Survival on the Internet: A Bizarre Start at Sea

Su Zhisu was deeply shaken, but dared not show it on his face, and continued to focus on "feeling" the energy of the altar.

He secretly tried to guide a faint, strange power, through the gray-blue mark on the back of his hand, like a probe, towards the base of the altar.

Sure enough! Beneath the obsidian disc, at the bottom of the enormous vortex eye, he sensed a faint yet incredibly resilient force of order.

Like a chain, it is deeply rooted in the foundation of Atlantis, incompatible with the chaotic energy of the entire altar, yet cleverly maintaining a fragile balance.

Is this the key that Nautilus was referring to?

Just then, the amber crystal in his arms trembled violently, and Cthulhu's voice sounded from behind him, tinged with amusement: "Oh? It seems our 'Contractor' is exceptionally gifted, discovering the deepest secret of the altar so quickly?"

Su Zhisu was startled and quickly withdrew the probing power, calmly turning around.

Cthulhu had silently appeared not far behind him, his deep green eyes revealing no emotion.

"I just feel that the energy circulation here... is very special," Su Zhisu replied cautiously.

Cthulhu stepped forward and stood beside him, looking down at the swirling abyss below.

"Special? Yes... It is both a shackle and a cornerstone. Without it, Atlantis would have long since fallen."

"But with it, we are also forever trapped in this eerie, dark red sea."

"Oberon Seraphim, what's the point of him summoning us? Heh heh heh."

Her tone carried a complex emotion, a mixture of disgust and longing.

She suddenly turned her head and stared intently into Su Zhixu's eyes: "Do you know why I chose you, and not just Lilia?"

Su Zhisu remained silent.

"Because you are an external 'variable'." A glint of fanaticism flashed in Cthulhu's eyes.

"Lilia's bloodline is precious, but she still belongs to this world. You, however, are the true 'outsider,' and only you have the possibility of breaking the cycle."

"I'm curious, what kind of sparks will fly when old alliances collide with forces from beyond the world?"

At this moment, Su Zhisu clearly sensed Cthulhu's attitude:

An extreme form of exploitation, mixed with a hint of exploration of "unknown possibilities." She sees Su Zhixu as a dangerous yet useful tool, a key that might help her unlock ancient seals and realize her ambitions.

"Preparations are almost complete."

Cthulhu withdrew her gaze and resumed her seemingly innocent smile.

"Let's go and meet our 'guests' who have come from afar. The delegation from Hydeland should have arrived by now."

On the way back to the upper level of the temple after leaving the Tide Altar, Su Zhisu's heart was far from calm as it appeared.

The message from Lilia, the mysterious seal on the altar's base, Cthulhu's true intentions, the crisis Lilia faces, the impending confrontation with Elias... all these complexities are intertwined.

But the key to breaking the deadlock seems to be emerging—the ancient seal of the altar, and how to use the Moon Festival ritual itself to counter Cthulhu.

The meeting with Elias will be the first step, and also an extremely dangerous one.

"About my identity..." Su Zhisu followed behind the green-haired little girl, his voice tinged with probing.

"Oh~, my future little 'colleague' needs my help, but she doesn't even dare to address me properly~? Cutie~, what should you call me~?"

Su Zhisu gritted her teeth: "Sister."

"Haha~, that's more like it, my good little brother~."

Su Zhisu suppressed the turmoil in her heart caused by the word "sister" and followed Cthulhu into a side hall used for reception on the side of the temple.

The light inside the hall was soft, and the delegation from the Hydeland delegation stood quietly inside.

They wore blue and white clothing, symbolizing the ocean and exploration, adorned with gold stripes, which clashed with the eerie atmosphere of Atlantis—the colors of Hydeland.

The middle-aged man at the head of the group immediately stepped forward, his posture respectful yet neither servile nor arrogant.

He had a refined appearance, a gentle smile, and impeccable manners.

"Your Excellency Cthulhu, Head of the Hydeland Mission, Elias, extends Her Majesty the Queen's sincerest greetings. Thank you for your protection of Atlantis and for accepting our visit."

His voice was steady and powerful, and his eyes were clear; anyone would think he was a trustworthy and experienced diplomat.

However, Su Zhisu's talent came into play at this moment.

In the instant Elias nodded, he caught a fleeting glimpse of the coldness and turbidity, the same kind of icy darkness that originated from Cthulhu, deep within Elias's gentle eyes.

The feeling was like glimpsing a distorted shadow beneath clear seawater.

"Hehe~, Captain Elias, it's been a long time."

Cthulhu tilted his head, revealing an innocent and carefree smile, as if he had just met an old friend.

"Since we last parted, I've really missed the pocket watch that Queen Hedland gave you. Is it still keeping accurate time?"

Elias's smile remained unchanged as he calmly replied, "Thank you for your concern. Her Majesty the Queen's gift is as precise as ever, constantly reminding me of my mission."

"That's good~"

Cthulhu smiled even more sweetly, then, as if remembering something, affectionately pulled Su Zhisu close to her.

"By the way, let me introduce you all. This is Su Zhisu, my dearest younger brother. He only recently came into this world under my guidance."

"By the way, he's also a key figure in this Moonlit Ceremony. Brother Zhi Su, this is Captain Elias, a very important figure in Hydeland."

In an instant, all eyes were focused on Su Zhixu.

Elias's eyes revealed just the right amount of curiosity and appreciation, and he nodded slightly to Su Zhisu.

"So you are Lord Cthulhu's brother. You certainly have an extraordinary presence. It is Elias's honor to meet you here."

His words were polite and considerate, and there was nothing wrong with them.

But Su Zhisu clearly sensed a thought that carried scrutiny, inquiry, and a hint of extremely subtle malice.

It felt like a cold tentacle, gently sweeping over me, especially during the slight pause when Cthulhu mentioned the "key figures".

"Commander Elias, it's a pleasure to meet you."

Su Zhisu calmly returned the greeting, subtly keeping Elias's probing away.

He wore a polite, slightly distant smile befitting his current role as a "younger brother."

"I was just doing the task my sister assigned me."

He deliberately used the title "older sister," both as a performance for Cthulhu and as a test of Elias's reaction.

Sure enough, the coldness in Elias's eyes seemed to freeze for a moment.

Although it was so fast that it was almost impossible to catch, he was by no means unmoved by the "intimate" relationship between Su Zhisu and Cthulhu.

Cthulhu seemed very satisfied with Su Zhisu's cooperation and clapped his hands lightly.

"Alright, I've said my greetings. Captain Elias, you've come from afar, so please get some rest."

"Before the Sea Moon Festival, let my little brother Zhi Su show you around the city. He's very 'familiar' with this place~."

She pronounced the word "familiar" very clearly, her green eyes gleaming with an undeniable light.