The Bunker's Future, Wen Xishu

Sha Ruijing's survival strategy was to anticipate and act on what his superiors wanted before they even asked.

Though he was just an interviewer now, Sha Ruijing's career had been nothing short of miraculous, considering he rarely ascended the tower and relied solely on his competence in internal affairs, despite his impoverished background.

He was exceptionally good at navigating the system.

As an interviewer for a department under the Bunker Security Bureau, responsible for identifying and assessing tower affiliations for the Bureau, Sha Ruijing maintained excellent relationships with all his colleagues.

But his greatest strength was his knack for seizing opportunities.

Not long ago, Sha Ruijing had signed a confidentiality agreement that sent shivers down his spine. Shortly after… he began interviewing the youth mentioned in that very agreement.

Concurrently, his direct superior, Liu Jinsen of the First Bureau, had personally requested that he address the young man's concerns as much as possible.

Others might have thought, "Why bother with a death row inmate about to perish in the Tower of Deception?"

But Sha Ruijing was different.

This interviewer, who had impressed Wen Xishu from their first meeting, already had his own intricate plans brewing.

If Wen Xishu died, it would be inconsequential.

But if Wen Xishu survived, would it signify a clash between major figures within the Bunker?

If he preemptively arranged certain matters, could he gain an advantage and play a crucial role at a critical juncture?

Thus, Sha Ruijing began to ponder this individual whom Officer Liu had specifically instructed him to look after…

If he survived the Tower of Deception, should his achievements be publicized?

After all, survival alone might not truly nullify the death sentence.

The Wen family's atrocities were terrifying; to offset such acts, substantial resources would likely be needed.

This was difficult.

If resources were scarce, how would Officer Liu protect Wen Xishu?

Naturally, through public opinion. Those who explored the Tower of Deception, regardless of the outcome, contributed to the Bunker.

Therefore, the matter needed to be exaggerated, and the publicity had to be thorough.

Sha Ruijing once said, "Doing good deeds anonymously is fine, but you must keep a diary, and that diary must be exposed."

He firmly believed that even the best wine needed promotion and that even great books needed votes.

So, Sha Ruijing reached out to some of his contacts within the Bunker.

These contacts weren't part of the official media bureaus; they rarely produced widely recognized works or qualified to report major news.

But these people were skilled at fabrication. Their rumors were more impressive than the next.

Therefore, as soon as Wen Xishu left the Bunker and entered the Three Towers, Sha Ruijing immediately began to worry about his superiors' concerns and solve their problems.

He found these storytellers.

He crafted three versions of the narrative.

The versions were as follows:

If Wen Xishu returned alive with limited resources, the focus would be on his poverty, hardship, and selflessness. While the resources brought back might be meager, his spirit would be commendable.

Even with limited strength, he would have charged forward fearlessly.

The second version, if Wen Xishu brought back adequate resources, would build upon the first by highlighting his talent. The narrative would emphasize how prodigious this child was, achieving such results on his first exploration of the Tower of Deception.

The third version, the most extravagant.

Sha Ruijing felt he wouldn't need the third version, but he planned for it nonetheless.

This scenario assumed Wen Xishu brought back abundant resources.

In reality, Wen Xishu achieved just that, exceeding everyone's expectations, even outdoing Sha Ruijing's third version in its extravagance.

The publicity for this version was aimed at deification.

A saint of the Bunker, the future of the Bunker, the pillar of the Bunker.

He single-handedly turned the tide and saved everyone.

Sha Ruijing himself thought it was utterly absurd, yet he had prepared this version of the plan.

And as it turned out, the plan was utilized.

Immediately, the rumor spreaders under his command contacted Sha Ruijing. Reports emerged of a hospital, of vast quantities of supplies, and that the hospital was a Level Six facility.

Sha Ruijing's mind was as bewildered as Liu Jinsen's had been initially.

But he reacted faster than Liu Jinsen, even faster than the high-level meeting. After all, he didn't need to convene with a group of people with complex agendas.

