Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

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Chapter 92: A Lie

The doors of the memorial hall closed behind Shu Jun.

The space was spacious and brightly lit, with a distinct bitter scent that was unique to the memorial hall. All the researchers had been busy recently, and now there was not a single person inside the Zhu Rong Memorial Hall.

Under the thin disguise of erosion substance, Shu Jun tried to control his facial expression. This wasn’t Zhu Yanchen’s office, and there was no third person present, so it wasn’t a good thing for him.

The human leader was right in front of him, and it was extremely challenging to restrain his murderous intent. 

“You’ve been leaving the command center frequently recently. You’re not being very honest.” Zhu Sheng still had his back to him. “What’s the matter, scared?”

“No,” Shu Jun responded briefly. The desire to extend his claws made all ten of his fingers tingle.

“It’s normal to be scared. Your generation hasn’t encountered many major disasters.” Zhu Sheng slowly turned around. There was no expression on his face, but under the pale light in the memorial hall, the wrinkles on the old man’s face seemed deeper. “Fear is allowed. Running away is not.”

“Understood.”

Recently, it was understandable for Xia Yufeng to need to exchange places with the real Zhu Yanchen from time to time. Shu Jun responded resolutely.

“If you can hold on until the end, I won’t kill you,” Zhu Sheng said in a low voice. “That kid Yi Ning is too stubborn and naive. In this war, as long as he doesn’t go astray, he’ll probably grow a lot. If you get elected and survive this term, I will arrange a good life for you and your family. If Yi Ning gets elected, after the war, when he gets back on track, you can ‘retire’—as long as you don’t do anything foolish.”

The old man extended his wrinkled hand, hesitating for a few seconds, and then patted “Zhu Yanchen” on the shoulder.

Zhu Sheng had aged, inevitably becoming frail. “Zhu Yanchen” was over six feet tall, so Zhu Sheng’s movements were somewhat slow and laborious.

The tingling sensation at his fingertips disappeared, and Shu Jun looked steadily at the old man in front of him. The hatred was still surging, but compared to Zhu Sheng on that day, facing off at the stronghold, the two were completely different.

The human leader in front of him looked exhausted and aged. The cold artificial light cast a gray-white hue on the old man’s slightly yellowish skin, making him appear like a drowned corpse. Zhu Sheng silently looked at him—just looked at him. The muscles on his face twitched slightly, as if struggling with whether or not to say what came next.

“Do you regret it?” Unable to control his own mouth, Shu Jun finally spoke, seeing Zhu Sheng’s prolonged silence.

Zhu Sheng didn’t answer, but he seemed even more exhausted.

“There’s nothing to regret. If given another chance, my choice wouldn’t change. In the end, it was my own chosen path.”

Zhu Sheng took a few steps closer, showing no signs of weakness. But Shu Jun had a strange feeling—the concrete floor beneath his feet seemed to turn into a swamp, and he felt like he was witnessing the slow sinking of this old man.

“It’s just an old man’s thoughts that come to mind when I look at you.” Zhu Sheng turned around and glanced at the portrait of Zhu Rong on the wall. “…Zhu Yanchen, he has really grown up.”

His next words were soft, like a whisper.

“…He has indeed grown up.”

Finally, he shook his head, as if trying to shake off the sentiment.

“What I’m about to tell you is something very important.” Zhu Sheng paused his cane. “In this war, there’s a possibility that I might die. If I die, your situation will be awkward—you’re not good at research and tactics. Yi Ning might spare you, but my other enemies might not.”

Shu Jun remained silent, listening quietly.

“Even if I arrange a way out for you, ‘escaping’ itself will take time. Assassinations can be avoided, but at least… I don’t want you to exit the stage ‘in disgrace’ in Zhu Yanchen’s identity. Do you understand?”

Zhu Sheng extended his arm and pointed to the glass display case below the Zhu Rong portrait.

“That’s Zhu Rong’s manuscript.”

“I know.” The introductory plaque had black letters on a white background. Shu Jun squinted, barely able to make out the words from this distance.

“It was discovered by Tang Heyu and me from the old Tang residence. We were still young at the time. It had always been treasured by the Tang family as a priceless collection. The older generation of the Tang family hid it in a secret room in the warehouse. After their deaths due to illness, this thing was covered in dust for nearly a hundred years.”

Zhu Sheng’s voice carried a hint of bitterness.

“Zhu Rong had a deputy surnamed Tang, and they had a good relationship. This manuscript was undoubtedly brought out by that assistant from X City… Initially, Heyu resisted the pressure from the Tang family and insisted on giving me half of the ownership as the discoverer, so that it wouldn’t be seized by the Tang family.”

Shu Jun’s heart skipped a beat, barely maintaining a blank expression on his face.

“…Well, you wouldn’t be interested in the history of old men.”

Zhu Sheng’s voice remained calm, as if he were discussing someone else’s matters.

“Anyway, this is no ordinary manuscript. It is one of Zhu Rong’s later research works on the player system. The research was never completed, and even by today’s technological standards, the theories inside are still extremely complex. But whether it’s the main topic or the annotations, they all indicate one thing—Zhu Rong, as the creator of the player system, didn’t like his own invention.”

“I will transfer the ownership of this book to you. Both Xia Yufeng and Zhu Yanchen will have a copy. If something happens to me, you can hand over the key to Yi Ning and the Tang family in exchange for a period of protection. Remember, do not directly open the cabinet—this thing has a long history, and if not handled delicately before opening, the pages will turn to powder.”

[Regarding possible vulnerabilities and risks of the player system, my research was forcibly terminated, but I have entrusted my interim findings to people I trust.]

…Was this manuscript the artifact they were searching for near the ruins in X City?

It seemed that the person Zhu Rong “trusted the most” didn’t fulfill Zhu Rong’s final wish. It was initially hidden deep within the estate and was now placed in the most intolerant place in the world, with its contents forever fixed on a single page.

As if seeing through Shu Jun’s thoughts, Zhu Sheng rubbed the glass covering the manuscript.

“Its contents were never included in the database. The page displayed externally only describes a partial design concept of the hibernation pods. Almost everyone believed that it was something that had long been thoroughly researched and never questioned.”

“It’s just a manuscript.” Shu Jun stared intently at Zhu Sheng’s expression.

“It’s more than just a manuscript. It was because of Tang Heyu’s research on this manuscript that he made up his mind to oppose the player system. However, most of his theories were based on speculation and lacked any solid evidence. Without substantial evidence, speculations would only stir up turmoil at that time. As a precaution, when the database was being entered, as one of the owners, I disagreed with uploading information about this manuscript.”

“And now is the time?”

“The situation won’t get any worse.” Zhu Sheng brushed his white hair with his palm.

“…Yes, I understand.” Shu Jun found it difficult to articulate his feelings at that moment.

“A long time ago, Tang Heyu and I made a bet.”

Just as Shu Jun was about to turn and leave, Zhu Sheng spoke softly.

“We donated it to the command center, placing it where everyone could see it. If someone cared about the player system and noticed that this piece of information wasn’t recorded, and thus applied to access it… If there really was such a researcher, I would have to agree to hand over the key and allow that researcher to read the contents.”

Shu Jun was taken aback.

“However, over the decades, there has been only one person who wanted to access this manuscript. Tang Heyu became a drunkard at that time, and I thought… maybe it’s okay to lie.”

Zhu Sheng’s gaze shifted once again, devoid of coldness or sharpness, but filled with a suffocating emptiness.

“I told Zhu Yanchen that this manuscript had been reviewed by a specialist, and all the content was included in <The Foundation of Player System Design>.” Zhu Sheng’s tone remained unchanged. “Of course, I knew he would still search for it himself. Naturally, he would find it. The key is in my possession, and to ensure that the manuscript doesn’t get damaged once exposed to air, it requires the assistance of multiple experts and a long processing time… I knew he wouldn’t dig deeper. At that time, he wasn’t even twenty years old.”

