Cyber Era Witch
Chapter 435 - 391: Funeral

Chapter 435: Chapter 391: Funeral

The Nestor Guard Squad escorted the Spiritual Fire northward to visit the Righteous Army while driving away various petty criminals.

There were no shuttle machines to take once they reached Xingping North Road, and 102 could only sit in the back of a large freight truck. 101 was secretly leading the way in front with her scouting orb, with only Lu Jing staying by 102’s side.

"What is that?" 102 pointed to a large black box inside the compartment.

"... Mireya." Lu Jing showed a helpless expression.

"Nestor Corporation has dealt with her at the port," 102 conversed with Lu Jing cautiously, so as not to reveal too much.

"Yes," Lu Jing said, "... we need to keep Mireya safely ’stored’ by our side."

Mireya’s ability to control minds with her gaze was terrifying, 102 fretted anxiously. Yet Heavenly Cardinal Manufacturing showed no intention of handling Mireya safely, instead taking her on the road. If she went berserk, many people could die, and if 102 were controlled by Mireya, it was hard to imagine the consequences.

"I’m scared," 102 said, "Mireya is very dangerous."

"She used to work at the Lighthouse Core," Lu Jing pressed her forehead, "Back then, she did many outrageous things, controlling people’s minds. That’s the vilest form of magic power, no, one could say, the most evil."

"Magic power is divided into good and evil?" 102 didn’t understand.

"There definitely is," Lu Jing sighed, "Justice, evil, these are the basic attributes of everything."

"Nah, I don’t believe that," 102 said.

"Once mind control is initiated, the victim will sink into degeneracy," Lu Jing looked into 102’s eyes, "This kind of magic power, once effective, is a sin in itself, depriving people of their free will, turning them into puppets. Isn’t that terrifying?"

"It’s terrifying..." 102 had to admit, "What about you then? Is your magic power ’Anti-Magic Power’?"

Lu Jing released her Anti-Magic Power, and a burst of colorful brilliance enveloped 102, making her feel weak and listless, almost to the point of passing out right there.

Seeing 102’s state, Lu Jing could not help but smile.

"Do you want to see Mireya’s current condition?" Lu Jing pointed at the large black box in the compartment, "Maybe she wants to see you too."

felt as if her magic circuit was being blocked, unable to sense even a hint of magic flowing through.

"Let’s wait, let’s wait..." 102 said with difficulty, "I feel so tired."

Lu Jing smiled and withdrew her Anti-Magic Power, allowing 102’s magic power to surge again, circulating around her.

Anti-Magic Power is truly potent. 102 felt uncomfortable, leaning against the compartment wall.

Mind control is an evil form of magic power, 102 thought. Then Anti-Magic Power must be even more wicked, turning witches into ordinary girls outright. What does that count as?

The military truck passed through the border military checkpoint and headed northward.

Looking out through the glass window at the rear of the compartment, after entering Xingping North Road, the landscape became even more desolate. The opulent cities, company buildings, and high-tech facilities 102 was accustomed to were all gone, leaving only vast stretches of untamed, rugged hills.

Turrets and bunkers stood like nails on strategically defensible ridges, concealed by complex rocks and trees.

The sky was overcast, and 102 saw the road signs beside the route, indicating that it was constructed under contract by the Silla Infrastructure Company. The cement two-lane road stretched northward like a solitary thread, becoming increasingly winding and twisted, quickly replaced on either side by the majestic mountains, taking the place of the wilderness.

"These mountains are immense," 102 exclaimed.

"The Yaoyin Mountain acts as a border separating the north and south of Silla," Lu Jing explained with a smile, "like a natural defensive barrier, giving space for the activities of the Righteous Army. Only after crossing this mountain can we see some villages on the plains."

lay at the back of the compartment, pressing her face against the glass, looking out. The wheels spun on the road, emitting a piercing screech, which became even sharper when the truck was going downhill.

As Lu Jing said, once the truck descended the slopes and emerged from the mountains, 102 could see the terrain flatten out, with dry paddies and agricultural towns scattered on both sides.

Many people worked in silence, most of them emaciated and pallid, which made 102’s heart flutter. She had grown accustomed to the easy-going life inside the Shijin Mansion; now, the aspects of war and poverty returned before her eyes, rendering her momentarily unable to adapt.

There were plenty of shops, shopping centers, and large parking lots around. Before the war, a city like this would have been bustling and prosperous, but now it was lifeless and stagnant.

saw soldiers from the Righteous Army. Compared to the guards of Yidu City, they only lacked riot helmets and were still patrolling the streets with loaded guns, vigilant against any potential threats.

The war in Silla had been raging for five years, 102 thought. Without external intervention, this war would endlessly drag on.

