slept for countless eons are beginning to emit the scent of decay, and you...”
He laughed, his laughter carrying an undisguised contempt.
“You don't even realize what this era is about to face.”
Hong Jiu’s expression was grim, but he didn't argue.
After everything that had just happened, he had to weigh every single word this person said.
“The Old Ones' Awakening... Are those Evil Gods of the Old Days going to return to the world?” Hong Jiu asked.
Xu Mo nodded.
“Since they have awakened, then it is time for us to resume our duties.”
As he spoke, he pressed a hand to his chest and let out a soft chuckle.
“Let this be the first time, then.”
“I didn't expect one to actually be hidden in a place like this. They truly are everywhere.”
Hong Jiu was momentarily stunned upon hearing this, and then his pupils constricted sharply.
He understood.
“You just... contained the corpse of an Evil God?” Hong Jiu’s voice was dry, and he spoke with some difficulty.
“Heh.” Xu Mo smiled without saying a word. He knew that at this moment, not saying everything would make him look more impressive.
He looked around at the surrounding Scavengers.
“The world is about to change, little ones. Prepare yourselves.”
“Furthermore, from this day forth, the Masked Hermit Society shall walk this earth once more!”
Everyone’s heart trembled in unison, as if they were witnessing the birth of history beneath this dark coal mine.
Having finished, Xu Mo looked back at Hong Jiu.
“Your Ranger philosophy of containing all the world's Containment Objects to restore peace to the world... that spirit is barely enough to consider you qualified, but your vision is truly too shallow.”
“You fail to grasp the trunk, focusing instead on trivial branches every day.”
“Go back. If fate permits, I'm sure we will meet again.”
Hong Jiu remained silent for a long time.
Then he took a deep breath, cupped his fists, and even bowed slightly.
“I have been enlightened!”
He straightened up and gave Xu Mo one last look, his eyes filled with a rare sense of respect.
“May I ask... how should I address Your Excellency?”
“Heh, a name? Such a thing seems to have been annihilated countless eons ago,” Xu Mo said in a weathered voice.
“Just use a code name. You may call me... Sinking Black!”
Everyone lowered their heads slightly, all of them secretly memorizing the name.
Hong Jiu did the same, repeating it in his mind before speaking.
“Sinking Black, I, Hong Jiu, owe you a favor, and I owe the Masked Hermit Society a favor.”
“I will surely repay it in the future!”
After saying that, he turned around and waved to the Rangers behind him. “Withdraw!”
From beginning to end, he didn't mention the S-rank Containment Object, the Crown of Time Lag. He was quite sensible.
Flames swept out, enveloping every Ranger present. Then the fire burned out, and all the Rangers vanished into the darkness.
Xu Mo stood in place, maintaining his pose with his hands behind his back, motionless.
He was waiting.
Waiting for the game panel to update.
But it didn't.
【Special Storyline: Mystery of the Black Smoke Coal Mine.】
【Current Completion: 99%】
Still 99%!
The corners of Xu Mo’s mouth twitched.
The mastermind was found, Li Gui was dead, the Crown of Time Lag was in hand, the Evil God's heart was taken, and he’d even bluffed the Rangers away.
And he was still one percent short?!
As he was frowning in thought, footsteps sounded behind him.
It was Wan Qianhong.
She walked to a position three paces behind the black figure and stopped. She swallowed hard and spoke with some nervousness.
“Senior.”
Her voice was respectful, but hidden within that respect was a sliver of irrepressible urgency.
Xu Mo didn't turn around. He just tilted his head slightly and spoke first.
“Bai Feifei mentioned you to me.”
Wan Qianhong was momentarily stunned, a flash of inexplicable joy crossing her heart. She quickly asked, “How is she?”
“She’s fine,” Xu Mo said.
“Let her sleep down there for a while. I’ll have to trouble you to go and pick her up later.”
Wan Qianhong breathed a sigh of relief. Hearing that Bai Feifei was alive, the tension she had been holding suddenly dissipated.
“Thank you for your help, Senior!” She performed a solemn salute.
“I will report the full details of this coal mine incident to Prophet Liu Yun, including the debt of gratitude to the Masked Hermit Society, the crimes of the Li and Huang families, and Bai Feifei’s contributions...”
Xu Mo suddenly interrupted her.
“As for Liu Yun, you actually don't need to tell her any of this.”
Hearing the name “Prophet Liu Yun,” he suddenly recalled some things.
Certain information about Liu Yun from many previous cycles. Now that such a massive change had occurred this time, he could use it to his advantage...
As he thought, he couldn't help but start laughing.
The laughter coming from behind the faceplate had an indescribable quality to it, one that was extremely eerie.
Wan Qianhong was startled. It seemed this man knew who her teacher was, but she didn't quite understand what he meant.
“That teacher of yours, she knows everything. There's no need for you to tell her.” Xu Mo turned around, his black eyes staring straight at Wan Qianhong.
Then, a playful smile entered his voice.
“Pity. Sometimes, being too clever for one's own good only leads to one's own undoing.”
Wan Qianhong: ?
Rate on N.U.
