Sir! Don't close the net!

Rebecca's eyes twitched, and she kicked Li Yili hard in the knee.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"It's like a miracle!"

"With just a touch, Simon and Gajek turned back into humans! They've probably already left Theresa Prison and reached the nearest city!"

"Damn it—at first I thought this release from prison was just a hoax, but it's actually true! I'm so envious!"

Jeff glanced instinctively at the grotesque prisoners who were huddled together, muttering to themselves.

The prisoners had become accustomed to life at Theresa Prison, and even felt that Theresa Prison was...

The premise that things are better than outside is that they know they can never leave Teresa Prison in their physical form, but now a miracle is in front of them: their bodies can turn back into human form, and as long as they get Augus's forgiveness, they can leave Teresa Prison.

Jeff could clearly sense that the prisoners were restless, and this restlessness made Jeff very uncomfortable, even making him feel nauseous.

Jeff admitted that the miracles and words displayed by Augus did indeed have an intangible sense of sacredness, and even though he knew the inside story, he was momentarily overwhelmed by the scene and wanted to worship it.

Jeff unconsciously quickened his pace toward the tower.

Why did Bishop Avi collaborate with the Church of Steam and Steel?

The Church of Steam and Steel seeks a potion that can alter the numbers on the [Prophecy Algorithm].

What does Bishop Azawi want?

Saving the world? Bishop Azavet would never acknowledge the methods of the Church of Steam and Steel. In his eyes, the Church of Steam and Steel, which pursues science, is nothing short of heresy; otherwise, they wouldn't be secretly conducting experiments.

So what exactly made Bishop Azavet willing to engage in a 30-year experimental collaboration with the Church of Steam and Steel?

Chapter 57 Biological Invasion

Jeff hung the rest on the office door. To prevent anyone from blindly pushing the door open, Jeff locked the office door from the inside, drew the curtains, and checked the office again before taking out the relevant research materials that Walter had given him earlier.

Jeff didn't intend to completely believe the research data. The Cult of Steam and Steel did indeed want to create a potion to modify the numbers on the [Prophecy Algorithm] to avoid the arrival of [2012]. And judging from Walter's calm demeanor, the Cult of Steam and Steel was very confident in its experiment.

Thirty years ago, he could have believed that the Cult of Steam and Steel was only trying to prevent the arrival of [2012], but now, with less than three years until [2012], coupled with the Cult of Steam and Steel's corporatization...

It's hard to imagine that the purpose of the Cult of Steam and Steel is simply to prevent the Outer Gods from descending in 2012.

Perhaps at first the Cult of Steam and Steel only wanted to prevent the arrival of [2012], but when they realized that preventing [2012] was no longer a fantasy, but even going very smoothly, they began to think about the future. Three years is not a long time, and it will pass in the blink of an eye.

The Cult of Steam and Steel is a vast power, and a vast power cannot always focus on what is in front of it.

What effects will these medications have after three years?

Jeff dared not imagine it, nor did he intend to investigate. Even if he figured out what the Cult of Steam and Steel intended to do with those potions three years from now, he couldn't change anything, just like how the Cult of Steam and Steel openly controlled the entire wasteland through the market.

Moreover, the most important thing now is not the ambition that the Church of Steam and Steel will reveal three years from now, but the current goals of Bishop Azavet.

Bishop Azavet frequently criticized the steam and steel religions that pursued science. In terms of doctrine, Bishop Azavet detested the old ways the most, but from his own standpoint and development, science was the greatest enemy of theology.

Jeff believed in the principle that there are no eternal enemies in this world, only eternal interests. What happened today gave him a glimpse into the interests that Bishop Azawi wanted, such as turning what was simply a simple injection of drugs into a religious activity.

Regardless of their ambitions, the Cult of Steam and Steel's desire to exploit the potion's existence hinges on making others aware of its effects. Today's religious event completely overshadowed the potion's existence with Augus's personal brilliance. It's not important whether the prisoners on his return journey possessed the potion; what matters is the tendency to gain Augus's forgiveness.

If this trend continues, the Church of Steam and Steel will be reduced to a mere tool for Bishop Azazel to carry out his religious activities.

Walter seemed to have no objection to this, and it could even be said that Walter orchestrated this development.

Jeff flipped through the documents in his hand, his brow furrowed.

He did not believe that the already corporatized Church of Steam and Steel was willing to become a tool of Bishop Azavet.

"Is it because... the influence of this religious event is confined to Teresa Prison?"

Jeff's eyes flashed.

Theresa Prison is like a small, isolated world. All the prisoners' knowledge is confined to Theresa Prison and cannot be transmitted outwards, so it will not affect the future operations of the Cult of Steam and Steel.

So... what benefit did Bishop Azavet gain from this deal?

A religious event... for the prisoners of Theresa Prison?

Bishop Azavet collaborated with the Church of Steam and Steel for a full thirty years, all for the sake of conducting religious activities for the prisoners of Theresa Prison.

Jeff glanced at the pile of prisoners' files, took a deep breath, and gritted his teeth to sweep everything off the table and spread the files out one by one.

"I know the answer... The answer is right in front of me!"

The sun's rays, trailed by the starlight, faded away. The soft yet magnificent aurora borealis folded and spread across the top of Teresa's Prison. Strange lights, like tiny hands, slid along the curtains, silently illuminating the prison.

It stretches out in the middle.

The prisoners had long since returned to their cells, but they no longer trembled with fear, clutching their heads as before. Instead, they clung to the cell doors, gazing eagerly at the world outside. They even threw their filth at the liquid that was silently wriggling in the corridor. For them, the cell doors no longer existed; intimidation had become a topic of conversation in their lives.

"clatter--"

The heavy, viscous liquid stirred up layer upon layer of silent ripples with each passing footstep.

