Dawn City, Alliance Building.
Sitting on the sofa in the reception room, Yi Chuan lifted the sleeve of his right hand, glanced at the time projected on his wrist, and pulled his sleeve back.
It was midnight now.
He was sure that in this building that had just been completed less than two months ago, only the reception room where he was was probably the only one with a light on.
When he thought that his colleagues had all fallen asleep while he was still working hard, he couldn't help but yawn.
Logically speaking, this presumptuous time was not the right time to talk about things.
However, as a representative of the Silver Wing Group and an ambassador of the enterprise to the Alliance, it was his job to listen to the voice of the Alliance leaders.
Therefore, even though this time bothered him, after receiving a summons from the Alliance Manager's Office, he put on his clothes and rushed over immediately.
Of course, if after he rushed here, the respected manager wanted to discuss with him only an insignificant matter, such as subsidies for aid teachers, the construction period of compulsory schools, or the budget for airport runway maintenance, then don't blame him for being ruthless.
If that were the case, he would have to complain bitterly!
Thinking of this, Yi Chuan couldn't help but smile.
Personally, he still likes that guy.
Although the man always likes to haggle over matters involving the alliance and never miss any opportunity to take advantage, he knows very well that the man is only like this at work, and is actually a very straightforward guy in private.
Perhaps this is the two-sided nature of people.
But it is precisely because of this that every time he meets him in this way, Yi Chuan has to be very alert and dare not take it lightly.
If you are not careful, you may fall into the trap that guy has dug...
At this time, footsteps were heard in the corridor outside the door.
Yi Chuan, who was thinking about something, sat up subconsciously, looked at the door where the knocking sound came from, and cleared his throat.
"Come in."
The door opened.
Chu Guang, who was wearing casual clothes, pushed the door open and walked in.
"I'm sorry to disturb your rest at this time, but there is also an emergency here... Please understand that we have to go beyond the normal procedures to meet with you."
Closing the door, he walked to the sofa opposite Yi Chuan and sat down.
Looking at Chu Guang who was not wearing power armor, Yi Chuan was a little surprised. He thought that the armor was grown on this guy.
It can be seen that this guy should have just gotten up from bed not long ago.
When he thought that he was not the only one who got up in the middle of the night to work overtime, Yi Chuan felt a lot more comfortable.
"I understand. In an emergency, we must make decisions based on our own needs. Then can you tell me... what exactly is the emergency?"
Chu Guang did not answer immediately, but took out a memory card and placed it on the coffee table, pushing it in front of him with his index finger.
Staring at the fingernail-sized card, Yi Chuan frowned slightly.
"This is..."
Looking at Yi Chuan, who looked confused, Chu Guang said seriously.
"This matter cannot be explained in a few words. In order to avoid communication barriers, I hope you can read this document before we start our topic."
"..."
Yi Chuan looked at Chu Guang suspiciously.
Under the latter's urging, he finally did not ask anything, took out a folded holographic glasses from his arms, and gently shook it to put it on his nose.
Then he picked up the fingernail-sized memory card and inserted it into the slot of the side frame of his eyes.
The green signal light flashed, and a stream of data flashed across the mirror. The dense light spots drowned the eyes behind the lens.
After simply browsing the data in the memory card, Yi Chuan's face gradually became subtle.
The origin of the Qi tribe can be traced back to the biological research institute of the Technical Department of the War Construction Committee in Yunjian Province a century and a half ago!
The mutants who first arrived in Jinhe City were actually researchers of the "perfect life form" project team!
And the arrival of those people directly led to the destruction of Singularity City!
From the perspective of a citizen of Ideal City, Yi Chuan's mood is naturally not very beautiful when seeing such information.
After all, for enterprises, the incident that happened a century and a half ago is indeed a black history.
Even if the split of the War Construction Committee is not the responsibility of one party, it is also a fact that the production department first ignited the fuse.
To this day, there are still many opinions in the historians of Ideal City that the "Yunjian Province Revitalization Act" and the rough execution of that year bear an unshirkable responsibility.
