ATDIWR Chapter 106

Chapter 106: Coercion – One Person Per Day

Gu Jinsheng and Ji An exchanged glances, their expressions both extremely grim. Kong Zhongcheng immediately cursed, “R Country is despicable and shameless, only resorting to these dirty tricks!”

Wan Xueying sneered, “With R Country’s brain full of waste, what good things could they possibly come up with!”

Zhou Qin’s eyes showed worry, “Boss, R Country is resorting to covert schemes when their overt plan failed. Although the methods are disgusting, they are effective.”

Ji An said, “Let’s observe the situation first. No matter what, we must save the people.”

Gu Jinsheng opened the public channel, and Xiaoqiao Yilang’s face appeared on the television screen.

Xiaoqiao Yilang was less than 1.6 meters tall, standing among a group of tall Power Users, like an underdeveloped dwarf. His appearance had standard R country facial features: a flat profile, a mustache, small eyes, and a murky, lecherous gaze.

The background behind Xiaoqiao Yilang at this moment was likely R Country’s execution ground, desolate and dilapidated, yet exuding an eerie chill. The ground beneath his feet was coagulated with clumps of brown, dried liquid.

Probably intentionally, the camera lingered on the bloodstains for several dozen seconds, making the entire video feel oppressive and terrifying.

Xiaoqiao Yilang seemed very pleased, as if he were not in a gloomy and terrifying execution ground, but somewhere enjoyable and relaxing.

“Let me see how many people are watching my live broadcast now.” Xiaoqiao Yilang smiled, looking very pleased. “One hundred and ten Bases, oh~, very good, our main character for today’s live broadcast, Jing Shi Base, is also online. I’m very happy, this saves me a lot of trouble.”

“Commander Gu, do you find these faces familiar?” Xiaoqiao Yilang waved to his assistant beside him. The assistant’s camera immediately focused on the faces of the Power Users who were forced to kneel behind Xiaoqiao Yilang.

Xiaoqiao Yilang walked over, grabbed the head of the Power User kneeling in the first row, forcing the Power User to lift his head. The Power User glared fiercely at Xiaoqiao Yilang, only able to make muffled noises from his mouth because it was stuffed with rags. He looked as if he wanted to bite a piece of flesh off Xiaoqiao Yilang.

Xiaoqiao Yilang did not feel angry, instead, he smiled and admired the Power User’s gaze. “Commander Gu Jinsheng should know this person, right? This was a very famous researcher in your Xia Country before the Apocalypse!”

“If Commander Gu can’t recall for a moment, I can help you remember. This person is named Gao Wanli, a former well-known scientist in Xia Country who made many contributions to your country’s scientific research.”

At the same time, the staff at Jing Shi Base also found Gao Wanli’s information. Zhou Qin said, “Boss, the reason Gao Wanli appeared in R Country was an international academic exchange before the Apocalypse. Gao Wanli went to R Country as part of a delegation to provide technical guidance. Later, the Apocalypse suddenly broke out, and he became stranded in R Country.”

Ji An immediately asked, “What kind of technical guidance?”

Zhou Qin replied, “We couldn’t find the specifics here; it likely involved technical information confidentiality. Later, the Apocalypse also destroyed this part of the data, so we can’t find the specific confidential content. However, based on the information we could find, Gao Wanli likely went to R Country to address water pollution issues. Other countries’ delegations also went at the same time Gao Wanli did.”

“Is this how R Country treats those who helped them?” He Tao asked indignantly.

Ji An sneered, “Repaying kindness with enmity, running dogs of capitalism. Isn’t this R Base’s usual style?”

Gu Jinsheng’s eyes turned cold, “Connect to Xiaoqiao Yilang’s live stream.”

“Okay.”

Gu Jinsheng gave the order, and his assistant immediately carried it out. Xiaoqiao Yilang’s assistant in the live stream appeared on screen and whispered a few words to Xiaoqiao Yilang. A playful expression immediately appeared on Xiaoqiao Yilang’s face. “Oh, Commander Gu Jinsheng wants to connect with me, does he? Of course, that is possible.”

