Chapter 597.1: New Event, Extinguishing The Torch Church!

Dusk slowly descended over the muddy, pitch-black wilderness, and the dark of night gradually cloaked the land drenched in blood.

The sound of guns and cannons had already faded for some time.

Yet the gray fog shrouding the area still refused to disperse. Its reach spread even farther, from Kong Lingkai’s farm out toward the forest north of Hope Town.

Near the south gate, where the barricades had only just been removed, standing by the muddy road, Ma Hechang kept staring toward Pinecone Ranch, murmuring once again under his breath. “Chosen one above...”

In the past, he had sometimes been able to hear the chosen one’s voice.

But since the fog rolled in, for some reason, he heard nothing.

Fear gnawed at him, and he couldn’t help recalling Pastor Wei’s words.

Perhaps...

The chosen one truly was angry.

Just as his eyes strained toward the distance, three men approached at the end of the road. Leading them was the master of the neighboring farm, Kong Lingkai.

When he saw it wasn’t the hunter he sent out, disappointment flashed across Ma Hechang’s face.

Before he could exchange pleasantries, the usually haughty Kong Lingkai, who always looked down his nose at people, hurriedly spoke first. “What the hell is going on? Why’s there such a thick fog?”

Normally, Ma Hechang wouldn’t have bothered to answer, but with the fog showing no sign of clearing by nightfall, an uneasy feeling had taken hold of him.

Kong Lingkai had thought about asking Wei Ming in town, but running into Mayor Ma, he instinctively suspected those people were hiding something again.

On another day, Ma Hechang might have spoken politely. But that night, he had no patience. “How should I know? If heaven wants fog, it ain’t my business to manage it.”

Kong Lingkai’s expression stiffened. He disliked the man’s tone but had no real retort, so he bit his lip and changed the subject bitterly. “This fog reeks of something foul... I told you from the start we shouldn’t deal with those northerners. Ever since they came, one strange thing after another arrived!”

Ma Hechang curled his lip. If they hadn’t dealt with those northerners, those green-skinned monsters would’ve long since dragged the farm owner’s pretty wives and daughters off to breed.

Of course, he would have been no different.

“Enough. Talking’s pointless. I already sent someone to scout Pinecone Ranch. We’ll talk when he’s back.”

Just then, a horse galloped up. Liu Youxiong returned.

He had meant to rush into town, but seeing the mayor waiting at the gate startled him. He yanked the reins, leapt down, and bowed hastily. “My lord!”

Ma Hechang fixed him with a blank stare and asked, “What’s the situation at Pinecone Ranch?”

“I didn’t go inside, just took a look from outside. It felt...” Liu Youxiong began, but the mayor impatiently cut him off.

“Felt what? Get to the point!”

“Y-yes!” Liu Youxiong stammered nervously.

“It’s dead quiet. Not a soul working outside the walls. At the gate there are no guards and the inn beside it is empty... It’s like it’s haunted. I didn’t dare linger. With night coming, I hurried back.”

Ma Hechang’s heart sank. He was about to press for more when Kong Lingkai jumped in anxiously. “Gone? Where did the people go?”

“I-I don’t know,” Liu Youxiong said bitterly. Then something occurred to him. “Oh! On the way, I saw a band of Mutant Humans, about a thousand of them, fighting the New Alliance...”

Kong Lingkai quickly demanded, “How do you know they were from the New Alliance?”

Liu Youxiong gulped. “I could tell by their exoskeletons at a glance.”

Ma Hechang frowned. “Who won?”

“Of course the New Alliance!” Liu Youxiong said quickly. “It wasn’t even close... I saw the airship fire several salvos right into the Mutant Humans. The whole plain was churned like plowed earth. The few that survived were finished off soon after!”

Ma Hechang drew a sharp breath. At last he understood the thunder and tremors from earlier.

Beside him, Kong Lingkai and his two servants exchanged looks of confusion and shock.

From the hunter’s description, the New Alliance’s power was far beyond theirs.

