69novels Chapter 63 The Arbiter, Shiro Hime
Chapter 63 The Arbiter, Shiro Hime
第63章 裁决者 白姬（1/5+2/5，二合一）
Farlight Galaxy - Fog Mountain Star.
In the Yuanguang Galaxy, compared to planets like the galactic core Yuanguang Star and the tourist planet Fenglin Star, Wushan Star is one of the most inconspicuous planets.
Due to its harsh surface environment and scarce resources, most of the area on Fog Mountain Star is an undeveloped wilderness.
The surface of Fog Mountain is shrouded in a white, toxic fog year-round, and its diverse mountainous terrain is widespread, which is how Fog Mountain got its name.
But if any explorers manage to pierce through the fog and reach a valley on this desolate planet, they will witness a vibrant natural landscape.
The mountains and cliffs are layered upon each other, and the streams and valleys meander and twist.
Agile wild beasts run in packs and travel in groups. Thorns spread and entwine along the roadside, while trees stand tall and graceful on the mountains. Vines are everywhere, and fragrant green grass stretches to the sky.
The mountain shadows are deep and vast, and through the clouds and mist, one can see the stars hanging high in the sky.
However, if the explorer possessed a higher level of spiritual vision, he could see the true nature of this place and then flee in terror.
The layered mountains were riddled with holes, from which countless wriggling maggots crawled. The streams flowing through the valleys were a ghastly green, their bottoms stained with blood-red filth.
The animals running through the mountains and forests are skeletons operating like machines, while the beautiful vegetation is actually black and smells of decay.
The so-called mountain shadows, stars, and clouds are all illusions created through sleight of hand.
Even if near-Earth satellites conduct high-altitude exploration and scanning of this area, they will only determine that it is a desolate wilderness that can be seen everywhere on the planet Fog Mountain, and they will not be able to discover its secrets.
This valley is the hideout of the Purge agent codenamed "White Princess".
At this moment, deep in the valley, in a cave space carved out of the mountain, the Arbiter and Bai Ji sat facing each other.
However, one of them is a cyborg with half-body mechanical modification, and the other is a skeleton wearing a painted skin, so calling them "human" is a bit of a stretch.
"Bai Ji, I really don't understand why you went to so much trouble to transform your lair like this."
The adjudicator gulped down a mouthful of engine oil and grumbled at his colleague.
He was referring to the fact that, in addition to the usual concealment arrangements, Shirahime had spent extra money to create the illusion of a thriving valley.
In his view, instead of spending this spare money, he should save it up and take good care of the mechanical parts inside his body.
"What do you know, you roughneck? This is called loving life."
The masked man rolled his eyes, utterly speechless at the judge whose mind was filled with nothing but mechanical thoughts.
A box of bone powder sat before her, and she was using her slender hands to apply the shimmering white powder to the skeleton.
After a brief, aimless conversation, the two fell silent again.
The adjudicator sipped the engine oil, while Shirahime applied bone powder to the fine cracks in the joints.
Both of the Purge Bureau officers seemed somewhat distracted.
They are awaiting instructions from the head of the Purge Bureau.
During the long wait, both the Arbiter and Bai Ji recalled the original source of this plan.
It was during a meeting of the Purge Bureau officers that the two heard Gray Shu mention that his arrangements on the planet Golun in the Chengyu Star System had been going on for 1,300 years and were finally about to bear fruit.
Most of the Purge Bureau's agents operate alone, but after learning that the head of the Chengming Star Branch was that despicable old man, Copper, the Arbiter and Shirohime took the initiative to find Gray.
The three men had one thing in common: they had all suffered at the hands of Kopper.
After meeting, the three hit it off immediately and decided to create some big trouble for old man Cobb together. Taking advantage of Gray's actions on Golun Star, they would take the opportunity to severely damage the Chengming Star Branch.
The plan initially went very smoothly.
Gray Harvest concealed his clone within a specially treated stone sphere, which was then transferred to Fields, the young master of the Explorers' Guild.
Through Fields and the Explorers Guild behind him, Grayhu arrived at Golun without anyone noticing and reopened a plan that had been buried for thousands of years.
Taking advantage of the fact that the Chengming Star Branch was completely focused on the events on Golun Star, the Arbiters launched a brutal attack on the transport fleet based on intelligence obtained by the Director of the Purge Bureau through the [Information Worm].
Ultimately, the critical-level anomaly, [Cracks], fell into the hands of the Purge Bureau.
