"I'm really not..."

Verne desperately denied, "In our 404 City, there are many Bone Men like me, and we are all workers here. Entering and exiting this working area is also a part of daily tasks. We record our work in this Working Bone Castle, leaving verifiable records and logs... I'm just here to complete the daily work diary."

But the young girl said, "I've seen too many people who speak nothing but lies on the streets of Kabuki-cho. Liars always strive to explain their situation."

"Because for liars, the core is to confuse the facts, to make the other party believe in a fabricated illusion, so they proceed very calmly and rationally in this direction."

"But those who are truly wronged will only feel angry and aggrieved, and it's not easy for them to be rational. Due to strong emotions and agitation, they are more prone to incoherent speech and cannot demonstrate normal logical abilities."

"This is the self-verification trap in daily interaction tricks."

Yet Verne remained calm, "Ladies, I really am not, you can feel free to verify."

In fact.

It could be sure that the young girl in front was also lying.

If they really could lock onto him, by now they should have already taken him away directly, without the need for nonsense. The flaw was that the young man immediately questioned him upon arrival.

They weren't sent by the Heavenly People but had another identity.

Verne wasn't afraid of being investigated either.

Its core records were stored in this high castle's bones, and only the bones on its own body could read the information here. Strictly speaking, this castle was its true body.

So no matter how they attempted to verify with its bones, they wouldn't find anything.

The habit of timely archiving and physically separated backup, developed over many years by Verne, finally proved to be of great use at this moment.

Even the Bone Men here couldn't know who Verne really was.

Because of the characteristic of acting as "non-existence," they couldn't provide a description or impression of it.

It wasn't the least bit panicked.

The young girl, however, looked at it with a mocking gaze and said, "You really don't give up easily, do you?"

"I used to think that the villains in morning dramas were always stubborn, trying hard to exonerate themselves and argue even when evidence hit them in the face, which felt very exaggerated. Now it seems that drama does come from life."

"Being able to calmly admit one's own failure is indeed rare in this world."

Verne suddenly realized.

The words and speaking style of the person in front were very strange.

Kabuki-cho, morning drama... These are ancient terms known only to the old humans.

Verne tentatively asked, "Are you old humans?"

"Bingo."

The girl chuckled, "My name is Kobayashi Hina, and this is Xu Yuhang. We are what you call old humans."

The boy beside her remained silent, hands in his pockets like an expert.

Verne suddenly felt a bit of confusion, "But... weren't the old humans already extinct? It's impossible for old humans to have survived the Circular Flow outbreak..."

"What exactly is going on with you?"

"Take a guess." Kobayashi Hina squinted her eyes, smiling like a fox.

Verne was stunned, thinking of a terrifying possibility.

"Old humans weren't just on Earth; they were on other planets too, and you have returned..."

The girl suddenly couldn't help but laugh, teary-eyed from laughter.

"The name Verne suits you; you should indeed write a sci-fi novel about this Wasteland era... Since you know about us, then you should know that, before human civilization in this world was destroyed, it was still a long way from interstellar migration."

"Then you are?"

Verne was uncertain.

Kobayashi Hina's lips curled up, revealing pearly white teeth, "We broke through the Heavenly People's blockade and returned from Hell... Back to reclaim what rightfully belongs to us."

Verne's body trembled slightly.

The resurrection of old humans!

Most of the beings in this era knew little about the old humans, as it was an ancient era isolated by the Dead Sea. Traces of them could only be found in fragmented words in the city ruins on the dead sea floor.

Old human texts were many and complex, with a large amount of esoteric and awkward specialized language systems, understood and learned patiently and persistently only by the Mechanical Life.

But only those who truly understood old humans knew the brilliant civilization they once created.

It was an era when ordinary people could reach for the skies and delve into depths.

The degree to which current surface forces strive to reach is just everyday life for the old humans.

Mechanical Life is no more than tools created by humans, and the ancestors of the Guangna Species were pets and ornamental beings for old humans. Old humans even ventured into the realm of creating gods... The Concept Life nowadays, for the most part, are conceptual objects they created.

Old humans broke through the Heavenly People's blockade... are they planning to counterattack the Heavenly People and start a war?

Thinking of this dreadful result.

Verne suddenly experienced a bone brain overload.

"404 City is just a beginning."

The girl softly said, "So, Verne, do you want to make a last stand? Or embrace the new era and stand with us?"

"..."

The other party had a demeanor of having already won, yet it left Verne feeling something was a bit unnatural.

The initial speaker was the young boy, and because he misspoke earlier, the girl took over the lead, becoming the interlocutor.

That is to say.

These two old humans indeed had some kind of limitation.

Even though they verified its identity, they didn't take action directly.

The essence of their conversation was to gather information.

What did they want to obtain from him?

Just to make him surrender, facilitating their takeover of the entire 404 City?

No.

It's... time!

They were stalling for time!

Verne suddenly came to his senses, with Light Core operation, instantly turning the two in front into dust.

