Chapter 288: The Prelude to Stealing Faith

"The Divine Child and an A-class Priest appearing at the same time, this is no longer an ordinary Evil God invasion incident." Hannes's expression was grave as he spoke slowly:

"We should report to the High Echelons and wait for reinforcements."

"Huh?" A question mark slowly popped up on Li Yu's head. Even now, this guy was still thinking about retreating?

"Waiting for reinforcements is entirely too late. I guess the Blood Sacrifice will begin soon." Li Yu shook his head. It wasn't a guess; he clearly knew the Blood Sacrifice time––five days later.

Originally, the plan of those Believers was to thoroughly eliminate the two waves of reinforcements from Return Star, then rapidly establish enough Flesh and Blood Quagmires to construct Divine Statues.

However, due to the appearance of the Transformers, the Flesh and Blood Quagmires everywhere were heavily destroyed. Those Blood Beasts were fundamentally transformed using the flesh and blood of ordinary people anyway.

They didn't have much powerful Strength to begin with, and were basically Six of One, Half a Dozen of the Other compared to the Transformers. In fact, given that the Transformers had independent consciousness, they were even inferior.

"What do you mean?" Hannes frowned deeply and reminded: "Evil God invasions have clear classifications. The simultaneous appearance of a Divine Child and an A-class High Priest, plus the possible appearance of a Divine Spirit's Avatar, can already be classified as [High Risk]."

"Before a [High Risk] incident, we can choose to wait for reinforcements." Hannes continuously hinted.

But now, he wouldn't face any punishment at all. In fact, it couldn't even be called fleeing anymore, but rather a strategic withdrawal to wait for reinforcements.

"But... if you leave, what about the Hengfeng System?" Gober Can't Sit Still anymore. He heard the explicit and implicit hints in Hannes's words.

"Archon Gober... no... Interim Governor..." Hannes's attitude towards Gober was extremely cold: "I think... you can leave now."

"The others too, you can all leave. Commander Li Yu and I have matters to discuss."

Gober stared at Hannes, a roaring sound faintly echoing in his head, as if a certain Faith he had held onto had collapsed.

Is this the Return Star he believed in, the Faith he held onto!?

The conviction that supported him in prison collapsed with a crash.

Hunter supported the trembling Gober, exchanged a glance with Li Yu, and then walked out. The other Adjutants also walked out of the Command Center.

After they left, Hannes's eyes suddenly changed. He gritted his teeth and said in a low voice: "What exactly are you trying to do!?"

"I don't want to do anything..." Li Yu shrugged: "Just completing my mission."

"Mission!?" Hannes sneered twice:

"I know you're powerful and confident, but you must also know your limits!"

"Rohan's Divine Spirit Avatar is not something you or I can deal with; it's too risky."

Subsequently, Hannes sighed somewhat despondently: "Yes... I admit I underestimated you before, thinking you were an abandoned piece sent by Return Star, sent deliberately to die."

Li Yu then suddenly understood. No wonder Hannes's attitude towards him was so hostile at the very beginning. Even with institutional conflicts, he couldn't have been so cold to a reinforcement team.

Now he understood. It turned out this guy thought he was simply here to die... or perhaps to take the blame; an abandoned piece either way.

Thinking of this... Li Yu thought for a moment and said: "Do you know who sent me?"

"Who?" Hannes was somewhat puzzled, not knowing why Li Yu would ask this.

According to normal procedures, his request for reinforcements should be accepted by the Military Center, which would then dispatch reinforcements based on distance, Strength, and other comprehensive factors.

That was why he initially guessed Li Yu was an abandoned piece, because normally, it shouldn't be a newly advanced A-Tier Lifeform leading a crippled titled fleet for reinforcement.

Unless the High Echelons specifically assigned the mission. This kind of assigned mission was either to gain Merit or to take the blame.

"It's Majesty Digor..." Li Yu spat out a name that Hannes completely didn't expect.

"How... could..." Hannes's pupils earthquaked, completely not expecting this name.

In an instant, he thought of many things. As the most powerful person in Return Star, if he wanted to kill someone, he absolutely wouldn't need to go through so much trouble.

Unless... this is a test?

He not only guessed wrong before, but was ridiculously wrong. Not only was Li Yu not an abandoned piece, but a rising star of Return Star.

Valued by Digor, Li Yu's future was boundless. Hannes couldn't help but feel somewhat envious.

Although he was the commander of the Patrol Fleet, which was considered a high position with heavy authority,

There were still the joint commander-in-chief of the Patrol Fleet above him, as well as the bosses of various administrative departments. Some people had less Strength than him, but he couldn't act arrogantly when meeting them.

