Volume 3: The Nameless Chapter 84: Good news, it has grown. Bad news, it has grown crooked
Mason got beaten up.
Well, it's a bit of an exaggeration to say that I got beaten. In fact, Mr. Hunter just grabbed my neck with the "Force" and hammered me back and forth in the basement. Because I was wearing Vanguard Armor, I didn't get hurt at all. I just regarded it as a test of the armor.
The test results are good.
My face hurts a bit...
"I swear the bug was never activated. Otherwise, with your perception, you would definitely be able to detect the weak energy it emits. I just did it just in case."
Mason held the shiny helmet of the Vanguard Armor and explained to the hunter who had taken off his mask and crushed the bug in the basement:
"After all, you are going back to Star Castle at the risk of being discovered, so I have to make preparations in advance. In case your identity is exposed and you are imprisoned, I will have to find someone to rescue you.
This is just a kind of... well, safe concern, not a rude prying from a subordinate. "
"You? Save me?"
Mason's words amused Mr. Hunter.
She maintained the man's voice, took out another mask and put it on her face, saying:
"You don't seem to have a clear understanding of your own strength. Although I was indeed beaten badly by Cassandra, that Isu demigod is still one of the best in the parallel world system.
I admit that Team K did a good job, but your sheer strength is almost like walking into a trap if you try to force your way into Star Castle ."
"If we really take that step, I'm afraid it won't just be Team K that I take to Star Castle."
Mason stroked the dust off his helmet and said softly:
"You don't think the only people I can shake are my teammates?"
"That's... okay."
The hunter shook his head and said:
“It would be a good idea for a traitor to maintain good relations with the great heroes of the Justice League to say that, but I doubt you would do that.
It seems that our relationship is not good enough for you to risk your whole team's death and rush into the enemy's lair for me."
"It's not a matter of good or bad relations, but you saved us."
Mason explained:
“Although it was thanks to me that everyone escaped in the end, the fact that you risked your life to rush in and rescue us when we were in trouble was beyond what a superior should do.
I apologize for my previous suspicion and rude attempts on your part. You are indeed a very good collaborator."
These very honest and true words silenced Mr. Hunter, who had come looking for trouble in a rage. She did not have the ability to read Mason's mind and had no way of telling whether he was sincere or not.
But at a certain moment, she was willing to believe these heartwarming words.
After a few seconds of silence, she looked back at Mason and said:
"Has Odin's golden apple been unlocked?"
"Um."
Mason took out the golden apple that had been unlocked from his arms, threw it to the hunter, and said:
“It has special data encryption, and all the information inside is in Isu, a kind of extrasensory language that requires special talents to understand.
Therefore, you need some people who are proficient in this to transcribe it into a language that you can understand.
I have already translated it once, so you can just extract the text from it.
The extraction password is 'The Stars Will Fall', but I think you may not trust me too much, so I can only suggest that you be careful when transcribing.
There is a self-destruct switch in the golden apple.
If you accidentally touch it..."
"No one distrusts you, Mason. You should control your paranoia."
Mr. Hunter put the golden apple into his bag. She hesitated for a moment and asked:
"To be on the safe side, I have to ask, is this all the information you transcribed?"
"Everything you need to know is in there."
Mason shrugged and said:
“About the past and future of the Isu civilization, about how they predicted the cause of the impact event 70,000 years ago, about the Isu people’s understanding and summary of the parallel world system, and about their efforts to continue their civilization.
Of course, there is also the end of civilization after failure.
It is like an epic poem that records the rise and fall of a civilization. The text is delicate and full of emotion. It is really good as a bedtime reading. I strongly recommend you to read it several times. "
"Where are the blueprints for the Aurora device? What is its working principle? And what about the energy weapon device left by the Isu that can destroy the projection core of the World Gate?"
The hunter said angrily :
"You hid all the important information? That won't do, Mason. They won't be satisfied."
"What does their dissatisfaction have to do with me?"
Mason spread his hands and asked back:
"I don't know them, so why should I trust them unconditionally? I trust you, but please understand that you, my boss, are just strangers to me.
At least it is now.
I won’t hide it from you.
I made a contract with Sister Ka and her world, but that was not something Quint would make with her. Her words were very clear, she didn't trust you.
To be honest, I don’t really trust it either.
Those who hide their heads and show their tails always need to be treated with more vigilance.”
"Mason..."
The stubbornness and suspicion of her subordinates really gave Mr. Hunter a headache at this moment. She vaguely remembered that when she first met Mason, this young man was not so difficult to deal with.
That was just over a month ago, why did he change so drastically?
"You are already Old K."
