One of the thirty-four countries of the Human Consortium, the Republic of Fahe.
Three minutes after the earthquake erupted, the data collection team dispatched by the official departnt arrived at the epicenter.
But when they were about to approach the Geomantic Pillar to collect data, suddenly, a large group of people dressed in black clothes, wearing black hats, almost blending into the darkness, erged from the surroundings.
There were a full sixty to seventy of these people. They surrounded the official data collection team of less than ten people, silently blocking the route between the collectors and the Geomantic Pillar.
The sudden situation took the entire collection team by surprise. The team leader leading the group stepped forward to inquire: "Who are you? What do you want?"
Those black-clad figures remained silent. Only one of them spoke up, replying in a solemn, almost recitative tone: "The sacred object of God is not to be desecrated."
"God? Sacred object of God?"
The entire collection team looked bewildered upon hearing this. One team mber was the first to react: "Are you talking about the Geomantic Pillar set up by the Fire Thief?"
The group of black-clad figures silently acquiesced.
The collection team mbers found it utterly unbelievable.
"What a joke!" The team leader angrily cursed, "The Fire Thief is a demon who has killed countless people! He is the world's... no, the universe's most evil existence! You actually treat a demon as a god, and treat the murder weapon he set up as a sacred object? You're completely insane!"
Upon hearing this, although their faces couldn't be seen in the darkness, the rapidly growing heavy breathing from the group of black-clad figures made it clear that fury had been stirred in their chests.
"Captain, they have the numbers..." A team mber grabbed the captain's arm and whispered a reminder, "And we didn't bring weapons. It's best not to start a conflict."
The data collection team was there to collect data on the Geomantic Pillar, not to fight. They carried no weapons or equipnt. Facing a hostile group nearly ten tis their size, they were undoubtedly at a disadvantage.
"Three minutes of the five have already passed! If we delay any longer, what data can we even collect?!" The captain said, striding forward, trying to push past the crowd of black-clad people surrounding them. "All of you, move aside! We need to collect data to save humanity, we don't have ti to deal with you lunatics!"
Several black-clad figures exchanged glances in the darkness, then parted to create a path. However, as soon as the captain stepped into their midst, they suddenly attacked, pulling out a book from their robes and smashing it violently against the back of the captain's head!
Thud!
The captain, focused on reaching the Geomantic Pillar to collect data, was completely unprepared for the attack from behind. He was imdiately knocked to the ground, followed by countless feet stomping on his body.
"Captain!"
"Quick, save him!"
"Are you insane! We're the official collection team!"
The collection team mbers were both shocked and furious, wanting to rescue their captain who was being beaten by the mob. But facing a wall of black-clad people nearly ten tis their number, they were blocked the mont they tried to charge forward, utterly helpless.
They felt that even if they used Mind Power items, the effect wouldn't be great given such a huge disparity in numbers.
The remaining precious two minutes quickly ended during the standoff, with a "rumbling" sound ringing out.
Everyone turned their heads to look. They saw the Geomantic Pillar sink back into the ground and disappear. Once the five-minute earthquake period passed, it would vanish as well.
"Damn it!"
The collection team mbers were furious. Their mission was to collect data by contacting the Geomantic Pillar to improve the analytical model. And now, such a precious opportunity had been completely wasted, all because of a delay caused by a bunch of lunatics worshipping the Fire Thief!
And the goal of these black-clad figures was clear. Once the Geomantic Pillar sank into the ground, they imdiately abandoned their encirclent and quickly dispersed.
The collection team mbers were left with no choice. They could only take their captain, who had been beaten unconscious, back and report the situation to their superiors.
...
The next morning, a remote eting of the Human Consortium was held.
Countries exchanged the data they had collected regarding the Geomantic Pillar. Just like last ti, about half of the countries still hadn't collected any.
But what surprised the nations was that the country where the Committee Chairman resided, Beixing, and the powerful country of Fahe with tens of millions of people, these two countries had also failed to collect data.
