Summoning the Holy Sword

Chapter 1118: Man of Cooperation

"It just doesn't feel right to me…"

Standing at the summit of the hill and gazing at the Americas Region's headquarters ahead, Mini Bubble Gum curled her lips and grumbled. Canary and Erin stood beside her, knitting their brows and scanning the buildings. At a glance, one could see the white, silent moon surface, as well as the sky full of stars. However, this was just one of the most common sceneries on this planet. The moon base headquarters stood tall and upright below them and nothing seemed abnormal. But for some reason, Mini Bubble Gum felt like something wasn't quite right. The high-tech buildings standing before her seemed more like an enormous, metallic, and lifeless coffin that was used in a funeral parlor to store dead bodies and was eady to be thrown into the cremation furnace. Even though it didn't seem dangerous, it left one's blood running cold and Mini Bubble Gum was unsure if it was due to its presence or the environment it was in. For instance, a doll placed inside a little girl's room might just be a symbol of innocence. However, if it were placed in a shabby attic, it would be seen as a sinister sign.

So which category did the moon base headquarters belong to? Even though everything seemed normal, it gave one a strange, abnormal feeling with its strong, deep, and mysterious presence.

"Alright, let's go. It seems like they are prepared this time, so it won't be as easy as we think."

Erin shifted her gaze away from the base. She was equally as dubious as Canary and Mini Bubble gum because the location of the black slate which she should have been able to detect clearly seemed to be concealed by a layer of mist. She was only able to detect its rough position. Not only that, but she also sensed an incredibly unusual and powerful presence around the slate. Even though she didn't know what it was, she was certain that it was something on a higher level than the creatures she had met before.

"In this world, are there any individuals with powerful abilities?"

"Huh?"

Upon hearing Erin's question, Canary and Mini Bubble Gum were taken aback. Then, Canary shook her head while Mini Bubble Gum spread her arms apart.

"We're not too sure either, Your Highness Erin. Big Sister and I are only civilians, so even if Men In Black, The Avengers, Captain America, and whatnot exist, we wouldn't know. After all, they are considered core secrets of the government…" Mini Bubble Gum swirled her eyes and said. Then, she asked. "What's wrong? Did you sense some powerful guys in there, Your Highness Erin?"

"I'm not sure, but I did sense some mysterious presence."

Erin answered, before pondering in silence and shaking her head.

"Forget it, we'll know once we get in."

Erin said, before turning around and headed down the hill slope. Canary and Mini Bubble Gum exchanged looks with each other and followed her closely. At this moment, they heard a crisp and rather lazy voice all of a sudden.

"Canary, Bubble, wait."

"Huh?!"

Upon hearing the voice, Canary and Mini Bubble Gum almost jumped up in shock. They were on the moon and there wasn't any air for sound to travel through. In fact, all communications between the two young ladies were through the communication device in the spacesuits that transmitted voice directly to their ears. Due to this reason, Canary and Mini Bubble Gum were astounded by the strange voice. Moreover, it would be impossible for them to not be surprised for one to suddenly call out their names on this empty moon surface. The two young ladies turned around instinctively, but there was no one behind them, of course.

"W-Who's there? Are you a ghost?"

Even though they had witnessed all sorts of strange occurrences while being together with Erin, the happenings were more or less within their cognition. But for a voice to suddenly ring in their ears all of a sudden on this empty moon surface, this could be considered the plot of a sci-fi thriller, right?

"Where are you two looking at… I'm right here; at your bottom right. There is a moon exploration vehicle. Do you see it?"

"Huh?"

Upon hearing the voice, the two young ladies walked to the edge of the hill and looked down curiously. Indeed, there was a white moon exploration vehicle in the crater ahead. At this moment, the voice rang again.

"Come on over. Let's have a talk. By the way, Her Highness Erin… invite her along too."

"Huh? Wait, who are you? Hello?"

Even though Mini Bubble Gum raised her doubts quickly, the other party didn't respond at all. Canary and Mini Bubble Gum exchanged difficult looks with each other. After all, that voice was too odd. Not only did she know their identities, but she also seemed to be really familiar with them. Also, how did she know who Erin was? As the two young ladies pondered, Erin's voice rang in their heads this time.

"Let's take a look, Miss Canary, Miss Bubble."

"Will everything be fine, Your Highness Erin?"