Xiaoqiao Yilang nodded, and the live stream connected Gu Jinsheng’s video feed. Gu Jinsheng’s figure appeared in the live stream.

Xiaoqiao Yilang chuckled, “I thought Commander Gu would at least wait until I introduced everyone before asking to connect. I didn’t expect Your Excellency to be so impatient.”

Gu Jinsheng was not as angry as Xiaoqiao Yilang had imagined. His expression was indifferent; Xiaoqiao Yilang could not read Gu Jinsheng’s emotions at all from his face.

Gu Jinsheng said, “Your Excellency Xiaoqiao Yilang, I am calling just to remind you, when you introduced Gao Wanli, did you forget to introduce his other identity? Gao Wanli appeared in R Country because you originally requested our Xia Country’s assistance to solve the wastewater problem. Gao Wanli was the leader of the scientific research delegation at that time.”

Gu Jinsheng stared into Xiaoqiao Yilang’s eyes through the video, “Now you tell me, is this how you treat the people who helped your country?”

Xiaoqiao Yilang’s face instantly changed, turning gloomy as he stared at Gu Jinsheng, completely losing the demeanor of a Base Commander and looking more like a heavily convicted criminal who had committed a crime.

His gaze was chillingly cold. He looked at Gu Jinsheng and said, “Is Commander Gu calling just to say these useless things! Then there’s no need to say anything further. Mute Commander Gu. Anyway, this live stream only needs Commander Gu present; your brilliant opinions are not needed.”

The little assistant tapped on the phone. In Jing Shi Base, Zhou Qin said to Gu Jinsheng, “Xiaoqiao Yilang has muted you.”

Wan Xueying said, “He thinks this can stop the rumors and gossip from the crowd.”

Ji An said, “Do you think Xiaoqiao Yilang cares about that? If he did, he wouldn’t be doing this.”

As expected, Xiaoqiao Yilang in the video clearly had something he wanted to say but held back again and again. In the end, he couldn’t hold back and said to the live camera, “Trash! Your Xia Country’s researchers are a bunch of trash! When they first came, they boasted that they would do their best to help us solve the ocean problem.”

“But in the end, they didn’t help at all. Mutations continued, zombies still appeared, and the Apocalypse still arrived.”

“And you still dare to say you came to help us? Perhaps it was because of your help, by putting something wrong into the ocean, that the Apocalypse descended and zombies appeared.”

“Otherwise, how do you explain that before your researchers came to our R Country, although there were mutated creatures on Earth, there were no zombies at all? As soon as you came to our R Country, acid rain followed one after another, and zombies and the Apocalypse all arrived. I say, all of this is the fault of you Xia Country people! It must be that you put some unknown chemicals into nature, which led to all of this.”

“The Apocalypse occurred because of the mistakes of you Xia Country people!”

Outside the live stream, Zhou Qin and others were practically angered to death by Xiaoqiao Yilang’s shameless words. He Tao couldn’t believe it, “How thick-skinned must Xiaoqiao Yilang be to say something that shifts the blame like that!”

Wan Xueying said coldly, “Xiaoqiao Yilang wants to push the responsibility onto our Xia Country people, foolishly wanting us to take the blame for this!”

Kong Zhongcheng cursed angrily, “He’s dreaming! The whole world knows that the reason the Apocalypse descended was because of acid rain, and the formation of acid rain was caused by ocean pollution.”

Zhou Qin also said, “There were many ways to deal with that wastewater back then, not just dumping it into the ocean. Dumping it into the ocean was just the cheapest option. For money, they harmed the interests of all humanity, and now they’ve turned around and are trying to shift the blame, foolishly wanting to push the responsibility for the end of the world onto us. Who doesn’t know that the Apocalypse was caused by their selfishness?”

