Cyber Era Witch
Chapter 409 - 369 Hostage

Chapter 409: Chapter 369 Hostage

The port area was under martial law.

Lila sent a small squad of Defense Army soldiers to reconnoiter for intelligence, but they were instantly controlled, turned into puppets devoid of free will, step by step they advanced toward the death ship, boarding the vessel, and vanished without a trace.

Xu Yang attempted to connect to the Haiyun’s network module.

He found a usable access point and discovered that the security coefficient of this cargo ship was sufficiently high, using the "Si Nan" system from Heavenly Cardinal Manufacturing, connected to its dedicated communication satellite. When he cracked the encryption key and tried to intrude on the ship’s control center, he realized someone was maintaining and changing the keys, forcing Xu Yang to double his efforts.

There are hostile cyber security personnel, Xu Yang thought to himself. They came prepared.

While maintaining his hack, he continued to discuss countermeasures and exchange intelligence.

"When I was scouting earlier, I captured many apocalyptic visions, identifiable as information viruses," Lila said, she then described to Farosa those terrifying scenarios, including a burning world, boiling oceans, white-robed skeletal knights riding across the land, and angels wielding the Holy Grail and Flaming Divine Sword.

"The methods of Dilnai," Farosa said, "I’ve read ancient texts and found that her cult has enjoyed doing such things since a thousand years ago, propagating an unreachable Paradise, and then setting up a terrifying apocalyptic hell, demanding unquestionable loyalty to Dilnai to differentiate followers from enemies. Fascinating, that’s the power of faith, rewarding the good and punishing the wicked, the faithful believers trust to their deaths that their efforts made that fictitious heavenly realm a bit closer, while the rebellious are killed on the spot, neither side able to prove whether Heaven or hell even exists."

"So this ship has been captured by Dilnai’s forces," Xu Yang concluded, "Mind control also resembles Mireya’s methods."

Mireya was initially dispatched by the Lighthouse Core, and when Mireya was handed over to Heavenly Cardinal Manufacturing, it indeed incurred related retaliation. Xu Yang pondered silently. The Haiyun had been intercepted by Dilnai’s subordinates, and the retaliation came so swiftly.

"Dilnai..." Farosa murmured.

With this development, she must be ready for a decisive strike against the enemy. She thought to herself. You can’t be careless when contending with Dilnai, the strongest level of Ancient Mystics, even if it’s just a corner of her vast power, no slackening is permissible.

Farosa silently deduced and calculated, piecing together different threads.

So that’s it.

Farosa came to a realization; this was a probe, Dilnai must have surmised or foreseen the fact of Farosa becoming the Witch Goddess, so she dispatched this death ship to investigate how far Farosa’s abilities had extended. The games between nearly godlike beings require thorough calculations and caution.

"There’s one of Dilnai’s angels on the death ship, and Mireya," Farosa conjectured, "That’s why you encountered those chaotic omens set by the angels; Mireya is here to control the crowd, using them as hostages or some sort of ceremonial puppets, further tying our hands, preventing us from acting rashly."

"The attitude of Heavenly Cardinal Manufacturing is key," Lila said, "If they give us permission, we could destroy the Haiyun at any time with force. But if they consider this ship critically important, we will hesitate to take action."

"The worst part is," Xu Yang mused, "if Heavenly Cardinal Manufacturing wants to send their own forces to deal with it, denying us any hand in the Haiyun’s control, resolving this matter will be delayed for ten days or a half month. If the entire port is paralyzed for that long, it’s all over."

Not to mention the orders from other corporations, even Nestor Corporation’s own goods will have to be rerouted through Shangjing’s exports, which would significantly increase the costs, and they would also need to reapply for certificates with Shangjing Port Shipping Company, a myriad of troubles.

The death ship’s situation must be resolved quickly.

"We also have to look after the Chainsaw Angel," Farosa said, "Chainsaw Angel will definitely be subject to Dilnai’s heart-attack tactics, and we can’t let her turn against us at this critical moment, it’s best to kill her or capture her."

"Dispatch members of the Witch Division to find her," Xu Yang arranged.

Just then, Heavenly Cardinal Manufacturing sent an intercontinental video communication invite.

"It’s not from the Shangjing Branch, the communication is coming from Xia Headquarters," Lila said.

"Heavenly Cardinal Manufacturing headquarters stepping in... Let’s step back for a moment," Xu Yang and Farosa receded into the background, leaving Lila to face them.

Lila prepared herself and then connected with the person in charge from Heavenly Cardinal Manufacturing.

After confirming the communication key, the smart screen lit up with the real-time image of a woman.

The woman appeared dignified and serious, with delicate features, black hair coiled up, and a cold temperament, like a humanoid machine, around 25 years old, dressed in shiny black formal wear.

Lu Sizhou! Xu Yang recognized her. She was the daughter of Lu Shibo, the chairman of Heavenly Cardinal Manufacturing, and also the heiress of this colossal enterprise from Xia.

With Kyushu High Pavilion being so close to Heavenly Cardinal Manufacturing, there was frequent contact, and Xu Yang was well aware of Lu Sizhou’s decisive and cold nature, with extremely efficient execution ability, undoubtedly running Heavenly Cardinal Manufacturing in an orderly manner.

