After receiving Zhang Tianyuan's promise, the leaders present looked noticeably more relaxed.
Zhang Tianyuan felt he lacked the ability to interfere in the internal affairs of the various worlds.
But how were they supposed to know he lacked that ability?
The man standing before them could travel freely through spacetime.
What level of technology would that take?
Then there were those 3D-printed buildings reported in the early hours of that morning, and the impenetrable shield surrounding them...
They simply could not fathom his depths.
Although they speculated that Zhang Tianyuan might just be an ordinary person with multiple special abilities, who could guarantee that some major power was not backing him?
Just like the state-sponsored pirates during the Age of Discovery.
How could they be sure Zhang Tianyuan was not some state-backed spacetime pirate?
In short, Zhang Tianyuan was far too much of an enigma.
Getting a promise from him now at least suggested that they could give him some cause for wariness, and that, for the time being, he could only coexist peacefully with them.
Only now did everyone have the presence of mind to examine the documents in their hands.
Zhang Tianyuan also offered a brief explanation from the side:
"The contents of this member-state application differ from what Bai Xu and the others have, but the core principle is the same."
"And that is unity makes an impregnable fortress!"
Looking at them, Zhang Tianyuan said, "As member states of the Mutual Aid Society, when another spacetime may face an apocalyptic disaster, you should, upon receiving a warning from the Society, actively extend a helping hand and help the other party through the crisis."
"Of course, this is not unpaid service. After being rescued, the recipient should discuss compensation with both the rescuing party and the Mutual Aid Society. The amount should adhere to the principles of fairness and reasonableness."
"In addition, each country's Mutual Aid Society members will be under the jurisdiction of their respective governments.
Except for certain members directly affiliated with the Mutual Aid Society, the Society will not exercise direct jurisdiction over individual members from any country.
Unless a disaster is in progress at the time, or the individual in question is out of contact."
Everyone nodded.
This was the legal basis for Zhang Tianyuan's earlier statement that he would not interfere in their internal affairs.
With this clause, no matter how many members the Mutual Aid Society had, they need not fear Zhang Tianyuan using those ties to stir up trouble.
This Mr. Zhang was sincere.
The leaders exchanged glances, and their eyes showed that they were thinking along similar lines.
Those were the most important clauses. What Zhang Tianyuan discussed next were all minor requirements.
For example, each member state was to actively co-
operate with the Mutual Aid Society's work, actively encourage citizens to join the Society, cover the expenses incurred by the Society during rescue operations, and so on.
As for operating funds...
Zhang Tianyuan would not ask for any.
Accepting someone's gifts tied your hands; eating their food softened your tongue.
It was not just the member states that needed to keep him from interfering in their internal affairs. He also needed to do his best to prevent them from interfering in the Mutual Aid Society's internal affairs in return.
Taking their money and supplies to keep the Mutual Aid Society running would imperceptibly increase the member states' influence over it.
So the Mutual Aid Society's operating funds could wait until after a rescue operation, when he could collect them from the rescued country.
In any case, he was the Society's only member right now, and needed little in the way of operating funds. He just had to keep freeloading off Bai Xu and the others' hospitality.
There were not many clauses in the documents. Many details would have to wait until the Mutual Aid Society actually began operating before they could be refined, and Zhang Tianyuan made that clear as well.
So, despite scrutinizing every word, everyone still finished reading after an hour.
"I have no objections to this application."
"Neither do I."
The leaders' responses were quite consistent. Although some did not agree, no one objected either. At most, they counted as abstentions.
Zhang Tianyuan struck while the iron was hot. "Then take this application back and sign it. From now on, you'll be the Mutual Aid Society's first member state."
It was once again the elderly man with the crew cut beside him who spoke:
"Mr. Zhang, there is one issue.
We believe it is not yet time to reveal the Mutual Aid Society's existence to the general public. After all, according to you, we may not be able to gather evidence of the apocalypse until next year.
Recklessly announcing news of the apocalypse now would only cause widespread unrest. It would harm the Mutual Aid Society's work rather than help it."
The others all voiced their agreement.
Clearly, they had already consulted one another about publicly revealing the apocalypse.
Before obtaining concrete evidence, they would absolutely not announce this news to the public or other countries.
Zhang Tianyuan said, "You can decide when to make it public. In any case, I suggest leaving yourselves enough time for the evacuation. Make whatever preparations you can in advance."
The elderly man immediately chuckled and said heartily, "You can rest assured about that. We've already decided to conduct nationwide studies on disaster evacuation contingency plans. Large-scale disaster evacuation drills will follow."
"If the apocalypse really does arrive, these plans will be useful with just a few adjustments."
&
"Mm-hmm." Zhang Tianyuan nodded and added, "I also need you to provide a contingent of personnel and supplies."
"As I said just now, there's another apocalyptic world I need to visit. This concerns where you'll be able to evacuate to in the future."
Everyone immediately took the matter seriously.
"How many people will you need, President Zhang? Do you have any particular requirements for the personnel?"
Based on the situation in the film, Zhang Tianyuan said, "They need to include at least these categories-soldiers, doctors, electrical and plumbing engineers, radio communications engineers, and virologists."
"As you know, I can't determine the point in time at which I'll enter an apocalyptic world." Zhang Tianyuan made no attempt to conceal certain details of spacetime travel, appearing open and aboveboard.
The elderly man with the crew cut beside him nodded. Wu Yisi had indeed inferred this information earlier. After all, Zhang Tianyuan had said he had "arrived too early."
Zhang Tianyuan continued, "So only after passing through the Spacetime Tunnel can I determine, based on the actual circumstances, how far the apocalyptic event in that spacetime has progressed."
"If we're lucky, that world's apocalyptic event won't have begun yet, just like yours. If we're unlucky, after crossing over, we may find ourselves facing a world where civilized society has already fallen silent..."
Zhang Tianyuan only hoped that the KV Virus would not have broken out yet at the point in time when he entered.
Otherwise, he would have to rely on these soldiers and engineers to reclaim the cities.
"To be on the safe side, I want the first group going directly into the other spacetime with me to number at least a hundred, and you'll also need a reserve force of over ten thousand here.
Before the operation begins, they must sign membership applications and become members of the Mutual Aid Society.
Of course, these people won't be directly affiliated with the Society. They'll still be led by the Mutual Aid Society organization you establish yourselves when the time comes. I'll only lead them during disaster relief operations."
Zhang Tianyuan laid out his requirements.
The leaders exchanged glances and ultimately agreed.
"Besides personnel, do you need supplies as well, President Zhang?"
Zhang Tianyuan thought for a moment. "I need you to develop a flashlight..."