Chapter Thirty Confirmation

Tang Zhean felt that all the times he had been bewildered in his life had been used up today.

His meticulously planned escape had been executed, and he had arrived in this post-death Dark Matter World, only to crash headfirst into an organized and orderly White Soldier Squad. This made him feel like he was once again under the control of the US Government.

But after arriving at the base, he wondered if he was overthinking things. Perhaps this wasn't a US Government base, but merely a gathering place for some lucky cultists.

It wasn't until he saw Alfred Austen, a high-ranking US cabinet official, that Tang Zhean felt he finally understood everything.

Undoubtedly, this was a force that outwardly wore the guise of a cult but was actually controlled by the US Government. It was likely that the US Government, having learned from its previous failures, had re-established a base in the Dark Matter World.

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As expected of the strongest empire that had gradually led human civilization since World War I.

Tang Zhean sighed. He truly hadn't expected that after the complete annihilation of the previous incident and the disappearance of hundreds of thousands of people in the material world, the US Government would still have the audacity to continue developing the Dark Matter World. Not only that, but they had quietly sent their cabinet officials, the true power brokers of American politics, to personally manage it. Such dominance even earned a grudging admiration from Tang Zhean, their enemy.

(But we are enemies after all. They took my life, and separated me from my family forever. Now, the US is powerful, and there's nothing I can do. But this is the Era of Great Change. The material world is a world of collective civilizations, while this Dark Matter World is a world where power returns to the individual. Sooner or later... I will completely destroy the US!)

Tang Zhean made up his mind, but his expression remained unchanged. He merely followed Alfred into the Bank Main Building. The interior of the bank was decorated like a grand church. However, Tang Zhean found it strange that in the place where a deity would typically be, besides a large Cross, there was no Jesus Crucifixion Statue or Virgin Mary Statue. Instead, there was a statue of a figure with a blurred face, wearing armor and holding a long sword.

(Christianity, Catholicism, or Orthodoxy – do they have such religious statues? I had no idea.)

Tang Zhean stared at the statue, lost in thought. Beside him, Alfred was still chattering away. Suddenly, Tang Zhean asked, "Mr. Alfred, this is not a US base, is it?"

Alfred's expression shifted to one of surprise. He seemed to freeze for four or five seconds before chuckling softly and saying, "Dr. Tang, do you perhaps think this is a US Government base? You are truly overthinking things, Doctor."

Tang Zhean then slowly revealed a composed smile. He found a chair and sat down, saying, "Yes, perhaps I am overthinking things... But I can't help but overthink. My life isn't my own. To survive and gain freedom, no amount of overthinking is too much."

Alfred simply smiled and said no more. After all, in a sense, he was part of the organization that had persecuted Tang Zhean. Although he had left it now, it would be understandable if Tang Zhean sought revenge. The most crucial reason, however, was that Tang Zhean was a Z Country Person, and Lu Yuanming was also a Z Country Person. If he angered Lu Yuanming, the Savior of Humanity, because of Tang Zhean's affairs, it would truly be a loss that outweighed any gain.

Alfred then proceeded to inform Tang Zhean in detail about Lu Yuanming's existence. To prevent Tang Zhean from spiraling into further speculation, Alfred was very thorough, especially when explaining that Lu Yuanming could return to the material world and obtain Faith Power from it. He also mentioned that all the crops they were currently cultivating came from Lu Yuanming.

The more Tang Zhean listened, the more incredulous his expression became. He widened his eyes and stared intently at Alfred, as if his face screamed, "Are you kidding me?"

After his introduction, Alfred smiled and said, "Mr. Lu has taken the team to clear out Monsters. Judging by the time, they should be returning soon. He will bring the team back to the base before dinner. At that time, Dr. Tang can have a good chat with Mr. Lu. Coincidentally, Mr. Lu has been troubled by something lately, and perhaps he and Dr. Tang will find common ground. As for your arrangements, Dr. Tang, I believe Mr. Lu will provide you with a satisfactory position."

As Alfred went off to attend to various farming matters and internal affairs of the organization, Tang Zhean could no longer maintain his composure. He was completely overwhelmed by a mixture of ecstatic joy and existential doubt.