Then, Zhu Sheng fell silent for a long time before sighing and repeating himself.

“…At that time, he wasn’t even twenty years old.”

He really shouldn’t have replaced Zhu Yanchen today, Shu Jun thought.

Naturally, Zhu Sheng didn’t expect “Xia Yufeng” to make any comforting gestures. The old man quickly snapped out of his absent-minded state, and his gaze became cold and firm once again.

“This is the key. Take it.” He handed a small box the size of his palm to Shu Jun. “The city will soon descend into chaos. Don’t lose it.”

“Mm.”

Shu Jun’s dry response was met with Zhu Sheng turning around, walking away decisively.

“…I believe in you.” Shu Jun put the box in his pocket. His heart was filled with mixed emotions. Facing a detestable enemy, he should have relished their silent pain. Unfortunately, in the end, he couldn’t help but speak up. “I believe in you. At least in the upcoming war, you will arrange things well in Y City.”

“Is that so?” Zhu Sheng only left a rhetorical question.

Then he took another step and disappeared into the darkness.

A few hours later.

Shu Jun conveyed everything from the meeting to Zhu Yanchen in detail. This included the conversation with Zhu Sheng after the meeting, and he handed the small key to Zhu Yanchen.

Marshal Zhu slept the most peaceful sleep he had in days. He felt refreshed. He examined the key in his hand for a moment, but in the end, he didn’t say anything.

He simply opened his arms and embraced Shu Jun quietly for a moment. When he released his hold, Shu Jun couldn’t discern any abnormal emotions from him.

“It seems that the preparations for Y City before the war are almost complete.”

“Yes.” Shu Jun didn’t inquire further, naturally continuing the topic. “The population is concentrated in the center of Y City, leaving the outskirts of Y City vacant. I can freely cause destruction there. The problem lies with Yi Ning… If the residents from the settlements really enter the outer city, it will be more troublesome to take action.”

“Mm, I will pay attention to the placement of relocation sites recently. Don’t worry. The ‘Suppression’ weapons are also almost prepared. The final batch of performance verifications will only take three days.”

“Very well.”

This time, Shu Jun didn’t kiss his lover. He stood upright, as if standing in a preparation room before a major competition.

“The work in the settlements will be completed within three days. That’s settled—”

“—After three days, regardless of the election outcome, I will launch an attack on Y City.”

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

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Chapter 91: Compromise

Shu Jun walked into the command center in a dignified manner for the first time.

If Zhu Yanchen guessed correctly, Shu Jun had caused some commotion in the surrounding area to change his mood. For several consecutive days, he had wrapped himself in erosion, and the dark emotions had almost saturated his entire being.

While his spirit endured heavy pressure, there were advantages as well. Engaging with erosion constantly elevated Shu Jun’s control over it to a new level.

For example, he could consciously change the resonance conditions and manipulate things other than the air with erosion. However, time was limited, and even if he practiced intensively, he couldn’t develop any offensive techniques.

But temporarily disabling the purifiers was achievable.

Imitating Chai Xuyang, Shu Jun interfered with several purifiers closest to the command center. Taking advantage of the weakened defense, he endured discomfort and stepped into the courtyard. Xia Yufeng had already suffered a gunshot wound, so his convulsive movements weren’t too suspicious.

Acting under the guise of a lover was quite a novel experience for Shu Jun, but he couldn’t fully let go. Just as he entered, an assistant under Zhu Sheng approached him. The young man nervously handed him a stack of documents, cautioning him repeatedly in the corridor, afraid that he might embarrass himself in the upcoming meeting.

Shu Jun accepted the documents one by one, feeling highly nervous. Wearing Zhu Yanchen’s white gloves, he had to retract his claws. Shu Jun had only recently started exploring this subtle control, fearing that a momentary lapse in concentration would puncture the gloves and expose his claws in the heart of human power. That would definitely stir up trouble.

There was also good news—Zhu Sheng didn’t even glance at him until the meeting began.

The content of the meeting was more or less as Shu Jun had guessed. Zhu Sheng remained quite calm, without any plans for a blind attack. He had focused almost all his energy on the defense of Y City. As for the chaos outside Y City, he didn’t directly respond, but rather looked meaningfully at Yi Ning.

Yi Ning remained silent.

Shu Jun watched with great interest—everyone in this room held high positions in the three major families, so they were more or less aware of the true situation regarding “Zhu Yanchen”. They saw through it but chose not to expose it, treating the silent “Marshal Zhu” as if he were invisible, which conveniently suited Shu Jun.

“The relevant departments are intensively researching the monster in the footage.” Zhu Sheng changed the topic. “We will soon have tangible data regarding its level of threat.”

Shu Jun made an effort to keep a serious expression and listened attentively.

As the monster in the footage, his emotions were quite complex—one-third nervous and awkward, one-third enticed by the extremely tempting idea of killing all the high-ranking officials here in one fell swoop.

The final one-third was his concern for Zhu Yanchen, who was sleeping in the underground bar. He hoped that no stray cats or mice would disturb his beloved, and this concern successfully diluted his restless desire to kill, keeping Shu Jun firmly glued to his chair.

“We have also had people analyze it, and that thing, along with the humanoid creature below, is the state of a heavily eroded synthetic human.”

Completely unaware that “that thing” was observing on-site, Tang Mei cleared her throat.

“Even if they retain their abilities, the current city defenses are sufficient. Why bring people into the city center?”

Shu Jun double-checked the name on the nameplate, not too surprised. The outskirts of Y City were a mixed bag, filled with businesspeople. The Tang family had significant holdings in the city center’s industries, and the outer city area was also quite lucrative. With a single order from Zhu Sheng, the Tang family had incurred significant losses.

These people had a tendency to beat around the bush in their speech, and it was quite annoying. Shu Jun made an effort to restrain the urge to bite the pen and firmly memorized the content of the speeches and the speakers, preparing to relay them to Zhu Yanchen.

“I suspect that what we see is not the whole picture,” Zhu Sheng said casually.

“What do you mean?”

“The situation with the synthetic humans is abnormal. I suspect that a third-party force is involved. Ms. Tang, the synthetic human leader isn’t an ordinary person if they can incite the Old Fourth for cooperation. Such a person wouldn’t let an Erosion Swamp easily destroy the main force, would they?”

“Interesting. I remember that Xiao Zhu is fond of speculation.”

“If I have to choose between coincidence and conspiracy, I can only choose the latter,” Zhu Sheng said indifferently. “The residents of Y City are the core of the entire city. We absolutely cannot afford any mishaps.”

Tang Mei nodded thoughtfully, her face still displaying a polite smile. “The Old Fourth are just a group of marginal players. They don’t have that much power. Besides the Old Fourth, I can’t think of anyone else outside of the synthetic humans.”

“Obtaining intelligence from mutant beasts, or even worse—similar to synthetic humans, some kind of intelligent life capable of controlling the Erosion Swamp. Based on the current information, we cannot rule out this possibility.”

Zhu Sheng swiftly flipped through the display screen, showing footage from X City, zooming in on Sweet Edge’s part. “For example, this massive Erosion Swamp. Based on various details, it is highly likely that it possesses life and consciousness.”

The old saying went, “old habits die hard”. Once there was a slight clue, this person’s imagination was no less than Zhu Yanchen’s.

Shu Jun was taken aback, almost losing his grip on the pen, which nearly fell onto the wooden table. He quickly held the shaking pen with both hands, managing to prevent any sound. Just as he heaved a sigh of relief, the little finger of his glove made a tearing sound, and the claw on his little finger punctured the fabric.

Shu Jun: “…”

He elegantly folded his hands, hiding his little finger, and desperately tried to retract his claws. Not knowing if it was an illusion, Zhu Sheng intentionally or unintentionally glanced in his direction.

