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

Chapter 782: Chapter 781: Is This the Main Quest Given by the NPC?

”...As a result, that poor guy just sank to the bottom of the ocean, leaving Ruth all alone.”

Sitting on the sofa and watching the movie screen gradually darken before him, Fang Zheng pursed his lips. Observing his expression, Little Hei blinked curiously.

”Isn’t this a very tragic romance story?”

”It’s only because the ship sank that it became a tragic romance story.”

Fang Zheng shrugged dismissively.

”Haven’t you figured out what kind of person Jack is? He gambled to win his ticket, then rushed to board the ship, all for the sake of going to the New World. He had a sense of adventure, and sure, a romantic spirit too, but not a lick of planning. It’s just that the guy was handsome and could talk a good game, plus at that time, Ruth was being pushed by her parents into arranged dates, in her rebellious phase. So, the two of them came together like a duck to water, drawn to each other. But in reality?”

As he spoke, Fang Zheng spread his hands wide.

”Put them in a different situation, and they definitely wouldn’t end up together. The Titanic may be called a luxury liner, but the difference between the passenger cabins and the top cabins isn’t that big. That’s why the young lady thought it was romantic to dance and drink on a table with a handsome man among a crowd of people. Put her in a different place to taste rock-hard, stale bread and sausage crawling with maggots, and she definitely wouldn’t find that romantic.”

At this point, Fang Zheng snorted coldly.

”It’s a good thing the Titanic sank, you know. If it hadn’t, do you know what the outcome would have been? At best, Ruth would be swept off her feet by Jack, starting what she thought would be a ’romantic’ journey, only to find out that the man beside her couldn’t even earn money, and they couldn’t ensure their basic needs or even have a place to live. Things would either end in a big fight leading to a breakup, or she’d follow him like a dog follows its master, going from a pampered young lady to a plump housewife, arguing with her impoverished artist husband every day and saying, ’How did I ever fall for such a loser like you... Get out and bring back a bag of salt!’”

”Wow... Big brother, that’s a bit too real, isn’t it?”

Little Hei showed a face that couldn’t accept what Fang Zheng had said.

”But it’s so romantic...”

”It’s precisely because you girls are too romantic that someone like me needs to be realistic and shatter your fantasies.”

”...Big brother, you’re going to end up with no girlfriend like this.”

”Don’t worry, someone as handsome as me is impossible to end up without a girlfriend...”

”Sigh...”

As Little Hei was left speechless by Fang Zheng, suddenly, the initially closed door of the theater was abruptly pushed open with a loud ”bang,” followed by the sound of hurried footsteps. Fang Zheng saw Walnut, Rea, and Kei Shidou running over and coming up to him. Then, Walnut clenched her hands tightly, staring at him intently.

”Mr. Fang Zheng, please let us join the Heavenly Dao Palace!”

”......”

Meow meow meow?

Confused by Walnut’s sudden request, Fang Zheng was taken aback. What now?

It didn’t surprise Fang Zheng that Walnut and the others learned about Heavenly Dao Palace; he hadn’t forbidden Little Hei and Natsuse from mentioning it. And these girls weren’t foolish; after all this time, they surely understood some things about their situation here.

Still curious, Fang Zheng looked at Walnut, then asked.

”How did you suddenly come up with this idea?”

”Because Mr. Fang Zheng, you plan to find the source of this disaster and then eliminate it, right? We want to help too!!”

”This.......”

Hearing this, Fang Zheng paused in surprise. What was this, NPCs volunteering for the main quest?

To be honest, up until now, Fang Zheng had no clue what he should be doing. The reason he chose to research and investigate the virus was simply because it was the only thing he could do at the moment. If it weren’t for Fang Zheng’s premonition telling him there was still something unfinished, he would have already burnt this world to ash and gone home.

But now... Walnut was proactively talking to him about this. Could it be that this was actually the main quest of this world?

”Are you sure you want to help?”

Fang Zheng frowned, looking at Kei Shidou, then at Rea and Walnut.

