Dimensional Codex System: I'm really not a cultist!

Chapter 66: Chapter 65 Top-up to Change Fate

“No, it’s completely damaged.”

Looking at the dimly colored communication crystal in front of him, Knight Conan wore a dejected expression. The communication crystal was a unique communication device specific to this continent, functioning similarly to video chatting. However, because it required a significant amount of energy to operate and was complex in construction and expensive, only various organizations could afford it; ordinary civilians couldn’t use it. This particular communication crystal was even more tragic; it had been directly dismantled.

Looking at the contact crystal before him, Mr. Fang Zheng shrugged his shoulders. He had learned about the workings of the communication crystal from Knight Conan, which essentially operated like radio communication. But the enemy wasn’t foolish either; they understood how to employ electronic warfare to suppress communication… In another dimension, this would definitely qualify as high-tech warfare.

“Mr. Fang Zheng, we need you to think of something. Honestly, I’ve got no good ideas left.”

“Hmm…”

Hearing Knight Conan’s request, Mr. Fang Zheng furrowed his brows and thought for a moment before speaking.

“Under the current circumstances, I think the most important thing is to relay the information here to the front lines and the rear. Since the enemy has cut off our communication this way, naturally, restoring communication is the highest priority. So…”

As he spoke, Mr. Fang Zheng looked toward the three people in front of him—aside from Conan, Garrison and Lady Fina had also arrived here. After hearing about the outpost’s situation, both were taken aback and, of course, felt obliged to stay and help.

“I suggest we split into three groups. One group should head to the fortress to inform them of the situation at the rear and also hope they can devise a strategy to address the problem. Another group should go to the rear to notify the Sanctuary headquarters about what’s happened here. The last group should track those cultists. Since they’ve cut off communication, they must be planning something. We need to figure out the cultists’ objective so that we can be somewhat prepared.”

“That’s a great plan!”

Hearing this, Knight Conan’s eyes lit up, continuously nodding in agreement. It wasn’t that he hadn’t thought of a similar strategy; it just wasn’t as comprehensive as Mr. Fang Zheng’s. Of course, by that time, Knight Conan didn’t have enough hands, and he probably couldn’t have done it even if he had thought of it.

But now there was another problem: How exactly should the groups be divided?

“I can track those cultists!”

Yet surprisingly, Garrison was the first to volunteer.

“I am a local. I know this environment well, and having grown up hunting in the forest with my brother, I’m also skilled at tracking. I’m certain I can find those cultists!”

“No.”

But unexpectedly, Mr. Fang Zheng shook his head.

“Tracking cultists is the heaviest task of the three. The Order Fortress and the rear only need accurate information, and I think both sides will take measures as soon as they perceive something is wrong, so nothing but time is wasted. However, the cultists’ intent is critical. We don’t know exactly what those cultists want to do, but from what Knight Conan has described, their actions are clearly premeditated, not impulsive. And you are just an ordinary person; if anything happens to you, no one can save you, and the leads could be lost.”

“Then what should we do, Mr. Fang Zheng?”

Hearing this, Lady Fina also uneasily spoke up, as Mr. Fang Zheng scanned everyone before making a decision.

“Here is what we’ll do, Knight Conan, you will be responsible for contacting the Order Fortress. You’re the only face they recognize, and only by your going personally to the Order Fortress can their concerns be alleviated. As for the rear… I’m afraid Garrison and Lady Fina will have to make the trip. Garrison is a local and familiar with the terrain. Lady Fina is an apprentice priest at the Sanctuary, and as long as Knight Conan writes a letter, having Lady Fina deliver it to the Sanctuary headquarters should provoke a reaction. As for those cultists…”

While he spoke, Mr. Fang Zheng pointed to himself.

“Leave them to me to handle. Although I’m not particularly familiar with this area, I’m somewhat skilled in tracking. And I’m confident in my own strength; even if I can’t beat them, I can run.”

“Is this not too dangerous?”

Although Mr. Fang Zheng’s plan made sense, Knight Conan was still worried.

“Mr. Fang Zheng, are you sure you’ll be alright on your own?”

“Yes, Mr. Fang Zheng, it’s really too dangerous for you to be alone here, especially in winter…”

At that moment, Garrison also began to persuade him.