The representative committee mber from the Republic of Fahe was the first to explain the situation. After hearing it, the representatives from other countries were sowhat stunned and speechless.
"Such an important data collection operation could be disrupted by a bunch of cultists? Your country's preparations seem sowhat inadequate."
"You should have had the collection team mbers carry weapons, or inserted powerful Ascendants into the team."
"How did those cultists know the location of the epicenter? Could it be that mbers have already infiltrated the official ranks within your Fahe?"
"Groups worshipping the Fire Thief don't only exist in Fahe. In fact, every country has such individuals, so of whom are even forr well-known scholars, professors... After all, the Fire Thief's power truly surpasses human understanding, so it's not surprising it would inspire worship," said a representative committee mber from a small country.
"The only way to deal with these people is to kill them! Kill them until no one dares to jump out and worship any god!" The representative from the Kingdom of Xisiya was a bald man with a very fierce deanor. His words were equally rciless.
The representatives paused slightly. The words were crude, but the reasoning wasn't wrong. In situations like what Fahe encountered, it would be perfectly normal to use heavy-handed suppression, because these people's actions seriously undermined and threatened the survival of others.
The Fahe committee mber looked quite helpless. "Our Fahe has always been a country with freedom of religion. The law allows people to establish religions and recruit followers. So even worshipping the Fire Thief and establishing related religions is legal."
Upon hearing this, the committee mber from the Black Flag Country sneered mockingly. "What a bunch of fools. What era is this? Humanity is facing an extinction crisis, and you still indulge those lunatics to run wild? If this continues, I think your Fahe will be the next country to collapse."
The female committee mber from the Suroma Empire then proudly lifted her chin. "After the Doomsday Rules appeared, a 'Fire Thief Worship' cult also erged in our country. But under the wise and great rule of our King, the main leadership mbers of that cult have been swept clean, leaving only so insignificant remnants that pose no threat."
"However, what I'm more curious about is why Committee Chairman Gao's country, Beixing, failed to collect data this ti. I wonder what the reason is?"
With the Suroma female committee mber's question, other representatives also turned their gaze towards Gao Liangwei. In their view, given Beixing's national strength, it shouldn't have failed like those countries with only a few million people.
Gao Liangwei did not conceal the situation and reported truthfully: "The data collection team we dispatched arrived at the epicenter about 2 minutes after the earthquake. However, the Geomantic Pillar at the epicenter had already disappeared."
"Judging from the deep hole left in the ground, soone reached the epicenter before our dispatched team and, through so unknown thod, dealt with the Geomantic Pillar, causing it to disappear within five minutes. The earthquake at that epicenter also stopped after its disappearance, with a total duration of 1 minute and 48 seconds."
As Gao Liangwei finished speaking, many committee mbers stood up in shock. Those still seated also wore expressions of astonishnt.
The Suroma female committee mber was the first to ask: "You an to say! Soone resolved the Geomantic Pillar and stopped the continuation of the earthquake before your professional team arrived?!"
"Yes."
"You're lying!" The female committee mber raised her voice considerably. "Over 95% of your country's population lives in urban gathering points and shelters. Only a minority of scattered individuals live outside. Among them, could there really be soone capable of locating the epicenter imdiately and stopping the earthquake in just over a minute?!"
"It seems Committee mber Mary is quite knowledgeable about the residential situation of our country's people," Gao Liangwei said with a serious expression. "But in the absence of evidence, please do not casually accuse others of lying. This is a multinational eting of the Human Consortium, not a partisan dispute in your Senate. It's not that frivolous!"
"You..." The female committee mber nad Mary paled, wanting to retort but lost for words.
The representative from Sakura Prayer Country then spoke up: "Committee Chairman Gao, so you're saying there might be Ascendants or organizations among your country's civilian population capable of resolving this earthquake disaster? Then the top priority must be to find these people, correct?"
"Yes. Our Counterasures Research Office has already held a eting to discuss this matter. We will strive to seek the target's assistance."
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