World Occult Usage Guide

Chapter 322 Visitor David

Before his death, David and his Pentecostal companions escaped to a private yacht, escaping the chaos of Kinsasha's ten-odd days.

After receiving the email, David insisted on meeting the legendary World Tree leader despite objections from his Maori bodyguard and Pentecostal colleagues.

"Mr. O'Connor, this is too dangerous!"

"Rebuilding civilization from rubble is easier said than done. We'd better wait until the situation in Bantu stabilizes before making any moves."

"Without a doubt, the new ruler's future is bleak. The national treasury has been emptied of its reserves, and there are probably not enough cars, computers, or telephones available. They may even lack stationery and paperclips. They have returned to the primitive era and are simply not fit to cooperate with us."

“You’ve got one thing wrong!” David said sternly. “We are an international organization, pure altruists. How can we use terms like ‘unworthy’ to describe a government that needs help?”

No one could refute this. Finally, they stammered, "We just don't believe in that Lord of the World Tree. We've funded many leaders of the Southern Continent before, and they all ended up with corruption, dictatorship, or running away."

“At least I don’t think the forest ranger is any worse than Tshisekedi Kumasi.” David shook his head stubbornly. “That’s settled.”

Despite everyone's attempts to stop him, they had no choice but to let him leave.

Walking through the streets of Kinsasha, David looked around. Everywhere he looked, there were ruins. The walls of the once-glamorous buildings in the wealthy district were riddled with bullet holes. The Tshisekedi statue in the center, though not collapsed, was covered with profanities and insulting graffiti.

"Woo——"

A jeep stopped, and a tall, thin man poked his head out of the window.

"Hello, are you Mr. David O'Connor?"

"Yes Yes."

David made a good first impression with her fluent French and respectful attitude, and she responded with a broad smile.

"【Black Cat】, World Tree ID Silviculturists-00524, it's a pleasure to meet you, representative of the World Grace Pentecostal Organization." The man took off his hat. "Please get in the car, I'll take you there."

David and three Maori climbed into the spacious jeep. The bodyguards sat upright in the back, while he, not wanting to be left out, climbed into the front seat.

"Hey, old buddy, is your name really Black Cat?"

"That's not the case. It's just that in the World Tree system, the rangers stipulate that employees should address each other by the code on their ID or by a number instead of their real name," Black Cat explained as he drove. "If you're not used to calling me that, at least call me 'Sir.'"

David noticed a special metal pin on his hat. Unlike the traditional gold, red, or blue medals, it was a deep yellowish-green, as if it were specially made to match his military overcoat.

Is this the World Tree's rank?

He suppressed his doubts and continued his research.

"Sir, what about your old Bantu ID?"

“I’d rather throw this thing away.” The black cat spat. “Besides being a Bantu person, my ID card also has a big red stamp on it—Tusi.”

"You are a Tutsi."

“I hate that phrase the most. It reminds me of the ridicule I received when I enlisted, when everyone always called me ‘Bor’.”

"Uncle?"

“It’s a local slang term that means ‘phallus.’” Black Cat clicked his tongue. “The Hutu people think we’re spineless cowards, an inferior race that hasn’t undergone female genital mutilation.”

"That sounds terrifying!"

"This red stamp that divides the Bantu into two groups of people means that I have to wait half a month longer than others to get an ID card. What's worse is that when the president first took office, the division became even more severe, and people would throw stones at me when I walked on the street."

“No wonder.” David said thoughtfully, and to confirm his guess, he asked bluntly, “So you think the World Tree’s ID card is a great invention?”

"This kind of identity verification, which transcends class, ethnicity, and even gender, allows everyone to maintain their dignity. That's why I'm willing to be loyal to the forest rangers."

Black Cat gripped the steering wheel with one hand and turned halfway to face David.

"Dignity is really crucial. It was a prisoner-of-war camp, a refugee camp where people lined up for food, and a rationing system. People who ended up there were threatened and killed simply because of their status, and they kept thinking: Why do I have to live like this? Why do people have to live like this?"

“The Pentecostal school believes that God loves people of all kinds, regardless of their customs or the languages ​​they speak.”

“Nothing makes me feel more respected than the World Tree ID card.” The black cat withdrew its hand and turned around. “I am also a devout witness of God, and now I have found the shadow of Him walking in the mortal world.”

"Is it……"

The conversation ended, and the two remained silent. Black Cat took the opportunity to turn on the radio.

A female voice broadcasted the situation of Kinsasha. After the war, the place was in ruins, hundreds of thousands of houses were destroyed, and the power and water supply in most parts of the city were cut off. Even the hospital only ran the generator for a few hours each day when performing surgery.

The broadcast also stated that a task force composed of World Tree employees and civil servants from the old government began clearing the ruins, burying the bodies, and, under the leadership of the [Architect], rapidly reconstructing important facilities.

It neither created division nor imposed obvious oppressive rule.

They even deliberately downplayed the tensions left by the former president, aiming to achieve a just society.

If I were asked to donate money at this time, I would be willing to contribute a small donation of 10 yuan to Youle, since we cannot take the general's testimony as the truth.

Perhaps the forest rangers are cultivating cronies and playing the role of "good president, bad general".

