Chapter 167

Chapter 167

"Did you record it? Or tear out a few pages?" someone eagerly inquired, but Mallon shook his head.

"No, I didn't see much. After only a few pages, my head started spinning, and I felt like my sanity was evaporating. If not for Austin pulling me back, I might've lost it completely."

"Hahaha, seeing the envy on their faces is satisfying!"

"Sob, sob, my alma mater truly delivers, giving these cultists a taste of awe!"

"Even though we can't see it ourselves, we can still brag about it!"

The people in the conference room were quite disappointed. As everyone marveled at Mallon's incredible experience, the cardinal remained silent, his heart stirred by tidal waves of shock.

Not because of the Book of the Undead, but due to the ancient history book they had seen earlier. Perhaps no one else had paid attention or fully believed its contents, but when the cardinal saw the name mentioned at the end, he knew it was likely true.

Prophet...

One of the Three Ancients, he never thought the man would still be alive – no, he should have known he was alive!

It was astonishing to learn that the University of Michigan had some connection with the Three Ancients.

Knowing the title of Seer suggests that much of what this book records is true. I never would have imagined... They humans really did originate from that world.

Someone in the conference room spoke up, unwilling to accept the situation, their shrill voice piercing through the cardinal's reverie, demanding an answer. Malon faced them expressionlessly, undaunted by their greed. "I only had that one phone. As for taking pictures, we did consider it, but not of the Book of the Dead. We focused on a more valuable tome that came later."

"Nothing could be more valuable than the Book of the Dead! Do you even understand?!" A wizard with yellow hair exclaimed heatedly in the meeting.

This was clearly another obsessed seeker of the Book of the Dead. Nonetheless, the recording would proceed regardless of their reactions.

"Quick, look at this one, oh my God..."

The voice from the footage captured the attention of the cultists once more. All heads lifted to see a plain-covered book, "The Gate of the Silver Key," displayed on the screen.

The live stream chat suddenly flooded with messages.

"It's here, it's here! The part I've been waiting for!"

"Ha, this is hilarious! How unethical can you guys get?!"

"Old Luo's novels seem to be a form of literary journalism in this world! They might be on par with, if not superior to, the Book of the Dead."

"Well, that's also a story, hhh. What if I'm found out?"

"No way, absolutely not! This game largely draws inspiration from Lovecraftian elements, and with the Necronomicon as its foundation, it couldn't possibly go wrong!"

The bullet comments were not wrong. With the legendary Necronomicon as a precedent, the expectations of the cultists present had been heightened to infinity. Thus, upon seeing the contents of the book that appeared, they didn't immediately dismiss it as fabrication. On the contrary, they were deeply astonished, their breathing growing heavier.

For the tale it recounted was too incredible to believe, yet the authentic details it contained were so astounding that they refused to accept it as a mere account of events that had actually transpired. Randolph Carter, the investigator in question, might well have been the first legendary sleuth in human history – a legend that mere words struggled to encapsulate.

As the words unfolded, it was as if they were transported alongside the enigmatic investigator, traversing space to that mystic realm of dreams, where they fostered alliances with ancient beings and a myriad of peculiar races. They leaped through time's currents, revisiting epochs long past, until finally, they encountered that ineffable, magnificent presence, whose very essence defied description.

The text was so arcane, as if written in the ravings of a madman during an episode. Yet certain details stood out – Arkham, mentioned within, existed in reality. Historical events and locations were accurately depicted, and even the existence of the Dreamlands was no secret among cultists.

Yet, all they knew was that the Dreamworld was the domain of deities, the realm of gods - nothing more. In contrast, this book describes these mystical lands as if the author had personally ventured into them.

This is the allure of the tale, so captivating that it seems the work of a madman, yet its madness weaves a spellbinding charm, compelling one to believe in its reality.

Regarding the contents of this book, any attempt at critique seems inadequate and ignorant. The cultists could only exchange glances, each unable to find words to speak, let alone express their thoughts.

"Randolph Carter..."

