Near No. 10 Settlent Point, the Academy's research ship.
A tall, thin man stood amidst the pale blue holographic light, looking at Yang Kai, who respectfully spoke in an instructive tone.
"How did he choose?"
Yang Kai reported truthfully.
"It's unclear for now, he hasn't given any definite answer... However, as you can see, the sky-based weapon is indeed moving toward the western hemisphere."
However, it has not yet been deployed.
Although the Academy does not have access to these weapons left by the War Construction Committee, it knows the coordinates of each weapon.
Tracking their location is not a difficult task.
However, regrettably, the most intelligent and knowledgeable people on this planet do not possess any key among them.
Seeing that Doctor Conclusion didn't respond for a long ti, Yang Kai continued respectfully.
"May I ask, what do you expect him to choose?"
The man known as Doctor Conclusion smiled faintly.
"I don't have an optimal solution here, I just want to see his choice."
The voice, devoid of much rise and fall, made it difficult to guess his true intentions.
Yang Kai sighed with a bitter smile.
"It seems we'll just have to wait and see."
...
Cornered, the Southern Legion's top brass placed all their hopes of victory on a biochemical weapon called the "Mortal Serum."
The Alliance's orbital weapons are deploying around Yavente City, ready to eliminate all troubles once and for all.
The Old Soldier wasn't sure if the Manager was serious, but if that guy really pressed the button, all his efforts might indeed be in vain.
And not just his efforts.
It also includes the efforts of other players in the Alliance, as well as Julius, Penny, Yarman, and other Weilante people in ending the Wasteland Era.
And this also includes the Manager himself.
In any case, this sudden situation has completely disrupted the Old Soldier's plans for upcoming work.
He originally planned to unite the Civil Official Group for a top-down reform of Triumph City after Marshal Julius' funeral, starting with a citizens' assembly to select representatives from various industries and classes, then jointly discussing the Weilante Constitution and further enacting a series of laws based on it.
However, now, this matter obviously has to be postponed.
After asking for advice from a bunch of sand sculpture netizens on the forum, the Old Soldier weighed the pros and cons in his heart and finally found the one person he could currently trust and who could help...
The eting hall of the Glory Court.
Legion Leader Rezer of the Imperial Guard frowned slightly after listening to the respected Leader's statent.
"You an... the Weilante's gene source code has been stolen?"
The Old Soldier thought he would be shocked by the content of the Mortal Serum plan, but he didn't expect the old man's focus to be on such a peculiar detail.
"That's right," the Old Soldier nodded, saying with a serious expression, "For the Southern Legion's plan, the gene source code of the Weilante is essential. Only by filling in this last piece of the puzzle can they ensure the smooth implentation of the plan—"
"That's impossible." Before he could finish speaking, Rezer interrupted him and said in an indisputable tone, "No one can steal the gene source code of the Weilante, and where did you get this information? From the Civil Official Group? Or that kid Salen."
The Old Soldier's brow twitched hard.
He didn't know where this old man's confidence ca from, being so certain that the gene source code wouldn't be stolen.
However, the trouble here is exactly this: he knows what happened but can't disclose the source of the information.
After all, he couldn't possibly tell the old man that he got the task from the ga system, could he?
Could the system's task be fake?
Unless the dog plan was deliberately ssing with him.
"...I can't tell you the source of the information, but it's indeed a fact." The Old Soldier stared intently at him, trying to move this 172-year-old man with his sincerity.
Although he knew very well in his heart, counting on such a hasty thod to convince Rezer was almost impossible.
After all, this is not an ordinary accusation.
No one would be moved by a simple "believe ."
However, to the Old Soldier's surprise, Rezer did not imdiately reject his words, but stared into his eyes with those murky eyes.
After a long while, he suddenly threw down a sentence.
"Follow ."
With that said, Rezer took a step towards the exit of the eting hall.
Seeing this swift action, the Old Soldier was slightly taken aback, not understanding what the old man intended to do, but still got up and followed.
The two of them left the Glory Court directly, walking one after the other down the thousand-step marble staircase, then boarded the car waiting by the roadside.
"Get in the car."
Seeing Rezer seated in the car, the Old Soldier hesitated for a mont but eventually opened the car door and sat in.
He initially thought the old man was planning to take him to so place within the Glory Court, but he didn't expect it seed there was a long journey ahead.
After the car door closed, the sedan's engine slowly started, driving the two people inside away from the Glory Court.
After about twenty minutes, the Old Soldier even caught sight of Triumph City's walls, and only then did the car slow down.
"We've arrived."
Rezer tossed out this sentence, pushed open the car door with one hand, and swiftly got out of the car.
The Old Soldier followed him, getting out of the car and looking up ahead, seeing a military camp guarded by two soldiers in power armor in front of the checkpoint.