“Not to mention the Forest of No Return, the Dark Marsh is also a very terrifying place. It is said that there are many areas that even a Grand Knight would not dare to venture into alone. What would happen if something happened to you alone?”

“Hmm…”

Hearing the persuasion from both, Fang Zheng also slightly furrowed his brow. While he had considered these issues, he had not expected the place to be this dangerous. Although Fang Zheng felt confident with his time manipulation, along with two Soulstones, he thought nothing could possibly go wrong. But who knows? After all, no one could guarantee such things, right? Not to mention that Fang Zheng’s dimensional teleportation was still in cooldown. If he encountered troubles he couldn’t deal with, he really would have nowhere to run.

At that moment, Fina stood up, timidly raising her hand.

“Um… I have a suggestion. Why don’t I go with Mr. Fang Zheng?”

“You?”

Hearing this, Fang Zheng was momentarily stunned, and Fina nodded vigorously.

“Yes, according to Mr. Fang Zheng’s plan, we need two groups to ride quickly to notify the fortress and the rear, but currently there are no spare warhorses at the base, only our two draft horses. If I go with Garrison, I would slow him down. Moreover, according to Sir Conan, the enemy has a Destruction Mage… I am a cleric of the Sanctuary, and a spellcaster myself, so I think I could be somewhat helpful in this respect.”

“This…”

Fang Zheng was genuinely tempted by Fina’s proposal. Although the apprentice priest was rather single-minded, she had her strengths. Furthermore, she was right. Since arriving in this world, Fang Zheng had only encountered Miss Angel and the Master of Lich among the spellcasters, both of whom were more bizarre than the other. There was no need to mention the Master of Lich, who even made Mart and Shi Dong struggle. But even that gentle astrologer was able to conjure a Star Spirit in a mysterious way, which really said something. The enemy had a Destruction Mage, they had spellcasters, so he couldn’t afford to take things lightly. Even with the capability of time manipulation, if he accidentally found himself overturned in a ditch, it would really be tragic.

Moreover, Fina was right about the horses. With Garrison and Knight Conan each having one, naturally, there was none left for Fina. Time was of the essence, and sharing one horse between two was neither convenient nor fast. Therefore, in the end, Fang Zheng agreed to Fina’s request to take her along, while Knight Conan and Garrison would head separately to the Order Fortress and the Sanctuary.

With time pressing, once the decision was made, they wasted no more time. Although the warhorses at the base had been killed by the cultists, the harnesses were still there. Thus, it didn’t take much effort for them to unhook the two draft horses from the cart, harness them up, and set off immediately after a brief preparation. As Garrison and Knight Conan left one after the other, soon, only Fang Zheng and Fina were left at the base.

“Mr. Fang Zheng, when do we depart?”

“Prepare some supplies first. Unlike them, we might face more difficulties, and I… need to make some preparations.”

“Okay.”

Hearing Fang Zheng’s order, Fina nodded without hesitation, and immediately went to the warehouse to prepare the supplies. Although the cultists had abducted people, they had not taken the supplies. Of course, most things were burnt by them, but some supplies had survived. Perhaps not enough for a base, but for Fang Zheng and Fina, it was already enough.

“Phew…”

Watching Fina turn away to leave, Fang Zheng sighed deeply and then reached out, looking at the Spirit Crystal in his hand. This was something he had asked from Knight Conan before he left. Although Knight Conan did not know what Fang Zheng needed them for, he had quickly given him the remaining dozen Spirit Crystals from the fortress. After all, this was the rearguard of the Order Fortress, where countless demon beasts were killed every year, making Spirit Crystals more abundant here. Even though the reserve Spirit Crystals in the warehouse had been stolen by the cultists, Knight Conan, as the base commander, still had some private property, which he had promptly given to Fang Zheng.

Fang Zheng naturally felt embarrassed… but he accepted them.

“Transformation!”

As Fang Zheng murmured, the Spirit Crystal in his palm began to gradually decompose into photon particles, then disappeared into the air. Concurrently, the transformed Crystal Energy also appeared in front of Fang Zheng.

“485 Crystal Energy, huh? Plus the previous… about 575 Crystal Energy… that’s enough!”

Seeing the Crystal Energy appear before him, Fang Zheng excitedly clenched his fists.

Next, it was time to summon his own Miss Angel!