At night, inside an apartment of roughly only eighty square meters in the "Urban Legend World."
Ebner, Xio, Edwina, and Philina gathered together, compiling the intelligence they had obtained during the day while exploring the "Black Cat Amusement Park."
—Because the area of this world was limited, land was extremely valuable, so an eighty-square-meter apartment was considered quite a large residence.
"Overall, those 'fragmented' 'Inner Worlds' are actually the 'Spirit World' corresponding to this hidden space.
"However, unlike the abstract, unreadable Spirit World we recognize, the 'Inner World' here appears far more orderly, almost like a reflection of a certain region of the 'Outer World.'
"This should be the result of someone forcibly carrying out a 'definition,' borrowing the power of the 'Ghost Empire' itself to accomplish it…"
Ebner slowly explained the results of his observations and pointed out the root of this world's disaster:
"I'm afraid it's 'the fusion of the two worlds, returning to chaos'…
"The core of the 'Ghost Empire' is that former 'Apocalypse Demoness,' Monica, which also perfectly matches her own symbolism."
After listening to Ebner's analysis, Xio said thoughtfully, "Was it Emperor Roselle who defined the 'Inner World'?
"Did he do this in order to slow down the trend of 'two worlds fusing'?
"But this method is only a 'chronic death.' It doesn't solve the root cause of the 'disaster.'"
Ebner nodded, agreeing with her view. "I also think it was Roselle's handiwork… I just don't know how exactly the 'fusion of the two worlds' was triggered, to the point that even Roselle, who was already an Angel at the time, was powerless."
"Perhaps if we find the items Roselle left behind in this world, we'll gain some clues…
"Additionally, we can ask the rulers of this world. Since they can produce those 'Urban Legend Rules' containing power, they clearly know something about the inside story." Xio, as a veteran agent of MI9, immediately proposed several plans.
"But we don't know where Roselle's leftover items are… We don't even know who the real power holders here are! In my character's memories, although a mayor is elected every few years, that's only the surface-level administrator. He definitely isn't the real power behind the scenes," Mrs. Philina raised an objection.
In response to her doubt, Xio borrowed Edwina's phone and pulled up the previous news article titled "The 250th Anniversary Celebration of Saint Roselle's Birth."
—Because the technological level of this world was only around that of the early 2000s from Ebner's previous life, and had only just developed 2G networks, plus the apartment being relatively far from a base station, it took quite a while for the webpage to load.
Xio pointed at the images on the page and analyzed, "Under normal circumstances, it really would take quite some effort to investigate, but tomorrow just happens to be Emperor Roselle's birth anniversary celebration!
"According to the memories I obtained from my 'role,' such celebrations used to be held only once every ten years, but recently they've been getting more and more frequent. In the past few years, they've actually been held every single year…
"I suspect the celebration is just a smokescreen. The rulers of this world are probably using it to conduct some kind of ritual to maintain the power of Roselle's leftover items.
"So I guess that during tomorrow's celebration, whether it's Roselle's items or the real power holders behind this world, they will both appear!"
Hearing this, Edwina and Philina both nodded after some brief thought, feeling that Xio's speculation made a lot of sense.
As for Ebner, he thought of the churches scattered across the Northern Continent and felt that the rulers of this world might be gathering "faith" to replenish the power of Roselle's leftover items.
After all, this world had no gods. As a "Saint" who had opened wisdom and brought civilization, Roselle naturally received the worship of the masses.
Next, the four of them refined the plan for tomorrow's actions, exchanging ideas back and forth, before washing up and resting separately.
…
At a sewer entrance on the edge of the city, a squad wearing special operations gear filed down one after another, murmuring something under their breaths while occasionally knocking on a specific rung of the ladder.
However, in the next moment, the ladder seemed to extend infinitely, suddenly becoming so long that the end could not be seen at a glance.
Yet the squad did not panic. Instead, they began climbing upward, and after climbing for more than ten minutes, their view suddenly opened up as they entered a vast "plain."
This was clearly an "Inner World," but it was planted with large quantities of wheat and vegetables, looking unexpectedly full of vitality.
"Every time I see these crops, I feel like humanity still has hope, that we can ultimately defeat the 'apocalypse'…" one squad member murmured while gazing at the wheat fields.
Upon hearing this, the squad leader's expression suddenly changed. He said sternly, "B-rank combat personnel Robin, I suggest that after this mission handover, you immediately undergo psychological intervention.
"You must understand that when facing 'Inner World monsters,' any 'weakness' or 'despair' can be exploited."
Hearing this, the squad member's face stiffened, and he gave a bitter smile. "Captain, I was just venting a little. Isn't that unnecessary?"
"No. Your mental state is already very dangerous. You're highly emotional and extremely easy to become nourishment for the growth of the 'Inner World'!" The captain glanced at him. "Don't think I'm exaggerating. Among the combat squads I've led, nearly half the people died for this very reason."
"Alright. After the report, I'll go for psychological intervention." The squad member shrugged.
After that, the combat squad once again fell into silence, until they crossed the wheat fields and arrived at the gates of a castle.
"Restrict," "Protect," "Obey"… Following regulations, they stared at the line of text personally written by Saint Roselle above the gate for three minutes before entering the castle and quickly arriving at the first-floor mission hall.
An elderly man with white hair and beard was already waiting there.
"Honorable Speaker, we have completed the initial exploration of the newly appeared 'Inner World' at the Third Municipal Hospital. This is the reconnaissance briefing…"
The captain saluted first, then took out a floppy disk and handed it to the elderly man.
"Thank you for your hard work… but you cannot rest yet… Just now, D-rank personnel reported that the 'Black Cat Amusement Park' has undergone changes…
"You have thirty minutes to prepare, then depart to ascertain the cause." The elderly man said gravely after accepting the disk.
"Yes, sir." The captain stood at attention and saluted again, then led his team out of the mission hall.
After that, he instructed his subordinates, "Free activity for twenty minutes. Assemble at the gate at eleven sharp."
Having said that, the captain then looked at B-rank member Robin. "You go for psychological intervention. You can be five minutes later than them. There's enough time."
"Yes, Captain!" Robin replied verbally, but the moment he lowered his head, a sinister smile curved at the corner of his mouth.
…
On the other side, after reviewing the contents of the floppy disk, the elderly man could not help but sigh. "'Inner World' incursions are becoming more and more frequent… and the 'Avoidance Rules' are getting harder and harder to follow.
"If this continues, it will be very difficult for the Foundation to keep this hidden from the general public.
"Fortunately, the time of the 'prophecy' is approaching.
"I just wonder whether the one who successfully sealed the monster inside the 'Black Cat Amusement Park' will be the new 'Saint' foretold in the prophecy?"
(This chapter ends)