With less than a week remaining until the end of the fourteenth rule, the public was more concerned about the escalating threat of the rule than the assassination attempts by Shadow.
It was an undeniable fact that a large number of people addicted to the spores and those deeply parasitized existed in countries all over the world. The changes they underwent during their addiction stages were gradually becoming known to the public.
Especially after entering the fourth stage, addicts began to display violent tendencies, which undoubtedly threatened the safety of non-addicted individuals.
Consequently, other countries had no choice but to follow the same path as Beixing, opting to centrally contain and manage those addicted to the spores.
Beixing, having taken this approach from the very beginning of the rule and implemented preventative measures early, was still relatively composed.
However, some other countries that acted on a whim, only mending the fold after the sheep were lost as the rule was about to end, faced the consequence of violent resistance from the addicts.
Conflict and bloodshed were inevitable.
Thus, when Beixing initiated a Human Consortium meeting, other countries thought it was to discuss matters related to the rule, completely unprepared for Beixing to target Sakura Prayer Country.
During the meeting, Gao Liangwei played the video of the underground prison filmed by Guan Tong and even had several of the imprisoned individuals appear in person to testify.
With both witnesses and material evidence present, the representative committee member from Sakura Prayer Country fell into a momentary silence, unable to offer a defense.
"The original purpose of establishing the Human Consortium was for people all over the world to unite and jointly combat the Doomsday Rules and the Fire Thief. Any individual or group that endangers the people of the world is a common enemy of the Human Consortium."
Gao Liangwei proposed, "To uphold this principle, I believe we should establish a joint investigation team composed of members from all Human Consortium nations to go to Sakura Prayer and investigate the case regarding the Gene Hybridization Experiment."
Upon hearing this, several committee members voiced their agreement, but they appeared somewhat perfunctory.
It seemed they still considered this an internal matter of Sakura Prayer Country. Using people for experiments meant using Sakura Prayer citizens or citizens of the already-defunct Andai State; it wouldn't harm their own countries.
Especially now that the rule of [Extraterrestrial Parasitism] was about to end. Compared to concerning themselves with the messy affairs within Sakura Prayer, each country was more focused on the damage the rule would inflict on their own nation.
One committee member couldn't help but say, "Chairman Gao, your proposal is very reasonable. However, we simply cannot spare any more energy or manpower to participate in any joint investigation team. The rule alone has already overwhelmed us domestically."
"That's right," the committee member from Black Flag Country also said. "Currently, a massive number of violent addicts have appeared within Black Flag Country. Figuring out how to properly handle them is headache enough; we have no time to meddle in another country's human gene experiment affairs."
"Heh heh."
Mary, the committee member from the Suroma Empire, couldn't help but chuckle a few times seeing people continuously opposing Gao Liangwei.
Gao Liangwei, however, wasn't angry and asked, "Does Committee Member Mary have something to say?"
"Of course. Chairman Gao, your proposal is good, very fair and humane. But our countries are not as lucky as your Beixing, so composed and able to spare the energy to manage such matters."
"..."
"What, do you think I'm wrong? Then let me speak everyone's mind for them. Don't find it unpleasant to hear."
Seeing Gao Liangwei fall silent and frown, Mary continued.
"From the moment the Fire Thief descended and announced the first rule, your Beixing got a huge advantage purely by luck. If it had been night where you were and day where we were at that time, could your country have preserved such a large population?"
"The earthquake rule after that as well. Shadow, who possesses the ability to store Mind Power, just happened to be from your Beixing. Using his power, the earthquake's destructive force on your territory was greatly reduced... Relying on these two strokes of luck, Beixing is now the world's most populous nation. The combined populations of all other Human Consortium countries can't match your Beixing."
Gao Liangwei said, "What is the meaning of you saying all this?"
Mary shrugged and smiled. "Just a reminder to Chairman Gao. When your Beixing takes the high ground, you should also try to see things from the perspective of other countries."
"Exactly," the Sakura Prayer committee member quickly chimed in, seizing the opportunity. "Moreover, one thing is one thing. Even if there are indeed some problems within our country, punishment can only be applied after a trial and conviction. Shadow's assassination actions are still intolerable. We still insist the Human Consortium issue a warrant for him. If Beixing intends to shield him, then—"
Before the Sakura Prayer representative committee member could finish, seeing the look in Gao Liangwei's eyes directed at him, he stopped and didn't continue.
The atmosphere in the meeting momentarily froze.
After a moment, one committee member changed the subject. "Actually, our country needs some assistance right now. There are too many spore addicts. Currently, most of those entering the fourth stage and using violence are ordinary people. We can still barely suppress them with armed soldiers. But if this develops further... our country might risk collapse."
"Yes. In comparison, the problem of spore parasitism is more critical. If not handled properly, the harm it brings won't just be far more severe than the Sakura Prayer matter; it would be even more terrifying than the situation in Fahe where everyone believes in the Fire Thief Worship Cult."
The rampant spread of the alien spores left every country feeling extremely troubled. For now, it was still controllable, but no one could say for sure what addicts would become once they fully transformed into spore-parasitized forms.