Ji An said, “Knowing doesn’t matter. They just don’t admit it. Besides, you think everyone knows the truth, but just watch. After Xiaoqiao Yilang goes offline today, the online sentiment will change. Someone will definitely try to push this blame onto us. M Base and H Base will both stand out to support R Base, proving that the arrival of the Apocalypse was due to our Xia Country’s mistakes.”

“R Country is this shameless, and M Country uses this kind of tactic.”

Zhou Qin and the others’ faces were ashen. Kong Zhongcheng said, “Are we just going to watch like this, unable to do anything?”

Ji An shook his head, “No. I have a feeling that we will eventually have a war with M Base. That day won’t be too far off!”

Everyone fell silent. Although they hoped for a real confrontation with M Base, they also didn’t want war. War, no matter when or where, always causes suffering to the common people.

Xiaoqiao Yilang finished speaking in one breath, as if only now had he vented all the frustration in his heart. A smile returned to his face. He said to the video, “So, please, Commander Gu, don’t say such things anymore. Xia Country did not help my Base; instead, it is a sinner to the whole world.”

“Okay, now that we’ve cleared things up, let me continue to introduce the next person to you.” Xiaoqiao Yilang walked up to the second Power User. “This is…”

Xiaoqiao Yilang introduced several Power Users with status to Gu Jinsheng one by one. The rest were ordinary civilians; Xiaoqiao Yilang didn’t introduce them, but he had the camera sweep over each face, ensuring that every face was filmed clearly so that their families could recognize them immediately.

Xiaoqiao Yilang said with a smile, “These people were personally ordered by me to have our Base’s high-level Power Users go to their homes, door by door, to ‘invite’ them over. Some people might think I’m a bad person and didn’t want to come with me, trying to resist. I’m very sorry, our Power Users were too strong and accidentally seriously injured or killed some of them. Of course, some are also guests in our Base’s prison. I will introduce these people to you one by one later.”

Xiaoqiao Yilang shook his head pretending to be thoughtful, “Why doesn’t everyone understand my good intentions? I’m doing this entirely for their own good. After being in a foreign country for so long, they’ve long missed home. Am I not helping them return home sooner?”

Xiaoqiao Yilang’s face suddenly approached the screen, pressing his entire face against the phone. “Commander Gu, no matter what, you will take them back, won’t you?”

“Despicable, shameless!” Kong Zhongcheng cursed fiercely.

Ji An said, “But effective.”

Ji An held his terminal. He projected the light screen into the air. Everyone could see that netizens were already re-broadcasting the live stream on the terminal. At the same time, a stream of bullet comments flashed below. Many people recognized their family members through Xiaoqiao Yilang’s camera.

Their family members, whom they thought were dead, were suddenly told they were alive. Before their hearts could rejoice, they were faced with the threat of death. One can imagine how unstable the emotions of these family members would be. Bullet comments were constantly scrolling, all urging Gu Jinsheng to agree to any condition, no matter what, and that these people must be saved.

“That’s my father! My father was one of the staff sent to help R Base. He didn’t go to R Country voluntarily back then; it was all for work. Now you can’t just ignore him; you must bring him back!”

“My daughter was a study abroad exchange student, she went abroad through the school. You can’t just ignore her!”

“Although my grandfather went to R Country for business, he never forgot his roots. Before the Apocalypse, every time Xia Country faced a major disaster, he would donate large sums of money to the motherland. The phrase he said most often was that he was a Xia Country person, Xia Country’s blood flowed in his veins, and he loved Xia Country so much. Now Xia Country cannot let him down!”

Ji An and the others looked at the messages on the terminal. Xiaoqiao Yilang seemed to be watching too. He even had someone pick a few to read. After reading them, he said, “Commander Gu, look, everyone is waiting for you to take their families back. Don’t you love to be in the spotlight? Now I’ll satisfy you and let you have all the spotlight. I just hope you don’t disappoint everyone!”

“Boss, what do we do now?” Zhou Qin asked.

“He will state the conditions,” Gu Jinsheng said.

