Shrouded Seascape

Chapter 922: 315

Anomaly Name: High Priestess

Anomaly ID: 315

Anomaly Class: Keter

Special Containment Procedures: The Anomaly is temporarily confined in a 15x15 titanium alloy bedroom, wearing a Level 5 restraint collar.

Mobile Task Force Omicron-19 ("Lightning and Thunder") and Mobile Task Force Omicron-24 ("Phoenix") are stationed on standby at both sides of the bedroom.

The individuals under the influence must be contained and monitored; Class C amnestics must be administered to every witness, and all related media must be destroyed.

Every 315-1 instance must be held in humanoid containment chambers. Due to their special nature, all 315-1 instances must receive continuous positive psychological intervention from psychiatrists. Director Dav must be notified prior to any experiments on any 315-1 instances.

Description: 315 appears as an attractive Asian adult female. However, according to Agent 2's statement, 315's appearance may be a disguise, with her true form likely being a giant cephalopod monster.

The psychological evaluation has increased the veracity of Agent 2's statement. 315 lacks the empathy of human beings or the ability to sympathize. 315 also displays extremely self-centered behavior and antisocial tendencies.

315 approaches humans and manipulates them through speech. 315 uses Ritual 74 to intimidate them and force them into submission. The individuals affected by Ritual 74 have developed symptoms of panic and obsessive-compulsive disorders, claiming to hear the voice of their god.

315 has isolated those individuals and taught them religious doctrine similar to the religion of the indigenous Quechua people but with an organizational structure, various rituals, and the 315-1 conversion ritual.

315 refers to this religion as the Fhtagn Covenant. However, the organization's existence cannot be verified.

Ordinary human beings affected by the 315-1 Conversion Ritual are transformed into 315-1 instances.

Agents 8, 2, and 3's testimonies:

315-1 instances show no physical changes but exhibit varying degrees of cognitive dissonance. They've abandoned their previous lives, accepting the God Fhtagn as their sole god, and they view 315 as His representative.

They follow her unconditionally in the quest to create more 315-1 instances.

Without any intervention, 315-1 instances would eventually occupy the entire Earth. Hence, 315 has been classified as Keter.

When left all alone, 315 talks to herself. The vocabulary resembles nearly extinct Quechua but with a completely different grammar.

Addendum: 315 possesses multiple sacrificial rituals; she likely has a unique lineage.

Based on Anomaly 149's hypothesis, the Anomaly that has been the closest to her; there is a high chance that there are other Anomalies out there similar to 315. To ensure no similar crisis, any relevant information must be extracted from 315. ?ã

Agent 2's claim about 315's true form being a giant cephalopod requires careful verification. His claim has yet to be substantiated. The physical examinations also show that 315 is completely human.

Due to 315's refusal to cooperate, we've decided to focus on the 315-1 instances until the pending interrogation request is approved.

Interview log of a 315-1 instance:

<Begin Log>

00:04: "No, the High Priestess didn't deceive me! You ignorant people are the ones deceiving me! You have no idea how powerful He is!"

00:12: "Stop pretending. Once you understand everything, they'll treat you like they treated me! This is the truth!!"

00:25: "If we persevere, there's hope. The Great One has noticed me as well. Even in death, I'll be resurrected in His divine kingdom!"

00:30: "If you have seen what I saw, you'd do the same."

00:32: "Shut up. I won't betray the High Priestess! If you dare harm her, you're all going to die!"

00:35: "You son of a bitch! How dare you insult my great god?! I'll beat you senseless, and then I'll tear open your veins with my hands! I WILL RIP YOU TO PIECES!!"

00:38: "I WILL kill you. I WILL end you. I will. I will!!! Someday! I swear!!"

<End Log>

Footnote: The Quechua people are an indigenous group of people in South America; they were the founders of the brilliant ancient Incan civilization.

***

Li Lu was in her hospital bed, quietly reading Anna's file. Soon, she began crying softly; tears rolled down her face and onto the paper in her hands. Li Lu covered her mouth, but the whimpers from her throat were becoming louder and louder.

The psychological torment that she had to withstand on that ship was too great; she was constantly worried and afraid that Anna would literally tear apart the child from her womb.

In the end, she was still a human being, and she was a woman capable of feeling emotions such as fear.

The reason it hadn't seemed that way was all thanks to her professional training, allowing her to hide her emotions through a facade of indifference.

Now that she was left all alone, she could finally shatter the hard shell that she had enveloped herself with.

At the very least, it had all been worth it. The heartless madwoman whose goal seemed to be the destruction of the world had finally been captured.

Knock, knock, knock!

Just then, there was knocking on the door, startling Li Lu. She wiped away her tears and snot before placing the file on the bedside table.

"Come in," she said.

The door was pushed open, revealing Roy dressed neatly with a bouquet of white flowers in hand.

Li Lu's control over her emotions and facial features was extremely high, but Roy still noticed her slightly red eyes. However, he said nothing and simply walked over to place the flowers in an empty vase.

"Feeling better?" he asked eventually.

Li Lu nodded as if she weren't crying just a few moments ago. "Yes, I'm already recovering from the torture injuries. It's nothing serious."

"And the child?"

The atmosphere in the room instantly became awkward.

Roy wanted to punch himself in the face. Wasn't he usually smart? How come he was so tactless today?

Li Lu reached under her blanket and stroked her swelling belly. A tinge of tenderness suffused her eyes as she muttered, "I want to keep it."

Roy was truly caught off guard when he got the news of Li Lu's pregnancy. He didn't expect to become a father after going on just a single mission.

"It's fine; this has nothing to do with you. I know that everything you did on the ship was for the sake of the mission. I want to keep his child because I want to have my own child," Li Lu remarked.

She could feel the little one inside her growing day by day, and the child's growth had changed Li Lu's mindset. The child inside her was her child, and she was nurturing her little one in her womb.

Li Lu couldn't bring herself to sentence her child to death. She found such thoughts to be too selfish, and she couldn't stomach such a decision.

Roy nervously swallowed mouthfuls of his own saliva before asking, "Can I feel it?"

"I said that this has nothing to do with you. You can leave now," Li Lu said. Then, she turned around, turning her back toward Roy.