Chapter 955 - 23: Priest

"So you want to tell me that the Priest these remnants revere is actually an artificial Hunter from an old civilization?"

"That possibility can't be ruled out, and judging by the state of the manual generators and equipment functioning outside the research facility, at least fifty percent of the facility's original functions have been retained," the central brain answered.

Sun Hang wanted to continue heading deeper, but just then, several beams of scarlet lasers suddenly targeted his forehead.

The source of the lasers was the automated machine guns mounted on the ceiling, their dark barrels exuding a sense of danger.

"It's the defense facilities inside the research institute," the central brain immediately said, "Do you want me to hack into the control system of the facility to shut them down?"

"Yes, and while you're at it, extract the database of this research institute for me." Sun Hang nodded.

"Received, processing—"

The central brain's voice stuttered a few times, then turned into a series of fragmented electronic noises. The screen of the micro terminal on Sun Hang's wrist flickered a few times, then went completely dark after displaying a bright red error message.

"Failed?" Sun Hang wasn't surprised by the outcome; he was carrying only a mini central brain, whose computing power was not even a fraction of the mainframe in the Primordial Palace—this thing was sufficient for hacking ordinary computer operating systems, but clearly, this research institute from an old civilization was not ordinary.

"Eggs against stones," the previous voice said, with a hint of mockery in its tone.

Sun Hang didn't respond but took another step forward.

"Bang!"

A gunshot sounded, a bullet hole appearing less than ten centimeters from the tip of Sun Hang's toe.

"This is a warning," the other side said again.

"Are you trying to tell me that after all these years, the primers of these automated machine gun bullets haven't gotten damp?" Sun Hang replied with a cold smile, "You're not like the people below, you should have inherited knowledge from the old civilization, or rather, you're a person from the old civilization... You should also know, bullets aren't much of a threat to many of the infected."

The other side was silent for over ten seconds, then spoke in a very firm tone just as Sun Hang was about to proceed, "Where did you come from?"

"Why should I tell you?"

"There must still be areas in the world that haven't fallen, right?" the other side asked again.

"Why should I tell you?"

"What is the outside world like now?"

"Why should I tell you?"

"Is that all you can say?" Annoyance began to seep into the other side's voice.

"Why should I..."

"Enough!" the other side suddenly interrupted Sun Hang's repetitive behavior, "Your actions are wearing down my limited patience... If you don't want to stay in this place forever, I suggest you rethink your logic of behavior, it would be beneficial for both you and me."

"Benefit? What benefit?" Sun Hang shrugged, "If you want me to answer your questions, that's fine. But information must be exchanged equally—one question for one question. I start asking, how about that?"

"Equal? Do you think we're equal right now?" the other side scoffed.

"Indeed, not equal." Sun Hang snapped his fingers, and the automated machine guns instantly exploded, shattered metal parts clattering to the ground.

"Are you going to come out on your own, or should I drag you out?" Sun Hang looked towards the room deeper in the research institute.

There was no verbal response; instead, the reply came in the form of a crisp mechanical unlocking sound.

The doors on both sides at the far end of the corridor slowly opened, two pairs of ghostly blue eyes emerging from the darkness.

"Kill him," the other side said calmly.

Two humanoid creatures of extremely bizarre proportions rushed out of the room, their ghostly blue eyes flashing as they appeared on either side of Sun Hang in an instant.

Sun Hang only felt two abnormally cold hands grasping his shoulders, and then a strong current surged into his body.

Thick white arcs of electricity, like serpents, rampaged through the hall. The affected electronic devices erupted in a shower of electric sparks, the continuous explosions sounding as if thousands of firecrackers were set off and the sound amplified several times, leaving nothing but dazzling electric light and explosive flames in sight.

When everything finally calmed down, Sun Hang stood unharmed in the same spot, while the humanoid creatures that had gripped his shoulders were now lifeless, charred remnants.

Wisps of smoke drifted from their bodies, and in the next moment, the two humanoid creatures crumbled into ash, scattering on the floor.

"Tsk." Sun Hang brushed the dust off his sleeves and stepped forward.

"Wait," the other side suddenly spoke, "I might consider your suggestion—question for question exchange."

"Do you still think we're equal right now?" Sun Hang repeated the other side's words from before.

"No, I admit that you are a very strong infected one, but I'm not out of means to deal with you," the other side said, "It's just that the price of such measures is too heavy, and I doubt you want things to reach a point of no return, right?"

"You're the fish, and I'm the fisherman. If you break the net, I'll just replace it. Besides, in this Desert Sea, you're not the only fish." Sun Hang said.

He had already confirmed with Nuer that there were several remnant settlements in the Desert Sea, each with a Priest-like figure.

So the so-called "point of no return" threat from the other side was meaningless to Sun Hang.

If you're unwilling to cooperate, I'll just change settlements and Priests... those unwilling to cooperate will be eliminated, eliminate enough, and eventually, there will be some willing to cooperate.

"...Fine, what do you want to know?" The other side finally relented after a moment of thought, "Is it about the Sinking Sand Giant Worm, or these survivor settlements? Or do you want to know about my background?"

"Not interested in any of those." Sun Hang shook his head.

"Not interested in any of those? Then what do you want to ask?" Sun Hang's words clearly took the other side by surprise.

"Sphinx."

"Sphi...nx?!" The other side's tone shifted dramatically, "You... what are you here for?"

"For the Sphinx," Sun Hang said, "Seems like I asked the right person."

"If you came for the Sphinx, then..." The other side suddenly changed its tone, "I'm afraid we'll have to fight to the death."

"Just you?"

"Yes... no matter which settlement you go to, you'll get the same answer."