ATDIWR Chapter 41
by VolareAmong them, one H Country Power User truly couldn’t catch his breath and fainted.
The Jing Shi Base Power User holding him down quickly let go, spreading his hands innocently and saying, “It’s not my fault, he fainted on his own.”
The ones who didn’t faint were furious, wishing they could all faint too.
The H Country Power User gritted his teeth and provoked, “They’re willing to pay a huge price to buy back defective crystal cores that have problems, and it’s not just one or two. Who would believe there’s nothing shady going on here!”
The staff member was speechless. “We said it was voluntary. You can choose not to have it recovered.”
“We are willing to recover them. Of course, that’s because M Country admitted their mistake and is willing to proactively take responsibility and compensate,” Zhou Qin arrived at the scene at some point, having listened among the crowd for how long. He walked out slowly from the crowd with his hands behind his back, a smile plastered on his face, looking very amiable. Gou Chong followed behind him.
“Impossible, absolutely impossible!” Hearing that M Country had compromised, the H Country Power Users who had been honestly held down began to struggle violently, their emotions agitated.
They absolutely could not believe that the M United States, known for its iron-clad toughness, would bow down to a mere small base in a country!
This was impossible. That was savage hegemony that would wage war at the drop of a hat!
The few H Country Power Users were so agitated, it was as if Zhou Qin had just said something that insulted their dignity or country.
Zhou Qin maintained his amiable and kind demeanor, his smile even brighter and more enthusiastic than before.
“Nutrient solution.” No need for excessive explanation, these simple three words seemed to possess a mysterious magic, silencing the few Power Users instantly.
Yes, how could they forget the nutrient solution? This was completely an unfair VIP player who had recharged.
Damn it, with this bug, how can we compete? Even a powerful nation like M Country has to bow its head for the nutrient solution!
The H Country Power Users were like ducks with their mouths pinched, no longer struggling. Their energy and spirit were gone, one by one, drooping their heads in dejection, as if a certain eternal and indomitable belief in their hearts had finally been defeated.
After a long time, one H Country Power User seemed to have finally rebuilt his psychological defenses. He probably wanted to regain some face. He sputtered and stammered for a long time, finally managing to say with a deflated tone, “Even so, you have consumed our trust. Although the problem is with the crystal cores, your base’s irresponsible attitude makes me have to suspect whether other items in the auction you hosted also have problems?”
This was clearly nitpicking. What’s the matter, were you raised on fish bones, specializing in finding fault!
“I wonder what items your base bid on at our base’s auction. Today, I can make an exception for your base. Whatever items you bid on, I will recover them at the original price. We must make our foreign guests feel at home.”
Zhou Qin deliberately said this because he knew the H Country was dirt poor. They still participated in the auction with the equivalent of two cents in their pockets, which was probably only enough to buy a few large cabbages!
As expected, the faces of the few H Country Power Users turned liver-colored, and they fell silent. These H Country people were foolish and arrogant. How could Zhou Qin let go of the opportunity to beat a drowning dog? He deliberately said, “May I ask what your esteemed base bid on? I will recover it at the original price.”
The H Country Power Users were stubborn, “Forget it, we’ll just count it as bad luck.”
“Gou Chong, pull out the item list that H Country bid on. Our Xia Country values etiquette the most; since ancient times, we have been a land of courtesy. How can we let ‘friends’ who have come from afar suffer a loss?” Zhou Qin said in an odd tone.
“No need, no need. We’ll just count it as bad luck, alright?” The H Country Power Users struggled to get up. “Let’s go, let’s leave here.”
The staff members hadn’t received instructions, so they wouldn’t release them on their own. They continued to hold them down tightly, and besides, they also disliked these fools and were all waiting to see the H Country people make a fool of themselves.
Zhou Qin knew these H Country people hadn’t bid on anything, yet he deliberately pretended to search for a long time, then let out a puzzled sound, “Oh? What’s going on? Why can’t I find the items H Country bid on? Gou Chong, tell me, were you not serious about your work and missed recording something?”
Gou Chong cooperated, “Commander Zhou, I will verify immediately.”
Gou Chong immediately called the auction side. Then, suppressing a smile, he said with a straight face, “Commander Zhou, I have verified with the auction side. H Country indeed did not participate in our auction. However, they did buy quite a bit of brown rice and large cabbages at the supermarket.”
“Pfft… Hahahaha…”
Immediately, there was a chorus of boos from around, and the mocking laughter was as loud as it could be.
Cong Xun, with his straightforward Northeastern character, was thoroughly confused and asked soul-stirringly, “Why did the H Country people insist on jumping out and making such a foolish spectacle, knowing it was humiliating?”
