Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

Chapter 90: Good Night

Inside Y City, people were still discussing the images from the ruins of X City, unaware of the tragedy at the border settlement. Recently, a request was issued for residents to relocate to the city center, but amidst the heated atmosphere of the new elections, people didn’t fall into panic. Regardless of whether they moved or not, everyone had to go out during that period. Now, they just had to carry more of their belongings and temporarily stay in the city center.

No one considered that there could be a real disaster that could break through the city defenses of Y City. The tragic events in X City’s history served as a lesson for people, and they knew that humans couldn’t stumble in the same place twice.

Only a few people noticed that both of the candidates for leadership didn’t seem to be in good shape. Since the attack on the program, Zhu Yanchen had been weak and frail. As for Yi Ning, it was unclear what blow he had suffered, but he constantly had a pale face and occasionally appeared absent-minded in front of the camera.

However, this didn’t prevent the rest of the population from taking advantage of the situation to rest. Y City, with its vast size, had been running smoothly for over a hundred years, and people had already grown accustomed to the predictable way of life. Occasionally, during an emergency like this, everyone found it refreshing.

It had to be said that Zhu Sheng was exceptional in controlling the situation. Y City now resembled a fried egg. Everyone crowded into the yolk area, leaving only patrolling guards and the military ready for battle in the egg whites.

The underground bar of the Old Fourth, located on the outskirts of Y City, was now empty due to the evacuation order. This secluded place wasn’t suitable for camping and had become a ghostly room, which ironically facilitated certain clandestine gatherings—

“The ‘fake massacres’ of the three settlements near γ-31329 have been completed. As for the settlements that didn’t prepare underground bunkers, they have been evacuated under the arrangement of the Old Fourth. They don’t know the truth about the other settlements and believe the massacres are real.”

Wearing a dice mask, Two Dots reported still with a slick voice. Sitting on a tilted cushioned chair, he poured himself a glass of untouched wine. “Your actions are even bigger than I imagined.”

“I heard you made quite a profit from the mudsled and supply business,” Zhu Yanchen said. His face was covered by a mask, and he deliberately lowered his voice. He didn’t respond to Two Dots probing and changed the topic directly.

“We played by the rules. No one raised prices for transportation or supplies. Rest assured, I’ll go back and give Three Dots to Six Dots a good lesson. This opportunity is rare in a century, so it’s not surprising that some people are eager.”

“Mm.”

Two Dots looked up and down at Zhu Yanchen. “I heard Miss Ai entered the city center. It seems you’ll be sitting in her position for a while.”

Zhu Yanchen still paid no attention. “The prices of consumables in the settlements must be coordinated. The Old Fourth’s medical supplies are controlled by designated individuals and must not be hoarded or sold privately. Ai Xiaoxiao has arranged the necessary personnel. Let me emphasize once again, especially in this regard, I don’t want anyone else interfering.”

Two Dot’s voice carried a hint of amusement. “Yes, boss. But speaking of that… Zhu Sheng has recently loosened the restrictions on the Old Fourth. Have you heard about it? Zhu Lao plans to completely seal off the city, and the guards outside no longer care about our people. They are now weak, and there’s a considerable amount of military supplies in the periphery. Maybe we should…”

“Prohibited from conflicting with the military. If caught, you know the rules.”

“Haa, whether it’s Miss Ai or you, you both have stubborn minds. Fine, I get it. Who made me get stuck with the rank ‘Two Dots’ anyway?” The person shrugged.

After seeing Two Dots off, Zhu Yanchen relaxed his tense nerves and opened a bottle of champagne, which was a rare sight. Over this period, he had been working on the “Suppression” weapon production workshop, the underground bar, and the command center, always on the move like a spinning top. The days spent with Shu Jun were too relaxed, and he even found it difficult to adapt to the almost sleepless time.

He had to return to the command center later to participate in Zhu Sheng’s meeting. Since being shot on the program, Xia Yufeng had been in a state of confusion, as if his mind had gone blank. It was a challenge for him to convey anything related to the meeting; he often forgot what he was supposed to say.

People were truly prone to corruption. He had been living like an ascetic monk before, but now, after only a few days of separation from his loved one, Zhu Yanchen felt somewhat tired. He took a sip of champagne and looked at the empty bar.

Then everything went black before his eyes.

Something cold, slick, and greasy wrapped around his eyes. Zhu Yanchen’s heart tightened, but immediately relaxed.

“I won’t ask you to ‘guess who’ this time.” Shu Jun lazily spoke. “Master, I’ve never seen you drown your sorrows in alcohol. That’s not a good habit.”

With that, Shu Jun removed the covering material from his face and stood in front of Zhu Yanchen. He looked into his eyes, which were filled with bloodshot veins.

“What’s going on? I haven’t kept an eye on you for a while, and you’re not getting enough sleep again?”

“The production of the ‘Suppression’ weapons is limited, so I have to personally inspect them.” Feeling the warmth radiating from Shu Jun, Zhu Yanchen couldn’t help but curl his lips. Fatigue instantly flooded over him, washing away all the bitterness and leaving only a soft acidity. “In this battle, we must be flawless on our side… Shu Jun, now that the city is under complete lockdown, how did you manage to get in?”

“I learned from the spirit of Luo Duan and slowly crawled in through the cracks in the ground.” Shu Jun’s voice was bitter. “Have you seen my outfit? It’s all made of mimicry material. A’Yan, I was packed in a box the entire way and presented myself to the command center with great care. I’ve learned quite a few tricks.”

“You’re really…”

“No other way. I missed you.” Shu Jun unceremoniously grabbed Zhu Yanchen, and the two of them fell onto the couch. He didn’t do anything more; he just held his lover in his arms. “And I knew you wouldn’t rest properly.”

“Don’t tease me. I have a meeting later.” Wrapped in the familiar scent of the other person, Zhu Yanchen almost instantly fell asleep, but he managed to hold on.

“How long has it been since you last slept?”

“Less than three days.”

“I’ve come all this way, so I’ll go.”

Zhu Yanchen suddenly sobered up and exerted force to lift himself from the couch. “The perimeter of the command center is now equipped with the highest level of purifiers. You won’t be able to get in! Not through the cracks either. They will definitely check the entrance monitoring and guest records. You…”

“I can tolerate the internal purification, but the most challenging part is the purification shield around the courtyard. I know.” Shu Jun smiled. “Don’t worry, I haven’t been idle during this time. I’ve learned a thing or two from others as well.”

Shu Jun stood up, and the erosion substance climbed up from his feet, slowly writhing. In the next moment, another “Zhu Yanchen” appeared in front of Marshal Zhu, down to every detail of the uniform.

“I’ve only practiced for a short while, and my technique is still lousy, but I can manipulate dust to a certain extent. Causing a purifier to temporarily malfunction is achievable.” Shu Jun’s voice remained his own. He reached out, grabbed Zhu Yanchen’s wrist with the communicator, and then returned to his own appearance. “Come on, just like before—let your family know first, then you can sleep with me for a while.”

With that, he glanced at the communication list and pressed the most frequently used contact—

“What’s going on?” Tang Heyu had clearly been sleeping, as his white hair was completely disheveled. “You brat, I warn you—”

The old man’s voice suddenly faltered. He rubbed his eyes and then widened them in astonishment. “Shu Jun?!”

“A’Yan needs rest. We’re at the bar where we last met.” Shu Jun stated concisely. “I’ll hide him first… Forget about the meeting at the command center. How much time until your meeting over there?”

