Lord of Prayer

Chapter 466: Chapter 296: The Public Opinion War Controversy

Simply put, the Rebuilding Eden plan is to create a blissful Heaven where everyone lives a happy, carefree life.

At first glance, it sounded like a grand and brilliant ideal. But the moment he remembered it was being carried out by those bastards from Fallen Paradise, Zhou Chen instinctively sensed a bloody, ulterior conspiracy at its core.

After a moment’s thought, Zhou Chen looked at the Sea Monster. "If you really managed to build Eden Garden, would you let all of humanity move in?"

"Of course not," the Sea Monster replied matter-of-factly. "Every species in the World is stratified. Only the elite, the one-in-ten-thousand, are qualified to enter Heaven and become part of the new World. Inferior humans with no value or talent are unworthy of living in Eden Garden. They would only be a stumbling block to the progress of civilization. Therefore, in our plan, all humans who fail to meet the requirements will be turned into crystalized resources to fuel the evolution of human civilization."

Zhou Chen couldn’t help but sneer. ’Those who don’t measure up are turned into resources, completely stripped of their human rights. What’s the difference between this Heaven and Hell?’

Fallen Paradise certainly lived up to its name. Everything they did was built upon countless corpses and Undead.

"Are there any other secrets to the Rebuilding Eden plan?"

"I don’t know." The Sea Monster shook its head. "Only the Crowned Kings know the core of the plan. But I’ve heard that ’Adam’ and ’Eve’ really exist, and that the Apostle Factor was successfully developed using their blood."

Zhou Chen frowned.

’Adam and Eve,’ he thought. ’The first man and woman created by God, according to the myths.’

"They really exist?"

"I can’t be sure, I just heard some people in Fallen Paradise mention it... Apparently, they were dug up from somewhere several decades ago. It’s highly likely they came into being under the influence of the Power within a Restricted Area," the Sea Monster said.

’That’s certainly a possibility...’ Zhou Chen gave a slight nod. ’The Restricted Areas contain too many strange and wondrous things—ancient, mythical, futuristic... Who knows what could be born from the chaotic, tangled Divine Power within them.’

’Digging up "Adam" and "Eve" was, in fact, plausible.’

BEEP BEEP BEEP—

The cheap digital watch on Zhou Chen’s wrist suddenly beeped. He casually silenced the alarm, glanced at the time, and asked, "Siren, are you ready for the sacrifice?"

"I am ready, Master." The Siren nodded slowly.

"Sea Monster, are you ready for your Advancement?"

"Ready, Master." The Sea Monster’s voice was thrilled, its tentacles stirring with activity. It had waited far too long for this day.

"Then you may begin." Zhou Chen stood up and left.

A flame of Soul-light ignited around the Siren, and ancient oceanic runes surfaced on her skin and scales.

"My love, if there is a next life, I will love you still, and I will pledge my loyalty to Master alongside you again," the Siren choked out, strings of pearls rolling down her face.

"Falling in love with you is the greatest regret of my life," the Sea Monster’s voice trembled, filled with immense sorrow.

"Is that so... It must have been so hard for you all these years." The Siren gave a soft smile, then began to chant a low, melodious sacrificial song as a shower of light rained down from her body.

The Sea Monster immediately activated its Advanced Secret Ceremony. A highly precise and complex Alchemy Matrix instantly enveloped the laboratory. Watching the Siren’s face grow blurry, it could no longer hold back and cried out in tears.

"I promise you... I promise you... If there is a next life, I will love you again, and I will be our Master’s slave with you again..."

·

"That was so moving," Ted sighed, his expression complicated. "I didn’t expect they were truly in love."

’It’s just, their parting words were so strange,’ he thought. ’To be slaves together in the next life... the more I think about it, the weirder it sounds.’

"Their feelings might be worthy of respect, but they are by no means good people. We need to be clear about that," Catherine said calmly.

Even a Killing Maniac capable of any evil might have a tender moment, but that doesn’t change their fundamental nature, nor can it wash away their past sins.

"I know, I just suddenly felt sentimental," Ted explained hurriedly.

As they spoke, the group took the elevator and left the underground laboratory. After some deliberation, they had unanimously decided to leave Forbidden Object C-156, "Hanging Oneself on the Southeast Branch," with the Sea Monster. They needed to hide the fact that they’d ever been there, so to avoid leaving any holes in their story, their only choice was to entrust the Forbidden Object to the Sea Monster for safekeeping. Besides, the Sea Monster had already been brainwashed by Zhou Chen. For all intents and purposes, the Forbidden Object was still theirs.

"Where to next?" Zhou Chen asked, looking up at the scorching sun in the sky. It was just noon.

"Black Rock City. There’s an armory there, too," said Catherine. "We need to take it quietly while the North Carolina Government’s attention is focused on Red River City."

"Let’s go, then."

·

Not long after the group left, a terrifying aura erupted from deep underground, instantly corrupting the entire laboratory. Wriggling, soft-bodied tentacles sprouted from every corner, pairs of ugly eyes opened wide, and bizarrely shaped seaweed and coral sprouted up everywhere.

The Sea Monster had successfully advanced to Tier Four. As it felt this unprecedentedly immense Power, even the sorrow from its lover’s death was significantly diluted.

’Time to go. Next, I’ll do as Master said and act as his sleeper agent within Fallen Paradise.’

·

Word of the incident in Red River City soon reached the North Carolina Government, but they didn’t pay it much mind.

Corrupters? Didn’t matter.

Mass spiritual pollution? Didn’t matter.

Tens of thousands of deaths? Still didn’t matter.

As long as it wasn’t a first-tier city that was hit, the North Carolina Government couldn’t be bothered to waste its energy. In fact, it conveniently helped them clear out some of the lower class. Many officials even wished the Corrupters would kill off more of the low-life rabble.