“Maybe they thought it was more… unique!”
How ruthless! The bamboo shoots of the giant pandas have all been taken!
Everyone around couldn’t help but laugh. The few H Country Power Users felt genuinely embarrassed and began to struggle desperately. Zhou Qin made a gesture, and the few staff members finally released them.
The few H Country Power Users ran out in embarrassment. One of them was somewhat conscientious, reacted halfway through running, turned back, helped up his companion, and staggered out again.
Zhou Qin watched this scene with a smile, his hands behind his back, looking calm and self-assured.
Looking at their embarrassed backs, Zhou Qin said unhurriedly, “To make our distinguished guests who have come from afar feel at home, our base will buy back the brown rice and large cabbages you bought at the original price. We absolutely will not make things difficult for you!”
The one supporting the other stumbled, nearly falling onto a rock beside him. He turned back, glaring angrily, but Zhou Qin still looked at him with a smile, though a closer look revealed deep coldness in his eyes.
“Oh, right, I forgot to tell you earlier, remember to leave a little later. There will be executions later, disposing of a few disobedient pests from M Country and R Country.”
The few H Country Power Users almost all stopped and turned back to look at Zhou Qin, seeing that his expression had become unusually cold at some point, as if he had removed the false mask hanging on his face, revealing his true nature.
The H Country Power User trembled his lips. “How is that possible? How could powerful M Country allow you to deal with their people? This is impossible.”
However, although they said it was impossible, the H Country Power Users believed it in their hearts.
Because the execution time was today and couldn’t be faked. When the time came, the truth would be known. Jing Shi Base wasn’t an idiot; it wouldn’t tell a lie that could be exposed with a single poke.
It wasn’t just the H Country people who were shocked. The representatives from other bases also looked at each other. Those who had planned to leave immediately all stayed, preparing to watch the execution later.
The people from Luo Shi Base had purchased Zombie Crystal Cores and happened to come over to inspect them, coincidentally witnessing the entire spectacle.
Owen’s fiery red lips parted slightly, “As expected, things are about to change.”
Even Jiang Fuzhong’s eyes showed worry. “Nutrient solution, truly a treasure. Whoever controls it controls the lifeblood of the entire human future. But from now on, our Luo Shi Base…”
Jiang Fuzhong didn’t finish his sentence, but all the intelligent people present understood his meaning.
Originally, the world was bound to unite after a long period of division and divide after a long period of unity. Now that Jing Shi Base controlled the great weapon of the nutrient solution, it was like holding everyone’s lifeblood. The various bases would eventually merge. When that time came, whether their Luo Shi Base would be swallowed up or be the one to swallow others was hard to say.
Cong Xun felt refreshed from the inside out, like taking a cool shower on a hot summer day. The word? Refreshing!
“I thought that matter was just going to be dropped. As expected, Jing Shi Base is Jing Shi Base. Tough, spirited. That’s how you should confront them head-on! There’s a good show to watch in a bit. I wonder how they will deal with those few people?”
Everyone was guessing who the pests from M Country and R Country Zhou Qin mentioned were.
Many speculated it was the group of R Country people who caused trouble at the airport.
Someone asked in confusion, “Then who is that M Country pest? I saw Krus at the auction this morning. He looked fine, not a single hair out of place.”
“Don’t know, maybe they caught new rats, and we just don’t know yet.”
“Can’t guess. We’ll know tonight.”
On the other side, Ji An was in the laboratory examining the Zombie Crystal Cores bid on by a few acquaintances, including the Thunder-type and Wind-type dual-ability Zombie Crystal Core bid on by Gu Jinsheng.
“No problem.” Ji An tested this crystal core twice, confirming it was 100% fine before returning it to Gu Jinsheng.
Gu Jinsheng nodded. “What about the others?”
Ji An gave all the examination reports to Gu Jinsheng. “Except for the Mental-type crystal core provided by M Country, all other crystal cores are fine.”
In other words, the crystal cores provided by other bases were all Zombie Crystal Cores, or perhaps they didn’t intend to cause trouble, or it could be concluded that they also didn’t know the technology to make zombie virus antigen and antibody coexist within the crystal core.
Ji An frowned slightly, his gaze fixed on a certain point in the void. “I always have a hunch that M Country seems to be massively replicating high-level Mental-type Power Users.”
“Raising Gu?” Gu Jinsheng asked.
Ji An nodded.
He always felt that M Country seemed to have stockpiled some Mental-type Power Users, and then, in order to make these Power Users advance quickly, they absorbed Power User crystal cores, thereby creating high-level Power Users.
After all, if Mental-type Power Users advanced on their own, even with sufficient Zombie Crystal Cores, there was still a possibility of failure.
