Chapter 919 - 914: Decryption Failed, Mission Completed?

"Bart, this is related to our continuous task."

Bai Pu said, "I need a slave who can decode the Naga language. The leader of the enhanced elite is certainly better than the elite-level Naga soldiers."

"Listen to Lord Gangxin." Bart glared at the Awakened subordinate, then gave Bai Pu an apologetic smile, "My subordinates are not very perceptive."

Bai Pu always adhered to the principle of equivalent exchange; if others respected him, he reciprocated in kind.

"Bart, if I fail to control it, this enhanced elite Naga leader will still drop a treasure chest, which will still belong to you. If I succeed in controlling it, you would lose an enhanced elite treasure chest. However, the three elite Naga soldiers are still alive, you can finish them off, and if they drop treasure chests, they will compensate you."

Bart grinned widely, "Thank you, Lord Gangxin, for your care."

Bai Pu flew out a drop of pure blood, attempting to control the Naga leader.

Other Awakened watched eagerly.

This time, Bai Pu felt the pressure—it was more difficult to control an enhanced elite in the Ascension Plane than to control a Lord Level Demon General in the Heart Demon World!

Bai Pu gritted his teeth and relinquished control over the Sand Crab slave.

The Sand Crab slave blinked its small eyes, originally driven by evolutionary instinct, wanting to kill the surrounding humans to gain fresh blood and meat.

But with Bai Pu, the Heart of Evolution holder, present, the terrifying superior pressure made the Mutant Sand Crab feel like it met a natural predator, hastily shrinking into the sand to quickly burrow away.

Without the Sand Crab slave occupying power space, controlling the Naga leader became smooth for Bai Pu.

The pure blood seeped inch by inch until the Naga leader respectfully bowed, standing by Bai Pu's side.

Bai Pu retained the Naga leader's consciousness intact.

"Tell me your background... use Thought Sense to communicate with us." Bai Pu began questioning through telepathy.

Naga Leader: "Master, my name is... Kosasis. I am from the Rot Scale Tribe."

"How many tribes does the Naga Race have? How large is the Rot Scale Tribe?"

Kosasis said, "In this sea area... no, on this continent, there are thirteen major tribes of Nagas. The Rot Scale Tribe has about one hundred thousand people, with ninety percent being non-combatants..."

"So many?"

Bai Pu was somewhat surprised, "Does the Rot Scale Tribe all live in the Black Algae Mountain Range?"

"Black Algae Mountain Range? That's the master's term. We call it 'Demon's Spine'."

Kosasis explained the naming difference and then said, "The Rot Scale Tribe has multiple branches. We are just one branch, residing at the edge of this mountain range."

"How many warriors does your branch have? And how many strong individuals?"

"There are probably a few hundred warriors. We have dozens at the 'Patrol Captain' level like me. There are also generals, and our branch only has two."

Bai Pu understood that a Naga General should be a leader like "Volash."

Goodness, this Naga squad has someone backing them! If a Naga General came, Bai Pu would be in for big trouble.

Fortunately, Kosasis then shared an important piece of information:

"The elite warriors of our branch have all been drafted by the two generals... They said the species has an important action and must unite the elite of all tribes! Not only the Rot Scale Tribe but even the 'Hunting Tide Tribe' and 'Stone Spear Tribe' have dispatched a large number of elite."

"Where did those elites go?" Bai Pu was shocked, as this was clearly preparing for something big.

Something big is coming?

Unfortunately, Kosasis did not have the clearance, shaking his head to indicate he didn't know.

"Alright. Look at this piece of whisper and explain its meaning to me." Bai Pu took out the [Whisper Bottle from Volash], taking out the Whispering Fish Hide, and handed it to Kosasis.

Bart was also drawn over from the other side.

The three elite Nagas had dropped two Blue Treasure Chests, and Bart's team members were distributing them. Bart, having little interest in that, joined Bai Pu here.

Under the hopeful gazes of Bai Pu and Bart, Kosasis took the piece of whisper paper.

"This is not text."

Under Bai Pu's instruction, Kosasis used Thought Sense to speak to both Bai Pu and Bart, "It's just a very long, seemingly random and meaningless string of numbers."

"How can it be?" Bart nearly jumped up.

"It is indeed numbers..." Kosasis read the numbers once.

"Sounds like some sort of encryption..." Bart scratched his head, "These natives of the Dark Tide Plane are quite advanced to have dabbled with ciphers."

Bai Pu furrowed his brow, saying, "Number encryption can have many different cipher rules, such as taking single letters from digital positions in a book by using page numbers, line numbers, and word positions to form a meaningful sentence. Or having a special password book to align the numbers with letters, forming words with a series of numbers to construct a sentence..."

"Hope it's the second method. If it's the first one, how would we determine which book serves as the codebook? That would be nearly impossible to locate." Bart remarked.

Considering the secrecy, the person who was to receive this Whisper Bottle isn't likely to carry a thick codebook... Otherwise, it would be too easily discovered."

Bai Pu swiftly made a judgment, "So there are two possibilities. In the best case for us, the Naga race's alphabet order numbers are being used as the codebook... Kosasis! List the Naga language alphabet and attempt decryption with this method."

Kosasis got busy right away.

"The downside for us would be if they use a predetermined book as the codebook." Bart sighed.

In no time, Kosasis stood up and shook his head to Bai Pu.

Obviously, using the 'Naga language alphabet' as a codebook couldn't decipher these numbers.

"Is this really an A-level task without the silver side mission prefix?"

Bart looked despondent.

Bai Pu slowly pondered and said, "An A-level task indeed shouldn't be this difficult."

He thought deeply, feeling there were no overlooked details.

"Bart, send your people to Tefula City... arrange personnel to stay along the way as relay stations for transmitting information."

Bai Pu stood up and said, "I think the breakthrough point for this task lies in..."

Before finishing his sentence, Bai Pu sensed something and looked up.

They were situated in a mountain depression, a near-vertical black cliff, and atop the cliff, a group had appeared at an unknown time.

This group was vigorous, well-equipped, with armor bearing a crest of a certain noble from the Empire.

"Hey, this is the Demetri family guard! Who are you?"

Demetri family?

Bai Pu looked up. Sure enough, among the crowd, he saw that familiar purple deep V.

Simultaneously, the Spirit Realm Will's prompt sounded:

[Continuous Task Step 1: Decoding, has been completed.]