The Anzhou continent is the largest land area among the five continents in the world, with 82 countries. On the eastern coast of the continent lies the Arctic Kingdom, one of the world's four major powers. With a land area of more than 6 million square kilometers, the east and south are bordered by the sea, with a developed economy, a long history, and the world's largest comprehensive national strength, with strong international influence.

In the western part of the continent, there are developed small and medium-sized countries. Relying on their unique geographical location and climatic environment, they have also played an important role in history, and their national strength cannot be underestimated. In order to be able to share the benefits in the world market, these countries united in 98 and formed the "Ambras Union". The alliance now has 21 member countries, echoing the Arctic countries.

In the central and eastern part of the continent, there are four oil countries. In terms of national strength and land area, they are not comparable to the Arctic States and the Ambras Alliance. But the name of the world's second-largest oil-producing region straightens their backs. It accounts for about 41% of the world's oil reserves, and oil exports have enriched these countries, but they have also made them a major focus of several of the world's major powers – in a variety of ways.

Of course, in addition to these countries with their own strengths, the continent of Anzhou is more of a number of poor landlocked countries, such as the Miari Republic, Adullar, and the Alendar Dar. If compared to a superpower like the Arctic Continent, it is not even as good as an administrative region of the people.

Located in the heart of the Anzhou mainland, Aliandal has a population of less than 50 million, a total of eight cities, a number of townships underneath the city, and a simple administrative plan. In the northwest, near the border, there is a small town called Tigri, which is nothing special compared to other places. When outsiders look up the map, they may also ignore its name, or its name is often not printed on the map, such a small town.

However, this place has a special meaning for those special people who have existed for thousands of years, the superhumans. It is one of the few Haruf superhuman settlements in the world. That's not enough to make people remember it. And on this day, August 12, 116 years of the new era, an event happened that is enough to be remembered by future generations.

*****

The town of Tigri has only two main roads, one horizontal and one vertically intersecting, dividing the town into four parts. Its intersection, in the center of the town, is home to the town's only hospital. There is a way that although the sparrow is small and has all the organs, this four-story hospital still has a lot of functions. Generally speaking, 70% of the injuries and illnesses of the townspeople and the villagers in the nearby villages can be resolved in this hospital. As long as it is not an incurable disease, it is okay to have a general trauma, internal disease, physical examination, etc. In addition, there is a very important one - midwifery.

On this morning, lying in the delivery room on the third floor was Celia Raymond, who lived in the town, and standing outside the delivery room was her husband, Haroff Raymond Poval. His wife's cries of pain had been listening to him for two hours. The doctors and nurses never came out, which added to the anxiety in his heart. He sat down in a chair in the hallway, stood up again after a while, and paced, repeating the three movements. Finally he pulled out his cigarette and lighter, and then remembered that the hospital was non-smoking. So he glanced at the closed door of the delivery room and walked briskly to the corner of the stairs.

Putting the lit cigarette in his mouth, Poval's nervousness was diluted a little by the nicotine. In fact, it is not only him who is anxious, but also his father, who is over sixty years old, is also waiting for news. He pushed open the window, spat out a smoke ring, and his mouth froze into an "oh" shape in surprise.

The courtyard downstairs was bustling with people, and a figure caught Beauval's attention. It was a man in his mid-30s, about Beauval's age, with short black sleeves and long black trousers, and wore a necklace with a diamond-shaped pendant. This dress, as well as that face, Poval was quite impressed.

"Sato ......"

He muttered the man's name. At this time, Sato stood against the wall, his arms clasped in front of his chest, and from time to time he looked to the third floor. It was at this moment that he saw Beauvar, and the two looked at each other. Poval could see that there was hostility in Sarto's eyes. Of course, his own expression wasn't very friendly.

*****

Poval had only met Sato once, and that was last month, on the third day of Selia's hospital stay. He goes to visit his wife with the fruit, but sees Sato in the hospital room, where Serya should be alone. The first time he had seen this man, the first impression was terrible.

"Who are you?" Beauval asked.

Sato turned his head, his face solemn, not like an intruder.

"Glenn Sato, but it doesn't matter. But your wife, if it's the next month, then you have to be careful. ”

An inexplicable remark made Poval scratch his head and escalated his initial unhappiness into anger.

"Since it's not important, please get out right away."

Sato glanced at Celia again, and Celia was panicked, she didn't know the man. But Sato didn't care, or rather, he didn't care about the couple in the house, but about something else. He walked out the door and passed by Beauval, leaving behind a muffled goodbye.

"I'll be back."

Looking at Sato's back, Poval was still thinking about whether to notify the doctor or the police, take this guy to the psychiatric department for a proper examination, or interrogate him at the police station. When his father, Hodi, also came to the ward, Poval complained to the old man again.