Although the residents of Ideal City have reviewed that period of history and did not whitewash it or hide it like a little girl, it is still somewhat unpleasant that new clues have been dug up after such a long time.
Especially when they have just decided to inherit the will of the Pioneer, intend to correct the mistakes of a century, and walk out of Ideal City with their heads held high...
The index finger tapped the side of the frame, and an eye appeared behind the reflective lens. Yi Chuan looked at Chu Guang in disbelief and asked in a tone of inquiry.
"Is this... true?"
Chu Guang nodded.
"I dare not assert that this is 100% accurate information, but I can be sure that this is an objective and notarized investigation result."
This includes not only the information investigated and sorted by players on the official forum, but also the information collected by his Guards Corps during visits and investigations around Jinhe City.
Yi Chuan leaned back on the sofa and sighed softly.
"To be honest, when I saw these things, I was shocked... so much so that I didn't know how to comment on them."
"Personally, I tend to think there are some misunderstandings. After all, this is just an investigation report, and most of the arguments come from rumors of questionable authenticity. At least here, I don't see any conclusive evidence."
He was very careful with his words.
He neither gave a positive opinion on the information nor completely denied it, but used a statement that could be advanced or retreated.
After a pause, Yi Chuan continued.
"From the standpoint of the Supreme Council, we feel sorry for what happened 150 years ago, but this is not part of the Council's work. Our authority is the embodiment of collective will, but as for what will is, it may be more appropriate to leave it to the academic community and the public to discuss."
"If today's meeting is to ask us for our opinions on this document, my opinion is... you should summon the media, not me."
Looking at Yi Chuan's cautious look, Chu Guang could guess with his toes that this guy probably had his mind wandered and thought he was going to take advantage of them again, so he took a defensive posture as soon as he opened his mouth.
Just kidding.
Am I that kind of superficial person? ?
Making a helpless expression, Chu Guang continued patiently.
"You misunderstood, I don't want to put pressure on you through this document, or ask for compensation on behalf of the survivors of Jinhe City... We are not qualified to represent others, and what we want to discuss with you is not the past, but the present."
"... The present?" Yi Chuan stared at him blankly, and a trace of doubt gradually emerged in his eyes.
The information in his hand looked like old accounts.
Chu Guang nodded.
"One hundred and fifty years ago, the production department launched a surprise attack on the biological research institute of the technical department in Yunjian Province, causing the technicians of the "perfect life form" project team to run away with the experimental data. Many of the mutants in the wasteland today emerged at that time-"
Yi Chuan interrupted him angrily.
"This statement is biased! The Willant Laboratory on the West Coast is also a research institute for the "perfect life form". In terms of time, the Legion controlled the relevant research units much earlier than us!"
"I'm not saying that we don't have problems, but the statement that "we created the mutants" is completely irresponsible speculation! In fact, we have been exterminating those beasts. At least half of the bullets we fired in the past century have been shot at mutants!"
"I know, please listen to me," Chu Guang continued patiently, "Of course we know that the "perfect life form" 'The project is not in the charge of a single research institute. In addition to the research facilities controlled by enterprises, legions and colleges, there may be other wild research institutes that are also closed to conduct unfinished research. This is why there are so many variants of mutants. "
"If it were just a group of crazy scientists hiding in the shelter and shaking the reagent bottles, I think even if there are risks in their research, at least the risks of the experiment itself are controllable... However, now, a group of lunatics have spent twenty years quietly expanding the scale of the experiment and advancing the research by any means necessary."
Yi Chuan frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"It means literally."
Chu Guang placed a computer pen on the table, and his index finger gently swiped in the azure beam, and several holographic images floated in front of Yi Chuan.
The drone aerial view in the center.
Next to it are several first-person perspective battle videos of players.
These videos were transmitted back to Dawn City through signal repeaters before the "Seagull" was hijacked by the Torch Church's electronic warfare operations.
Looking at the hideous and distorted faces and the zombies that were pouring in like a tide, Yi Chuan couldn't help swallowing his saliva.
"What on earth is this... Gnawers?"
"There is no doubt that they are living people, at least before... and now, they should be considered living dead."
