Chapter 910 — Something Always Has to Be Paid

The faint shimmer in Metzen's eyes receded. Noting his astonishment, she explained offhandedly: "A speed-reading ability — extremely effective against written material of this particular danger."

She did not explain the principle in detail, because such matters might not be easy for a human to grasp — in that brief second, she had in fact shut off her biological vision and used the optical implant beneath her eye to scan the contents of the pages, then sent the text to her auxiliary electronic brain, which examined and filtered it; the "risk identification database" blacked out or replaced harmful text directly, and the result was finally output to her biological brain — the whole process efficient and safe, and largely without impairing her grasp of the travelogue as a whole.

Gao Yang did not probe further into the secret behind this wondrous "speed-reading ability"; he only asked curiously: "Now that you've read it, is there anything you want to say?"

Metzen thought for a moment, and her expression suddenly turned grave: "I want to ask first — what do you intend to do with this travelogue?"

She had even slipped back into the honorific "you," a clear sign that she cared greatly about this question, and that it had risen to the level of "strictly business."

"This book is one of the results of the Cecil Empire's Knowledge Preservation project. The project aims to collect and organize scattered, lost ancient knowledge, and to protect and restore all manner of old texts, so Mojin's Travelogue will of course have to be archived," Gao Yang said, his expression turning grave as well. He answered, but inadvertently omitted the fact that Mojin's Travelogue had already been copied and archived. "As for afterward... most of the knowledge in Knowledge Preservation is meant to be open to the public; that too is a long-standing basic policy of the Cecil Empire — you know this as well, I expect."

"Yes... literacy for all, the spread of knowledge... a fine system," Metzen said first, with a touch of feeling, but then she frowned and shook her head. "Yet some 'knowledge' is not true knowledge. It only leads people in the wrong direction, even drives them to chase after things that run counter to 'reason'... Do you understand what I mean?"

"You mean... that tower that lured Mojin deeper in," Gao Yang said slowly. "Yes, I can see it — Mojin was drawn into the tower by some force, and you must have been affected as well at the time — and now you've forgotten these things too, which makes the whole affair all the more strange and dangerous."

"Yes, it is dangerous. Letting the world know of the Voyagers' legacy is itself a risk — of course, I'm not saying anyone at all should be forbidden to know of it; after all, at the very least you and the craftsmen who once restored this book have already read the travelogue's contents. But that is a different concept from opening it to everyone. Some things... it is still too early to make them public."

Gao Yang looked into Metzen's eyes: "You mean..."

"I advise you, purely as a friend, to strike from this travelogue everything concerning Tarrond and that great tower... at least until we have some means of countering the tower's corruption, do not make that content public, lest more reckless souls go courting disaster," Metzen said earnestly, her tone sincere and urgent. "Our god has glanced in this direction already. I do not know how much He has learned, but since He has not 'descended' any further, that tells me He tacitly permits me to give you this counsel. My friend, I have no wish to interfere with you or your nation by any forceful means, but I truly have your interests at heart..."

Gao Heng waited only until she had finished before nodding and cutting her off: "I know. I agree."

This time it was Metzen's turn to be surprised: "Er... you agreed very... readily."

"I'm not an unreasonable man, and besides, I often deal with certain bizarre and dangerous things myself," Gao Rong spoke up. "I know how troublesome they can be, and I understand your concerns. Rest assured, I will hide away these risky items—you should have faith in the Cecil Empire's efficiency and in my personal credibility."

Metzen looked relieved: "Of that I have the utmost trust."

Then she drew a soft breath and rose, steadying herself on the arm of the chair: "As for now... I need to make a trip back to Tarrond. This matter must be reported up the chain, and as for that stretch of memory I myself have lost... I must return and investigate it thoroughly."

"I understand," Gao Yan nodded. "I wish you every success."

He watched Metzen rise and walk toward the study door, but just as she was about to leave, a question suddenly occurred to him: "Wait—there is one more thing I want to ask..."

Metzen stopped and looked back at him in confusion.

"About the Pioneers' legacy—I mean that great tower," Gao Cen said as he gathered his thoughts. "It clearly possesses a 'corrupting' effect on mortals. I want to know: did it have this corrupting property from the very beginning? Or did some factor cause it to become 'altered' in that respect? What is it that makes it so dangerous? And are there other Pioneers' legacies? Do they carry corruption as well?"

This was a matter of immense, immense concern to him—and the greatest reason for that concern was that he himself was bound firmly and inextricably to the "Pioneers' legacy"!

The satellite array in space, the Skyvault Station above the equator, and a whole series of other ancient facilities... all of these were things the Pioneers had left behind. Did they, too, carry corruption like that great tower near Tarrond? If so... then Gao Yang feared he would find it very hard to set his mind at ease again!

Metzen listened to Gao Song's questions and stood there quietly. Two seconds later she opened her mouth, and a mouthful of blood came spewing out—

The blood, bright red and glimmering with faint motes of light, splattered across the room, and some energy within it was enough to make the study's carpet and part of the desk's surface hiss with corroding green smoke!

Gao Yang was startled out of his wits; the next second he rushed to Metzen's side and caught the swaying agent: "Are you all right?!"

"It blew up... the sixty-eight-thousand limited edition with the light ring blew up..." Metzen stared at Gao Yang in utter despair, her tone verging on gnashing her teeth. "Why... why are your questions so dangerous today..."

Gao Yang: "..."

How was he supposed to know!

Metzen struggled with all her strength to stand, her body swaying several times before she found her footing again, and it was a long while before she spoke in a very low voice: "The corruption... it appeared later on, and only that tower possesses that kind of corruption..."

Gao Yang had not expected her to insist on answering his question even in such a state, and for a moment he felt both moved and astonished; he could not help stepping half a pace forward: "You..."

"Say no more!" Metzen instantly retreated half a step, and the violent motion nearly sent her toppling over again. Then she looked at Gao Yang with an expression so complicated that he could not begin to read it. "My apologies—this consultation is over, and I must go back and rest... Do not speak to me again, do not say anything..."

Say anything more... and there would not be enough left of me to blow up.