"Sato, you say? He's coming? ”

Hodi, who came to visit her daughter-in-law, was very relaxed, but because of the appearance of this person, she became nervous and even anxious. His father's reaction surprised Poval. It seems that my father not only knew him, but also attached great importance to this man named Sato. Next, from the old man's mouth, Poval also learned the identity of Sato.

In today's world, superhumans are divided into eight ethnic groups, and the Harif are one of them. Each nation has its own unique way of manipulating EXP, and the Harif are the easiest. With the help of various substances, usually their own bodies, they release EXP in its purest form: light and heat. Because the way of use is the most direct, gradually, some Haru ladies have become aware of the flow of EXP around them, and can sense the presence of EXP within a certain range. People used to call them omeseers.

Sato, as an Omenone, is unknown in the world of superhumans, but this does not mean that his abilities are inadequate, and quite the opposite. Sato didn't want to be too ostentatious and kept a low profile. In the town of Tigri, only a few older people are aware of his existence, as well as his special abilities. You know, the Omensmen are usually one in a million, not to mention that the number of Lady Haru is quite scarce in the first place.

Hodi was an acquaintance of Sato's father and visited Sato when he was a child. Hodi didn't take Poval with him at that time - Satto's abilities were confirmed from an early age, and the fewer people who knew about the Omens, the better, lest they become tools for other organizations to exploit. Hodi had a good impression of Sato, sensible, obedient, and educated. And his abilities are very good, being able to sense the flow of energy from a distance of a hundred meters. You know, Sato was only five or six years old at the time, and this ability can be called unique. Sato's father was proud of this, and revealed to Hody the idea of sending Sato to the Council of Elders.

"It's better to be cautious about this."

After listening to his friend's words, even though he was not his own child, Hody still felt a little worried about Sato's whereabouts. The so-called Council of Elders, like a team of elders in a family, is a group of wise elders in the clan in a superhuman settlement. In the settlements of each ethnic group, there are similar organizations.

Although in modern society, this sounds a bit old-fashioned, as if it were the old-fashioned elders of the primitive clans of the past. But superhumans, as a special group, are different from natural people after all. Due to various historical factors, many issues cannot be dealt with by the laws and regulations of the country, so there is a presbyterian church. Coupled with the fact that some countries have adopted an autonomous (or isolated) attitude towards superhuman settlements, the Presbyterian Church can be described as a "government" of settlements.

A country is a state because there are laws, and the police and the army uphold them. Settlements are no exception, with clan rules, and violent organizations that uphold them, a group of thugs known as enforcers. A similar structure is found in every superhuman race, much the same. Moreover, the ordinary superhuman people have a bad impression of them, also because the Presbyterian Church itself is not popular, especially among the young people.

Although Beauval was no longer young, he also had a certain prejudice against the Presbyterian Church. Knowing Satto's identity, the question mark in Poval's heart became even bigger. What is the reason for Sato's eye on Selia? When Celia was about to give birth, Sato reappeared, which made Poval determined to find out.

*****

After another hour, the baby's cry began to come out. A nurse walks out of the delivery room and excitedly informs Poval that it is a boy. Despite being emotionally affected by Sato, the new father smiled with relief. Mother and child are safe, and he can focus on another thing.

"Please tell the child's mother that I will go downstairs and I will be back shortly."

"Okay."

Poval ran downstairs and out of the hospital, where he saw Sato walking out of the hospital, apparently avoiding it. Poval caught up with him in three steps and two steps, reached out and grabbed Sato's shoulders and pulled him over with all his might.

"Stop!"

In the face of the angry Poval, Sato did not say a word.

"What are you doing here? Or did you feel something? ”

Sato was silent for a while, and said something unclear.

"Your child is cursed."

Any father who hears such a thing will react with Poval: inexplicable, out of anger. He grabbed Sato's collar and almost growled.

"What do you mean by that? What curse? ”

The sound attracted the attention of the people around them, and they all cast their eyes on the two of them.

"Millennial curse."

Sato's tone was calm and low, low enough only Poval could hear. These four words had an incredible effect, causing Poval to quickly turn from anger to consternation, and his grip on it loosened and slowly drooped.

Seeing Poval motionless as if he had lost his soul, Sato ignored him, and the onlookers dispersed. By the time Poval came to his senses, Sato was already far away. Beauval knew that he couldn't do it himself. He didn't care about looking for a car, so he trotted all the way home and told his father everything that had happened.

"That's what Sato told you?"

Hody sat in the only rocking chair in the house, cup in hand. He finally waited for the good news of his grandson's birth, but Poval's report made him completely unhappy. His hands trembled slightly, and the cup full of tea overflowed, making a clear noise as it fell on the concrete floor, embellishing the suffocating silence of the small room. He was so surprised, so surprised.

