Frustrated, Wager passed through the retreating, defeated soldiers resting by a small village. Suddenly, a dirty hand grabbed him:
“Excuse me, sir, are you one of those Fogfolk who can help us with anything? “
Eager to find Yang Zicang and ask him something, Wager turned to look at the owner of the hand. A middle-aged soldier squatting on the ground, wearing a steel helmet with a bullet hole. He couldn’t tell which upstream country he was from.
“Yes, I am. But I have something more important now, so I hope you won’t waste my time. “
The soldier turned his head to look at the moonlight reflecting on the river outside the woods. Refugees from countries on both sides of the river were crossing towards each other’s nations as if in a frog-stroke competition.
“I guess, sir, you’re trying to cross the river, right? Don’t worry, my matter is quite simple. “
“Well, then, out with it. ” Wager said as he took off his jacket and shoes.
“Could you help us draft a manifesto for an uprising? “
Wager immediately sneezed.
……
Dawn was approaching; the sky was beginning to lighten.
In the dim light, Hurst stood dumbfounded on the noisy train, looking left and right, his feet planted on the ground of a country he had only ever heard of in the news.
“Welcome, friends of the Grand Duchy, to Haven Czek. ” Some people outside the carriage began to applaud.
The stubble on Reporter Conrad’s chin bristled as he gazed at the thousands of people around him. So these were the Fogfolk friends he’d backed, the ones the soldiers had mentioned—the people they were bringing in tonight!
Jean Conrad snapped back to his senses, only to realize his eyes had already grown moist.
After settling everyone down, Cheng Yunze and his team vaguely surmised that Yang Zicang had sent them off with hardly a moment’s rest to make a last-ditch rescue thousands of miles away, possibly because news of these people being in danger had reached him.
Meanwhile, Yang Zicang’s mind was entirely running a simulation of the disastrous scene when the Four Phases Squad met the occupants of Room 408.
Yang Zicang’s steps towards the tent suddenly halted. Something was off.
That room was the one Zhao Anlong had just rented, wasn’t it?
Behind him, Veronica Augustus approached with an elegant stride:
“Hero, are you worried the attack from before might continue? “
Yang Zicang turned his head to look at her and gave a slight nod.
“Yes, Miss Veronica. So I may need to leave right away with my friends and only return here at night. “
He wondered if the hospital grounds could accommodate so many people. Moreover, they had been so much trouble for Dereiano’s friends; would they feel imposed upon?
“I never expected vandals like that to be targeting our train, ” the quadruple-act girl remarked angrily.
“No need to worry. “
The dark-haired woman drew closer and spoke to Yang Zicang, who was watching her:
“I’ve just discussed it with my family, Hero. The House of Augustus can provide an artifact that seals off Sub-Ether space here. “
“Oh? ” Yang Zicang and those around him who heard this, including Cheng Yunze and the others, all looked at her delicate face with strange expressions.
“If it can make this place safe, we would certainly be happy to oblige. But may I ask what exactly it is? “
Veronica Augustus, her black hair cascading down, revealed a trace of a smile:
“It is a sculpture. One that can sever the connection with the Ether World within a radius of nearly one kilometer. “
……
When dawn fully broke, the statue was brought in by a truck, and the escorting team was comparable to a combat legion.
Finding the excuse of distributing food to keep the crowd gathered, Yang Zicang and the others who knew the inside information finally relaxed their hearts.
They watched as this precious, large statue was pulled directly into the square by the truck. Several heavily armed soldiers and two warriors who clearly exuded an aura of slaughter unlocked the truck’s tailgate and jumped down to the ground.
The people in the factory district saw a marble sculpture—a steed rearing its front hooves, with a warrior mounted on its back, raising a sword high in a brave swing—carefully unloaded from the truck.
“It looks a bit like the equestrian statue of Garibaldi, with the horse rearing up, ” said Wang Tianyi of the Four Phases Heaven team.
With a radius of five hundred meters, this was already a very large area. Yang Zicang now knew that places larger than this, aside from the Fogfolk Rent Zone, were only those hidden areas he had discovered in the Sub-Ether Space during that night in White Violet City when he encountered the Mysterious Person holding a wooden staff—areas that didn’t correspond with reality.