Seeing the two leaders fall silent, Liu Youxiong dared not speak further. He simply stood quietly.

At last, Kong Lingkai coughed and addressed Ma Hechang. “The Torch Church is in danger now... If we aid them, it would be a meritorious deed. I suggest we hold a council to discuss how to respond to the northern threat.”

“Stop dreaming.” Ma Hechang cut him off bluntly, rolling his eyes.

“The Torch Church is finished. If there’s a council, it’ll be to discuss how to deal with the new masters here.”

Kong Lingkai bristled in outrage. “You, you would betray the chosen one!”

Ma Hechang sneered. “Oh, come on. Do you even believe in that nonsense? I’ll be honest, it was business. We bought his protection, and in return we enshrined him here. If he can’t protect us, drop the pretense.”

He gave the farm owner a pointed look. “I hear the New Alliance bans slave trading. You had best prepare yourself.”

Kong Lingkai’s face turned ashen.

Ignoring him, Ma Hechang returned to town. But instead of calling for everyone, he went first to the church.

There were things that needed clarity.

He pushed open the door, calling for Pastor Wei. To no surprise, he received no reply. Circling to the back yard, he looked up, and froze.

There, hanging from the willow tree, was a man.

Clothes neat, head tilted, eyes closed. His face was peaceful, without the slightest sign of pain.

Ma Hechang gawked, then recoiled in horror, stumbling back onto the ground. “Old... Old Wei?! Pastor Wei?!”

He called twice instinctively, but the man had been gone for some time already. There would be no answer.

Ma Hechang’s lips trembled, words failing him. For a long time he just sat there on the ground in a daze.

𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

Dead...

The Archbishop’s appointed pastor, the only man in town who could speak to that man was dead!

Just like that?!

...

Official Website.

[Event:

Operation Extinguishing The Torch Church

]

[Description:

The cultists of the Torch Church have spread their vile creed everywhere! Death and plague crawl across the Brocade River Province. The flames of annihilation consume all they touch. 800 kilometers is nothing to us.

]

[

This is not just our crisis. It is the crisis of the entire wasteland. Before facing the Tide, there is a greater threat to address!

]

[Content:

Raid the Na Fruit Hive in the underground labs of Champion Biopharmaceutical Research Institute! Join from the Heart of Steel or any settlement nearby to participate!

]

[Killing a Mutant Human:

At least 10 points

]

[Kill a Mechanically Augmented Mutant Human:

At least 50 points

]

[Redeem points for event gear:

Howlers, K-10 Iron Wall exoskeletons, Boulder Town Arms Industry modifications, and more!

]

[Exchange points for support:

155mm artillery bombardment, Tempest rockets, helicopter evacuation, airdrop crates, 400mm heavy rockets, or tactical nukes!

]

[Requirements:

LV10 players may create parties to take part. Players LV3+ may apply to join. Players on the Passing the Torch mission gain +20% points if in the same party with their mentor/student.

]

[Rewards:

After the event, leftover points can be redeemed for loot boxes, limited titles, and mysterious grand prizes!

]

[

All final rights reserved by Shelter 404!

]

Tail: ???

Quit Smoking: WTF?!

Quit Bullshit: Brothers! Content drop!! (voice crack)

Makka Pakka: You’re a fisher, what are you yelling for?

Garbage: Clock in, clock in, Um... log in, log in!

Silver's Father: Recruiting! Silver Corps are online now! Newbies with mentor quests welcome, veterans will carry you to the frontlines! Get those kills!

Elf Wang: Any newbie squads? Those who already know how to shoot preferred! (￣▽￣)

Piggy Shrimp: Me me me, I can shoot!

Helicopter Shooke: Does pistol count?

Toy Car Beta: How about driving an armored vehicle?

Escaping Mole: PM me!!!

Helicopter Shooke: PM sent bro!

Escaping Mole: Not you, the guy who can drive!

Helicopter Shooke: Damn! I can drive! QAQ

Night Ten: Holy crap! Our quest became an event!

Within a minute of the post, the forum exploded.

...