Chapter 170
"Villana dementia?" Rong Yuan thought for a moment. He had no impression of this disease. At this time, Pea's voice came from his invisible headphones:
"I know, I know. Verana degeneration is a disease that is only found on the Suocasao spacecraft. It is said to be caused by long-term exposure to cosmic ray radiation from the Eagle Nebula. The patient's blood cells will rapidly die, bone marrow proliferation will be blocked, and organs will fail to varying degrees. In the later stages of development, even cells will experience irreversible collapse-type lesions, accompanied by severe pain and an extremely high mortality rate. Ordinary treatment equipment or doctors are completely unable to treat it. Currently, it is only possible to cure it at the medical department headquarters on the twelfth floor of the spacecraft. The treatment cost is 300 million star coins, not including the subsequent recuperation costs. It can be said that this is a real rich disease, but more than 90% of the patients are ordinary people or wanderers who have no conditions for treatment."
At the same time, Todd also briefly introduced Villanueva to Rong Yuan, and then said: "This disease is actually a bit strange."
"I've read on the Starnet that there are people living near other nebulae, such as the Helix Nebula and the Melinci Nebula, for a long time. Although there are people in those places who get sick because of cosmic rays, none of them are the same as Villanueva, not even similar. And besides the rapid deterioration of body functions, the various test data of people with Villanueva have no obvious common points, and we can't find the same cause of their illness. In addition, many of the sick people have lived inside the spacecraft for a long time, and some were even born on the spacecraft and have never left the spacecraft in their entire lives. If they got sick because of exposure to unexplained cosmic rays, then why didn't their family and friends who lived with them get sick? Why didn't those adventurers who have been exploring near the Pillar of Creation for many years get sick?"
"Secondly, I once used the name of financial audit to check the treatment plan and medicine for Verana's degeneration in the 12th floor medical department. I found that they used a lot of expensive nutrient solutions and supplements. Although they are good for the body, they were not actually invented to treat diseases, and the efficacy of the medicines has nothing to do with degeneration. But strangely, some people were indeed cured."
"Most importantly..."
Todd paused, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "The time of each large-scale outbreak of Verana Depression basically coincides with the time when the asteroids were in trouble. This has been the case for seven consecutive times."
Once or twice, it can be considered a coincidence, but seven times in a row, it cannot be described as a coincidence.
But if it weren't for an insider like Todd who specifically counted and checked, it would be difficult for ordinary people to notice this kind of thing. Because although Liukasao is a spaceship, there are hundreds of thousands of permanent residents who maintain the normal operation of each floor of the spaceship. There are adventurers, pirates, empire legion personnel on vacation, tourists who come here for the sake of fame, etc. The floating population can reach millions at the peak. With more than a million people gathered together, anything can happen. The illness of a few individuals is not worth paying attention to.
Therefore, the destruction of all life on the seven asteroids and the nearly fatal Virana deterioration on Suocas Ao all originated from this spacecraft. Moreover, it must have been done by the senior people on the spacecraft.
As the owner and controller of the spacecraft, Ryuka is to blame for this. Even if he didn't do it, it must be someone close to him, such as the four most powerful generals. Of course, the biggest suspect is Ryuka.
Moreover, that person must have some strange, supernatural abilities.
Over the years, Rong Yuan has met many people who can be called "superpowers". Some can discharge electricity, some can secrete venom, some can create hallucinations for others, and some can jump tens of meters high, etc., but in fact, these abilities that surpass ordinary races basically come from different choices in the direction of life evolution. Those superpowers are just changes brought about by special muscles, glands, hormones or cell structures. For example, on Earth, electric eels can discharge up to 800 volts of current, fleas can jump a distance equivalent to 200 times their body length, and the Turritopsis dohrnii can also secrete venom. After maturity, it can return to the larval stage again, which is equivalent to having "superpowers", but it can still be explained by various scientific theories and is not supernatural.
The earliest supernatural things Rong Yuan encountered over the years were the secret box that Paco handed over to him before his death, and the soul talisman that Princess Tanada mentioned when he was in Landia. The principles, materials, effects, etc. of these things cannot be convincingly explained by any existing theories in the Milky Way. This is the supernatural.
With Rong Yuan's current abilities, no scientific means could cause him real fatal harm. But supernatural abilities were different. Those strange and hard to guard against things could very likely defeat him from a tiny, seemingly harmless angle, or take his life in his sleep, or silently control his mind, etc. Therefore, even Rong Yuan was very cautious when facing this enemy with unknown means, and could not make a wrong step.
