Chapter 389: 374 Cult (Long Chapter)_2

Chapter 389: Chapter 374 Cult (Long Chapter)_2

“Most cults are like that, but—” Lu Jianjun said with a bitter smile, shaking his head.

“Could there really be a cult that caused serious trouble? That shouldn’t be the case.” Tang Yu frowned, “Cults are mostly ordinary people; how could they have the capability to create serious trouble?”

In the apocalyptic environment, it was like a breeding ground for cults.

Like large sanctuaries, where there were many survivors, it was easy for cults to take root… But it was only the survivors living at the very bottom who would be deceived and attracted by the cults. Awakeners, especially high-tier awakeners, belonged to a privileged class, living better than before the apocalypse; it made no sense for them to join disgraceful cults.

Cult rats could at most cause some trouble in the slums, significant or trivial for a large sanctuary.

But cults were like rats, never completely exterminated; they weren’t much of a threat, but they were certainly annoying.

Had Lindong Sanctuary been annoyed by the cult members?

With curiosity, he looked at Old General Lu.

Lu Jianjun didn’t keep him in suspense, “Have you ever heard of the Doomsday Cult?”

Tang Yu’s brow furrowed, and after thinking for a while, he shook his head, “I’ve heard of the Doomsday Divine Church, Destruction Divine Sect, End Divine Sect or something like that, the names are all similar.”

“The doctrine of the Doomsday Cult believes that everything in the world will return to the origin… much like the doctrines of many cults,” Lu Jianjun paused, “but what’s different is that the Doomsday Cult is meticulously organized and possesses high-tier awakeners.”

“How high?”

“Seventh Layer, Eighth Layer, or even higher… I didn’t know much about the Doomsday Cult, if not for the incident a few days ago, I would still be kept in the dark.”

Displaying a curious expression, Tang Yu listened intently.

“A few days ago, the science academy in Lindong was attacked by terrorists, causing significant casualties… The attacker was a researcher who detonated homemade explosives, dying in the explosion himself. It was a suicide attack.”

Lu Jianjun shook his head sadly, “The science academy is one of the highest security places in Lindong, guarded by many high-tier awakeners. Outsiders need to go through multiple procedural checks to enter, but the internal researchers, all of them with clear backgrounds, also live in the science academy. This time, the researcher used materials left from daily experiments to make bombs and initiate the attack…”

“Is Dean Sun alright?”

Lu Jianjun shook his head.

Tang Yu opened his mouth again but eventually let out a sigh,

“So, the Doomsday Cult has already infiltrated the science academy?”

“Yes, to be more precise, it was seduction. I don’t know by what means they convinced the researcher to willingly carry out a suicide attack, and it’s difficult for other departments to determine if there are similar people.”

His face, still slightly wrinkled, took on a much more serious expression, “It’s not just Lindong, Heng City, Shuo Lake… Many large sanctuaries in Tiannan have seen traces of Doomsday Cult activities, causing considerable destruction several times.”

“The main activity area of the Doomsday Cult is in the central-northern part of Tiannan Province; this time, several large sanctuaries are planning to come together to eliminate this cult. I came here this time to ask for your help.”

Tang Yu didn’t immediately agree, “What do you want me to do?”

“We unanimously believe that the Doomsday Cult has its own bases in the wild. We are currently tracking them, and there’s a high probability that there are several high-tier awakeners in these bases. We hope that when the time comes to besiege them, Green Shadow can send awakeners to help.”

Lu Jianjun made several promises,

Such as the distribution of spoils, scientific technology, etc.

He didn’t pressure him with righteousness, but rather spoke in a calm tone, as if understanding if Tang Yu didn’t agree, which actually made Tang Yu feel somewhat embarrassed.

He also considered himself patriotic, professional, friendly, powerful, democratic… Although he couldn’t dedicate himself completely, dealing with the cult was just a small effort, and he was only giving orders; the actual execution would be carried out by awakeners below him.

Moreover,

Tiannan Province had already been regarded as his own territory. When was it the turn for a cult to cause destruction?

The reflection of his eyes in the tea suddenly flashed a fierce gleam, and Tang Yu abruptly lifted his head, “Alright, I agree.”