However, he didn’t sense any strange energy from the statue before him.
It was eventually installed on a platform that had been erected within an hour, with a barrier zone set up next to it. Two guards with the aura of iron-blooded warriors and a few soldiers were patrolling the perimeter.
Finding a shaded spot, Yang Zicang made a brief attempt. As expected, when he tried to enter the Sub-Ether Space, he felt the same sense of obstruction as he had in the hospital and the Fogfolk Rent Zone.
This space had indeed been “easily ” sealed off.
Such was the foundation of a great family.
……
At dawn, with the first rays of sunlight, at the major newspaper offices of Hevenzg, newsboys rode bicycles loaded with stacks of newspapers, quickly pedaling towards the various districts.
Following this, a sensational piece of news spread throughout the city.
“Mr. Yang Bucheng of the Fogfolk, in alliance with the three great houses of Haili, Goas, and Augustus, jointly establishes a borderless relief organization: the World Ark International Relief Committee. “
Local residents and refugees who had been relocated gathered in clusters, craning their necks to look over the shoulders of those holding newspapers.
—…Will, on a global scale, regardless of nationality or ethnicity, rescue no fewer than two hundred thousand people in need, transporting them to the safe Kingdom of Heivenzike.
“God, two hundred thousand people. “
“That’s barely a drop in the bucket, what cantheydo? “
These exclamations and comments were quickly silenced by another voice.
The locals reading newspapers gradually discovered that those most concerned about this news were the outsiders speaking Mutao Language with foreign accents.
Many refugees would gather around after the locals finished reading, like tireless sparrows, asking questions over and over again:
“I heard there’s a rescue zone—does it include the Xihe Province of the Strolog Republic?“
“Is there the Chemical Valley of Valsay?“
“Uh, let me help you look.” By the roadside, the elderly man holding the newspaper, his hands slightly trembling amid the growing crowd of outsiders, began to examine the first batch of names published on the Mainland list.
“I see a circled area within the borders of Austrack—Ema, your hometown is on the list!“
“Excuse me, sir, could you check if there’s a slot for Glenzenberg?“
Even many locals hadn’t expected that their own country’s nobles would suddenly do something so honorable for their fellow townspeople.
Before long, passionate young people spontaneously gathered in front of several shops and upscale clubs belonging to the Haili, Goas, and Augustus families.
They waved flags and shouted, promoting “borderless rescue, ” sharing the surging power brought by patriotic spirit. This situation further attracted many ordinary people nearby who were still completely unaware.
……
Inside a small requisitioned hotel room.
Motafu slammed the table!
“Bullshit about having no highest value! “
Motafu, who had waited for two days in the hotel room, was absolutely furious upon hearing this news.
Ang Jins and a man carrying a bag and wearing a hat sighed.
They approached a civilian researcher standing by the washstand against the wall, reached out to comfort him, and patted his shoulder, half of his body illuminated by the morning sun.
“You don’t know how many technologies are currently being scrutinized by the Empire’s Science Review Group. “
“Bullshit! This is a technology that could benefit the entire Wood Weave Calendar century… no, over six hundred years, and he says it has no highest preservation value! “
The man roared and raised his finger: “Tell me, who is the asshole who gave that rating! “
The two exchanged glances. The newly-appointed scientific screening specialist, Matiu Hodge, cleared his throat lightly and said:
“It’s Dean Haimasen of the Keruen Academy of Military Science. He is the highest-ranking leader of the review group. “
After catching his breath, Motafu picked up the tea mug, gulped down two mouthfuls, wiped his mouth, took two steps to the side, and plopped down onto a chair.
“I don’t know him. “
“……“
Ang Jins added:
“Only technologies screened by him and his academy’s experts as worth preserving will be forwarded to the Preparatory Committee; otherwise, relying solely on the committee’s staff to review all technical archives would take a century.“
Motav let the words go in one ear and out the other, lifting his head to look at Ang Jins and saying,
“Does the Fogfolk gentleman intend to accept your invitation?“
With that, Motav grabbed a relatively large newspaper from his side.
Now that Haven Zik’s face had grown longer, even the newspaper had expanded from a two-page format to a four-page one, allowing more news to be fit in.
