Chapter 961 - This Game Is Too Realistic

Chapter 961 - Reimbursement [To His Majesty Sarun, the evacuation of Western Sailport is nearing completion. As per your instructions, we have taken over all assets of the Southern Corps, while the remaining facilities have been handed over to our puppets. General Grove has requested that we increase his bounty to fifteen million dinars on the playing cards, as well as upgrade the rank of Captain Gibson, whom he defeated... I find this unreasonable, but he argues that it was Gulian or Teer who forgot to update his bounty and promote Captain Gibson. We also can't comprehend why General Gulian would appoint a one-star captain to lead the southern line when the northern line, fighting against the Northern Field Army of the Boron Kingdom and the Mammoth Kingdom's land forces, is commanded by the two-star Captain Olet. This is undoubtedly true. In any case, it's up to you to decide. —Ekpara's Temporary Command Post] [Send him to Teer. —Nord City Palace, Eastern Empire] ... Ravnka Industrial Zone. Beside the dust-filled construction sites, swift shadows flitted through the streets like the wind. After work, it was once more time for everything to come alive. The young men stepping off the assembly lines burst out of the factories like excited ducks, rushing home in waves before hurrying to the marketplaces. Though their big money had gone to buying bicycles, they could still scrape together loose change here and there. With these coins, they haggled with marketplace vendors, trading them for small items like nail clippers, markers, and short-sleeve shirts. They didn't know what use these things might serve upon bringing them home; they only felt that such a small investment for a worthwhile return was indeed a great deal! Some even dared to forge counterfeit notes, using pencil sketches. But after taking a beating of iron fists and clubs, those both daring enough to use and accept them quickly learned their lesson. Additionally, some fashionable young literary types bought sound systems, and others karaoke machines. Listening to imported tapes from the Union, their gravelly voices conveyed the desolation of the wasteland, renting out their systems for one silver coin per half-hour to others. With demand, there will always be those who meet it. Upon seeing outsiders profit from commerce, some quick-witted native wastelanders began waiting at the docks. As cargo ships docked, they pounced, unloading bundles of goods to set up stalls near factories. These were the savvy ones, saving their first paycheck not for flashy attire, but as startup capital for business ventures. Soon, they will become the first survivors with "credit" in this settlement. Banks would be eager to lend them money, helping them grow their small businesses into larger ones. Thus, the seed of a marketplace was sown. Not only did small vendors benefit, but craftsmen did too. Rasov, who sold bicycles, earned his first fortune, followed by the bicycle mechanics from Galleon Port who joined him in Ravnka Industrial Zone, earning their second. Some saw opportunities as well, collaborating with shipping firms to bring bicycles and locks from Galleon Port, starting bike repair shops locally. While Ravnka Industrial Zone currently housed over thirty thousand people, the Southern Corps' colony covered 2.7 million square kilometers, and the uncolonized Great Wilderness was much larger. While sand might be worthless, the relics buried beneath it hold value. Moreover, many shelters are expected to open in these regions over the coming years. Once they detect Ravnka Industrial Zone's radio signal, some of them will surely try to find their way here... In any event, Hope, the head of the reform-driven Development Foundation, has indeed fulfilled his initial promise—to get the "wildlife" of the Great Wilderness running. Fang Long was satisfied with his work, saving him from much repetitive effort. Many times, just a subtle suggestion from him was enough for Hope to transform it into a tangible policy. A strong talent indeed. His baseline was far superior to that of the Galleon Port mayor, Yiduo, whom Fang Long previously mentored. Overall, "clearing" this territory shouldn't be more challenging than Galleon Port or even the Boron Province. Though 2000 tribes may seem daunting, once they reach a certain number, they no longer pose a "problem," rather they become an "advantage." At least from an "administrator's" perspective, it signifies that these hard-to-assimilate wastelanders have been fragmented into bite-sized atoms, like food thoroughly chewed. The Boron Province, however, is different. While it outwardly appears home to thousands of ethnicities, upon closer examination, it's evident that those living beneath a thousand "totem poles" really share a common ideology, all worshipping Lowell as the "true god." Their foundational logic is the same, despite tribes bearing distinct surnames and diverse customs. Contemplating these differences, Fang Long's mind suddenly recalled a concept he had encountered long ago in early versions—a "hive." This term appeared repeatedly in the Union's Biological Institute's research reports on "Gaia," also serving as a joint research topic for the Academy of Social Sciences. Initially, his interest in learning about this world and studying Humanity Language led him to delve into these game lore documents. As they ventured deeper into the wasteland, nearing the center of ancient battlegrounds and the territories swept by the "aftermath," these documents were gradually shelved. But now, they resurfaced in his memory. He still recalled a research paper where a researcher, whose name eluded him, hypothesized the origins of the "Gaia" consciousness. That researcher suggested that "Gaia" was not evolved from slime molds into an advanced civilization, but rather a result of a high civilization descending into a simpler life form. In essence, a downward spiral. For ordinary beings to defeat giants, becoming a stronger giant isn't the only route. They could become cockroaches. Even if a giant can squash a cockroach underfoot, it cannot squash all cockroaches. By proliferating in areas beyond the giant's sight, victory ultimately belongs to the cockroach with a broader diet and greater adaptability. Human civilization has existed for