Fire-Bringer, Futurism, and the New Game

Seeing this familiar name, Su Wen now understood that 'Azure' was a homophone for 'Future'.

He smiled gently.

Then, together with the beautiful girl beside him, he opened the newly released film.

The movie began with a scene in a desolate mountain village.

Kitsuchi was constantly being whipped up by the wind and sand.

The villagers here had expressions as numb as the yellow sand.

If life held no hope, then perhaps even the process from life to death wouldn't be worth remembering.

Until one day, someone discovered this mountain village. He arrived at the foot of the mountain with his luggage and spent half a year building a dilapidated classroom.

The children in the mountain village finally had a school where they could learn.

Over the next ten years, in addition to teaching them knowledge, this young teacher personally led his students to plant saplings of wind-resistant plants that he had bought from big cities.

Day after day, year after year, he never stopped.

Ten years passed.

The small saplings surrounded by yellow sand began to grow and sprout new branches.

Twenty years later, the students changed batch after batch, but the people planting trees also expanded from teachers and students, gradually increasing in number.

Thirty years passed.

The hair of the once-young teacher was gradually turning white. During the New Year and festivals, he often received letters and gifts from former students.

They were doing well, had gone out, and had seen a wider world.

Fifty years later, the once-young man was buried under the first tree he had personally planted.

And the former barren mountain, at this moment, was lush and green, with shady trees.

The scene ended.

Only the final epilogue remained on the black curtain:

[To the Fire-Bringers:

After you left, the stars replaced the night, illuminating the path ahead for civilization.]

The movie ended.

Compared to 'The Lonely Journey of Civilizational Redemption' and 'Lighthouse Number Forty-Three', this movie didn't have as many twists and climaxes.

It only told the story of an ordinary person in a gentle tone.

But over a long period of time, no matter how ordinary something was, it eventually became a memorable greatness due to the continuous accumulation of civilizational progress and emotional stacking.

"A story worth remembering."

Su Wen turned to ask, "Jiang Menghan, what do you think?"

"We all know that this world is impetuous and real. The emphasis on grades has made education a means of classification. In any case, this model is the optimal choice for the current social evolution. Civilization needs teachers, passing on the torch, endlessly reproducing, the future is real and tangible."

The ice-cold girl gave her answer calmly and rationally.

Su Wen and Meng Han leaned against the edge of the rooftop.

He leisurely opened a can of cola: "Meng Han, as a researcher, your judgment is indeed very rigorous and realistic."

Then, the young man looked at the scenery in the distance of the campus and continued: "But John Adams once said:

(I must study politics and war so that my sons may have the liberty to study mathematics and philosophy, geography, natural history, naval architecture, navigation, commerce, and agriculture, in order to give their children a right to study painting, poetry, music, architecture, statuary, tapestry, and porcelain.)

In the movie just now, I saw how land covered in yellow sand was transformed into lush mountains and forests.

The possibilities of civilization, the possibilities of humanity…

Perhaps they can only be hidden away.

But they can never be erased.

Humanity's current efforts are also so that future generations can see an even wider sea of stars.

Just like in the memories of 'Deep Dream.'

He saw Wu Shuang, even amidst repeated 'electric shock torture.'

Still relying on her memories, she steadfastly drew the unforgettable hometown in her mind.

Even with broken wings, a bird probably still looks up at the sky.

The girl replied:

"Very romantic, very much in your style, Mr. Su."

Su Wen smiled gently.

He didn't crack some lame joke, but simply said to the girl beside him:

"There's a place I'd like to take you to see."

"Where?"

"How about you guess?"

Jiang Menghan finally agreed, wrapping her arms around Su Wen's waist as she sat on the back seat of that old bicycle.

The two of them embarked on their second impromptu trip in this late summer.

In the late summer breeze.

The girl's hair gently brushed past.

The scene was incredibly beautiful.

Half an hour later.

He found the place he wanted to go.

It was the spot where Wu Shuang had once stood on the mountaintop, sketching a panoramic view of her hometown.

At this moment.

The mountain flowers were in full bloom.

The wind had stopped, and the rain had ceased.

"A very beautiful view,"

Jiang Menghan said.

"Yes."

He replied calmly.

Three days later.

Inside the Mental Review Bureau.

Zhu Yu personally affixed a seal representing official certification to a document.

[Mental Review Bureau Tracking Analysis Report]

[Transcendent: Su Wen, no anomalies in behavioral logic, no antisocial tendencies]

[Mental Stability: Clear]

[Danger Level: E]

[No further tracking investigation required]

[Transcendent Archived]

Due to the establishment of Westminster's 'Equality Act.'

The Mental Review Bureau's assessment of Transcendent's danger levels and mental stability has been shifted to the shadows.

And staying at home resting is the lowest possible expression of danger.

Therefore.

No one associated him with how much he had actually done.

Of course, Su Wen probably didn't care either.

After all, the bad deeds were all done by 'Schlote Heavy Industries,' the 'Dormant Sect,' and 'Zero-Sum Game.'

He had absolutely nothing to do with it.

Meanwhile.

Seven days after the last 'Deep Dream' incident ended.

A new game arrived.

[Time until 'Player' predicted death: 15 natural days]

[Timer Started]

[Do you wish to start the game?]

Su Wen looked at the countdown.

Although he had the necessary worries about whether he would lose his life, he was also a little more expectant about what the new game could represent.

[Bartender Number One]

[Game Type: Role-Playing]

[Real-Time Span: Five Days]

[Game Difficulty: Low]

[Game Background:

Time: Early Origin Era, Location: Detroit, the largest city in Michigan

Due to the economy and the arrival of the Origin Era, the security in the area east of 1st Avenue in Detroit has gradually deteriorated.

Drugs and gangs are rampant. Some ask, isn't there a police station here?

The answer is: The police here are constantly worried about their own safety.

And among them...

Freezing Point Bar, an unknown small bar in a chaotic area.

Only a few people know that the taciturn, gray-haired owner is Fern Onions, a defector from Leis Angton and the former best supervisor of the Leis Angton Security Company, the 'White Hound'.

Soon, a team targeting the White Hound has begun a secret operation.

(Note: Fern Onions hides the secret of the Detroit ruins. If he dies, it will cause the timeline of 'Self-Awareness Origin', 'Purification Protocol', and 'City of Sin' to shift)]

[Game Objective:]

[One Star: Gain the trust of 'White Hound' Fern Onions and become the best bartender at Freezing Point Bar]