Great! I'm surrounded by villains!
Chapter 202 - 122: Mingyuan Eliminates Three Evils

Chapter 202: Chapter 122: Mingyuan Eliminates Three Evils

This was Duan Mingyuan and his team’s last day on the ship.

In a mere three days, the whole ship had undergone earth-shattering changes.

Hei Misa submitted her resignation to the headquarters; she had encountered the Cosmic Relations Coordination Department’s Cai Hui by chance on the ship and learned from her about the existence of mysterious red crystal energy on the distant Red Star. Hei Misa decided to set off at that moment, accompanied by Cai Hui, to initiate an investigation on Red Star.

She believed that someday she would be able to perfect the method of energy transformation and vastly promote the enlightenment of the Sun King within the Ashen Church.

Inspired by Jiuyue, the executive chef also found a new life goal. He decided to leave the flagship temporarily to embark on the path of a culinary seeker, with his first objective being to obtain the certificate of a master chef on the highly competitive Blue Star.

As a chef, he had been marking time for too long; it was time to set aside his identity as a Professional Believer for now.

Of course, realizing this wish would require a bit of help.

Such as enlisting Duan Mingyuan and others to take him off the flagship in his wheelchair-bound, mummified state or he would have a hard time leaving the flagship on his own.

Hence, Duan Mingyuan’s team expanded from the initial four to five people.

And with less than three hours to spare before leaving the flagship, Duan Mingyuan found out about Baptism’s past in a book in the library.

It was the only book unrelated to the Ashen Church or the Sun.

The book, titled "The Distance of Light," recounted a planet that had been destroyed after a "Cocoon" transformation. When the rescue teams from the Ashen Consortium arrived, they managed to save only a handful of survivors, one of whom was Baptism.

Aphasia was a post-traumatic stress disorder she developed after witnessing the destruction of her planet and the death of her family members.

Aside from the descriptions of the Gleam Star, the book also contained some photographs and a diagnosis released by doctors from the Ashen Consortium.

It seemed that Baptism had stored all of her past in this book.

Her childhood was spent in the welfare institute of the Consortium, an organization consistently dedicated to dispatching rescue fleets to various star systems. They are the force that deals with "Cocooned" planets the most.

The welfare institute was filled with children like Baptism. Most of the photos in the book were taken in the Consortium’s welfare institutes, seemingly after she had become an Inspector, surrounded by children with expressionless faces, looking slightly happy while trying hard not to show it.

This was a childhood Duan Mingyuan had never experienced and could hardly imagine.

After all, the Blue Star he lived on, though full of evil spirits, had never suffered a disaster that swept across the entire planet. He could hardly imagine the scene where the entire planet crumbled into ash within an unknown halo and his kin dissolved into dust along with it.

Duan Mingyuan also understood the reason behind Baptism’s "stubbornness."

The Ashen Consortium indeed had many aspects that were unsettling, but for Baptism, they were the ones who rescued her from a planet on the brink of destruction and granted her the identity of an Inspector, starting from nothing.

"Your trial is complete."

The voice of the eyeball robot came from behind. Baptism, as always, maintained her characteristic of being soundless in her comings and goings, which was also consistent with the description of the Gleam Tribe in "The Distance of Light."

This was a tribe that could draw Strength from the power of light. A unique crystal enveloped the outer layer of Gleam Star, and when sunlight refracted through this crystal, a rare form of Light Energy was created. Baptism’s people could draw Strength from this Light Energy, and the stronger members of the tribe could turn their bodies into streaming light, traveling freely in the world.

The universe’s wandering poet who authored this book believed they were the most free beings in the cosmos.

No doubt, the poet could never have dreamed that ten years after publishing this work, this peculiar Light Energy would become the culprit behind the annihilation of an entire planet, and those free beings who could merge themselves with Light Energy would forever lose themselves in streaming light.

"It seems I was too quick to judge."

Duan Mingyuan closed the book, realizing that Baptism was much stronger than he had imagined.

Even faced with the real Das-Vida, she would certainly not be at a disadvantage.

With this realization, he was completely at ease.

"This, for you."

Baptism had no intention of approaching personally, so the gift was delivered by a small eye robot floating in front of Duan Mingyuan. Atop its head were two disc-shaped Sun Emblems with gold trim, and in the center of the sun was a dazzling gemstone.

Duan Mingyuan had seen this object in a certain book—it was the sigil of a Consortium Inspector, a gift only a few lucky individuals could receive from them. This sigil could help them solve many troubles within the company’s sphere of influence.

It was a gift for both book and music lovers.

"Please give the other one to the Elder Princess on my behalf."

The eye robot spoke for Baptism.

Although their time together was brief, it left her with some pleasant memories, the best of which was the departure of the overzealous executive chef, an unexpected boon that exceeded Baptism’s expectations. She no longer had to face the damp, tasteless vegetables every time she entered the cafeteria.

She gladly accepted the resignation of Hei Misa and the executive chef, and considering the incompetent and furious liaison at the headquarters, Duan Mingyuan’s group had removed three nuisances for her in one fell swoop.

However, the Archbishop was destined to be disappointed.

Old Duan’s stance was very clear, he had no interest in taking up the new position, and for someone like him, unless he willing, no methods of coercion or inducement were likely to be effective.

The trials for Duan Mingyuan and his companions were drawing to an end, which also meant the end of her field assignment.

Baptism was in high spirits.

After sending the personnel from the Cosmic Relations Coordination Department back to their headquarters, she would be free to navigate through the cosmos once again.

"I’ll make sure to pass it on."

Duan Mingyuan accepted the valuable gift, each sigil bearing their identity.

"Gift: Elder Princess Ning Ruyue."

That was one of them.

The other gleaming gem with the reflection of Scorching Sun Energy revealed another name that shook the cosmos.

"Gift: Mr. Das-Vida."

Although Duan Mingyuan was grateful for Baptism’s intention and found the past three days to be an unforgettable journey that altered his impression of the company somewhat,

he felt it necessary to clarify something, "I’m not called Das-Vida. Yesterday was just a metaphor, my name is Duan Mingyuan."

He had read in the book that every sigil given by an inspector was bound to an individual’s identity, such as when the Elder Princess would have to report her name as Ning Ruyue to the company while using the sigil.

Duan Mingyuan thought if he reported the name Das-Vida while using the sigil, it would certainly cause unnecessary commotion.

"Okay, Mr. Vida."

"Don’t call me Mr. Vida."

"No!"

The eye robot said.

Baptism also playfully winked at him, a rare expression of youth on her face.

She manipulated the eye robot, making a final farewell. "If you ever pass through the Holy City, make sure to find me. I can show you around the Holy City."