"Is he really a compatriot from Z Country!? Can he really travel back to the Living World of 2024? Can he really use the so-called Faith Power? This is truly..."

Tang Zhean could no longer find words to describe it all. Because he knew too much, he understood even better what Lu Yuanming's abilities truly meant.

Tang Zhean endured for a while longer in this state of anxious anticipation and unease. As dinnertime approached, the sound of bells began to ring throughout the base. Tang Zhean saw a long queue form within the base, leading to the communal mess hall. The citizens who had labored all day began to line up, either to receive or to purchase Food and Fresh Water with their work points.

This sense of order greatly pleased Tang Zhean. He also walked out of the bank. Before he could join the queue, he saw a dozen soldiers approaching from a distance. They were all armed with Firearms and had sharpened Melee Weapons. Leading the group was a Giant, about 2.4 meters tall. When people saw this Giant, they would respectfully bow their heads or salute. The Giant, however, kept returning the salutes with a smile. But to Tang Zhean, the Giant's smile looked strained, clearly indicating that this constant returning of salutes was painful for him.

Lu Yuanming, it must be him. Tang Zhean confirmed this the moment he saw him.

Furthermore, he confirmed that Lu Yuanming was indeed extraordinary; his height alone was proof enough.

This was truly a path he had never imagined!

(This was a better path than obtaining Xu, then ascending step by step to eventually become a spirit. As long as he could continuously gain Faith from the Living World, he might truly be able to break through his predicament and lead human Civility out of encirclement!)

Tang Zhean stared intently at Lu Yuanming. Only when Lu Yuanming finally walked through the crowd and entered the bank did he eagerly pounce. Regardless of Lu Yuanming's expression, he began to pinch the muscles on Lu Yuanming's body with both hands and measure Lu Yuanming's height. The more he confirmed, the more ecstatic Tang Zhean became. Then, he coughed and was about to speak when Lu Yuanming said first, "Ahem, how should I put this? While I respect your eighty-four genders, or eight hundred genders, I'm very sorry, sir, my gender is fixed as male, and my sexual orientation is fixed as female. So, I'm very sorry..."

Lu Yuanming's face was resolute. He quietly increased the distance between himself and Tang Zhean, while simultaneously looking around, hoping for a Disciple to explain who Tang Zhean was and why he could enter the bank building.

With Alfred's addition, the organization's various management regulations became increasingly standardized, and this was the benefit of institutionalization.

Because of this, as the core of the Base, the bank building had acquired special significance. Besides Disciples, only Charlie could enter the bank and Vault freely like a Disciple. Other public officials needed to apply to enter. Therefore, individuals like Tang Zhean who appeared directly inside the bank were usually brought in by a Disciple personally. This had happened several times recently. Basically, a Disciple would confirm a person had great talent, then bring them into the bank building, and subsequently introduce them to Lu Yuanming. This was the only way to quickly rise to a higher position among public officials.

So, when Lu Yuanming discovered Tang Zhean inside the bank, he didn't think much of it. It wasn't until Tang Zhean was manhandling him that he was truly startled. He immediately adopted a rejecting posture and looked towards the Disciples inside the bank for help, hoping to learn from them who this man before him was.

Alfred immediately coughed and said awkwardly, "Lord, this is Doctor Tang Zhean, whom I mentioned before. He's finally dead. I only saw him today and brought him over. Doctor... he's a bit eccentric, but he has abilities..."

The more Alfred spoke, the more guilty he felt. He looked at Tang Zhean with dissatisfaction.

Tang Zhean, however, was completely unfazed. He never cared about others' opinions because others' opinions were often wrong. Although he had become more composed after being beaten by society, upon discovering that Lu Yuanming was also a Z Country Person and confirming that the path Lu Yuanming was taking was completely consistent with the perfect order he had envisioned, Tang Zhean completely let himself go.

He laughed heartily at Lu Yuanming, "The sky is covered by the tiger! Brother, I'm here to assist you!!"

"Heh."

Lu Yuanming offered an awkward yet polite smile. His next action was to move even further away from Tang Zhean.

Help!

Lu Yuanming was so embarrassed he couldn't speak.

He really couldn't stand these overly familiar people who had no sense of boundaries!!