Xiaoqiao Yilang said, “Commander Gu, if you want to take the people back, our R Base can fully cooperate with you. We can even help send them back to Jing Shi Base. As for the conditions, they are also very simple; for your Base, it’s just a matter of lifting a finger.”

“Space storage items, nutrient solutions, treatment pods, mental scanners, and the core technologies of holographics, I want them all!”

Zhou Qin gasped, “Xiaoqiao Yilang has a big appetite.”

Wan Xueying said, “It seems I underestimated Xiaoqiao Yilang’s shamelessness. I thought he would at most ask for a few technologies. I didn’t expect him to foolishly want them all.”

Ji An said, “Opening his mouth so wide, he should see if he can swallow it all. Be careful he chokes to death!”

Xiaoqiao Yilang said to his assistant, “Now enable Commander Gu’s speaking permissions. Let us hear Commander Gu’s answer.”

The assistant immediately enabled the speaking permissions. Xiaoqiao Yilang asked Gu Jinsheng, “So now, Commander Gu, what is your answer? Do the lives of so many Xia Country people in your eyes outweigh those technologies?”

Xiaoqiao Yilang expected to hear Gu Jinsheng’s voice seeking peace, begging in a subservient manner. However, Gu Jinsheng’s voice rang out, as cold and unchanging as usual. He said, “The people, I will take back. The technology, absolutely not!”

Xiaoqiao Yilang completely did not expect Gu Jinsheng to be so firm even at this point. He was stunned for a moment, then became furious. He immediately released his ability, and on the spot, blew up the head of a student studying abroad.

Xiaoqiao Yilang even had the camera focus on the student’s head and, in front of hundreds of thousands of viewers in the live stream, cut open the student’s skull to remove the Power User crystal core from inside the student’s brain.

“Oh, a dark blue crystal core. It’s a Water-type Power User, a very good ability. It’s a pity, dying so young like this. It seems current data shows that a Power User’s natural lifespan can reach over two hundred years. What a shame, life ended before it even began.”

Gu Jinsheng’s gaze was heavy, his expression becoming even more unreadable.

Xiaoqiao Yilang looked at Gu Jinsheng and said, “How about this, although those technologies are nothing special, they might be very precious things in your Jing Shi Base’s eyes. It might be hard for you to make a decision immediately to hand them over like this. I’ll give you seven days.”

Xiaoqiao Yilang made a gesture of seven with his hand towards the live camera. “After seven days, Commander Gu, please give me a reply. If the answer is still negative, then I will broadcast the killing of one Xia Country person every day, until all Xia Country people are killed, or until Commander Gu is willing to change his mind.”

Xiaoqiao Yilang smiled and waved at the camera, “Then, Commander Gu, goodbye, see you in seven days!”

Xiaoqiao Yilang ended the live stream, completely ignoring the turmoil online.

Although the live stream was initially only rebroadcast on the terminal, it was quickly reposted online. For a time, everyone was paying attention to this matter, and the online heat remained high. Every day, a large number of netizens browsed and left tens of thousands of comments.

Facing the online fermentation, Dewei Te and Charlis were both very satisfied. Charlis even rarely praised Dewei Te, and Dewei Te was in a great mood, turning around to praise Xiaoqiao Yilang.

“You did very well this time. Commander Charlis praised you to me.” Dewei Te also rarely showed a smile to Xiaoqiao Yilang.

Xiaoqiao Yilang was like a puppy receiving praise from its master, fawning over Dewei Te. “Thank you for Commander Dewei Te’s praise. I will definitely live up to Commander Charlis’s expectations. I will continue to work hard.”

Dewei Te was very satisfied with Xiaoqiao Yilang’s attitude. He nodded condescendingly to Xiaoqiao Yilang. “In seven days, if Gu Jinsheng still doesn’t agree to you, broadcast the killing of those Xia Country people. The methods should be as cruel as possible. If one isn’t enough, kill three a day, one in the morning, one at noon, and one in the evening. I don’t believe that the families of those who are killed, seeing their relatives die tragically because of Gu Jinsheng’s stubbornness, will not hate Gu Jinsheng.”

