On the sa day after the Human Consortium eting ended, on the afternoon of May 1st, a massive global relocation operation began.
Not only did island nations need to relocate, but even inland countries like Beixing and Suroma had major coastal cities that needed to be moved.
In peaceti, cheap and efficient mariti transport gave rise to a number of developed coastal cities. However, once the great earthquake occurs, these cities would face the risk of being swallowed by tsunamis at the earliest.
At that ti, whether living in high places or inside shelters, survival would be extrely difficult, so relocation to inland areas was absolutely necessary.
As for island nations like Sakura Prayer Country, they had no choice but to relocate the entire nation. According to professional predictions, it might not even take the magnitude 10 earthquake predicted for the 30th; the magnitude 9 earthquake expected on the 27th had a high probability of destroying the islands.
Relocation had to be completed before then, involving an enormous volu of transport. Many inland countries sent ships and aircraft to assist.
However, relocating an entire nation wasn't that easy, because while people could leave, everything else on the land couldn't be taken, which made it hard for many to accept.
In Sakura Prayer's capital, official personnel were desperately trying to persuade a crowd in front of an ancient building. Over a thousand people had gathered here, each wearing a headband with the words "We will not move, even if it ans death."
"We will not leave!" The leader was a middle-aged man in his forties, his attitude extrely resolute as he faced the officials.
"This Dujing Building was built by the first Divine Child of our Sakura Prayer Country as a national symbol, the soul of our nation! We will absolutely not abandon it and leave just to cling to life!"
"That's right, we want to stay here!"
The Sakura Prayer official tried to persuade them, "These buildings can all be rebuilt after we relocate to a new holand. But if you lose your lives, there's no way to get that back."
"Pah!" An agitated young man spat and cursed, "Bastard! This is our ho, not so tropical region where everyone in so other country is already dead!"
A woman with a worried expression said, "We know staying will likely an death, but does leaving guarantee survival? There are still so many rules ahead. Even if we survive this ti, what about the next... Rather than dying on foreign soil in the future, I'd prefer to die in my true holand."
"This..." The official in charge of persuasion was left speechless.
"Just let them stay."
A voice ca from behind. The official turned and saw who it was, imdiately straightening up and saluting with slight nervousness.
"Pri Minister Kurohara!"
Kurohara nodded. The people stubbornly gathered in front of the ancient building were also surprised to see the Pri Minister himself arrive.
Hearing him say their group could stay, everyone was happy. The leading middle-aged man said, "Pri Minister Kurohara, you also think what we're doing is right, don't you?"
"No, I don't think so," Kurohara said. "The national culture represented by the ancient building you're guarding needs humans to pass it on. Without people, these things are just so piled-up rotten wood."
"Wh-what..."
Everyone was stunned for a mont, looking at Kurohara in disbelief, unable to believe a nation's Pri Minister would call his country's most important cultural relic building "rotten wood."
"Since you're willing to stay and be buried with a pile of rotten wood, then stay," Kurohara said, turning to the official. "Ti is tight. Don't bother with them; go evacuate the others."
"Yes, sir!"
After speaking, Kurohara turned and left. After a few steps, an angry voice from behind stopped him.
"Halt! Damn Kurohara, as Pri Minister, you dare belittle our cultural relics like that? You should apologize to the nation!"
"That's right, calling it rotten wood... I think your head is the rotten wood!"
"With soone like you as Pri Minister, no wonder our country has ended up like this!"
Kurohara sighed, shook his head helplessly, and got into his car to leave.
The secretary in the front seat looked at the tablet in hand and reported, "Pri Minister, besides this location, there are many people across the country who don't want to leave. The relocation work is facing many obstacles."
"Let those unwilling to leave stay," Kurohara said. "It's their own choice. We don't have enough ti to persuade them to change their minds."
The secretary asked curiously, "You're not planning to force them to relocate?"
"Even normal relocation ti is tight. If forcing them causes conflict, it will delay things even more. What we lack most right now is ti."
"Understood."
...
Suroma Empire, Senate.
Thirteen Senators and the Suroma King were currently holding a eting, discussing a serious topic.
The Grand Elder said solemnly, "Your Majesty, I believe it is ti to activate the long-sealed Terra Project!"
"Yes, I also think it's ti."
"Given the current severe situation, this might be the only way to be saved."
The Senators voiced their agreent one after another.
The Suroma King remained silent, his fingers rubbing the gemstone top of his scepter.
The Terra Project was a secret space migration plan prepared by the Suroma Empire fifteen years ago.
"Terra" was a satellite of Tianshui Star, rich in mineral resources but lacking survival resources like fresh water.
The original purpose of the Terra Project was preparation for a potential nuclear war outbreak on Tianshui Star.
Fifteen years ago, the international situation was tense, with world war on the brink. Given the global stockpile of nuclear weapons, if a war truly broke out, most major habitable zones worldwide would likely be contaminated by nuclear fallout.
Therefore, the Suroma Empire secretly initiated the Terra Project back then, intending to partially migrate to Terra before the nuclear war broke out, using its abundant mineral resources to rapidly develop technology. As for the lacking fresh water and food resources, they could rely partly on chemical synthesis and partly on transportation from Tianshui Star.
