60: Chapter 60 I've been waiting to hear those words for a long time.

"I have been waiting for these words for a long time."

As Su Yao's voice faded.

The atmosphere in the pump room instantly froze.

Everyone present was digesting the meaning of those words.

Divine energy crushes civilization just as gravity crushes an egg.

Executive Jiang Xu pressed his lips together, the veins bulging on the back of the hand gripping the dark gold spear.

Saintess Lin Xinglan took a deep breath, preparing to retort.

"This Specialist Su's analysis makes sense."

A voice with a distinct, muffled resonance exploded with extreme arrogance from behind Ye Qingqiu.

Su Qing strode out.

The power of shadow surged throughout her body.

She tilted her head, her eyes behind the mask sweeping over everyone present.

"A Rank C specialist managing to survive in such a slaughterhouse, witnessing the entire process, and still being able to give a coherent and complete report in front of you S-Class big shots."

Su Qing gave a thumbs up and waved it toward Su Yao.

"Impressive. You said it much more thoroughly than these big shots."

Su Yao was stunned; she couldn't see Dark Blade's expression through the shadows, but that undisguised protective attitude caused a strange sense of warmth to well up in her heart.

Dark Blade turned her body halfway, facing Saintess Lin Xinglan, Chen Jianguo, and the mysterious woman who made her instinctively feel something was wrong.

"I can now represent the stance of The Watchers."

Ye Qingqiu's heart skipped a beat.

"What?"

"The Watchers acknowledge Specialist Su's judgment regarding that monster." Su Qing's tone leveled out, but every word landed with heavy emphasis. "It is not an Abyss invader in the traditional sense. Its behavioral logic is self-consistent, and its threat Rank far exceeds the existing assessment framework. That bullshit win-win deal of Captain Jiang's is purely betting the lives of all humanity on a gamble."

"Do not say you were not warned."

These five words, spoken by a young girl under 1.6 meters tall, coupled with the shadow power surging around her, created a chilling effect that made people's spines tingle.

The pump room fell silent for a moment.

Chen Jianguo opened his mouth, then closed it again.

Saintess Lin Xinglan's expression became very subtle; she could distinguish between an organization's official statement and an individual's emotional venting.

Dark Blade's words just now—the wording, logic, and rhythm—were clearly an official statement made in the capacity of a spokesperson for The Watchers.

Su Yao stood in place, watching Dark Blade's back, a nameless emotion welling up in her heart.

She had personally reported Dark Blade to the Investigation Bureau, almost causing the other party to become a prisoner.

But now, there was no questioning, no retaliation; that person was actually protecting her instead.

"Why?"

"Was it because Dark Blade actually shared the same goal as her and agreed with her actions? Or was it that Dark Blade didn't know she was the one who reported her?"

But regardless, at this moment, a completely unrelated member of The Watchers jumped out to support her—

This feeling was very strange.

So strange that she almost wanted to cry.

Ye Qingqiu stood behind Su Qing, her facial expression nothing short of spectacular.

On the surface, she stood with her hands behind her back, posture upright, matching Dark Blade's speech with the composure expected of a high-ranking member of The Watchers.

But her brain had already exploded into fireworks.

"Oh my god."

"My ancestor."

"My little Devil King."

"What are you doing!"

Ye Qingqiu almost ground her back teeth to dust.

When the sky falls, the tall ones hold it up. You, a probationary member of The Watchers who has been on the job for less than two years, are declaring a political stance on behalf of the entire organization of The Watchers in front of an S-Class Executive, the current Saintess, the former Saintess, and the Chen Jianguo?!

Is your authority level high enough?!

Did you report this to headquarters?!

Ye Qingqiu took a deep breath.

Can't think about it anymore. If she thinks any further, she's going to have a heart attack on the spot.

What made her even more devastated was the reason for Su Qing's choice of side.

Ye Qingqiu knew this brat too well.

Theoretical models, ecological niche suppression-type Strange Tales—Su Qing couldn't be bothered to listen to these words normally, and she was always sneaking snacks during meetings.

The reason she jumped out to support Su Yao was so simple it made Ye Qingqiu want to vomit blood: Su Yao was Su Qing's own sister.

This girl was backing her own family!

And she dragged the entire organization of The Watchers onto the war chariot while she was at it!

But.

This was her person, so she should support her.

She stepped forward half a step, standing shoulder to shoulder with Su Qing.

"Dark Blade is right."

Ye Qingqiu's voice was cold and steady, carrying the weight expected of the person in charge of The Watchers in Jiangcheng.

"The stance of The Watchers organization is: before obtaining a complete data profile of this unknown entity, we do not support any form of active contact, inducement, or armed strike."

Saintess Lin Xinglan retracted her scepter, the golden light vanishing.

She swept her gaze across everyone in the pump room, the corners of her mouth slightly raised, that smile carrying a sense of superiority that made people extremely uncomfortable.

"Executive Jiang Xu, did you hear that?"

"The Watchers do not support you."

"Your own officials don't support you either."

"The Chen Jianguo wishes he could press the button for a nuclear bomb and blow you up along with your life."