“What else is he still deliberating about?“
This question also made Matiu Hodge’s heart race; his mission this time was to make one last attempt to secure Yang Buchen’s investment.
Because based on various clues and inferences, the “investment items” possessed by “Yang Buchen” were certainly not limited to just one.
“Technology Screening Specialist” Matiu Hodge watched as the civilian researcher in front of him pointed a stubby finger at an international news headline on the newspaper:
“Crovia Kingdom Scientific Heritage Preparatory Committee Officially Announces Fogman Jack Zhang as Its Investor“
Below it was a photo resembling a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The article also included some promotional encouragement for collecting science and technology, but it was ultimately twisted by a sentence from Haven Zik’s newspaper— “Our nation can offer more benefits to technology contributors“—which redirected the technical submission address for this semi-advertising-like article to the Preparatory Committee’s affiliated office in the capital, Talko.
“This is already the third high-profile investor I’ve seen in the past two days! “
Motafu made no attempt to hide his fundamental concerns, craning his neck and speaking loudly:
“If our Mistfolk Hero doesn’t do something soon, our new television project will be completely aborted at this rate! “
Ang Jins let out a sigh.
The new television technology was originally meant to be leverage for inviting the Fogfolk; how could it now be allowed for others to turn around and promote this entertainment technology on its behalf?
Especially at this very moment.
Motafu suddenly said with urgency:
“Mr. Mistfolk should be getting discharged from the hospital by now. Can we get him to think of another way? Didn’t he say he had this… “
Ang Jins immediately coughed once, and said loudly:
“According to this morning’s newspaper, Mr. Mistpopulace Yang was in the Grand Duchy last night, shuttling back and forth between Heiwencike. He has reportedly brought in about three thousand abandoned refugees. “
“Huh? ” Motafu looked at him in disbelief.
Matthieu Ho Chi, who had similarly thought of this matter, subconsciously nodded slowly and said:
“Yes, he also founded a ‘World Ark Rescue Committee’ with several local clans. He said he would rescue abandoned refugees regardless of nationality until the end of the world disaster. “
Motafu’s eyes were completely wide open, sitting rigidly in his chair. This was utterly unbelievable.
……
Around 10 a.m., taking advantage of Ang Jins’s departure, Motaf, accompanied by two research team members who had already been released from the leased land but had sworn not to casually disclose the technical details of the series, dejectedly headed toward the new command headquarters of Heavencilstone.
They wanted to see if they could meet that lady from the day before yesterday.
Perhaps selling the New Television technology locally to Heavencilstone was also a good option.
“If it truly succeeds, in the next hundred years, Blackwen Consul may well become the center of world culture. “
“That Lieutenant General and his Crown Prince are sure to be remembered in history. “
The three were chatting when suddenly a car stopped beside them and honked.
“Ah, it’s Miss Hailikoni! ” Motaf exclaimed in surprise, looking at the person in the car.
……
A group of people had slept soundly for two hours inside a spacious, fragrant tent. Yang Zicang rubbed his eyes and sat up.
-｛Distributor April·Odyssey indicated with a waiting sentiment: “Waiting. “｝
The black-haired maiden from the Goas family, who had been sitting nearby flipping through a book, noticed him waking up. She immediately put down the book, turned around, placed her hands on her knees, and said softly:
“Mr. Wumin, there is an Ambassador Kins waiting for you outside. He has been there for over an hour. “
“Kins? Oh, thank you. ” Yang Zicang immediately stood up and lifted the tent flap.
With a flutter, a flock of pigeons flew up.
He then saw Ang Jins and Dealeyano sitting on low stools under an open cloth awning between a few trees outside, talking in low voices.
Seeing Yang Zicang approaching, the ambassador and his friend immediately stood up and exchanged a few pleasantries.
“Your actions are truly astounding, Mr. Buchen. ” Ang Jins praised sincerely, not without a note of awe.
“It’s alright. It’s only when you’re truly involved that you realize it’s also a kind of torment. ” Yang Zicang replied with his hands on his hips, and promptly asked, “How did that technology turn out? “
Matiwu Hodge, standing beside Ang Jins, shook his head. “Having the New Television project make the final list will be difficult as things stand. Unless… “
“Unless what? ” Yang Zicang and Dereiano both looked at this actual public representative of Stiefen.