“In other words,” Yi Ning finally spoke with an unusually dry voice, “the current synthetic humans may only be the vanguard.”

“Based on my speculation, that seems to be the case.” Zhu Sheng shifted his gaze to Yi Ning.

Shu Jun could sense Yi Ning’s pain. Compared to the Yi Ning in the promotional videos for <Erosion>, the current Yi Ning had lost at least ten pounds and had a few strands of silver in his hair. Marshal Yi’s eye sockets were sunken, and he appeared anguished and exhausted.

Since the start of the meeting, Yi Ning had been surprisingly quiet, and Shu Jun almost thought it was Zhu Sheng’s solo performance.

However, even after that, Yi Ning still didn’t say anything. Next came the details of Zhu Sheng’s defense plan, which were tedious and fragmented. Shu Jun felt like he had a headache from all the information, and his claws almost punctured the fabric on all ten fingertips of his gloves.

Now it seemed that playing the role of Xia Yufeng wasn’t so easy.

Finally, the lengthy meeting came to an end. The participants had various expressions as they slowly left their seats, leaving only Zhu Sheng and Yi Ning sitting in their original positions. Shu Jun had already lifted his buttocks off the chair, but Zhu Sheng gave him a piercing look, so he reluctantly sat back down, moving slowly.

He really couldn’t handle these sophisticated matters. The meeting was truly too long, and as an Erosion Swamp, even he felt his ass going numb. Zhu Yanchen was right; he wasn’t good at acting. If he had to impersonate the real Zhu Yanchen, he would probably have been exposed by now.

Shu Jun couldn’t understand when and how Zhu Sheng and Yi Ning had reached an agreement and coincidentally stayed behind. But in order to be a good relay, Captain Shu sat with a stern face, making an effort to conceal the sadness on his face.

“Changed your mind?” Zhu Sheng interjected randomly.

Yi Ning took several deep breaths, and at one point, Shu Jun suspected he was trying to exhale his lungs through his nostrils.

“…I promise to cooperate,” Yi Ning finally said with difficulty. “But I have one condition.”

“Hmm.”

“The area near Settlement γ-31329 has suffered heavy losses, and the residents…” Yi Ning gritted his teeth and didn’t continue. “For the remaining residents of those settlements, I hope you can take in a group and let them temporarily reside in the vacant outer city.”

“Based on the current situation, most likely those settlements have been infiltrated by synthetic humans. The testing process will require a significant amount of manpower and resources.”

“I understand. I’m not asking Y City to provide additional resources. The settlements themselves have some supplies, and there are also remaining resources in the outskirts of Y City. Regarding the issue of synthetic humans, I can accept the military’s supervision over them, and they can avoid contact with the citizens.”

Zhu Sheng wearily looked at Yi Ning.

“If you agree, I’m willing to help you with publicity to stimulate the relationship between synthetic humans and the settlement residents. Currently, the top priority is to fight against synthetic humans, I admit that. But at least…at least give the settlement residents a way out.”

Yi Ning struggled to slightly arch his back and lowered his head.

If they were to become enemies at this critical moment, it would likely end in disaster. It was better to yield for now and temporarily unite towards a common goal. Otherwise, he could only watch his hometown burn to ashes.

Shu Jun could see through this layer, but he also sensed the fresh blood seeping from Yi Ning’s clenched fist.

“I can understand that you won’t disclose the situation of ‘Zhu Yanchen’, and—”

“I won’t withdraw from the election, but as of today, I will stop all election campaigns. Marshal Zhu’s election is beyond question. If I am elected, I will also obey you.”

Zhu Sheng remained silent and only lowered his eyes.

“This is my guarantee.” Yi Ning closed his eyes and placed both hands on a record card. Zhu Sheng briefly glanced at the contents, and his eyebrows raised slightly. The footage showed Luo Duan’s activities in the command center, interspersed with many scenes of Yi Ning and Luo Duan’s conversations, all time stamped after the chaos of the Reunion Festival.

“Even if I become the leader, as long as you make good use of this, I will inevitably resign.”

“Mm.” Zhu Sheng took the chip. “I indeed don’t want to waste energy on election meetings anymore. Let it be this way. I will arrange for your request. However, you should have a realistic expectation—considering the workload of our soldiers, I won’t allow too many people to enter.”

“…I understand.”

“Alright. Xia, come with me. You heard everything just now. I have something to tell you about the upcoming election.”

This was going to be a one-on-one conversation, and Shu Jun’s hair almost stood on end.

It was indeed the right choice to let Zhu Yanchen go to sleep. Taking advantage of Zhu Sheng’s lack of attention towards him, Shu Jun lowered his head and thought despondently. He had come after getting a good night’s sleep, but now his brain felt like it was being pricked by needles.

“The next phase is a protracted battle.”

As they walked through the corridor, Zhu Sheng spoke softly.

“The synthetic humans are likely to attack when the election results are announced, and the celebrations are coming to an end. At that time, you might be the leader, and you need to project the image of a leader in terms of momentum.”

After saying that, he stopped at the entrance of the Zhu Rong Memorial Hall. With his back facing Shu Jun, Shu Jun couldn’t see his expression clearly.

“Come in.”

“Zhu Lao, can we go to the office to talk?” Shu Jun glanced at the gloomy memorial hall and swallowed his saliva.

“No, I have something very important to say.”

…Perhaps replacing Zhu Yanchen wasn’t such a good idea after all.

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

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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.

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

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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

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

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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: .

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

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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.”

---

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

---

Chapter 85: Step by Step

Yi Ning’s program could be described as a stone stirring up a thousand waves.

During the chaos of the Reunion Festival, the residents of the settlements had a relatively clear understanding, while the residents of Y City were mostly confused. All they knew was that the erosion storm had passed, and Y City had started a lockdown, with strange images spreading everywhere. Yi Ning was the first person to bring the crisis to light.

After the public learned that the enemy was synthetic humans, they became much calmer—synthetic humans were a distant concept for the majority of people. The player system had been around for two hundred years and had always been handled by experts, so there was no need to pay excessive attention to it.

However, as the public began to relax, some people became like ants on a hot pan.

“I don’t understand any of this. Yi Ning wants to completely turn against us,” Xia Yufeng said with a worried expression. He knew that Zhu Yanchen was alive, but he couldn’t bring himself to say it, feeling stifled and on the verge of exploding.

Zhu Sheng had a grim face as he fiddled with the head of his cane, remaining silent.

Yi Ning’s request was hard to refuse. At the moment, “Zhu Yanchen” had no urgent tasks to handle. If they declined again, his image would undoubtedly sink to an even lower level. Zhu Sheng had relied on locking down the city to rally the people, but by doing so, he had sacrificed some votes from the peripheral settlements. If Zhu Yanchen’s reputation worsened further, he would be beyond saving.

“We will provide you with dedicated headphones and have researchers feed you lines. The Tang Family’s research capital cannot compare to the command center, so they won’t ask too profound questions.”

However, they all knew that since Yi Ning dared to bring up this matter, he must have countermeasures in place. They could only deal with it as it comes—winning would lead to a turnaround in Zhu Yanchen’s reputation, while losing would undoubtedly make Zhu Yanchen the villain who plundered the hard work of a certain researcher.

In the worst-case scenario, Zhu Yanchen’s knowledge would be proven, and the “fact” of his death would be exposed. In comparison to Zhu Sheng, who had been using his son’s identity as a puppet, Yi Ning, who dared to expose the truth, would undoubtedly be more popular.

What a troublesome situation.

Xia Yufeng returned to his room with his mind still buzzing. But as soon as he opened the door, he bumped into Xia Liang, who was sipping fruit wine.

