Volume 3: The Nameless Chapter 67: The World of Assassins in Mason's Eyes
“I have access to the building database, and you guessed it right, Mason, there are many people who are proficient in concealment and stealth, patrolling here disguised as company security guards.
They are clearly on guard against possible infiltration.”
Ertong's voice came from the team's internal communication. This pioneer warrior and assassin trained by Batman and the Assassin's League said in a doubtful tone:
“From what I’ve seen, these guys’ actions are definitely not mediocre even among the senior assassins in Nandarbat. It’s hard to imagine that they are deployed as cannon fodder in a branch of a disguised company.
I'm beginning to trust your judgement.
This world seems to be deliberately disguising itself in front of us. They do it very naturally. If I hadn't been trained by the master of concealment and disguise, I would definitely have been fooled by them."
"So be careful, Jason."
On the rooftop of Abstergo's building two blocks outside of Manhattan, Mason held up a futuristic smart telescope that could see through walls and stared at the target area. He whispered a warning to the second barrel:
"After installing the data interface, exit immediately. I have reason to believe that there should be a master assassin in that building, and maybe even a 'saint'.
The last time Lao K and his team were wiped out here was because they were ambushed by the Assassin Saint."
"Saint? What kind of fancy title is that?"
Barbara, who was beside Mason, was ready to remotely hack into the database. Her left eye kept flashing with light, and she whispered:
"Is this the unique power system of this world?"
"almost."
Mason explained nonsensically:
"According to the notes left by Old K, all the power in this world can be traced back to the ancient Isu civilization, which was a super civilization from among the stars and carried out colonization or research activities on Earth in ancient times.
They are not gods, and in fact their life forms are quite weak.
They are far inferior to humans like us in terms of physique, endurance, strength and even fertility.
But a series of surviving records from this world show that the Isu people have learning and creative abilities that we cannot imagine, and their senses are so sharp that they are almost god-like.
They once established a fairly prosperous 'Forerunner Era' on Earth, but it was wiped out in a disaster.
However, they made a lot of preparations for that disaster, including large-scale genetic modification of the ancient humans who were just emerging at the time to continue their existence.
So to be precise, although the humans in this world look the same as us, they are not the same race as us.
In this day and age, Isu blood is still circulating, and the owners of those ancient bloodlines often possess strange powers similar to "superpowers".
And according to the concentration of their Isu blood, assassins in this world will give them different names..."
"Insert the data port! Start cracking."
The sound of the second barrel rang out, interrupting Mason's description.
Barbara immediately executed the rapid invasion protocol. When Ertong left Abstergo's database room wearing an invisibility cloak, she had easily obtained data permissions and began to search for the information Team K needed in the opponent's database.
There is no need for Mason to describe the power system of this world by using the non-existent "Old K's Notes".
Barbara's left eye flickered as she read out the information she had searched for in the Abstergo database:
"According to the information Abstergo has collected since its establishment after World War II and the results of large-scale human experiments, the concentration of Isu blood in ordinary people in this world is generally around 0.002% to 0.005%, and there is no potential for discovery.
The probability of a super-potential individual being born in every 100,000 people is about 0.03%, and the Isu blood concentration standard for such super-potential individuals is above 0.5%.
Its most basic characteristic is the triple helix DNA structure that is different from that of ordinary people, which is the most obvious sign of Isu hybridity.
This kind of super-potential individual only needs simple training to awaken various "ancient powers".
Its most basic abilities include the mutated 'Eagle Eyes', motor nerves and dynamic perception that are ten times more developed than those of ordinary people, super-tough vitality and self-healing ability, extremely effective foresight of danger and natural use of weapons, etc.
This individual with extraordinary potential is given the code name 'Master'."
Batgirl paused, continued to dig deeper into the information, and searched for the term "saint" that Mason had just mentioned. She repeated it with surprise:
"The so-called 'saints' have Isu blood concentrations of more than 5% when they are born. They generally show certain characteristics far beyond those of ordinary people when they are children, and generally have a 'personal charm' that is difficult to explain scientifically.
The probability of its birth in the ordinary world is 0.04% per 10 million people. According to Abstergo's statistics, in the past two thousand years, an average of one "saint" was born every 70-150 years.
Without exception, they are all outstanding figures who dominated an era. Famous representatives include Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan, King Arthur, Joan of Arc, Napoleon, Moustache and...
Oh my god!
The history of this world over the past two thousand years has all been written and presided over by this kind of "saint", and the truth beneath the surface of this history is the confrontation between two forces.
