Chapter 144: The Induction of the Plague Seal!

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In the Capital City in D-avao, far from the bustling downtown, in a modest suburban building, a young, devout man lay in bed, muttering under his breath. Despite his youthful appearance, no older than twenty, his eyes shone with an extraordinary brilliance behind his glasses.

Suddenly, an ethereal light began to glow beside him. Simultaneously, a shadowy figure slowly materialized, its form initially vague and ghostly before solidifying into something tangible. What started as a mere apparition now became an actual presence in the room, so real that when the figure's eyes opened, the very atmosphere seemed to ripple, as if responding to its powerful mental energy.

"Unbelievable! It really worked! Meimei is incredible!" The young man, Ian, leaped out of bed, shocked by the appearance of this figure. Travelling from De-Manila to D-avao, a distance of nearly a thousand kilometers, in the blink of an eye—it felt like a dream, yet it was real!

Opposite him stood Novak, still absorbing the scene. Even he, upon seeing Ian's astonishment, took a moment to process it all. Just yesterday, after a night of celebration in White Emperor City, Novak had consulted with Meimei about her newly awakened ability, about her incredible power: Dream Shuttle. This teleportation ability, defying all logic, allowed Novak to travel instantly to the Capital City of D-avao!

Without wasting time, Novak sent a message to Meimei:

[White Emperor: Meimei, are you okay? I've already arrived in D-avao Capital City!]

[Meimei: Brother Novak, I feel a little dizzy. I'll rest and message you later.]

Novak smiled slightly, realizing the mental toll this must have taken on Meimei. He closed the chat and turned his attention to the excited Ian before him.

"Brother White!" Ian exclaimed with excitement. Though they had shared missions in dreams, meeting in person felt entirely different. Reality, with all its vividness, was no comparison to dreams. For the first time, Ian stood before the legendary Novak, the White Emperor, someone he'd only seen in virtual guides or heard about in conversations.

Novak, however, was slightly taken aback by Ian's enthusiastic outburst, wondering if this excitement was too over-the-top. Shaking his head, he asked, "How have things been lately?"

Grinning, Ian replied, "Not bad! I got a great reward from our last mission, and my strength has increased a lot, hehe."

Novak wasn't surprised. The last mission at the Red Star Mental Hospital had been an S-level task, and as expected, Ian had likely received an item to trigger his next level-up. And it was only a matter of time before this kid got the job transfer scroll of the Hell Envoy. 

Novak knew that the universe always rewarded such exclusive, triggered missions.

But Novak hadn't come to D-avao Capital City for Ian's missions. He had something else in mind—a quest connected to the Plague Sect, a dangerous group somehow tied to his unique abilities. As if on cue, a faint green light glowed from a mark Novak held in his hand: the Plague Seal, retrieved from an old sewer. The green light pulsed with an ominous energy, confirming what Novak had suspected all along.

Turning to Ian, he asked, "Tell me about that chemical plant. What's the situation?"

Ian explained, "The Modu Chemical Plant used to manufacture plastic products. It's huge, covering tens of thousands of square meters. Before the apocalypse, there were reports of health issues and outbreaks of infectious diseases, so it was sealed off. Afterward, my dad and the factory workers started developing strange green spots on their bodies…"

Novak raised an eyebrow, surprised. "And you didn't think of going in?"

Scratching his head, Ian replied, "Well, last time you mentioned this place might be important to you, so I thought it could be dangerous. I figured I'd wait."

Nodding in agreement, Novak responded, "You've made the right choice. That place is dangerous."

Without another word, Novak stood up, ready to leave.

"Where are you going, Brother White?" Ian asked, confused.

"To the chemical plant."

Ian was stunned. "Wait, didn't you just say it's dangerous?"

"Exactly. It is."

At that moment, Ian realized something crucial. He had been trying to understand what made Novak so strong, but now he knew: it was the heart of a true warrior. While most people would avoid danger or carefully plan their next steps, Novak faced it head-on. This was what set him apart from others.

"Brother White!" Ian called out, determination in his voice. "I finally understand! I know how far I have to go to become a true warrior. I will—"

But Novak cut him off with a suspicious look. "What do you think you understand?" he muttered under his breath.

The chemical plant was dangerous, but not for reasons Ian or anyone else might assume. Hidden within were deadly, invisible bacteria and viruses, but none of that mattered to Novak. For him, this danger was personal—it was tied to the mysterious Plague Sect and his own destiny.