Manhattan

He had given the lost girl a new direction in life and supplied her with unlimited wheel cakes free of charge. Meng Yi was truly a really, really good person!

For over ten days, Meng Yi had done nothing that harmed the heavens or violated Firefly's bottom line. Thus, this modified person from an Interstellar Civilization, already captivated by the appeal of being "fed and housed," would not refuse Meng Yi's invitation to accompany him.

Space Marines would never serve as slaves—unless they were fed and housed, with unlimited pastries provided.

The two of them took the train installed by Blackwatch and left The Hive beneath Raccoon City. Their return to the surface, where the sun rose and the moon set, felt as though it had happened only yesterday.

When they arrived atop the first building, a helicopter piloted by a strictly disciplined modified soldier had already been waiting there for quite some time.

The Psychic Domain spread out, virtual memories were compiled, and a Thought Seal was imprinted.

Cultured Man Yi, who was "as powerless as a chicken," eliminated every potential threat to his own safety at the most fundamental level. The "grunt" piloting the helicopter to escort him to Manhattan City was no exception.

The setting sun stained the horizon blood-red. As far as the eye could see, Raccoon City below was filled with broken walls and ruins.

The gale blowing toward them made Meng Yi's white lab coat snap and billow. The thunderous noise of the helicopter carried his thoughts thousands of kilometers away, toward the West Coast.

"Sir, why don't you get some rest? We won't reach Manhattan until dawn tomorrow."

Meng Yi had been gazing blankly at the night sky and the stars, constantly refining his plans in his mind, when the words transmitted through his wireless earpiece disrupted his thoughts. The Blackwatch soldier in the copilot's seat turned around and handed him a fairly clean neck pillow.

"I only bought this recently and have used it twice. I hope you won't mind."

The tactical mask concealed the soldier's face, but his fanaticism and loyalty were easy enough to discern.

"Sure. Thank you, then."

Meng Yi gave a dry smile and accepted the soldier's kindness. With his current physical strength, he could go several days and nights without sleep and remain perfectly fine.

After putting on the neck pillow and finding a reasonably comfortable angle, Meng Yi felt like making small talk to pass the time.

"Young man, what do you think of Blackwatch?"

The Blackwatch rank-and-file soldier thought for a long while before answering uncertainly, "From America's perspective, the Blackwatch Troops are an elite force that protects the country. They have the most advanced equipment, and their soldiers are managed very strictly. But their mortality rate has always remained extremely high."

The relatively young soldier scratched his head and chuckled. "I won't hide it from you, sir. My greatest dream is to live past thirty, retire from Blackwatch safely, use my discharge pay to buy a house in a big city, and, even better, marry a wife."

"But now, my dream is to dedicate everything I have to you, sir!"

"It's not just me. Blackwatch must do the same—even America, even the entire world!"

"Loyalty that isn't absolute is absolute disloyalty!"

"What does 'God' amount to?"

"Sir, you are my only true god!"

The faint, nearly imperceptible smile on Meng Yi's face gradually faded. In a flat tone, he said, "I'm tired."

"Oh, oh! Sir, then get some rest! I'll wake you when we arrive!"

The soldier spoke hurriedly, his expression frightened. He then turned back around, sat properly, and stared straight ahead at the night sky.

Not far away, the Silver-Haired Girl had quietly watched the scene. Her lips moved, but in the end she merely closed her eyes and buried her head deep in her knees.

Was it really all right to use Psionic Power to control other people's minds, thoughts, and personalities?

Meng Yi knew perfectly well that it was not, but he had no choice.

The dangerous Warhammer World and the unpredictable Evolution Paradise were like two flood beasts charging after him from behind, leaving him unable to slow his pace.

His will became a sword, severing all distracting thoughts.

The endless turmoil became whetstones for tempering his will, making his already steel-like resolve even more unbreakable.

The night passed without incident. At dawn the next day, with sixteen days remaining before the Selection Dungeon ended, Meng Yi arrived in Manhattan City, where Brother A had been appearing.

