Chapter 107 — The God-Eater Project
Temporary Worker in the Ninja Village · Page 1 of 2
Wang Xu came to stand before the three of them and studied them in silence.
Only then did Captain America, the Winter Soldier, and Carter belatedly realize that they were not the only three taking part in the God-Eater Project.
The twenty-odd people standing behind Wang Xu all wore uniforms similar to their own.
Even as they were being scrutinized, they were studying Wang Xu out of the corners of their eyes.
The four silver stars on his general's shoulder boards, his youthful face...
James Barnes's pupils contracted slightly, and a look of astonishment surfaced on his face.
Instinctively he straightened his back and came to attention.
Agent Carter stepped back two paces, golden curls sweeping across her face, a complicated light flickering in her beautiful eyes.
Her security clearance was not low, and she had heard tell of certain "special existences" beyond ordinary comprehension.
Gene mutation, uniqueness serums, black technology beyond its age...
As she saw it, the man's true age was likely far greater than his appearance suggested.
Steve Rogers was equally shaken, but his attention was fixed on something entirely different from his two companions.
Ever since the guardian spirit had appeared, ever since he had gained the identity of "partner of justice" and set his course toward becoming a "guardian of humanity," the world he could see had grown somewhat different from that of ordinary people.
Kind and good people gave off a faint white radiance.
Villains steeped in wickedness were wreathed in a discomforting black mist.
And now there was Wang Xu...
A dense white light coiled about his whole body, and above his head gathered a brilliant golden glow so solid it seemed tangible.
Steve, who had never seen anything like it, could not help lowering his head and whispering to the ring: "Fourth?"
He had once asked the guardian spirit its name, and received only that code name in reply.
Minato Namikaze, now reincarnated as a portable old-grandpa, answered at once: "One who has saved the world receives the blessing of the plane's will. His luck turns exceedingly good, and he gains certain special powers of perception."
At these words Steve's expression did not change, but the way he looked at Wang Huai'an took on a measure of admiration.
Instinctively his mind supplied a scene: Wang Xu as an unnamed hero, silently resisting an evil invasion, saving the world.
Wang Xu read the surface thoughts of Captain America and nearly burst out laughing.
It was true that he bore the blessing of the plane's will. In the parlance of the cultivation planes, this was the "golden radiance of merit" before which all evil recoils.
In the previous world, Wang Xu had flung every survivor of the apocalypse into the reincarnation space, and so the will of the Naruto plane had deemed him the savior of all humanity in that world.
It was rather foolish, really.
Wang Xu's manner was mild, but his tone carried a certain gravity: "Steve. Carter. Bucky."
Addressed so, James Barnes felt somewhat awkward, yet he raised no protest.
He had received scout training as a boy, and he set great store by discipline.
Wang Chenzhou paid their reactions no mind and went on of his own accord: "You are the elite chosen from among hundreds of thousands of American servicemen. I now wish to ask you a question—a question that bears upon where you will go from here."
At this, the three immediately pricked up their ears and listened with rapt attention.
"You..."
This nasty habit of Wang Xu's, drawing out his words, set all three grumbling inwardly.
"Do you have ideals?"
The moment the question was out, they were all somewhat taken aback.
What the devil?
They had expected a stern political review, and it had turned into a heart-to-heart talk.
Steve Rogers was the first to recover.
He answered loudly: "I am a partner of justice! I mean to become a guardian of humanity!"