“Seven and a half hours.” Tang Heyu had a complicated expression. His mouth opened and closed for a while before he finally gave an answer.

“Then in another seven hours, remember to wake him up.”

“Mr. Tang, he’s joking.” Zhu Yanchen tried to pull his wrist back, but Shu Jun held on tightly. He could only helplessly explain in a loud voice, “I’ll go soon—”

“Go my ass,” Shu Jun asserted boldly. “Look at your complexion. It’s as pale as paper—Marshal Zhu, I warn you. I know you’re immune to the erosion, and I can help treat your wounds, but if you suddenly drop dead in the meeting room, you’ll be really gone. Now, sleep.”

“I’ve checked my body. It shouldn’t…”

“I won’t discuss the issue of ‘should’. If you keep pushing through like this, you’ll become an idiot.” Shu Jun insisted firmly. “I don’t want to spend my life with an idiot.”

Zhu Yanchen: “…”

Tang Heyu: “Can I hang up first?”

“Not for now.” Shu Jun raised his voice. “Anyway, Mr. Tang, it’s settled. You come to pick him up in seven hours. Alright, you can hang up now.”

Tang Heyu quickly disconnected the call at the fastest speed known to mankind.

Shu Jun released Zhu Yanchen’s wrist, but there wasn’t much of a victorious look on his face. “Why do I feel like I’ve been supervising your sleep ever since we met again?”

Zhu Yanchen didn’t respond. His eyebrows slightly furrowed as he reached out and grabbed Shu Jun’s wrist, pulling him back onto the couch.

“What’s wrong? Don’t trust me to go?” Shu Jun saw the seriousness in Zhu Yanchen’s expression and then curled his lips. “I can impersonate the real you. I can achieve the same level as Xia Yufeng. As for the voice, I have the ‘Replication’ ability. I can use erosion to adjust my vocal cords without exposing anything.”

They fell silent for a few seconds, and Shu Jun’s vertical pupils slowly contracted.

“Of course, I won’t take the opportunity to kill off all the high-ranking human officials, although it’s quite tempting…”

“Since we met, I’ve also been supervising your emotional state,” Zhu Yanchen quietly interrupted Shu Jun. “I know you just want me to rest, but I also understand that you seek closeness when you’re feeling uneasy.”

Shu Jun was momentarily stunned.

“The scenes of destruction weren’t something you imagined yourself, right? At least, I didn’t sense much deliberate acting. It seemed quite natural.”

…And the mournful and desperate cries of the monster. Shu Jun wasn’t skilled in acting. That kind of despair was something he could never portray. That expression seemed more like an outburst of genuine emotions than acting skills.

Zhu Yanchen reached out and gently stroked Shu Jun’s cheek with his palm. Seeing Shu Jun’s lips slightly parted, he couldn’t help but poke at the pointed tooth peeking out.

“Those scenes were information implanted by Sigma, right?”

“…Mm, I referenced the destruction of X City a bit.” The remnants of the yet unformed hostility in Shu Jun instantly dissipated.

“It was the same last time, and it’s the same this time. Every time you turn yourself into a monster, you become more susceptible to negative emotions.” Zhu Yanchen withdrew his hand and ruffled Shu Jun’s hair in that position. “I don’t mind if you come to me for reassurance—whether it’s trust or love, you can come anytime.”

His gaze became incredibly gentle. “I agree to let you go, and I won’t hold back anymore. But, in return, you don’t have to deliberately hide your emotions either.”

“Alright, alright, shut up.” Shu Jun pushed Zhu Yanchen down onto the couch and looked up at the ceiling. “If you keep talking, I won’t be able to resist kissing you. Then neither of us will get any sleep.”

This time, Zhu Yanchen didn’t struggle. He turned to the side on the couch, resting his head on Shu Jun’s leg, and quickly fell into a deep sleep.

Once his lover was sound asleep, Shu Jun slowly moved away and slipped a soft pillow under Zhu Yanchen’s head. Then he wandered around the bar for a few rounds and found a blanket to carefully cover his beloved Marshal Zhu.

“I’ll be right back.” Shu Jun whispered, giving a gentle kiss on Zhu Yanchen’s eyes. “When you wake up, I’ll fill you in on the details of the meeting.”

Shu Jun stood up, extinguishing the only source of light in the bar. The windows were already sealed shut, enveloping the surroundings in complete darkness.

“Goodnight. Sweet dreams.”

The author has something to say:

The real Marshal Zhu, Marshal Zhu as portrayed by Xia Yufeng, and Marshal Zhu as portrayed by Shu Ge, let’s draw lots.

Zhu Sheng: …Xia Yufeng’s acting is a bit inconsistent.

<<< || Table of Contents || >>>

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

Chapter 89: Special One

The screen was contaminated by the Erosion Swamp, becoming increasingly distorted and deformed. The crackling electromagnetic noise mixed with the muffled sounds of collapsing ruins, as one by one, the lights went out. The air became oppressively murky. The mutated synthetics didn’t go berserk; instead, they returned to calmness after feeding.

A peculiar and desperate army.

Only the largest monster was rampaging wildly, seemingly the only creature with emotions, now venting without any regard. These images were distributed to all the senior researchers, and the conclusions were drawn quickly:

“The larger monster undoubtedly has a higher resonance rate with the Erosion Swamp, allowing it to manipulate the Erosion Swamp and transform into a gigantic monster.”

“The other synthetics didn’t integrate well with the Erosion Swamp and received an unknown treatment, which has put them in an unstable state of mutation. They will soon die or lose their sanity, becoming true mutant beasts.”

“That’s good news. Not many synthetics possess top-tier destructive power. With such an attack, our fortifications can definitely withstand…”

“…Report…”

Zhu Sheng pinched his brow, sighing softly.

In the end, those reports were just results derived from the images, and their accuracy was still questionable. Based on the information in the footage, Zhu Sheng had a rough guess—

The leader of the synthetics had similar interests to the Old Fourth and had reached an agreement with them not long ago, secretly hoarding resources.

Subsequently, they prepared underground strongholds in the settlements. During the Reunion Festival, they gathered everyone together and informed the synthetics of the truth behind the player system, then urgently relocated them underground.

The reason the synthetics had been lurking before could only be because they harbored hope—minimal casualties and human collaborators. The synthetics didn’t want to perish along with the humans; they wanted to find a way out.

So, they were cautious, gradually accumulating their strength. When humans suddenly lost this purifying force and had to change leadership, the social system was bound to undergo changes, at least causing a period of chaos. The synthetics could take advantage of the most vulnerable moment within Y City to launch an attack, severely damaging humans and seizing the opportunity to plunder resources and demand compensation.

…It seemed that the synthetics had a capable leader.

The other side acted cautiously, without an impulsive attitude. Zhu Sheng had figured out this route. They prepared for a preemptive city-wide lockdown, guarding against a potential attack from the synthetics. However, with the revelation of the settlements, his rhythm was completely disrupted—

The Blackbirds and Groundwater were undoubtedly the two strongest teams among the synthetics. Now, they were heavily damaged by the Erosion Swamp and were attacking humans. The largest monster—the leader—was likely in a state of half-despair.

Before the war even started, the strongest forces were unable to recover, which was a disaster capable of shaking people’s hearts.

The synthetics were expendable, one less meant one less, and they couldn’t be replenished. The synthetics were already in a difficult situation, and when such events occurred, people’s hearts would crumble like loose sand. Despair would spread rapidly, with no companions left to save, leading to scenes of chaotic battle and eventual mutual destruction.