Driven by his fanatical pursuit of "extending his lifespan and attaining immortality," the old vampire had ordered Blackwatch's commanders to personally receive him.

Manhattan City · Blackwatch Base.

A middle-aged man with blond hair and blue eyes, possessing the sharp gaze of a hawk and the bearing of a wolf, stood ramrod straight in a pure-black military uniform. Hundreds of soldiers carrying live weapons waited behind him in the aircraft parking area.

The cannons atop the surrounding high walls slowly rotated. Dozens of armed helicopters patrolled overhead, while more than a hundred tanks and armored vehicles sealed off every street within a five-kilometer radius. More than ten towering Virus Detection Towers flashed with light.

Blackwatch would not allow anyone to disturb Chairman Bai's "mood for going out after a long period of quiet."

With firepower arranged on this scale, even "Brother A" would have to lie down and leave after walking in.

"'Psionic Interference-Area Cognition Alteration!'"

Before the aircraft had even landed, Meng Yi decisively activated his C+-Rank Psionic Power at its limit, silently altering the minds of tens of thousands of Blackwatch Troops stationed at the military base.

Ordinary soldiers, biochemically modified humans, super soldiers, tank drivers, armored vehicle drivers, helicopter pilots, commanders, adjutants, officers...

Within a few short seconds, the Blackwatch military base went through a moment of commotion before immediately returning to its original rhythm. It looked no different from usual, but its "core" had already been dyed with Meng Yi's color.

After a long journey, the helicopter touched down, and its heavy cabin door opened.

Meng Yi's face was as pale as paper as he emerged from the helicopter, supported by Firefly and two soldiers.

It was fortunate that his physical strength had risen from F-Rank to F+-Rank.

Otherwise, after controlling more than ten thousand people at once, he probably would have died from Psionic Power backlash before he could succeed.

"Chairman Bai, it's been a while."

The commander's stern, resolute face was covered in a heartfelt smile. His fanatic gaze was exactly the same as that of the people in The Hive beneath Raccoon City.

"General Randall, we spoke over satellite phone yesterday."

Meng Yi exchanged a few courteous words with a smile before getting straight to the point. "Did you find Dana? What's the current condition of Elizabeth Greene? Have the Black Light Virus researchers been assembled?"

Yesterday, when they had still been "strangers," General Randall had not taken Meng Yi's instructions seriously. Naturally, he would not have given them his all. Instead, he had even resented Meng Yi for taking the research facility under his command.

Now, everyone was "one of us." Their attitudes and execution were completely different.

General Randall said, deeply remorseful, "I'm sorry, Chairman Bai. I'll take care of it right away!"

Meng Yi rubbed his temples, which throbbed as though pierced by needles. He had expected this situation long ago, so its actual arrival did not catch him off guard.

It was never too late to mend the pen after the sheep had escaped. He decisively activated his backup plan.

"Notify the researchers at the Gentek Corporation laboratory immediately. Lock down every entrance and exit under the highest alert level. No one is allowed in or out. Also, send over several instruments for detecting the Black Light Virus, in case any 'little mice' sneak in."

"Yes, Sir!"

"Inject the laboratory holding 'Hope Town: Elizabeth Greene' with anesthetic gas and Black Light Virus-inhibiting gas without regard for the cost. Send half of Blackwatch's top-tier biochemically modified humans there. If anything goes wrong, they are authorized to kill on sight."

"Yes, Sir!"

"Within half an hour, assemble every scientific researcher at the military base who has worked on the Red Light Virus or the Black Light Virus. I have some 'questions' to ask."

"Yes, Sir!"

Meng Yi raised his hand and patted General Randall's severed arm. In a detached tone devoid of any emotional fluctuation, he said, "Within half a day, even if you have to turn Manhattan upside down and scrape it clean, bring Dana before me. Understood?"

"If not... go to the laboratory and register as an experimental subject."

"Gulp—"

The one-armed general swallowed with difficulty, saluted, and nodded fiercely. "Yes, Sir! Mission guaranteed!"