Poval didn't dare to sit down, looking at the old man with a frown, he also understood the seriousness of the matter. After a while, feeling that the old man had almost thought about it, Poval asked tentatively: "Dad, what should I do?" ”

yes, you have to get an idea right away, Hody persuaded himself. He knew what Sato was capable of, and now he had to think of a countermeasure. But before that, there is an immediate problem that must be resolved.

"You go back to the hospital right away and tell Celia what I'm going to say next, so that she can be prepared. If I'm not mistaken, the Council of Elders should have known the news by now, and it is estimated that they will be here tomorrow. ”

"Presbyterian? What are they here for? ”

"What else can I do? Let's talk about my grandson. Hody said angrily, "Sato is already a member of the Presbyterian Church, do you think they can sit idly by?" ”

A chill spread from Poval's back to his neck, and cold sweat broke out. He hadn't eaten well in the morning, his stomach began to ache, and his forehead was sweating.

"You're in the hospital tonight," said Hody, "and tomorrow if they come to ask questions, you'll answer as I say." ”

*****

Hody was right. As soon as Sato, who had left the hospital, returned home, he called Haroff Kate Mars. This man is the spokesman of the presbyterian church, and whoever wants to find an elder must first inform him.

Sato's words were concise and to the point. He confessed that he felt that Beauval's child had come into the world with a strange energy, leaving his heart empty, as if he was looking down into a bottomless valley. Perhaps it would be more accurate to use the word "advent" to describe it, yes, there is something terrible that has descended, he thinks.

However, Mars, as an "operator", has long developed a habit of being quiet. Listening to Sato's report on the "seriousness of the situation", he did not express any opinions, or sighed.

"You wait for my call." After Sato finished speaking, Mars said calmly.

Sato, who put down the phone, felt a little more comfortable. The elders would not tolerate the existence of a threat to the clan, not to mention that this may be an existence that threatens the world, even if it is a baby, it cannot be merciful. If necessary, he will be executed according to the clan rules. However, babies may not be killed immediately, but will be monitored and then decided on what to do next.

But for Sato, surveillance is far from satisfying his needs. Even if it might not be in line with the rules of the Presbyterian Church, he had to bring it up.

The baby had to die, and Sato had a reason why he had to die. For this reason, he has resolved to do whatever it takes.

*****

At breakfast time the next day, four old men in robes appeared in the hospital. Their robes were three blue and one yellow, embroidered with gold edges, and at the cuffs and hearts, they were also embroidered with a golden diamond pattern, the hollow diamond shape wrapped around a small solid diamond, and a dot on each of the four sides, which was the symbol of the Harif tribe. Mars stood in the back, dressed in civilian clothes.

The four elders are elders of the Presbyterian Church, but not all of them. There were fifteen of them in total, and these four were the four most authoritative. Today they will show their authority - in front of a baby.

The five of them quickly inquired about Selia's hospital room. Ignoring the advice of doctors and nurses, they forced their way in. The presence of three members of the Poval family frightened Celia, who was not in a good state of mind after giving birth, and the tiredness of yesterday has been carried over to this day. In the crib beside her, the new life was sleeping peacefully, completely unaware that the next conversation would decide his fate.

Poval had met the elders, and he quickly understood the situation and was mentally prepared. If the child is in danger, he will resist whoever it is.

The four elders noticed the little baby, and the leader, Harrif Vera Hakama, was over seventy years old and the oldest and most powerful person in the presbyterian congregation. He came up to Beauval and looked him up and down.

Povar stared intently at each other. The three elders in the back were dressed in blue robes, and Hakama was dressed in yellow robes. These robes are the special items of the elders, and they are white, blue, and yellow from the lowest to the highest, and there are three yellow-robed elders of the highest rank, and Hakama has the heaviest weight in speech among the three.

Can such a character be persuaded by the words taught to him by his father? Poval clenched his fists.

Mars took the doctors and nurses who had come to stop them outside, and then closed the door to ensure that only those inside could hear the conversations inside the house. One of the blue-robed elders dragged Hakama over the chair, and Hakama bent his knees and slowly sat down with the support of the other two blue-robed elders. He first introduced himself, then asked the name of the Poval family, and after a few pleasantries, he began to talk about business.

"Beauval, you know the thousand-year curse, right?"

"Yes."

"Do you know Sato, then?"

"I heard what my father said, including his abilities."

Hakama nodded, he thought it would be easy.

"The accuracy of Sato's power as an omensman has long been proven beyond doubt. Unfortunately, your child is now a dangerous presence and we must take measures accordingly. ”

"Wait a minute," said Poval quickly, "is it too hasty for him to come to a positive conclusion based on his judgment alone?" And isn't it more important for a baby to be nurtured? We can try to change him. ”

"Naive. Do you think that people have the power to change things? ”

Hakama was quick to comment on Poval's remarks. As an elder forty years older, he boasted that he knew better what it was like to be a superhuman being, which was the prerogative of the elderly.

