Chapter 391
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Chapter 391: The First Close Encounter
Inside the white tower of the Demon Hunt General Agency, Holly sat in her seat at the top-level conference hall, her face filled with nervousness. Her hands trembled as she held onto her cup of tea.
In front of her were over a dozen Night Watchers, all highly skilled members of the Demon Hunt General Agency. Except for Ai, who struggled with note-taking, everyone else was at the Crown level! Two individuals stood out as top-tier experts, even at the Apocalypse level.
One of them was none other than the captain of the Sword-wielding Troop, The Cursed String Music. The young boy, seemingly around sixteen or seventeen years old, looked almost the same age as Holly. His silver hair and wide smile only concealed the fact that his true age was likely much older.
The title of The Cursed String Music was a name passed down through generations, given only to the world’s most gifted prodigies in the art of curses. If the current holder were to die, the next most talented person in the world would inherit the title. Chord City, a place dedicated to the study of curses, had developed methods to assess this talent over millennia. It was a city so powerful that it could refuse the orders of the City of the Highest.
Holly was terrified. The person in front of her wasn’t just the captain of The Cursed String Music, but a powerful warrior from the Sword-wielding Troop who had saved the world countless times. He even claimed to be the person with the strongest curse talent in a thousand years. The only one whose talent surpassed his was the Anomalous Star, a figure yet to ascend to the Rainbow level.
Another powerful individual in the room was a white-haired old man dressed in a black suit. He rarely smiled, but the Night Watchers regarded him with deep respect. This was Austin, the director of the Demon Hunt General Agency, known as the Sword Saint. Legend had it that he wielded an indestructible divine sword and had slain numerous powerful Spawns from the heavens, becoming a hero who protected the world from destruction.
Holly could barely contain herself. Why were all these powerful individuals gathered around her? More than ten of them were stronger than she was, and their combined presence was overwhelming.
The pressure was suffocating.
“Um…”
Holly was drenched in sweat. It felt as if this group of people would tear her apart at any moment.
“Tell me, how exactly did you come back to life?” The Cursed String Music asked, his voice filled with curiosity.
Holly nodded eagerly, trying to explain without hesitation, “Yes, yes. After I was killed, I found myself in a space where exceptional beings go after death… a dimension where we all end up. I’m not sure how long I was there, though. My ability to think slowly faded away.”
“Simplify it,” Director Austin interjected, his tone direct and to the point.
“Oh dear!” Holly nodded, feeling even more fearful.
“Then, one day, it felt as if I started flying, completely leaving my body behind. Maybe I’m not describing it accurately, but that’s exactly how it felt…”
The Cursed String Music smiled, while the other Night Watchers remained expressionless.
Holly swallowed nervously and continued, “Then, I arrived at a magnificent ancient palace.”
“Palace?” The Cursed String Music and Austin exchanged glances, both realizing the possibility: the legendary Babel Tower.
Could it be the golden palace floating above Tatsumi City?
“Or perhaps, the golden palace in the sky is the Babel Tower itself?” The Cursed String Music murmured to himself.
The golden palace had always been protected by an invisible barrier, making it nearly impossible for beings like them to approach. It had become a scenic attraction for the people of Tatsumi City, though its true nature was far from ordinary.
“I walked through the palace and suddenly saw many people, lots of delicious food, and fine drinks… I recognized some of the people there. It seemed like many of my colleagues from the Demon Hunt Agency were there…”
“For example?” Austin raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
“Mr. Lin Bian, Captain Adelaide, and the big guy…”
Holly nodded repeatedly, unsure how many times she had nodded in the past few minutes.
Austin spoke solemnly, “Remember them all. If any of these people reappear in the Air Alliance, it’s worth noting… perhaps, even the Night Watcher Holly’s allegiance has shifted.”
“No! I am still the Night Watcher!” Holly protested, anger rising in her chest. But then she realized that her anger was directed at the highest-ranking official in the Night Watchers, and quickly lost her fire.
“I am still the Night Watcher. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have come straight to the Demon Hunt General Agency after seeing my parents. No matter what happened, I’m proud to be a Night Watcher.”
But Director Austin remained unmoved by her claims.
“Time will prove everything,” he said, his voice calm but firm. He had seen too many people who thought they were immune to demons and evil gods, only to find that they had been deeply influenced, beyond cure.
For higher beings, distorting the perception of mortals was a simple task. Some believed they were doing good, but in truth, they were senselessly causing harm to innocent beings.
Holly lowered her head, feeling helpless as she responded, “Um…”
The Cursed String Music, sensing her distress, waved his hand dismissively and smiled reassuringly. “Don’t worry, Holly. This old man has seen too much deceit in his life. He’s cautious about things he knows and things he doesn’t know.”
The Cursed String Music winked, adding, “For example, even if I were to attack him right now, he’d be able to react because he’s always alert to everyone around him.”
“Hahaha! Maybe when he was eating at home, he even suspected the dog,” The Cursed String Music continued, laughing freely.
Austin looked at him seriously and replied, “The Cursed String Music, there’s no need to make me sound so nervous.”
“Hahaha! It was just an example, old fellow. You won’t take it to heart, will you?” The Cursed String Music chuckled and frolicked, completely carefree.
Austin shook his head and departed with his companions.
“We must quickly learn more about the Babel Tower and this mysterious organization, which may be either good or bad. But they can’t remain unpredictable forever.”