“…It’s you. There’s dinner on the table, prepared by the housekeeper. I’m here to please Zhu Yanchen.” Xia Liang raised her eyes and waved her hand as if chasing away a fly. “I remember that your tastes are similar to his, so go ahead and eat.”

“Got it.” Xia Yufeng glanced at the exquisite bowl and plate but felt little appetite.

“By the way, help me get a bottle of alcohol, chilled. There are leftover muffins in the fridge if you feel like having those.”

Xia Yufeng understood Xia Liang’s preferences, but he took it as sympathy between two people who had fallen on hard times. He obediently fetched two bottles of alcohol and took out a cold muffin, biting into it slowly. After a few bites, he also opened a bottle of alcohol and downed one-third of it in one gulp.

“Zhu Sheng wants me to go on that program.”

“Mm,” Xia Liang absentmindedly responded.

“You’re not even listening to me,” Xia Yufeng said, downing more than half a bottle of alcohol and exhaling heavily. “If I don’t do well and someone discovers a flaw…”

“If Zhu Yanchen isn’t getting involved, it means it’s unnecessary for him to do so. Just follow Zhu Sheng’s arrangements.” Xia Liang’s voice had a hint of drunkenness. “Anyway, both of us are just following orders. Why think so much?”

“At least you’re safe.” Xia Yufeng’s frustration grew. “All the dirty and tiring work is mine; all the embarrassment is mine. Just follow orders? It’s easy for you to say. Once something goes wrong, do you think Zhu Sheng won’t silence me?”

Xia Liang sneered. “What’s the matter? Didn’t you choose this path when you were ten? Before doing anything, you must ensure your own absolute safety; just look at you now.”

“If I were you, I would just confess on the program—take advantage of Yi Ning praising Zhu Yanchen, hic, and add more bricks to Marshal Zhu’s image as a martyr. Broadcast it to everyone and see if Zhu Sheng dares to touch you. Oh, I forgot, in that case, you would have to sever ties with Zhu Sheng.”

She smiled mischievously at Xia Yufeng for a moment and swirled the ice cubes in her glass. “Ha, you don’t dare. I knew it. I knew you wouldn’t dare, so why complain?”

Xia Yufeng finished the cold muffin slowly, without saying another word. Xia Liang, feeling bored and very drunk, curled up on the sofa and fell asleep.

“Is it wrong to be prudent?”

Xia Yufeng squeezed a piece of the muffin into crumbs, repeatedly kneading it between his fingertips.

“Is it wrong to want to do better? Why do I have to consider right and wrong?”

Xia Liang was asleep, and the room was dim. There was no one to answer him.

Drunk and drowsy, Xia Yufeng sat in Zhu Yanchen’s seat, wanting to throw those maddening documents to the ground but ultimately held back. He slumped weakly in the chair, looking at the only decoration on the table—

A decorative painting embedded in a frame with brilliant fireworks on it.

Unlike Xia Liang, Xia Yufeng spent the whole night awake.

When the program started, the atmosphere in the studio was unusually lively. Recently, Yi Ning and Zhu Yanchen had been absent from many shows, so their joint appearance was rare. With the new election ceremony about to begin, the program team put in a lot of effort, and the studio was prepared to perfection.

Yi Ning wore a neatly pressed uniform. Although he had applied makeup, the dark circles under his eyes were still visible, making him look much more exhausted. Xia Yufeng also played his part as “Zhu Yanchen” with a stern face and a frosty demeanor. The “Marshal Zhu” had bloodshot eyes, clearly having had a sleepless night.

“This kid really resembles you,” Tang Heyu and Zhu Yanchen were resting in the underground factory of the Old Fourth’s place. One old and one young, both covered in grease, with one of them holding a bag of nutritional supplements, and eyes fixed on the holographic screen in the air.

“Xia Yufeng followed me for a while,” Zhu Yanchen said seriously, holding the nutritional supplement in his hands.

They were sitting on various supply boxes, filled with semi-finished products of “Suppression” weapons. With the coordination of the Old Fourth, these supplies were mixed into the allocations for various settlements. Although it wasn’t possible for everyone to have one, it was feasible for a group of ten. Considering that there weren’t many synthetics with strong abilities, this ratio was sufficient in terms of efficiency.

To ensure that the products were in good condition, the old and the young supervised and tested them on-site, going without sleep for nearly three days.

“If you’re tired, you should rest first.”

“Why would I be tired? Don’t look down on your elders. When I was young, during the peak of my research, I only slept for eight hours every five days,” Tang Heyu said, sipping on the extra spicy nutritional supplement and drawing out his words. “But you—ever since you separated from that Shu Jun, have you even slept? Young people are energetic, I understand that, but be careful not to overdo it and harm yourself.”

Zhu Yanchen finished one bag and then took out a pack of fruit-flavored nutritional supplement, opening the packaging. “I’m used to staying up all night for research.”

“Hmph.”

“Don’t you like Shu Jun?”

“Like? Don’t even mention it! Brat, you’re the one who’s done research in that area. Don’t you know what he is? The last time, cough, that guy and I had a brief encounter, my legs turned to jelly. I’ve seen samples of his organization but seeing a living Erosion Swamp that’s evolved to that extent… Tss.”

On the holographic screen, the two Marshals, one real and one fake, exchanged pleasantries. Tang Heyu simply turned his head away and began scolding the younger generation.

“You better think it through. Cooperating with monsters is not a joke—even if Shu Jun appears to be a kind human, once he turns into an Erosion Swamp, he can’t be trusted. Not to mention he was originally a synthetic with animosity towards us… Moreover, the erosion substance has an effect on his brain. He can no longer think with normal human logic.”

Seeing Zhu Yanchen looking peaceful, almost falling asleep, Tang Heyu angrily slapped his thigh.

“I’m not against you cooperating with him, nor am I against you acting on stage. But don’t get too deeply involved. Even someone like me, who thinks the player system is inhumane, finds that thing too dangerous. If something really happens, you’ll be the first to go down! Once this old bone is finished, that’s it for me, so you better hold on.”

“I’ll handle him.” Zhu Yanchen took another sip of the nutritional supplement.

“Love, this damn thing ruins people.” Tang Heyu sighed, pained, and annoyed. “Why can’t you be like your father when you should be?”

“It’s not just that.”

Zhu Yanchen gave a vague answer and then quickly turned his gaze to the screen, unilaterally ending the conversation. Within the holographic screen, the atmosphere gradually grew tense, and the smell of gunpowder seemed to permeate beyond the screen.

Yi Ning first raised several relatively simple questions, asking Xia Yufeng to explain the role of the paper in preventing erosion. Xia Yufeng’s forehead was slightly sweaty, and his speech was slower than usual.

“This level of answer, it must be the researchers from the command center giving him prompts, right?” Tang Lao enthusiastically waved his hand. “Hehe, show me more materials, and I can even guess who’s giving him prompts. This level is almost enough to fool ordinary people.”

Zhu Yanchen made a sound of agreement.

“Too bad you can’t go by yourself. If you could, you would definitely argue circles around him, and your reputation would soar.” After watching for a while, Tang Heyu lost interest. “But if you do that, your old man will definitely recognize you, and it won’t be good for you to continue playing this game.”

With that, Tang Heyu shook his head with regret.

“My survival is tied to Shu Jun. It’s not easy to deceive Zhu Sheng. If we rush things, both the synthetics and the Old Fourth might be exposed. The next plan won’t be able to proceed.”

“I know. I was just saying, don’t take it seriously. We need an external breakthrough, an external breakthrough.”

They discussed for an hour or two, and the situation on the holographic screen entered a state of intense heat.

“Mr. Zhu, I’m curious. Since you have such a comprehensive understanding of erosion and the causes of the synthetic disasters, why did you turn to support the player system?” Yi Ning politely asked.

