The horns around the city erupted into chaos.
Hearing their own horns hacked again, some duty officers guarding the broadcast room indignantly cut the connection lines with the main station.
By the moonlit window or beside a faded desk against the wall, they took the microphone, tested it a few times then roared into these little metal knobs.
— “Dear citizens, the voice you just heard was enemy interference! Please don’t believe it. “
— “Our broadcast band lines are susceptible to those who wield higher technology…“
A faint voice drifted alongside the lonely road.
Military vehicles rumbled past some sections. The drivers, who had just received orders to reinforce nearby intersections, heard the current sounds in the radio mingling with a voice that rolled in like static, a rustling feminine voice.
— _”… We must realize we are facing the final outcome of our world’s fate. In such times, a certain few would
The driver glanced sideways at the car radio.
It was still working, but the woman’s voice inside had been overwhelmed by a sudden buzzing wave of noise.
It was as if this invisible radio wave link had been twisted and wrung out like a cloth by an external force, causing the noise and the human voice to clash and mix sharply, producing a thick, dull, high-decibel rumbling that made one’s ears throb and the sound twist and warp.
But this twisting sound soon seemed to smooth out again, and the middle-aged woman’s voice, with a gentle tone but rapid speech, quickly emerged.
— “…Threats of force… only lead to the birth of hostility among humans… EEEE— “
The piercing screech made the person in the car reach out in pain, intending to press the radio button off.
But before a finger could touch it, a strange voice emerged.
— “I are Liao Guang Zhe Zhuang Ji Wie. Please let all listeners understand that all our current channels have been invaded by unknown personnel. The other party appears to be provoking a conflict between the legacy of Jin Bei and the World Ark. We should rationally wait for things to become clear… EEE-Eee— “
The woman’s voice continued, “…The attempt to extinguish the demon with gunfire is ultimately a futile… pointless struggle… “
Click.
A finger pressed the radio, silencing it.
“Excuse me, Commander… ” The driver, sensing that something was clearly wrong, nervously glanced sideways at the man beside him, who was wearing a black uniform and a wide-brimmed military cap.
“Don’t worry about it. Keep moving. “
……
In the past two hours, the sudden anomaly had prompted everyone involved in the World Ark mission to take immediate action.
As for all the contingencies they had considered, everyone already had some preliminary response plans prepared. They just hadn’t expected that this scenario—barely mentioned in passing at the discussion session, a tentative possibility of someone exploiting it for adversarial acts—would now unleash itself so abruptly and overwhelmingly right before their eyes.
And this happened precisely in the time right after that tiny elite group at the tip of the spear of military force had left.
“Is it the Jinbei Heritage? “
“The Jinbei Heritage has done something similar before. But right now, so far, we haven’t heard anything associating them with these voices coming from the radios. “
{I am looking for those people appearing on the radio stations. }
A broken line flickered into existence.
Since the other side was clearly operating their actions by utilizing abilities, everyone else began to use theirs without any further scruples.
A string of dark, hefty buildings kept blurring past the sides as they fell behind.
In the dead of night, a voice emerged from within a vehicle speeding forward with uncommon velocity, roaring constantly.
“If it’s not the Jinbei Heritage, then who is targeting us at this time? “
A person in the back seat placed his hand on the front seatback, craning his head to peer at the nighttime road beyond the windshield, cautiously staying vigilant against any emerging dangers.
Charred marks from burned buildings still stood clearly visible all along the roadside—scarce hope for mending within this short span.
“Are you an idiot? If the letter has already reached the Prime Minister, how could it not be them? ” said the person in the passenger seat.
The several people crowded in the car fell silent for a moment.
They still found it hard to believe. At this time—when the end of the world was nearly over—the other party had chosen to strike with sabotage.
“Why…? ” a weak voice muttered hesitantly to itself, lost in thought.
“You’re asking me? How would I know? ” the driver shouted, stamping on the accelerator. “If you want to get to the airport in twenty minutes, I think you’d be faster getting out and pushing the car with me. “
The person in the front passenger seat looked up. “Did Zhao—no, could it be Chairman Yang stirring something up again? Made them panic or something? “
……
Drenched in sweat but deeply relieved, Alienong sat down on his chair, wiping his forehead with an arm still in its cloth sleeve.
“You’re amazing, man. No wonder you’re from the Fogfolk, ” said the red-faced researcher beside him, still a little exhilarated.