Li Yili stood in front of a cell, raising her hand to wave the curtains covering the cell, which fluttered in the wind. It was the cell of a missing prisoner. The cell, which should have been empty, was now occupied by deep green plants, and the unusual vitality made Li Yili feel somewhat uncomfortable.

What made him even more uncomfortable was the strange arrangement of these plants.

The large rhizome is on top, and the green leaves are below.

Of course, most importantly, there was no inheritance in this cell.

Li Yili looked up. The roots and stems stretched out from the ceiling and walls. The source of these plants should be higher up, and the only one with plant characteristics above them is Sif.

Did the prisoners go missing first, and then the plants took over the empty cells, or did the plants invade the cells first, leading to the prisoners' disappearance?

This is not a chicken-and-egg situation where even if a discussion yields a result, it would be meaningless.

Li Yili lifted her leg, turned around, and pushed aside the surging viscous liquid as she went up the stairs. The absurd knight, the ferocious iron maiden, and the eerie hunting dog all rose from the viscous liquid and walked alongside Li Yili. The viscous liquid no longer climbed onto the raincoat; instead, the raincoat continued to seep out.

Even if it makes some noise, the viscous liquid will not react in any way, just as it will not react to the sounds made by the knights, the Iron Maiden, and the monster dogs as they move.

He seems to have become a part of it.

Li Yili recalled what Qi Ge had once said: when traversing the abyss, one must clearly understand what part of oneself has become part of the abyss and what part still belongs to oneself. Only in this way can one freely traverse the abyss and escape it.

But what if he himself came from the abyss?

Li Yili stopped in front of Sif's cell, raised her hand and knocked on the cell door, and wriggling viscous liquid dripped from the serrated hood of her raincoat.

"This is a well-intentioned reminder."

"You shouldn't have invaded their world."

Chapter Fifty-Eight: I Got the Order Wrong

There exists a complete and perfect ecosystem in the natural environment. This ecosystem was not established by anyone, but developed over a long period of time. Every species plays a vital role, but is not completely indispensable. Even if one or two species are missing, similar species will take their place. This is the natural selection and improvement.

The ecosystem is maintained by countless two-way and one-way arrows.

However, the food chain is not a flawless cycle; in fact, it is very easy to break. If a species that has grown up in another food chain is thrown in, the perfect cycle will collapse instantly.

With no natural predators and a fertile environment, even a lizard can grow into a sea apex predator like a mosasaur.

As an intoxicating aroma of wine spread, thick branches unfurled, and a mature yet alluring figure gradually appeared before Li Yili.

Li Yili's eyes twitched slightly.

Just a few months ago, Sif was as thin as a malnourished little girl. After he institutionalized Theresa Prison to give prisoners who were unable to fight against lower-level inmates enough space to survive, Sif became a healthy young girl, and then she developed into a mature woman.

Unable to contain the institutionalized Theresa Prison, Sif has grown into a monstrous state, no longer confined to her own cell, secretly using her roots to erode the prison itself, and even growing in other prisoners' cells.

It may even emit a wine aroma that can put people to sleep.

In just a few months, without the restraint of other prisoners, Sif has grown to this extent.

Given Sif's rate of growth, it's only a matter of time before she takes root in every corner of the prison; perhaps even time itself isn't an issue.

Sif looked Li Yili up and down, then raised the corners of her mouth in a disdainful smile. "You're talking to me?"

Sif's arrogant tone startled Li Yili. He glanced sideways and saw that the starlight on his face was obscured by several dark figures. Several pairs of eyes completely covered in red and ferocious bodies came into view.

They were not the top-ranking prisoners.

Some plants secrete pollen to attract and control certain animals in order to protect themselves.

"boom--"

A bolt of lightning struck, and the deafening roar, as if the world were being reborn, drowned out all other sounds. A pale light pierced the office through the curtains.

Jeff suddenly stood up, slammed his hands on the table, and stared intently at the list of names of various prisoners, their postures, and a mindset different from that of normal society that had been implanted through experiments thirty years ago.

He remembered what Li Yili had once said.

The mask-making techniques and potions that can make anyone a mask, the social custom of using masks to live as different people, and ultimately, the faceless person who can become anyone even without using masks and potions.

A way of thinking different from that of normal society, coupled with extracting small amounts from the heritage over a long period of time.

The resulting substance can cause targeted mutations in normal humans.

This is not surprising; Walter did not hide the contents of the experiment from him.

There was one thing he had never understood before: why Bishop Azavet, or rather, why Augusart, would cooperate with the Church of Steam and Steel.

"Thirty years...an omnipotent social habit and perception..."

"Combined with refined medicinal liquid..."

"boom--"

Another bolt of lightning struck, but this time a human figure appeared amidst the pale light.

Large raindrops pounded against the window, and Jeff felt a chill run down his spine. He stiffly turned his head to look.

The window opened silently, and Auguste stood with his hands behind his back, looking down at him with a faint smile on his face.

"boom--"

Heavy rain pounded into the corridor, and the gushing blood mixed with the rainwater, being washed away like sewage by the viscous liquid.

Li Yili loosened her grip, and a head that looked like a mix of a bear's head and a spider's head fell to the ground.

Li Yili's gaze remained unchanged as she turned to look at the stunned Sif in the cell. She stomped on him, and his head exploded on the spot. Behind him, the knight, now only half-body, swayed and repeatedly hammered the corpse on the ground with his hammer.

"you you……"

"If you continue to grow like this, it will most likely turn out badly."

Li Yili raised her hand towards the cell, but the moment she touched the cell door, the viscous liquid clinging to her raincoat began to surge violently, and countless sharp spikes pierced the wall, abruptly stopping her movement.

Independent spaces must never be interfered with; that's the rule.