In the entirety of Triumph City, there's only one place where even the sentries on duty wear power armor.
Upon seeing those two sets of "Dragon Cavalry" power armor, the Old Soldier already guessed where they were.
Seeing the Legion Leader and the Leader, the sentry on duty solemnly respected them, unlocking their helt masks and saluting with a serious deanor.
Rezer simply returned a salute, then looked at the Yang Kai with a surprised expression, continuing to speak.
"This is the Guard Mansion, the base for the Imperial Guard. I originally planned to bring you here after Marshal Julius's funeral."
"I know, I passed by here before." The Battlefield Atmosphere Group nodded but looked puzzled at why he was brought here.
Touring the Imperial Guard?
It didn't seem like the right ti for that sort of thing.
Rezer didn't explain why he had co here, just led him straight through, passing a section of concrete buildings, reaching the deepest part of the Guard Mansion.
A circular concrete structure sat in the center of an open space, with thick walls without a single window, just a long corridor extending inward.
Rezer led him forward, passing the checkpoint, and stood on the elevator in the lobby's center marked with the Legion's emblem, then pressed a button on the chanical keyboard.
The elevator door creaked shut, and then the elevator descended at a steady pace.
Seeing the Leader, who was bewildered, Rezer spoke in a very soft voice.
"...What you saw outside, the concrete structure, is just the 'entrance' to this building. Its real secrets lie underground."
The Battlefield Atmosphere Group lightly coughed.
"You know I'm curious about more than that."
"I know," Rezer nodded, "and I can assure you that very soon all your questions will be answered... We've arrived."
After almost a minute of descent, the elevator finally arrived at its destination.
The Battlefield Atmosphere Group couldn't help but feel internally that this facility was hidden exceptionally deep, almost like a shelter.
Yet soon after thinking this, he saw a gear-shaped alloy giant door, prominently marked with a large number "3" in the center.
"Shelter No. 3... There's a shelter here?! Wait... There's a shelter underneath Triumph City?!" The Battlefield Atmosphere Group's face showed a look of astonishnt.
Seeing the Leader's astonished face, Rezer faintly smiled and said.
"I rember I should have said that long ago, back when Marshal Julius was still alive, I often interacted with you."
The Battlefield Atmosphere Group swallowed hard, slowly nodding.
Looking at the giant door ahead, Rezer's eyes seed to fall into mory, only after a long ti continuing to speak.
"That was long ago. It should be the year I was born... Residents of No. 3 Shelter, after learning about our plight and the incidents in the Weilante laboratory, expressed outrage at the anti-human cris committed by the Post-war Reconstruction Committee, and generously provided us assistance."
"They were a group of very good people, and during that ti, it was also our honeymoon period with the shelter residents... with you."
"If we relied solely on ourselves, without the support of the Technical Departnt, acquiring the Weilante laboratory's gene source code would have been futile. However, after receiving the shelter residents' help, all problems were resolved smoothly, and we finally gained true freedom, building the great Triumph City on the land above us."
At this point, Rezer paused briefly, transferring his gaze from the giant shelter door to the stunned Leader—or rather "Yang Kai."
"The gene source code is stored in this shelter... I should have brought you here earlier, but was delayed by certain matters."
After speaking, the old man took a step forward to the door, pressing a few buttons on the control console beside the gear-shaped giant door.
With a vibration like an earthquake, the gear-shaped giant door slowly rolled to one side amidst a rumbling sound, unveiling the passage leading to the shelter.
"It's not just the password, biological identification is also needed here... Follow ."
Seeing Yang Kai's astonished face, Rezer faintly smiled, leading him forward to a closed alloy door, completing the final biological identification.
With a hissing sound, the tightly closed alloy door slowly opened, finally revealing the interior of the shelter to the two n.
Just as the Battlefield Atmosphere Group was about to walk forward, Rezer's right hand pressed onto his shoulder.
The Battlefield Atmosphere Group turned back, only to see those cloudy eyes staring intently, the gaze seeming to penetrate his soul.
"You should also record it."
"Alright."
The Battlefield Atmosphere Group displayed a serious expression, solemnly nodding, then completed the biotric registration with Rezer's help.
He knew what this ant.
This man, who had guarded the Weilante for more than a century on behalf of Marshal Julius, was finally officially entrusting everything of the Weilante to him.
The two of them continued forward through the alloy door, turning a few corners according to the shelter map, and soon arrived at a laboratory.
This laboratory was much larger than those few "small rooms" in Shelter No. 404, and the facilities seed far more complete.
Thinking of those "classical style" marble buildings on the surface, the Old Soldier couldn't help but sigh internally.
The land above and underground were like two parallel worlds.
Stopping in front of a cylindrical tal canister, Rezer turned to look at the Pangolin surveying the surroundings, and continued to speak.
