Chapter 1 After Entering the Camp

After entering the camp, Gu Shen pondered the upcoming decisions. The defense battle of the Umbrella Defense Line had begun, and this war would determine the direction of the entire North Continent… If the “mental toxin” could be cleared, then Fort Gu would be able to open its gates and fully welcome reinforcements!

The Gu Fort side should have made the worst possible plans by now—

When they established the quarantine zone, they didn't think they would be able to treat these quarantined people in a short period of time.

If he wanted to resolve this disaster, he still had to contact "Lin Lin."

Gu Shen made a decision.

Before he could dial Lin Lin's number, the communicator took the initiative and rang on its own.

“Beep—”

Gu Shen glanced at the number.

How interesting… he had just prepared to act, and that guy had taken the initiative to come looking for him.

"Gu Shen, this is Lin Lin."

The voice on the other side of the communicator was unusually calm, saying, "You don't need to stay in the quarantine zone… Go out of the tent, turn right, and walk to the end. Zou Hai will be waiting for you there."

The communication ended.

Gu Shen narrowed his eyes.

This call came at just the right time, saving himself a lot of trouble.

However, Gu Shen didn't expect Lin Lin to take the initiative to call and invite him to meet.

This entire area is full of suspected infected… Lin Lin dares to just let him out like that?

…

…

The end of the quarantine zone.

Zou Hai was wearing a military uniform, leading that Labrador retriever that had awakened supernatural abilities.

The big dog obediently squatted down, wagging its tail.

Adjutant Zou looked at Gu Shen with a smile. "You're here?"

"Going out like this… isn't quite in line with the rules of the fortress, is it?"

Gu Shen turned his head and glanced at the tents in the quarantine zone. This time, all the returning people were regarded as "suspected infected." Because it was a special period, the Labyrinth mission team members did not enjoy the treatment of "heroes," but were forcibly quarantined. Even Yuan Yuan and Su He were no exception.

"The rules of the fortress are set by Brigadier General."

Zou Hai said, "What's more, we are not completely ignorant of this 'mental toxin'…"

"Oh?"

Gu Shen raised his eyebrows.

"Strong individuals with strong mental power can resist and 'annihilate' the toxin."

Zou Hai said calmly, "The reason we know this information is because Brigadier General relied on his willpower to successfully 'eliminate' the toxin that invaded his mental sea."

"…"

He really is a ruthless person.

Gu Shen was silent for a while. No wonder Zhong Yuan, who had been in "close contact" with his group, could turn around and throw himself into the battle command of the Great Wall. With the strength of Zhong Yuan and Lin Lin, they could indeed resist the "Golden Spike Flower toxin."

It wasn't hard to guess why Lin Lin dared to let him leave the "quarantine zone."

This guy's vision is very sharp.

Before the Labyrinth mission even started, when Gu Shen and Investigation Team Two were conducting internal "confrontation training," Lin Lin was already watching him.

He had already seen that he was hiding his "mental power."

…

…

"Sit."

It was still the attic, the study.

Lin Lin's tone was not so cold this time.

He folded his hands, propped his elbows, and looked at Gu Shen solemnly with an examining and gazing posture.

Gu Shen closed the door behind him.

When he closed the door, he realized that this action was "unnecessary." Lin Lin had already set up soundproofing seals in the room. He had already prepared to seal off this conversation.

This study was very quiet.

Lin Lin even disconnected the 【Deep Sea】’s power chain here. After entering this place, the mental link between Gu Shen and Chu Ling was also cut off.

This was not something that "ordinary seals" could accomplish.

Sunlight shone in from the window of the study. The roaring and impact sounds from the distant sky continued to enter the territory of the Great Wall. Even the attic at this moment could hear it. The forefront line had gathered hundreds of source energy boats, continuously bombarding the outside of the defense line.

"Congratulations on coming back alive."

Lin Lin said the same congratulations as 【Deep Sea】.

However, these words of congratulation sounded more meaningful in his mouth…

Gu Shen smiled and said, "We were lucky and salvaged a life from the storm."

Lin Lin shook his head.

He said softly, "I'm not congratulating them, but you alone."

Gu Shen was stunned. He looked silently at the young brigadier general.

This conversation might not be as simple as he thought.

This youngest "sealing general" in the North Continent was one of the most perceptive guys Gu Shen had ever seen. His eyes seemed to see through his soul… although Gu Shen knew that was impossible.

Fiery Blaze possessed top-level concealment power.

In addition, he also wore the "Golden Band."

Even Empress Apostle A'Liu'er couldn't see through his reality, so it was even less likely that Lin Lin could see through him.

"Actually, I know that your entire team has not been infected by mental elements…"

Lin Lin picked up a teacup, poured a cup for Gu Shen, and said softly, "The aura of those 'infected' is different from yours. Their minds exude a rotten aura, like being bitten by a snake. If they don't get 'treatment,' they will die. It's just a difference between fast and slow. The quarantine area houses those who are about to die. In five days at most, they won't be able to resist the mental erosion. Another area houses those who are in better mental condition. They can still live for half a month."