However, no one expected the tense situation to ease in less than a year. People worldwide couldn't bear the serious atmosphere, recognizing peace and developnt as the mainstream, while war was despised.
Thus, Suroma's "Terra Project" was shelved and sealed away, until today, fifteen years later.
The Grand Elder spoke again, "Your Majesty, judging from the situation with the eleventh rule, humanity is getting closer and closer to doomsday. We cannot sit idly on Tianshui Star waiting for death!"
"I have only one question," the Suroma King finally spoke. "Honorable Senators, what basis do you have to believe that hiding on Terra will allow us to avoid the Doomsday Rules?"
"This..."
The Senators looked at each other.
They indeed had no basis to indicate that simply escaping Tianshui Star would free them from the constraints of the Doomsday Rules.
"Your Majesty, we have no basis. But you also have no basis to prove that humans would still be subject to the rules after leaving Tianshui Star, right?"
The Grand Elder said slowly, "As things stand now, the Fire Thief seems more like an AI running according to program logic, periodically issuing rules. So, if this really is a program, perhaps its operational range is set on Tianshui Star itself. If we can leave this range, the program might fail."
Hearing this, the Senators nodded in agreent.
"Yes, the Grand Elder is right."
"Whether it works or not, it's necessary to at least try!"
The Suroma King pondered for a mont, then nodded slightly. "I can agree to restart the 'Terra Project.' However, conducting launch tests will certainly not escape the notice of Beixing and other countries."
"Does Your Majesty not know that Beixing Country also has a similar plan?"
"Hmm?" The Suroma King looked at the Grand Elder, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.
The Grand Elder smiled slightly. "I have a good personal friendship with one of the higher-ups in Beixing. That person told
that Beixing's higher-ups are also preparing multiple 'Doomsday Response Plans.' One of those plans includes launching a manned rocket to Terra to preserve the human spark."
Upon hearing this, the Suroma King's expression remained unchanged, but the other Senators were greatly shocked.
"Beixing also has a similar plan? Then we must hurry!"
"Indeed! What if they launch a manned rocket to Terra first and declare Terra as Beixing territory?"
"We cannot delay; launch tests must be conducted as soon as possible!"
The Senators anxiously looked at the King. After a long while, just as everyone was growing impatient, he slowly spoke, "I agree to restart the 'Terra Project' today. However, the current top priority is still preparing for the great earthquake."
The Grand Elder nodded. "Naturally. No matter how fast we go, completing a manned launch within a month is impossible. However, regarding that intelligence about the 'Geomantic Pillar'... Has Your Majesty made a decision about the contributors?"
The Suroma King nodded. "Survival of the fittest. There is no other choice."
...
Ascendant Ho, Casual Chat section.
A voting post published by a user topped the popularity charts, remaining at the top.
《Regarding the selection of personnel to contact the Geomantic Pillar, which selection thod do you support?》
The Capable Take Priority: Select Ascendants with high Mind Power Upper Limits to make contact.The Weak Step Forward: Select Ascendants with low Mind Power Upper Limits to make contact.Lottery Draw: Truly fair and just, no deception for young or old.Follow Orders: Let the authorities independently decide personnel selection.Voluntary Sign-up: Greatness needs no explanation.
Once posted, it quickly topped the charts. Countless users voted and comnted from their own standpoints.
"As the saying goes, 'With great power cos great responsibility.' At a ti like this, those with high Mind Power should definitely step up!"
"Those with high Mind Power Upper Limits are all shrewd people, right? I feel they wouldn't sacrifice themselves, and many are key figures cultivated by the authorities. I'm pointing at those students in the Mind Power Developnt Academy who constantly brag online about how good the academy environnt is and how much protection the authorities provide for them in the rules."
"If considering the overall, collective perspective, shouldn't those with lower Upper Limits go? Ascendants with high Mind Power Upper Limits are the hope for the future; they can't just be donated like this."
"Easy for you to say standing there without back pain. Does that future you ntioned include ordinary people? If not, then what's it got to do with !"
"What 'The Weak Step Forward'? I think it's more like 'making use of waste'!"
"Stop arguing, everyone vote for the lottery. Whoever gets drawn goes. Pure luck, no one can bla anyone."
"Those saying the lottery is pure luck must still be students. Anyone who's been in society for a year or two knows how easy it is to rig a lottery draw. Fixing the draw is simple."
"I think everyone knows lottery draws can be faked. But voting for the lottery option is just to show the authorities an attitude—that the public demands fair and just personnel selection, not casually assigning people to sacrifice."
"Exactly, voting here feels more useful than reporting at the shelter. The authorities will definitely see this post. Everyone co vote, let the authorities know the public's attitude."
"I want to say, you're putting in all this effort voting back and forth, but the bigger possibility is still option 4, where the authorities directly select people to go..."
"I think so too. The authorities probably won't let public opinion decide sothing like this, right? This is a matter of life and death!"
"If I really had to go, I'd go. What's the big deal? Since ancient tis, who can escape death? Besides, those who go aren't necessarily guaranteed to die, right? We still need to see what the Geomantic Pillar actually is."
"Probably won't be found until a magnitude 2 earthquake? Magnitude 1 is too slight; ordinary people can't even feel it. Maybe the precise instrunts of the earthquake detection departnt can asure it. Now we just wait for the official results."
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