Manhattan

For the confused girl, he established a new direction in life, supplying her with unlimited free wheel cakes—Meng Yi was truly a 'great benefactor'!

Over the past ten-plus days, Meng Yi had hardly done anything heinous or violated Firefly's bottom line, so this interstellar civilization-modified human, won over by the charm of 'free room and board,' wouldn't refuse Meng Yi's invitation to accompany him.

Space Marines are never slaves, unless room and board are free, with an unlimited supply of pastries.

The two rode a train installed by Blackwatch troops out of the underground Hive in Raccoon City, returning to the surface where the sun rose and set as if it had happened just yesterday.

Arriving at the top of the first building, disciplined modified human soldiers piloting an attack helicopter had been waiting there for a long time.

The spiritual domain expanded, virtual memories were compiled, and a Thought Seal was stamped.

The 'Cultured Man' Meng Yi, 'weak and powerless,' eliminated all potential threats to his safety from the most fundamental level, including the 'grunt' piloting the helicopter to escort him to Manhattan City.

The setting sun on the horizon was like blood, and beneath his feet, Raccoon City was nothing but ruins and rubble.

The oncoming wind whipped Meng Yi's experimental white coat noisily, and the roaring noise of the helicopter's flight carried his thoughts to the West Coast, thousands of kilometers away.

"Commander, how about you catch some shut-eye? We're not expected to reach Manhattan until dawn tomorrow."

Meng Yi, lost in thought as he gazed at the night sky and stars while continuously refining his plans in his mind, was interrupted by words coming through his wireless earpiece. The Blackwatch soldier in the co-pilot seat twisted around and handed him a relatively clean neck pillow.

"I just bought this not long ago, only used it twice. I hope you don't mind."

The tactical mask concealed the soldier's face, but it wasn't hard to discern his fervor and loyalty.

"Alright, then thank you very much."

Meng Yi gave a faint smile and didn't refuse the soldier's kindness, even though his current physical strength made days of sleeplessness irrelevant.

After putting on the neck pillow and finding a fairly comfortable angle, Meng Yi, with nothing else to do, felt like making small talk.

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

The low-ranking Blackwatch soldier thought for a long time before speaking uncertainly: "From America's perspective, Blackwatch Troops are an elite force defending the country. They have the most advanced equipment and strict soldier management, but the death rate has always been high."

The not-so-old soldier scratched his head and chuckled: "I won't hide it from you, Commander. My biggest dream was to live past thirty, retire smoothly from Blackwatch, use the severance pay to buy a house in a big city, and maybe even find a wife."

"But now, my dream is to dedicate my entire life to you, Commander!"

"Not just me, but Blackwatch too, and even America, the whole world should be like this!"

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

"What the hell is 'God'?"

"Commander, you are the only true god I believe in!"

A faint, barely noticeable smile on Meng Yi's face gradually faded, and he said with a flat intonation: "I'm tired."

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

The soldier said hurriedly, his expression panicked, then turned and sat upright, staring straight ahead at the night sky.

Not far away, the silver-haired girl silently observing this scene moved her lips but ultimately closed her eyes, burying her head deep in her knees.

Using 'Psionic' to manipulate others' minds, thoughts, and personalities—was this really okay?

Meng Yi knew it wasn't, but he had no choice.

The perilous Warhammer World and the uncertain 'Evolution Paradise' were like two ferocious beasts chasing him from behind, not allowing him to slow his pace.

He turned his will into a sword, cutting away distractions.

The myriad disturbances became a whetstone to temper his will, making his already steel-like resolve even more unbreakable.

A night without words. The next morning, with sixteen days left until the Selection Dungeon ended, Meng Yi arrived in Manhattan City, where Brother A was active.

The Elder Vampires, driven by a fanatical pursuit of 'extending life and immortality,' ordered the Blackwatch commanders to receive him personally.

Manhattan City Base.

A blonde, blue-eyed middle-aged man with a sharp, predatory gaze, dressed in a pure black military uniform, stood ramrod straight with hundreds of armed soldiers waiting in the aircraft parking area.

The autocannons on the surrounding walls slowly rotated, dozens of attack helicopters patrolled the sky back and forth, and hundreds of tanks and armored vehicles blocked every street within a five-kilometer radius. Over a dozen towering Virus Detection Towers flashed with light.

Blackwatch would not allow anyone to disturb 'Chairman Bai's' 'leisurely mood' for stepping out.

With this scale of firepower, even 'Brother A' would have to come in standing and leave lying down.

"'Psionic Interference: Extreme: Wide-Area Cognitive Alteration!'"

Before the plane even landed, Meng Yi decisively activated the limit of his C+-rank 'Psionic,' silently altering the minds of tens of thousands of Blackwatch Troops in the military base.

Regular soldiers, bio-modified humans, super soldiers, tank drivers, armored vehicle drivers, helicopter pilots, commanders, adjutants, generals...

In just a few seconds, the Blackwatch military base experienced a moment of chaos, then immediately returned to its original rhythm, looking no different from usual, but its 'core' had been stained with Meng Yi's color.

The long-haul helicopter landed, and the heavy cabin door opened.

Meng Yi, his face pale as paper, walked out of the helicopter supported by Firefly and two soldiers.

Thankfully, his physical strength had been upgraded from F-rank to F+-rank.

Otherwise, manipulating tens of thousands of people at once would likely kill him from Psionic Power backlash before he even succeeded.

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

The general's stern, resolute face was filled with a genuine smile, his fervent gaze identical to those in the underground Hive of Raccoon City.

"General Randall, we had a satellite call just yesterday."

Meng Yi exchanged a few pleasantries with a smile, then cut straight to the point: "Has Dana been found? What's the current status of Elizabeth Greene? Have the Black Light Virus researchers been gathered?"

Yesterday, they were still 'unfamiliar,' and General Randall hadn't taken Meng Yi's orders seriously—he certainly wouldn't have gone all out. In fact, he was resentful that Meng Yi had taken the research institute Under His Command.

But now, they were 'on the same side,' and both his attitude and execution were completely different.

General Randall said with deep self-reproach, "My apologies, Chairman Bai. I'll get on it right away!"

Meng Yi rubbed his throbbing temples, a headache like needles stabbing him. He had already anticipated this situation, so its actual occurrence didn't catch him off guard.

Better late than never—he decisively activated his backup plan.

"Immediately notify the people at Gentek Corporation's research institute. Lock down all lab entrances and exits under maximum alert. No one is Permitted to enter or leave. Oh, and move a few Black Light Virus detection instruments over there, just in case a 'little mouse' tries to sneak in."

"Yes, Sir!"

"For the lab holding 'Hope Town: Elizabeth Greene,' pump in anesthetic gas and Black Light Virus suppression gas at any cost. Send half of Blackwatch Troops' top-tier bio-augmented soldiers over. If anything abnormal occurs, lethal force is Authorized."

"Yes, Sir!"

"Within half an hour, gather all the Scientific Researchers from the military base who have worked on the Red Light Virus and Black Light Virus. I have 'questions' to ask."

"Yes, Sir!"

Meng Yi raised his hand and patted General Randall's Broken Arm, speaking in a tone devoid of any Emotional Fluctuation: "Within half a day, even if you have to tear Manhattan apart inch by inch, bring Dana to me. Understand?"

"If not... report to the lab and sign up as an Experiment Subject."

"Gulp—"

The one-armed general swallowed hard, saluted, and nodded firmly: "Yes, Sir! Mission guaranteed!"