"Only then did I realize that everything he said was true."

"Doomsday prophesied the utter destruction of the Secret Sea on this very day. Furthermore, they enacted it—they pushed the process forward."

When he mentioned "Doomsday," he wasn’t referring to the apocalyptic event but was using the proper name of the Church. In this world, the pronunciation for a Church was distinct, even if the written words were identical.

"The Lorren you knew was just one small casualty among countless destructions!"

’Talk about opening a can of worms...’

"Only by joining them can we be spared from destruction in this doomsday."

"Only then can we gain their protection!"

"Do you think we wanted Lorren’s destruction?! We were just trying to save ourselves!"

Lu Cang frowned. "How is this doomsday being brought about?"

"You think I would know?"

"Right... What about Mokri? Since you know about all this, you must have met him, right?"

Lu Cang said flatly, "Killed him."

"Kill...?"

"Killed him?"

"How could you kill him!"

"Do you have any idea how many innocent people will die because of what you’ve done?!"

"He had to live! He was our offering to Doomsday! Only by having him join Doomsday could we have received their protection!"

"Now that you’ve killed him, what’s this country supposed to do?"

Lu Cang: "Heh. As if I care what happens to you."

’A madman.’ Teng Gai realized the person before him was completely unreasonable.

"Destruction on such a scale... will it really happen in this world?" Lu Cang scoffed.

"Is there no power capable of stopping this catastrophe?"

Hearing Lu Cang’s questions, however, Teng Gai seemed to relax, perhaps believing the contract he’d made guaranteed his safety.

He sneered, "Heh... I thought you were some ancient monster in disguise. Now, it seems you really are just a child."

"A doomsday of this magnitude has occurred more than once in this world."

"Doomsday has already orchestrated four such catastrophes."

"The Elemental Sea, the Absolute Boundary Mountain, the Sky Continent, and the Ideal Country that once existed in this world have all been destroyed."

"Do you really think the Secret Sea will be exempt?"

"In fact..."

"No one has ever been able to stop Doomsday. Any doomsday they fully prophesy will inevitably come to pass."

"The Secret Sea is doomed to be destroyed."

"Because this is the prophecy of a Level 3 Doomsday Prophet!"

"An existence comparable to a true Divine Spirit!"

Lu Cang suppressed the shock he felt at this news, maintaining his unruffled, almost mocking tone. "I’m curious. Now that you know your escape route is gone, what do you plan to do?"

"Plan on dying with your subjects?"

Teng Gai paused, then said through gritted teeth, "I will... leave this country."

"Will you make it in time?" Lu Cang asked.

"Seven days... It’s definitely not enough time to leave the Secret Sea. Not to mention the aftershocks of this destruction will affect even the Muddy Sea and the Boundaryless Mountain."

"I’ll escape using Random Teleportation Magic..."

"Before I leave the country, I will announce the news of the Secret Sea’s impending destruction to the public."

"As for how many people can escape, that will be up to their own fate."

’It would be impossible for everyone to escape.’

There were only so many Mages who could learn Random Teleportation Magic, the Scrolls for it were limited, and the Mages’ Magic Power was also finite.

Even if they teleported people out from dawn till dusk, day and night without rest,

they probably wouldn’t be able to save very many.

’If what this King is saying is true, then it really is all over.’

"If what you wanted to know was about the doomsday, that’s all I can tell you."

"Can I go now?"

But Lu Cang refused without the slightest hesitation. "No."

Teng Gai’s voice grew cold. "Are you going back on your word?"

WHOOSH—

The two of them suddenly changed locations, appearing in an instant inside the black server room.

Lu Cang said calmly, "Unlock this."

"Then you can leave."

Teng Gai stared at the server room before him.

He was stunned.

’Why did he bring me here? How did we get here?’

The server room was protected by a Restriction. Magic like the Flash Technique could only teleport a person to a place their Perception Ability could reach. A low-Skill Proficiency Flash Technique could only even reach places within one’s line of sight.

’This being...’

’Who in the world is he?’

"Why do you want this unlocked? It’s just our country’s stored data... There’s nothing you’re looking for in here."

By "nothing you’re looking for," he meant information about the doomsday.

Lu Cang’s tone was flat, laced with sarcasm. "What’s the point in asking so many questions? This country is about to be destroyed anyway, and you’re about to flee with your tail between your legs like an eternal sinner. You still have secrets you can’t bear to let see the light of day?"

The King’s expression darkened.

"This is the last thing I need you to do. After this, the contract is fulfilled," Lu Cang said coldly.

The King fell silent.

’It’s true. The country doesn’t really have any meaningful secrets left.’

’I was about to leave. Everything would be buried with it.’

’What difference would it make if one more person knew...?’

The King touched the white panel and input the corresponding signal.

HUMMM—

A white light flared, illuminating the entire server room.

"Place your hand on this white panel... and you can operate it," the King said.

Lu Cang: "Mm."

THWUMP—

The King had barely finished speaking when his body suddenly jolted!

He looked down to see that where his heart should have been, there was now only an empty cavity.

And Lu Cang, standing before him...

...was holding his heart in one hand.

"A mechanical heart... So, do all Mechanicians eventually become fully mechanized?"