Chapter 414: New Plan
Returning to the abandoned clubhouse, Lin Ye quickly completed intelligence transactions with several familiar factions via the communication device. He needed these major powers to find a way to deal with the anomalous creatures inside the Bottomless Pit.
If the Free City was destroyed, he would be affected as well.
The World of Ashes Shelter plan had already failed;
he needed to consider a new plan.
The things inside the Bottomless Pit were far more troublesome than Lin Ye had imagined, and even now, he still hadn't figured out exactly what was crawling out of there.
The traces left by those anomalous creatures were completely different from the three anomalous creatures in the area at a depth of 2475 meters. He didn't know where these anomalous creatures had come from. If they originated from deeper within the pit, was there some kind of connection between these anomalous creatures?
Lin Ye lay on the bed, pondering various problems. Before long, he had formulated a brand new plan:
The Bottomless Pit Cleanup Plan.
However, this plan was difficult for Lin Ye to execute alone.
He needed the help of those major powers, but he couldn't be the one to bring it up, because he was just a Mid-level Spiritual Energy User.
Lin Ye decided to make some preliminary preparations first. If those major powers proved unreliable, he would execute the World of Ashes Shelter Plan ver.2.0. "I hope there's still time."
Lin Ye closed his eyes and began to rest. Using the Fate Rule Fragment had left him mentally exhausted;
he needed to rest for a while.
He lay in the room until evening when he was awakened by the communication device. The message wasn't from Raymond, but from Ms. Carnot.
During the previous intelligence transaction, Lin Ye had inquired with Ms. Carnot about information regarding the research assistant, Sera. This was her reply.
Carnot Heavy Industries did indeed have a research assistant named Sera, but she was just a very ordinary research assistant. She had previously been assigned to a combat squad to collect samples and was now missing.
"There's definitely something wrong."
Lin Ye put away the communication device and left the room. After finishing the dinner Wendy had prepared, Lin Ye drove the new sports car Raymond had sent over to the library.
The night in the Free City was as bustling as usual. Even if it would be destroyed within three months, it wouldn't affect the present Free City.
On the way to the library, Lin Ye received a communication request from Raymond.
"How did the talks go?"
Lin Ye asked casually.
He could probably guess the outcome, but it wasn't a bad thing to hold onto some hope.
"It's already pretty good that a fight didn't break out."
Raymond said with a bitter laugh.
"Tomorrow the world may be destroyed, but we have won today's war, so we should celebrate the victory."
Lin Ye said in a very cheerful tone.
"Exactly, I even want to have a drink with you... I can have a soft drink."
Raymond stopped worrying about those troublesome matters. Even if the world ended, he would finish his last drink in the bar.
"Sure, come to the library. We can book the library overnight for reading."
Unlike Lin Ye, who had no foundation here, Raymond could book any place in the Free City for an overnight stay.
"The library? That's not impossible either... Can I bring a few friends?"
Raymond suddenly asked.
"As you wish... I don't like troublesome people. See you at the library."
Lin Ye ended the communication, stomped on the accelerator, and headed straight for the library.
When Lin Ye arrived at the library, the patrons inside had already been cleared out. Two attendants stood outside the door to welcome the guests.
"Please proceed to the third-floor reception room to wait. The master has already prepared beverages for you."
One of the attendants said with a bow.
"Thank you for the trouble."
Lin Ye first went to the second floor to pick out a few books that interested him, then headed to the third-floor reception room. The books here were usually quite valuable.
"Young man, I believe acquiring knowledge requires proceeding step by step. Don't you agree?"
In the third-floor reception room, an old man with a full head of white hair sat at the table, pouring himself a drink.
"No one dictates that puzzle pieces can only be assembled starting from the corners. That's common sense, not an absolute necessity."
Lin Ye sat down at the head of the long table, accepted the drink the old man pushed over, and poured himself a cup.
"Correct. Ordinary people can only follow clues step by step. We are different, otherwise there would be no need for us to gather here."
Ms. Carnot entered the reception room, sat to Lin Ye's left, and also poured herself a drink.
"I hope we aren't late."
Raymond walked into the reception room. Following behind him was a brawny middle-aged man with a beaming smile.
"Is everyone here? What about the representatives from those major companies?"
The old man spoke up.
"We can reach an agreement first and then notify them. They will agree.
There's a new friend at today's gathering. Let me introduce everyone.
This is Mr. Lin Ye. He's the one who brought back the information.
This esteemed old gentleman is the founder of the Free City, Mr. Oliver. This library is his asset.
This is the chief manager of the Joint Merchant Guilds, Mr. Liam."
After Raymond finished the introductions, they exchanged greetings.
"Young man, regarding the information you provided, I have one question. Based on the current situation's trajectory, what are the odds that the Free City will be destroyed?"
Oliver was the first to raise a question.
"One hundred percent. Can you not ask such boring questions?"
Lin Ye took a sip of his iced drink, his eyes not leaving the book page.
"Leaving aside that you're the only survivor, even if everything you said is true, that doesn't necessarily mean it's our future, right?"
Liam said with a smile.
"The traces left by the Pit Products can prove I'm not lying. Otherwise, you wouldn't be here for this gathering. As for the direction of the future... If you prefer standing on the edge of a volcano praying it won't erupt, then you can leave now.
I just arranged to spend the night reading at the library with Raymond. I'm not here to convince you to face reality. Wasting time talking to you is worse than finding some lovely ladies to sing and dance with, while celebrating the end of the world."
Lin Ye didn't want to waste words with these people. The Free City wasn't his Free City. He wasn't the one who should be seeking help.
"Completely agree. Should we just disband now? I've never danced in a library before."
Raymond poured himself a glass of iced beverage. Although he preferred alcohol, having a soft drink occasionally felt pretty good.
"Enough nonsense. Regardless of whether the Free City will be destroyed or not, we must solve the problem of the Bottomless Pit. On the way here, I just received news that the affected area has now risen to a depth of 2386 meters."
Ms. Carnot interrupted their pointless argument. She had some contact with Lin Ye previously. Combined with the traces left at the scene and the anomalies in the pit, she didn't think Lin Ye had fabricated the problem with the Bottomless Pit.
"Regarding that area, we have already made targeted preparations. Dealing with it won't be difficult. For that, we must thank you for providing the biological sample, Mr. Lin Ye."
Oliver smiled and nodded respectfully towards Lin Ye.