…

Lu Jianjun visited Green Shadow and soon boarded the newly inaugurated Source Power Locomotive, Green Lin, and returned to Lindong.

We must quickly start arrangements to deal with the Doomsday Cult.

Elder Lu merely requested help in besieging the cult’s stronghold, but since a decision to act had been made, it might as well be thorough.

Upon returning to the castle, after some contemplation,

Tang Yu summoned the head of the Intelligence Department in Green Shadow.

With an impressive and brisk demeanor, Lan Qingya, her ponytail swinging as she walked, pushed open the doors of the study and stood perfectly straight before him.

Tang Yu cut straight to the point, “Do you know about a cult called the Doomsday Cult?”

Lan Qingya pondered, “There is such a cult, but it seems very mysterious; the Intelligence Department does not know much about it.”

“The Doomsday Cult is not an ordinary cult; the Awakeners possess not inconsiderable strength. Your task during this period is to locate the cult’s strongholds, whether they are in the wilderness or within large Sanctuaries… Hmm, it is possible that the upper echelons of large Sanctuaries have been corrupted by the cult, acting as a shield for them. Pay attention to this aspect as well.”

“Yes, sir!”

Lan Qingya’s legs pressed tightly together without any gap visible, her right fist placed over her left chest, performing a simple Knight’s salute—an etiquette originating from Luo Zhe, not mandated nor taught, but many Awakeners within Green Shadow’s ranks began consciously adopting this gesture.

After speaking, she swallowed and looked distressed, “The task you previously assigned to us, to screen for individuals talented in runes, has yet to be completed. Now, needing a large number of people to investigate the cult, we are unable to spare so many.”

“Is that so?”

Tang Yu thought for a moment. Although the Intelligence Department had always been discreetly expanding its personnel, compared to the coverage of the intelligence network, the increase in personnel was relatively slow.

Other departments were also short-staffed, to the extent that tasks like talent screening had to be led by the Intelligence Department.

Both Corps had been busy lately, with many members needed at the training camps to serve as instructors and others occupied with forming Cavalry Corps, likewise leaving no personnel to spare.

Racking his brains.

He considered delegating the task to a few highly reputable adventure groups but worried that if word leaked out, he would be seen as betraying his peers.

Suddenly, an idea struck,

Tang Yu looked at Lan Qingya, “You don’t need to deploy a large number of people; I will have Martial Arts Hall apprentices work with you, with the Intelligence Department providing guidance, allowing the apprentices to conduct the investigation.”

…

Watching Lan Qingya leave.

Tang Yu sat in his study, pulling out a book titled “Three Years of Runes, Five Years of Simulation,” but his gaze did not fall on the book, wandering off as he fell deep in thought.

He was very curious as to why the Doomsday Cult could attract high-tier Awakeners and public officials from large Sanctuaries.

Some speculative thoughts that faintly sprang up in his mind made him more cautious.

Engaging Martial Arts Hall apprentices in this matter would add some mental training, just right, and also alleviate the shortage of personnel.

After pondering for a few minutes and confirming that nothing was overlooked, he closed the book, a black ballpoint pen spinning to a stop on the cover, and the doors of the study already closing. Tang Yu quickly moved from the fifth floor of the castle directly to the training camp on the fifth floor.

“Overthinking is useless; Beiting has a Grandmaster who has broken through to Transcendence. I, as a Lord, cannot lag behind either.”

Tang Yu entered the Spirit Space, wandering between “Personal Training”, “Endless Mode”, “Battle Space”, and “Trial Tower”, his gaze finally resting on “Lord Exclusive Mode”.

It had been quite some time since he had challenged the “Lord Mode”, where many Combat Skills awarded for developing and utilizing Source Power, superior to Heavy Slash Blood Slash and similar types…

However, Tang Yu had not engaged in combat for a long time, occasionally in personal training, sparring with Yan in the Consuming Crystal mode; these awarded Combat Skills, including those inherited from the Demon Swordsmen, were rarely used.

…Not that they were useless; he had already sorted them out, teaching them to his followers. They also served to enrich the skills database, preparing for future development of new skills.

“In any case, to undertake a task is to see it through to the end…”

Muttering to himself, his thoughts focused on the “Lord Exclusive Mode,” selecting confirm.