“There’s an ancient saying in Xia Country that is very apt: Water can carry a boat, but it can also overturn it!”

“Boss, what should we do?” Zhou Qin immediately asked Gu Jinsheng after Xiaoqiao Yilang’s live stream ended.

Gu Jinsheng pondered, not answering immediately.

Ji An said, “We must bring the people back, but the core technology must never be handed over. This is not because I am reluctant to part with the technology, but because R Country and M Country have damnable intentions. Even if we honestly hand over the technology, we may not be able to bring the Xia Country people back. They will definitely make exorbitant demands and take the opportunity to propose other requests, thereby gradually eroding Xia Country.”

Wan Xueying added, “I agree with Ji God’s opinion.”

Zhou Qin also said, “Furthermore, R Country and M Country have always been eyeing our Xia Country like wolves. If these technologies fall into their hands, once they strengthen their power, they will definitely wage war against us. At that time, even more Xia Country people will die.”

Gu Jinsheng listened to Ji An and the others, but he himself did not express an opinion.

He Tao worried, “But if we don’t agree, how do we explain it to the residents of the Base? Now, because of this matter, it has directly jumped to the trending searches online and is causing a huge argument!”

Gu Jinsheng looked at Ji An. Ji An said, “Seven days is enough. Jinsheng, you stabilize the residents of the Base. I will go into the laboratory now. In seven days, I will definitely be able to produce something that can save everyone!”

Ji An’s eyes were firm, as if no difficulty or obstacle could stop his determination to move forward.

“Okay.” Gu Jinsheng chose to trust Ji An unconditionally. Ji An smiled at Gu Jinsheng and turned to enter the laboratory.

He Tao worriedly asked, “Boss, in such a short time, can Researcher Ji do it?”

“Xiao An definitely can. I believe in him!” Gu Jinsheng looked into He Tao’s eyes, his expression firm.

Zhou Qin touched his leg. He said, “I also believe in Ji God. If he can’t, then no one in this world can.”

As soon as Ji An entered the laboratory, Wu Youyang and others gathered around. Today, neither Zhou Fanxiu nor Bai Na went out. They left their tasks to their assistants.

As for the training to resist mental power, it used to require face-to-face teaching. Since the advent of holographics, offline teaching is no longer needed. Basically, whichever high-level Mental-type Power User in the research institute has time, that researcher will teach on the terminal.

“Xiao An, I saw the rebroadcast on the terminal.” Zhou Fanxiu said anxiously, “R Base is despicable and cruel. What should we do? What does Commander Gu think? Is he really just going to hand over those technologies? Or is he going to watch our compatriots get killed one by one?”

Ji An asked, “Teacher, do you think that if we easily hand over the technology like this, this matter will really end here?”

“No, absolutely not!” Bai Na said, “Given Xiaoqiao Yilang’s shamelessness, if he finds that holding hostages is really effective and can be used to do whatever he wants to Jing Shi Base, he will definitely not let the people go. Instead, they will firmly hold these hostages in their hands and then make even more excessive demands on the Base. If the Base cannot satisfy them, they will repeat the process, continuing to force the Base by killing people.”

Zhou Fanxiu also said, “After R Country obtains the technology, it will inevitably be given to M Country. M Country’s technology is not backward; deciphering those technologies is only a matter of time. Once they achieve a technological leap and vigorously develop their economy and weapons, that will be the doomsday for Xia Country. They will definitely launch a war against our Base without hesitation.”

“Xia Country is vast and rich in resources, and M Country has long coveted it.”

Wu Youyang said, “We can see the situation clearly, but netizens and the residents of our Base may not see the conspiracy of R Country and M Country.”

Ji An said, “No matter what, the technology must not be handed over.”

“Researcher Ji.” Just then, Na Boyu walked in from outside.

