"No way... they'll really do it, will they?"
People in the community began to feel uneasy because the news reports and the posture of the four major Federation really made it seem like they were about to take action.
But many people still find it unbelievable because such a large-scale war has never occurred since the beginning of the digital life era. The public has long lost this sense of crisis about war. Suddenly, this kind of thing happened one day, giving people a sense of inexplicable disaster, like a meteorite falling from the sky.
"They probably won't actually do it, right?"
"Why wouldn't you dare? Do you really think the Federation is all harmony and peace?"
"Exactly! We're the only Asians in the Federation District. Those white pigs think they're some superior race. They've been looking down on us for ages, especially after we snatched those major virtual businesses from them. They're even more furious now. They didn't fight back before because they were too scared, but if they had the chance, they'd skin you alive!"
"Why are you daring now when you didn't dare before?" some newbies on the internet asked, confused.
"How foolish! Didn't you hear? The West China Region has been shut down. I heard that the loss wasn't just of our senior engineers in the West China Region, but also a whole bunch of high-level combatants. Our district's top-tier combatant, Mr. Zhang Zhengyuan, seems to be in the West China Region as well."
"Wow, really?"
"Mr. Zhang Zhengyuan is no longer here?"
"No way, what do we do then?"
In the eyes of the people, Zhang Zhengyuan, who was born a commoner and rose to his current status, is undoubtedly a myth. Although many people on the Internet later said that he was a hero who turned into a dragon, his status in the hearts of the people of the Central Federation has never declined, especially his strategic position.
Everyone knows that he is the strongest asset of the Central Federation. Back then, a Superman emerged in North America who was so arrogant that he even urinated on the iconic building of the data layer to insult it, and no one dared to say anything.
However, he never dared to act recklessly in the Central Federation. It wasn't that he never did, but rather that he did do so once, when it was said that the little chick was almost cut off by the Jade Dynasty Sword.
Within the Federation, such a top-tier life form possesses immense destructive power, and the loss of Zhang Zhengyuan would also be a tremendous blow to public morale.
"But the official statement is that West China was shut down due to technical issues."
"You really believe this?" someone online chuckled. "If the technology were truly shut down, even if they gave the other four regions eight more dogs, they wouldn't dare invade Central China."
"Hey upstairs, what's with the sarcastic tone? It's come to this, and you're still pouring cold water on things. What good does it do you if outsiders break into our central district? Why are you so gloating?"
"I'm stating the facts, and so what if they invade? Have the powerful families in the central district been any better to us? What difference does it make who rules? It's more democratic outside."
"You're out of your mind, aren't you? Democracy, my foot! Go out and see what kind of life non-white people are living in those four districts. They're under rule, believe me, their status is even lower than those blacks!"
"Exactly, what a load of rubbish! They've been fooled by those Western media outlets and become idiots, huh? Democracy, my foot!"
"So what? What can you do? Was I the one who caused this situation? Wasn't it the work of those masters you serve?"
The online debate is raging, while outside the Data City, groups of people are trying to leave the city to escape the chaos. After all, whether it's the crisis of inexplicable internal shutdowns or the crisis of foreign invasion, people in the city don't want to stay here and take any more risks.
Hiding inside the machines and going to the mining area outside—the world is so vast—is the thought of many people now: first avoid the storm, then assess the situation.
This has led to a surge in the price of outdoor equipment, with prices increasing three to four times in just one day. Even though the government has strictly prohibited the sale of such equipment in many places, it still cannot stop the black market from booming. Some wealthy people not only buy one for themselves and their families, but also secretly spend a lot of money to import it, intending to make a fortune from the national crisis.
As long as they have money, even if the central district disappears, these wealthy people won't be too bad off. They can just keep a low profile and behave themselves; they won't be in too much trouble.
The chaos within the Central Federation Data City was almost entirely exposed, with the spies lurking there relaying the information one by one.
Meanwhile, the top executives of the four districts on the front lines received the intelligence almost immediately. It was precisely because of the chaotic situation within the Central Federation that the councilors of the four districts were strengthened.