Things had reached this point, and regardless of whether or not the settlement’s population was incited, the outcome wouldn’t differ much—once these synthetics lost control, they would undoubtedly slaughter the settlement’s residents as their first victims.

This variable was too significant, and Y City wasn’t prepared.

How did this happen so coincidentally? Zhu Sheng sat on the stool, unusually stunned for a few seconds—how did this happen so coincidentally?

How could such a large Erosion Swamp suddenly appear and attack the settlement where the majority of the synthetics were located? If the leader of the synthetics could manipulate the Erosion Swamp, why didn’t they notice it earlier?

Upon closer examination, this large Erosion Swamp was extremely peculiar. While coincidence could explain it, if it wasn’t fate…

What else was there?

Zhu Sheng retreated into the darkness, thinking quickly.

There must be something hidden behind the synthetics, attempting to instigate a conflict between humans and synthetics. With this in mind, perhaps the leader on the synthetics’ side was aware, and their lack of action could be due to this consideration.

But what other forces could there be? He couldn’t figure it out.

…Well, regardless of what lurked in the shadows, their available options were extremely limited at the moment. The most pressing matter was to defend against the potentially rampaging synthetics at all costs.

At any cost.

“Completely seal off Y City and stop accepting returning residents.” Zhu Sheng spoke up. “Increase the number of purifiers around the city and have all citizens evacuate to the city center. Be prepared to raise the second wall around the city center at any time. We must prepare for a prolonged siege.”

The assistant standing beside Zhu Sheng was startled.

“They are similar to mutant beasts, needing to feed to survive. This condition is difficult to treat, so they won’t last much longer,” Zhu Sheng said calmly. “Go, arrange a meeting, and I will discuss the specific arrangements.”

Y City must be defended, and every effort must be made to minimize losses. If Y City fell, the surrounding cities wouldn’t survive for long either.

Underground stronghold.

Of the initial thirty thousand people who were relocated, only a few thousand remained. Although it was a bit challenging for the several tens of thousands of people in the settlement, considering that it was only temporary, everyone endured it—every room was filled with people; even the corridors were crowded. Special large rooms were reserved for the elderly and children, and while the air was filled with a mix of various odors—overall, it was tolerable.

They had enough food to eat, good lighting, and no trace of the Erosion Swamp seeping in. For most of the settlement’s people, it was already sufficient.

The more capable players were assigned to “Suppression” work, stationed at important ventilation and water inlets to assist with purification. This work wasn’t particularly tiring, but it was mechanical and monotonous, leaving people restless.

Perhaps considering this, all the screens in the stronghold were turned on. The Erosion Swamp blocked all long-range signals, and only the local signal source managed to survive—every scene Zhu Sheng saw was projected accurately to the people in the underground stronghold.

“That’s my face!” Yu Jin held a can of meat, pointing at the man kneeling before him. “Captain Shu is being unfair! He made me kneel like this? How could anyone possibly bully me, umph—”

He had only shouted halfway when a piece of compressed biscuit was pressed against his mouth. Hu Yan looked coldly at Yu Jin and pointed at the swaying “synthetic” on the screen. “That one has my face on it. Captain Shu specifically instructed me to give you some spiritual compensation, but I ended up with nothing once it came to me. You don’t want the canned food? Fine, give it back to me.”

“You used my face, so there’s no reason not to give me something.” Yu Jin scratched his bright yellow hair, clutching the can tightly to his chest.

“Tsk.”

“But the effect is pretty lame.” Yu Jin hid the canned food and sighed. “Our faces are all exposed. It’s fine for the older folks, but the young ones might think it’s some kind of show. Later, I’ll have to argue with them again.”

“Just hold steady.” Hu Yan crossed his arms. “Captain Shu said that with this development, Y City will definitely be completely sealed off and too preoccupied to bother with us. Once the cameras break, no one will come to investigate. At most, one more day, and once Captain Shu finishes cleaning up, we can all come out.”

“Easy for you to say. Your team has taken over quite a few houses, and the stronghold still needs to accommodate more people.”

“We’ll compensate with meat.” Hu Yan raised the “Suppression” prototype in his hand. “When the time comes, we’ll go out hunting and purify some mutant beast meat. It tastes pretty good.”

“Get more bird-shaped mutant beasts. The meat is tender,” Yu Jin turned his eyes around.

“…No special requests,” Hu Yan said, then chuckled to himself.

People were crowded together underground. The young gathered in front of the screens, gasping in astonishment, while the middle-aged formed groups and chatted. Several elderly people with spinal deformities piled up a few crates of supplies and sat on top, playing cards. The air wasn’t exactly fresh, and the light bulbs were dim and flickering, but the surroundings were filled with a vibrant human atmosphere.

The chaotic festival had long passed, and the players’ mindset had more or less adjusted. Now enveloped in a long-lost sense of camaraderie, they unconsciously joined in the conversations.

“Although I still can’t forgive certain people,” Hu Yan took a bite of the protein energy bar in his hand, “but, how should I put it? I like this feeling.”

Just as if they weren’t different from each other.

“Who doesn’t, right?” Yu Jin opened a can of meat and handed it to the nearest pregnant woman. “Now I only have one thought—let’s not mess things up anymore and put an end to all this nonsense. I can’t wait for Boss Zhu to become the leader, truly.”

The two candidates for leadership had vastly different reactions to these scenes.

Yi Ning’s face turned pale, and he squeezed his palms until they left bloodstains. Just as he had mentally prepared himself to confront Shu Jun and Zhu Sheng, everything went off track.

Was there still hope for the settlements? Yi Ning wondered absentmindedly. With such monsters, what kind of people would they send to fight?

This was no longer a war; it was an utter natural disaster. Yi Ning subconsciously wanted to speak up and ask the person he used to discuss matters with, but then he remembered that Luo Duan was no longer around.

Right, Luo Duan was also a synthetic.

He vaguely realized something, but no matter what he did, he couldn’t grasp that thread of inspiration. A sense of panic seeped into his mind, subsequently capturing his full attention—his hometown was about to be destroyed, the people he cherished the most were going to die, and he was likely unable to do anything.

At this point, should he join forces with Zhu Sheng?

Even if they joined forces, could they save those who were about to fall into despair?

Yi Ning sat back in his chair, somewhat unsteady, and looked up at the bright ceiling of his office. His eyes felt sore, and soon tears welled up.

…Was he wrong from the start?

No, he couldn’t allow such a weak thought to surface. In any case, he should first find the researchers and hear how the experts analyze the situation. Yi Ning wiped his face a few times, opened the screen, and a thought unexpectedly struck him.

If Zhu Yanchen were still alive.

If it was that tactically astute genius, who knows, he might come up with a way to save most of the people.

‘How funny,’ he thought. Previously, in order to obtain the position of leader, he guided the people to recognize the true “Zhu Yanchen”. Now that the plan had reached its final step, he found himself wanting the return of this opponent the most.

However, the atmosphere around Marshal Zhu wasn’t particularly heavy—

“Forget about your father. His heart is as frozen as a piece of meat. But if you do this… Hey, you’re scaring the poor Yi kid to death!” Tang Heyu looked at the information Yi Ning had passed on to the Tang family and made a sound similar to slurping noodles.

“To deceive Sigma, we must first deceive the humans themselves.”

Zhu Yanchen mumbled with an energy bar in his mouth, his voice muffled. As he spoke, he nibbled on the energy bar—Marshal Zhu’s hands were covered in oil stains from mechanical parts, and his face was smeared, with no free hand to grab food.

