Survival on the Internet: A Bizarre Start at Sea

This move both put Su Zhisu at the forefront of contact with the delegation and placed him under closer surveillance.

Elias readily complied, bowing and saying, "We will follow your arrangements. It is our honor to be guided by His Excellency Su Zhisu. We also look forward to gaining a deeper understanding of this great city."

His smile remained perfect, as if he genuinely looked forward to this "tour".

Su Zhisu sneered inwardly.

Want to learn more?

Is he eager to find out his own background and investigate Cthulhu's true intentions, or is he looking for an opportunity to complete some secret mission assigned by his master?

"In that case, Brother Zhisu, please take the guests to the arranged accommodations."

Cthulhu turned to Su Zhisu with a sweet smile, but his tone carried a hint of commanding laziness.

"Take good care of our guests, especially Captain Elias, he's an 'old friend'."

"Yes, sister."

Su Zhisu lowered her eyes, concealing the thoughts in them.

He looked at Elias and made a "please" gesture.

"Commander Elias, and everyone else, please follow me."

Their eyes met again.

On one side is a gentle, polite, and impeccable mission leader; on the other is a seemingly favored but actually walking on thin ice contractor.

Beneath the calm surface lies an undercurrent of hidden agendas; this confrontation, watched by Cthulhu, has only just begun.

Guiding the delegation to "tour" Atlantis undoubtedly turned them into a moving target and probe, where danger and opportunity coexisted.

Su Zhisu led the Hydeland delegation through the temple corridor, where the eerie blue light cast by the water from the crystal dome stretched their figures into distorted silhouettes of varying lengths.

Elias maintained a half-body distance from Su Zhisu throughout, his demeanor as elegant as if he were attending a grand banquet.

Only the unconscious stroking of a dark green gemstone on his cuff betrayed his hidden anxiety.

"Mr. Su is deeply trusted by Lord Cthulhu, which is truly enviable," Elias suddenly spoke, his voice as gentle as a warm current.

"I heard in Hydeland that those who are favored by the Old Ones must have extraordinary abilities."

Su Zhisu didn't stop walking, her gaze sweeping over the wriggling tendril patterns on the relief carvings on the corridor wall: "The leader is joking. I was just lucky enough to meet the requirements of the ritual, which is why my sister guided me to this world."

"To be personally received by Lord Cthulhu is a stroke of luck that many people would rather die for."

Elias chuckled, a glint of light flashing from the emerald ring on his finger, his tone gentle yet pointed.

"For example... the amber crystal in your possession. Lord Cthulhu entrusted you with such a crucial item, which shows that his expectations and trust in you are far beyond ordinary."

The topic finally turned to amber crystals!

Alarm bells rang in Su Zhisu's heart. He subconsciously pressed his right hand against his chest, but his face showed a hint of embarrassment at being "exposed".

"My sister said...this item is crucial to the success or failure of the ceremony, so I will definitely protect it and dare not be careless in the slightest."

His gesture was perfectly timed. A knowing glint flashed in Elias's eyes, and his tone became even more intimate:

"Your caution is justified. This Moon Festival ceremony has far-reaching implications, concerning not only the survival of Atlantis but also Hydeland."

After a slight pause, Elias's gaze seemed to casually sweep over the spot where Su Zhisu kept the amber. His voice was low and sincere.

"To be honest, Your Excellency, I have come here not only to attend the ceremony, but also on the Queen's orders—if the time is right, we will sincerely invite you and Lord Cthulhu to Hydeland to strengthen the friendship between our two places."

Su Zhisu felt a chill run down her spine.

Elias's words, though ostensibly diplomatic, contained a terrifying message:

Cthulhu is attempting to formally extend his influence to Hydeland through this Ritual of the Moon.

"My sister's schedule is naturally up to her to decide."

Su Zhixu maintained a calm demeanor and deflected the question.

"I just need to do my job well."

Elias's smile remained unchanged, but his gaze passed through Su Zhisu and went to an invisible entity behind him.

"It's my duty... very good. The smooth conduct of the ceremony is the best explanation to everyone."

This conversation was no longer a test, but rather a declaration conveyed through Elias's words.

Elias was completely a manipulated mouthpiece; his words were both to put pressure on Su Zhisu and to issue a warning to Nautilus behind him.

Clearly, although the green-haired little girl hadn't actually discovered anything, she had already become suspicious of Su Zhixu.

Back at his residence, Su Zhisu carefully recalled his confrontation with Elias during the day.

Elias's seemingly friendly invitation carried an inhuman stiffness, making him seem unreal.

"As expected, Elias has become a puppet."

Cthulhu's intentions are clearly not as simple as the arrival of R'lyeh; Lilia's "player" identity also indicates her intention to travel to Hydran...

As his thoughts surged like a tide, he tried to piece together the scattered clues.

A sudden, burning pain shot through the gray-blue brand on the back of his hand!

It was not Nautilus's pulse signal, but rather a fragmented thought filled with terror and struggle, belonging to Lilia!

[Su...Zhi...Su...Save...me...]

My body... won't obey me...

[Cthulhu...she...is...invading...!]

His thoughts were in complete disarray, mixed with the tearing sensation of his limbs being manipulated and the despair of his consciousness being forcibly squeezed.

Su Zhisu suddenly stood up. Sure enough, Cthulhu had attacked Lilia!

The goal is to take over her body and steal Lilia's "player" identity!

Almost at the same moment, the private chat interface on the cross-network popped up, and Lilia's avatar was flashing.

【Dream Weaver lv.3】: "My lord... I'm fine. It's just that some of my energy was unstable and I couldn't control it well when I was practicing my talent. Now, I'm much better."

【Dream Weaver lv.3】: "My lord... there's no need to come over. Let me adjust myself. It's really just a minor issue."

Her message appeared natural, yet there was an underlying incongruity, as if every word was a pretense.

"Your Excellency, the Envoy? Hah~"

The information arrived so promptly, and its content so deliberately crafted, every word revealing her intention to prevent him from coming.

The real Lilia is desperately pleading for help through Nautilus's grey-blue mark, while this message, disguised as hers, is trying to push Su Zhisu away from the scene—Cthulhu doesn't want him involved.

No hesitation.

Su Zhisu took a deep breath, a resolute glint in his eyes.

He cannot lose Lilia as an ally, nor can he allow Cthulhu's plot to succeed.

We must save them! But how?