Simultaneously watching this official live-streamed press conference were many people. After the press conference ended, related discussions flooded the entire inter.
After all, Beixing Country had not fought a war with another country for over a hundred years, with only minor local frictions at most. Even declaring a Level Three combat readiness state was considered a big deal.
For a country that hadn't entered a Level One combat readiness state for a century to suddenly announce it would enter a wartime management state in ten days undoubtedly delivered a massive shock to its citizens.
The only people in Beixing Country who had experienced wartime social management were from the great-grandfather generation. The subsequent three or four generations had never experienced war, so they were currently discussing it fervently online.
"Does anyone know what a wartime state will actually be like? Is it just unified food distribution?"
"Many aspects will have strict controls... it shouldn't just be about material supply."
"It seems those Blood Plague infected individuals from the rules have really pushed the authorities to the edge..."
"No kidding. I don't know about your city. We have several hundred Blood Plague infected people here. They blocked dozens of vehicles on the main road, preventing supply transport trucks from getting through. It's a huge mess!"
"Blocking a road is nothing? I'm from Yunhua. We've even had gunfights break out here. I heard a group of infected people stormed a hospital, seized guns, and took out both an Armed Squad and Bureau members!"
"Here, some people gathered to commit arson and burned down several gathering points... I heard they were people who got kicked out of gathering points after infecting themselves with the virus. They wanted revenge on the people inside, so they banded together and started fires everywhere..."
"Sigh... letting things get too ugly isn't good either. Our gathering point also had many infected people. We didn't forcibly kick them out, just isolated them in separate rooms. In the end, they still died, but at least there was no revenge-seeking or similar incidents."
People posted online about the chaos occurring in their respective cities, and reading it all indeed gave a sense of shock and horror.
"After seeing what you all posted, no wonder the authorities held a press conference just hours after the rule ended. Everywhere has gone crazy!"
"I support wartime management. It's too chaotic outside now; I'm scared. I'd feel more at ease under official management."
"Agreed. Putting other things aside, just the food waste part is hard to watch. Some youngsters take several portions of food for themselves, eat less than half, and throw the rest away. Just because it's free supply doesn't mean you should waste it like that!"
Supportive voices made up the majority, but opposing voices also existed.
"I don't feel good about this. Have you all considered that once the wartime state is activated, it will last until all forty-nine Doomsday Rules are over, right? Only six have passed so far, with forty-three left!
If we calculate one rule per month, the remaining forty-three will take at least over three years! Over three years of wartime management... just thinking about it is unbearable!"
"I think the same way. Over three years is the minimum; I think it'll take about five years to get through all forty-nine. Five years! In this Doomsday Rules era, can we really survive five years? Rather than just surviving in a wartime state, I'd rather live out my remaining days freely and happily!"
"Agree. I plan to leave the city before the 10th, find a remote little place to stay... I heard after the first rule, many people left the city to set up camps? I wonder if I can find one to join."
"Those small groups are usually pretty exclusionist... Besides, many probably got wiped out during the Snow Disaster rule..."
The discussions raged on, but regardless, it was set in stone that cities would enter wartime control after the 10th; it wouldn't change because of the discussions.
Those who needed to prepare began making their own preparations after seeing this news.
Several hours later, at dusk, Guan Tong was already driving on the road out of the city.
That's right, after consideration, he had decided to leave the city first.
Regarding the official's decision, he knew that from a macro perspective, it was correct, reasonable, and could help more people survive.
But from his own personal angle, he still preferred being able to move freely and live a life where he was responsible for himself.
Just like when he chose to leave the city during the [Snow in June] rule, his foundation was actually very poor back then. Aside from a Shadow that could briefly materialize, he had almost nothing else.
Yet he still overcame his fear and left the city and the crowds. Looking back, that decision might have been right. But if his judgment had been wrong and something happened outside, with no chance of rescue, he would most likely have died.
But Guan Tong felt that even then, he wouldn't regret it or blame others, because those were the choices he made himself.
The current situation was the same.
His choice was to leave before the wartime control began. Regardless of what consequences this decision led to, good or bad, he would bear them himself when the time came.
The car he drove was the same as before, a shared electric vehicle. And his destination was actually the same as before too: Mingdao Mountain.
Why go there? On one hand, he had been there once during the last snow disaster and had gained some understanding of the terrain and landscape.
Also, it had mountains and forests, and the scenery was decent. Compared to going to some wasteland or similar place, Guan Tong definitely preferred going somewhere with something to see.
However, this time when he went, he wouldn't set up camp in the depression at the mountain's base. Instead, he would go up the mountain and summon his shelter to live there.
After all, more than three months had passed; the snow on the mountain must have melted long ago. Living on the mountain also offered more concealment than at the base, so he wouldn't be spotted at a glance by anyone passing by.
As for food and other supplies, Guan Tong had prepared during the few hours before departure.
He stuffed all the supplies he found in the abandoned residential complex into his shelter. He also made several trips to other abandoned complexes that hadn't been demolished yet, using his Shadow with enhanced vision to help him efficiently search for food that could be stored long-term and other items.
After all that, his shelter was loaded with enough food to last him for over half a year, which was completely sufficient, even excessive.
Because Guan Tong had a premonition that even if he went to Mingdao Mountain, he probably wouldn't stay there for too long.
For him, it was more like a temporary transition point, not a place where he planned to hunker down until all forty-nine rules were over before emerging.
