Chapter 51: The Heart of a Deity

Chapter 51: The Heart of a Deity

"Isolated?"

The elementary schooler was puzzled as to why Jiang Ren would ask such a question, and retorted, "Haven't we always been isolated?"

Although Clearers possessed formidable and bizarre abilities, they often had to pay many unknown prices in return.

For instance, the elementary schooler was doomed to maintain the appearance of a seven- or eight-year-old boy until the day he died; the Black Robe had no flesh, blood, or internal organs, leaving behind nothing more than a skeleton; the Meatball was so obese that his facial features were swallowed by fat, requiring him to consume an entire cow for every meal; and Beatrice lacked any specific gender altogether.

Aside from these physical tolls, their personalities were also flawed to varying degrees, manifesting as volatility, irritability, and a profound indifference to human life.

It would be fair to say that each of them was an intensely dangerous individual.

Consequently, it was practically impossible for them to find anyone to confide in, placing them in a group alienated from relatives, friends, and society at large.

"That's not what I mean."

Jiang Ren raised his head and pointed toward the azure sky: "There is an unknown entity that has severed us and the continent we inhabit from the entire world. We are all trapped."

The four of them exchanged glances, completely failing to comprehend why Jiang Ren would make such a remark.

In their understanding, there was nothing wrong with the world. If something were genuinely amiss, they surely would have noticed it by now.

Beatrice blinked, looked at Jiang Ren with sympathy, and said, "Jiang, the nuclear blast must have scrambled your brains. But don't worry, even if your head is broken, you are still the man I love. Come, embrace me..."

At the peak of her passion, she opened her smooth, snow-white arms.

No one paid any attention to her erratic train of thought.

The Meatball looked pensive and asked, "Demon, have you discovered something?"

Although he deeply resented the fact that Jiang Ren always wore a composed expression of absolute control whenever they met, he also understood that in many respects, Jiang Ren far surpassed him.

Therefore, he did not believe Jiang Ren would utter baseless assertions born of mere speculation.

"Have any of you been abroad? I mean traveling to countries outside this continent."

Jiang Ren did not offer an explanation and instead posed another question.

Though bewildered, the Meatball replied, "I went on a trip abroad just last year."

The elementary schooler chimed in, "I traveled abroad three or four years ago. There have been too many affairs to manage these past few years, so I couldn't be bothered."

The Black Robe remained silent for a moment before speaking: "No."

Traveling abroad inevitably involved security checks, and given his skeletal appearance, his cover would be blown one hundred percent of the time.

The Federation's domestic territory was relatively manageable, as official government-issued credentials could bypass security checks, but foreign nations were not nearly as accommodating. Consequently, he had never entertained the thought of going abroad.

"If you like, I can go scout out a few foreign beauties and bring them back."

Beatrice, however, rested her elbows on the table, propped her chin with the back of her hand, and cast a flirtatious wink.

Jiang Ren was not surprised by this outcome and continued, "Then can you recall what you experienced after going abroad? What did you do?"

"Of course I can, why wouldn't I?"

The Meatball opened his mouth to speak, but his expression suddenly froze.

The other three beside him wore identical expressions of stupefaction.

They only remembered that they had indeed gone abroad, where they went, and how many days they spent playing.

Yet when they tried to recall the specific scenery of the destinations, the names and room numbers of the hotels they stayed in, or what items they had purchased and used along the way, their minds were entirely blank.

The elementary schooler's expression shifted slightly as he asked, "Demon, is this what you meant by being isolated?"

"Eight seconds left."

Without answering, Jiang Ren took out his newly purchased phone and checked the time displayed on the screen.

The Meatball was losing his patience: "Demon, since you already know, you might as well spell it out for us... Huh?"

"Demon, what was it you wanted to tell us again?"

Mid-sentence, the Meatball froze once more, then asked with a puzzled expression.

The elementary schooler and the others nodded, bewildered. "That's right, Jiang Ren, just say whatever is on your mind."

Had it been overwritten again?

Seeing this, Jiang Ren realized that they, too, had failed to successfully resist that altering force.

After a brief silence, he smiled and said, "It's nothing. It's just that since we've all finally gathered together only to part ways again so soon, I couldn't bear to see you leave."

The Meatball sneered and rolled his eyes.

"If there's nothing else, I'm going to catch up on some sleep."

Yawning and stretching lazily, the elementary schooler stood up and walked into the villa.

"You know I don't like the daytime."

The Black Robe followed him inside. Although the sunlight posed no physical harm to him, he was more accustomed to resting during this time of day.

Seeing that two of them had already entered, Jiang Ren, the Black Robe, and Beatrice all went inside the villa as well, intending to get some proper rest.

After resting for a day, the individuals departed one by one.

From beginning to end, none of the four asked Jiang Ren why he had clashed with the Heavenly God Society, why he kept the iron box obtained from Bridges by his side, nor what was actually hidden inside the iron box.

Half a day later.

Jiang Ren returned to the registered headquarters of the Demon Clearing Company, a modified warehouse located in the suburbs.

Within the employee office area, traces of gunfire and small patches of uncleaned blood could still be faintly seen.

Early that very morning, someone claiming to be a Federation government official had contacted Jiang Ren, offering compensation for all personnel casualties and property damage sustained by his company.

Jiang Ren did not say much, merely demanding that the Federation government issue substantial financial compensation to the families of every deceased employee.

The mastermind had already been dealt with; this was the final gesture of goodwill he could manage.

Entering the office, Jiang Ren placed the iron box on the desk and looked toward the slightly reflective glass beside it.

"An arm, an eye... and now a heart!"

Jiang Ren muttered to himself. These three items seemed entirely unrelated—with one of them even purchased from the system—yet he could faintly perceive an underlying connection between them.

Much like the limbs and internal organs of a single humanoid creature...

"The Demon's Left Arm? Unknown?"

Jiang Ren recalled the name of the left arm: "If that crimson solitary eye is the Demon's right eye, and this heart is the Demon's heart, will we encounter the Demon's right arm, left eye, left leg, and other similar organs and limbs down the line?"

"What connection do these have with the entity that isolated this continent?"

Lacking sufficient clues, Jiang Ren could not puzzle out these mysteries and could only silently commit them to memory.

Yet the only certainty was this:

The time he had left to elevate his world evaluation rating was running out.

"And this heart."

Jiang Ren gazed at the archaic iron box, a trace of hesitation flickering across his face.

The fragments of memory he glimpsed upon touching the iron box vaguely hinted that the owner of the heart was a fallen deity. As for the deity's name, appearance, or abilities, there was no mention whatsoever.

Undoubtedly, this heart was rather troublesome to handle.

It contained immense energy. If the left arm, which was already showing signs of slipping out of control, were to swallow it again, it might trigger consequences he had no wish to see.

At the same time, carrying it around was inconvenient, as there was no telling when the left arm might devour it.

Yet if he left it behind somewhere and it was discovered by a danger-breed, it would be tantamount to creating a powerful enemy for himself out of thin air.