"It should be correct." The Western Europe Region councilor, who had been somewhat hesitant, spoke up, "It shouldn't be a conspiracy. The Central Federation market is already in chaos, almost a sign of impending catastrophe, which means their government has lost control of the situation."
A person next to him nodded and said, "Shutting down West China caused such a huge loss. In order to prevent external threats, military officers had to be mobilized to heavily guard the outside, which made it difficult to control public opinion within the city for a while. That makes perfect sense and should be correct."
"So, have you reached a conclusion?" Sita'er lazily stood up and said, "To fight or not to fight? If not, I'm leaving; I'm very busy tonight."
Sita'er glanced at the Duchess as he spoke, and the Duchess smiled back at him, "What? Can't wait to take a splash in the Data City of the Central Federation?"
"Shut up, woman." Sita'er glared at the other woman. Back when he first started out, Zhang Zhengyuan almost sliced him in that area with one strike, which was a lifelong humiliation for him. After his strength increased, he had long wanted to fight Zhang Zhengyuan again.
However, Zhang Zhengyuan was a powerful elder, and the Immortal Jade Dynasty Sword Formation was recognized as the most dangerous formation, the most terrifying super-powered weapon in the entire Federation. No country was willing to try it, because in the virtual world, Zhang Zhengyuan had used this formation to suppress the entire Jade Dynasty Realm.
Its terrifying destructive power is comparable to that of nuclear weapons from ancient times, which is also the greatest source of confidence for the Central Federation over the past thousand years.
Once he infiltrates the Central Federation, his first priority is to restart West China, then strip Zhang Zhengyuan of all his dead data and hang it on the top of the tallest building in the Central Federation.
"Issue a statement!" The North America Region Council Chairman finally spoke, " The Central Federation has secretly initiated a dangerous project that is completely out of control and refuses to disclose intelligence, putting the entire Federation in danger. For the safety of Federation citizens, we have every reason to forcibly enter the West China Region to conduct a comprehensive investigation. If the Central Federation does not disclose intelligence now, it is openly endangering humanity and is an enemy of all mankind!"
"Yes," the secretary immediately posted a statement online.
The speaker nodded, then looked at the top-tier combat forces in several areas. "Even though Zhang Zhengyuan is dead, the Central Federation is still not to be underestimated. They may be hiding some unknown forces. I urge everyone to take this seriously and not be careless. There's an old saying in Central China: 'Better safe than sorry.' The more optimistic the situation seems, the more cautious we must be!"
"What a composed leader you are," the Duchess chuckled. "Watching you perform on television, I always thought you were a flamboyant person."
"Your Grace is too kind," the Speaker chuckled. "This show is for the voters. If it were really that stupid, the country would have collapsed long ago, wouldn't it?"
"Hahaha!" The duchess burst into laughter, and the next moment, a terrifying roar came from the ground.
Then, an enormous, at least hundred feet tall, black-scaled monster tore through the ground and emerged as if ripping off a canvas.
The terrifying aura, carrying with it the molten lava from the earth, was astonishing. All the politicians present turned pale instantly, realizing in a moment the difference between the advanced life form and themselves.
The Speaker looked at the dragon with admiration and laughed, "Only someone like you could subdue such a terrifying monster."
"You're so good with words," the Duchess said with a smile. "Try to talk as much as you can in bed tonight."
"It would be my pleasure." The speaker bowed politely in response to the invitation to a romantic encounter.
Sita'er snorted coldly, giving the oblivious woman a chilling look, but said nothing. The strength she displayed made him hesitant to act recklessly.
However, they were right about one thing: everything would be over before nightfall.
"Burn, Leige! Let everyone in the Central Federation remember your flames!"
The lizard-shaped dragon roared and soared into the sky, its massive body blotting out the sun. It flew directly toward the data layer of the Central Federation, clearly preparing to coordinate with the vanguard and deliver a powerful show of force.
Thus began the first civil war since the establishment of the Digital Federation!