Na Boyu was still one of Han Yaokun’s people, while Zhou Fanxiu and Bai Na had already defected to Ji An’s side. Zhou Fanxiu felt a bit awkward facing Na Boyu.

Ji An politely said, “Vice Dean Na, may I know if there is anything you need?”

Na Boyu said, “I saw the matter online. I know you might be researching something that can help Commander Gu, so I came to see if there’s anything I can help with. You can rest assured, although I am one of Han Yaokun’s people, I can sign a confidentiality agreement. This research will absolutely not be revealed to anyone.”

Ji An said, “Of course I believe in your character, Vice Dean Na. I happen to be in urgent need of help here, so please join me.”

Na Boyu didn’t expect Ji An to agree so readily, thinking Ji An would at least say something or ask him to sign a large number of confidentiality documents. Unexpectedly, none of that happened. For a moment, Na Boyu thought to himself that he had misjudged a gentleman with the heart of a villain, and at the same time, he admired Ji An’s magnanimity even more.

Ji An led most of the elites from the research institute into the laboratory and began working overtime, day and night without rest, conducting research.

The online world was now, as expected, in turmoil. All sorts of messages were refreshed daily on the official website under Jing Shi Base.

“Please, the Base must immediately bring back the compatriots stranded in other countries!”

“Please, Commander Gu, save our heroes!”

“Please, Commander Gu, hand over those technologies and bring back our compatriots!”

“Technology is just cold data, but our compatriots are living human lives!”

Online messages demanding that Gu Jinsheng immediately exchange technology for compatriots stranded abroad had reached tens of thousands. There were also some clear-minded netizens who thought it was not feasible, questioning the conspiracy of R Country and M Country, but these people were almost immediately labeled as cold, cruel, and lacking love for their compatriots. Some even said they had been in the Apocalypse for too long, killed too many zombies, and developed psychological problems, which was why they didn’t treat human lives as human lives.

Meanwhile, offline, Gu Jinsheng also received many calls from other Base Commanders. Most of these commanders were still rational; they withstood the pressure from their Base residents and urged Gu Jinsheng to think carefully and absolutely not act impulsively.

There were also some, like Commander Li Mo of Z Base, who saw his own relatives among the group stranded in R Country. He could no longer bear it and called Gu Jinsheng, speaking fiercely, “Gu Jinsheng, those are human lives! Can you really be so heartless as to watch Xiaoqiao Yilang kill one person a day?”

“Is it because none of your relatives or friends are among them that you don’t care? I don’t believe you could remain indifferent if your lover was among them!”

Gu Jinsheng had gotten used to it over the past few days, receiving such calls every day. Some demanded he immediately trade technology for people, some demanded he absolutely not trade technology for people. Anyway, he listened to everything, both pleasant and unpleasant. But when Li Mo mentioned Ji An, Gu Jinsheng truly couldn’t tolerate it.

Gu Jinsheng said coldly, “Since Your Excellency is so capable, why don’t you go and exchange for the people yourself!”

Li Mo choked up. Then Li Mo said coldly, “Gu Jinsheng, since you are heartless, don’t blame me for being unjust!”

Zhou Qin asked, “What does Li Mo mean by that?”

Gu Jinsheng slightly narrowed his eyes, “Perhaps, he intends to privately exchange the technology for the mental scanner for his family!”

Previously, for the safety of the various Bases, Ji An had made the core technology of the mental scanner public to the larger and smaller Bases. Ji An didn’t take the opportunity to make exorbitant demands for abundant resources, not even asking for a single cent. It was free and guaranteed to teach until mastered, but he only required these Bases to agree to one condition for Jing Shi Base: they were not allowed to share this technology with foreigners, including Bases controlled by foreigners.

But now it seems Z Base is not planning to abide by this agreement.

In the evening, as expected, Xiaoqiao Yilang live-streamed his conversation with Li Mo. Li Mo actually traded the technology of the mental scanner for his family.