The Arbiter brought this dangerous anomaly to the White Princess's lair on Mist Mountain Star, where the Painted Skin Skeleton further processed the [Crack].
But then, a series of unexpected events occurred.
First, Gray's clone, under the protection of the Purge Director, was brutally murdered in front of the two of them during a meeting.
They vaguely guessed that something had happened to Gray Shu, and that the thing that had happened was likely Gray Shu's extremely mysterious true form.
Later, their long-distance communication was cut off. Not long after, the Director of the Purge contacted them, saying that he was investigating what had happened to Gray and asking the two to postpone the plan.
Then, during the process of Shirahime creating the [Crack], an unexpected event occurred again—
It can only be said that this is indeed a critical-level anomaly, as it has given rise to a consciousness similar to that of intelligent life.
When Shirahime attempted to treat the [Crack] with a secret technique, it suddenly displayed violent resistance and attacked Shirahime.
If it weren't for the fact that Hakuhime had made thorough preparations and had the Arbitrator protecting her, she might have perished.
Finally, the [Crack] forcibly separated the core consciousness along with a part of the abnormal entity from the main body and escaped into space.
These two incidents cast a heavy shadow over the minds of the adjudicator and Bai Ji. After consulting the head of the Purge Bureau, the only reply they received was a simple, "Wait for my notification."
"Do you think the bureau chief will let us continue with the plan?"
Bai Ji's question caused the Arbiter to pause, and the cyborg slowly shook his head.
"I have no idea."
The Arbiter looked up at the painted-skin skull and said in a low voice, "Bai Ji, I know you want that old man dead, but this time the situation is different."
"I understand." Bai Ji's painted skin moved without wind.
In recent days, the scene of the clone's tragic death has been replaying in their minds from time to time.
No matter what happened to Gray Shu, and no matter how Gray Shu's situation is related to the Chengming Star Branch, it is not the time to act rashly.
As agents of the Purge Bureau operating in the shadows, they have a deeper understanding of the principle that caution is always the best policy.
A silent darkness emerged in the dimly lit cave space, like a soap bubble that could absorb all light, enveloping the Arbiter and Bai Ji inside.
"Chief!"
"Chief."
Upon seeing the darkness, the two realized they had finally received a message from the Director of the Purge.
"Arbiter, White Princess, evacuate the Far Light Star System immediately. I will arrange for 'Upside-Down Clown' to meet you."
Neither the Arbiter nor Bai Ji spoke.
The director's voice continued to echo from the darkness.
"Grey's operation on Golun has been confirmed as a failure. Golun has not been damaged and is currently under the close surveillance and control of the Chengming Star Branch."
He did not elaborate on the situation of Gray Pivot's main body, and neither the Arbiter nor White Princess pressed for further details.
But the two knew in their hearts that the director's silence indicated that Gray Shu was indeed likely in grave danger.
"The Chengming Star Branch has some strange things we don't know about. It's enough that we were able to take advantage of the situation and steal the [Crack]."
"Until we ascertain the specific situation of the Chengming Star Branch, it is not advisable to continue activities in and around the Chengyu Galaxy."
You must retreat now, taking with you the [Scarred Rift].
The director's voice was neither gender-specific nor emotionally charged, but the adjudicator and Bai Ji knew that the director's decisions were never open to discussion or objection.
"learn."
"clear."
The darkness that enveloped them gradually disappeared, leaving only one last sentence echoing in their ears.
"Thirty minutes later, at the interstellar coordinates YG-34-8679·4891, the Upside-Down Clown will meet you at the corresponding location."
The darkness completely dissipated, and the Arbiter and Bai Ji exchanged a glance. The cyborg shrugged.
"Okay, in the end we still have to retreat."
Bai Ji applied the last bit of bone powder to her cheekbone after she had applied the disguise: "The director said that the situation is strange, and the two of us definitely can't handle it. Let's retreat obediently."
"It's alright for me, but you still have so much wealth on Mist Mountain Star that you can't move."
"What can I do? Why don't you talk to the bureau chief and ask him to give me a few more days to pack my bags?"
"See what I told you? It really wasn't necessary for Fei Lao Dali to transform his old lair like this, was it?"
"Your judgment is already hard enough; do you want to fight me?"
"No need, no need. We need to hurry, the coordinates the director gave us are quite extreme."
"call----"
The argument between the two ended with the arbitrator giving in, and Shirohime left the cave and came to the heart of the valley.
