143. [Entropy Apostle] Johan Robbie
[…Whether or not there's a fake in this team, I really feel like sabotaging them and wiping them out.]
Featherfall's endless rambling, paired with Not Quite Rain's constant chiming in to keep her going, made Li Aozi wonder if this was the most unusual kind of player he'd ever encountered in Star Abyss.
It was truly terrifying.
Just as Li Aozi was about to lose his patience and consider leaving the team, footsteps echoed in the distance.
He tilted his head slightly, and a playful male voice sounded in his ear:
"Sorry for the wait, Sull, Rosie. I just submitted a mission on the way."
—Why does that voice sound so familiar?
Confused, Li Aozi turned his head and saw three men in GTB bounty hunter uniforms approaching. The two on either side looked grim, while the young man in the center wore a devil-may-care expression. His light green eyes swept over his companions before landing on Li Aozi.
"Oh, you're already here? My apologies for keeping you waiting."
The carefree man walked up and shook Li Aozi's hand:
"You must be Mr. Isaac, right? My two companions here are straightforward folks. Their words may sting, but they're good people. I hope you don't mind."
Hearing this, Li Aozi immediately realized he was still in disguise mode.
"It's fine." Switching to disguise mode himself, 'Isaac' said coldly, "I'm alright. Your teammates… have strong personalities."
"You're too kind, Mr. Isaac."
The young man smiled slightly before turning to his two NPC companions:
"Isaac is our newest team member. Don't let his rookie status fool you; he's a retired soldier with commendable skills, even holding a level four hero title."
The two NPCs showed no objection, looking at the young man with great trust.
"If he's your pick, Johan, then we're fine with him."
"Smith is right—Johan Robbie's judgment is rarely off."
Li Aozi squinted.
He hadn't revealed his full identity, including Isaac's honors.
For the young man to know so much meant one thing: he had his own intelligence network capable of gathering information anytime.
Reflecting on the half-month delay before receiving a response, Li Aozi deduced that Johan had likely spent that time gathering information on Isaac's identity before approving his application days ago.
With that thought, Li Aozi casually asked:
"Are there only six of us?"
Smith, standing to the side, answered on behalf of Johan:
"Yes. Our numbers are small, but joining us isn't easy, old soldier."
[—As expected.]
"Judging by your appearance, you're just regular GTB bounty hunters, right?"
Li Aozi asked curiously:
"Does our group have some unique quality that requires prior screening?"
"Ha, I figured you'd ask that." NPC Wellington grinned. "Judging by your words, Johan hasn't briefed you on our mission goals?"
"I've only received minimal information. Given GTB bounty hunters' usual work, I assumed it was about apprehending fugitives," Li Aozi said, deliberately glancing at the distant White Obelisk. "But I didn't expect you to gather here. Are there criminals hiding nearby?"
"Oh, bounty hunting is just our side gig."
Smith glanced at the young man:
"Johan Robbie, why don't you explain our true purpose to the newcomer?"
Johan Robbie?
Hearing the name, Li Aozi suddenly understood.
No wonder his voice felt so familiar—it was him.
Combining the two players' earlier remarks about immersion and authenticity, a clearer picture began to form.
"That's correct."
Feathered Phantom Blade—or rather, the young man playing Johan Robbie—nodded slightly, looking at Li Aozi before posing a question:
"Mr. Isaac, what's your view on humanity?"
"What?" 'Isaac' asked, puzzled.
"I mean—what are your thoughts on the people of Azure Star and their civilization, the delicate balance of the Four Nations?"
Johan's piercing gaze locked onto Li Aozi, stirring unease within him.
Activating [Eye of Truth], Li Aozi scanned the [Xuyu Tower] team. None were fakes.
Using Omega Energy openly, Li Aozi's actions didn't escape Johan's notice. Johan's eyes briefly flickered with recognition, though he said nothing, instead smiling at Li Aozi:
"As a retired soldier and earthquake relief hero, you don't need an immediate answer. But I believe you'll find your true answer eventually. When that time comes, follow your heart and stay true to your feelings."
"Is the answer that important?" Li Aozi crossed his arms, amused. "Does it translate to Jaluns, or bullets you can load into a gun and fire?"
"An answer is worthless; the truth is priceless," Johan replied calmly. "Here's my perspective: Mr. Isaac, I love this world and want to make it better."
"Sounds decent," Li Aozi shrugged, letting 'Isaac' continue, "So what's the plan? Why are we here by the White Obelisk in the dead of night?"
"Simple. What we're doing isn't complicated."
Johan unzipped a large tactical bag, revealing rows of pale polymer-shell bullets.
Li Aozi narrowed his eyes. "Those are Red Arrow military-grade polymer shells. That's a serious violation."
"Violation? No, sir, this is nothing."
Johan pulled out a terminal device:
"This is the controller for an AE-150 'Albatross' unmanned aerial gunship. Laser-guided, supported by networked low-atmosphere satellites. No security issues—I had the best [Mechanist] optimize it."
"The best [Mechanist]?" Li Aozi's eyes sharpened. "Their name is…"
"Du Zexin, former elite agent of Law III."
Johan replied nonchalantly:
"Of course, he's left that chaotic and corrupt homeland behind for the embrace of truth."
'Isaac' stared at Johan with a grave expression. "Tell me, what are you planning? Are you trying to stage a rebellion?"
"Don't use such harsh words," Johan said coolly. "We're here to destroy the world."
Li Aozi deactivated disguise mode. Any further dialogue as Isaac risked sending Isaac's blood pressure soaring to astronomical levels.
"Johan Robbie," Li Aozi said, "you're planning a terrorist attack, aren't you?"
"Actually, an uprising," Johan shrugged. "You probably don't know about Ersa and the Entropy Monarch yet—"
"I do."
"You do? Then that simplifies things."
Johan retrieved a 20mm heavy machine gun from his bag and looked at Li Aozi:
"In short, we plan to surrender to the Entropy Monarch. To offer this decaying world as tribute to His Majesty, letting entropy's endless increase lead Azure Star to its ultimate conclusion."
He said it casually, as if commenting on a breakfast of scallion pancakes and soup.
Li Aozi raised his head, carefully observing the man.
Feathered Phantom Blade—or rather, Johan Robbie. Memories of him, long faded, resurfaced with each chillingly calm statement.
He wasn't particularly notable.
Just the world's first successful digital immigrant into Star Abyss, a convicted felon sentenced to 1,500 years of electronic imprisonment through upload surgery.
As an early digital immigrant, he possessed both an NPC template and player attributes, explaining his camaraderie with local NPCs—because he was one of them.
He hated the Federation, despised players, and loathed the Qiqiao Network that experimented on him, using him as a test subject. He had long been plotting revenge.
In version 2.17, Johan officially defected to the Entropy Monarch, leading countless Entropy Apostles in a successful assault on Red Arrow's capital.
Among the Entropy Apostles storming the Four Nations' political centers was a familiar figure to Li Aozi—N4. Having reached the limits of pathway pursuit, N4 found the Entropy Monarch's offer irresistible.
That was all there was to it.