I’m Trapped in a Cube - Chapter 264

The area around the library was no longer the same as when Mo Ling first arrived on the island.

In the sky, components swirled like dark clouds, shrouding the entire village.

The runic engravings on the components gleamed with various colors, constantly flickering.

Some flowed like rivers, converging into streams that moved slowly through the air, while others hovered motionless, rotating at steady speeds. They all seemed to have their own tasks, like faithful sentries.

Around the library stood many strangely-shaped armor suits, surrounded by circling components, as if waiting for something.

Mo Ling could see from the account list that these armor suits all had very high permissions. They possessed top-level authority in different functional domains of the merman race, but now were completely suppressed by Mo Ling’s Highest Authority.

He had expected a fierce battle, but when these armor suits saw the group approaching, they cleared a path. They showed no intention of fighting Mo Ling at all, and the components circling around them remained quiet and motionless.

These menacing armor suits now stood like doormen on either side, and the components that had been hovering around the library entrance were also recalled by them, moving away from the group.

“What are they trying to do?”

After seeing these armor suits’ account names, Mo Ling had originally wanted to delete their accounts directly, but their behavior left him stunned in place.

“Greetings, Highest Authority.”

A familiar voice came through the fish swarm channel.

It was actually that ancient merman who had been conversing with Jeff!

“General Jeff has something to discuss with you,” the voice said to Mo Ling.

Hearing this, Mo Ling could no longer remain silent.

“Who are you?”

Following Mo Ling’s question, a slender armor suit with wings jutting from its back stepped forward, approaching the group openly without dodging or hiding.

Several pairs of massive wings were assembled from individual components, their runic light overflowing and engravings forming mysterious patterns that were incredibly ornate. Yet the body was very thin and elongated, looking quite ordinary, creating a striking contrast.

Above the winged armor’s head was a name glowing with white light:

“Fish Swarm 02.”

“Just call me Zero Two,” the voice spoke again.

The armor suit before them also extended its slender arm and bowed to Mo Ling.

Mo Ling was somewhat surprised by this strange behavior from the armor suit before him.

When something abnormal happens, there must be a reason. Why had these armor suits suddenly changed their attitude?

Mo Ling didn’t believe they truly respected him. They were simply afraid of his “Highest Authority” status.

“General Jeff requests that you enter,” the winged armor suit extended another invitation to Mo Ling.

Mo Ling naturally didn’t accept.

Although he didn’t need to worry about these armor suits harming him, the newborn mermen present wouldn’t last long under component attacks without his protection.

Just as he was about to refuse, he heard another voice.

“Go in.”

It was Bai Zhou!

Mo Ling immediately recognized this voice.

But where was he?

Looking around, Mo Ling couldn’t find any trace of Bai Zhou.

Just as Mo Ling thought he was hearing things, Bai Zhou’s voice sounded again, “They have a request for you. They won’t harm the people outside. Don’t worry.”

It really was Bai Zhou!

Mo Ling confirmed he hadn’t misheard, but just as he was about to speak and ask, Bai Zhou immediately stopped him, “Don’t reveal that I’m here. Do as they say for now. Trust me.”

Should he do as he said?

Mo Ling’s heart fell into conflict. He didn’t know if this voice from Bai Zhou was real or fake, and the group of armor suits before him were watching menacingly.

But thinking it over, Mo Ling suddenly realized something was wrong.

“I have Highest Authority. What am I conflicted about?”

With this thought, Mo Ling no longer hesitated.

He stretched out his hand and sent a command throughout the area:

“Lock down!”

Following this command, the armor suits were instantly bound by runic chains that wound around them, unable to move, becoming immobile statues. The components in the sky also immediately came to a halt.

After waves of flashing light, no moving components could be seen in the field of vision.

Next, Mo Ling gave the components above his head patrol orders to protect everyone. The dark mass of components quickly scattered, spreading throughout the air and vigilantly guarding the surroundings.

“Wait here for me. I’m going down to take a look. Be careful,” Mo Ling reminded Li Luo through the electronic screen, then walked alone into the ship-house-like library.

He wanted to see what these ancient mermen were really up to.

However, Mo Ling walked all the way to the deepest part following his memory without seeing a single component or armor suit.

It wasn’t until Mo Ling reached the desk where the great merman chief had previously read ancient texts that he discovered an elderly, hunched merman sitting there.

On the desk lay the same book as before, 《Merman History》, crawling with densely packed merman script.

The scene seemed familiar, but Mo Ling noticed something strange.

On the old merman’s chest was attached a piece of pitch-black, scale-like component.

This old merman was indeed the great chief, but it appeared his body had already been taken over by an ancient merman.

“Long time no see,” Jeff’s voice rang through the channel.

The old merman turned his head to look at Mo Ling.

Jeff had actually taken over the great chief’s body?

“Couldn’t find the original body, so had to make do,” Jeff seemed to notice Mo Ling’s confusion and explained.

“It’s been two thousand two hundred years since we last met, but it feels like just an instant to me.”

“What exactly happened? You were supposed to be just a prisoner, so why do you have Highest Authority now?”

Jeff’s words were full of confusion.

“And the books on this island – Zero Two says we carved them ourselves, but why would we carve these things?”

Having lost knowledge about immortality, Jeff seemed to have great difficulty understanding their past actions, continuously asking Mo Ling about various things.

“Why is this island’s ecology so strange?”

“…”

Holding the ancient merman text in his hands, he said with great puzzlement, “I’ve read the records in here. This is some kind of awakening program, targeting ourselves, once every two hundred years.”

“But what do the other things mean? Why use Immortal Wood to capture decay eaters creatures and place them in specific positions?”

“In my subconscious, I seem to know these things are all necessary, but I can’t remember their purpose at all. Could this also be knowledge about immortality?”

Jeff chattered on, asking Mo Ling a string of questions, though he didn’t seem to need Mo Ling’s answers.

“Although I really want to know the answers, if my previous self wanted to forget these things, then I shouldn’t remember them now.”

He sighed, slowly set the ancient text aside, waved his hand at Mo Ling, and pointed to the chair in front, inviting him:

“Please sit, Cube Tribe member.”

“Or should I call you – Highest Authority.”