“Tang Lao, stop looking. This needs some adjustments.”

“I need a rest!” Tang Heyu glared, his eyes widening. “I admit you have great stamina, but don’t make things difficult for an old man. Let me take a good look… Oh my, this person looks so realistic. The power of the Erosion Swamp shouldn’t be underestimated…”

The old man clearly wanted to watch the excitement, so Zhu Yanchen wiped the sweat off his chin and let him be.

“Oh my, Shu Jun is here! Hey, this is too bloody… Chenchen, even if you like men, they should at least be human first… Is this the person? My goodness…”

“It’s him.” Zhu Yanchen stopped his work and leaned over to look. “His control over his abilities has improved.”

“What’s with that smug look on your face? I can’t understand young people nowadays. If your father finds out…”

As the old man said that he suddenly fell silent and his expression became serious. He let out a low sigh and continued to gaze at the screen.

“I will let him know.”

Zhu Yanchen stared at the roaring monster on the screen with an unusually gentle gaze.

“…It’s almost over.”

The author has something to say:

Tang Heyu: Young people these days are too trendy with their XP.jpg

<<< || Table of Contents || >>>

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

Chapter 88: Scream

Located on the top floor of the command center was the best restaurant in Y City with a splendid view. The night sky concealed the oppressive feeling unique to overcast days, and with the dazzling warm lights, it seemed as though this place had never been tainted by the outside gloom. The temperature was comfortable, the music soothing, but these beauties failed to influence Yi Ning.

Yi Ning’s face was as dark as the bottom of a pot.

Zhu Sheng sat upright at the table with his white hair neatly combed. Despite his advanced age, he still exuded an extremely dominant and oppressive aura. Thinking about how this person had once sent someone to assassinate him, Yi Ning’s mood became somewhat complicated.

“Please, have a seat.” Faced with his former target, Zhu Sheng showed no signs of guilt.

“Don’t you want Zhu Yanchen to come?” Yi Ning suppressed his anger.

“Xiao Xia? His injuries haven’t healed yet, so he’s resting.”

“You’re being straightforward.”

“When you reach my age, you don’t have much time for small talk.” Zhu Sheng spoke slowly. “Given the current situation, let’s cooperate.”

Yi Ning stood up abruptly, almost pulling the tablecloth with his exaggerated movement. “I refuse.”

“Young man, don’t be so impatient. Settlement γ-31329 is beyond saving, and you don’t need to rush.”

Those words hit a nerve, and Yi Ning took a deep breath. “If it weren’t for you—”

“Well, I didn’t expect the Erosion Swamp to accelerate suddenly. But even if it continued at its original speed, I would still delay it. Do you want to save them?”

“No need to state the obvious!”

“The leadership position is yours. What do you plan to do?”

“Evacuate the residents, send them to other settlements, and deploy troops to purify the area surrounding the Erosion Swamp.” Yi Ning had considered this countless times in his mind.

“Our medication distribution to the settlements is calculated based on a predetermined threshold. The Erosion Swamp’s attack will inevitably turn the area near Settlement γ-31329 into a heavily eroded zone, making it impossible to grow crops or produce supplies for a period of time.”

Zhu Sheng gently placed the teacup back on the table.

“For the evacuees without special abilities, they would only burden the new settlements. The shortage of food and medicine that follows will trigger deeper chaos.”

“Y City has sufficient reserve resources, and the population of the settlement is not that large. We can allocate additional emergency supplies.”

“But what if a real emergency occurs in Y City? No one knows how long this attack will last, and there is more than one Erosion Swamp. If we reveal any weaknesses, the synthetics will definitely intervene—they are smarter than the Erosion Swamp, and each one of them is a desperate criminal, posing no less threat than the Erosion Swamp.”

“Are we just going to watch this settlement be destroyed because of a ‘possibility’ that Y City might be in danger?”

“You crawled up from a settlement, so I thought you wouldn’t be so naïve.” Zhu Sheng raised his hand, dismissing the guards who were attempting to move forward.

“Many problems don’t have perfect answers. It’s either sacrificing A or sacrificing B. From a broader perspective, if we disregard everything to rescue the settlement, it will leave evident risks for other settlements, Y City, and even humanity. But sacrificing it and finding a suitable explanation can actually ignite the fighting spirit in other settlements.”

“Fighting spirit?”

“The resistance against the synthetics.” Zhu Sheng looked at the night view outside the window. “Only after this turmoil ends, can Y City provide resources to support the settlements. If it takes too long, each settlement will inevitably be gradually depleted. Every leader in each settlement understands this principle, and as long as we send a signal, they will cooperate. Phrases like ‘victory in desperation’ and ‘fighting against the odds”—I believe you’ve heard enough of them. But if you step up and make this move, the effect will definitely be better than mine.”

“Let me summarize what you’re suggesting.” Yi Ning gritted his teeth. “You want me to step forward and use the Erosion Swamp’s attack to shift the blame onto the synthetics, then let the people in the settlements consume the synthetics first, and then Y City will intervene to solve the problem.”

“By doing so, the other settlements will still have a way out. Even with full support, Settlement γ-31329 won’t be able to be saved in time. It’s better to turn it into an excellent detonator.”

“I understand what you’re implying. The synthetics can sustain themselves outside for so long; they surely rely on support from the settlements.”

“These synthetics are likely disguised and infiltrated into various settlements. Settlements have always had a large influx of people, making them excellent hiding places. Their support probably comes from the Old Fourth. After all, they have always been dissatisfied with the optimization of the player system.”

Zhu Sheng patiently explained, which was uncommon for him.

“The Old Fourth is a civilian organization, considered half managers of the settlements. Currently, the settlements have not reported the movements of the synthetics, allowing the big fish to go unchallenged.”

“So you want to kill the chicken to scare the monkey*? Sacrifice the lives of tens of thousands, or even more, to be the detonator?”

*Idiom referring to setting an example.

“Yes. This way, the maximum number of people can survive, and there won’t be any loss of essential production facilities or core talents.” Zhu Sheng turned his gaze and looked directly into Yin Ning’s eyes.

“A while ago, you sent someone to kill me. Was it also for the ‘greater good’?”

“With the current tense situation, we shouldn’t waste time on power struggles. Our positions regarding the player system are relatively aligned. If it weren’t for your insistence on saving the settlements, I would have voluntarily withdrawn.”

As they spoke, dishes were served one by one. The vegetables were vibrant and dripping with freshness, the meat tender and delicious, and the hot aroma filled the air. However, neither of them touched their chopsticks, letting the enticing heat slowly dissipate.

Yi Ning didn’t even look at the food on the table. “If I were from Y City, I would indeed be convinced by your words.”

He suppressed his personal anger and replied with each word pronounced deliberately.

“I’ve also considered it. According to your argument, the casualties would indeed be minimized—someone has to sacrifice, so you plan to sacrifice the least significant part of society. Most people in Y City would probably stand on your side, I understand.”

“But among the group of people you want to sacrifice are my friends, elders, neighbors, and strangers who have supported and cared for me along the way. They supported me as I grew up, provided for me to enter Y City, and in the end, I’m supposed to sacrifice them without even asking, all for the sake of the ‘greater good’. I can’t cross that line within myself.”

Zhu Sheng’s expression gradually cooled down.

“I was willing to talk to you because you have a good mind. If you get rid of your soft-heartedness, you will definitely become an excellent leader in the future.”

