Cyber Era Witch
Chapter 470 - 420 Unveiling the Curtain

Chapter 470: Chapter 420 Unveiling the Curtain

"Yes," Pan Ruiyi suddenly realized, "if we drag Suzukawa Kiyo out for a public display, the problem would be solved."

"Such a method would be the most powerful," Wei Shiyue spoke coldly, "An idol, after all, is supposed to live a life beyond the imagination of ordinary people, doing things they can’t do. Only then do they deserve the infinite adoration of fans. Compared to the splendid existence of an idol, ordinary people are merely ’living’ their lives. But a virtual idol? Peel back one layer, and they are just ordinary people too."

Expose the real Suzukawa Kiyo? Perhaps it could have some effect. Xu Yang thought to himself. Virtual idols, presenting themselves through two-dimensional persona, maintain a sense of virtuality and mystery between them and their fans, shielding from reality, allowing the fans to immerse themselves in the emotional value provided by the virtual idols.

If that veil were to be pierced, the fans would realize that the idols they fantasized about were just ordinary people they could encounter anywhere, and they might even have various flaws.

Once caught in this cognitive dissonance, a vague sense of rejection would naturally arise. Watching live streams of the virtual idol thereafter, one would inevitably find them contrived and tasteless, devoid of the pure joy found in the illusion under the purely virtual atmosphere.

In and out of the brain, it happens in the blink of an eye.

But for Suzukawa Kiyo, the situation was particularly complex. This group of Suzukawa Army willing to enter the sewers to become Crystal People were undoubtedly of chaotic and maniacal disposition. Their violent assaults these past few days also showed their ferocious nature; there was no reasoning with them.

Furthermore, the true identities of many virtual idols had been uncovered before, causing some peripheral fans to stop following them while also refining the remaining fans into true diehards, making the virtual idols themselves more invincible. It was clear that the effect of such a tactic was limited.

"The situation in the sewers is very complicated," Xu Yang explained, "We need to prepare properly, first figure out what the situation underground is like, then send in people to investigate."

"Venture into the depths?" Pan Ruiyi muttered to herself, "It’s terrifying. I always feel like we’ll encounter something particularly horrifying..."

Pan Ruiyi did not like venturing into the dark depths.

"I am not going," Wei Shiyue declared, accustomed to being active under the open sky rather than delving deep into the earth, "But rest assured, if you need Moonlight Flame, I will provide as much as you want."

"We should prepare well," Xu Yang nodded.

Nestor Corporation and Shangjing United Security Company reached a preliminary understanding on cooperation, but the lack of mutual trust prevented them from forming a joint force to go underground. They could only act separately, each seeking their own way to resolve the Crystal People crisis.

Xu Yang took it upon himself to collect topographic maps of the underground areas in Shangjing from various channels, searching for ways to solve the Crystal People problem.

Time passed, and the disaster of the Crystal People gradually affected the lives of every resident of Shangjing, as a "wall of flesh" spread beneath the ground.

In early February, a subway train traveling through an underground tunnel collided with a shocking wall of flesh, severely damaging the front of the train and bringing the line to a halt. Similar secondary disasters kept occurring, as if the underground of Shangjing was filled with such spreading abscesses.

The residents’ drinking water was contaminated too. Once they turned on the tap, what came out was not clear water but an eerie liquid almost like blood, intertwined with fine meat tumors the size of soybeans.

This made the Shangjing Waterworks Company frantic since the entire underground water body was polluted. No matter how many purification processes were applied, the residue couldn’t be eliminated. They had to urgently put seawater desalination projects into production, but this was only a drop in the bucket.

Similarly, the electrical cables, fiber optic cables, and gas pipelines buried deep underground were damaged by the Crystal People. Maintenance crews tried to go underground and were attacked by Crystal People; they were either killed or taken hostage. Survivors vanished without a trace, probably assimilated into part of the Crystal People.

In the dead of night, citizens picked up strange Soundwaves, their sounds thick and hazy. Only after restoring the audio quality could they hear the chanting of the Crystal People.

"— Our most revered Suzukawa Kiyo-sama... arise from the giant cocoon. Accept our adoration and descend before us—"

With so many Crystal People stirring underground, Shangjing became uninhabitable.

Du Qianqian got a cup of blood instead of water in the middle of the night, babbling in fright until she was calmed somewhat after being carried away by Wei Shiyue.

Therefore, Xu Yang led everyone back to Anjiu City first to form an expedition team, determined to thoroughly eliminate the threat brought by Suzukawa Kiyo and the Crystal Legion.

"The Crystal Army active underground has become a huge worry for the citizens of Shangjing City," Xu Yang used software to model the approximate situation of the underground area, with underground lines, caves, and Rat Paths forming a complex composition, and the terrain was intricate, "Nestor Corporation has already signed a contract to intervene in the Crystal threat. Hence, we need to assemble a neat and capable team to explore the core of the underground, so we can secure the contract payment and avoid breach penalties."