At this moment, the newly appointed cardinal, with a wistful expression, interjected, "If he were still alive, he would indeed be the first legend in human history. It's hard to believe that a human once came so close to the divine."

"Do you really believe that what's recorded here is true?" The leader of the Secret Order couldn't help asking. "It's too absurd. No one can enter that world; it's common knowledge. Mortals cannot survive in the realms of the gods. I don't believe anyone has truly been there, let alone faced a deity!"

Though unsure of the greatness of Yog-Sothoth, judging from the book's descriptions, it was undoubtedly an entity that controlled time, perhaps even truth itself. How could that investigator have returned, and how could anyone have recorded this story after facing such an existence?

"You cannot deny the truth just because you can't imagine it," the cardinal replied calmly. "Since you can't provide evidence that it's false, and we can't definitively say it's true, we should follow our instincts. I believe that such an investigator truly existed in this world."

"And considering the book was found in the library of our university, perhaps he even graduated from here?"

"Exactly! Big Man Randolph Carter is one of our university's outstanding alumni!"

"The first man in history to face Yog-Sothoth, receive the cosmic truth package, and still return to Earth, albeit stripped of his humanity!"

"This is the embodiment of Old Man Lovecraft, the founder of the Cthulhu Mythos. Of course, he was invincible, hahaha!"

While the two bigwigs debated, their underlings dared not speak up. However, their various expressions revealed that they each had their own opinions about the events recorded in the book.

Regardless of their thoughts, the video continued to roll, capturing the moment when Mallon suggested torching the library. The lawless cultists immediately became exhilarated at the idea.

"That's right! Exactly what should be done!" An envious cultist in the conference room, who had been eyeing Michigan's collection, eagerly agreed. They turned eagerly to Mallon for more, "Since we can't have it, we surely can't let the enemy get their hands on it. Mallon, tell me, did you manage to set it ablaze?!"

"Well...," Mallon replied awkwardly, "No, it drew the attention of the Guardian instead."

As he spoke, the dog indeed appeared on the screen, chasing the two men in a panic.

The room fell silent for a few seconds before someone couldn't hold back their laughter any longer.

"No way, you're really embarrassing us, cultists!"

"Seriously, you're being chased by a dog? Malron, have you been learning your spells from canines now?"

Malron's face alternated between red and blue. "It's not our fault! There's something wrong with that dog! It's clearly the guardian of this library, not an ordinary one!"

"The man has a point," the cardinal commented, rather unusually, as he observed the scene above. "Look closely. Mr. Malron has cast a spell, but it's ineffective against the dog. Moreover, its attacks pack quite a punch."

"Punch" was an understatement. In the footage, the marble floor beneath the dog's claw was cracking, and if that had been a person, they would have suffered broken bones at the very least.

This was no dog; it was clearly a Godzilla in canine disguise!

Hearing this, the laughter ceased. The onlookers, now somewhat sympathetic, were relieved that the two had returned alive. Had they perished there, it would have been a true tragedy.

In the footage, Divine On Earth and Marlon were seen being chased into another area. During their escape, Marlon's ankle was injured, preventing him from running. Divine On Earth helped him up, an unusual act that drew surprised glances from the other cult members in the conference room.

Amongst the cultists, there were plenty of morally corrupt scoundrels, but this was the first time they'd witnessed someone assisting their teammate. They couldn't help but give him a few extra looks.

Marlon, noticing their gazes, didn't feel embarrassed. Instead, he gratefully stepped a pace behind Divine On Earth, showing his support through his actions.

The appearance of the Maggot Man piqued the curiosity of the cultists, though unfortunately, the video didn't provide any explanation about the creature. Furthermore, the phone battery ran out just then, leaving the screen dark.

"Those were the findings of our investigation," Divine On Earth said slowly. "After that, we managed to temporarily trap the dog using the lab's layout and successfully escaped. Coincidentally, something might have occurred within the university, causing the dog to leave. I carried Marlon to safety."

The conference room fell silent for a few seconds before the cardinal led the applause, with everyone spontaneously joining in to commend Divine On Earth and Marlon.