“Is that so? I thought I was about to prove that ‘Zhu Yanchen’ is a fake, and you wanted to seek reconciliation.”

The unpleasantness on Zhu Sheng’s face disappeared, gradually transforming into a strange sadness. He fell into a long silence and sighed deeply in the end. “Yi Ning, don’t do something foolish.”

“If everyone works together, maybe we can make it through.” Yi Ning got up from his seat. “I will never use the settlements as cannon fodder.”

With that, he left the restaurant without looking back.

“You’ve worked hard. Let’s eat. The dishes in the front have gone cold; I’ll have someone reheat them up,” Zhu Sheng gestured to the young guard behind him. “We haven’t touched anything, so let’s not waste these good dishes.”

The guard glanced at Zhu Sheng, who picked up his chopsticks, and then looked at the empty seat in front of him. Mr. Zhu, isn’t this inappropriate?”

“Eat. You’ve been standing for quite a while. It’s just having a meal with an old man. Don’t mind it.”

The guard saluted and sat down in front of Zhu Sheng, visibly restrained in his movements. Zhu Sheng turned his head again and looked out at the night view—the sky had completely darkened, and his own face was reflected on the glass under the bright lights in the room.

He had never looked so exhausted before.

The young guard was also hungry, and the food was of high quality, so he loosened up as he ate. Zhu Sheng took some fish soup, mixed it with a little hot rice, and ate slowly. The screen next to him was flickering—the troops responsible for receiving supplies were still in various settlements, equipped with the best communication devices, continuously transmitting images back.

The settlements remained as they were, with shabby and crooked houses and only a few strips of light visible through the windows. The Erosion Swamp was approaching, and the concentration of erosion on the streets remained high, with very few people in sight. Occasionally, a few people could be seen with their faces tightly covered like dumplings.

To ensure that the personnel wouldn’t move drastically, Zhu Sheng had already instructed the supply team to bring false information, telling them that the Erosion Swamp would be intercepted by Y City’s special forces. He also ordered the cessation of hunting and excavation on the outskirts of the settlements, making the lie more convincing.

If the tragedy wasn’t tragic enough, it wouldn’t serve as the detonator. If these people managed to escape successfully, when the synthetics struck, the border settlement would only follow suit and descend into chaos.

The settlement was remarkably quiet. Death was about to descend, and the people sleeping in their beds knew nothing.

This would be the final peace for Settlement γ-31329.

Twenty hours passed, precisely at the time of the setting sun. The dark clouds revealed a faint reddish color from the evening sun. The massive Erosion Swamp crawled to the edge of the town, and a sharp and desperate scream pierced the sky.

It had begun.

Zhu Sheng sat upright on a stool, silently watching the shaking images on the screen—the team responsible for maintaining the machinery had left several hours ago. In a highly eroded environment, this machinery could only hold on for a day at most.

One day was enough.

The people didn’t wait for the imagined reinforcements. Many panicked and rushed onto the streets, attempting to escape on makeshift sleds. However, the concentration of erosion outside was too high, and most of the settlement’s residents didn’t have proper protective clothing. They collapsed on the streets after running only a few steps. As the beasts led the Erosion Swamp, the Corpse Parasites eagerly burrowed into the clothes of the residents, feasting on their flesh. Their bloated clothes visibly deflated.

The remaining people had learned their lesson. They retreated into their homes, put on their best protective suits, and turned the purifiers to the maximum.

The black liquid slowly crept across the ground, turning the already pale signs into shades of black, white, and gray. The settlement wasn’t without young people who made a living in the erosion zone. They wore thick protective suits and boots, running frantically through the city. If someone accidentally fell, the Erosion Swamp would grab hold of them, eliminating their chances of getting up again.

One person clearly noticed the position of the camera. He stumbled closer, shouting at the lens.

“It’s over!” he lamented. “It’s my fault; I protected the synthetics! I confess, we have hidden thousands of synthetics in our town. Their main force is still here… Cough, they haven’t left yet.”

He coughed a few times with difficulty, his voice hoarse with impending death.

“…Their underground stronghold has been infiltrated by the Erosion Swamp! They don’t seem afraid of the Erosion Swamp; they’ve all turned into monsters. Please save us… I beg you…”

“It doesn’t matter if I die, but the residents here are innocent… Why didn’t you tell us that the Erosion Swamp was coming? Why…? They aren’t afraid of the Erosion Swamp!”

Half of the person’s mask had been eroded away, revealing grayish-black flesh. Much of their skin had peeled off due to erosion, and black blood slid over their skin. They widened their eyes, tears streaming down.

“Can’t you just punish me alone? The others are innocent; they don’t even know that the synthetics are here… Please, save them. I’m begging you…”

The person knelt in front of the camera; their knees sinking into the erosion substance, making an unsettling sizzling sound. They bowed their head to the ground, maintaining that position, never rising again.

The light from the screen illuminated Zhu Sheng’s face. The old man remained motionless, as if carved in stone.

The settlement first fell into an eerie silence, then screams gradually echoed from all directions—finally, a monster entered the camera’s range on the screen.

Zhu Sheng had seen the largest one before. It was the same one that attacked the cultivation stronghold some time ago.

It let out a mournful howl in the town, filled with sorrow and anger. The pitch-black liquid flowed down from its eye sockets, dripping onto the ground. Under the giant monster’s feet, several humanoid creatures staggered forward—they still retained human proportions, without masks on their faces, but their limbs were strangely elongated. Black bone joints protruded from their eyes, noses, ears, and mouths, reaching toward the sky. From a distance, they resembled charred trees.

These “people” emitted muffled wailing sounds, their movements convulsing, appearing to be in extreme pain. Zhu Sheng recognized a few faces—they were all members of the Blackbirds.

The largest monster was surrounded by them, wreaking havoc on the houses and emitting mournful screams as if venting their anger. Zhu Sheng witnessed it stepping on rooftops, claws dragging out residents from inside, and three or five of them being pressed into the Erosion Swamp, crushed into a meaty pulp.

The humanoid creatures surrounding it then swarmed in, devouring the meaty pulp in a frenzy.

This is bad.

Zhu Sheng tightly gripped the head of his cane.

…He had considered the worst-case scenario, but the current scene was a hundred times worse than his imagination.

The author has something to say:

Shu Ge: A’Yan, see if my special effects are powerful enough.

↑ Actually, he’s the only one in the scene.

Marshal: .

<<< || Table of Contents || >>>

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

Chapter 87: Massacre Proclamation

Just as Yi Ning had anticipated, Marshal Zhu’s approval rating fell instead of rising.

Zhu Yanchen had rarely appeared in public before, and when he did, he maintained a silent and indifferent demeanor. The unexpected shooting incident and the comical way that Xia Yufeng fainted during the program only reinforced the perception among the public that Marshal Zhu was “putting on an act”.

However, Yi Ning had no time to relax.

He was currently sitting in Luo Duan’s room, repeatedly watching the surveillance footage from the past few days. Luo Duan’s disappearance had been very discreet, and they hadn’t captured the moment he vanished. It was only when Xia Liang accidentally exposed Luo Duan’s disguise that they realized he had disappeared.

But even with Luo Duan’s “motionless” disguise, even if it hadn’t been discovered in advance, it could have lasted at most a day.

After watching the surveillance footage multiple times, Yi Ning found no signs of Luo Duan interacting with anyone else. Most of the time, the captain remained quiet, spending his time reading. Occasionally, during his leisure time, he would sit on the window seat in the room and gaze outside.