“In the face of the ongoing disaster, I reconciled with my father in order to help everyone overcome this difficult time. We will provide the new system with a more reasonable design and better protection to ensure that synthetic bodies can’t come into contact with erosion. The changes themselves may cause some pain, but I can guarantee that the new player system will bring greater convenience to everyone.”

“It sounds like you have a quite certain conclusion. I assume you have sufficient evidence. I have a question regarding the recent ‘X City Ruins Phenomenon’ circulating in the city. Did it come from your team?”

Xia Yufeng hesitated for a moment before reluctantly admitting, “Yes.”

“Based on the information we currently have; the leak of that footage was due to the unfortunate death of the device owner.” Yi Ning displayed the wreckage of the recording device on the holographic screen, with the emblem of the command center particularly prominent. “According to the level of erosion around X City, it was undoubtedly a suicide mission. Can you tell us the name of this hero?”

“Yi Ning is quite something. He’s quite skilled. A’Sheng must be having a headache.” Tang Heyu chuckled. “This is not a task that just anyone can handle. The researchers from the command center have records on file, and they are all watching this program now. It won’t end well if you lie.”

This time, Xia Yufeng hesitated even longer.

“That is our secretly developed anti-erosion machinery, which is extremely expensive. It cannot be used for general purification activities, so in order to make the most of it, we dispatched it to the ruins of X City. Everyone, the wreckage belongs to a probe sent to an unknown environment, and it currently has no name.”

“I see. However, we haven’t found any mechanical debris at the scene. Would it be possible to show the image data of this machine?”

“This belongs to the command center’s classified information and cannot be displayed.”

“I see, that’s understandable.” Yi Ning pressed on, step by step. “Then please introduce the designer of the probe. They have contributed a lot to uncovering the truth.”

The audience on-site became restless, as some people noticed something off about this conversation—Yi Ning seemed particularly persistent about the discoverer of that footage.

“After all, having machinery that can penetrate the erosion zone is beneficial for everyone. But when I think about it, Marshal Zhu, this seems contradictory to your paper—more than one of your papers has pointed out that machinery operation is inevitably affected under high erosion concentration. Regarding this groundbreaking invention, could you please explain it?”

Interesting.

Zhu Yanchen raised an eyebrow outside the holographic screen.

…Yi Ning has set a pretty good trap.

---

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

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Chapter 84: True Intentions Revealed

Hu Yan sat in the Longevity Tavern, feeling that something was off. Over time, he began to have a vague feeling of “just playing a game”.

However, what he ate couldn’t be faked. The flour in the tavern was dusty, and the rice porridge had a faint bitter taste. Even if it was called bean porridge, it had a strong bean odor that made his stomach uncomfortable.

He had never observed the “NPCs” so carefully before.

Some people lived a little better, burning bricks and mixing cement, while others lived in houses made from construction waste. In the settlement, there weren’t many fat people, and everyone looked thin and older than their actual age, bearing the signs of enduring hardships.

In fact, this place used to be livelier. Since the news of Y City’s lockdown spread, many well-off merchants had returned to Y City. Many stalls and shops had closed down, with only the Old Fourth shops still in operation.

As Hu Yan swallowed the slightly bitter porridge, he began to miss the “other side’s” milk custard and strawberry pancakes. Fruits here were considered luxury items, and the most popular ones were preserved wild fruits, with coarse and sour flesh that barely tasted like fruit.

In just one meal, he ate with great discomfort. But before he could finish the porridge, another person sat across from him.

Yu Jin, with his signature golden hair, plopped down opposite Hu Yan, causing a few drops of soup to splash out of the bowl. “Having a meal, huh?”

Hu Yan forced a stiff smile. “Yeah.”

“We sent away another five thousand people today, divided into ten teams, leaving quietly.” Yu Jin picked up a chopstick of noodles and made a loud slurping sound. “There aren’t many left now, and most of them are Blackbirds and the people from Groundwater. According to Captain Shu’s arrangement, this matter will be resolved in another week.”

“The situation on the Groundwater’s side is quite troublesome. They’ve realized there’s a problem since Luo Duan hasn’t shown up for so long. But for now, Chai Xuyang is keeping them in check, and their emotions haven’t gotten out of control.” Hu Yan wasn’t accustomed to being at odds with people, so he continued the conversation. “But the situation is stable now, and even if they want to cause trouble, they can’t.”

Thinking about recent events, Hu Yan began to daydream again.

Captain Shu was ruthless. During this time, the players gradually shifted from interacting with Luo Duan’s subordinates to interacting with the settlement’s residents. The recent lockdown had caused a large movement of people, providing players with a perfect cover.

The twenty-one people with the most intense hatred had left, and the various teams were gradually being separated. The players were relatively calm—they had undergone personality screening and received a higher education on “the other side”. Although they knew everything was fake, they couldn’t change their habits of dealing with people overnight.

After the conflict between Crooked Head and Chai Xuyang, the players couldn’t vent their frustrations on the settlement’s humans.

The adaptability of humans was terrifying. Over time, the players and the residents ate and lived together, gradually getting used to it. Uncle Pan collected the money from Zhu Yanchen, and the small inn was filled with bored synthetic humans from the underground stronghold. They would chat all day, turning a group of players into friends. They would occasionally gather for a drinking session, drinking until everyone hugged their bottles and cried.

A few days passed, and Uncle Pan even introduced some hunting jobs for capturing mutant beasts to the players, and everyone started earning money together. The players who didn’t want to move continued to idle.

With Uncle Pan’s affability and connections, he was given the recipe for the anti-erosion medicine. Uncle Pan didn’t tamper with it and managed to acquire a considerable amount, which he sold to the settlement’s residents. The surplus was taken by Uncle Xiong and sent to nearby settlements for sale.

After the business flourished, Uncle Pan even started selling the ingredients for the recipe. He had people sell the recipe to various settlements at a reasonable price. With the money earned, Uncle Pan exchanged it all for supplies and sold them at normal prices to the offline players.

With sufficient supplies and affordable anti-erosion medicine, the residents of the settlement didn’t complain much about the medicine’s troublesome side effects and its limited long-term effectiveness. At least they didn’t fall into panic when faced with the tightening distribution of medicine in Y City.

What was even more amazing was that Uncle Pan had a great reputation. Hu Yan hadn’t heard any rumors about him selling at high prices in other settlements. The Old Fourth must have contributed a lot to this, and it was clear that Marshal Zhu had intervened in this matter.

…Looking at it from a positive perspective, although this “sister-in-law” was emotionally complicated, for now, it seemed that their captain hadn’t chosen the wrong person. Zhu Yanchen had indeed put effort into the settlement and wasn’t the type of person to flip tables after a meal.

Every time Hu Yan thought of Zhu Yanchen, his expression became somewhat distorted—there were countless beautiful women in the world, and in <Erosion>, there were also pretty girls like Xia Liang. Why did the captain choose a man? Previously, Shu Jun had never shown the slightest interest in men. Could it be that he had to make sacrifices for the sake of his compatriots?

As Hu Yan was halfway through his meal, his face began to contort and distort again. Yu Jin coughed heavily. “By the way, when I was out earlier, Dr. Ai asked me to find you.”

“Dr. Ai?”

“Yeah, remember to go see her later.”

Hu Yan couldn’t taste the food anymore, worried that something had happened to Shu Jun.

“I need to go back to Y City.”

Ai Xiaoxiao was straightforward when they met.

“Huh?!”

“What’s with the surprise? It’s temporary.” Ai Xiaoxiao rolled her eyes dramatically. “I’m hitting a bottleneck in my research and need to get some new materials. The ones I have in stock can’t be used to come up with anything new, no matter how much I think.”

“Can’t you ask the Old Fourth for help?”

“They can’t help. I need to get supplies from the Tang family. The Old Fourth doesn’t have access to such advanced items. If I don’t go myself, those old foxes won’t provide the purest raw materials.”

