Apocalyptic Forecast - Chapter 54

Chapter 54: Faust (Part 1)

In the quiet study, Ai Qing was gazing at the phone on the table silently. The light that rose from the screen interweaved into an invisible screen in the air, revealing a man with a stiff expression who was sitting at a workstation.

She said, “I want to check the progress of the report I submitted.”

After a moment of silence, the stiff-looking clerk moved his gaze away from the screen and replied, “Your application for reinforcements has been approved. Per the laws governing the Ascenders in the country, communications have been made with the East Asian Social Security Bureau. A reply will be received within one working day.

“It is the duty of every invigilator to eradicate the threats toward the interior. Please continue to pay attention to the current situation and make sure it doesn’t worsen before the incident can be resolved.”

Transmitted…

Ai Qing sighed.

In recent years, as the pressure outside the border gradually weakened, the United Nations had begun to further the restrictions to the Astronomical Association’s rights. Now, in a country with strong sovereignty, a frontline invigilator like her did not even have the qualifications to retain the department of the armed forces. The staffing had become scarcer, gradually changing from the original action agency to an observation agency.

Regarding Wuchang’s growing strength, the Governance Bureau had chosen to make concessions and handed the daily military operations to the host country to act as a proxy to prevent sovereignty disputes.

No, perhaps more accurately, it should be said that within the Governance Bureau, a fierce struggle had begun between the sovereign faction and the border faction have begun?

As Wuchang’s agents started demanding more rights and resources, conflict was unavoidable. If this continued, maybe there’ll be a day when she had to go to work at the Special Affairs Bureau herself?

But was it not too lax to still retain such conservative attitudes regarding matters that involved the Elements of Destruction? Or did they intend to let the situation get worse first before coming to clean up everything at the end?

There were too many possibilities, it was too hard to guess.

She rubbed her brows, no longer thinking about that absurd problem. She asked,

“What about the other application?”

The clerk operated on the computer then looked up and replied, “The ‘Relic Application’ you submitted has been approved -”

As he was speaking, he retrieved a form from the vacuum pipe beside him, and inspected its contents and reply. “Application for border relic number 1752, Grade S threat level, Erosion – Faust.”

He looked up and said, “You’re allowed to inquire about it three times, please follow the relevant regulations and focus on reading Articles 6, 7 and 19, please confirm when you are finished.”

A document appeared on Ai Qing’s phone.

She followed the regulations and glanced at it tentatively. Then she said, “Done.”

The clerk nodded, his finger tapped the air lightly a few times, and pulled a text box out of thin air. He turned to Ai Qing. “Please read the following words, and ensure you comply.”

Ai Qing read the words calmly, “I will guarantee to be vigilant and skeptical about the things the border relic – Faust says. I will guarantee that the inquiry about Faust will remain within the scope of the incident.

“I guarantee to follow the commandments.

“I will remain sane. And when necessary, I will give up personal freedom and accept the control of and personality correction from the technical department, above.”

As soon as she finished reading, her signature appeared in the text box. It then quickly became a piece of A4 paper and slid into the hands of the clerk.

“Three questions, please use it carefully.”

The clerk picked up the seal beside him and pressed it down.

Pap!

The crisp sound of the red seal falling upon the paper sounded like a bubble was popped. It echoed throughout the room, the invisible sound seemed to swirl in the space, making everything ripple in waves.

Authorization had passed and was now in progress.

Suddenly, Ai Qing had a felt a sense of weightlessness, as if she was on a slide or in a racecar. Then as quickly as it came, the odd feeling had stopped abruptly.

The screen projected by the mobile phone had disappeared.

In the quiet interior, a silent figure appeared, slowly condensing into substance.

Border delivery.

[B.I.F.R.O.S.T.], if this abbreviation was directly translated, it would be called ‘Rainbow Bridge’.

It was one of the Three Major Blockades that was wrapped above the interior, it was also the one with the most widely spread information among the three safety valves that was built by the Astronomical Association to prevent the world from being destroyed.

One of its most direct functions was the hundreds of thousands of passageways and transit stations that were erected above the interior, which could cast anyone at any place within the interior at any time.

Even though many restrictions had been imposed to prevent abuse, it still inevitably became the most commonly used method of movement during emergencies.

The sounds of clanging steel sounded.

It was coming from the armor.

It was a person with an indistinguishable age. His face was covered with a beard, his body was clad in heavy armor, and he was holding a big sword in his hand. On his head with braided hair, there were layers and layers of tattoos.

Desolate and majestic.

But his face made other’s hearts palpitate with fear. Not only were his eyes sewn shut, and molten iron had been poured into his ears, forming a solid clump, even if he opened his mouth, there would be no trace of a tongue.

No sight, no hearing, no sound.

This was the caretaker of the border relic – Faust, at the same time, he was also the safety bolt that would slice off the user’s head if the relic ever lost control or if it was being operated illegally.

