Long-term salvation

The black cat Pickman opened his eyes wide with despair, exactly like Rhodes's.

"You... tell me," Rhodes sighed, "what do you want?"

"Of course, let's have one here—Ah! Methuss!"

Nayako, whose head was pierced by a fork, screamed in pain, startling Abigail so much that she threw Pickman out of her arms. Pickman immediately seized the opportunity, flipped over and landed lightly, squatting in the passenger seat, never intending to return to his master's arms.

"Let's be serious," Rhodes turned the steering wheel to the right and drove the car onto the highway. "Or to put it another way, are they a threat to humans now?"

"How should I know? Those guys weren't my father's idea," Nayako forcefully pulled out the fork stuck in her forehead. The wound didn't bleed but healed quickly. After respectfully returning the fork, the silver-haired girl muttered, "Besides, many powerful beings are hostile to each other. I'm afraid I'll be chased and hacked by a group of people as soon as I show up."

"Good man, you were just trying to get something for nothing, weren't you?!"

"Hey hey hey."

Rhodes: “…”

It’s hard, the fist is hard!

The corner of Rhode's eye twitched slightly. He took a deep breath, drove out of the intersection, and stopped at the side of the road. Just as the car came to a stop, Nyako, who had noticed something, suddenly opened the door and rushed out. The next second, Rhode grabbed the long silver hair, pulled her into his arms, and pressed his fist against the girl's head, turning her.

"Don't mess with me! Don't mess with me now, in the future, or in the past!"

"Meow meow~"

But soon, Rhode noticed something was wrong - this guy seemed to be enjoying it! The girl's soft buttocks twisted restlessly, her back pressed against Rhode's chest, her head pressed against his chin, and she made a faint sound like a kitten whimpering.

Tsk... This female hooligan's attack power is indeed stronger than other girls. We can't play around with her anymore.

After pulling Nayako aside, Rhode reached out and flicked her head, saying unhappily:

"I say, aren't you a little too proactive?"

"What else? Like that idiot who bit his handkerchief in the car?"

Rod turned his head and saw Abigail biting her handkerchief with tears in her eyes. The next second, the blonde girl pounced on him like a wolf and bit his head.

"It hurts, it hurts—are you trying to memorize the Index of Forbidden Books, which contains 103,000 grimoires?!"

"I don't know that person!"

Hearing the sounds of Rod and Abigail playing, Nayako's mouth curled up slightly. She stretched and let out a contented sigh.

The silver-haired girl stood in the spring breeze, looking up at the sky, thinking about what to do tonight, but she immediately felt a faint breath coming from the north - the breath of the earth's origin. It seemed that the planet had finally awakened its guardian and was trying to restore the balance of nature.

After a little thought, Nayako's mood became better. She turned and walked towards the car with a smirk on her face.

"Hehehe, Rhodes will definitely need my help... What conditions should I put forward then?"

Chapter 180 Crawford Manor

After several hours' drive, Rhodes and the two restless descendants of the evil god successfully arrived at Crawford Manor on the edge of London.

It was already dusk, but the unpredictable weather in the British Isles was beginning to churn wildly. In the sky opposite the setting sun, which was emitting a dying light, cumulonimbus clouds were gradually approaching, with unstoppable momentum.

The cold wind before the rainstorm blew away the sunlight, bringing darkness to the area along with the night. Fortunately, the lights were brightly lit inside and outside Crawford Manor, illuminating the ornamental plants and scattered sculptures while also casting shadows outside the manor, forming a long, irregular shadow band.

Of course, this was not a problem, as the Victorian-style streetlights on both sides of the road had been turned on, sweeping away all the darkness.

Rod drove along the neatly paved circular stone road into Crawford Manor. The front wall of the mansion standing at the end of the road was a simple brown color and was not made more eye-catching by the surrounding lights.

Even so, Crawford Manor was a well-known place in the surrounding towns. Both the eccentric Sir Richard Crawford and his daughter Laura Crawford were often the talk of the townspeople. However, as the vitality of the manor gradually faded, this situation also disappeared without a trace. Only the occasional tourist passing by would be surprised by this ancient mansion.

The side walls of the mansion are covered with creepers of ivy and unknown plants, which add some beautiful breath of life to the Crawford family's ancestral home that has been passed down for more than three hundred years, instead of letting the ancient relics piled up inside drag it into the long river of time and decay.

Unlike those aristocratic manors with luxurious interior and exterior decorations, Crawford Manor looks more like a museum and garden. When Laura was born, Sir Richard immediately transformed a corner of the manor into a children's amusement park, where Laura's adventurous spirit and some of her skills were cultivated.