The hunter sat back in his chair and said:
"You are already one of us, I think you should show us more trust and kindness. Don't forget that they were the ones who helped you suppress the trouble you caused in the Spider-Man world.
Even if you admire Batman's secretive style, you should show your sincerity after both parties have clearly shown an attitude of cooperation. You are making it difficult for me!
I can’t return with a record of civilization or an epic novel…”
"I'm just a little worried."
Seeing that Mr. Hunter's tone softened, Mason didn't want to pursue him any further.
He thought about it and decided to tell the truth, so he pulled up a chair and sat opposite his boss and said to her:
"The device left behind by the Isu civilization can protect a world, isolating it from the parallel world system during an impact event and thus preventing it from being affected by the impact.
Although I still don't understand the truth about the impact incident that you have been hiding, I also know the value of this technology.
It can be promoted or hidden away as a bargaining chip.
But based on my understanding of the operating style of the Star Society and your brother organizations, I believe that once this thing is handed over, Sister Ka will immediately face unprecedented pressure.
Can you understand what I mean?
It is already difficult for them to survive in this dark age, and I don’t want to bring them another catastrophe because of a misjudgment on my part.
So you want me to turn this in, no problem!
But you have to first ensure that the people behind you can use it properly, or at least keep it secret so as not to cause a world invasion. If you can give me a guarantee, I will immediately hand over this information to you.
Even the production drawings of the golden apple are given to you as well."
Mason sat in a chair, bent over, staring at Mr. Hunter in front of him, and supported his chin with his hands. He said:
“Look, all I need is a reassurance.
You could have just told me to calm me down first. It doesn’t matter whether it’s true or not at this moment. But if something really happens to Sister Ka, my friends and I will make trouble for you.”
But Mr. Hunter remained silent.
She was slow to give Mason the answer he wanted.
After the silence lasted for thirty seconds, Mason shrugged, leaned back in his chair and said:
"You see, you don't really trust your 'partners'. Do you know what that means? You have a conscience, but you're not sure if your collaborators have it.
And that's what I'm most worried about.
I didn't join the Star Society just to go along with them. I chose to cooperate with you because of my goal. I will not put the survival of a world on the table as a chip to gain benefits for myself.
That’s not my style, and it’s probably not yours either.”
"They won't rest until they get this."
The hunter rubbed his forehead and said:
"Quint will be rooted in this system. We oppose the current status of the Star Society, but we also have hardliners among us who are not threatened. Mason, you are asking for trouble."
"trouble?"
Mason curled his lips and said:
"It's no trouble. The worst that can happen is that I part ways with you, become a traitor in your eyes, and then be tracked down by the execution team and try to kill me.
But my good friends Superman and Flash may have different opinions on this result.
Do you want me to call them now?"
The captain took out his flip phone and waved it in front of the hunter, saying:
"Batman is fine too. I think the master should be on night patrol in the city right now. It will only take him a few minutes to get here. I can just introduce you to him as a friend.
That way, you can say goodbye to them, too.”
"Your world can't stand it!"
The hunter shook his head and said:
"The Justice League can't protect you forever."
"I think so."
Mason curled his lips and said:
"You attacked Old Spider's world after the Avengers split up, deployed the Skrulls in advance, and used the Origin Zombie Virus to weaken them again.
This may be a caution.
But it also proves that when facing a force of that level, you are not sure of winning.
Now someone who is very familiar with your style of doing things and invasion plans has stood on the side of the Justice League. I think with my help, our chances of defeating you are quite high.
If worst comes to worst, I can always ask someone else for help.
Old Spider, Sister Ka, and those wanderers who are wandering on the edge of the Star Society.
They obey you not because you are powerful, but because they have no choice now! Once a force that can compete with the Stars appears.
Even if we just win a war, we will instantly gain a large number of supporters.
I admit that the Star Society is a huge organization, like a bloated clay-footed giant, but the stronger you are, the more enemies you will have. "
"No, Mason, I admit that what you said makes sense, but you overlooked an important point."
The hunter looked up and said to Mason:
" Aren't you curious about where the stars got the source of the zombie virus from?"
This question made Mason's face change slightly.
Then he heard the hunter say to him in a tone of sharing a secret:
"I was there when the first Worldgate was forged, and I can tell you, Mason, that it was not originally intended for exploration.
That's a sealing device!
It separates an extremely dangerous universe and a parallel world system. This is why the top leaders of the entire Star Society were so nervous after the people from the Assassin's World attacked the projection core of the World Gate.
Your 'Sister Ka' has no idea what she is doing!
If she really damages the World Gate, everyone will be doomed! In a month at most, the entire parallel world system that has been discovered will be devoured by a group of hungry guys.