He held a big sword in one hand, and a huge, heavy book in the other. The metal cover of the book and its lock were bound in layers. As the countless metal chains were loosened, the lock was opened.

Along with the sound of thick, boiling liquid, countless words flew out from within, like headless flies crashing into each other.

Until finally, they gathered together to form a rickety old man. When he fell onto the ground, he choked violently. His lungs were like an outdated engine, and he spewed out sparks, black smoke, and strands of black liquid.

Before those things had even hit the ground, they were pulled back by an invisible force, back into the book.

“Hu -”

That old man in a Roman-style robe straightened his back slowly, propping himself against his cane, and lamented softly, “That feels a little more comfortable…some rare freedom. Who is the one who summoned me?”

He looked around, his eerie gaze swept past his surroundings until finally, it landed on Ai Qing. He gave her a mocking smile, “Ah, the interesting unfinished product, a broken soul.

“See, what did I say the last time? So we meet again, you little b*tch.”

As he said that, he leaned over and sniffed at Ai Qing’s hair without restraint.

“The fragrance of a virgin, what a pity. Aren’t you a grown woman? Why is no one picking you?” He paused for a moment and giggled.

“Or is it that no one is interested at all? You only have one life, if you can’t appreciate the beauty between the sexes, it would be too bleak. Do you need my help with that?”

Zap!

The sound of a stun gun flashed.

The old man collapsed onto the ground, kneeling in front of her wheelchair, twitching violently. After a long time, whether it was from comfort or pain, he had raised his head stiffly. “Oh, oh, oh…this feeling, are you trying to proclaim your ownership toward me? Toward a book? Hahaha, how pitiful.”

As he said that, Faust gritted his teeth and smiled mockingly, opening his arms.

“—Demon – Faust, has been summoned. Please ask your questions, my… ‘mistress’, If you can endure the price you have to pay to become all-knowing.”

Suddenly, the armor-clad person behind him gripped the hilt of the sword.

The first commandment, direct answers will be given for any questions asked, but a price will have to be paid regardless.

The fourth commandment, do not to ask for anything from Faust.

The ninth commandment, do not ask Faust about questions that are too wide-ranging, nor seek answers directly. The only proper method is to carry out indirect verification to reduce the cost.

Ai Qing closed her eyes, ignoring the demon’s wanton laughter, and began to think.

After a long time, she opened her eyes and asked,

“Are the Saviour’s current actions of his own volition?”

Faust smiled eerily, stretched out his arm, and opened his palm. “The price of this question is one Odysseus gold coin, the one you have with you.”

Ai Qing furrowed her brows and looked at the armored man. The armored man did not react, nor did he have any objections.

Depending on what the questions were, Faust would ask for the things that were found around the questioners, and it was not only limited to their possessions…most of the time, the price varied according to the difficulty of the answer to the question asked, but sometimes there were exceptions.

Faust would always ask for things that were of great importance to the questioner, like a family member’s life, or child sacrifice, or some other kind of sacrifice, etc.

Therefore, there would usually be serious consequences.

Otherwise, the Astronomical Association would not have let the Armored Man guard this book.

If the cost of the question exceeded the limit, he would promptly chop the questioner’s head off, to prevent Faust from telling them the answer and completing the deal.

An Odysseus gold coin was still within the scope of acceptable costs.

Ai Qing was silent for a moment, then she removed the gold coin from the silver chain around her neck and handed it over without saying anything else.

Faust laughed gleefully as he held the gold coin, licking it greedily, as if he was thirsting for the sweat and scent that clung to the coin, and swallowed it whole.

Then, he wiped his mouth in satisfaction, and answered her question:

“—Just as a flying bird cannot stop a storm.”

That meant that behind Wang Hai, someone was pulling the strings. Just what kind of plan was brewing?

Ai Qing furrowed her brows.

She had exchanged something extremely precious to her for just one sentence. Even though she came prepared, she still felt extremely unhappy.

After being quiet for a while, she sighed, suppressing her anger.

Then she asked the second question.

“Will their plan cause the Deep Hell – Magic City to appear and transform?”

“Ah, an interesting question.” Faust smiled, looking around him. “Let me think, what should this question cost? What should I take away? No, what should I leave to cause you unforgettable pain?”

Very quickly, his gaze fell upon the wall.

On the picture frame that was covered in dust.

He looked back at Ai Qing’s unpleasant expression and smiled in satisfaction.

“I want that.”

The man with the sword did not react.

Ai Qing was quiet as she gripped onto her armrest tightly. Beneath her pale skin, her veins were throbbing with anger. After a long time, she closed her eyes.

“Take it.”

Faust laughed boisterously and snapped his fingers.

The picture frame started to burn, the dust-proof clothe falling onto the ground. Within the dancing flames, you could vaguely see a silhouette holding a child.

As if they were holding onto the world’s most precious thing.

The smile slowly disappeared behind the flames.

“…Answer me.”

Ai Qing whispered, “Answer my question, Faust.”