Poval retorted, "Perhaps, but it's more worth trying than surrendering to a new life, isn't it?" ”

Hakama didn't understand Poval's feelings, and he wasn't a father himself. But in the face of major rights and wrongs, he must have the ability to make decisions, otherwise he will be sorry for this yellow robe.

"It seems that you still don't understand, Beauval, that the thousand-year curse is a terrible force that cannot be avoided, and it will happen sooner or later. Do you think you can fight it? No way! Of course, the loss of a child will make you sad, but why don't you want to think about other people, other children, who will lose their lives because of your selfishness! "This child," he said, gesturing to the crib, "that he has just been born, and that we can send him away without pain, that it is not an act of inhumanity, and that he will not be forgotten." As for you, can you have another child, why are you obsessed? ”

Having said so much in one breath, coupled with the passionate tone, Hakama, who was not in good health, couldn't help but pant and tremble. Faced with this rather plausible remark, Beauval did not flinch. He found the loophole, which was exactly the same as his father's confession.

"Elder, there has been no unified statement on whether the thousand-year curse has befallen or not, who can make this question clear? Or is the second purge about to begin with my son? ”

Hakama trembled even more, struggling to open his wrinkled eye sockets to express his unspeakable anger.

"You, what do you mean?"

"The harbinger of a thousand-year-old curse, I don't know how many times it has appeared in the past, and each time we thought it was the last, but what happened? Strangers still appear from time to time, and the true curse is not yet fulfilled, but we have driven ourselves into a dead end! ”

"What are you...... Threatening me? ”

"How dare I threaten the elders? I think that if you can take into account the safety of the whole nation, then you will definitely make a wise decision, and not just listen to the one-sided words of one person and act rashly. ”

No matter how angry a person is, as long as he can still prioritize what is important, he will not make judgments. Hakama is one of those who understands. Reason extinguished his anger, and he leaned back in his chair, gently closing his eyes in thought. The three elders in the back were silent, and they had no chance to speak on this occasion.

After weighing the pros and cons, Hakama felt that what Poval said made sense. Maybe it's too early to tell, and Sato's feelings alone may not be enough to convince the public. And there is no guarantee that there will be a similar existence in the future, and if there is, he will become a sinner who kills innocents indiscriminately.

Hakama, who had made up his mind, opened his eyes. He didn't want to, but he didn't want to push Poval too much, it would only complicate things. In any case, no bigger riots can be provoked.

"Well, then, let's observe for a year, during which your family is not allowed to leave the town. This time next year, your child will be subject to an Elders' energy quarantine. If there is no problem, I will spare his life, and if there is, you will not blame me for being ruthless. ”

Energy quarantine? Poval's heart, which had just been put down, tensed again. The energy quarantine is to check how much of the EXP in the superhuman's body is abnormal by injecting a low-activity EXP. In general, less than 15% is normal. But the problem is that this quarantine is usually done after the superhuman reaches adulthood (19 years old), at least after the age of 15. Because it's like pouring water into a bicycle tire and checking for damage, it can cause damage to the human body. Doing energy quarantine on a one-year-old child will undoubtedly have a greater impact, and it will not even be able to heal for a lifetime.

Beauval, however, had no choice. The Council of Elders had taken a step back, at least to save his son's life for the time being. If you put forward any more conditions, it will only backfire.

"I see, let's talk about the details."

*****

As the four elders squeezed into their Gulf car, Mars, who was standing outside, closed the door and slipped into the cab. Hakama sat in the passenger seat, still thinking about whether his decision was the right one, and whether it would be a big mistake because of a momentary concession. But the word "Great Purge" is like a sword of Damocles, always reminding him to be careful and careful. He swayed between two thoughts until a figure appeared outside the window.

Hakama rolled down the window. "You're here, Sato."

"What is the result, Lord Hakama?"

Hakama recounted the outcome of his negotiations with Poval, which was the last thing Sato wanted.

"Lord Hakama, I beg you, no, I beg you, to reconsider. Don't let that person's rhetoric ignore the threat of the people and the world! ”

His sincere rhetoric backfired, and Hakama waved his hands impatiently.

"Sato, I also want you to put yourself in my place and think about it. We've already made a mistake once, and we can't afford to make the same mistake again. The matter is settled, you go. ”

Hakama rolled up the window. The car started and soon disappeared from Sato's view. Sato was disappointed and angry, these elders were just a bunch of old men after all, they didn't understand the seriousness of the matter at all, they didn't understand their feelings, they didn't understand...... Forget it, it's useless to get angry. Sato silently walked in the direction of home.

As mentioned before, Sato is determined to do whatever it takes. Since the old men can't do it, he has to do it himself.