When the Corporate Alliance previously explored the source of the Rat Tide, they discovered large hollows where the Ratman leaders dwelled, known as "Zero Hub," a particularly large underground limestone cave located 850 meters below ground.

Time changed, and the path to Zero Hub was altered several times, but still traceable.

Ten years ago, in order to explore the ecology of the underground Ratmen, a detection agency drilled a small tunnel almost to the vicinity of Zero Hub, which was abandoned due to Ratman harassment, but it left behind a strangely-shaped tunnel that could be used to enter. At the end of the tunnel was a light-duty vehicle maintenance station, previously used by science teams to collect some data reports about the Ratmen, but the site had been deserted,

As long as we make it through the tunnel to the maintenance station and then blast through the rock layer, we should be able to reach the Zero Hub.

"Oh..." the witches understood their destination.

"Since its establishment, Nestor Corporation has secured a firm foothold in Anjiu City," Lila pointed out, "but our ambitions do not end there. If we enter the Zero Hub and overcome the Crystal People crisis, we will not only gain the recognition of the citizens of Shangjing City but also win the trust of many citizens of the Northern Archipelago, thus laying the groundwork for public support for more extensive expansion in the future."

"All those crystals are magical materials." Farosa reminded, "If you get hold of Fine Dust and Crystal Fragments, make sure to bring them back to me."

"Understood!"

Thus, a Nestor Special Task Force was formed, specifically for exploring the Zero Hub, searching for the main body of Suzukawa Kiyo, and defeating the Crystal Legion.

Team Leader: Pan Ruiyi (Dominator; Close Combat Specialization, carrying the Jewel Star-Chasing Spear. A former member of the Riot Control Mobile Unit, an incomparable Battle Witch. Responsible for combat)

Vice Team Leader: Zhang Yunxi (High-Ranking; Replication Magic; equipped with Precision Marksman Rifle and standard War Spear. Pan Ruiyi’s deputy and long-term combat partner with vast experience. Responsible for command)

Battle Witch: 101 (High-Ranking; Instantaneous Movement; equipped with the Jewel Farsight Orb and a lightweight rifle; Child of Phantom Light; responsible for rapid transfer)

Battle Witch: 102 (High-Ranking; Limb Strengthening; carrying the Jewel Short Spear; Child of Phantom Light; responsible for combat)

Battle Witch: Shallow Dream (Lower Rank; Time Stop; equipped with Twin Star Rings and a small caliber sniper rifle; an experimental witch, in charge of combat)

Additionally, there were three Ratman Sentinels responsible for exploring the Rat Paths beneath Shangjing, and twenty armed Synthetic Humans, "Elite Soldiers," responsible for providing fire support, forming a lean team of nearly thirty.

Due to the ineffectiveness of Mizuiro Yoshioka’s ink against the Crystal People, she did not participate in the battle.

Du Qianqian’s disguise was also ineffective because she had never seen the main body of Suzukawa Kiyo; the walls of flesh and cysts appeared not to be part of Suzukawa Kiyo herself, offering little help to the entire operation.

"This is the kindling of the Moonlight Flame. Use it in times of need." Wei Shiyue left her Moonlight Flame in a box, handing it to Pan Ruiyi, "You can use it about four times."

"Great, with this, we won’t be afraid of how many Crystal People there are." Pan Ruiyi nodded, but she was still a little worried about the deep underground, afraid of encountering some strange creatures and the labyrinthine darkness that made her nervous.

"Fight joyfully," encouraged Wei Shiyue.

Joyful? Not at all, Pan Ruiyi thought to herself.

Just the thought of going to such a deep place made her shiver. Anxious, Pan Ruiyi eventually found Xu Yang.

"When I’m down there," Pan Ruiyi requested, "can you keep talking to me through the earpiece?"

"The depths are far, and eventually communication will be lost," Xu Yang said, "but rest assured, I will keep encouraging you until the signal is gone."

"That’s good." Pan Ruiyi breathed a sigh of relief.

Xu Yang suddenly recalled a past incident; Pan Ruiyi once encountered danger on Nangong Island, trapped in a deep cave within the mountain for many days. Perhaps it was that experience that gave Pan Ruiyi a fear of underground structures.

"If you feel nervous," Xu Yang said, "we can try a different method."

"No need, I can handle it." Pan Ruiyi nodded firmly, "It’s just the Crystal People underground, which can be easily dealt with! But you have to keep talking non-stop. If once again I can’t hear human voices deep underground, I really don’t know what I’d do."

"Understood," Xu Yang acknowledged, "...I’ll keep talking to you until we lose the connection."

The real battle was about to begin, and with a resolute attitude, Pan Ruiyi fully armed herself and led the members of the Nestor Special Task Force. They prepared to break into the depths of the earth through an entrance drilled by the exploration company,

"Target confirmed." Lila released her sensing magic and faintly detected a strong source of power located in the general direction of the Zero Hub, "Action approved."

We must defeat the Crystal People and restore peace to Shangjing!