Chapter 254: Chapter 254 Exactly Us

“2019,” Chen Ke replied.

“2019… You’re the most recent Foundation agent I’ve met,” Pankia said.

Chen Ke glanced at the watch on Pankia’s wrist, aware that Pankia must have misunderstood something.

“When did you start to know?” Chen Ke asked.

“I should’ve known after the cookie factory incident, otherwise, I wouldn’t have ended up like this,” Pankia shook his head.

“How many Spiritual Ability Killers did the consortium use that night? Just because of that, the consortium wanted to get rid of you? Seems a bit petty,” Chen Ke said.

“No, it wasn’t about how many people were lost, it’s because of you, Chen Ke. I caused the consortium’s assassins to clash directly with Yasla’s men, and that’s what mattered most!” Pankia said.

Chen Ke snorted coldly. The consortium and Yasla had always maintained some fragile cooperation. That night, he, a single shot had drawn the consortium’s assassins, Yasla’s freaks, and the Administration Bureau’s agents all to one place, sparking a massive three-way brawl.

“Without those Silent Witches, the consortium can no longer use the Blasphemous Dagger to open doors. We had to look for other methods,” Pankia said.

“What on earth is the consortium looking for in the Great Void…?” Chen Ke asked.

“Don’t play dumb when you know the answer… You are a Foundation agent; I don’t know how you managed to travel into Lin Mo’s body, but you must understand how precious the things that can be obtained by completing a full cycle of the Great Void are,” Pankia said.

“…Hmm… This is also my concern. That night, you sent people in, then a man named Miles betrayed you, seemingly wanting to get that thing,” Chen Ke said.

“He’s an idiot. True Spiritual Power doesn’t come from the Holy Relics and miracles, but from something more fundamental. Miles has gone astray with Yasla’s delusions,” Pankia said.

“So he became corrupt; he drank the blood of the headless girl…” Chen Ke said.

“The cycle can never be completed, because no one has the power to complete it, not even your Foundation; you might have more advanced methods of using Spiritual Energy, but you are also helpless against the Great Void,” Pankia said.

“What’s this Life Countdown… have you heard of such a thing?” Chen Ke asked.

“I don’t know, I’ve never heard of it, I don’t know what you’re talking about, you asked me about this at the very beginning, is it that important?” Pankia said.

“Hmm… Can you assure me you’re not lying?” Chen Ke countered.

“Sleery is still in your hands, Chen Ke. I couldn’t possibly lie to you,” Pankia said.

“Don’t make me sound like a kidnapper. Pankia, how many Foundation agents have you met, and what have they told you?” Chen Ke asked.

“Not many, just four. And they weren’t here to see me, but to meet my grandfather,” Pankia said.

“Grandfather…?” Chen Ke was startled.

“The founder of Si’s consortium. Who knows how long he’s lived; it seems you are not a companion to those Foundation agents, what is your objective?” Pankia asked.

“First tell me what they wanted, does it have to do with the green Holy Diamond?” Chen Ke suddenly asked, inspired.

“In fact, that diamond was given to my grandfather for safekeeping by them, but unfortunately, it was stolen,” Pankia said.

“What years did those four agents come from?” Chen Ke asked.

“Much earlier than you, although I don’t know the exact years, but you clearly don’t have their type of equipment… Maybe it’s because you’ve taken over Lin Mo’s body,” Pankia said.

Chen Ke interlaced his fingers, pondering secretly, just what kind of organization the Foundation was; it seemed their people could travel freely through time.

He suddenly recalled the man he had killed earlier, who was known as a professor, and he seemed to be working for the Foundation too…

What time, the green Holy Diamond, the founder, the Foundation… these pieces of information intertwined, forming a puzzle much more complex than those posed by the consortium and Yasla.

This mystery had traversed through time and space, potentially involving the past and future destiny of mankind…

But what did that have to do with him?

“Simply put, you’ve really never heard of the life countdown…?” Chen Ke asked, only concerned about this.

The difference was that before he wanted to remove it, now he wanted to understand its origin and details.

“I haven’t heard of it, but I’m sure my grandfather knows something about it. If you’re willing to ask him…” Pankia said.

“Grandfather… where is he…?” Chen Ke asked.

“Have you noticed the black building of Si’s Consortium in Opportunity City? If you’re lucky, you might see him in the office on the top floor. But generally speaking, you won’t be able to find him. He’s too old… he can only recuperate in his own manor,” Pankia explained, shaking his head.

“Where is his manor?” Chen Ke asked.

“Even I can’t possibly know that. I’ve answered enough questions; where is Sleery?” Pankia said.

Chen Ke took out his mobile phone and called Sleery. After a while, there was a knock on the door.

Pankia picked up the shotgun, not quite trusting Chen Ke. He cautiously went to the door and quietly cracked it open.

“Dad!” Sleery called out from outside.

Pankia immediately opened the door, set the shotgun aside, and embraced Sleery in his arms.

“Little one…” Pankia’s voice softened, completely different from the tone he used when speaking with Chen Ke. Gone were the cunning and threats, replaced with indulgence.

“Dad, what the hell is going on? Suddenly, a bunch of assassins rushed into the house, and you wouldn’t pick up your phone.” Sleery asked.

Pankia removed Sleery’s aviator sunglasses and saw her bruised cheek, angrily turning to glare at Chen Ke.

“Did he hit you?” Pankia asked.

“You should ask those assassins that. If it wasn’t for him, I would be dead,” Sleery said.

Pankia pursed his lips and nodded at Chen Ke, saying, “Thank you.”

Chen Ke spread his hands and said, “It’s strange, Pankia, you’re not a likable guy, and you tried to kill me, but I don’t hate you.”

“The one trying to kill you isn’t me, Chen Ke. It’s the rules, just certain rules that can’t accommodate you. I am just the hand manipulated by those rules. That’s how this world operates, and I won’t apologize for what I’ve done,” Pankia said.

Chen Ke said nothing. It was a harsh reality, much like how he wouldn’t feel guilt for having killed so many people himself.

The world of humanity is gray; dirty dealings will never cease, and it’s these bloody storms behind the scenes that maintain the basic decencies in the visible society.

“Such things will always happen, it just so happens they are done through our hands,” Pankia said.

“And now…?” Chen Ke asked.

“I’ll take my daughter and leave this country. I’ve saved up enough to hide our names and start a new life,” Pankia said.

Sleery looked at Pankia, then at Chen Ke, unsure of what they were talking about.

Chen Ke looked at Pankia and dismissed the idea of pulling his gun and killing him. Pankia wasn’t his destination; the mystery of the life countdown remained unsolved.

The hatred between him and Pankia wasn’t dissolved, but for some reason, neither had the motivation to kill the other.

Just as Pankia said, the lethal thing was the rules behind the scenes; it just so happens these things were done through their hands.