They absolutely will.
Because they have eaten up many parallel planes.
It was the impact events that tore apart the stability of the multiverse. They were the most dangerous of all the malevolence that was unleashed... Please, Mason.
Stop playing such a dangerous game, the Stars Club really has a trump card!
The kind that can flip the table!
This organization cannot guarantee victory in every battle, but it can drag everyone down with it. In your words, life is hard enough in this era, so don’t make it harder for us.”
"Universe 2149!"
Mason sat up straight with a start.
He finally remembered the meaning of this string of numbers from his complicated memories. It was an extremely obscure parallel universe, so obscure that Mason had only heard of it but had never really understood it.
But based on the big secret revealed by the hunter, that should be the "zombie universe" that Mason has heard of.
No wonder the original zombie virus could destroy the Avengers in the old Spider world so easily. Even cosmic gods like Galactus couldn't stand it...
"It seems that you have understood the seriousness of the problem."
Mr. Hunter shook his head and said:
"Hand over the information, and I promise I will do my best to make the best use of it. You know, once it is spread to various worlds, it can at least save more people.
And all this is thanks to you.”
"I can hand over part of it first."
Mason nodded, as if convinced, and gave in. He said:
"That is a very complicated device. It will take time for you to become familiar with Isu technology. After you come up with a prototype, I will also teach you how to make the Golden Apple.
This is good for both of us.
You guys got what you wanted, and I don't have to worry about being abandoned by you."
"All right."
The hunter stopped asking questions.
She looked at Mason in front of her and said:
"You've grown up quickly, but not in the way I expected. I think you've been around Batman too long.
Your mind has started to turn into a bat.
After I last left Gotham, I spent some time reading the records on this matter in the Great Library of the Cosmos, and I learned that Batman has a counter-strategy for all potential enemies.
Then let me ask you, do you have any countermeasures against me?"
Faced with this question, Mason showed a rather mysterious smile and said:
"It's being formulated, but I need more information about you. However, since we have come to this point, I think I should tell you some of my thoughts in advance to avoid conflicts and disagreements in this regard in the future.
I don't want to disrupt the pleasant cooperation we have now.
About Quint Club...
I mean, in my opinion, Quint would."
"Well, go ahead and talk. I'm listening."
The hunter crossed his legs, placed his sword on his legs and looked at Mason, waiting for his words.
The captain organized his words and said:
“I don’t know how or why they persuaded you to join, but based on my conversations with Old J and the old Green Goblin who is about to be recruited by them, they seem to be very good at persuading others with ideals and the future.
This is not a good phenomenon.
As for my life creed, if someone talks to me about their ideals when we first meet, I will assume that they are trying to trick me.
Of course, I am not advising you to join me in being wary of your companions.
I'm just giving you a different way of looking at the problem.
You might as well recall what you did after joining them, whether it really helped the current bad environment, or...
They are actually using you to achieve some of the goals and results they want, just like the stars use us.”
Mason paused.
He glanced at Mr. Hunter and said:
"You are a person who is good at action but not good at planning. You are the kind of person that conspirators like the most. In extreme cases, only a noble goal may be enough to impress you.
However, truly great people never bother to weave dreams with words.
Take Sir Geralt, the greatest demon hunter in history from Old K's world, for example. Have you ever seen that silent man establish an organization claiming to bring welfare to the world?
No.
He only knows how to swing his sword to kill every evil demon he encounters. He seems to be so cold and indifferent that he doesn't care about the world. However, when facing the terrifying Wild Hunt, he will still silently swing his sword, just like he would face a weak daytime banshee.
Do you get me?
In these dark times, actions always speak louder than words.
Don't be fooled!
Don’t be used as a gun.”
When Mason mentioned the name "Geralt", the Hunter's fingers on the sword suddenly clenched a little. She hadn't heard this name from anyone for a long, long time.
After a few seconds of hesitation, she whispered:
"So, in your eyes, Quint is just a place that sells dog meat under the guise of sheep meat?"
"No, I lack evidence, so I won't make such an arbitrary conclusion."
Mason shook his head, took out a hard drive containing the Aurora device blueprints and handed it to the hunter, saying:
"I'm just saying that, from what I've seen so far, I don't see how they're any different from the stars, and I don't see how their presence would help matters.
Maybe my vision is too narrow and I have seen too little, but if you want me to trust them, words alone are not enough.
Do you have anything else to say?
If not, I'll ask you to leave. I'm very busy tonight and have a lot of things to do."
"have."
Mr. Hunter put away the hard drive and said:
"I have a very important task for you."