No wonder not only the people from Heavenly Cardinal Manufacturing wanted to come here, but Lila also hoped the Nestor Corporation would intervene in Silla. If they could push for unification here, a tide of new resources and opportunities would emerge. 102 began to ponder. The Silla Peninsula, bordering the Xia District, extended into the sea like a long spear aiming toward the Northern Archipelago Continent, its geopolitical value boundless.

stood looking down the street. The truck slowed down as it entered more densely populated areas, making it easy for 102 to observe the street scenes. Notices of energy rationing and resource distribution were everywhere. The traders’ stalls under the control of the Righteous Army had long lines of people waiting to receive nutrient paste and various colored drinks.

Decadent men and women whiled away their days drinking and smoking. They avoided the Righteous Army’s posts, dealing secretly in the alleyways, using bullets as currency, and expressing their emotions through graffiti, weaving their innermost desires with pink and deep purple paints.

"Peace!" Such words were spray-painted on the walls. She saw someone slashing their palm and pressing a blood-red palm print on it, then dipping a finger in blood and writing beside it, "There is bloodshed, but no peace."

These small towns were all messy, starkly different from the clean Yidu City. 102 watched silently, repeatedly telling herself not to look any more, but she still firmly recorded everything in Silla with her eyes, capturing the prosperity and desolation.

The truck arrived at the headquarters of the Righteous Army on the Xingping North Road, a place called Xin City.

The Yiliu River was the mother river of the Silla People, and Xin City stood on its southern bank. The truck took a turn and didn’t enter the city, but instead headed to the riverside in the outskirts, where a funeral was being held, the atmosphere chilly.

"Get off," ordered Spiritual Fire, and so 102, clutching her gunlance, pushed open the door and jumped out, breathing in the cold, crisp air. Beside her were about twenty or so soldiers from the Righteous Army. She passed by them and approached the funeral itself. They had dug an unusually large pit in the ground to bury Wei Shiyue, surrounded by mourning paraphernalia to embody the people’s remembrance for the dearly beloved White Dragon.

The silvery white dragon’s body was buried in the soil; they were halfway through covering it. 102 could still see Wei Shiyue’s closed wings and stiff claws. In life, its image had been that of strength and beauty, but now it seemed so withered, and at its wounds, one could still see the dark red blood.

The legendary "Moonlight Princess" had died in the civil war of Silla, and 102 didn’t know how hard her heart needed to be to bear witness to this scene directly.

"...I’m here to convey Ms. Lu’s condolences," said Spiritual Fire, walking toward the Righteous Army’s senior officers conducting the funeral.

"Forgive us for not welcoming you from afar!" The leader of the Righteous Army, Anberly, stepped out from under the cypress trees and spoke to the Jade Automaton, Spiritual Fire.

noticed that Anberly was an old man, at least fifty years old, his face creased with wrinkles. The long war must have drained his vitality, and now Wei Shiyue had died at the hands of Modern Entertainment.

"How is the war progressing?" inquired Spiritual Fire, "Now that Miss Wei Shiyue has..."

Anberly looked toward the great Dragon Tomb.

"...This is our most grievous loss," Anberly sighed, "We must avenge her... We must fight resolutely, to achieve the unification of Silla. We have the determination to fight, hoping that Ms. Lu can provide some prompt help. The support of Heavenly Cardinal Manufacturing can greatly alleviate our urgent needs."

"I will convey that," nodded Spiritual Fire.

After the polite small talk, they parted ways, and Spiritual Fire walked towards Xin City.

"We will stay at the hotel inside," Spiritual Fire said to 102.

"What kind of person is Anberly, the current leader of the Righteous Army?" asked 102.

Spiritual Fire looked at Anberly standing on the high ground, looking especially weather-beaten in the wind.

"He’s an anti-corporate activist," said Spiritual Fire, "He’s been organizing the Rebel Army in the Xingping North Road for over thirty years. Their power only grew several folds after the powerful Wei Shiyue started fighting for them, enabling them to stand up to Modern Entertainment."

"But Wei Shiyue is dead," 102 said softly, "doesn’t that mean Modern Entertainment will win the war? Who will Heavenly Cardinal Manufacturing help?"

As 102 said this, she knew the answer herself. Heavenly Cardinal Manufacturing would certainly lean towards helping Modern Entertainment, another major corporation, at the very least.

"It’s complicated," said Spiritual Fire, "We’re here mainly because Ms. Lu had an interesting idea, but now there’s no chance to test that idea. Well... at least it’s proven that Wei Shiyue was indeed a dragon, a dead dragon."

nodded gently. The situation in Silla was far more complex than she had imagined when coming here. She could only hope that after conveying the message back, the wiser ones—Xu Yang, Lila, and Lady Farosa—would make the right decisions.