Here, there is a spaceship whose shape resembles a collection of bones; this is Bai Ji's private starship.
Unlike her, the Arbiter's highly advanced mechanization allowed this burly man to traverse interstellar space without any tools.
Only at times like these would Shirahime show a hint of envy towards the Arbitrator.
"Come here, Mommy. We're leaving now."
Bai Ji waved in a certain direction, and a lively, scruffy little dog came running towards her.
The adjudicator glanced at the puppy rubbing against Bai Ji's chest, a hint of apprehension in his eyes.
Who would have thought that beneath this mottled dog fur was a skeleton puppet meticulously crafted by Shirahime, inheriting most of the characteristics of the [Stripped Scar]?
Even the usually arrogant arbiter felt a little intimidated when facing this dog.
Just as the Arbiter was about to start the engine built into his body and head to the agreed coordinates with Shirohime, who was boarding the ship, a gust of wind blew in from outside the valley.
There is very little wind on Fog Mountain Star; the perpetual smog is the norm on this planet.
This breeze swept through the mountains, across the land, through the thick fog, and across the bodies of the Arbiter and the White Princess.
A gentle breeze blew by, and the adjudicator felt his vision momentarily blurry before quickly returning to normal.
Is it an illusion? After undergoing mechanization, the Arbiter had almost forgotten when he last experienced an illusion.
"Hey, what are you daydreaming about? Let's get going." Bai Ji's voice came from beside him.
The Arbiter turned his head, his gaze settling on the scruffy puppy Bai Ji was holding, and said as if possessed, "I just feel it's a bit of a pity that you went through so much trouble to create the bone puppet that fused with the [Scarred Rift] and then just left like this."
"----Yeah?"
Bai Ji lifted the puppy high and placed it in front of her painted skin to examine it carefully.
"It seems that's true. I'd feel pretty bad if I couldn't let old man Kober see how capable this kid is."
The interstellar travel engine of the Arbiter, which was in the preparatory stage, gradually shut down, and Bai Ji closed the hatch of her private starship.
"Nine oaths a year ago, I was ambushed by Kober's team and forced to undergo large-scale mechanized transformation, turning me into this inhuman entertainer."
Upon hearing the familiar name of his enemy, the adjudicator gritted his teeth.
Bai Ji's voice was chillingly cold: "Six years ago, he ordered the destruction of my dwelling place. My skeleton, which I had collected for over a hundred years, was destroyed, and I was left with hidden injuries—"
"Since the director has agreed to let us continue with the plan, we should not let him down."
The adjudicators were eager to make their moves.
On Shirahime's delicate face, Ueko's expression was full of excitement: "The plan is going so well, we're finally almost at the final stage. I wonder how interesting old man Kober's expression will be when he sees the two of us."
The adjudicator nodded: "According to the latest information, the Chengming Star Branch is investigating the whereabouts of the [Crack] on one hand, and on the other hand, it is also trying to save the planets affected by the Goling Star disaster."
Bai Ji quickly followed up: "Well means that now is very likely the period when the Chengming Star Branch Headquarters' defense forces are at their weakest."
The two looked at each other and smiled.
"Without further ado, let's proceed according to the original plan, head for Xingcheng Star, and catch them off guard!" The adjudicator was full of confidence.
"Using the [Cracks] ability, we'll first release the anomalies contained by the Chengming Star Branch, and then we'll wait for the right opportunity to strike." Bai Ji smiled like a flower.
"Grey Shu created a perfect work on Gojin Star, we can't lose to him."
"Once this operation concludes, let's go and visit him to thank him for his assistance. However, the whereabouts of his true identity remain a mystery, which is a bit of a headache."
"His real body has been hiding in a safe place, so finding it won't be easy. If all else fails, it would be better to just ask his clone left in the station for a thank you."
"Hehe, that's true."
The Arbitrator and Bai Ji exchanged words, completely unaware that the smiles on their faces carried an eerie and grotesque quality.
"Alright, enough said, let's get going."
"Let's go, I'm ready. Muqiu—Chengmingxing!"
The engine inside the Arbiter began to roar, and a multi-dimensional matrix appeared on its body surface, capable of shielding against various electronic probes.
Bai Ji, carrying the scruffy puppy, gracefully stepped into her private starship, skillfully adjusted various parameters, and set her destination to Chengming Star.
Moments later, a man and a ship took off and flew into the vast expanse of space.