Looking at Yi Chuan with an unbelievable look on his face, Chu Guang continued.
"When have you ever seen a Gnawer wearing clothes?"
Yi Chuan didn't speak, his eyes fixed on the picture on the holographic screen.
Looking at this silent friend, Chu Guang continued.
"The name of this settlement is Pine Cone Farm. The Torch Church occupied this place and turned the residents here into their puppets through an addictive fungus crop called Naguo to help them complete the experiment of the 'perfect life form'."
"You said this is an experiment?" Yi Chuan's Adam's apple moved, and he said with difficulty, "...what kind of experiment is this."
Chu Guang shook his head.
"Unfortunately, I don't know either. We tried to investigate it, but our people were trapped as soon as they entered, falling into the trap carefully laid by those lunatics."
"To be honest, we initially thought that they joined forces with mutants just to target the mutants' combat power, but now it seems that all of this is a trap set for the 'perfect life form' itself."
"Torch... Is it that torch? Is it related to the Enlightenment?" Yi Chuan muttered to himself, chewing the name over and over again.
Chu Guang thought for a moment and gave his own opinion.
"I tend to think there is no connection. The difference between them is like the mutants in the Great Desert and the mutants on the East Coast. One is a continuation of the Torch Plan prepared by the Human Union in the pre-war era to deal with the most extreme situations, and the other is more like being inspired by the Torch Plan."
"They have a common goal, that is, they agree that the world should be destroyed once, rather than improving on the basis of the old order. However, in terms of specific implementation guidelines, they are fundamentally different. One tends to use the neutron extermination technology of the old era, and the other hopes for the unfinished singularity technology of the Prosperous Era... Replace the old humans with new humans, and gradually complete their world restart plan."
Even the most extreme ideals can be divided into relatively moderate reformists and relatively radical deviant factions.
In terms of means, the Enlightenment Society is obviously more radical. They directly deny the right to survive of the wastelanders. However, in the final result, it is the elitists who are more conservative.
At least they believe that the new world should still be ruled by humans, and the elites recognized by them should dominate all aspects of society, rather than becoming new humans.
But the Torch Church is different.
What they want to accomplish is the ascension at the species level, to completely leap from the old human body to the new body.
Even if the humans of the old era could live in the utopia they described, they could only be livestock without political rights.
Only the selected new humans can live as gods in the utopia.
The mind interference device is prepared to achieve the latter purpose.
In the distant old times, if you want people to selectively give up or completely give up their brains, you need countless Mr. Houses to bombard them in turns and a whole set of systematic processes. And even if you invest a huge amount of money, you may not be able to justify yourself because of a few small mistakes.
But with the help of Naguo, they can easily turn settlements into farms or plantations without saying a word.
Yi Chuan couldn't help but sweat on his forehead.
If he didn't want to intervene in the dispute between the alliance and the survivors in the region ten minutes ago, after seeing these materials, he realized that he had to report this matter to the Council immediately.
Mind interference technology is not a secret. This thing made a big news in 2113. Compared with the singularity technology such as the perfect life form, it is nothing.
However, he never thought that the old antique could be rejuvenated in the wasteland in this way.
I'm afraid the Council didn't expect it either.
After all, Jinchuan Province is still Haiya Province, which is too far away from them...
Looking at Yi Chuan who didn't say a word, Chu Guang continued.
"The Pine Cone Farm is a microcosm of the settlements under the jurisdiction of the Torch Church's parishes. Similar things are common in Jinchuan Province and even Haiya Province. On the surface, those settlements look no different from ordinary settlements, but their cores have long been replaced by church puppets... and now, the green plague is spreading northward."
"Originally, Naguo was just a tropical crop, but the Torch Church has improved it so that it can grow normally even in the subtropics... If they continue this dangerous experiment, I'm afraid that it will not only fall in Jinchuan Province, but also the eastern provinces and even Yunjian Province. Or do you have the confidence to prohibit your residents or neighbors from eating that thing?"
Yi Chuan looked at Chu Guang seriously and said, "I understand what you mean. This matter is indeed very serious... I will report it to the Council immediately!"
Chu Guang nodded and looked at him seriously.