Rong Yuan said: "I want to meet Liu Ka secretly without alerting other people. Do you have a solution?"
Todd thought for a while, nodded, and then shook his head.
"It's easy to meet Lord Liuka... Liuka, but also difficult. He lives on the 18th floor. The entire floor is his residence. After I became his confidant, I only saw him leave three times. The four of us have to go to the 18th floor at least once a week to report on our work or receive orders. If you can hide it from Ochi's eyes, it's actually very easy for you to follow me and meet Liuka."
"But the difficulty is... I can't guarantee that the [Sulfur Card] you see is the real Sulfur Card."
"It has been sixty years since I first met Rhuka, but I have never seen him walk out of that black protective suit, nor have I seen his true appearance. Sometimes I wonder, maybe when he puts on that suit he is Rhuka, and when he takes it off he is just an ordinary crew member, a simple and honest husband, or just one of my inspectors."
"So, no matter who he is, as long as he is wearing that black suit and sitting in the office on the 18th floor, he is Lord Rhuka. We don't need to discuss or question him. We just need to obey him. The only person who knows the true face of Rhuka may be Mapu. He has followed Rhuka for the longest time. Maybe he has been with that person since the beginning."
"Also, the area of the eighteenth floor is no smaller than any of the floors below, but the only office we have been able to enter is Suka's office. Through the window, we can see a small garden, which is no more than 500 square meters in area. No one knows what the eighteenth floor looks like outside of this, and no one knows whether there are many other people living there. Everything is unknown."
"So, maybe the Suka we've been seeing is just a stand-in. The real Suka could be living anywhere on the spacecraft, including on the 18th floor. He could be of any appearance or identity. I can't be sure of that. If we act rashly and end up with the wrong target, and Suka becomes alert, then it will be even more difficult to find the real target."
Rong Yuan naturally had a way to tell whether the person under the mask was the target he was looking for. He also heard that Todd repeatedly emphasized the difficulty of this matter in order to add weight to what he was about to say. So he just nodded and said, "I'm new here and don't know much about this place. What suggestions do you have?"
"Use my identity." Todd said without hesitation: "After sixty years of loyalty, they should show more trust in me. I will find a way to get information from Mapu, or create an opportunity for you to meet him alone, so that you can read his memory and obtain information like you did just now. At the same time, I can also give you the highest authority in the internal network of the Supervision Department, and all the information can be opened to you. With your identity and ability , I believe you can make better analysis and judgment."
Rong Yuan stared at him, who seemed to be thinking about him wholeheartedly, and said, "But you should know that compared to them, what I know most about is definitely the things you have done."
Todd said calmly, "Yes."
Rong Yuan added: "Your past actions... Although I have only heard part of them, I still believe that those crimes cannot be written off just because you repented and became a tainted witness. Even if those two were the leaders, you still have to pay the price you deserve."
"Yes." Todd added, "Don't worry, I have already realized it."
"You should have thought that when I came to see you today, I didn't intend to let you go back alive. Even now, I still think so."
Rong Yuan looked straight at Todd and said slowly, "Even if Mapu and the others manipulated your life, they also carefully trained you and gave you a position above everyone else. Money, beauty, power... Aren't these the things that most people pursue throughout their lives? Most people would not abandon all of this and even be willing to die for the death of a childhood playmate decades ago. On the contrary, if you pretend to be nice to me, turn around and tell them the truth, and then you set a trap to lure me in the name of helping me... After that, you will naturally gain greater trust from Rhuka and Mapu, and they will definitely give you corresponding rewards."
"Isn't this the best choice for you?"
Facing Rong Yuan's gaze, Todd lowered his eyes. After a long silence, he suddenly said, "With your status, you must have heard of soul symbols?"
Rong Yuan's brows twitched slightly.
"I have one in my hand. It was seized when I captured an adventure team that broke the casino rules." Todd raised his eyes, his gaze was calm, but there was madness inside: "You can use it to control me, so that you can ensure that I will never betray your will. In this case, can you believe me?"
He just realized that his life had been controlled by others, and his free will should be his most precious thing. But he was willing to put the shackles around his neck again.
Rong Yuan asked softly: "Why... do you have to do this?"
"No reason!"
Todd looked at Rong Yuan and gave a twisted smile. His face, which had been calm and even wooden until now, finally revealed deep hatred and hideousness!
"As long as you can overthrow Mapu and Rhoka and make them get the sanctions they deserve, I will be yours! I am willing to do anything for you. I will do whatever you ask me to do. It doesn't matter even if you want me to die with them, as long as I can watch them die!"
"That's my only condition!"