At this moment, a well-dressed elderly butler was standing in front of the gate of the manor house. His hair and beard were all white, and his limbs were well-proportioned. If you covered his face, which was beaten by time, you would never see a trace of old age - his back was almost as straight as the stone pillar next to him!

This is Winston Smith, the butler of Crawford Manor. He has witnessed the entire process of Laura growing from a babbling baby to an adventurer as troublesome as her father... In other words, Butler Winston can almost be called Laura's father.

Butler Winston glanced at the people in the car through the window, then opened the car door and said to Rhodes:

"Mr. Rhodes?"

The young man who emerged from the car was wearing a rather high-tech eye mask, his face full of fatigue after a long journey. However, his handsome face made the old housekeeper feel a little wary - he had heard Laura say that many girls liked the guests coming today. Although he himself was quite popular when he was young, at this age, his thoughts and ideas were very different:

For example, it would be best if Miss Laura could find a mature and stable man to marry, have a child, or adopt one, and then take care of the child before she is too old to move... For the butler of the Crawford family, there is no more perfect life than this.

"I don't think there's anyone else here with that name. Oh, no need to go back. The two princesses and I don't have much luggage. We just need your help preparing the toiletries."

Rod said with a smile, he turned around and held the hand of Abigail who got out of the car. The latter still had a sullen look on her face, while Nayako was carrying a small handbag that she had taken out from somewhere and walked towards the mansion in a carefree manner.

"I'm going to check on the others," Nayako quickly slipped in through the crack of the door that had been opened at a corner, clearly harboring no good intentions. "I don't even know how many people there are!"

"Don't cause trouble for others!" Rhode sighed and said helplessly to the butler, "I'm sorry, Mr. Butler, please forgive that idiot's recklessness. She's always like this."

"Please don't worry about it. You and all the other ladies are guests of the Crawford family. Miss Laura has been waiting for a long time. I have always believed that she needs to make more friends and not get too far involved in her father's archaeological career."

The butler's face was expressionless, but his tone was inevitably filled with a hint of relief. However, he immediately changed the subject, looking at Rhodes with a wary and suspicious gaze, and continued:

"It's just that I have a question, Mr. Rhodes, about Miss Laura."

"That's the problem... Abigail, you go in first and keep an eye on that guy Nayako," Rhodes said, reaching out and patting Abigail on the head. The girl nodded seriously and walked into the mansion with her fists clenched.

Now, only Rhodes and the butler Winston were left outside the mansion. After a few seconds of silence, the latter slowly spoke:

"I have no objection to Miss Laura's archaeological work, or to her studying with that occult mentor, but... mercenaries! Why would she be involved with these people? Please forgive my loss of composure and anger, sir. I must be responsible for the sole heir of the Crawford family, whom I have taken care of since childhood."

The old butler did look a little angry. His brows were furrowed, and his graying beard trembled. If that brow was a guillotine, Rhodes would have been beheaded long ago.

"Over forty mercenaries—that's how they introduced themselves—ran into Crawford Manor! If they hadn't been polite, I'd have called the police to get rid of them! And then what? Although it was Miss Laura who took the initiative to suggest it, I imagine that as the backbone, you obviously contributed a lot to this."

"Although there's a slight deviation, I can't deny it," Rhodes said as he walked into the mansion. He patted the old butler's shoulder and said soothingly, "Laura has extraordinary abilities. This will make her a respected archaeologist and hero in the next twenty years, instead of being affected by Sir Richard Crawford's death and spending her life obsessed with the resurrection of the dead... The supernatural? Of course it exists, and we will prove it."

Rhodes walked to the front door of the mansion. He placed his palm on the door, as if remembering something. He turned his head and said to the old butler with a bad look on his face:

"Mr. Butler, after we—including the mercenaries—leave, please settle the expenses for these days and send the bill to Aperture Technology's London office. I'll have them double the amount, add a zero, and refund it to you. This will be considered my initial investment in supporting Miss Laura's archaeological career. Time will prove us right."

After saying that, Rhodes ignored the surprise on the old butler's face, pushed the door open, and walked into the ancient mansion.

"Sensei!" x2

Chapter 181: Boss, Colonel, and Captain (1/3)

As soon as Rhodes walked into the Crawford Manor, he was hugged by Mary. He touched the little nun's head with a smile and at the same time pulled the long-awaited Hinata into his arms.

"We've only been apart for less than three days, right?"

"In less than three days, you brought back another girl."

"..."

Rhode looked up and began studying the patterns on the ceiling of the front hall, hoping to avoid the two slightly resentful gazes. Nayako, who had just met the two girls, poked her head out from the main staircase and watched with interest as Rhode fell into a Shura field. She cleared her throat and was about to jump out to say something when she was dragged away by Abigail, who had been prepared.