“Unless we seek attention from higher authorities. “
This is a completely thankless task. Under the current circumstances, a department within an empire that outranks their Scientific Review Panel is already at the ministry level. Pulling strings of this kind is even harder than approaching the review panel directly.
Seeing the pensive expressions on their faces, Matiwu Hodge continued calmly:
“There is another way. If Yang Buchen, you were to bring this technology directly into the Preparatory Committee, I’m certain it would receive the treatment it deserves. “
A flicker of light passed through Dereiano’s eyes, and he turned to look at Yang Zicang, who was lost in thought, hesitating.
……
Inside the other tent.
After Yang Zicang left, Cheng Yunze slowly opened his eyes. He nodded to one of the team members beside him, and a faint reddish sonic barrier was activated, shielding the several people.
“You all understand those distributors’ invitations now, right? “
“I never expected that what we need to do here would be completely different from before. “
“Based on my judgment, what Yang Zicang is doing right now is definitely one of those very valuable life-experience transaction events the distributors mentioned. However, we only have seven days to stay. “
The group began whispering among themselves.
“The end of the world is still a month away, and both vehicles will leave after seven days. What will happen to them then? “
“I bet Yang Zicang will definitely find a way. “
“I just wonder if it will have anything to do with us. “
On the bunk bed, the members of the Four Phases Team looked toward Cheng Yunze at the center. “Boss, what do you think? “
“I don’t want to waste this opportunity. ” But Cheng Yunze, new to this place, had no idea how to extend his stay time.
“Now, the crucial issue is. “
Ning Jiajia turned to look at the man beside her and said:
“Should we give up that side and get into this world? If so, I think heading back now would still give us enough time. “
“Well… “
The group all hesitated.
After frowning for a long time, Cheng Yunze said, “It would be great if we could frequently come back here like this. But I guess the fact that we were able to bring our team and his train here is already the limit of what Yang Zicang can do. “
The others all nodded. Otherwise, it wouldn’t have been their turn—those of them who were just the right fit for this rescue mission—to come to this world on the brink of being razed by the apocalypse, instead of his friends.
Just as they were talking, the curtain on the other side of the large tent was lifted. Haili Huikevin walked in with an elderly gentleman of distinguished bearing. They glanced at Yang Zicang’s empty seat and the drowsy teenage girl leaning beside it, then turned and walked toward Cheng Yunze and the others, who had already risen.
After introductions, Cheng Yunze and the others learned that the man before them was the patriarch of the family that had initiated this plan—Haili Selanni. It was a top-tier noble house in the Kingdom of Heivenzike, one of the few that held the hereditary title of “Viceroy. “
“Forgive my impertinence. At this critical moment, I simply wish to confirm: are you gentlemen and ladies, seemingly newcomers here, in fact Fogfolk who have long wandered outside this world? “
“What do you mean by that? “
Selanni nodded gracefully and said with a smile:
“I am aware that some Fogfolk spend long periods at sea and among the archipelagoes beyond the mainland, seeking out the anomalous regions that common folk fear. I assumed you two were friends of Mr. Bucheng like that. “
Cheng Yunze immediately sensed that the man’s words carried a hidden meaning. After some evasive remarks, Cheng Yunze asked directly: “Sir, I wonder what exactly it is you’re trying to say? “
“Mm. ” Haili Selanni glanced at his son, and Haili Huikevin immediately understood and stepped forward, saying:
“We want to know, could that technology of yours, the one used last night to summon a train from the void, be transferred? I mean, those things called ‘Ability Spheres’.“
……
Dereiano glanced at Yang Zicang beside him, who seemed to have already lost interest in this matter.
His grand plan for a live broadcast mobilization, after having its initial failure turned around when it seemed possible to implement, was now on the verge of being snuffed out again.
This couldn’t be helped. Just look at the Commoners walking around in this Grand Duchy.
In this state, for Yang Buchen to give up—whether it be on mass-producing the new televisions or arranging a broadcast content of epoch-making significance—was indeed impractical and lacking in cost-effectiveness.
Running the current rescue efforts well was the correct choice.
