Chapter 179: Lena

At dusk, Lena, disguised as a middle-aged man, walked the streets of Uta City; there was still time needed to coordinate the movement of various assets without appearing too deliberate, so after shaping the skin-suit for Xiao Ye, she had no other tasks to perform.

Compared to members like Xiao Ye, Tina, and Shifeng, whose real identities were still active, her true body had long been wanted by aliens, so she didn't need to maintain her original persona—when needed, she could easily assume other members' identities to create alibis; when not needed, she continuously cultivated multiple identities, experiencing vastly different lives.

Now that the Goddess had appeared, she had a new mission—

To search this land for lost deities.

"Goddess, isn't tonight your livestream debut? Are you sure it's safe?"

Glancing at a roadside clock, Lena couldn't help but worry about Xiao Ye's situation; upon hearing this, Xiao Lingdang laughed.

"It's normal you don't know— for deities, the more believers, the greater the power they can wield, so don't worry about me juggling multiple fronts—or rather, it's precisely because Xiao Ye started livestreaming that I now have enough confidence to search for deities. Otherwise, why do you think I insisted on waiting until nightfall?"

"I thought it was because nighttime had more foot traffic, making it easier to avoid alien surveillance!"

Lena thought this to herself, but Xiao Lingdang replied indifferently:

"There's no need for that—I can plan a route absolutely undetectable to you. Cameras? Satellites? Child's play! It's just that you're too few in number—if you had more believers, I could mark every single surveillance device for you!"

"Ah…." Lena was stunned—she knew that among the Resistance's comrades, actual deaths during missions were rare; most fell victim to the ever-present surveillance of daily life. Under alien technology, they couldn't even confirm where hidden cameras were located.

Yet Xiao Lingdang treated this casually. Whether other deities could do it was another matter—but as a deity formed from the code of a prior civilization, sensing electronic devices was as effortless as tearing open a wet tissue.

"Is this the power of deities? No wonder even small African nations could resist aliens with their native totems…" Lena felt a deep sorrow—even as a child twenty years ago, she knew that Nihon had once been a land teeming with deities, but now all shrines had been razed, ancient texts recording legends had been burned, and children born after the occupation didn't even know the Tale of the Bamboo Cutter or Bai Tu of Inaba.

"I wonder what kind of deity we'll find…"

"I don't know either—I'm not strong enough yet." Xiao Lingdang's voice startled Lena; realizing deities could hear her thoughts, she grew tense, but Xiao Lingdang merely comforted her:

"Don't stress over this—even if you curse me in your mind, it doesn't matter. Directed hatred is itself a form of 'faith'; the legendary evil deities feed on it. If you truly resist, I can stop hearing your thoughts, but then secret communication will become troublesome."

"No, don't!" Lena, as an underground operative, understood this well. She restrained her thoughts and asked: "Goddess, where should we go next? Izumo? Or Kyoto?"

"Please, use your brain. Places with major mythological significance have surely been thoroughly purged—possibly even heavily guarded. Even if any deity remains, we lack the strength to seek them now. The countryside is the same—though remote areas might retain traces, the low population density makes detection difficult with my current perception range. In contrast, a metropolis like Uta City is ideal: complex minds, diverse thoughts—there might be a revived deity hiding here. Hmm, where around here has the highest foot traffic?"

Come on, use your brain—places with important mythological status would've been thoroughly cleaned out long ago, maybe even heavily guarded; even if any divine remnants still existed, we currently lack the capability to seek them out. The countryside is the same—though it might retain traces due to its remoteness, the population density is too low, and with my current perception range, searching would be extremely difficult. It's the big cities like Uota that are ideal: complex human thoughts, all kinds of beliefs—there might even be a revived deity hiding among them. Hmm, where around here has the highest foot traffic?

Mid-thought, Lena immediately cut off her train of thought, fearing the Goddess would hear her. But it was too late—Xiao Lingdang immediately teased:

"I told you not to be tense—and don't think deities of that sort are weak. In Nihon's myths, the deity most directly tied to Kabuki is Ame-no-Uzume-no-Mikoto—she's not only the goddess of art and dance, but also the 'first shrine maiden.' If you truly find her, you've cleared the game instantly—she's the one with the legend of summoning Amaterasu! Besides her, there's the deity of performing arts, Susanoo-no-Mikoto—yes, Susano-o, one of the Three Noble Children! Then there's the merchant deity Inari, and Benzaiten, one of the Seven Lucky Gods…"

"Enough! Enough! Let's go!" Hearing Xiao Lingdang rattle off these powerful deities like a menu, Lena was instantly fired up, as if determined to return tonight laden with divine spoils.

Yet after repeatedly switching identities—middle-aged office drone, elderly tough guy, foreign tourist, sake-house singer, drunken patron leaving the bar—she walked Kabukicho from east to west, from dusk to dawn, and still found nothing, finally realizing this task was no easy feat.

After all, Xiao Lingdang's total believers, counting every last one, barely filled two hands—and true devout followers? Probably none… well, maybe that fool Xiao Ye counted as one. Under these conditions, the Goddess's power was obvious.

Just as Lena watched the hour approach two a. m., and even the busiest shops saw foot traffic plummet, wondering whether it was time to leave, Xiao Lingdang's voice suddenly spoke:

But as Lena glanced at the clock nearing two in the morning, noticing even the busiest shops had seen their foot traffic plummet, she was considering whether it was time to leave when the little bell suddenly spoke:

At that moment, Lena was dressed as a drunken middle-aged man just leaving a sake house. She kept up the act, swaying drunkenly while clutching her bottle, performing her role—and inwardly asked:

At that moment, Lena, dressed as a tipsy uncle who'd just left a izakaya, maintained her drunken stagger, swaying left and right while clutching the bottle, acting the part—and inwardly asked:

"Not certain, but it feels connected to life and healing." Xiao Lingdang's tone was uncertain; Lena felt slight disappointment:

"Not a combat deity? Still, healing is fine—after all, Lena's abilities aren't all-powerful…"

"Don't wander off-topic. Strengthen the thought of 'finding the target.' I need more direct devotional energy—what you call faith power!" Xiao Lingdang cut in. Lena immediately adjusted her mindset.

As a warrior who fought through faith, focusing on amplifying faith output had become instinct. As Xiao Lingdang slowly drew power, Lena suddenly realized the street before her had transformed into something unfamiliar.

As a warrior who draws power from faith, focusing on maximizing faith output had become instinctive; as the little bell gradually drew strength, she suddenly realized the street before her had transformed into something unfamiliar.

(End of Chapter)

(End of chapter)