This embarrassing scene didn't last long. Laura hurried in from the side door. She relaxed after seeing Rhodes and said with a little helplessness:

"Mr. Rhodes, you're finally back! Hey...where's my mentor?"

"You can simply understand that he has suffered from mental pollution. Now he is preparing to go on vacation in Greece after handing over his work. I think you should see him back next month." Rhodes hugged the two girls and walked towards Laura, who twitched her eyes slightly.

Taking a half step back without leaving a trace, Laura produced a document and handed it over. Calling it a document was an understatement; it looked more like a page torn from a notebook. Importantly, it was filled with the personal and family information of the mercenaries who had come to this place, with their signatures following each paragraph.

After a quick glance, Rhodes discovered that most of the people there were middle-aged men in their thirties and forties, accounting for about 70%. The reasons for coming here were also very simple - they wanted to earn more money for their families, or they were unable to adapt to social life after retiring from the army.

Of the 48 people who came here, Rhodes felt that he could eliminate half of them, but the rest could also be introduced to Atlas Company or other directors. In addition, Aperture Technology also needed more armed personnel to perform security tasks.

Thinking of this, Rhodes no longer cared about admiring the decorations and archaeological relics in the Crawford Mansion, but quickly followed Laura and walked towards the banquet hall.

The timing was just right, and Rhodes could still make it in time for dinner.

It had been a long time since the banquet hall at Crawford Manor had been so crowded. The last time they had hosted a banquet for more than ten people was when Laura was born. Now, veterans who had once served the Queen of Great Britain were gathered together, moving between two long wooden tables, using tongs and forks to transfer food from stainless steel trays to their own plates.

The mansion's cooks and chefs were afraid that the soldiers would cause trouble, so they quietly replaced all the silver trays, but fortunately they didn't care.

The food here isn't expensive, but it's delicious and plentiful, from classic fish and chips to mashed potatoes topped with minced meat, or a stew cooked on a low stove—beef, chickpeas, and pre-fried sausages simmered in a broth so thick you can barely see the liquid underneath. Scooping a small bowl of it, paired with toast, is sure to fill your stomach while also keeping your taste buds from the rigors of British cuisine.

It’s a pity that no one paid attention to the meal. Most of them ate simply and then started talking and laughing loudly, sharing with others their lives before and after retirement, which aroused sighs and praises from everyone.

Rhodes pushed open the door to the banquet hall, and the slightly cold air swept in, causing the veterans closest to the door to shiver. They turned to look, and just as they were about to say something, their bodies subconsciously made way. Then came the people in the middle of the hall, and finally Colonel Faulkner and Captain Price at the far end of the hall.

The soldiers saw a young man wearing an eyepatch walk in. His single, deep blue eye radiated a subtle majesty, like an iceberg beneath the surface of the sea, both beautiful and dangerous. Several girls, some seen before and some not, quietly followed him into the banquet hall. They stood in the shadows by the door, quietly observing the humans before them.

There was silence until the newcomer spoke.

"Colonel Allen Faulkner," Rhodes extended his hand to shake hands with the most eye-catching veteran, and then shook hands with Price next to him, "and Captain John Price... I thought you would bring all your team members with you."

"Our vacations don't coincide," Price replied with a smile. He hadn't been completely insidiously doing any intelligence work these past few days. "You're an executive at Atlas? You're a bit young—but you're better off than a guy like me, in my thirties, who's still just trudging around in the military."

"There's no point in using flattery to test intelligence, and you're not half bad at all. Captain John Price, who enlisted at the age of 16 and became the youngest officer ever to serve at the Royal Military Academy... I like your codename 'Bravo6'. Were you promoted to captain last month? Congratulations, and a gift will be mailed to your unit later."

Price: "...You're wrong about that. I was seriously complimenting you."

Rhode glanced at Price, whose forehead was beginning to sweat, and then turned his gaze to Colonel Faulkner, whose frown had relaxed. Colonel Faulkner shrugged and said calmly:

"I don't care about that anymore. So, you are my employer?"

"My mission is dangerous and long-term, no different from military service... I believe you chose to come here because you heard about the corresponding treatment," Rhodes responded seriously. He raised his voice and swept his eyes over everyone present. "But you must be mentally prepared. Moreover, morality, tenacity, fearlessness, and obedience are the most important qualities. Simply superior military skills cannot defeat our enemies."