"The Weilante people's source code is stored here. The surface is guarded by the Imperial Guard, and underground, there's the refuge's security system. You are a resident of the shelter, and even if you don't trust the strength of our Imperial Guard, you should be quite aware of the refuge's defensive level."
Retracting his gaze from a nearby facility, the Old Soldier nodded seriously with an expression.
"No one can enter an already activated shelter without authorization."
Rezer nodded, continuing from his words.
"It's not just that. Every visit leaves tistamped biotric information, whether successful or not. So I can responsibly tell you, no one has ever stolen it, and no one ever will."
As he spoke, he lightly tapped twice on the control panel next to the cylindrical canister, starting the storage device's control program.
The pale blue holographic screen quickly displayed the records of previous gene source code retrievals, as well as the identity and ti information annotated beside them.
The Battlefield Atmosphere Group quickly walked to the old man's side and looked at the content on the holographic screen.
According to the displayed data, the last retrieval was more than a century ago, and the usage noted in the information column was clear, for completing clones with an eightfold growth rate.
More than a century ago...
At that ti, let alone Teil, perhaps even the concept of the Southern Legion didn't exist.
The Old Soldier's Adam's apple moved, and his thoughts beca a bit chaotic for a mont.
"So... the Southern Legion couldn't possibly have obtained the gene source code."
Rezer nodded slowly.
"I'd like to ask you, where did your information co from."
Facing the old man's sharp gaze, the Old Soldier remained silent for a mont, then slowly spoke.
"Do you believe ?"
Rezer shook his head without hesitation.
Surprised by the old man's decisive suspicion, the Old Soldier's expression nearly broke.
However, unexpectedly, the old man then slowly nodded.
"I don't believe you, a guy from nowhere suddenly claiming to liberate the Weilante people and break their chains. It sounds like a scam."
"But I trust Marshal Julius. You are the one he's been waiting for... You match every aspect of his prophecy."
After a pause, Rezer continued slowly.
"Furthermore, you are the choice of the Weilante people."
Just like Marshal Julius.
Although Marshal Julius is not a Weilante, the man is undoubtedly the choice for all Weilante people.
If it's a wrong choice, it's just the fate of the Weilante people, and he must accept it, whether he wants to or not.
It's not only Marshal Julius who is aging, but also himself and the entire Imperial Guard.
They are destined not to accompany the Weilante people forever.
Feeling the weight of those words and the mission contained within, the Old Soldier took a deep breath and candidly spoke.
"You know I'm a resident of the shelter, but you probably don't know where I'm from... Truth be told, I co from Shelter No. 404."
Rezer's pupils suddenly contracted, but then soon returned to calm.
"And then?"
The Battlefield Atmosphere Group was silent for a mont, biting their teeth and continued.
"We communicate through a form of ntal induction... This is sort of our secret, just like your gene source code, and I hope you can keep this secret for ."
In the end, he still concealed matters about the players and another world. After all, those are rules written in the Player's Handbook, and revealing them to Rezer is aningless, increasing communication costs instead of reducing them.
However, explaining to NPCs in his way has always been allowed by the rules.
This isn't considered "off-field."
Shelter No. 404 has never denied the various legends about itself, though there are many versions of those legends.
Rezer listened and fell silent for a while, then pressed the corner of his brow and let out a bitter smile.
"ntal induction... I hope you're serious."
At the age of 172, he could tell at a glance if soone was lying. However, at this mont, he felt clearly that this young Leader was telling the truth.
Not just the thing about "ntal induction."
Even the part about the "Mortal Serum" was the sa, just with so details concealed... And those concealed details weren't out of malice but due to so level of pressure.
The Old Soldier, staring at Rezer without blinking, continued.
"Trust , everything I'm saying is true! The reason I'm so certain about the 'Mortal Serum' is that my compatriots on the front line of the Poluo Line, at the southernmost end of the Great Desert, have found countless pieces of evidence about its existence. Just as you can responsibly tell the Weilante gene source code remains here, I can responsibly tell you, everything I'm saying is true."
Rezer let out a heavy sigh.
"Shelter No. 404... You're almost laying your cards on the table for , admitting you are a spy for the Alliance, and successfully eliminated the greatest competitor for the Alliance."
The Old Soldier coughed dryly.
"You can't bla the dissolution of the Legion on ... Surely you know, that had nothing to do with ."
"I didn't, I was just assuming from the perspective of an ordinary citizen of Weilante, they might think this way."
Rezer pressed his brow in frustration and, after a mont, slowly spoke.
"You don't need to try to convince . Just think about how to convince the other Weilante people when this is all over... You must be responsible to them. I hope you will confess this matter to the residents of Triumph City after everything is over. As you said, to liberate the Weilante people from lies."
eting that aningful gaze, Old Soldier solemnly nodded his head.