“But what about the patients…” Hu Yan hesitated to speak.

“Recently, I’ve selected a few girls and boys who aren’t suited for fighting. I’ve taught them the basics of dealing with erosion, but they still can’t grasp it. They can memorize the medication for special circumstances. As for ordinary wounds, you guys who run on the battlefield should have medical personnel to handle them.”

Ai Xiaoxiao’s voice was calm.

“Taking care of patients by fellow compatriots can also make them feel better. I’ve made arrangements for a mudsled. We’re leaving at noon. If someone else comes looking for me, just be honest with them.”

As she spoke, Ai Xiaoxiao was packing her large backpack. Just as Hu Yan came back to his realization, Ai Xiaoxiao had already slung the backpack over her shoulder.

“To be honest, my research is almost complete. Once I bring back this batch of materials, I probably won’t need to keep going back and forth—by then, I’ll choose a few apprentices from among these people. During this period, keep an eye on them and observe their attitudes,” Ai Xiaoxiao said.

“There are plenty of people in the settlement. Wouldn’t it be better to find humans?” Hu Yan’s mood was complicated.

Ai Xiaoxiao was an expert in synthetic human care. Dealing with medical treatment for “synthetic humans” was one of the significant advantages humans had. However, when this information was passed on, it sounded like an insignificant home remedy for toothaches.

“People are more relaxed when receiving medical care from their own kind, and it’s easier to be honest. If the patient doesn’t trust the doctor, then how can they recover?” Ai Xiaoxiao waved her hand. “Besides, most of the people in the settlement can’t read or write. I’m not interested in being a teacher of the basics. It’s more efficient for me to teach you.”

“…Be careful on the road.” Hu Yan took a deep breath, and all the tangled emotions and conflicts in his mind instantly evaporated.

“Got it,” Ai Xiaoxiao said, biting a coffee-flavored lollipop. Her hair was tied up in a convenient bun for movement. “I also made a lot of erosion candies and left them in the usual place. Don’t forget to tell Shu Jun when he returns.”

“Speaking of which, now people aren’t allowed to leave Y City. Even if you manage to buy the ingredients for medicine, how will you get out later? Shu Jun has special abilities, but you—”

Suddenly, Ai Xiaoxiao smiled; a smile that wasn’t particularly attractive, with a hint of bitterness.

“When Y City collapses, people will naturally be able to leave.” She hummed with an unclear meaning.

As a “non-human” entity, Shu Jun had a simple way of sneaking out of the city.

People weren’t allowed to leave Y City, so supplies were transported outside using automated machinery. To prevent erosion, the supplies were sealed in boxes that were less than one cubic meter in size.

Shu Jun transformed his entire self into an Erosion Swamp and filled up more than half of a box. With the advantage of free water absorption of Monday, he spread himself thinly on the walls of the box, like a thin pancake. Thus, the two pieces of Erosion Swamps managed to squeeze into one box. The supply boxes were sealed in advance and covered with layers of anti-erosion packaging, so there was no need for further inspection.

Captain Shu successfully packed himself into a box and was about to be sent away when Marshal Zhu approached with a complex expression, even reaching out to touch the box several times, as if confirming the texture.

Just when he began to feel a sense of sadness that he was no longer human, Shu Jun was distracted by Zhu Yanchen. Annoyed, he extended an erosion vine, slowly pushing Zhu Yanchen’s hand away, and closed the lid of the box himself.

In this state, he didn’t have normal human vision, but he did hear Zhu Yanchen stifling a laugh.

‘This account can be settled when I return next time,’ Shu Jun thought discontentedly. Having adapted to the dark and narrow space, he gave up thinking about the pain of transitioning from human to non-human and pondered on “how to tease Marshal Zhu”.

The machinery moved slowly on the wet, muddy ground, taking several days to reach their destination. To prevent the people in the settlement from stealing the supplies, a part of the military didn’t return to the city but instead escorted the supply convoy.

According to Zhu Yanchen’s intelligence, these people would stop and rest every eight hours. As soon as the bumps stopped, Shu Jun eroded the lid of the box from the inside. He restored his hand structure, used his claws to cut open the anti-erosion packaging, and then quietly slipped out of the vehicle with Monday.

Once they were familiar with this process, they could take the opportunity to transport the “Suppression” weapons. After returning to his humanoid form, Shu Jun flexed his joints and felt satisfied with this “smuggling” experience.

The settlement was still the same, indicating that Hu Yan had managed things adequately during their absence.

After confirming that everything was normal, Shu Jun returned to the room of Uncle Pan’s inn. He immediately turned on the screen and checked the news from Y City—

Originally, he wanted to see the progress of the elections, but his face was covered with the residual images of X City. The video clips filmed by Zhu Yanchen were restored and magnified, looking quite horrifying.

In the footage, four-legged creatures crawled up and down, and Sweet Edge lay in the center of X City. Shu Jun didn’t feel scared; he only felt a faint sense of nostalgia.

“After expert analysis, it has been determined that this video is not artificially synthesized. X City has been abandoned for nearly two hundred years, and these four-legged creatures may be new mutant beasts. The giant human head in the footage has no reasonable explanation yet. Considering its size and appearance, the possibility of Erosion Swamp mutation cannot be ruled out…”

“…According to reliable sources, the machine that filmed this video belongs to a high-ranking official in the command center…”

The confident voice of the female host was full of determination and infectiousness. Shu Jun raised an eyebrow—if he remembered correctly, this TV station was sponsored by the Tang family. As expected, after the report, the main event began.

“Marshal Yi, what are your thoughts on the ‘Erosion Swamp mutation theory’?”

“We have received similar intelligence, and our researchers have made some progress. Theoretically, this possibility does exist, and it is highly likely to be related to synthetic humans.”

“The footage from X City was leaked less than a month ago, and it seems that our researchers have reacted quite quickly. Currently, this footage is being widely circulated. The Reunion Festival in Y City ended prematurely due to an ‘accident’, and Y City has recently been on lockdown. Our people are quite concerned about whether there is a connection between these events. Would you be willing to…”

“The Reunion Festival wasn’t terminated due to an accident but because of the synthetic human unrest. The abnormalities in X City ruins and the reinforced city defenses in Y City are all related to this matter—based on the current situation, some synthetic humans have gained the ability to control the Erosion Swamps, and their tolerance for it has significantly increased. The anomalies in X City were likely intentionally created by these synthetic humans to intimidate us.”

The program guests erupted into commotion, and Shu Jun snorted.

The Erosion Swamp mutation and synthetic humans weren’t the same thing, and Yi Ning certainly understood that. However, if the existence of the Erosion Swamp mutation was truly acknowledged, the people of Y City would definitely fall into panic. By focusing the issue on synthetic humans, it could still be defined as “the loss of control of military weapons”.

Regardless, he was ahead of Zhu Sheng in disclosing the information, and he could also gain a lot of favorable impressions.

“The situation was uncertain before, so we couldn’t disclose it. Now that we have gathered enough information, please rest assured, everyone. The current situation is still under our control, and the purifiers have been fully deployed. Y City is safe. These synthetic humans have no resource support and cannot last long. As long as we all work together…”

Shu Jun let out a massive yawn.

“…However, I have something to say about the player system.” After who knew how long, a sentence caught Shu Jun’s attention again.

“To be honest, the research on synthetic humans and Erosion Swamps has been stagnant for nearly twenty years. Under the control of the Zhu family, the research direction of the command center has always been focused on ‘optimizing the player system’. The reason we were able to determine the nature of the mutation so quickly is thanks to a special researcher.”

“Who is it?” the host asked cooperatively.

“Marshal Zhu Yanchen.”

Yi Ning answered crisply.