The terror and pressure brought by this unknown had even delayed major events like the launch of manned rockets and the dispatch of the action team to Fahe.
Hearing everyone's words, Gao Liangwei reflected on his own position.
He had indeed overlooked how dire the current situation was in other countries.
Just because Beixing had the spare capacity to manage foreign affairs didn't mean other countries did as well.
"That was my oversight," Gao Liangwei admitted frankly. "What you all say is correct. Responding to the threat of the rule is the top priority. However, even so, what happened in Sakura Prayer cannot be left unchecked. Our Beixing will dispatch its own investigation team."
"Chairman Gao, why must you insist on clinging to this matter!" The Sakura Prayer committee member flushed red with anger. "We will conduct our own internal investigation and handle this matter ourselves. We don't need your interference."
Gao Liangwei's gaze turned icy, and he reprimanded in a low, stern voice. "Back when the Human Consortium allocated the land of Andai State to you through a vote, your Sakura Prayer made a promise to treat the remaining Andai people in that area well. But what was the result? The evidence shows these people not only didn't receive good treatment but became sacrificial subjects for human experiments instead."
"This..."
"You broke your promise first. What right do you have now for an internal investigation? As the Chairman of the Human Consortium, I tell you clearly, you have no right to refuse an external investigation!"
Gao Liangwei didn't roar loudly, but merely intensifying his voice was enough to make the Sakura Prayer committee member squirm uncomfortably, constantly looking at others seeking support.
However, all the other committee members looked elsewhere, appearing helpless to assist. Even Mary, the committee member from Suroma, which sold large quantities of arms and intelligent robots to Sakura Prayer, remained silent at this moment.
Because Gao Liangwei was right.
Sakura Prayer Country's current land wasn't obtained for free. Apart from retaining the city names of Andai State, they also had to treat the remaining Andai people in that area well.
Now, Sakura Prayer was using others for human experiments, and the evidence indicated the mastermind was the Yuzawa family, Sakura Prayer's actual rulers. Having completely lost moral righteousness and conscience under these circumstances, Beixing sending people to investigate was entirely justified.
Moreover, judging by Gao Liangwei's determined attitude, if Sakura Prayer insisted on refusal, Beixing might even dispatch troops. Then it wouldn't just be a matter resolvable by investigation.
"...Fine."
Seeing that no one spoke up for him, the Sakura Prayer committee member's backbone instantly softened, and his whole demeanor became listless.
"After the meeting concludes, I will notify the relevant personnel to negotiate..."
...
While the Human Consortium meeting was being held, actions within Sakura Prayer were equally swift.
After the incident at the underground prison, the Yuzawa family, knowing their secrets had been exposed, immediately sent people to completely destroy the official residence along with the prison beneath it, eliminating the physical evidence.
As for the prisoners who had vanished from the prison cells, no large-scale manhunt was launched.
The Yuzawa family internally speculated that the enemy might have used a mass teleportation item to take everyone away. Under such circumstances, pursuit was not only largely pointless but would also amount to a confession by the family.
They believed the most urgent task now was to destroy or transfer other evidence that hadn't yet been discovered.
In a dimly lit room, several elders of the Yuzawa family stood with bowed heads. Sitting on the tatami in front of them was the Divine Child, Yuzawa Jun.
"Shin would never betray me. I believe in him," Yuzawa Jun said calmly. "However, human will cannot contend with Mind Power. We can only assume he would divulge all secrets under the control of a special item or ability."
He sighed as he spoke. "Ever since the assassination attempt occurred, I've been somewhat worried about the secret prison, which is why I sent Shin there to prepare to relocate the prisoners elsewhere. I didn't expect we would still be a step too late."
Upon hearing this, the expressions of the several elders grew tense. One of them said, "Divine Child, Shin knows a great deal, such as about the laboratory side..."
"Shut it down for now. Transport all materials and facilities away."
"Shut it down now? The mid-stage experiments have clearly succeeded. With a few more adjustments, we could attempt mass production..." One elder clenched his fist tightly. "Damn it, it's so frustrating!"
"No need for that."
As the leader of the experiment, Yuzawa Jun should have been more anxious than anyone at this moment, yet he could still remain calm.
"The experiment concerns whether our Yuzawa family can rise above the entire world. We cannot afford the slightest mishap. A temporary suspension is better than making a mistake that leads to complete failure."
"...Understood. I will go arrange it immediately!"
"The enemy took the prisoners from the secret prison and will definitely not stop there," Yuzawa Jun's eyes flickered. "I suspect they will target the Yuzawa family. We must prepare in advance."
"Divine Child, what preparation do you mean?"
"Abandon the pawns to save the king. The important core members of the family will go into hiding, leaving only some unimportant relatives and servants visible on the surface. If the enemy wants to kill, let them kill."
"This..."
Unimportant relatives were still relatives, people who shared their own blood. To simply use them as sacrificial pieces... For a moment, the several elders found this difficult to accept.
Yuzawa Jun looked at the elders, his expression extremely cold, yet his words were still reassuring. "It's fine. Once the storm passes and the experiments restart, once we succeed, we will soon make all our enemies pay in blood."
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