"The bloodline of a giant?"
Number 03 nodded: "Number 01 has shown his ability to enlarge his body more than once, so I suspected for a long time that he might possess a giant’s bloodline, but never had the opportunity to confirm it until something happened the year before last."
"At that time, there was a major incident that caused an uproar in the Southern Domain – the Silver Palm Island incident."
At these words, both Ferro and Nis were slightly taken aback. They had also heard about the Silver Palm Island incident, rumored to be related to a mysterious object.
As for Angel... not only had he heard of it, he was actually one of the main characters in the incident and the only one whose identity had not yet been uncovered. It was said that the people from the Song of the Deep Sea and Shaloo Ridge were still looking for the "Black Hand" who had hidden in the small space back then.
Of course, Angel would never admit to being this "Black Hand," mainly because he truly had not taken that so-called mysterious object.
"From what you’re saying, Number 01 was also involved in the Silver Palm Island incident? Could it be that the mysterious object that went missing actually ended up in your hands?" Nis’s eyes gleamed with an inexplicable light.
Number 03 shook his head: "We had no intention of stepping onto the stage of the Southern Domain. Although the Silver Palm Island incident happened not too far from us, we never got involved from start to finish. However, not long after the incident ended, during one of our operations, we happened upon traces of Leviathan Hall."
Leviathan Hall was the giant sea beast that had been lurking outside Silver Palm Island, but after the incident, it disappeared from the public eye.
Regarding the "disappeared" mysterious object, there were some speculations in the public, suggesting that it might have been obtained by Leviathan Hall. Even Angel had once entertained this thought.
But later, no one could find Leviathan Hall, and the matter stalled. Unexpectedly, hearing news of Leviathan Hall again was from the mouth of Number 03, a wizard from the Outer Domain.
"At that time, Leviathan Hall had been badly injured, and with rumors swirling everywhere, everyone speculated that the strategic-level mysterious object might still be with Leviathan Hall. So, Number 01 decided to launch an attack on it."
"Three official wizards from the base went, including myself. However, the final result was a complete failure." Number 03’s face showed a bitter smile: "Even though Leviathan Hall was injured, it wasn’t something we could defeat. The attacks from Number 02 and I couldn’t even break through its defense."
"Only when Number 01 revealed his own bloodline did he manage to leave some marks on Leviathan Hall’s scales, but he still couldn’t deal with Leviathan Hall... The three of us together couldn’t handle Leviathan Hall, so we had to retreat."
Although the outcome was regrettable, Number 03 truly witnessed Number 01’s strength during that siege and confirmed that Number 01 indeed possessed the giant bloodline.
"What is certain is that Number 01 has a part of the Uya Giant’s bloodline. The Uya Giants belong to the ocean lineage, and once Number 01 activated his bloodline, his ability to control water was hardly weaker than mine. And Number 01 surely has more than just the Uya Giant’s bloodline; combined with transplanted organs, his strength is exceptionally powerful."
After Number 03 described the general combat strength of Number 01, Nis asked again: "Is there any other information?"
Number 03 thought for a moment, then said: "Apart from that, I do know something else related to Number 01."
"He is actually quite different from the others in the base. We came to the Southern Domain under the headquarters’ orders, while Number 01 voluntarily applied to come to the Southern Domain."
"All of the base’s layouts in the Southern Domain were decisions made by Number 01."
"Including the establishment of the base, the construction of laboratories, the timing of sacrifices... When to do what, all were under Number 01’s control."
"Even when we are to leave the Southern Domain, that too is decided by Number 01."
Nis: "I remember that when you were talking about apologizing and compensating, you explicitly said you would leave the Southern Domain soon. According to what you’re saying, that’s also Number 01’s decision?"
Number 03 nodded: "Yes, Number 01 has recently been inexplicably anxious. According to our original plan, we would have stayed in the Southern Domain a while longer, but Number 01 said he couldn’t wait any longer."
Nis: "Given that Number 01 has shown a pressing desire to leave, is he now off to accomplish your final goal in the Southern Domain?"
Faced with Nis’s speculation, Number 03 remained silent. But this silence was as good as a tacit agreement.
"Let’s set aside what your final goal is for now," Angel manipulated Sanders’ illusion to speak: "You mentioned encountering Leviathan Hall earlier, but didn’t Number 00 join in?"
In Angel’s mind, Number 00’s strength surely dwarfed the others, and if he had appeared, Leviathan Hall, already injured, might not have been able to hold out.
Upon hearing Angel’s question, Number 03’s expression turned slightly strange. She opened her mouth several times as if wanting to say something but then closed it again.
Finally, Number 03 said: "There are oath-bound restrictions concerning Number 00, so I can’t say much. But what I can confirm is that Number 00 didn’t participate in the siege of Leviathan Hall."
Angel nodded, maintaining a calm exterior while inwardly analyzing Number 03’s words: Based on Frost’s statements and the records in Culori’s diary, when faced with an ownerless mysterious object, it would be exceedingly difficult for a wizard of legendary rank and above to remain indifferent. Let alone one classified by the Crown Star Church’s observers as a "strategic-level" mysterious object.
Angel was convinced that Number 00 couldn’t possibly be uninterested in such a mysterious object.
But from analyzing the details, Number 03 seemed not to be lying; Number 00 indeed hadn’t participated in the siege of Leviathan Hall. But why?
Was it because Number 00 knew for certain that the mysterious object wasn’t with Leviathan Hall?
Or perhaps... was there some kind of constraint on Number 00 preventing him from easily making a move?
Given the mysterious nature surrounding Number 00, Angel knew he couldn’t be too cautious. However, since Number 03 couldn’t disclose more information now, Angel had to temporarily suppress his wandering thoughts.
Without making further speculations, Angel shifted the topic: "Let’s talk about... The Nest."
Angel himself didn’t know what "The Nest" referred to, but earlier, during Ferro and Number 03’s battle, the moment Ferro mentioned "The Nest," Number 03 displayed emotions of shock and doubt, followed by an intent to kill Ferro. Clearly, this "The Nest" involved critical intelligence.
And that was indeed the case. Earlier, when Number 03 answered Angel’s questions and divulged information about Number 01, she did so with a calm demeanor.
But when "The Nest" was brought up, Number 03’s expression changed instantly, becoming hesitant and pale. This was enough to show that the intelligence regarding "The Nest" might be the key to everything.
Seeing that Number 03 remained silent, Angel nonchalantly remarked, "Is The Nest... your ultimate goal?"
Number 03’s throat moved, as if gulping down something.
After a long silence, Number 03 finally regained her voice, whispering, "It is indeed one of our ultimate goals. The Nest... The Nest is..."
Just as everyone perked up their ears to hear what Number 03 would say, a thunderous sound, like a sudden burst of thunder from a clear sky, roared from afar.
Even those within the illusion instantly heard this thunderous noise.
Nis raised his head in confusion, looking toward the source of the sound: "It came from over there. What’s happening?"
Ferro also looked in the direction of the sound’s origin, but hidden by the illusion, he saw nothing. However, once he confirmed the direction, Ferro seemed to have thought of something, turning to look at Number 03: "Did something go wrong with The Nest?"
Number 03 appeared dazed until Ferro’s inquiry brought her back to her senses.
Faced with Ferro’s question, Number 03 didn’t answer but lowered her head with an expression of "it has nothing to do with me." However, in the shadows, her eyes flickered as if she was making some decision.
Soon after, another thunderous sound echoed, accompanied by an extremely violent shockwave.