Chapter 269
"You know him?" Hayasaka Ai asked instinctively from behind, looking at the black-haired man in the painting.
"I don't know him, but he must be a player."
With other people around, Yuki couldn't afford to give himself away, so he slowly clenched his fist behind his back.
Orochimaru, could that bastard be one of those players who helped modify human bodies?
No one noticed anything unusual about him. Further inside was a large gate several meters high, with a huge Defense Force emblem on its surface.
With the sound of gears, the large door suddenly opened, revealing a deep blue light that made all the players widen their eyes.
A gigantic room with a high platform in front, where a man in silver power armor sits. On both sides are portraits and constantly changing holographic projections.
The projections were filled with battles—skyes, cities, roaring fighter jets, missiles, and lasers—instantly proving to everyone that Silver Hand hadn't been fooled.
As for Captain Chris, she craned her neck. Each front of the Defense Force was independent of the others. She could hear the wind, but she had never known it to be so intense.
Huh? Green Radiance City is about to fall? How come I've never heard of that?
I was wondering why air support was decreasing; turns out they were engaged in air combat.
Yuki glanced at the captain furtively, sighed softly, and admired the Defense Force' excellent secrecy; no one knew the full story.
He turned his head to look at the man in silver armor, and seeing him stand up, he sighed again:
It seems this commander-in-chief didn't use the toilet.
Their eyes met, and though there was curiosity rather than scrutiny, Yuki instinctively straightened his back.
The monster-level character in the story didn't use any abilities to spy on me.
Unexpectedly, according to the hints, this commander-in-chief should have the ability to see through the player's identity, but it also makes sense, as his fiery and passionate eyes are enough to dispel any doubts.
True wisdom lies in recognizing that Yuki is an infiltrator at this point; it serves no purpose other than creating trouble for oneself.
"Hahaha, you extraterrestrials are really interesting. The mortality rate of Psychic Warrior surgery doesn't apply to you."
The laughter made the hall tremble slightly, accompanied by rumbling footsteps, and a burly man in power armor, over three meters tall, strode in.
This imposing aura caused many players to quietly retreat, but Yuki remained unmoved.
"Commander-in-Chief, you didn't mention the mortality rate before."
"That's because I trust you. Don't worry, I won't pry into your secrets. Actually, even if you do nothing, it will still be significant." The commander-in-chief stretched out his hand, pointing boldly at each person:
"You are the only hope in this dark and never-ending war!"
The tone was set very high, and even Captain Chris puffed out her chest, wholeheartedly agreeing.
"But we have also brought catastrophe," Yuki coldly reminded him, somewhat puzzled by the commander-in-chief.
"There will always be good people and bad people. What I can do is help the majority become good people."
"But what if we're the bad guys?" Yuki ignored his senior's look, wanting to test whether this Commander-in-Chief was truly wise in disguise.
"No, you can only be good people, because if you're bad people, everyone will die, and you're the ones who value your lives the most." The commander-in-chief didn't hesitate for a moment, pointing to the flickering screens, "You've all seen what this planet looks like now, and your little tricks are quite good, saving me from wasting my breath."
So they knew about Johnny Silverhand, and that's enough to save face?
Even Yuki was somewhat surprised. This commander-in-chief was too passionate and too upright. How could he bring these things up in public?
Threat? Hostage? No, he should know there's a difference between players. I don't care if Johnny Silverhand lives or dies.
Yuki's dark speculation led him to see the Commander-in-Chief turn around, take a few steps back to the platform, and push aside the bench amidst the bewildered gazes of the crowd, revealing a large door behind it with a dense network of pipes.
"Aren't you looking for the Fire Seed? It's right here. If you want it, just kill me and you can take it."
The hall fell silent; the players were dumbfounded, and even the generals, led by Admiral Reingor, were stunned. Even someone you absolutely trust wouldn't reveal top-secret information.
"Commander-in-Chief..."
"Reingor, I'm not crazy, and I don't have time to play these underhanded games right now." The man raised his hand to stop the general, his eyes fixed intently on the group of players. "What do you think of my frankness?"
It's more than just being open and honest; it's being completely naked.
Yuki was stunned and subconsciously turned to look at Mai Sakurajima. Mai-senpai was also staring blankly at Hiyori, which nearly made Hiyori's brain spin. She had no idea what the Commander-in-Chief was thinking.
Levi Ackerman and the others all looked at Yuki, leaving him speechless.
Don't look at me, I'm confused too.
After searching for so long for the 'Fire Seed,' the commander-in-chief simply abandoned it. That door isolated all energy fluctuations, but his intuition told him it was real.
Luring the snake out of its hole? Playing hard to get? Or a self-inflicted injury ploy?
As a seasoned schemer, Yuki's CPU started to smoke, making one guess after another, only to reject them one by one.