"I will do that."
At worst, he would stop being this Leader.
In fact, he didn't really want to be this Leader, he was simply placed in this position.
Taking a deep breath, he organized his thoughts and continued to speak.
"The question now is what exactly does the Southern Legion high command want to do? I can be sure that the 'Mortal Serum' plan exists and has reached the last stage before implentation. As I've said, our intelligence personnel have sufficient evidence to prove its existence, and they inford through... uh, ntal induction."
At this mont, Rezer was no longer entangled with 'spy' or 'ntal induction' but instead focused entirely on the issue itself.
Just like more than a century ago when he fought alongside Marshal Julius.
"What they want to do is actually quite obvious..." Squinting slightly, the elder continued in a steady tone, "Just bear it with the Weilante people's will."
The Old Soldier looked at him in disbelief.
"You an..."
"The constitution of the Weilante people is stronger than the survivors of the Human Alliance Era. Not only that, we have stronger control over all levels of society... Not just because we have the army's genes, but because the Weilante people are naturally a race that obeys the collective, obeys the 'alpha wolf.' In the face of crisis, we will be more united than any other nation."
The cold-blooded voice seed to float out of an icebox, making one involuntarily shiver.
At this mont, Rezer had completely imrsed himself in the perspective of a ruthless and iron-blooded officer, with winning the final victory as his only goal.
Only then could he think from Tiel's standpoint.
"...So, we don't actually need immunity to the 'Mortal Serum,' or rather, the best outco is that we can't be immune. The fear of death will accelerate their escape, passively involving them in our plan. And for those cowardly civilized people, sharing the sa victim status makes it harder for them to cut us out of their society."
"Our compatriots will take it to every corner of the world, replacing our guns and cannons to conquer the remaining third of the world that hasn't been conquered by us."
"As long as it is as terrifyingly lethal as shown in the lab, the eventual winners of this survival competition will definitely be us... the Weilante people."
The Old Soldier's Adam's apple bobbed up and down.
"Scorched earth..."
"Scorched earth? That is too small-scale, the 'Mortal Serum' goes a step further."
Rezer looked at the Leader holding his breath, giving a aningful smile as he spoke slowly.
"This is called natural selection."
That's the battlefield Weilante people are most skilled at.
Tiel plans to bet the chances of victory on the survival capabilities of the Weilante people!
"...Of course, this matter cannot be known to a third person. We must use the 'Gene Source Code' as a guise to make the Weilante people involved in the plan believe that the Mortal Serum is harmless to them, at least that it won't be fatal, and is only effective on aliens."
Looking at the shocked Pangolin, Rezer restrained that cold expression, returning to his usual gentle yet authoritative manner.
"Standing from Tiel's perspective, he would probably make such arrangents... it's unbelievable, it's already Wasteland Era 214, yet there are still people preserving the most primitive animal instincts so thoroughly."
Old Soldier, coming to his senses, inadvertently held his breath before slowly opening his mouth after a long mont.
"Was the Weilante people like this before?"
Rezer replied without hesitation.
"There was indeed such a ti on the Wasteland when it was impossible to survive without being like that."
After a pause, he continued.
"But I don't think it's the right way, surviving like a beast is nothing to be proud of. The children of the Weilante people will not head towards a better future because of their ancestors' 'sacrifices,' and if their fathers really win, they would enter an era worse than the Wasteland Era, entering an even vaster jungle to have a final showdown with Mutants or sothing else, competing on who is more beast-like, who has no bottom line, who is more savage..."
"Would the eventual winners suddenly regain their conscience and beco human again one day in the future? I doubt it, humans are heavily reliant on path dependency. Just like those Poluo who survived because of General Lowell's wild imagination, even today their children are like crops growing in Red Soil. I suppose even Lowell himself would not feel proud seeing their servile appearances."
This lunatic...
Turns out Tiel never intended for the Weilante people to be immune to the Mortal Serum!?
The Battlefield Atmosphere Group suddenly thought of West Sail Port.
That ti seed to be the sa...
And exactly the sa!
He involuntarily clenched his fist, looking earnestly at Rezer.
"How can we stop Tiel?"
He wanted to know if there was any thod other than resorting to the last option.
Rezer looked at him and returned the question unchanged.
"How can we stop Tiel... you shouldn't throw this question to a 172-year-old man, dear Leader."
"You are the one who should continue to lead the Weilante people forward, the one who should make the decision is you, not ."
"They chose you between barbarism and civilization, I believe they must have seen a Strength in you that is not inferior to the forr."
"So don't be afraid to choose, you just need to rember... don't let those living in the past see weakness and fear in your eyes, and don't let those who chose you be disappointed."
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