Then it hid into a safe chamber, issuing orders to all members of 404 City through the gemstones.

"Everyone, take your positions, the enemy is invading, activate the highest alert in 404 City!"

"All investigators participate in patrolling and clearing the invaders!"

"Bone Man field agents, enter combat mode and cooperate with investigators to hunt down spies!"

"7 pilots, respond immediately!"

Verne immediately heard it.

"I'm Pilot No. 1, no issues with underground radiation."

"I'm Pilot No. 2, underground Bone Fish is normal, nearby mantle flows are normal."

"I'm Pilot No. 3, the framework of 404 City is operating normally, the structure in all internal areas is without abnormalities, no traces of invasion found."

"I'm Pilot No. 4, collected minerals and samples are without anomalies, re-examination passed."

"I'm Pilot No. 5, no foreign life discovered."

"I'm Pilot No. 6, detected abnormal reactions in the far mantle area above, unidentified small objects are appearing!"

"I'm Pilot No. 7, unusual reactions detected in the Black Gemstone, an invasion by a Consciousness into the gemstone, numbers are continuously increasing... cannot sever them. Unable to control the invasion!"

Verne felt a sinking feeling in his heart.

The old humans completed the invasion through the gemstone.

In other words.

The pair of teenagers weren't lying, they did somehow breakthrough the Heavenly People's powers and technology, and even mastered the usage of the gemstone.

However, they needed a bit more time to fully control this place.

Verne immediately sought help from the Heavenly People's Clock.

"Requesting support, requesting support!"

"404 City is under attack and invasion by old humans, the situation is critical, requesting reinforcements!"

The clock responded coldly and crisply: "Fulfill your mission, inferior creature."

Although knowing that this would probably be the outcome...

The Heavenly People's Clock is prohibited from addressing any queries outside of command.

It will only issue such warnings.

Verne still felt very disappointed and frustrated.

He had no choice but to grit his teeth and plead for help on the delegate channel.

"Everyone, 404 City is under invasion! Requesting support!"

"The invaders are old humans, they have managed to break through the Heavenly People's blockade and have mastered powerful gemstone technology, waging a counterattack on the entire world!"

"After 404 City, it's your turn! The disappearance of previous deputies is likely linked to them!"

"It's of the utmost urgency! I beg everyone for assistance!"

There was no response for a long time.

Finally, No. 1 broke the silence.

[No. 1]: The mantle is too far away, I can't provide timely support, and the machine stack signal cannot be connected. You'd best leave 404 City immediately and find the nearest space channel to hide.

Verne said anxiously, "Their battleship has already reached the mantle, I'm trapped inside the city, I'll definitely be surrounded when I go outside."

[No. 2]: Transmit through the Heavenly People Gemstone, quickly, transmit the Consciousness out first and then discuss.

Verne was moved upon hearing that.

Yes!

How could I forget this method?

Project out first, then consider retaking the body afterward.

He immediately initiated the delegate projection.

At the same time, Verne saw. Many old humans appeared throughout 404 City, including the two he had previously killed. They seemed to possess an Immortal Body, wandering in the city, searching everywhere for him.

Seeing this city, which he had built and perfected single-handedly, now on the verge of falling and changing hands, Verne couldn't help but feel a wave of despair.

Damn stubborn old humans, just you wait!

As soon as the Heavenly People arrive, you resurrected corpses will return to your cages once again!

I will be back!

...

Inside the Heavenly Kingdom, outside Dawn City.

A Bone Man wearing a straw hat stood at the foot of the city wall, carrying a leather suitcase and dressed in a simple overcoat.

It was Verne, who had projected into refuge in the Heavenly Kingdom.

After much deliberation, he still chose to throw himself into the Heavenly Kingdom region because the security and environment here were the most stable.

And the most important point is.

The only one willing to accept him is [No. 4], who revealed himself as the Second Black Emperor, formerly the Slaughter Duke.

Although other delegates provided suggestions, they were not willing to make contact with Verne.

All feared bringing trouble upon themselves.

Verne couldn't help but sigh, although he used to be aloof and detached, now he's fallen into exile, seeking refuge, and living a life dependent on the mercy of others...

However.

Though the delegates didn't care, 404 City itself is significant. If completely fallen, it will escalate Heavenly People's attention, for the secrets within that city are extremely important...

He believes that once the Heavenly People notice the anomaly here, everything will turn for the better.

Once the Heavenly People intervene, all the old humans' tricks will be useless before absolute power.

He silently thought to himself.

Verne looked up, gazed at the giant city gate in front of him.

He walked inside.

At that moment, a massive blob of light suddenly appeared in the sky, like the back of two back-to-back tridents.

Supervisor?

Verne was overjoyed.

The Heavenly People have finally acted!

The Bone Man raised its arms high, praised be to you, great Heavenly People!

Then, he was erased from the spot by a descending pillar of light from the sky.

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