“It’s just a small trick. After all, in the dead of night, bright flashes of light are what catch the eye most easily. “
“But I never expected that you’d pass the signal using such a simple, honest method. I’ve already spotted the response light signals flashing back from that airship drifting over there. “
“Haha, it’s indeed the simplest, most honest trick. But it’s lasted from ancient times to the present day—no matter how technology changes, we’ve never thrown it away. That alone proves it’s the most practical approach, right? “
“That’s true. Apart from us humans, what other animal so frequently harnesses fire like that? “
After sighing, the researcher rubbed his face, which was flushed from the heat, and looked at the beads of sweat on Alienong’s forehead. “Let me get you some water. It really is a bit uncomfortable to have a flame burning through such big characters in this midsummer heat. “
“Thank you, my dear friend. ” Alienong was lying on the chair, looking at the solitary little light bulb on the ceiling. “Sigh, they had to come and cause trouble at a time like this. All these people, for the sake of some radiance… “
He shook his head, repressing the pain within. Yang Buchen already felt a deep resistance to this whole matter and didn’t even want to think about it anymore.
……
“Waldestadt is the country located at the northernmost point of the seawater tributary region. In such a country where power is rampant and unchecked, when faced with apocalyptic danger, if there is a power willing to step up and resist the Domination of the Doom Vines, those warlords would be only too happy to see it. “
The mansions and residences of the dignitaries of various countries, especially the living quarters of the leaders of the southern states, were almost entirely filled with personnel from highly efficient intelligence agencies.
The phone rang incessantly. Some of the latest relevant information was transmitted via cables into the ears of these stunned high-ranking officials.
“By now, almost all the city armies in the entire Waldestadt are at the command of those dispatched under long-distance by Yang Buchen. “
“This country is finished! ” A sigh laced with hidden indignation rang out.
At the power centers across the nation, discussions about the latest situation in Waldestadt were ringing out one after another.
“What does this information mean? Those roaming Home Guards have actually heeded a mysterious telephone command to fire artillery at the Doom Vines that crossed the seawater tributary? “
“And what’s more, they succeeded. “
“I don’t believe it! ” a voice roared, “Those damned Fogfolk have hijacked the radio system again—is this information even real? “
He slapped the paper in his hand, causing the crowd around him to look over with uncertain expressions.
This man’s chest heaved, seething with rage. “Fire artillery and succeed?! Bullshit! Where did the Doom Vines first break out? Doesn’t every damn—were they in a battlefield? “
“Well… “
The people around exchanged hesitant glances.
……
Blackwindow Architecture, the building of the Special Defense Command office.
The busy general stomped down the stairs, his footsteps thudding on each tread, while a specially modified car waited at the foot of the steps.
“But the latest news is that the vines that crossed the sea are either really retreating or have stopped, ” said an officer beside him, rushing after the general toward the car.
“This shouldn’t be happening. ” The general said anxiously, placing his arm on the open car door and bending down to get in.
“Yang Buchen, who knows nothing, dares to threaten us with the Home Guard and take over! The military of a nation! He is grabbing the entire southern world’s defense line into his own hands—this is an extremely dangerous move!“
Wooooom!
The General, who had just sat inside the car, stuck his head out the door, looking up at the several aircraft roaring northward across the sky.
“What’s going on over there? Who authorized that?“
The man standing outside the car froze, “I-I’ll go check.“
Bang! The General kicked the car door open with one foot and roared, “Who’s in charge up there? Get the hell out here!“
In the office building, some lights had gone out, while more were being flicked on.
Suddenly, the sound of a telephone ringing—ring, ring—echoed from within the office.
The ring pierced through the chaotic footsteps and into the third-floor office, which lay empty but echoing.
Ding-a-ling-ling…
Though seething with anger, the General’s mind remained sharp, and he turned his gaze towards the office building’s entrance.
A figure dashed out. The moment he looked up, he met the General’s investigative stare from the car. As a long-timer in the Special Defense Command, he knew all too well that this glare meant a question.
As it happened, that was precisely what he’d come for.
He ran over, raised his hand, and saluted.
“Report, sir! Chairman Yang Buchen is on the line, asking if you have already passed down the task of arranging the Campfire Plan.“
“Who?” The General stared at him as if he had misheard.
Hearing this tone, laden with heavy skepticism, as if finding it unbelievable that someone would ask him about his task assignment.