“I think, Your Excellency could actually find more outstanding mist citizens to invest in, ” said Yang Zicang. “My main concern is I can’t guarantee safety. “
The enemy now wasn’t just Soldier No.4 anymore, but also that mysterious Four-Ring expert of the Grand Duchy hiding in the Sub-Ether Space.
At this moment, Yang Zicang was still wondering if Yao Xiaoqin might be in danger, because at the addresses provided by the detained Secretary-General Laino and Secretary Barry, Yao Xiaoqin was no longer to be found. She had simply vanished from the locked room.
Dereiano heard Yang Zicang’s reply with some regret, but in his heart he had to agree. This choice was a rational one.
Unexpectedly, Matiu then said, “Can I have a word with you in private? “
“mm?” Dereiano looked strangely at this person from Steffen as he led Yang Zicang a few steps away and murmured. But to someone of his strength, a mere range of a few meters was nothing; as long as he willed it, even a fly rubbing its legs could be heard clearly.
“…Our Steffan Empire’s Science Preparatory Committee is different~“
“How is it different?“
“We plan to apply to make the newly controlled southern region the headquarters of the Science Heritage Preparatory Committee that governs all nations on the entire continent!“
“Ah?” Yang Zicang was clearly startled.
“Please be sure to join the preparatory committee of our nation. Rest assured, Science Chair Dawuti, the creator of Soldier No. 4, is an expert who deeply values the empire’s honor. The moment you take up a post in the preparatory committee, an organization drawing the gaze of all nations, he will definitely not allow Soldier No. 4 to make things difficult for you.“
“This…“
Hearing this from a few paces away, Dereiano felt a flicker of joy inside, but it was merely delight that the new plan might proceed smoothly.
He was earnestly evaluating the weight of the promises voiced by this persuader.
Just then, a maiden from the Goas family came running over holding a document, stopped panting, and said:
“Brother Buchen, our family has seen some reports about you. This is a copy of the newspaper printed in the Grand Duchy today.“
Lost in thought, Yang Zicang turned around and casually asked the youthful maiden:
“Is it about our actions last night?“
“It’s mentioned, but very little. It’s something else.“
Yang Zicang took the paper from the maiden, gave it a glance, and…
“The Grand Duchy thanks Mr. Yang Bucheng for his righteous act… However, our nation has already… prepared comprehensive safeguard measures to ensure that the recipient of the Honorary Medal of Justice and his friends will have a safe living environment when the apocalypse arrives. “
Frowning, Yang Zicang slowed down his reading speed:
“Furthermore, Mr. Yang Bucheng is welcome to visit the Grand Duchy again. To welcome this investment, the authorities have already prepared a piece of good news. “
Below was a somewhat familiar-looking man holding an oil painting.
Yang Zicang’s gaze swept across the black-and-white image. The oil painting held by the man in this black-and-white photograph bore a face that people in Black Wensi Ke had become quite familiar with recently!
“Hong… Haocheng? “
Yang Zicang showed some displeasure, feeling a pang in his heart. He wondered why they had put up this oil painting. Just last night, this man had tried to ambush my train.
Suddenly, it occurred to him: Could it be that the upper echelons of the Grand Duchy knew about Hong Haocheng and were using this to leverage his investment?
……
Bai Yuan walked out of the Grand Duchy’s palace, wiping cold sweat from his brow.
Selling his boss’s information to swindle another boss—no matter how many times he did it, it always made his heart race.
“Olé! Keep it up, young man! “
After cheerleading for himself, he glanced back at the exquisite, majestic building behind him and noticed several soldiers sprinting out toward him.
Bai Yuan’s expression changed instantly. He immediately grabbed the hotel key and dashed toward the nearby garden.
As he ran, he cursed, “Hong Haocheng, you son of a bitch, you’ve screwed me over again. “
Bai Yuan, who had originally wanted to go to Yang Zicang’s side but was temporarily assigned a task with orders, regretted bitterly how much he wanted to rush to the sea and give a few kicks to that guy who kept yawning.
“What’s the point of doing this anyway? Wait, ” he suddenly thought, “if that’s the case, doesn’t that mean investing in De Stefan has a higher value? “
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