The command center building was relatively tall, allowing for a relatively distant view. But whenever the sky turned overcast, the surroundings would be swallowed by gray mist. Most of the time, there was nothing of interest outside the window except a hazy city. The evenings were slightly better, with lights flickering in the buildings, emitting a festive atmosphere.

When sitting on the window seat at night, Luo Duan would often move his lips. Yi Ning initially thought it was a way of communicating with his comrades, but even after lip-reading experts deciphered it, the results were disappointing. Luo Duan’s words were full of past memories, interspersed with some confessions and small talk.

It was as if he was conversing with an invisible family member.

Yi Ning closed the screen and once again surveyed the small “prison” room.

It was too strange. Luo Duan had deliberately come back with him after the Reunion Festival, but he had only stayed in the command center for a while and didn’t cause any trouble. He seemed to have no demands whatsoever. Even his escape wasn’t difficult to guess—it was clear that Zhu Sheng was planning to seriously lock down the city, and as a synthetic human, Luo Duan would undoubtedly suffer if he didn’t find a way to leave.

And Luo Duan’s departure wasn’t without premonition—

[As a parting gift, here’s another hint for you. Zhu Sheng is not solely obsessed with power. As long as you find his weakness, you’ll have leverage over him.]

Looking back now, there were undoubtedly hidden meanings in Luo Duan’s words during their last meeting.

Why did Luo Duan come back with him in the first place? Yi Ning couldn’t understand.

When it came to the relationship between a superior and a subordinate over the years, Yi Ning found it laughable even to mention it. Over the years, there had been no camaraderie or personal feelings between them. In recent months, they had spent more time together than all those previous years combined.

Moreover, for a synthetic human like Luo Duan, with his powerful abilities and calm rationality, he was a valuable force at the leadership level. It was peculiar for the synthetic humans to allow him to act alone.

…Wait a minute. A force at the leadership level.

Without Luo Duan, the synthetic humans would undoubtedly have other leaders. But if Luo Duan was still there, why would they need to find another leader? Even if Luo Duan’s ideology clashed with that of the main synthetic human forces, he didn’t need to come to Y City specifically for self-preservation. With Luo Duan’s abilities, he could have comfortably settled in any settlement.

Fragments of clues floated in Yi Ning’s mind, and he gradually furrowed his brows.

Apart from Luo Duan’s unusual behavior… A while ago, Zhu Sheng was attacked at a special stronghold and, upon his return, immediately put the city on lockdown. The Tang family had sent people to investigate and learned that the special stronghold had been attacked by a synthetic human capable of summoning monsters, and Zhu Sheng almost didn’t escape.

And that stronghold was the very stronghold where the real Zhu Yanchen had been kidnapped. The mutant beast that attacked him was said to be “highly humanoid”.

Yi Ning took a deep breath, feeling as if a significant portion of the temperature in his body dissipated along with it.

Zhu Sheng personally went to investigate the special stronghold, and the initial “humanoid mutant beast” might have played an important role in this matter. And Yi Ning had kept the Y City incident involving Luo Duan a secret from Zhu Sheng. With this secret clue, he had a terrifying guess—

The synthetic humans had another leader. This person possessed great power—enough to overshadow Luo Duan in terms of influence—and had different views from him.

Luo Duan had deliberately come to Y City, and there was no evidence of espionage. It was highly likely that he was trying to avoid this person. From this perspective, that leader must be extremely dominant and authoritative. Taking all these clues into consideration, the only one who fit the criteria was…

No, Shu Jun was already dead.

Wait, when did that “humanoid mutant beast” appear? Yi Ning stood in the white room with a momentarily blank expression.

The strongest soldier might still be alive and had transformed into some kind of… monster, which matched the information about the attacker at the special base. It made perfect sense why the thirty thousand synths disappeared so cleanly and hadn’t been caught all this time—their leader had long since disconnected from the player system, giving them plenty of time to prepare.

So, Luo Duan’s warning to “pay attention to formidable characters” in the settlements wasn’t just about “supporting formidable characters to protect the settlements”.

Shu Jun was still alive, but he alone couldn’t handle the supplies for thirty thousand people. He must have a collaborator, and that collaborator was inevitably a human within the settlement. Now, in retrospect, facing himself as a marshal, that “Gray Claw” implied that he had another boss, making the situation quite delicate.

By deliberately coming back with him and leaving behind hints, Luo Duan was giving him his support.

Yi Ning’s eyes brightened. He knew that Luo Duan had always had a gentle personality and an outrageously good temper. How could he possibly be willing to incite a bloody battle?

What about Luo Duan’s second hint? To grasp Zhu Sheng’s weaknesses…

Intense contemplation left Yi Ning with a headache, and he couldn’t find a way forward. Just as he was pacing in the room, his assistant came to his rescue. “Commander, the opening ceremony for the new elections is tonight. We should leave.”

“I know.”

Yi Ning adjusted his uniform collar, and as soon as he stepped out, a shrill alert sound came through the communicator—

“Sir, there’s been activity detected from a massive Erosion Swamp in the southeast of Y City. It is moving toward Y City and passing through Settlement γ-31329. The settlement’s residents have already discovered it and sent the highest level distress signal.”

“How much time do we have?”

“The time for the Erosion Swamp to reach Y City?”

“No, the time for the Erosion Swamp to reach the settlement.”

“One week.”

“Then let’s try to finish this election within three days.”

However, his estimate was still overly optimistic. Zhu Sheng, who also received the news about the Erosion Swamp, showed no intention of expediting the election process. In fact, he deliberately dragged it out.

And the Erosion Swamp’s actions were faster than they had imagined. In less than three days, the giant Erosion Swamp was nearing its target settlement. It was only when the Erosion Swamp approached that people realized the severity of the situation. The giant Erosion Swamp’s acceleration wasn’t without reason—it was being guided by hundreds of Corpse Parasites, running towards the settlement.

He hadn’t been able to find Zhu Sheng’s weakness, but Zhu Sheng had already seized his own weakness.

Yi Ning sat at the election campaign venue, feeling restless. Currently, Zhu Sheng was still the nominal leader, and he couldn’t forcibly lift the city lockdown to provide assistance to the settlement.

“Marshal Yi.” As if seeing through his thoughts, Zhu Sheng’s assistant approached and saluted him. “Mr. Zhu kindly invites you to have dinner at the command center at 7:30 tonight.”

He didn’t even ask if Yi Ning agreed, saluting again and then turning to leave.

At the same time, at the settlement.

Yu Jin’s face was as dark as the bottom of a pot. “Shu Ge, you made us wait, and we waited. Now the Erosion Swamp is about to hit us head-on. We have many elderlies and children in the settlement. Shouldn’t we evacuate? Groundwater and Blackbirds are legitimate fighting teams, but we are just ordinary people.”

In a rare occurrence Hu Yan also spoke up. “There are too many Corpse Parasites on the other side, Shu Ge. Even if you’re formidable, you might not be able to handle it alone. I think Yu Jin is right. It would be better to evacuate the humans first.”

Chai Xuyang looked up at the ceiling, expressionless and silent.

“I just wanted to gather all of you, which would save me some trouble,” Shu Jun said in a relaxed tone, devoid of any hint of nervousness. “How much time do we have?”

“Less than a day, around twenty hours.”

“More than I estimated, but it’s enough.”

“What do you mean, ‘enough’?”

“Yu Jin, have everyone pack up valuable belongings in their homes and move to the underground stronghold. With just two remaining teams and all the residents, we should be able to squeeze in.”