such a brief time, it's difficult to glimpse the full evolutionary tree from within it. Still, by extending the timeline sufficiently far, evidence can be found even on Earth. Cockroaches, which emerged during the Carboniferous period, outlasted dinosaurs, who held much higher positions in the food chain. Generally speaking, humans cannot become cockroaches, but in the context of "Wasteland Online," the technology to transform into another mammal exists. For example, Vault 79's "Eternal" Project involved researchers suggesting the use of existing genetic technology to DIY a species formidable enough to survive the wasteland era and house human consciousness. Although the project ultimately failed, it wasn't a complete failure—at least two people succeeded, one of whom remains in Vault 79. As for the deathclaws, they roam the wasteland abundantly. In essence, this represents an advanced species or civilization compromising original principles for extending continuity—a "voluntary deregulation." With these clues, the researcher proposed a hypothesis. Imagine an isolated planet inhabited by a group named Gaia. This group has two main branches: A and B. Both sought to triumph over one another, collectively abandoning their baselines, thus transforming from giants into slime molds, never to return. The process didn't happen overnight, likely a long struggle of attrition. First, they had to humble themselves into mere dust, employing any means necessary for survival. Subsequently, they gradually lowered their standards, from giants to mortals, from mortals to roaches... eventually, reducing environmental demands step by step until every cell bathed in nutrient broth. Once they reached the extreme of downturning themselves, abandoning everything except for the goal of "existence," the compressed spring of their essence inevitably led to the final "Big Bang." Nobody knows what the universe looked like before the Big Bang. Similarly, for "Gaia" existing before their explosion, nobody knows where they ended up, where they headed, or what they became. Countless intelligent individuals under the survival of the fittest produced an optimal solution— To eliminate the will of the individual. Destruction. We are tired. Thus, the hive consciousness was born. In its order, endless conflicts between species ceased; neither upward nor downward spirals continued. Under its will, the once desolate planet revived, with all nutrients serving a singular, ultimate consensus— Existence. Or rather— Survival. Forever would they linger in the vast, empty universe, forgetting everything of their past, only guided by whispers engraved in their DNA—to consume, reproduce, expand... or simply to be still. Of course, this was merely a hypothesis proposed by a single researcher in "Wasteland OL" regarding the planet Gaia and not the final conclusion. Yet disturbingly, Fang Chang suddenly realized that Teer was, in fact, walking this very crooked path—unable to become a giant, he opted to become a cockroach. Perhaps Teer can achieve a pyrrhic victory through relentless compromise of principles amidst brutal competition, but he might also find himself annihilated the moment before his success by an enemy suddenly awakened, also willing to break their limits. Or perhaps, the two sides, evenly matched, will reach a prolonged, painful stalemate, consistently lowering their standards, waiting to see who blinks first. Clearly, though, the Southern Corps isn’t formidable enough to force the Union into such a compromise. As for the places they've battled—like the Boron Province, something else is unfolding. There, the survivors themselves embody "Gaia." Or more accurately, they are in the early stages of Gaia's "Big Bang" era and rebirth. Most "abnormal" mutants without adaptive camouflages are either exterminated or forced to flee. As for what the future holds, it's not set in stone... ... As usual, Fang Chang was in his office, flipping through a report handed over by Hope. At this moment, a knock sounded from the door, and he casually replied. "Come in." The door opened. A young man in a Mammoth Kingdom military uniform walked in, led by a member of the autonomous committee. An unassuming aura of menace surrounded him, with little to no expression on his wooden face, making him appear hardly menacing. Yet, no one would doubt that this lean young man could, in a single move, bring a much stronger adult male to his knees. He knew the skills of killing. It's rare to find such people in the wastelands, where desolation is more prevalent, though if bodies are to be seen, it would likely be among raider or mutant tribes. The staff member appeared tense, addressing Fang Chang seated behind his desk. "He insisted on seeing you... said he had to hand you what's in the box personally." "I understand." Setting aside the report, Fang Chang gave him a once-over, involuntarily halting when his gaze landed on the box in his hands. "Ackerman, First Battalion of the Vanguard..." The young man introduced himself briefly, stepped forward in silence, and placed the box on the table. "...Our father, Lassi, instructed us to return this to you." Fang Chang didn't need to look to know what was inside the box. He took a deep breath, pinching the bridge of his nose with thumb and forefinger, holding back the silent turmoil. "...Did he say anything else?" In a low voice, Ackerman replied. "He said he'll repay your kindness in the next life." This world... Is it truly just a game? Fang Chang, his eyes closed, remained silent for a long time, with all he intended to say reduced to a long sigh. "I see..." Ackerman nodded, left a simple "thank you," and without another word, followed the staff member at the door, disappearing silently. --- (I've been called to Shanghai for activities by Yuewen, a Chinese and foreign writers' exchange conference. During the breaks, I managed to type out half a chapter on my phone. Please, spare me for updating 8-9 thousand words these days; I've done my best. Moreover, I estimate the conclusion will arrive around March or April next year. The story after "player intervention" is nearing completion, with just daily life and extras to write, covering Tianren, Gaia, and the Enlightenment Society, tying up some loose ends. We can then celebrate~ barring unexpected events.) To be continued...