Shrouded Seascape-Chapter 1090: Mission

In the end, Anna decided against absorbing the new Anomaly. She already fused many within her. There was no guarantee that there would be no accidents if she were to add more.

Rather than fusing with more Anomalies, she would do better mastering those that she already possessed.

The benefit of handing off the Anomaly to someone else was far better than keeping it for herself. The strength of the entire team could be enhanced.

Staring at the red ceramic goblet in Anna's hand, Roy, Li Lu, and Jackal exchanged glances.

This was an Anomaly, and the absorption ritual's success rate was not a hundred percent. The process of growing strong came with risk, and the trio knew that well.

Li Lu gritted her teeth and was about to step forward when Roy moved first and blocked her path. He reached out and took the goblet from Anna's hand.

"Let me do it. I've been wanting to give the absorption ritual a try ever since I heard about it."

Anna didn't object as she didn't really care who absorbed the ritual as long as someone did.

Using a block of sea salt, the absorption ritual was rapidly drawn out. With Anna leading the process, Roy's absorption process went smoothly.

Clutching his bloody abdomen, Roy slowly stood up. He tilted his head upward to stare at the others now hanging upside down from the "ceiling."

He had completely broken free from gravity.

Suddenly, he flipped and plummeted toward Anna and the others. Before he could crash into them, his direction of gravity shifted again, and Roy's fall reversed.

It was clear that he hadn't gotten used to his new ability just yet, as he slammed awkwardly into the ceiling.

"There's not much space here. Let's take this outside," Anna commented.

Soon enough, the group arrived at the empty outskirts, and they watched Roy take to the sky like a rogue firework.

By controlling the direction of gravity on him, he darted swiftly through the air.

No matter whether he went left, right, or straight up, he moved at the terminal velocity of a falling object.

A human would fall at a speed of 150 to 200 kilometers per hour. It was way faster than any car. If Roy wanted to do so, he could use that high speed to glide across the sky like Superman.

The only difference was that Superman flew head first while Roy flew feet first.

Of course, such a power came with its dangers. If Roy couldn't control it well, he could end up plummeting to his death.

Or the opposite could happen; he could soar past the atmosphere and right out into outer space. He could then get first-hand experience of spacewalking without any equipment.

With the help of a harness, Roy gradually adapted to the new power within him. He then experimented with it and tested its limits. Its potential was undeniable, but unlocking its full utility would require finesse and patience.

Watching all of this from the ground, envy shone in Gao Zhiming's eyes. He wanted that power, too.

After a few more trial runs and seeing that Roy was slowly getting used to his new power, Anna called out, "Come down. I've got something to announce."

Once everyone's attention was on her, Anna held up her phone and waved it.

"I've just accepted a mission on the dark web," Anna said. "We'll make a few preparations and head out right after."

By now, everyone had already gotten used to Anna's decisiveness—not that they had the right to object or voice their opinion.

Gao Zhiming asked in curiosity, "Sis, where are we going this time?"

"Sri Lanka. An island south of India."

Hearing the location, both Roy and Li Lu's hearts sank.

Sri Lanka was right on the edge of the Indian Ocean. They both knew exactly what Anna had done on those waters back then.

It was definitely not a coincidence that she picked that place for a mission. Her true intent likely lay elsewhere.

"I don't care about the rest, but my family and I will never accept your cult's brainwashing ritual!" Roy stepped forward and said with a grim expression. "If that's what you are planning, then this is the end of our alliance!"

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Anna's lips curled into a faint smile as she looked at Roy. "Oh? So you think you have the right to talk back to me now that you've gained that one little ability?"

There was no apparent threat in Anna's voice, but tension gripped Roy and Li Lu's mind like a vice grip.

"Relax," Tobba said as he stepped between them. "She won't do anything with me here. And come on, Anna, is it that interesting for you to scare people day in, day out?"

Tobba was trying to soothe the tense atmosphere. He could even be considered the lubricant between Anna and his parents.

Anna walked over and gently pinched Tobba's soft cheek. "You'd better prove your worth soon. I really hate having to pull a dead weight around."

With that, she turned on her heel and climbed into the car.

Roy's guess was actually spot-on. Anna's true purpose in heading to Sri Lanka was to check how much surveillance the IMF still had in the Indian Ocean.

If they were too overwhelmed by all the things happening all around to keep watch over this corner of the world, then it was time for her to revive the Fhtagn Covenant.

After all, compared to the independent thinkers like Roy and Li Lu, Anna much preferred devout zealots who obeyed without question. Who wouldn't?

Still, she had learned her lesson from her previous experience. She had to stay low profile at all costs.

Directly going into the India Ocean was out of the question. But under the guise of a hunter's mission, she could totally just survey the place discreetly.

A plane slowly landed on the island nation nestled in the Indian Ocean.

The locals, much like their northern neighbors, had caramel-toned skin and curled hair.

At a heavily guarded seaside villa, Anna and her group finally met their employer.

He was a portly man with a thick gold chain around his neck. Lounging across the velvet couch, he resembled a tanned version of Maitreya Buddha as he grinned from ear to ear.

His tone rose and fell with each word as he spoke to Anna. However, Anna didn't understand a single word. It sounded like Hindi.

A beautiful woman knelt next to the couch. Acting as an interpreter, she relayed the message to Anna and the rest.

"Our chairman says that he's very pleased to meet you. However, he is not too certain about your strength. He asks if you would be willing to spar with his bodyguards."

Whoosh!

A burst of green flames erupted from Anna's fingertips and engulfed the surrounding furniture, reducing them to piles of ash in mere seconds.

The scene clearly shocked the portly chairman. His rolls of fat trembled as he leaped out of his couch in terror.

When he saw that Anna and the others had no intention of attacking him, he quickly flashed a sheepish smile before he fumbled with his pocket to pull out a phone with shaking hands.

Anna raised an eyebrow. An outsider? Does the dark web allow posting from such people, too? It seems like even ordinary civilians are gaining more access to the underworld.

However, Anna didn't really mind. After all, this mission was just a cover for her.

The chairman shouted furiously into this phone for some time before he turned to the interpreter next to him with a grim expression.

"Our chairman says that he's willing to trust you guys. If you can complete this mission, he'll even double the payment."

"What do we need to do?" Jackal asked, his fake moustache twitching as he spoke.

"Protect our chairman. He will be negotiating with a very important individual on international waters. Your job is to ensure his absolute safety.

"We strongly suspect that the other party's security team may include individuals… like yourselves."

"I have killed many, but protecting someone? That's a first. Sounds interesting," Anna responded.