The officer outside the car door could only keep a straight face and reply with a sonorous voice:
“Reporting to General Ross, Chairman Yang Buchen said that if you were unclear, I should immediately find those who attended tonight’s meeting and instruct someone named Zorro to return to the hotel at once. “
The general’s chest puffed up slightly. Pondering the situation, he confirmed that he saw no connection between the two matters, and let out a cold snort.
“Is the phone line still connected? “
“No, sir. “
Ross angrily slammed the car door shut. “I thought he was different, but these Fogfolk really do love playing these little tricks. “
He had just gestured for the driver to start moving and turn the car toward the gate when he caught a glimpse of a young man waving his hand from outside the barred entrance. It appeared to be Chairman Yang Buchen’s friend from tonight.
The vehicle drew closer.
“Respected General Ross, ” called out Jin Christie.
“What’s the matter? ” As the gate opened, Ross asked casually through the car window.
The guard at the entrance saluted. “Sir, we had already escorted Mr. Edgar to his rest quarters, but he insisted on seeing you. So he stayed here waiting. “
“It’s urgent! ” said Edgar Jin Christie. “It’s about the Campfire Plan, about the artillery shells! I heard the voice on the broadcast. “
As the vehicle slowly started moving forward, General Ross raised his hand to have the driver stop. He moved over two seats, leaned to the left, and asked, “Campfire? What do you mean by that? One of your Hellfire Sect’s ancient traditions?“
“Yes, sir!” the young man said urgently. “I just heard on the radio that artillery fire is evil, and it dawned on me. General Ross, it’s not just nuclear bombs—any large-scale artillery barrage can achieve that same shielding effect!“
Ross’s eyes blazed with fury, taking in the hesitant and terrified expressions of the surrounding guards.
“What did you say?! Say that again!“
“Flames! Heat! They make the steel-vine demons of the apocalypse retreat!“
Ross’s hand gripped the car door frame tightly, and the driver in front, frantic with rage, stuck his head out and shouted, “You damned devil!“
“Campfire…” Ross murmured to himself. Among the information just received, Yang Buchen seemed to have foreseen it—without even being at the scene, he had remotely commanded a team of frontline warriors via telephone signals.
He directed them to use a field artillery piece they had captured from that midland nation, a weapon they had hauled over a thousand miles, and with it, they fired the first counterattack straight at the demons.
And this was done in the midst of a large gathered crowd.
How did he know where to fire the shells? And at more than one location? Could it really be possible? Ross murmured, turning his gaze to the young man outside the car.
Was this kid colluding with Yang Buchen on something? Otherwise, how could Yang Buchen have anticipated that I would know about “Campfire“?
Can the occult ways of the Hellfire Sect in exorcising demons truly be used right now? This place is perfectly safe.
“General! “
“Get in. ” General Ross pushed the door handle, pulling the door open. The guards, having checked the man for safety, immediately let the youth through. Jin Kleinster rushed over, a mix of excitement and anxiety on his face.
“I don’t know why that enemy radio station suddenly started broadcasting those things, ” the young man said as he plopped down in the car and pulled the door shut.
“But I’m sure it’s precisely because they know all about the Campfire that they’re harassing us in the dead of night like this. It’s just… I still don’t understand why they’d suddenly launch such a blatant propaganda campaign. “
“That’s not your concern. Tell me, what kind of demons does the Hellfire Sect expel? Does that include the ones that only appear on the battlefield or during the apocalypse? “
“Beep, bee-bee-boop! “
The vehicle had only just passed through the gate partly when suddenly two cars roared and screeched to a halt at the intersection ahead. A slim woman quickly jumped out—her bearing exceptional and silent, yet bursting with peculiar vitality—alongside two older officials from the National Lands Agency.
“We represent Augustus, General Ross sir! ” the two familiar-looking old men announced.
“And what is it now? ” General Ross, having barely heard two words out of Jin Kleinster, stuck his head out the window.
“Please come with us immediately, sir! Chairman Yang Buchen sent us personally to fetch you. We’re heading to the World Ark headquarters. “
It’s him again! The anger simmering in the Admiral’s chest morphed into confusion. Could this be related to another of that kid’s predictive-type incidents?
“What is Yang Buchen up to? “
Veronica, still catching her breath, instinctively replied:
“He’s on the phone by Juhai. “
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