While admiring the scenery, David's gaze was drawn to a girl passing by.

She has a pair of bright blue eyes, delicate features, and fan-shaped "fins" around her waist that resemble a swallow's tail, making her walk like a natural skirt.

Despite being very young, she was accompanied by five young children.

"【Kalu Mermaid】."

The black cat stopped its car and greeted her; the girl walked over with a smile.

"Is this the Pentecostal representative, Mr. O'Connor, who is here to visit today?" David noticed that she also had a metal brooch on her thick black hair, the pattern of which was different from the black cat's; it was also green.

Is this the World Tree's ID card?
Isn't such a thin metal leaf vulnerable to counterfeiting?

Even with a good idea, without sufficient foundational strength and vision, nothing can be accomplished.

“Just call me David.” David glanced at the child hiding behind her, racking his brains for the right words. “Madam, you are truly a remarkable and heroic mother!”

Karu Mermaid's eyes shimmered with blue light, then she laughed and cried at the same time: "You've misunderstood, sir! I'm not their mother, and I'm not married yet!"

"I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry," David apologized repeatedly. "May I ask who these children are?"

"After the war, hundreds of thousands of children were orphaned and needed care. I adopted five children. Other colleagues from the rainforest also got busy, providing them with food and shelter, and teaching them some useful skills."

Karu the Mermaid counted on her fingers, a composure and gentleness beyond her years flashing in her eyes.

"First comes literacy, then there's identifying plants and animals, singing, fishing, hunting, and even talking to gorillas. Hopefully, these will become tools for them to make a living in the future... As long as they survive, there's always new hope, right?"

"Then you are a remarkable hero teacher."

"teacher?"

After listening to David's explanation, Karu the Mermaid chuckled and squatted down to pat the child's face.

"From now on, you have to call me Teacher Susumi!"

David observed her genuine expression and secretly gave her a thumbs up.

When I meet the forest ranger, I will tell him that I am willing to donate 50 yuan to Youle, plus three church schools.

He is happy to fund the children's education.

“Miss Mermaid, our Fifty Destiny Sect also has quite a few teaching materials. Let’s exchange them sometime.” Fearing she might not know what an email address was, David held up a paper business card between two fingers. “This is my contact information.”

"Don't be so troublesome."

Karu the Mermaid made a strange gesture, and green data suddenly shot into the sky, like rings of pulses, with Arabic numerals and Latin letters flashing and jumping, forming five floating interfaces.

She skillfully manipulated the snake-like cursor, and an ID card image and contact information appeared.

David's hands froze on the spot, his mouth agape, wide enough to fit an egg. He was stunned by the supernatural sight before him.

“Sir, once the forest ranger sets up your ID card, we can communicate directly through internal channels,” the Karu Mermaid said with a smile. “My ID number is Firewatch-0015.”

"..."

"Representative?"

David jolted back to his senses, and Karu the Mermaid had to repeat what she had said.

"Okay, okay... When I see Elon Musk—oops! When I see the Ranger, I'll definitely ask him for an ID card."

David's hands were still trembling slightly, his mind reeling, even after the girl's figure disappeared.

He originally thought the other party wouldn't even know how to use the most basic mechanical equipment, but to his surprise, the Karu Mermaid directly demonstrated 3D projection imaging, which was many times more advanced than email.

David no longer thinks about "sponsorship"; his mind is filled with wild fantasies, and he wishes he could drive faster.

Could the forest rangers share this technology with me?
"Beep!"

The loud noise from the radio interrupted David's daydream.

After the connection was reconnected, an untimely, sinister voice rang out, claiming that it was the legitimate government of the country, and that the World Tree was an intruder, butcher, and terrorist.

The black cat immediately turned off the radio, and the carriage fell silent.

“Are they Kapend Kumasi’s men?” David asked.

"Hmm." The black cat nodded grimly. "They still have quite a few supporters."

A desolate scene flashed past the window; the empty houses and abandoned villages reminded David that the aftermath of the war was far from over.

The jeep turned onto a main road, and the Capitol Building came into view. Its exterior walls were riddled with bullet holes, but overall it was in relatively good condition.

Entering the building, the interior is a completely different world. Employees passing by David are dressed in neat and clean clothes, using standardized language, and green data flying at their fingertips.

The scene was completely different from the dilapidated, backward, and wild place David had imagined.

Everyone wore the same green metal pins, though the shades varied and the patterns were subtly different.

What exactly is this?
How could so many be mass-produced overnight?
And its symbolic meaning is...

"【Leo】, the representative of the Pentecostal sect is entrusted to you."

David was met by a young woman, tall and slender, with an upright posture, wearing black-rimmed glasses, a fitted white shirt and jeans, and speaking in a very organized manner.

"So far, what is your impression of the World Tree?" the girl known as [Leo] asked politely, wearing an emerald brooch.

“I have seen many outstanding employees who are clearly trying to bring a new spirit of hope and achievement to this suffering country—a determination to be self-reliant and create their own destiny.”

"Thank you for your encouragement and recognition. I hope we will have the opportunity to cooperate more deeply."

“Of course we can cooperate! In fact, my desire to donate money has never been stronger.” David rubbed his hands together. “Hurry up and take me to see the forest ranger!”

(End of this chapter)