"I'm glad you understand the urgency of this, but reporting is one thing. We need to let more people know about the conspiracy of those guys, and we also need to do something while making it public. If the council debates for a month, and we wait for another wave to pass, I'm afraid the entire Jinchuan Province will be doomed."
Hearing Chu Guang's words, Yi Chuan's face showed an embarrassment.
It is not in accordance with procedures to act before the council makes a judgment.
"...You know this is impossible. Even if I want to help you, I, a diplomat, can't have that authority."
Chu Guang did not give up because of his words and continued.
"Then do something within your authority. We don't need military assistance. The alliance's army is not inferior to anyone, but we need your technical support! Specifically, we need an electronic warfare expert!"
The reinforcements sent to Songguomu Farm are on the way and will arrive soon.
However, if they cannot suppress the opponent in electronic warfare, their intelligent weapons will not be able to exert their full combat efficiency.
Unfortunately, hacking is not Xiaoqi's specialty. It is just an assistant AI.
Even if the shelter has an absolute defense capability in the field of information security, it is the credit of the protection program running on the shelter server. Xiaoqi can only call on this part of the resources.
Moreover, Xiaoqi's main body is in the shelter, 800 kilometers away from the front line. It is too difficult for an MT to go up and hammer people with high ping delay and interference.
He needs an expert who is proficient in electronic warfare to go to the scene to help him solve the problem.
Including providing security protection for drones.
Including pulling the bishop named Luo Qian out of the so-called holy land...
Hearing Chu Guang's request, Yi Chuan fell into deep thought. Suddenly, as if he thought of something, his eyes lit up and he sat up straight.
"This is easy. There is an expert in electronic warfare in Dawn City!"
Chu Guang asked immediately.
"Who?"
Yi Chuan said with a sharp look in his eyes.
"Eclipse!"
"A-110 model androids, all of them are experts in electronic warfare!"
...
Just as Chu Guang finished his meeting with the company's representatives, a large number of mutant warriors in the urban area of Jinhe City, not far from the farm, also completed their assembly.
A burly, semi-cyborg mutant man walked in front of Garen with heavy steps, clasped his hands and said in a deep voice.
"Kulu, assembled!"
Behind him, a crowd of green heads moved, and a large crowd of people could be seen.
Most of these mutant warriors had undergone cyborg modifications, but the degree of modification was different.
Some people replaced their hearts with iron, some changed their forearm bones into alloy steel, or installed a gun barrel or chain saw on their arms.
Unlike the group of shrimp soldiers and crab generals led by Oger.
The soldiers under Kuru's command are all elites of the Qi tribe, and there are many "big guys" like Piduo here.
The honor of the Qi tribe was lost by those weak shrimps, and they actually lost to a group of cowardly two-legged sheep!
Kuru swore that he would take back the glory of the clan!
Garn looked at Kuru expressionlessly, nodded slowly, and then looked at the densely packed mutant warriors standing behind him, raised his voice and shouted loudly.
"Our allies are in trouble!"
"The people who are causing trouble for them are the same people who killed our brothers!"
"Go to Pinewood Farm!"
"The survivors there are all food for us!"
Mobilizing this group of bloodthirsty beasts does not require too many passionate words, just telling them where to vent their desires is enough.
The desire for blood and tyranny was ignited in an instant, and deafening cheers resounded through the ruined city.
Mutants waved their weapons and cheered loudly.
"Ahhh!"
"Eat them!"
...
A large number of mutants set out from the East District of Jinhe City and gathered in the direction of Pinewood Farm.
At the same time, a towering steel airship was also setting sail from Dawn City and heading towards Jinchuan Province.
At first, it was just an infiltration operation of only 20 people, but as the chips of all parties were added layer by layer, the scale of the conflict was escalating.
The settlement of 50,000 people has unknowingly stood in the center of the storm.
The Torch Church obviously did not expect such a result.
When they learned from the bishop that the Alliance's airship was heading towards Jinchuan Province, several apostles in Songguomu Farm suddenly changed their faces.
At first, they just planned to use the little mice that infiltrated their ranch to do an interesting experiment and teach the Alliance in the north a little lesson.
