Chapter 522: Who Are Our Friends and Who Are Our Enemies
Chapter 522: Who Are Our Friends and Who Are Our Enemies
Fang Cheng narrowed his eyes as killing intent enveloped the entire building like a physical force.
In the long-abandoned villa, cockroaches and rodents suddenly began dying en masse.
Eve showed no fear, maintaining her smile: “I won’t speak of forbidden matters. If this displeases you, kill me now.”
Crack!
Fang Cheng snapped her neck without hesitation.
“Well, if you insist,” he muttered, never having encountered such a bizarre request before.
Eve collapsed with her head twisted sideways.
Fang Cheng settled back onto the sofa, pointing at the opposite seat. “Enough pretending. Get up.”
Eve gradually rose, cracking her neck back into position before peeling off blood-soaked garments.
Fang Cheng watched unblinkingly.
His anticipation faded when fresh clothes appeared beneath the stained layers.
As Eve seated herself gracefully across from him, she noted his lingering stare. “Should you require anything, I’m at your service.”
Memories surfaced of their time in Paradise, where she’d genuinely aided him.
“Got that line ready for every man?” he challenged.
“Certainly not.”
Her tone turned earnest. “This privilege was earned by defeating our Queen. She instructed me to accommodate your needs.”
Fang Cheng snorted. Isis had tried killing him before, yet now sent sweet words through her messenger. Did she think he was an idiot?
Ignoring his derision, Eve continued: “The Queen knows you repelled the evil god in North America. As Mother’s children facing common enemies, cooperation benefits us all.”
Fang Cheng straightened, impressed by their intelligence network’s efficiency.
“First she wants me dead, now allies?”
“Conflict between undead is inevitable – our shared fate. But our ultimate war remains against the evil god.”
Leaning forward, Fang Cheng demanded: “Then tell me Mother and that deity’s origins.”
“Only the Queen holds that knowledge,” Eve replied, shaking her head.
Fang Cheng reclined dismissively. “Let her tell me herself.”
“She awaits you in the kingdom of the undead.”
“What exactly is that place?” he pressed, having heard the term repeatedly.
“A realm beyond reality,” she answered, “home to all undead. Beyond that, I know little.”
Frustration colored his next question: “You’re no vampire, are you?” Her lack of bloodscent betrayed different origins.
“I was born of the Blood Source,” Eve admitted. “But since you claimed the Queen’s Source, Idealism sustains me now.”
Without the Blood Source, Isis relied on even stronger Idealism. Humans really can’t compare.
Fang Cheng glanced at the vampire restrained on the ground. “What’s your game here?”
Eve could’ve easily destroyed this vampire.
Pretending to be ordinary and letting herself get taken out was suspicious.
Eve explained plainly: “After you defeated the Queen, many started checking if she died – including undead factions…”
Isis being a disaster-level vampire naturally had enemies.
Her biggest rival was Western Europe’s famed Count Dracula – another disaster-level monster.
Since vampires dominate the undead population, two disaster-level specimens emerged.
Though equally powerful, Isis and Dracula avoided each other like sworn strangers.
Yet they’d secretly clashed countless times, each considering the other their ultimate nemesis.
Isis tried devouring Fang Cheng to surpass Dracula before the kingdom of the undead opened.
But her scheme backfired spectacularly.
After her defeat, Dracula became most invested in confirming her death while eyeing her power and information network.
Fang Cheng caught on: “So Isis wants them to think she’s dead?”
Eve nodded. “The Queen wants her survival kept secret.”
Her ordinary act hid her true identity – if Isis’ closest assistant got exposed, the Queen’s survival would be revealed.
“Then why not disappear?” Fang Cheng pressed.
Eve lowered her gaze. “Only I know critical documents. If I hide, Dracula can’t access the Queen’s resources.”
Understanding dawned – Isis was abandoning her own power structure to sell the deception.
A bold move, literally force-feeding bait to the enemy.
Fang Cheng smirked. “You told me all this. Not worried I’ll snitch?”
“Since the Queen’s ‘death’, Dracula views you as his main threat. He’s already gathering intel on you and probing Mechanical City.”
Eve smiled faintly. “You’ll eventually face either the Queen or Dracula. Between a stranger and our weakened, familiar foe…”
Fang Cheng conceded her logic. Teaming with Isis against Dracula first made tactical sense.
As he pondered, Eve added: “After repelling that evil god in North America, the Apocalypse Knight might target you next.”
Fang Cheng blinked. “Why?”
Eve shook her head. “We’re not certain. This pattern was observed through our investigations. Those identified by the Apocalypse Knights as Satan’s incarnations had all previously battled evil gods.”
The Apocalypse Knights represented the strongest martial force of the Church, the world’s largest organized religion.
As a monotheistic institution, the Church should naturally oppose pagan deities like evil gods.
Could the Church’s God actually be among these evil gods?
Fang Cheng startled himself with this dangerous thought.
Though the Church dominated global religion, other faiths like the Desert Religion also worshipped their own versions of God.
Together, believers of these two religions accounted for over one-third of humanity.
If God was indeed an evil deity, what did that imply about others?
Take Shiva from Indian beliefs – Hinduism alone boasted over a billion followers.
Eve seemed to read his mind, voicing the terrifying conclusion: “You’ve already guessed it. All divine beings in our world… they’re likely all compromised.”
“That would mean humanity’s already doomed,” Fang Cheng breathed.
With two-thirds of Earth’s population following organized religions…
If all these faiths served evil gods, our planet had essentially become their stronghold.
“Human survival isn’t the concern of strange beings like us.”
Eve’s expression turned grave. “What follows is the Queen’s message for you – please remember this well.”
“Go on.”
“Three forces exist in this world. The Mother’s power, the evil gods’, and an unknown third. You must discern clearly: who are friends, who are enemies.”
Fang Cheng snorted. “Isn’t Isis my enemy?”
“We’re all the Mother’s children. Your conflict with the Queen is internal competition. The true enemy remains the evil gods. Victory hinges on that unknown power.”
“What’s this unknown force?”
“Unclear.” Eve shook her head. “It’s concentrated at the Human Rights Coalition headquarters. Neither evil gods nor the Mother can penetrate there – hence the Queen avoids that place.”
This explained the Coalition headquarters’ strange atmosphere Fang Cheng had noticed earlier. He’d attributed it to different social structures, but evidently there was more.
Eve implied the Mother and evil gods opposed each other, while the unknown power remained neutral – something to potentially recruit.
Fang Cheng kept these thoughts private, neither trusting nor dismissing the woman’s words.
He extended a hand. “Any documents on the Apocalypse Knights?”
To his surprise, Eve retrieved a handbag from the floor. Producing a USB drive, she offered it. “Full records of the Four Horsemen. Their abilities became public knowledge through years of hunting, though officially still classified.”
“Convenient timing.” Fang Cheng accepted the drive. “Should I think you planned this meeting?”
“Coincidence. I’d have contacted you regardless.”
As Fang Cheng eyed her handbag, Eve began, “If you want-”
He snatched the bag before she finished. Inside lay dozens more drives – clearly materials meant for Dracula regarding Isis.
Eve didn’t resist, instead producing a business card. “Call this number if needed.” Only a phone number graced the plain card.
Fang Cheng pocketed it. Could prove useful.
“With your permission, I’ll take my leave.”
No plea for secrecy about her survival – she trusted his discretion.
Her body dissolved into blood seeping through floorboards.
Fang Cheng didn’t interfere. This woman, born from Isis’ Idealism, would simply resurrect if killed. Detaining her proved pointless.