Driving out of the city along the previous route, he soon passed through the development zone. As Guan Tong drove past a certain spot, he didn't pay much attention at first. But after continuing forward for a few minutes, he suddenly hit the brakes.
"...Did I see that wrong?"
He frowned, thought for a moment, then signaled and turned the car around. Not long after, he arrived at the place that had caught his attention.
It was a roadside parking lot containing a large red truck. Guan Tong took a closer look this time and immediately confirmed he hadn't been mistaken. It was indeed the truck belonging to the mother-daughter pair, Wang Yan and Chen Na!
"Strange... didn't they go to Yong'an?"
Guan Tong parked his car, got out, and walked over to take a look.
The large truck was covered in a lot of dust and looked very dirty. It seemed like it hadn't moved since the day it was parked here.
This was undoubtedly odd, because Guan Tong remembered very clearly that Wang Yan had said she would first go to the hospital to check on her stomach issues, then drive on the national highway to take her daughter Chen Na to the capital, Yong'an.
Did they abandon the truck and take other public transportation? Or did something happen that prevented them from going at all?
Guan Tong didn't know. He didn't have Wang Yan's contact information and couldn't reach out to ask.
"Hey, you! That kid!"
A call came from a booth nearby. Guan Tong looked over and saw an Emergency Management Bureau employee wearing a black uniform.
The person walked from the booth to Guan Tong: "Is this truck yours?"
"No. The owner is someone I know."
"Someone you know? Then hurry up and get the owner to come move it! This is the Emergency Management Bureau's temporary parking lot, usually for official vehicles like supply trucks. How long has this truck been parked here? It should have been cleared out long ago."
Guan Tong shook his head: "I don't have the owner's contact information."
The staff member was taken aback: "Didn't you say you know the owner?"
"I just know them, that's all."
"...Forget it." The staff member thought for a moment and said, "For a large vehicle like this, drivers usually leave their documents, cards, or something inside. There's definitely a phone number on them. I'll break the window; you go in and look for it to call the owner."
The staff member said this and walked back to the small booth. Not long after, he came out with a small iron hammer and specifically declared to Guan Tong: "Don't blame me for breaking the glass. This truck has been parked here too long; I was already planning to have it towed away and disposed of in the next few days. Just breaking a window is actually being lenient."
Guan Tong nodded, not objecting.
"Crack! Crack! Crash!"
The staff member smashed the front windshield with a few hammer blows, then turned to Guan Tong: "Go on in."
Guan Tong climbed into the driver's cabin, searched around, and actually found a slip of paper with Wang Yan's phone number written on it.
"Did you find it?"
"Found it."
...
Evening, in an apartment in a residential complex on Baishui Road. Chen Na, seeing that her mother Wang Yan had fallen asleep, carefully went out and waited by the roadside outside.
Not long after, a car drove over. The rear window rolled down, revealing the face of a short-haired woman. It was the same person who had delivered the protective gear half a month ago.
"Chen Na, after thinking about it for the past half month, have you decided?" the short-haired woman asked.
Chen Na nodded firmly: "I've decided. To get medicine for Mom's treatment, I'll take the assessment you mentioned, Sister!"
"You're a good kid." The short-haired woman smiled. "Your mom will be proud of you."
Hearing this, Chen Na's expression darkened, and she said quietly, "Actually, Mom doesn't want me to take it. I snuck out..."
"I can understand. You're still young, after all; it's only natural for your mom to worry. But in this era, age is no longer important. The most important thing is strength."
"Strength..."
"Yes. For example, you. Although you're young, possessing a 'large-scale perception' ability, which is so rare, is a manifestation of strength. Just from that point alone, your potential is much more outstanding than most ordinary people."
Chen Na nodded, somewhat understanding. The short-haired woman said, "Don't overthink it. Once you pass the assessment, my leader will help pay for the medicinal items to treat your mom's cancer. After your mom gets better, she definitely won't blame you for not listening."
"Mm!" Chen Na thought the same. "I'll work hard!"
"Good. I'll come pick you up tomorrow. The time is set for 9 PM."
"But..." Chen Na hesitated, "Sister, how long will the assessment take? If I'm away for too long, there'll be no one to take care of Mom here."
"Don't worry. The assessment only takes a few hours. We'll have you back before dawn."
"Okay, I understand. I'll head back now. Goodbye, Sister."
"Mm, goodbye."
The short-haired woman watched Chen Na go back inside, then raised the car window.
The driver asked at this moment: "A kid like her, can she really pass? The people she'll be competing against are all strong, even including a former official team captain."
"Her ability is very special," the short-haired woman said. "Like I just said, large-scale perception abilities are too rare. If further developed with more functions, she has the full potential to become a top-tier auxiliary member."
The short-haired woman paused, then said, "Actually, even if she doesn't pass the assessment, I estimate the Commander would still keep her."
"Ah... that's true. The Commander has always liked cultivating young girls. You yourself are an example, aren't you?" the driver said.
The short-haired woman didn't respond. The driver, feeling he'd spoken out of turn, pursed his lips and drove off.
Back in the room, Chen Na was thinking about what the short-haired sister had said when suddenly, her mother's phone on the table rang.
Worried it would wake her mother, who had finally managed to fall asleep, she quickly went over, answered it, and ran outside the room with the phone.
"Hello? Who are you looking for?"
"Xiao Na?" Guan Tong's voice came through. "It's Guan Tong."
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