However, what they did not expect was that the guys in the north were so unwilling to lose that they turned the table over when they saw the infiltration operation went wrong.
They were not afraid of military conflict with the Alliance, and they did not think that an organization that had just been established for a year could be their opponent.
However, they were obviously not ready to start a war immediately, and no one thought that the Alliance would send an airship at the critical moment when the wave was about to come.
The distance of 800 kilometers, it would probably take until tomorrow morning for the airship to arrive here.
But they were not naive enough to think that the Alliance only had airships as a means of transportation...
The four apostles were as anxious as ants on a hot pot, anxiously discussing countermeasures, and at this moment, the manor not far away was filled with the noise of gunfire.
The underground research institute in the annex.
Ye Shi pulled out the short knife stuck in the forearm of the Torch Church "executioner", and while removing his equipment, he tied up his hands and feet with plastic ties.
VM data copying has been completed.
The prisoner was taken to the room where the mind interference device was placed, and Ye Shi threatened him with a gun pointed at his head.
"Turn this thing off!"
Wu Zhe grinned and laughed.
"I have to disappoint you, I'm just a soldier...but I don't know how to turn this thing off, how about you try to blow it up?"
Ye Shi didn't waste any words and kicked him in the stomach.
Enduring the piercing pain in his forearm, Wu Zhe gritted his teeth, stared at Ye Shi and sneered, thinking to himself what a pity.
If he could trick this guy into blowing up the mind interference device located underground in Songguomu Farm, it would be considered a mission accomplished for him.
In fact, just a few minutes ago, Ye Shi really planned to blow it up, but after reading the information downloaded from the terminal, he immediately gave up the idea.
Simply turning off the mind interference device will not make those people outside return to normal, just like smashing the monitor will not shut down the computer.
The mind interference device has the effect of inducing the experimental subject to enter the "wandering" state, but what really makes the local residents "gnawing" is actually the 03 band signal it emits.
This device has engraved the frenzied information into their brains. As long as they enter the "wandering" state, they will become the ghosts they are now.
It's just a matter of degree.
Unless other bands of signals are input through the mind interference device to re-brainwash those affected by Naguo.
Otherwise, they will probably return to normal from time to time, and then go crazy again from time to time... It is better to let them stay like this.
At least they will not kill each other in the same fugue state.
Looking at the captive who refused to say anything, Ye Shi gritted his teeth and carried him out of the laboratory.
Wu Zhe grimaced in pain and simply closed his eyes without saying another word.
The little girl named Xiaoyang was trembling at the door, looking at the two people coming out of the laboratory at a loss.
When she met Ye Shi's eyes, she looked away in shame and dared not look at him.
Optical camouflage only works when moving slowly, and moving between environments with different brightness will also have obvious flaws.
Obviously, she saw that person.
But under the threat of the executioner, she didn't say anything, and she might even confess to the man that she was the only one inside, and then watched the guy holding a rifle and touching her butt.
But Ye Shi didn't blame her for not making a sound to remind him.
To be honest, if she screamed, it would be very troublesome. Not only would it hurt herself, but it would also alert the enemy and affect his counterattack with his natural advantage.
"The situation has changed. I have to trouble you to stay down there for a while... Remember to keep an eye on Yin Yin, don't let her hurt herself, but don't get too close to her."
Hearing this, Xiao Yang's eyes floated with a trace of despair and sorrow, but in the end he said nothing, just nodded silently.
I betrayed the person who helped me, and there was nothing to say about being left behind...
Seeing that this little kid seemed to have misunderstood something again, Ye Shi smiled and stretched out his hand to rub the little head.
"What are you thinking about? I'm not saying I'm going to leave you here, I'm just asking you to wait here for a while... If you're tired, take a nap, I'll be back soon."
Xiaoyang asked in a low voice.
"Where are you going..."
"Go kill all those bastards!" Ye Shi grinned, leaving behind a back that he thought was handsome, and walked towards the stairwell.
Wu Zhe, who was held in his hand, sneered and curled his lips.
Kill them all?
What a boaster!