If Lu Sizhou personally intervened with the Haiyun, then there was indeed hope. Xu Yang thought to himself. Her courage, ambition, and influence within the company were all top-notch.

Lila checked Lu Sizhou’s information and also realized her extremely high position within the Heavenly Cardinal Manufacturing system.

"We..." Lila had just started speaking when she was interrupted by Lu Sizhou.

"It’s been noted that the Haiyun veered off course and reached Anjiu City Port. The Damage Control Force has been dispatched," Lu Sizhou said, "I hope your company will not act recklessly, and preserve the Haiyun to the greatest extent. No matter what situation you encounter, maintain restraint."

"According to our investigation, the ship has been hijacked," Lila said, "Please share relevant intelligence so that we can handle the situation."

"I have nothing to tell you," Lu Sizhou said coldly, "The Damage Control Force will arrive in 6 hours. During this time, any encroachment or infringement by your company upon the Haiyun will be seen as a provocation to Heavenly Cardinal Manufacturing."

The dignity of a giant corporation is not to be offended.

"...We have no intention of harming the Haiyun, but the hijackers will carry out an attack on Anjiu City to some extent," Lila replied with neither servility nor overbearance, "As we have become a security partner of Anjiu City, according to the contract, we will neutralize the ship, aiming to return Anjiu City Port to peace and stability as soon as possible to facilitate traffic and trade."

"The Haiyun is still the property of Heavenly Cardinal Manufacturing," Lu Sizhou stressed, "It can only be dealt with by Heavenly Cardinal Manufacturing’s Damage Control Force."

Why such an intense reaction? Xu Yang thought silently. Heavenly Cardinal Manufacturing was the victim of the robbery, and they should cooperate to resolve the Haiyun crisis.

That’s it.

The Haiyun was a cargo ship and might be transporting some extremely important and top-secret item.

Although the entire ship was hijacked, Heavenly Cardinal Manufacturing didn’t want to reveal the secrets within the cargo hold and preferred to handle everything themselves to prevent the situation from spiraling out of control.

This now became a three-way conundrum.

Nestor Corporation needed to neutralize the Haiyun as quickly as possible to prevent it from blocking the port. Sea transport was the lifeline of Anjiu City, and if it was blocked, the city’s resources would gradually be depleted.

Dilnai powers had seized the Haiyun and likely captured Mireya, who was initially sent back to Heavenly Cardinal Manufacturing. This operation was meant to cause trouble for Farosa, no doubt bringing plentiful resources, personnel, and various methods.

As for Heavenly Cardinal Manufacturing, for some reason, they were determined to protect the Haiyun at all costs and refused Nestor Corporation’s interference, insisting on handling it themselves with their Damage Control Force.

"Received," Lila said, "We will do everything necessary without harming the Haiyun as much as possible."

"The hijackers are powerful," Lu Sizhou said, "capable of defeating six accompanying escort ships by themselves. Please understand that only the professional Damage Control Force of Heavenly Cardinal Manufacturing can subdue the hijackers and minimize the damage to Anjiu City. If your company is seriously considering minimizing the impact of the situation, you must exercise the utmost restraint."

"...We will eliminate the hijackers, clear the ship of criminals, and return the Haiyun intact to Heavenly Cardinal Manufacturing," Lila replied calmly, "Just as we stated from the start, we will neutralize the Haiyun, and very likely, we will resolve this independently before your Damage Control Force arrives."

"I appreciate Nestor Corporation’s attitude," Lu Sizhou said, "In six hours, our Damage Control Force will proceed to the site for preservation work. Regardless of the progress made by your so-called ’neutralization operations,’ we will bring an end to the incident and take back the Haiyun to Heavenly Cardinal Manufacturing."

With that, the communication ended.

"What an imperious woman," Farosa said with a chuckle, clapping her hands, "Then, we’ll just clean out the Haiyun from the inside out before their so-called Damage Control Force arrives, take everything we want, kill everyone we dislike, recover everything we can use, and return it spotless."

"Considering Lu Sizhou’s position in Heavenly Cardinal Manufacturing, her stance is now clear as well... the Haiyun must not be lost. Fortunately, we have the Law of Recovery, so no matter how it’s damaged, it won’t matter," Xu Yang nodded slowly, "Clean up this dead ship before dawn, and don’t alarm the citizens."

Just then, a message came through from the Haiyun.

Xu Yang and Farosa exchanged glances and played it.

A lively yet cruel voice came through.

"Oh... Farosa, my master is quite willing to take you under our control, to make you into a vibrant Angel. She’s also willing to generously give you a chance to mend your ways. Come, Farosa, arrive at the port, hand over the Fragment of the Throne of God, and then we will leave. Otherwise, we will start attacking the city immediately, until we turn every inch of territory into scorched earth."

A vast golden light suddenly rose from the port, lighting up every corner of the city as if it were daylight.

As they looked out from the floor-to-ceiling windows of the grand office, they saw a resplendent Angelic hologram rise above the Haiyun, holding aloft a burning sword. One by one, the citizens were awakened from their sleep, and in their shattered dreams, the last sight they saw was the collapse of the entire world.