Unless he broke away from Return Star and was free from constraints, he could only follow these rules.

And further up, there were figures of the level of General Aethel and Prince Connor.

Being valued by Digor, Li Yu was at least at the level of his boss, or even higher.

But then, Hannes couldn't help but feel a bit of schadenfreude, because this "test" mission was truly somewhat difficult.

In his view, the reason Li Yu was trying so hard to complete this mission was because he wanted to elevate his Status in Digor's heart.

"I understand your intention, but this matter is very regrettable..." Hannes paused and suddenly stared at Li Yu somewhat suspiciously: "You didn't record our conversation, did you?"

"Let me tell you, this kind of recording without my consent, if spread, will infringe on my rights."

Li Yu was somewhat Speechless. He glanced at the running 【Titan Colonization Armor】 and said self-righteously: "I already hold your Handle, why would I do something so superfluous."

"That's true..." When Hannes thought about it, sorrow couldn't help but well up in his heart.

Sigh... in the future, when purchasing Illegal Slaves, I should still use more covert ciphers; I can't be so direct.

Adopting the mindset of "too many lice to itch," Hannes said with reckless abandon: "The survivors on these two planets number no more than a hundred million; there is no need to take risks. You still have a bright future, why persist."

"We can just bring in a few Ecological Regulation Devices afterwards, and then transfer a few hundred million Interstellar Immigrants, and in a hundred years, it will be a thriving Star System again."

"The mission is so difficult, Majesty Digor will understand. Put bluntly, this is just a job; it's not worth throwing your life away."

Li Yu's expression was odd. This guy was truly a Talented person. If these words spread, he'd likely have to "punish himself with three cups" and sit on the cold bench for a while.

However, compared to this guy buying Illegal Slaves, this matter really wasn't a big deal.

Illegal Slaves referred to people with normal Citizenship who were abducted by Space Marauders and turned into slaves.

.........

"Why... why..." Gober murmured: "It's a Star System after all, there are still nearly a hundred million survivors after all... why just abandon it like this..."

"You are an old politician, too. Don't you know the faces of these people yet?" Hunter leaned against the mottled corridor wall and said casually: "But you don't need to worry too much; Li Yu most likely won't abandon you."

"Really!?" The fire of hope reignited in Gober's old eyes.

"I'm about 80% sure, because that guy... is a 'good person'." Hunter sighed, feeling disgusted by his own face flattering Li Yu. He had ultimately become what he hated––referring to Li Ping.

Of course, the truth wasn't like this. It was actually because he had never seen Li Yu make a losing deal.

Spending so much time here for nothing, creating those Mechanical Lifeforms, and fighting a battle with the Divine Child... how could he leave without gaining some benefits.

He hadn't seen the benefits Li Yu gained yet, which meant Li Yu wouldn't leave.

"That's good... that's good..." Gober murmured softly, as if grasping the last straw to save his life.

"Grandpa Gober, where is Lord Primordial Heavenly Venerable..." A childish voice sounded by his ear. Gober slowly focused his mind and looked down at the boy who had come to his side at some point.

He held an exquisite Flower Wreath in his hands, seemingly freshly woven with fresh flowers. The hunched Mechanical Body sat on his shoulder, coughing continuously.

"Do you have business with him?" Gober forced a smile and said gently.

"Grandpa Radio told me it was Primordial Heavenly Venerable who saved us, so we want to give this to him..." The boy lifted the Flower Wreath in his hands, looking forward to it.

"He... is in a meeting. I will pass it on for you." Gober trembled as he took the Flower Wreath. A faint fragrance drifted; there were still traces of soil on a few petals.

"No need..." A clear voice came. Without knowing when, Li Yu had already walked over. The Radio Mechanical Body struggled to stand up to show its respect.

Li Yu nodded and looked at the boy. The boy's large eyes were wide open, sparkling with light, as if he was somewhat excited. "Are you Lord Primordial Heavenly Venerable? Th... thank you..."

"This is... for you..."

Li Yu looked up at the group of children around the corner. They varied in size, boys and girls, all looking at him timidly, not daring to step forward.

"You can call me Li Yu..." Li Yu smoothly took the Flower Wreath and rubbed his head. "The Flower Wreath is nice, thank you all very much."

The boy was so excited he couldn't speak, his face flushed red.

"Archon Gober, regarding the supply issue..." A soldier hurriedly walked over and said in a low voice.

Gober looked at Li Yu, his eyes filled with inquiry, but he didn't dare to ask, afraid of receiving bad news.

Just then, Hannes walked over with a gloomy face. As if he hadn't seen anyone, he left straight away.