"Ha, don't get the wrong idea, this is the real Fire Seed." The commander-in-chief looked at the group of players with amusement and snapped his fingers. "But I must remind you, once the Fire Seed leaves the base, the Wall of Sighs immediately becomes ineffective, so no one can take it away, hide it, or destroy it. However, it takes 24 hours to burn out completely."
"Oh, and one more thing, if anyone destroys it, those worms will go crazy, and even a god would have a piece of his flesh bitten off."
He had an indifferent expression, but no one dared to question him. Yuki a deep breath and immediately understood.
This is true wisdom appearing as foolishness.
The commander-in-chief clearly deduced the players' stance from history: they would never stand on the side of the swarm's interests, and that proved to be true. The Lurkers' mission was to destroy the Fire Seed, which would inevitably drive the swarm mad.
Who can survive 24 hours in the raging swarm of insects until they return?
The main questline is incredibly difficult from the very beginning, as you can tell from the commander's attitude. Anyone who tries to kill him and destroy the Fire Seed will be met with no resistance from the Defense Force, leaving the player to face the raging swarm of insects alone.
"It seems you want to tie us to the same boat."
"To be precise, it's about unity and solidarity. You don't need to die with us, do you?" The commander-in-chief strode over, having calculated that the players were afraid of dying.
Players are indeed afraid of dying. If the Fire Seed leaves the pedestal and the Wall of Sighs collapses, the swarming insects will kill everyone, including the players.
Players who are too immersed in the game are unwilling to commit such an evil act, and arrogant players are even less likely to do so; who wants to be buried with a bunch of NPCs?
"That's true, and you've made your decision."
"I have no choice, and I don't want to play games or make deals with you." The commander-in-chief saw through Yuki's tricks and didn't give him a chance to bargain. He pointed to the door:
"Kill the Queen, and I'll give you the Fire Seed."
Oh, this.
The players looked at each other in surprise. They rarely saw such a forthright character in the dungeon. His voice was loud and infectious, and he was sincere, yet there was no trace of acting.
Yuki licked his lips. This commander-in-chief was unpredictable, ruining one of his plans.
Originally, he wanted to use the Queen's position as leverage to ensure his own safety and force the Defense Force to become the spearhead, but he still had to find a way to address credibility.
This guy, on the other hand, went all in as soon as the game started, even more aggressive than Zhang Jin. He didn't even need to confirm his identity; with a 'smack,' he bet the future of humanity.
No, humanity has no future. He's just a gambler blinded by greed, someone with nothing to lose.
Yuki realized that if this dragged on, the humans would surely die, but the players still wanted to survive. If they could actually get through the remaining ten days or so, the players could simply walk away, but could these natives really hold out for another month?
Let's be frank then. I'm not going to drag this out any longer. Either the players gamble with me, or I'll deliberately take the plunge and drag the players down with me.
"Can we say 'no,' or rather, defend against the Zerg swarm for you according to our own ideas?"
"Sure, but I'm not going to defend anymore." The commander-in-chief laughed heartily and slyly, stomping his foot on the floor. "Whether you participate or not, I will lead this ship to take the initiative and explore all five coordinates outside the wall."
"Commander-in-Chief, this is suicidal."
"Hahaha, we're all going to die sooner or later. To be honest, I'm exhausted, and so are they. Ending a war doesn't necessarily require being the victor!"
A booming voice echoed through the hall, causing the players to pale. This was a calculated move, a gamble that the players wouldn't be able to escape anytime soon. In fact, the players really couldn't escape; even if humanity were to collapse, they would only hold out for a few more days before dying anyway.
Yuki grinned, revealing a toothache on his face. He wasn't afraid of underhanded tricks; only open strategies were impeccable.
He turned his head and glanced at Levi Ackerman, Teresa, Mai Sakurajima, and Aslan. They all looked helpless. They had come to negotiate and use the Defense Force, but they had ended up being coerced instead.
Aside from helplessness, there is also exhilaration and admiration. A forthright man is always likable, and everyone can trust this kind of teammate.
"So, want to join forces? Let's risk our lives and our future for that one percent!" The commander-in-chief's eyes gleamed as he extended his right hand.
Yuki hesitated for a moment, glancing at the battles on the screens, the portraits of dozens of former commanders-in-chief, before finally settling on Chris.
This girl, who was definitely not even 18 years old but had spent her whole life fighting, also looked at him with pure, expectant eyes—an expectation that transcended life and death.
Call.
Yuki stepped forward steadily, without any surge of emotion, and grasped that hand.
"Dry."
Chapter Thirty-Three: I'll Take on All Four of You One-on-One (10,000 words)
The Fire Seed cannot be hidden or taken away; destroying it is tantamount to suicide. Unless one possesses a super-stealthy skill like Adolescence Syndrome, the first main quest is virtually impossible to complete.
