An elegant figure appeared on the long-vacant Virgo high-back chair.

"Good noon, Mr. Taurus." A gentle yet emotionless voice echoed, bringing a glimmer of hope to the desperate Cantona.

An angel...

Cantona's gaze focused, and a hoarse voice sounded, "Good noon, Miss Virgo."

The members of the Round Table Conference, due to being scattered across various countries, had certain time discrepancies. Of course, since they were all on the Eastern Continent, the difference wasn't significant, except for Mr. Leo, whose situation was unique. As soon as Miss Virgo entered, she greeted with 'Good noon,' indicating either it was noon where she was or she knew the time here.

Virgo appearing at this time led him to further speculation.

"At the moment of life and death, Mr. Taurus remains calm."

Miss Virgo's voice resonated calmly, and Cantona felt his soul being comforted. As a member of the Church, Miss Virgo was likely a Preacher, aware of his current plight.

Cantona smiled bitterly, "Miss Virgo, you jest. It seems our actions are under Miss Virgo's surveillance."

"Mr. Taurus, your time is limited. I have a way to let you survive," said Miss Virgo.

"Why save me?" Cantona asked. There's no such thing as a free lunch, and Miss Virgo had significant issues, unlike Gemini, who were easier to understand, appearing for the first time and under exclusive circumstances.

"Because you cannot die yet," Miss Virgo stated calmly and straightforwardly.

"Miss Virgo could be more discreet," Cantona smiled wryly, "but still, I must thank you."

"I have a small condition. I hope Mr. Taurus won't tell others about today's events."

Cantona nodded without hesitation. Not to mention one condition, he would agree to a thousand instantly, having no room for stubbornness when it comes to surviving.

***

Under the red moon, Cantona sat slumped ungracefully, leaning against the edge of a shattered altar, head tilted back, quietly smoking, enjoying a moment of post-calamity reprieve.

The island of Tolda was usually lively at night, with indigenous people dancing around bonfires under the red moon, celebrating the day's harvest. Cantona had found it ugly and dull, but now, the place was littered with white bones tinged with flesh remnants, the air heavy with the saltiness of seawater mingling with stench, and the swarming worms had vanished. The island was eerily silent, leaving Cantona as the sole living being.

This should have been a perfect massacre scenario, yet he survived by chance through Miss Virgo's method.

The origins of Virgo are extraordinary, doubtlessly part of an ancient secret organization with unknown motives. She might be the manipulator of the Twelve Zodiac Star Disc, silently watching everyone, but Cantona refrained from malicious speculation since she had just saved him, merely requesting secrecy about the event. Damn it, he really wanted to share it with someone.

His soul and body suffered yet another severe damage, which Cantona was already accustomed to. Whether recovering or on the recovery route, the information he sent did not receive a response from the Nether God Church, and the Death God's ritual went undisrupted. Unsure whether abandoned or Nether God's Court actions disrupted, the Death Church's ritual must be completed. The Death God got a significant boost, and these islanders were longtime plants by the Death Church, unbearably pure, thinking some Nether God's Court rituals and punishments were brutal, but nothing compared to the ancient gods. Should the ancient gods rise, everyone would be mere fodder.

Unconsciously, the cigarette had burnt down to his fingers when Cantona awoke from his thoughts, surveying his surroundings, realizing this ghastly place wasn't fit for prolonged stay. Suddenly, not far from the altar, he spotted several sparkling points, resembling stars in the darkness, surrounded by mysterious grey forces swirling around a pure crystal.

... Tears of the Dead?

Cantona collected them, two crystals in total, likely a byproduct of the ritual, and Gemini was somewhat lucky—as these hidden materials are rare finds.

Cantona limped down the hill, found a boat of the indigenous people stocked with some food and water, replenished his strength, and set sail. Despite being a natural landlubber, he adapted to maritime survival, a habit honed through years of travel group living—learn and apply anywhere and anytime.

This year's typhoon season on the sea ended somewhat earlier than usual.

One man, one boat drifting across the vast ocean, with Tolda behind him descending into ghostly silence. Slowly, mist rose over the island, within it, corpses began standing up, mist flowing into them, filling their hollow eyes. Bathed in red moonlight, their pupils turned blood-red, masses of corpses simultaneously rotated their heads, fixating on the small boat moving away, until the mist completely enshrouded the island...

......

The mist spread, enveloping the sky, permeating the land.

Divpo City, Sarawo Mine.

The previously chaotic mine, often accompanied by ghostly wails, had become orderly and peaceful. The Rotos worked and rested normally, and after over half a month of high production, mine output began decreasing, still ten percent higher than before. The general trend stabilized, with Rotos spending time in silent prayer, rhythmic knocking often breaking the silence.

However, the inevitable came to pass—the tranquility of Sarawo Mine was shattered as a team of Sheren soldiers entered the mine. Evidently surprised by the mine's condition, they proceeded directly to Batty's shack to take Batty away. To Captain of the Attendants' surprise, a confrontation ensued, with the muddy Rotos unexpectedly attempting resistance?

Leading Lu Wang watched the dark crowd before him, eyes filled with disbelief, as Rotos daring to resist was as unimaginable as mist dispersing.

Bamuta, Yalamu, Jose, Andarila, Kolan, and Roshan stood in front, while the shack-dwelling Rotos silently watched the twelve Sheren soldiers amidst rumors spreading, gathering ever more Rotos outside.

Confident Lu Wang's temper flared instantly in frustration.

Whipped harshly across Roto bodies, skin tearing, flesh rolling back, blood gushing, yet surrounding Rotos refused to yield, standing unified like stakes scrutinizing Lu Wang's group.

"Batty, it's Karoni of the esteemed Mant family who wishes to see you. Dare to resist us, do you all wish for death, to descend eternally into Hell?" Lu Wang roared, trying to sound fierce, weakly waving his whip yet refraining from further strikes. Surrounding soldiers sensed the blackened Rotos differed starkly from typical ones, emanating silent coercion, eyes clear and resolute, too many for mortal exhaustion.

"Lu Wang, I will go with you," Batty halted others, "Elder Bamuta, everyone, it's fine. Lord Karoni is a justwise warden."