So, while the Bunker's meeting was still in deliberation, Sha Ruijing's third version of the publicity campaign had already begun.

Otherwise, how else could the crowds rushing into the hospital have been shouting:

"This was brought by someone codenamed Wen Xishu! My God! This is a Level Six hospital!"

"We're saved! We're saved!"

"Wen Xishu, Wen Xishu! He brought a Level Six hospital! Quick! Go call the health department!"

Next, the people from the Bunker were driven out.

But Sha Ruijing's propaganda had only just begun.

Although the appearance of the Level Six facility was unexpected, the people Sha Ruijing hired to spread rumors were very professional.

Adapting to circumstances and making revisions on the fly were child's play for them.

When the official propaganda vehicles finally arrived late, and when Liu Jinsen began his journey to the Three Towers Academy...

While the higher-ups were still discussing whether to retain some of the medicine and whether to establish an outer perimeter at the Level Six hospital, turning it into a noble hospital...

Sha Ruijing's team had already started weaving their narrative.

To achieve the utmost in exaggeration, the lead writer responsible for marketing Wen Xishu was reportedly of Asian descent from the Japanese Isles.

Despite them being a detestable race, they were exceptionally skilled at chuunibyou.

In this era where the high-level personnel were indifferent, where the blockade ignored the lives of the lower classes, in this era where the Great Devourment was imminent and Albert Napolitano had already grown old...

He, Wen Xishu, had appeared like a meteor.

Every great catastrophe would be preceded by the arrival of a genius. Every era's transition required the advent of a genius.

Wen Xishu, the one who propelled the era, the ferocious tiger of the Tower of Deception, the destructive dragon of the Tower of Deception, the Asura feared by all ghosts of the Tower of Deception, with the dual birth of dragon and tiger, had emerged from hell.

Wen Xishu was being mythologized.

Of course, they didn't forget to promote Wen Xishu's character. Sha Ruijing wrote plenty of phrases like "realizing the value of life" and "for the sake of all beings in the Bunker."

These messages were actually not very credible; the lower classes weren't stupid.

But when combined with the Level Six facility and the vast resources, and when all these things were attributed to Wen Xishu, it became different.

Suddenly, on the second level of the Bunker, everyone was talking about Wen Xishu.

Some said they had seen him as a child, a boy whose eyes glowed.

Others claimed he was the reincarnation of Albert Napolitano.

Still others mentioned seeing Xun Hui spar with Wen Xishu at the Tower of Slaughter, with Wen Xishu winning by a narrow half-move.

All of this fermented in just a few hours.

Of course, there was one thing Sha Ruijing didn't do.

That was to clear the name of the Wen family.

He knew very well that protecting Wen Xishu did not equate to exonerating the Wen family.

If he were questioned for hyping up Wen Xishu, Officer Liu would protect him, and it would also increase Officer Liu's favorability.

But to clear the Wen family's name? They wouldn't even know how they died.

In short, through Sha Ruijing's operations, by the time the high-level personnel finally decided to seize credit for Wen Xishu's achievements and begin the rescue efforts...

The image of Saint Wen had already been established.

The public's memory could be manipulated, but at least, during that hottest moment of public attention...

No one could suppress that wave.

"We want to see Wen Xishu, we want to thank Wen Xishu!"

Such calls rose one after another.

Even doctors distributing medicine were asked by patients, "Can I thank Wen Xishu in person?"

This would soon be fed back to the higher-ups, and it would also be of some help in concluding Wen Xishu's interrogation.

Listening to the surging voices of the crowd below, Sha Ruijing, hidden in the shadows, suddenly felt like humming a tune~ Who says those standing outside the Three Towers aren't heroes?

Wen Xishu, being interrogated on the fourth level, had no idea he was becoming famous.

If he had known, he would surely have been grateful for Sha Ruijing's help, but... this kind of help alone was not enough.

The person who could decide his fate had not yet appeared.