Abandoning the main storyline and taking a strategy focused on delaying the enemy is theoretically feasible, but it requires the full cooperation of the Defense Force, who are the main force against the Zerg swarm.
But the commander-in-chief openly abandoned this path, preparing to charge forward with the Fire Seed. Without the players having to lift a finger, the Fire Seed would be destroyed before the soldiers were killed. So how would they stall for the remaining ten days or so?
Of the three paths, only one remains: the second main storyline. Thinking about it a little, it's not so bad after all.
This is a rational choice. Once players have farmed their reputation with the Zerg to 'Hate,' there's no going back. Even stealthy players like the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons might not be spared by the crazed Zerg after the Fire Seed is destroyed.
This was an emotional choice. After fighting side by side for half a month, the players who stood on the side of humanity still had some feelings for each other, and they couldn't bear to watch the natives be wiped out.
So let's cast aside all worries and go for it.
"Fortunately, Mr. Yuki was farsighted and prepared for the second main storyline in advance; otherwise, it would have been too late for us to search outside the walls now."
The handsome, blue-haired boy punched his palm, his face full of admiration.
"Hmph, it's all thanks to Mr. Silver Hand finding important information, Wolf. Why do you always praise outsiders?" The girl with pigtails and big eyes blew a bubble, crossed her legs, and chuckled softly.
"And you, a grown man, why don't you stay and drink instead of squeezing in with us women?"
"Uh, actually I'm still a minor." Aslan scratched his head and immediately received the middle finger.
"Sweetie, I've been drinking strong liquor at your age. That Yuki Sorajima looks like a cunning old man, but he's actually pretty straightforward. I'm even tempted to sleep with him. No way, I'm going to find him right now!"
"Rebecca Chambers, everyone's here, don't go crazy." Aslan quickly hugged the girl, looking like he was about to explode.
Are these two really on the same side? They seem completely different.
Mai Sakurajima and Hayasaka Ai exchanged a glance. Since arriving at this new stage, they had encountered very few normal players, regardless of their strength. Only then did they realize what the unique characteristics of their own faction were.
Rebecca Chambers is clearly heavily modified and acts without restraint, while the wolf seems quite normal, making one wonder about the 'Mechanical Believers'.
'We need to keep a close eye on that idiot; he might actually like these weirdos.'
The two quickly reached an agreement and leaned against the wall to eat melon seeds.
After reaching an agreement, the Commander-in-Chief didn't assign any tasks. Instead, he kept Yuki, Levi Ackerman, and Reiner Braun behind for drinks. Judging from the constipated expressions on the generals' faces, this wasn't the first time.
The players' relationships have also become closer, and there's no need for deceit and treachery at this stage.
"Don't worry about it. Aside from the commonality of being 'mechanical,' the Mechanical Believers vary greatly from world to world."
A soft voice came from behind them, and the two turned around to see Smiling Lady walking slowly towards them.
The mature woman has blonde hair and silver eyes, and always wears a kind smile, making her very approachable.
Hayasaka and Mai Sakurajima nodded in acknowledgment, then couldn't help but ask, "So their specialty is also 'mechanical'?"
"Yes, similar to your characteristics, the Mechanical Believers are characterized by 'modification'—modification of themselves and modification of machines," Teresa explained patiently, much like a primary school teacher.
"The same war machines become even stronger in their hands, and their integration with the human body is even greater. Therefore, they possess many Chaos Item, making them easy targets."
Isn't this Adam?
The two exchanged a glance, then asked, "So that's why the 'Night Parade of One Hundred Demons' is targeting them?"
"Ha, it's all my fault for messing with them. I've disliked these ghosts for a long time; they're so unscientific." Rebecca Chambers skipped over, she was very short, really like a primary school student, and her big, round prosthetic eyes were full of smugness.
"It's alright to tell you now. Back then, we were just trying to draw attention away from those bugs while we quietly placed the satellite cannon in the sky. Then, 'bang!' we'd give those annoying insects a huge blast..."
Smack
Before she could finish speaking, the girl was slammed to the ground by a suddenly appearing silver prosthetic arm. Johnny Silverhand, with a cigar in his mouth, suddenly appeared, like a holographic projection, yet it still managed to hit her.
"Damn it, why don't you just show us the color of our underwear?"
"There's no need to keep it a secret anymore, we need to team up and fight the BOSS." Rebecca Chambers covered her head, looking aggrieved.
"That won't do!" Silver Hand glared at the other person before looking up at Mai Sakurajima and the others. "I'm sorry you had to see this. This girl's brain needs some work."
He is indeed a strange person, but the 'modification' is quite interesting and not inferior to our 'characteristics'.