”If that’s the case, even here, there’s a lot for you to do. Are you sure you want to take the risk? Walnut, you’ve just awakened not long ago, maybe you’re not fully aware, but Kei and Rea, you must understand that there are many Danger Species of zombies in this world. Even if you two are now zombies and won’t be killed so easily, that doesn’t mean you’re invincible.”

Speaking thus, Fang Zheng paused for a moment, his expression serious as he looked at the three of them.

”Moreover, if you wish to join the Heavenly Dao Palace, you must follow my commands and orders completely. Rea, set aside your case for now. Walnut, don’t you still plan to find those lost companions of yours? Kei, you want to find your dear friend, don’t you? Let me put it bluntly, if you come across them during a mission, but without my command, even if they are in danger, you cannot intervene to help. Will you obey my orders?”

”This......”

Hearing Fang Zheng’s uncompromising question, both Walnut and Kei were taken aback. After all, both were just high school students, fiery with enthusiasm that came easily but lasted only briefly. Now, having cooled down, they couldn’t help but hesitate. ƒree𝑤ebnσvel-com

”Reality is not a movie, Walnut.”

Fang Zheng leaned back on the couch.

”Movies are romantic, passionate, or tender, but reality is not always so nice. I will indeed assist you in searching for your lost companions, but if you work for me, then you must learn to prioritize obeying my orders. Otherwise, you might very well affect our operations negatively. Right now we are companions traveling together, but if you join the Heavenly Dao Palace, you will be my subordinates... The two are completely different concepts. If you really think it through, come to me later. Understand?”

”Got it... I’ll give it some serious thought, sorry.”

Now completely calm, Walnut lowered her head, apologizing to Fang Zheng, then left with the other two.

Little Hei, meanwhile, watched the three leave with a cheeky grin, and then turned to Fang Zheng with interest.

”Hehehe, did Sister Walnut and the others come to you because you’re so handsome, Big Brother?”

”That goes without saying, but I hope to make them realize that one should not only look at the surface but also understand what’s inside... ”

”Big Brother...”

”Hmm?”

”Sometimes I find that you really can be quite shameless...”

”Thank you for the compliment.”

In the following days, the journey was smooth sailing.

Without the threat of zombies, the sea was unnaturally calm, but even so, it took Fang Zheng and his company a significant amount of time to reach Saga. One reason was that from Yokohama to Saga, taking a boat required a large detour, and also, along the way, Fang Zheng did not forget to broadcast on all channels searching for survivors. He thought that at least a few people should have survived in such a place, but now it seemed... there were no signs of survivors nearby.

Besides that, the journey remained calm, but as the group approached Saga and was about to dock, the situation changed.

According to Tina’s report, the detector identified traces of life activity at the Inland Sea port of Saga.

And... the newcomers bore ill intentions.

”Ill intentions?”

Looking at the image on his personal terminal, Fang Zheng’s lips curved slightly upward. The image showed, quite clearly, dozens of men dressed in bulletproof vests, fully armed, resembling special forces soldiers, holding weapons and hiding in the shadows. In the distance, near the lighthouse and other areas, there were even snipers and spotters with sniper rifles.

Although Fang Zheng did not know these men’s names or identities, the distinct red and white umbrella-like pattern on their coats revealed their affiliation.

Clearly, the Umbrella Corporation had come knocking on their door.

”It seems our broadcasting wasn’t in vain after all.”

Fang Zheng was not surprised that Umbrella had found them, considering that the previous broadcasts were on all channels. Moreover, he had learned from Rea, Kei Shidou, and Walnut that the Umbrella Corporation did indeed exist in this world. If this world’s Umbrella Corporation was indeed as he knew it to be, they would certainly not overlook them as ”survivors.”

Therefore, Fang Zheng’s earlier broadcasts were not only searching for survivors but also a bait.

Now it appeared that the Umbrella, this deep-sea big fish, had finally taken the bait.

Next... it was time to see exactly what they intended to do.

”Prepare to dock.”

Watching the dock grow closer, Fang Zheng flexed his hands.

”Get ready for battle, and let’s see what these welcoming local residents plan to do with us.”

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