No wonder Canary raised this question as not only did the mysterious voice grasp their information, but she also knew about Erin. This left Canary and Mini Bubble Gum in bewilderment, especially after she called out their in-game names because they called each other that only out of affection. They were never that delusional to make outsiders call them by their in-game names (even Mini Bubble Gum, who was through the roof in delusional level, knew the existence of the word 'shame'). And now, the sudden emergence of a person who seemed to understand them really well made them uncomfortable.

"Don't worry, I already felt their presence earlier on. They don't seem to be hostile towards us, so I think it will be fine."

Erin said, before turning around and approaching the exploration vehicle. After hearing Erin's words, Canary and Mini Bubble Gum hesitated and followed her quickly.

Even though the vehicle didn't seem huge looking from the distance, they realized it wasn't considered small after approaching it. It was a rectangular vehicle as wide as three buses and had caterpillar tracks and robotic arms as its external configurations. Of course, Mini Bubble Gum and Canary were clearly aware that apart from exploration purposes, it also acted as a temporary camp. Shortly after, the trio arrived and the tightly-sealed, rear armor door slid open gradually, revealing the inside. Gazing at the inside of the vehicle, the trio entered without hesitation. The iron door closed and they heard the sound of jets. Up until this moment, Canary and Mini Bubble Gum also took off their helmets; as for Erin, she didn't need to bother herself with it since she wasn't even wearing a spacesuit.

The metallic door before them slid open silently as though inviting them inside. Looking at this scene, Erin smiled and led Canary and Mini Bubble Gum inside.

The moon exploration vehicle wasn't cramped inside. It could even be considered really spacious and comfortable. At a glance, apart from the screen hanging on the wall, there was also a white sofa and several green ornamental plants. But what attracted their attention the most was the young lady lying diagonally on the sofa with her eyes closed and seemed to be sleeping. She wore a black uniform, and her fluffy and messy hair resembling a chicken's nest. After the trio entered, she lifted her head and looked at them. Then, she let out a yawn.

"Yawn… Canary, Bubble, long time no see… I didn't expect to see both of you here…"

"Huh?"

Upon hearing the young lady's words, Canary and Bubble were startled. Then, Bubble widened her eyes in disbelief at the young lady.

"This voice… you're Sister Heart?"

"Senior Heart? Why are you…"

Gazing at the young lady, Canary was flabbergasted. She just couldn't relate this young lady as the lazy, yet capable character who led Starlight in the game. Even though both of them seemed equally lazy, the problem was that the mismatch between her solemn black uniform and indolent self was through the roof! Besides, what was that on her shoulder? A military rank! Oh, God have mercy. Even though Canary and Mini Bubble Gum had met Orchid Heart several times, they couldn't imagine her being a soldier at all. In their impressions, her main occupation should have been a geek who laid in a small, dark room and tapped on the keyboard all day.

"That should be my question, Canary."

The young lady yawned again, speaking with half-opened eyes.

"The sudden disappearance of you two in the precinct caused quite a stir. Not to mention, something serious happened back then too… and that is why I brought people to conduct a search. I didn't expect you two to be together. She is…" Orchid Heart narrowed her eyes. Her indifferent eyes glinted in curiosity for the first time. "… the moon princess. Your Highness Erin, I didn't expect to see you here in the real world…"

"I'm even more surprised that I'm able to appear in the game of an alternate world."

Upon hearing Orchid Heart's words, the gentle smile on Erin's face didn't change at all.

"But Miss Orchid Heart, I suppose you didn't come here just to greet your friends, right?"

"Yes, even though this is part of the reason, it wasn't my original intention."

Orchid Heart said and her expression became stern for the first time.

"I suppose your target is the Americas Region's headquarters below, right? But I have to warn you that the situation inside is abnormal. Your Highness Erin, although I don't know what you're exactly trying to do and why Canary and Bubble are with you right now, I think it is still better for me to warn you of the situation."

Orchid Heart said, leaning out her body and extending her hand to tap a few keys on the keyboard before her. Then, a crisp video recording played on the monitor in front of them.

"This is the current situation in the Americas Region's headquarters."

"Huh?"

Canary and Mini Bubble Gum were stunned. As soon as they fixed their gazes at the monitor, their complexion instantly turned pale. Not only that, but Erin's expression also changed at this scene and her eyes glinted in complicated flashes. Shortly after, Mini Bubble Gum burst out screaming.

"What in the world is this!"