"But the end result is the same…"

Lin Lin said calmly, "If the mental power is not strong enough, they will die under the 'toxin.' Even other mental systems with powerful abilities find it difficult to 'treat' it. This toxin penetrates deep into the soul. Once infected, it merges with the mind. Even if I can resist the 'toxin,' I cannot cure the infected."

Gu Shen knew that Lin Lin was right.

This brigadier general had indeed captured important information about the "Golden Spike Flower toxin."

This could be regarded as the power of the Pluto Fire Seed, developed from the special mutation of living beings in the 【Old World】.

There is no antidote for the Golden Spike Flower toxin.

Either be strong enough to resist it.

Or, slowly perish under the torture of the toxin and become a member of the "Pure Land."

"So, arranging the quarantine… is just to meet me alone?"

Gu Shen took a sip of tea and sighed softly, "Brigadier General, why bother with so much trouble?"

"Some things are better with a little more trouble."

Lin Lin said with a peaceful expression, "Zhong Yuan is at the front line, and the investigation team is in the quarantine zone. We can be 'single-minded'… to complete this conversation."

Gu Shen frowned slightly.

"Time is tight, let's get straight to the point."

Lin Lin said, "The fortress cannot contact the 【Old World】. We cannot judge what you encountered outside… but through the disappearance time of the 'Book of Life and Death,' we can infer the time when the team arrived at the 'Labyrinth.'"

Yes…

This was indeed information that could be inferred.

"After the quarantine ends, the investigation army's report files will be submitted. At that time, all the supernaturalists in the North Continent will be curious about how your team used one-third of the time to complete the return journey. This is unreasonable, very unreasonable." Lin Lin tapped the table lightly. "The fuel is not enough, and the journey is too long… Even if you change the route, you will face the pursuit of the 'storm.'"

This was Gu Shen's biggest headache.

No one could give an explanation.

He couldn't possibly reveal… that this was thanks to the power of the "Ruler of Truth" left by Pluto, which forcibly carried out a 1000% extreme breakthrough to the source armor's kinetic energy system.

"To make it reasonable…"

"We can only change the case files and adjust the intermediate points." Lin Lin lowered his eyes and said slowly, "You arrived at the 【Labyrinth】 early, and you also left the 【Labyrinth】 early… That place has already collapsed, and there will be no follow-up investigation plans. The fortress is unaware of everything that happened in the 【Old World】."

Hearing these words, Gu Shen's expression froze.

He looked strangely at Lin Lin, who was drinking tea calmly, and realized that what this brigadier general had called him over for was not what he had thought…

Lin Lin was not here to probe secrets.

But to help him solve this unsolvable case file and make it reasonable.

He had already proposed a solution to the biggest trouble.

There was a difficulty in this solution, which was to "unify the caliber." It was basically impossible to falsify the investigation army's expedition missions, because the fortress would conduct strict verification… but at this moment, the person who proposed "falsifying the case file" was precisely the authority figure controlling Fort Gu.

"I will modify the case file to a certain extent." Lin Lin said quietly, "Why are you looking at me with that look?"

Gu Shen's expression was complicated. "I just didn't expect… you to be this kind of person. Why are you doing this?"

In Gu Shen's mind, Lin Lin's image had always been closely related to words such as iron-blooded, cold, and ruthless.

It was hard to imagine that the garrison of a fortress would take the initiative to propose "falsifying the case file."

But why was he doing this?

Gu Shen recalled the bits and pieces of his meeting with Lin Lin and realized that this brigadier general really didn't have any particular motivation to help him…

Why would the garrison of the North Continent fortress help a person from the East Continent?

Wait a minute…

North Continent… fortress garrison… surnamed Lin…

These fragmented clues pieced together. After arriving at Fort Gu, too many things had happened. Gu Shen didn't realize that this young brigadier general and a certain mysterious guy in his memory had a high degree of overlap.

Gu Shen also remembered what A'Liu'er had said.

【"Without the permission of the Central City, it is impossible for a source energy boat to leave the North Continent without authorization."】

The artillery fire roared in the distant sky.

Lin Lin held the tea and quietly looked at the seat opposite him.

Gu Shen also held the tea.

The two of them maintained silent eye contact…

A certain idea that was about to emerge spread in both of their hearts at the same time. Perhaps it was the guidance of intuition. The two young people had both developed a bold guess about each other's identities, but there was no evidence.

In the room cut off from 【Deep Sea】.

There was silence for a full three minutes.

Gu Shen and Lin Lin both resisted the urge to say certain keywords. Once those keywords were spoken, they would point to crucial evidence… perhaps it would be a good thing, perhaps a disaster.

Sometimes, silence is better.

"Don't ask me why…"

"The Lin family does many things without reason."

Lin Lin broke the silence and said, "I am a person who trusts 'intuition.' When making very important decisions, I never consider why."

So… this matter was a very big decision.

Indeed.

A fortress garrison, fabricating false case files, deceiving the entire Central City, the entire North Continent.

This was indeed a big decision!

"Okay."

Gu Shen sighed and felt a lot more relaxed in his heart. He said frankly, "If we don't need to explain why we are with each other, then things become much simpler… I hope you won't ask me why next."

Lin Lin was stunned.

"I can unlock the 'mental toxin'…"

Gu Shen paused for a second, looked into Lin Lin's eyes, "Not just one person, but the entire Fort Gu."