“We all know that Marshal Zhu has always been against advancing the player system. If it weren’t for Marshal Zhu’s years of dedicated research on the Erosion Swamp, we would not have discovered the connection so quickly and formulated a response plan. As far as I know, most researchers have halted their research on the player system and are now studying Marshal Zhu Yanchen’s papers, focusing on researching anti-erosion weaponry.”

Unexpectedly, the boss suddenly started praising his competitor. The program guests were momentarily stunned, and the venue fell silent.

“During the Reunion Festival, it was also Marshal Zhu who called for strengthened city defenses. If there are no unexpected circumstances, Marshal Zhu will be the biggest contributor to Y City’s handling of this incident. As a competitor, I have great admiration for his research on the Erosion Swamp, and I ask everyone not to spread unfounded rumors.”

“Uh.” The host was a bit dazed, attempting to redirect the conversation. “You just mentioned the player system. It is widely known that Marshal Zhu recently changed his stance and started implementing the player system. What are your thoughts on this matter?”

“I would like to invite Marshal Zhu to join us here for the discussion related to this incident, and you can consult with him then. To be honest, even our researchers can only understand a fraction of his papers. When it comes to professional matters, we still need experts to clarify.”

Yi Ning didn’t smile as he turned to the camera.

“This matter concerns the safety of the people in Y City and the settlements. I kindly ask Marshal Zhu not to decline.”

It seemed when all else fails*…. Xia Yufeng was completely clueless in scientific research, so if he were to participate, he would probably just stand there dumbfounded. If his identity were exposed publicly, things would become quite lively.

*This is related to the title, which is an idiom (图穷匕见) It refers to when the plan fails, the dagger (true intentions) is revealed. This implies that when someone’s schemes or intentions are exposed or their options are exhausted, their true nature or intentions are exposed.

That would be great.

Shu Jun happily turned off the screen and stretched his body.

That’s how it should be. The more chaotic, the better.

---

The author has something to say:

Marshal: A boxed boyfriend, rare sight. *pat pat*.

Shu Ge: ?!?!

---

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

---

Chapter 83: Seaside

The command center was well defended, and intense purification would make Shu Jun uncomfortable. Zhu Yanchen changed his clothes and arranged to meet at a small hotel near the command center.

The room was small, but the soundproofing was decent. When he opened the door, the lights were off inside. The room’s window was next to a neon sign, and the flickering lights illuminated the floor. It was the most expensive room on the entire floor—in a world eroded by the Erosion Swamp, only colors provided solace.

Shu Jun didn’t enter through the main entrance but climbed through the window.

“I kinda miss Uncle Pan’s small inn,” Shu Jun said in a tired and hoarse voice as he jumped down from the windowsill.

“Me too.” Zhu Yanchen nodded and went straight to remove Shu Jun’s blood-stained uniform. The latter didn’t move, allowing Zhu Yanchen to handle it. His grayish eyes reflected hues of red and yellow under the lighting.

“So forward?” Perhaps Zhu Yanchen had exerted a bit too much force when removing the belt, so Shu Jun joked—however, even in his usual jest, Zhu Yanchen could sense the other’s weakness.

“I don’t like Yi Ning’s coat, to be honest,” he admitted quite honestly.

Shu Jun squinted his eyes. “No choice. Special circumstances call for special treatment. I can wear yours tomorrow.”

After saying this, Shu Jun fell silent again while his eyes were fixed on Zhu Yanchen. Zhu Yanchen took off his own coat, softening his tone. “How do you feel now?”

“Chilly.”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

“It really feels chilly, covered in sweat and blood. I’ll go take a shower first. If you want to join me, I’ll call for you later.” Shu Jun smiled again and turned to walk towards the bathroom.

However, he hadn’t taken a few steps when Zhu Yanchen grabbed his wrist. In an instant, that wrist eroded into the erosion substance and slipped out of Zhu Yanchen’s palm. Marshal Zhu didn’t give up. He swiftly executed a set of grappling moves, pinning Shu Jun down on the bed.

Shu Jun’s reflexes were also quick, but his condition was truly not good. They struggled back and forth, but seeing Zhu Yanchen’s determined actions, Shu Jun eventually gave up struggling and let him hold him down.

The neon lights stained the plain bedspread with a dark red hue.

“Is the killing intent still there?” Zhu Yanchen asked straightforwardly. “If you were your usual self, you would have dragged me to the bathroom together. Taking the first step and entering, were you trying to cool off with water?”

“Maybe I just wanted to wash away the smell of blood.”

“When I took off your uniform just now, your movements were quite stiff…and you’ve never managed to break free from my grip.”

“Sometimes it’s best to remain ignorant.” Shu Jun’s voice was very soft.

“I don’t want to be ignorant about you, Shu Jun. Answer me. Is your killing intent still there?”

“Mm.” Shu Jun sank into the thick mattress, unmoving. “It’s quite strange, like starving all along without knowing it, and suddenly getting a taste of food. The aftermath is a bit overwhelming, and I…”

“Do you want to kill me?”

“What nonsense are you talking about? Of course not! It’s just that the ones who died were humans, and I…” Shu Jun didn’t continue his sentence.

“I’m a human, and I’m the type of human that tastes the best to the Erosion Swamp. Since you can withstand me, you are still the Shu Jun I know.” Zhu Yanchen moved closer. “If you feel uncomfortable because of killing, do you know how many synthetic humans have died under my command over the years?”

Shu Jun held his breath.

“I have managed to reduce the sacrifice rate of synthetic humans to some extent, but there are still many who die each year during the Erosion Swamp purification. I have more blood on my hands than you do, yet you are still here.”

Zhu Yanchen released his grip on Shu Jun’s wrist and touched his cheek. When he spoke again, he changed the subject.

“I discussed this situation with Tang Heyu. Your impulse to kill indeed stems from the information implanted by Sigma. But it’s something that can be restrained, and it won’t endanger your life… So go take a shower.”

“… ” Shu Jun remained silent for a while, still not moving.

“I’ve changed my mind,” he said softly as his clothes made a sizzling sound, gradually being devoured by the erosion substance. “Distract me, Grand Marshal.”

“Aren’t you worried about losing control?”

“You have a point. I’ll give it a try.” Shu Jun bit down on Zhu Yanchen’s neck, exerting slight pressure. His teeth were sharp, and a droplet of blood seeped out from the wound, quickly licked away by his tongue.

“…I really can’t bear to.” Shu Jun released his bite, licked the small wound a few times, and sighed softly.

This time, Zhu Yanchen’s actions were incredibly gentle. Compared to the previous fiery passion, this night was slow and tender. Shu Jun held the other tightly, ensuring that the scent of Zhu Yanchen filled his nose.

“After resolving my issue, we should talk about yours.” After fully absorbing the warmth from the other person, Shu Jun’s mood improved slightly.

“It’s impossible for Zhu Sheng to cooperate with Yi Ning. If we just wait for him to push ‘me’ into the leadership position, we won’t be able to focus on dealing with Sigma. Zhu Sheng still holds expectations for the player system and won’t simply give up his leadership power.”

“Which means we have to overthrow him.” Shu Jun caressed the person’s hair. “As for Yi Ning’s side, I have already handled it. If we can’t convince Zhu Sheng…”

“I’ll take care of this matter.” Zhu Yanchen pressed his face against Shu Jun’s chest, feeling the other’s strong heartbeat.

“Okay, I won’t intervene.”

“I won’t lose.”

“I know.” 

However, Luo Duan had already returned to Sigma’s side, and their time was running out.

The sun rose as usual, illuminating the clouds that hadn’t dispersed for a century. The faint light streamed through the window as Shu Jun held the person in his arms tightly.

As usual, Monday was curled up in a ball, occupying the corner of the room. It surrounded the candy jar at its center and slept soundly. When the faint light hit it, it made a distressed whimpering sound and rolled a few times to the side. Shu Jun glanced at it, and a tendril of erosion substance extended to close the open curtain.