“No, the Erosion Swamp is liquid. Even if we move underground, we’ll still be done for!” Yu Jin raised his voice.

“That’s exactly the idea.” Shu Jun calmly instructed. “The elite squads of Blackbirds and Groundwater, prepare the ‘Suppression’ equipment that was delivered a few days ago and block off all the entrances. Practice with it. It’s okay if it fails; I’ll have enough time to handle it.”

Hu Yan swallowed loudly.

Even without considering the erosion properties of the Erosion Swamp, it was like hiding in the basement when a flood was coming, fearing that others wouldn’t die fast enough. But Shu Jun didn’t seem like he was joking, and Hu Yan felt a bit stunned.

“Shu Ge, I think it’s possible to evacuate instead. Why use such a high-risk tactic?”

“First, the risk isn’t high.” Shu Jun still had a smile on his face. “What’s coming is just an ordinary Erosion Swamp so it’s quite easy to deal with. It’s not often we get such a relaxed practical exercise.”

“We can fight outside as well,” Hu Yan sincerely suggested. “I think I just developed claustrophobia all of a sudden.”

“No, everyone must hide underground.” Shu Jun’s smile grew wider, with a hint of rare mischief. “Your objection is invalid, Hu Yan.”

“Captain, what time is it? Let’s not joke around—normal people wouldn’t hide underground! We used to hide from people, not from Erosion Swamps. Underground strongholds provide no protection against erosion. We…”

“It’s precisely to hide from people.”

Shu Jun looked at Yu Jin.

“After this Erosion Swamp attack, half of the settlement’s people will die from the erosion, and the other half will be killed by me. As for the synthetic humans, they should also suffer ‘heavy casualties’.”

Yu Jin’s face turned pale. “What are you…”

Before he could finish his sentence, the remaining half got stuck in his throat.

Another “Yu Jin” suddenly appeared in front of him, and the next second, Shu Jun shot an arrow through his heart. The “Yu Jin” had black-red blood flowing from the corner of his mouth as he fell to the ground.

…And then he transformed into a trembling erosion mass.

“Just like this, dying from the Erosion Swamp or being killed by me,” Shu Jun said. “The distress signal has already been sent to Y City. Even if they don’t intend to come to your rescue, the detection devices will still be dispatched. Isn’t it fun? If Zhu Sheng wants chaos and war, I’ll give him ‘chaos’ and ‘war’.”

Yu Jin looked at the trembling erosion mass beneath his feet and took a silent step back.

“The accelerated movement of the Erosion Swamp—is that your doing too?” Chai Xuyang’s tone was as lifeless as stagnant water.

“Yes, and no,” Shu Jun happily admitted, waving the sword in his hand. Monday opened its mouth wide and exclaimed happily, “Me! Me!”

It even extended four thin arms from the sword’s body, vigorously waving its tiny hands to showcase its crawling speed. The other three people in the room, aside from Shu Jun, slowly turned their faces away—this creature itself was wide and long, plus with the four “legs”, it had a somewhat cockroach-like presence.

Shu Jun cleared his throat, picked up a cloth to wrap Monday completely, and continued, “This fellow chased after like a mad dog from behind. That’s why the Erosion Swamp and the Corpse Parasites were able to run at such speeds.”

“Luo Duan is still too cautious—his biggest miscalculation was sending a brainless Erosion Swamp over.”

The author has something to say:

Yi Ning: So the root of all evil is Shu Jun.

Shu Jun: Indeed, it is I. Let me perform a massacre of the people.jpg

——

Erosion Swamp: I’m so miserable.

<<< || Table of Contents || >>>

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

Chapter 86: The Beginning of Chaos

Xia Yufeng panicked.

His limbs turned cold, his palms sweaty, and his ears buzzed. He almost couldn’t hear the instructions coming through his earpiece.

Yi Ning smiled a few steps away, composed and with a confident expression. Xia Yufeng felt his back drenched in cold sweat. Stay calm, he kept repeating to himself. He had to stay calm; he still had the instructions in his hands, so at least he didn’t need to think for himself.

“We will hold a special commendation ceremony for these individuals.”

Xia Yufeng followed Zhu Sheng’s intention, trying hard to make his voice sound calm and confident.

“The focus of the program is to overcome the crisis—time is limited, and I believe reinforcing city defense and handling the residents in the settlements is more important.”

“How could he let him slip away! Ah, that old fox, Zhu Sheng.” Tang Heyu pounded his chest and stomped his feet halfway through the show.

“The appearance of the probe is also important for city defense. The Tang family has always been dedicated to researching civilian anti-erosion devices, so the emergence of such equipment is a significant event.” Yi Ning brought the topic back with a smile.

Xia Yufeng picked up a cup, attempting to wash away the pressure that was stuck in his throat with water.

“Our machinery does not possess strong anti-erosion capabilities; it is purely designed for disposable use. There is no new technology involved.”

Tang Heyu waved the pack of nutritional supplements in his hand. “He’s talking nonsense! I’ve considered this idea, and if we really made such disposable machinery, boy, they would be as big as heavyweight cargo ships. You think you can secretly send that to explore X City? You’re dreaming!”

The old man was exasperated; his face was filled with frustration. It was understandable that other researchers were focused on improving the player system and couldn’t keep up with the discussion. He and Zhu Yanchen were experts in this field, and just listening to it was already overwhelming.

“He’s smearing shit on your name.” Tang Heyu glanced at Zhu Yanchen. “Aren’t you bothered?”

“I’m well-rested.” Zhu Yanchen’s expression remained unchanged as he stood up. “Mr. Tang, I’ll go check on the finished ‘Suppression’ weapons. You can rest here for a while.”

“You should have something to eat too. You still have to go back and be the leader.”

Zhu Yanchen flattened the empty nutritional supplement package before throwing it into the trash. “It’s fine. Yi Ning will become a General* soon.”

*Clarity: An army general. While Marshal and General are similar titles military-wise, Zhu Yanchen is saying Yi Ning is going to become an army general to lead the army for the war that’s about to begin.

Tang Heyu clicked his tongue twice, wrinkles gathering on his face. “How come I can’t see that?”

On the holographic screen, the program continued.

“To be frank, we have attempted a similar approach and even discovered Mr. Tang Heyu’s previous design drawings.”

Yi Ning smiled faintly and enlarged a blueprint projection.

“With technological advancements today, the Tang family has attempted to improve upon this design. However, no matter what, the final product would be larger than a heavyweight cargo ship and would generate significant noise during operation. Considering your promotional style, why would you carry out the exploration of X City silently?”

“It’s simple. The success rate is too low, and failure would only be seen as a waste.” Xia Yufeng forced a smile. “As for the size of the machinery…”

He waited for the prompt to come through the earpiece, but all he heard was the word “small” lingering in his mouth for three or four seconds, without any follow-up. His ears were filled with abnormal crackling sounds.

Electromagnetic interference.

Xia Yufeng cleared his throat. “Because it’s a prototype, and X City isn’t too far away. Our researchers have made improvements, and the final product is only the size of an ordinary truck.”

“Does it need an operator?”

“Not necessary.” With Yi Ning firing off rapid questions, Xia Yufeng decisively chose a safe answer. He wasn’t a fool who had to wait for prompts from others. He had been in this line of work for a long time and had a talent for talking nonsense.

Even Zhu Sheng himself wouldn’t be able to find any problems with this answer.

The electromagnetic interference quickly subsided. Xia Yufeng adjusted his hair and took the opportunity to press his ear.