The main theme of its history is the spiral development around the two camps of "order" and "freedom" with powerful military forces.
Mason, I think I now understand where your worry and nervousness come from."
Barbara looked up and said in amazement:
"This world only looks very similar to other worlds, but the power hidden within it is far beyond our understanding."
"That's what I'm worried about."
Mason narrowed his eyes and said:
"This secret confrontation that has lasted for more than two thousand years has made this world 'full of martial virtues' and also equipped with superb fighting wisdom, but now a third party, the 'Star Society', has appeared in the confrontation between the two sides.
I can tell with my toes how unwelcome outsiders like us are in this world.
Whether it is the liberal Assassin Brotherhood or the orderly Templars, we who represent "chaos" are "heretics" who need to be killed immediately.
I now have enough reasons to believe that the two originally conflicting parties in this world have united under the guidance of some higher power and set a dangerous trap for us unwelcome guys."
"A higher power?"
Ertong, who had been listening to Mason and Barbara's conversation, asked in surprise:
"Based on the information Barbara has uncovered, this assassin saint with a 5% bloodline concentration sounds like a superhuman. If there is a higher power, shouldn't it be traced directly back to those mysterious Isu people?
Barbara, is there any similar information description in the database? "
“Not found yet.”
The blue light in Batgirl's left eye was pulsating.
She searched Abstergo's database and found no relevant information, but she believed that Mason would not joke about such things.
Mason shook his head and explained:
"If the Isu people in this world can be called gods, then their combination with humans can create 'half-human, half-god' like those in other myths and legends.
For example, someone like Perseus, Hercules, or Diana, Wonder Woman in our world.
The hybrid characteristics will not weaken their strength, but will allow them to possess the dual advantages of humans and gods. The Isu people have used genetic technology to enhance their bodies to superhuman levels, coupled with the Isu people's unique super senses and super learning and creativity.
A sufficiently long lifespan allows them to fully exploit their own advantages, not to mention the various Isu black-tech equipment left behind by the forerunner civilization that gives them the ability to manipulate space and even time.
I have sufficient reasons to believe that such an "Isu demigod" would possess destructive power no weaker than Diana Prince.
Even close to normal Clark Kent.
There are definitely not too many such "demigods", but even if there are only one or two, they are enough to easily kill all the pioneers currently existing in this world .
According to the Star Council's rating of world power, once such an individual appears who can destroy civilization alone, the world's rating should be raised to 'A-level'."
Mason sighed.
He knew that this so-called simple task was definitely not that simple. Looking at the night that was becoming increasingly dead in his perception, he said:
"There is no doubt that this world is disguising itself in the eyes of the Star Society. Barbara, search the keyword 'Atlantis' in the Abstergo database!"
“No information.”
Barbara replied a second later:
"There are only some folk tales about Atlantis, but I found a secret operation within Abstergo called 'Odyssey'.
Its goal is to search for the existence of the city of Atlantis.
But this building is not its headquarters, and its internal database does not store specific information on such high-authority actions.”
"As expected, barrel two, hurry up and withdraw."
Mason gave Barbara a warning and said:
"Search for the keywords 'Cassandra' and 'Alexios' and 'New York Underground Grand Temple'."
"Except for some folk tales popular in the Mediterranean region, there is no valid information. There are a few words about the 'Great Temple', but according to the data path, a more advanced key is needed to unlock the encrypted information.
This branch company's database does not provide this kind of authority at all, and forcibly hacking into a higher-level data link will definitely expose our whereabouts."
Barbara gave another disappointing answer.
But Mason's expression remained unchanged. He rubbed his forehead and recalled, then said to Batgirl:
"Search for the keyword 'Phoenix Project'."
"Hold on."
Batgirl searched the database again for the information given by Mason. This time she was silent for a little longer, so she should have gained something.
After a few seconds, she looked up and said:
"Got it! Although we still don't have specific information about the plan, the Phoenix Project laboratory closest to us is in an underground area on the outskirts of the city."
"Very well, let's go there, the sooner the better."
Mason gestured for Barbara to disconnect and said:
"There should be a deep database of Abstergo Corporation there. We can find all the information we need there."
"I don't understand, Mason."
Barbara disconnected the connection and burned two barrels of data interfaces left at the Abstergo branch. She rubbed her slightly hot forehead and asked:
"Why do you care so much about this information?"
"If our main mission unfortunately fails, we should at least bring back something that will make the Stars shut up, right?"
Mason let out a long breath and said:
"The information we have collected so far is enough to prove the danger of this world, and it can also make up for the terrible hidden dangers brought about by the Star Society's intelligence errors.