Gober instantly understood everything. He looked at Li Yu gratefully, then quickly walked away, simultaneously having the soldiers escort the children back.

"This Flower Wreath is nice..." Li Yu picked up the Flower Wreath with his finger, twirled it in his hand, and put it into the Compressed Space.

"Oh ho... the tough guy is showing tenderness?" Hunter teased.

"Just feeling somewhat emotional..." Li Yu shook his head: "I remember this Shelter was built Underground, right? Fresh flowers must be quite hard to find."

Hunter froze slightly, looking at Li Yu's retreating back. For some reason, he felt a bit of jealousy in his heart. Why didn't anyone give him a Flower Wreath...

............

Gurgle gurgle~~

The viscous blood pool continuously bubbled, bursting on the surface of the blood pool. Various indescribable objects floated up and down in the blood pool, mixed with black and yellow colors.

Crimson flesh and blood continuously writhed, muscle fibers pulled into threads, while stained with foul-smelling blood, slowly rising from the viscous blood pool.

The flesh and blood formed a twisted ring. The blood membrane within began to ripple, and the High Priest's gloomy dark face appeared in it. He immediately asked loudly:

"Priest Otis, what happened to the Divine Child? How was it defeated!?"

Otis kept his head bowed: "Respected High Priest Yuno, the enemy's Strength exceeded imagination; this is an unexpected failure."

Yuno was the High Priest in charge of this operation, very powerful, and could even speak directly with Rohan.

While he was just a normal Priest. Although he was in charge of Planet Abundant Star, he also had to follow Yuno's orders.

"Otis, the day of Sacrifice is approaching, yet the Rations on Planet Abundant Star are continuously decreasing. Having only Believers is not enough." Yuno's face was filled with fanaticism:

"Sufficient food is also required to please my God!"

These Sacrifices were all one-time deals, because it was very difficult for Rohan to develop his Believers in foreign civilizations.

Therefore, sweeping up the flesh and blood and the souls of Believers and leaving directly was the excellent choice.

However, due to the appearance of Transformers, the Blood Beasts everywhere were continuously shrinking.

"This is my mistake..." Otis kept his head down the whole time, restraining his emotions to avoid the other party seeing his disgusted expression.

Loyally completing the mission Li Yu assigned him.

"Respected High Priest, I have an idea..." After admitting his mistake, Otis continued: "It is very difficult to eliminate those remaining... ra... tions... in a short time."

Otis clenched his hands tightly to force himself to say the word "Rations," while trying hard to hint to himself that Li Yu was not included in the "Rations" to avoid exposing any flaws.

"...How about you come to Planet Abundant Star to take charge of the overall situation? Initiate the Sacrifice on Planet Abundant Star and let the God descend... devouring everything. Those remaining... people, will likely be completely unable to resist."

"Me, go to Planet Abundant Star?" Yuno's expression flickered.

"Yes..." Otis continued to add: "I don't have the ability to communicate directly with... God. The Sacrifice must be initiated by you..."

Originally, his plan was to Sacrifice both planets simultaneously, but now, because of Li Yu's existence, Planet Abundant Star had never fallen.

And Otis's Strength was insufficient, not enough to resist them.

Yuno considered carefully. He only considered feasibility, not whether letting Otis go to Planet Eternal Distance would snatch his Merit.

There was no such thing as Merit in the Divine Church. The great Divine Spirit would watch everything; only devotion could earn favor.

Otis said in a deep voice: "If we continue to delay, who knows if additional unexpected events will occur. We need to complete this Sacrifice as soon as possible..."

"Alright..." Yuno finally agreed. The Divine Child and the High Priest were already forces that couldn't be ignored; the other party might continue to seek reinforcements.

The Divine Statues on Planet Abundant Star had always been difficult to establish because the entire planet hadn't been completely eroded, and there weren't enough Flesh and Blood Quagmires.

Without Divine Statues, it would be very difficult for the Divine Spirit's power to descend directly, making a simultaneous Sacrifice impossible.

"I will forcibly initiate the Sacrifice ritual on Planet Abundant Star. You come to Planet Eternal Distance to coordinate with me. The Rations have already been reduced significantly; we cannot let the other party continue."

Yuno manipulated the blood pool in front of him, chanting obscure Incantations in a low voice. As the flesh and blood writhed, they gradually solidified into a stepped shape.

At the same time, the blood pool in front of Otis also continuously boiled, slowly revealing deep flesh and blood steps.

Yuno slowly walked out from within. Otis stepped back a few paces, respectfully prostrating on the ground until Yuno completely walked out.

Only then did he get up and step onto the blood-colored steps.

(End of this chapter)