"And that Rank C little girl..." Saintess Lin Xinglan glanced at Su Yao. "Even she thinks you're crazy."

Saintess Lin Xinglan took half a step forward, planting her scepter on the ground with a crisp sound.

"Executive Jiang Xu, why don't you look up? In this dilapidated room, who would stand by your side?"

Executive Jiang Xu did not respond immediately.

His gaze shifted.

Very slow, very heavy.

As if confirming something for the last time.

Chen Jianguo stood by the wall.

This Chen Jianguo of the Jiangcheng branch of the Investigation Bureau met Executive Jiang Xu's gaze, his lips moved, but he ultimately lowered his head, staring at the stagnant water at his feet.

He couldn't bring himself to stand up at this moment and say, "I support you."

Su Qing poked half her body out from behind Ye Qingqiu. When her eyes behind the mask met Executive Jiang Xu's dark gold left eye, she clenched her fist and swung it twice in the air.

It wasn't support; it was anger.

She had no issue with Executive Jiang Xu, but words like "betting the lives of all humanity on a gamble" infuriated her.

Executive Jiang Xu's gaze continued to shift.

Finally, it stopped on Ye Zhiwei.

The blind girl had not moved from her position from the beginning to the end.

She stood two steps to the right of Executive Jiang Xu, her whole body soaked in blood and muddy water, her frail body trembling slightly.

But her back was held very straight.

"Captain." Ye Zhiwei's voice was so hoarse she had almost lost it. "No matter what decision you make, I am with you."

Simple, direct.

Without any unnecessary embellishment.

Executive Jiang Xu withdrew his gaze.

He lowered his head, looking at his left hand covered in dark gold bone spurs, then at the alienated spear in his right hand radiating a devouring aura.

He was silent for three seconds.

Then he smiled.

"Saintess, you are half right."

Executive Jiang Xu raised his head, his dark gold left eye and normal right eye locking onto Saintess Lin Xinglan simultaneously.

"It is true that no one is standing on my side."

"But that is not important."

"Because from today on, the opinions of you people are not important at all."

The atmosphere in the pump room suddenly tightened.

Lin Wanqing furrowed her brow, golden threads flickering at her fingertips.

"What do you mean?"

"The meaning is simple." Executive Jiang Xu leaned on his spear and walked forward step by step.

With every step he took, dark gold ghostly fire spread an inch from the soles of his feet.

The stagnant water was evaporated by the high heat, hissing and emitting white steam.

"You are arguing back and forth here; the Saintess wants purification, The Watchers want to observe, the Investigation Bureau wants a nuclear bomb, and Specialist Su wants to take precautions."

"After arguing for so long, who has solved even a single practical problem?"

"Who will rebuild the Formation of the reservoir?"

"Who will clear the gray fog of Dahuang Prefecture? Do you have the guts?"

"The next time a King-level descends, who will carry the burden?"

Executive Jiang Xu's voice grew louder and louder, every question like a nail driven into the hearts of everyone present.

"You!"

He suddenly pointed his dark gold spear at Saintess Lin Xinglan.

"The spirit vein anchor laid down by the Saintess in Linhai City was rubbed away by a monster as if it were mud. Where is the millennium heritage of your Saintess? Where are those bullshit doctrines of yours? What are you using to protect this city?"

Saintess Lin Xinglan's face turned livid instantly.

"You!"

"My proposal is indeed risky." Executive Jiang Xu interrupted her, his voice dropping, which made it all the more chilling. "But at least I am thinking of a solution. And you? Besides standing here pointing fingers at each other, who has provided even one feasible plan?"

"The Saintess cannot protect the Formation, the Investigation Bureau cannot defeat the monster, and The Watchers only know how to watch the show from behind."

"This is your strength."

"This is the answer to whether you are qualified to question me."

"You—presumptuous!" Saintess Lin Xinglan could finally no longer hold it in.

She raised her golden scepter abruptly. Brilliant Holy Light erupted from the tip of the scepter, condensing in mid-air into dozens of golden light blades, each carrying a terrifying concentration of spiritual energy capable of slicing through S-Class defenses.

"The Saintess will not tolerate a monster like you, contaminated by the Abyss, to point fingers and dictate!"

"The Saintess's Formation was broken because you Daxia people are incompetent! What qualifications do you have to question us?!"

Lin Wanqing also stepped forward.

She was not as furious as Saintess Lin Xinglan, but in those pupils hidden beneath her disguised skin, golden threads had already densely woven into a net.

"Executive Jiang Xu, the Abyss rules within you have not yet fully stabilized." Lin Wanqing's tone was terrifyingly calm. "Your mental state has likely already been eroded by the will of the Abyss. For the safety of Daxia, I suggest you put down your weapon immediately and accept a comprehensive examination by the Saintess."

"If you refuse—"

Lin Wanqing tilted her head slightly.

The golden threads at her fingertips slid silently from her sleeves, spreading out on the surface of the stagnant water at her feet.

"Then don't blame us for using the Saintess's way to help you make this decision."

Executive Jiang Xu finally stopped walking.

He lowered his head, looking at those almost transparent golden threads at his feet.

When he looked up again, there was no fear in his eyes.

"I have been waiting for these words for a long time."