Chapter 2589: Chapter 1731: Still Chasing Me! (No Touching Paws or Belly)

Duanmu Huai didn’t realize that his song had caused a small stir somewhere on the other side of the ocean. In fact, right now he’s contemplating the route for his upcoming tour and whether to make his debut overseas... or perhaps collect a wave domestically first and then head abroad?

After all, the most important thing is spiritual power. Although spreading songs online can gather quite a bit of spiritual power, this scattered absorption is clearly not as intense as performing concerts. Of course, some record companies have begun sending representatives to get in touch with Duanmu Huai’s mysterious band, hoping to acquire the overseas distribution rights to their work. This leaves Duanmu Huai overwhelmed, yet it’s something he cannot ignore dealing with.

Therefore, when Duanmu Huai discovers among these foreign contacts a letter sent under the name of the "Archaeological Department of the Royal Academy," he feels extremely curious.

This reminds Duanmu Huai of the time he sponsored the archaeological team in World of Mary—alright, I’ve strayed off topic.

Why are the archaeologists looking for me?

Out of curiosity, Duanmu Huai opened the letter and began to read through it.

The format of the letter was quite formal. The sender claimed to be Professor Williams, who according to their statement, is currently excavating a ruin but has encountered some difficulties. During this process, they inadvertently discovered that Duanmu Huai’s band’s songs have a certain undeniable influence on the ruins. Therefore, they hope to contact Duanmu Huai for some inquiries on the matter.

A video file was attached to the letter.

"This is really strange."

After reading the letter, Duanmu Huai frowned. The hymn he chants originates from the Magic Tower World, and the hymn was created by those oil men through gene manipulation and modification on humans to maintain the Mecha Spirit. It is unique to the Tower World. Even if this thing could have some influence on machinery, it shouldn’t affect this world.

Curious, Duanmu Huai clicked to open the video file.

It should have been filmed with a phone. The first part shows an empty area that looks quite cluttered, with things like gasoline barrels and supply boxes placed around, as well as generators and lights.

A construction site? An excavation site?

The cameraman raised the phone, showing a group of people wrapped in thick cotton jackets. From their attire, it seems they’re in a very cold place. They are shouting as they run forward, and the person holding the phone follows behind them. The constantly swaying camera feels like some kind of low-quality movie recording, making the viewer’s head spin.

However, Duanmu Huai noticed there were heavily armed mercenaries beside them. Judging from their gear, they aren’t soldiers from any country but rather something akin to mercenaries.

After a moment, the owner of the phone moved forward and then excitedly raised the phone to film.

Soon, Duanmu Huai saw—a heavy door, slowly opening. Massive gears on the top spun and separated, the skull in the middle slid aside, and then the door opened, revealing the interior’s pitch black...

The footage stopped here.

But Duanmu Huai had already seen what he wanted to see.

In a nutshell, it comes down to the sentence...

Damn, these oil men cause trouble wherever they go!

"This is really a headache."

Duanmu Huai reached out to hold his head. He hates oil men, those damn heretical rabble who research alien technology under the banner of Omnissia and refuse to repent. They always make a mess in the name of research and then leave the Tribunal to clean up the mess when they can’t handle it anymore.

Damn bastards.

Duanmu Huai cursed angrily in his heart, then picked up his phone and dialed the contact number on the letter. Before long, the call was connected.

"Hello..."

"You went in?"

Duanmu Huai was too lazy to make small talk with the other party, directly asking. The other side, obviously not accustomed to Duanmu Huai’s straightforward approach, hesitated for a moment but answered obediently.

"No, we haven’t. Although the outer door is open, but... ah, sorry, I can’t tell you this yet... What I want to know is, about your songs and that symbol..."

"Where are you now?"

"...Why are you asking?"

"Give me the address, I’ll come find you."

"That’s, that’s not possible. What we are doing is confidential archaeological research..."

"Then wait and die there."

Duanmu Huai decisively hung up the phone. He wasn’t exaggerating; the territory of the Mechanical Religion, even ruins, isn’t a place where just anyone can casually enter. Especially these foolish idiots—they definitely have the life to go in but not to come out.

Moments later, Duanmu Huai’s phone rang again. He answered, and an elderly voice came from the other end.

"We need..."

"Give me the address, or no deal."

Duanmu Huai coldly interrupted the other’s attempt to negotiate, and the latter fell silent for a moment.

"We can’t decide..."

Duanmu Huai directly hung up the phone, then dialed another number.

"It’s me. I want to investigate the details of this year’s activities and locations of the Royal Academy’s Archaeological Department... Correct, as soon as possible, I need the results today."