Enemy... Colonel Faulkner and Price exchanged a glance, and some thoughts came to mind:

As an employer, Rhodes had the audacity to speak to a serving SAS officer. This clearly showed that he had given it some thought and preparation. This meant that possible future hostile forces didn't include Britain or any of the NATO member states—the Soviets? It was hard to say. Perhaps they were targeting Third World countries, carrying out subversion or security operations.

"So, I'm giving you a chance now, a chance to quit... Oh, and of course that includes you, Miss Laura. I'll reveal to you the cruel side of this world and tell you who our enemy is. No one chooses to quit? Very good, that's your choice."

Rod beckoned Abigail, Nayako, Mary, and Hina to his side. He had Colonel Faulkner and Price stand in front of the soldiers, and Laura and her old butler, Winston, stand beside them. Then, he tilted his head slightly, smiled at the two girls, and said,

"Sing, girls, let them hear the real world."

Chapter 182: A Corner of the Real World (2/3)

There was no singing, but the world still changed.

At that moment, Price saw the world before him begin to distort and collapse, transforming into a boundless wilderness. This wasn't caused by hallucinogenic drugs mixed in with the food, nor was it the effect of some mental poison, and he knew this clearly. The captain turned his head and saw everyone looking at each other in confusion, the expressions of surprise on their faces no disguise:

What other drugs or chemical agents could allow forty or more people to simultaneously and clearly experience the same hallucination? With such power, what would they need more mercenaries?

Price's thought flashed through his mind for only a moment before he saw... an angel? A demon? And then there, side by side, stood the twisted, horrifying monster. Their appearances were different, but their blasphemous aura and ancient, terrifying madness were identical, as if they were twins.

The magnificent banquet hall had long since vanished, replaced by boundless wilderness, making humanity, at this moment, seem as insignificant as the sand beneath their feet. The terrain shifted, from wilderness to a continuous mountain range, which gradually crept forward before sinking into the ground, transforming into a dark and eerie abyss.

Everything in front of me became chaotic, as if it was a hysterical and meaningless scream after the boundaries of human imagination were broken.

The soft and low whispers, the chaotic and wild music, or the whistling wind all poured into the mercenaries' ears, piercing through the solid fortress built by the human spirit, and rolling wantonly in their brains.

It was a nightmare, a real nightmare - the sound of the wind was real, the touch was real, the pain and fear were real.

Price raised his head and looked into the distance, where a black tsunami was sweeping over... They were monsters, monsters that could only be condensed from human nightmares. They had limbs that violated the truth of biological evolution, hundreds of eyes, hundreds of feet, hundreds of hands, wings, hooves and claws. Their vicious and resentful gazes never left the fresh flesh and blood in front of them - every time Price stared at them, he would feel pain, as if the part of his sanity that had been cut away out of thin air had been filled with madness!

Take up your weapons... Price, take up your weapons...

what?

Price seemed to hear someone talking. He gasped for breath, then slowly calmed his chaotic thoughts and heartbeat. Then, he heard more and clearer voices:

"Soldiers, take up your weapons and go fight!"

The captain turned his head and saw Rhodes, this mysterious young man, surrounded by those lovely but not human beings. He walked among the mercenaries holding a stone, and the stone turned into a stone axe, a bronze dagger, a steel longsword, and a revolver in the next second.

The young man stood in front of everyone, raised his pistol and shouted loudly:

"Take up arms and fight!"

Yes, you have to fight, even if your opponent is a terrifying monster that is almost impossible to defeat.

Price lowered his head and saw a rifle in his hand, so he chuckled, raised the gun, aimed, and fired!

The bullet blasted out, shattering the world before Price like shattering glass. The cracks, centered around the hole, spread outward in layers. The monsters' hideous features froze in place, and even the most horrific and blasphemous forms became comical, like the crudely crafted, exaggerated monster models in third-rate horror films.

In an instant, accompanied by a dazzling light and a shrill whistling sound, Price found himself back in the banquet hall - in a somewhat disheveled state, he was lying on the ground, with some dull pain on his face from the fall.

A hand pulled Price up from the ground. It was Colonel Faulkner.

The old colonel, looking extremely bad, pulled Price up from the ground and said to Rhodes in a tone of fear and helplessness:

"Is this how Brigadier General Hammer's troops serve you? Carrying guns to kill monsters in ghost stories? You represent the United States?"

"Not at all, Colonel. Listen to the name of my army: 'An Army Without Borders.' We will not serve any one country, and our ultimate goal is to defend human civilization. We will use sweat, blood, and sacrifice... for humanity, until we die. That's what you must do."

Rhodes's eyes swept across the hall, finding those veterans who were still trapped in nightmares, and slapped them to wake them up - these people saw Rhodes' face clearly, and then showed expressions mixed with shame and fear - they failed the test.