“Okay, I’ll go talk to Ai Xiaoxiao.” Shu Jun used his claw tip to poke Zhu Yanchen’s back, as if he was playing an invisible piano. “Before the city is completely locked down, I’ll bring her in too. And then…”

His claw tip exerted a little force, leaving a red mark on Zhu Yanchen’s back.

“…And then celebrate your election as the leader with a ‘slaughter’.”

“Mm.”

At the seaside.

Luo Duan had never seen a real sea before. There was no sea in the virtual city; only a river that traversed the city. In reality, humans had always stayed inland, and their battlefields were far from the sea.

This sea was pure black—not beautiful at all, but rather inherently terrifying.

Sigma was at the seaside, which seemed reasonable when he thought about it. He sat on one of Sigma’s giant hands, looking towards the direction of Y City. Twenty-one graves stood silently beside the giant withered hand.

They were graves, but they only contained remnants of the clothes worn by those people. Small mounds of gray sand formed with a stone placed on top, serving as makeshift tombstones. In order to gather more information, Sigma consumed those people thoroughly, not even leaving their bones behind.

Things were somewhat different from what Luo Duan had imagined. Those twenty-one people were filled with vivid anger. After seeing Sigma, they voluntarily approached the giant Erosion Swamp without any conversation or hint of attachment to life. During the process of being swallowed, they didn’t scream or even look at him.

They were living more vividly than he was, with fresh hatred still burning within them.

Luo Duan listened to the sound of the rising and falling tides behind him, and his thoughts grew cold. He seemed to have become a part of the waves, mechanically calculating plans.

Among those twenty-one people, there was no “prodigy gifted by the heavens” like Shu Jun. After eroding those twenty-one veteran players, the Erosion Swamp acquired only one new ability—”Explosion”.

Considering the number of player deaths in the past two hundred years, having one ability out of twenty-one was already quite astonishing.

Luo Duan conducted some experiments with this ability. It caused the Erosion Swamp carrying the ability to explode on its own, splattering erosion substance like a suicidal explosion. This attack was effective against humans, but it probably wouldn’t harm Shu Jun, and it could easily harm synthetic humans at the same time, inadvertently helping humans. Overall, this ability was somewhat lacking at this stage.

Still not comparable to Shu Jun.

Shu Jun possessed a peculiar power. Based on Luo Duan’s personal experience, that ability seemed to forcibly halt the activity of the erosion substance. Unfortunately, Sigma didn’t have any information on Shu Jun’s abilities. Luo Duan could only speculate cautiously.

Sigma possessed a total of thirty-nine abilities, four of which had already been assigned, leaving thirty-five remaining. Among them were some peculiar skills, such as creating a specific “person” using the erosion substance or creating mirages of humans being killed. The strangest one involved turning the erosion substance on the ground into fragments of wedding dresses and formal wear.

Like the dying wishes of people.

Sigma didn’t discern the quality of these abilities; it collected them all as long as they were emotionally strong enough to manifest as abilities. Of course, the majority of these abilities contained despair and hatred, and they were mostly highly destructive. Luo Duan noted down each of these abilities and carefully planned them in his mind.

Planning was necessary. With Sigma alone, it would be impossible to eradicate humanity.

This Erosion Swamp King was clever yet pitifully childish. Its thinking was half-human, half-beast, somewhat resembling an overly intelligent baby. Its every move gave an unpleasant sense of dissonance, and it remains completely unaware of human cunning.

No wonder it found a small Erosion Swamp to hide in the command center, eagerly longing to capture live humans. If the small Erosion Swamp encountered Shu Jun first, there was a possibility that Sigma would be tricked by Captain Shu.

Luo Duan forced a bitter smile.

Now that he, a living human, had arrived, he was rapidly weakening in the erosion zone. Sigma used its own abilities to repair him, replacing his internal organs and the diseased limbs. Luo Duan was unsure if this thing had any concept of his abilities. In just one day, he had nearly been transformed by Sigma into an “Erosion” version of Frankenstein.

But he still had self-awareness.

Luo Duan looked at the disproportionately sized, dark gray hand in front of him and slowly clenched his fist.

“How… does it look?” Sigma’s manifestation protruded from the giant hand. It had used its ability to become a “specific person”, but the result wasn’t very good. The thing it created had a blurry appearance and twisted limbs, sending chills down one’s spine. Its feet were buried within the giant hand, resembling a strange growth.

Its voice was also unpleasant, as if some animal was trying hard to imitate human speech.

This was probably someone who had been desperately yearning for something before their death, Luo Duan thought. Only fragments of the victim’s brain were preserved in the Erosion Swamp, leaving Sigma with only partial information, which it used to recreate this appearance.

“I’m still thinking,” Luo Duan replied, coughing up a little bit of black blood.

“Thinking,” it repeated meaninglessly. “Thinking?”

“We won’t win if we rush towards Y City now. Humans will flee to other cities, and you won’t be able to go after all of them… Forget it, you wouldn’t understand anyway.”

The doll created by Sigma tilted its head, looking as if its neck had been broken with its two empty eye sockets. “Understand, I do.”

“It’s best for us to strike when there is conflict between synthetic humans and humans. Synthetic humans are manageable enemies for humans. They will inevitably defend their positions, making it easier for us to surround them.” Luo Duan glanced at the thing. “The problem is, with Shu Jun around, the synthetic humans might not fight against the humans.”

“Shu Jun?”

“The one you want the most.”

“Understood. Wait for them to fight. Then I will go and kill them.” Sigma visibly grew more excited as they discussed this topic. The doll then made a few strange sounds and gradually became more articulate. “If they don’t fight, wait for internal conflicts among humans. Is that possible?”

“That’s a bit challenging.” Luo Duan looked at the thing with surprise.

“Just need to kill some synthetic humans,” it said. “Synthetic humans can’t truly cooperate with humans, I know. Shu Jun hates humans, and I’ve shown him many things. He definitely hates humans, I know.”

“Mm, he is currently cooperating with humans, seeking their resources. Based on our last encounter, if a conflict arises, he won’t let the synthetic humans help Y City.”

“If the things he wants to protect are gone, he will come to my side. He will, I know,” Sigma declared confidently.

“You’re quite confident.”

“Everyone is like that.” Sigma made a strange gesture, pointing to its own core with a calm and placid tone. “You are like that too.”

“……”

“You’re going to die, and I’m a bit anxious. If you die, I won’t be able to understand human thoughts. Can you please think a bit faster?” The statement still lacked emotion, as if Sigma seemed to be describing an everyday triviality.

Luo Duan remained silent for a long time.

“According to those people, the majority of the synthetic human forces are still gathered in a certain settlement. Even if Shu Jun relocates some of them, there will likely still be a significant number of synthetic humans remaining in that settlement. We can take advantage of Y City being busy with the election and instigate conflicts in that settlement, provoking disputes between humans and synthetic humans… Sending an Alpha Erosion Swamp should suffice. By the way, you should have informants on the edge of the erosion zone, right?”

“There are many Corpse Parasites.”

“That should be enough.” Luo Duan closed his eyes. “Let’s first test the waters.”

With that, he sealed his lips and fell into silence once again, deep in thought. The sound of the tides entered his ears, seeping into his bones. The dampness and erosion made it difficult to breathe.

“…Xiao Yuan.” Luo Duan exhaled slowly, summoning the spirit of his deceased lover. “Speak to me again.”

‘It’s still a bit cold by the seaside,’ Luo Duan thought.

He just didn’t want to go back.

---

The author has something to say:

Shu Ge truly hates humans. It wasn’t a joke when I said he might become a world-destroying boss.

If Shu Ge is assimilated by the Erosion Swamp, he won’t take a path of dominion. Neither synthetic humans nor humans will survive. It seems the Marshal has successfully applied the brakes in the racecar (?) of events.

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