Once half of the Night Watchers had left, Holly breathed a sigh of relief. The aura of Director Austin was truly terrifying. Just moments ago, it felt as if she were standing before an ancient dragon…
So powerful.
“You guessed wrong, Austin is not an ancient dragon,” The Cursed String Music said with a smile, his demeanor friendly and carefree.
Holly was momentarily puzzled. Did he know what she was thinking?
To her surprise, The Cursed String Music shook his head. “No, I don’t just know what you’re thinking… It’s just that most people, when faced with Austin, would assume they’re dealing with a mighty dragon descendant or even a towering dragon in human form.”
The Cursed String Music chuckled again. “That old fellow does have that kind of charm, doesn’t he? Quite peculiar.”
“Um,” Holly responded with a forced smile, not daring to voice her opinion on the matter.
Prominent individuals could joke among themselves, but she dared not speak out of turn. Even if the big shots didn’t mind, their subordinates might take offense, and she would bear the consequences.
I’m just a little bunny after all…
Suddenly, Holly noticed that everyone’s gaze had turned serious. They were all staring at her.
What was happening?
She froze, but no one explained. Why were they looking at her like this?
Then, Holly realized the truth.
Thick black mist began to surge from all around, and her body gradually became translucent and crumbled away.
“What’s going on here?” she cried out in fear, trying to stop the decay of her body, but it was hopeless.
“Calm down!” The Cursed String Music reached out to grab her arm but grasped nothing.
“Help me!” Holly screamed, but The Cursed String Music simply shook his head in helplessness.
“Don’t worry, everything will be fine. You should have a chance to return,” he reassured her. He had long suspected Holly’s condition—her body wasn’t made of flesh and blood.
“Don’t! I don’t want to go back!” Holly panicked, realizing something and crying out desperately, “I want to go home! I don’t want to leave like this…”
Everything stopped abruptly.
Her body completely vanished.
This ethereal form had never been made of actual flesh and blood. As the core members of the Babel Tower completed their mission, it was time for Holly, who had served as support, to return to Valhalla.
She hadn’t seen any Core Operators or been assigned missions in the mortal realm. Instead, she had time to visit the White Tower of the Demon Hunt General Agency. It was all because of Bai Yan’s compassion.
The true resurrection had not yet arrived.
“The power of the Babel Tower is truly mysterious and unpredictable,” The Cursed String Music mused, his expression turning serious.
At that moment, the young man with silver hair carried a regal aura that was unquestionable. He adjusted the black sunglasses resting on his nose, and once again, a smile illuminated his face. But the regal aura quickly vanished as though it were nothing more than a fleeting illusion.
“Interesting. Very interesting. I’m growing more eager to meet the Savior,” he said with a soft chuckle.
Meanwhile, inside the Mu Ling family villa, in the living room.
“Hello.”
A man in a white suit sat calmly before Mu Ling and Housekeeper Huo.
“Ah, finally meeting you, Miss Mu. You are the last heir of the Tatsumi City crime-hunter family, a powerful female hunter… the legendary Babel Tower Hound.”
The man, Ringi, adjusted his glasses and introduced himself with a polite smile. “I am Ringi, the Leaf King’s advisor, strategist, friend, secretary, and bodyguard. Nice to meet you.”
Ringi?
Mu Ling and Butler Huo exchanged glances, neither having heard of him before. But she shook his hand politely.
“Mu Ling.”
Ringi nodded and continued, “You may not have heard of me, and that’s alright, because I rarely attend official events. This, I believe, is the true meaning of being a strategist.”
Mu Ling, ever direct, asked, “Do you have something to discuss with us?”
“Of course,” Ringi replied, his expression serious. “We’ve recently noticed some unusual occurrences at the Demon Hunt General Agency. Several individuals seem to have been replaced.”
“Replaced?” Mu Ling’s brow furrowed in confusion.
“Yes, although they still live and work as before, appearing and feeling like the same person, they are no longer truly themselves. These Night Watchers have been replaced with strange, non-human beings.”
Ringi’s tone became even more serious. “Three! Three Night Watchers have already been replaced!”
“Why are you telling me this?” Mu Ling asked, baffled.
For years, the Night Watchers had maintained a distant presence, never directly interacting with her. But now, everything had changed.
Ringi looked at her
expressionlessly and replied,
“Isn’t it often said that your
Babel Tower has no ill
intentions and seeks to save
the world? Why not cooperate
with the authorities on this?
Help us uncover the truth and
find the culprit.”
He added, “For some reason,
we cannot investigate this
matter directly… You wouldn’t
want to keep hiding, would
you? This is a legitimate
opportunity for Babel Tower to
step forward, like a stepping
stone to a bigger stage.”
Mu Ling frowned, then shook
her head gently.
“In fact, I am just a weapon—a
mere Babel Tower hunting dog.
I cannot make decisions for
the Babel Tower.”
Ringi was unphased. “Hmm, I
suspected as much… But
could you please pass my
message to the Savior? I’m
sure you can communicate
with the Savior of the Babel
Tower.”
Mu Ling thought for a moment
before nodding.
“Okay.”
She had always been able to
convey her thoughts to the
Savior. A faint joy blossomed
in her heart as she thought
about it.
Perhaps, the Savior often
looked at her after all…