“Fool.” Zhu Sheng’s cold voice came through the earpiece.

Xia Yufeng was taken aback.

“The size of a truck—truly an outstanding achievement. If it weren’t for you mentioning the high cost, I would have been tempted.”

Yi Ning interlocked his fingers, his voice gradually becoming deeper.

“Before discussing city defense and settlements, I have one more question—why would a machine the size of a truck use a manual photography device designed for humans? Wouldn’t it be easier to directly equip it with a large recording machine to obtain intelligence?”

“Well… I…” Xia Yufeng stuttered.

He fell into the trap.

That scoundrel Yi Ning was truly deserving of climbing up from the bottom, showing some real skill. Marshal Yi probably guessed their cover-up from the beginning—first pressing for the hero’s identity, forcing them to reveal information about the machinery. When everyone’s attention was focused on the rationality of the machine, he deliberately interfered with the earpiece communication, turning the tables on the details.

He had been led around by the other party the whole time. Zhu Sheng clearly noticed it. If only the earpiece could connect just now…

But there were no “ifs.”

What should he do? Xia Yufeng’s breathing became rapid. He didn’t have any scientific knowledge reserves, and the more he spoke, the more mistakes he would make. He had dug such a big hole for himself. Could Zhu Sheng save the situation? He…

A gunshot rang out.

The production staff of the program screamed. After a moment, Xia Yufeng felt a surge of heat on his shoulder—he had been shot, and he was probably the last person on the scene to realize it.

The bullet didn’t hit any vital organs, and the warm blood soaked through the fabric, gradually turning cold. The throbbing warmth at the wound was gradually overwhelmed by intense pain, causing Xia Yufeng to howl on the spot. He was already extremely nervous; his nerves stretched tighter than a bowstring. Now, with this level of excruciating pain, Xia Yufeng’s eyes rolled back, and he promptly fainted.

Tang Heyu: “……”

The old man raised his hand and closed the screen with a snap.

“Aren’t you going to take a break?” Zhu Yanchen asked as he saw Tang Heyu return to his workstation with a complicated expression.

“You guessed it right. That boy from the Xia family made a fool of himself,” Tang Heyu said with a heavy tone. “But Zhu Sheng also anticipated this. He planted a fake assassin in the scene and forcefully interrupted the program.”

“I see.”

“…Seems like you’re not too surprised.” The old man lowered his gaze. “Well, for you, A’Sheng is just that kind of person. But to be honest, Chenchen, he had the same spirit as you do now when he was younger.”

After speaking, the old man looked at a point in empty space.

“What went wrong exactly?”

Tang Heyu didn’t get a response for a while, then chuckled self-deprecatingly. “Well, look at me now. Our problems are not small.”

Shu Jun, who was in the settlement, also couldn’t finish watching the program.

He had just seen Xia Yufeng drinking water when hurried footsteps entered from the corridor. Then, his door was almost kicked open—startled, Shu Jun quickly grabbed Monday and leaped onto the couch, nearly swinging his sword out.

“Ero… Erosion Swamp.” Uncle Xiong leaned against the door frame, panting heavily. “The Erosion Swamp is here!”

“Don’t panic. What’s the situation?”

“About 200… Over 200 kilometers away!” Uncle Xiong’s plump palm slapped his chest. “Today, me and the Groundwater brothers were hunting, and we saw it to the southwest! My god, such a large Erosion Swamp—it scared the hell out of me. It’s moving towards us, you know. We’re just watching it move… Brother Gray Claw, can you give us some advice? If that Erosion Swamp comes here, the entire settlement will be done for.”

Here it comes, Sigma’s probing.

“What does that Erosion Swamp look like?”

“What do you mean? What does it look like?” Uncle Xiong looked at Shu Jun in horror. “An Erosion Swamp is an Erosion Swamp—a large expanse of blackness, with bubbles everywhere on the surface. At that speed, it will reach here in a week. Think of a solution, brother!”

If it was just an Erosion Swamp without a brain, Shu Jun could suppress it on his own. But this kind of Erosion Swamp would definitely be noticed by Y City. If he intervened to make it disappear, Zhu Sheng would definitely guess the connection between this place and the synthetic humans.

With Luo Duan, Sigma’s probing methods have suddenly become much more sophisticated.

However…

“In a week, huh? Of course, there’s a solution.” Shu Jun grinned.

“Oh, don’t keep me in suspense, just tell me, brother!”

“Call for help?” Shu Jun pointed at the program on the screen. “Call for help from Y City. The louder the better.”

“Ancestor, Y City is under lockdown. Those people can’t even handle their own mess. They won’t have time to take care of us! Yu Jin wants to relocate everyone, but many of the elderly have been here for generations and can’t withstand the upheaval. I’m begging you, give us a reliable solution, can you?”

“It’s okay. Just call for help. Even if the Erosion Swamp reaches here, I guarantee you’ll be fine.” Shu Jun straightened the spine of his sword, and Monday let out a comfortable grunt.

“Really?”

“Just keep watching. The Blackbirds and the people from Groundwater won’t leave. I won’t joke about something as serious as our lives.”

Uncle Xiong grumbled a bit, casting a sidelong glance at the program on the screen. “Then I’ll go tell Yu Jin, and you can discuss it properly later. I’ll go talk to everyone…”

“Go.”

“Ah, they’re still choosing a leader in Y City. They’ve been at it for damn near a hundred years and still can’t decide. This morning, I saw that they’re going to have a ‘City Celebration’ tomorrow and make a fuss for another week.” Walking to the door, Uncle Xiong couldn’t help but complain. “When will this end?”

“About a week, at most two weeks.” Shu Jun smiled at Uncle Xiong. “Trust me.”

Uncle Xiong looked at Shu Jun for a moment, his expression clearly showed he didn’t believe. He nodded politely, drooped his head with a despondent look, and left the room—his sturdy frame seemingly shrank by a fraction.

Just then, a gunshot rang out from the screen. Shu Jun trembled, then shifted his gaze back—

Seeing “Zhu Yanchen” clutching his wound and falling, even though he knew it was a fake, his heart still constricted sharply. Unfortunately, Xia Yufeng’s tolerance for pain was clearly not high. He writhed in agony, his eyes rolling back, so Shu Jun’s emotions didn’t last long.

He sighed, hugged the pillow where Zhu Yanchen lay, and ruthlessly stabbed it a few times with his claw.

He really wanted to blend into the city again and see A’Yan, but now was a critical moment—Sigma had made a move, the situation in each settlement needed to be assessed, and the distribution of the “Suppression” weapon had to be considered.

The next round of elections was about to begin, and the seeds of chaos had already been sown. They had made a pact long ago to meet again amidst the chaos of Y City.

The pillow just didn’t feel as good as the touch of his boyfriend’s hand. Shu Jun opened the window, climbed up the wall, and looked towards the horizon—Y City was hidden behind the horizon, enveloped by sturdy walls.

“A’Yan, as I expected, Luo Duan attacked the settlements. This saved us a lot of trouble. At least we don’t need to create ‘accidents’ ourselves.”

Squatting on the rooftop, Shu Jun enjoyed the air with a high concentration of erosion substance. The tendrils of erosion emerged from his back and swayed contentedly. At first glance, Captain Shu seemed to have a few more peculiar tails.

“You better hurry on your end too.”

Shu Jun didn’t care about the swaying tendrils of erosion. He stretched lazily.

“…I’ve never personally fought in a battle of destroying the world so it’s really hard to endure.”

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