Duanmu Huai hung up the phone, stood up, and walked out of the room. Seeing him come out, the four who were preparing to practice were stunned.

"Xiao Ai?"

"I have some business, need to go out for a bit."

"Where to?"

"Abroad."

"......Huh?"

Not only Hei Chuan Chi Yin, but even Fukawa Shoko and Ruoya Mu were stunned by this unexpected answer.

"Abroad?"

"Yes, that’s right, I need to be away for about half a month."

"Wait, wait, what about the upcoming performances?"

"Pause them, we’ll continue once I return."

Duanmu Huai had clearly thought this through; he immediately responded to Fukawa Shoko’s inquiry. Meanwhile, he picked up his phone and dialed another number.

"Hello, yes, it’s me... I need you to prepare the plane, one hour, the route isn’t confirmed yet, just be ready, I’m leaving today..."

With that, Duanmu Huai put on his coat and made a gesture to everyone.

"You all have fun, I’ve got things to do."

"..........."

Watching Duanmu Huai walk out of SPACE and then leave by car, the others looked at each other.

"It’s the first time I’ve seen Duanmu so urgent..."

What Fukawa Shoko said wasn’t wrong; Duanmu Huai usually exuded confidence, as if undisturbed even if the sky fell. So seeing him suddenly so serious was somewhat unsettling.

"..........."

Hei Chuan Chi Yin didn’t speak; she could mostly guess why Duanmu Huai left suddenly. Of course, Hei Chuan Chi Yin didn’t know the specifics, but she could at least guess it was related to Duanmu Huai’s role as a Judge.

But abroad? Why overseas?

Hei Chuan Chi Yin looked at Fureya and Nolan standing beside her in ghostly form, and the latter just shook their heads --- as ghosts, they could sneak through walls to eavesdrop, but Duanmu Huai could see them.

These two wouldn’t foolishly risk provoking Duanmu Huai.

"Anyway, I’ll call the others."

Quietly taking out her phone, Hei Chuan Chi Yin guessed Duanmu Huai hadn’t informed others, given how quickly he left; she decided to make the call herself.

Money proves to be all-powerful.

In the World of Mary, Duanmu Huai once funded archaeological activities as a patron, so he was well aware of these processes. Finding these people’s whereabouts wasn’t difficult, for a simple reason: Archaeology requires a lot of equipment, usually rented, unless you’re someone like Duanmu Huai with money to spare, otherwise, you rent and take it over.

Looking at what those people wore in the video, the names on the containers and transport company, if Duanmu Huai wanted to find out where they went, he definitely could!

And that’s what happened; on the way to the airport, Duanmu Huai’s team had already pulled up several destinations of the archaeology team.

And Duanmu Huai immediately saw... Antarctica.

Mad, Antarctica again.

This damned place is so uncannily resourceful; if it’s not Alien, it’s Old One, and now even Mechanical Religion is involved!

Fine, Antarctica it is! I’m going anyway.

Once Duanmu Huai took the flight all the way to Antarctica, landing at the port, people there had already found out about the archaeology team’s location. According to them, the team left a month ago, intending to conduct scientific research near a whaling station in Antarctica. They knew the position of the whaling station.

Although they’d tried contacting the team upon learning of Duanmu Huai’s arrival, possibly due to inclement weather, they couldn’t get through...

Oh haha.

Hearing this, Duanmu Huai wanted to laugh.

Can’t laugh yet, haven’t seen the bodies, can’t pop the champagne midway.

Could really be bad weather, of course, if my guess is right, even better. As a Judge, Duanmu Huai absolutely couldn’t let those who saw Mechanical Religion’s ruins live to tell the tale. That’s why he came quickly, partly to clean up, partly for silencing.

After determining their approximate location, Duanmu Huai set off again, and arrived at an abandoned whaling station at the edge of Antarctica.

"Woo woo woo-----------!"

Riding the snowmobile to the camp, Duanmu Huai quickly discovered it was deserted. Though the whaling station buildings seemed intact and the equipment was there, they saw no signs of humans or life.

Jumping off the snowmobile and seeing this, Duanmu Huai sighed in relief.

If they’re all dead, I won’t have to do anything.

With this in mind, Duanmu Huai looked away, toward a huge pit in the center of the whaling station — this thing clearly wasn’t naturally forming.

In other words, the Mechanical Religion’s ruins are inside?

Looking at the pit, Duanmu Huai snorted coldly and walked over.

He wanted to see what trouble those damned oil men had stirred up now!