That way, no matter how harsh Mr. Hunter is, he can't accuse us of failing to complete our mission.
In addition, I am personally very interested in the heritage of the Isu people. This ancient civilization is fundamentally different from other gods we have heard of.
They are weak in nature but are really good at making things.
If someone like me who is committed to becoming a good craftsman could be lucky enough to obtain the skills they left behind...
Well, I guess we have to wait until we become more powerful. Right now, with our strength, we still have to be humble in this world."
The captain shrugged regretfully.
A few minutes later, Ertong returned to their hiding place. The three of them "borrowed" a car on the roadside and headed towards the location of the Phoenix Project laboratory that Barbara had found.
Ertong was driving, Mason was in the passenger seat observing the surroundings, while Barbara in the back seat closed her eyes and analyzed a series of data she had just downloaded and copied.
After a few minutes she said:
"This 'Phoenix Project' is a long-term human experiment project that has been carried out by Abstergo for nearly seventy years. Their purpose is to artificially produce a high concentration of Isu hybrids.
What a crazy move.
According to the information I have seen so far, the number of experimental subjects consumed in North America over the past 70 years alone has reached nearly 50,000 people... It's simply a disregard for human life!"
"If I were you, Barbara, I wouldn't be worried about how many people they've killed in the past."
The driver, No. 2, reminded in a low voice:
"Just two saints can wipe out Lao K's team and make Lao K, a senior pioneer, flee in embarrassment. It would be fine if this Phoenix Project failed, but what if it succeeds?
What if the assassins in this world can mass-produce such killing machines? God knows how many artificial saints are hiding in this city waiting to kill us? "
"Don't scare yourself, Jason."
Mason shook his head and said:
"Even if they succeed, they can only mass-produce master-level Isu hybrids at best. 5% Isu blood concentration is enough to change life forms.
It is definitely not something that can be manufactured by just randomly finding a few test pieces. If they really have that kind of ability, they wouldn't need to play this game of 'hide and seek' with the stars.
But we still have to be prepared.”
He said:
“In my estimation, once we find the information we need, the alarm will be triggered. Even if we can delay it until we enter the Great Underground Temple in New York and unlock the Golden Apple, it will definitely trigger a tough battle.
We don't have much time left, so just get the information and leave.
It would be best if you can enter the Grand Temple and unlock the Golden Apple information. If you can't do that, find Zha Kang and evacuate here immediately."
"Um."
Jason and Barbara nodded. They both understood the operational risks that Team K was taking at this time. With their communications being monitored, they had no way of contacting Constantine who was still in the unsafe "safe zone".
I wonder what that guy is doing now?
Hopefully, he'll be able to sense the danger this time, as he has always been, and then deal with it smarter.
——
While Mason and the other two are risking their lives, what is Zha Kang doing?
The answer is simple.
He is also playing with his life.
After casting the highest level of stealth magic he could currently use on himself, Constantine played the role of "Bat Boy" tonight. He used a talon gun to fix himself on the edge of the roof of the Continental Hotel, allowing himself to approach the top floor little by little from the outside under the cover of night.
He was very curious about what was hidden on the top floor of the Continental Hotel.
As he got closer to there, an irresistible force of interference to the mind began to vibrate on Constantine's spiritual level, like an invisible source of waves that could assimilate and change the mental state of any living being that approached it.
In other words, Zha Kang is proficient in all kinds of black magic, and he is also a walking "curse complex", which makes his mental resistance far beyond that of ordinary people so that he can persist in climbing to the window on the top floor.
But even so, Zha Kang was still out of breath and covered in cold sweat when he arrived at his destination.
He now felt that his current actions were a bit risky.
But it was too late to regret. He wiped the sweat from his forehead, leaned his head out, cast a penetrating magic on himself and looked towards the top floor, wanting to see what that evil thing was.
Then, he saw a round golden bauble floating on a unique golden pedestal on the table in the center of the empty sealed room.
"Huh?"
Constantine's eyes widened.
He felt that this thing looked very familiar, he had definitely seen it somewhere!
"Isn't this the thing in Mason's hand? This thing can actually transform the spirit on such a large scale? But why doesn't the golden apple in Mason's hand have this ability?
etc!
If this thing can transform thinking, then is there a possibility that... it's not that Old K was lucky to take the golden apple out, but that the golden apple originally needed someone to take it away from this world?
If the golden apple in Mason's hand was a bait that was deliberately sent out of the world, then Team K...
That's the fish that took the bait!
grass!"