But absorbing Power User crystal cores was different. Absorbing the crystal cores of their own kind seemed to have a natural compatibility. Advancement had no barrier; it was almost 99% successful, with less than 1% possibility of failure. But absorbing Zombie Crystal Cores wasn’t like that; if the ability was unstable, the failure rate was high.
Gu Jinsheng said, “This possibility cannot be ruled out. They want to destroy our Hua Country’s Mental Power Users.”
After absorbing a Power User’s crystal core, their mental abilities would be completely abolished. If no one in Hua Country continued scientific research, the country’s overall strength would inevitably regress. In terms of economy, technology, and military, they would fall behind.
Then, no matter how strong the nutrient solution was, Jing Shi Base or the entire Xia Country holding it would be like a child walking through the market with gold, only inviting jealousy and forceful plunder, and M Country would be that bandit!
Gu Jinsheng and Ji An exchanged glances, both seeing seriousness in each other’s eyes.
Gu Jinsheng and Ji An exchanged glances, both seeing seriousness in each other’s eyes.
Gu Jinsheng looked down at his watch. “It’s time for the execution. Want to go?”
“Yes.” Of course Ji An wanted to see the fate of those arrogant R Country people. If Wan Xueying hadn’t acted promptly that day, Gou Chong might have been burned to death on the spot. As for him, without Gu Jinsheng arriving later, he would probably have had his ability abolished and become a walking corpse by now.
The execution site was a three-hour drive from the command center, held at Jing Shi Base’s South Gate.
When the two arrived, the South Gate was already packed with people. Looking over, there were dense crowds like ants.
Fortunately, there were Power User patrols. The powerful weapons materialized from their abilities clearly showed the strength of their masters.
The surrounding crowd was intimidated. Although there were many onlookers, it didn’t cause a riot.
Ji An and Gu Jinsheng drove in through the internal passage. Quickly, someone sharp-eyed wanted to follow but was stopped.
The two went directly up the elevator to the rooftop of a building over ten stories high. Zhou Qin, Wan Xueying, Gou Chong, and several other familiar Power Users were there. From here, they could overlook the entire execution ground.
After a simple greeting, Zhou Qin said with a chuckle, “Boss, I thought you wouldn’t come?”
Gu Jinsheng didn’t answer. Zhou Qin winked at Ji An, “Boss, don’t worry, even if you don’t come, we’ll take good care of Ji An.”
Ji An let out a heavy snort through his nose, and then an arrow materialized from his mental power appeared in mid-air. Ji An drew his bow and aimed the arrow at Zhou Qin’s head. “I’m not weak. I’m not a little white rabbit who needs protection.”
Zhou Qin quickly dodged Ji An’s arrow tip and protested, “Boss Ji, you can’t aim that arrow at me. If you miss, with this one arrow, I’ll become brain-damaged.”
Zhou Qin ran away, and Ji An didn’t chase him. He aimed his arrow downwards. The powerful vision of a Power User allowed Ji An to clearly see the situation below.
At this time, heads were bobbing, only the execution area was slightly open. In the center, there was a spherical device, a special machine, connected to a silver-patterned helmet that looked somewhat ancient. The machine was already powered on, its body enveloped in a layer of blue current, occasionally sputtering sparks.
The surrounding Power Users who saw it had fear in their eyes and instinctively shrank back, seemingly afraid of touching it.
Ordinary people, however, had no fear and craned their necks to watch.
An ordinary person pointed at the spherical device and said, “Is that the legendary Ability Abolisher that can abolish a Power User’s ability?”
“Probably. It’s my first time seeing it too. It looks kind of nice. Look at that sphere, surrounded by a layer of blue current. Isn’t it very mystical?”
A Power User nearby looked at the two with a strange expression. “Don’t think that because you ordinary people haven’t awakened abilities, you don’t need to be afraid of the Ability Abolisher. Do you believe that if you touch it, you’ll immediately croak!”
The higher the Power User’s level, the stronger their physical fitness, far beyond what ordinary people could compare to.
Even the current that the lowest-level Power User could withstand could directly send an ordinary person to their death.
Not to mention this machine specifically designed to abolish Power Users’ abilities, it could directly send an ordinary person to their demise.
The few ordinary people who had been talking had some fear in their eyes and secretly moved back a few steps, their gazes once again directed at the Power Users who were separated and escorted to stand on either side of the Ability Abolisher, preparing for execution.
There were a total of eight people from T Base who had committed crimes last time. One female Power User was bisected on the spot and died, and another was shot into an idiot by Ji An’s arrow.
At this time, only eight people remained, four on each side, four men and four women. The four female Power Users were all Xia people. Among the male Power Users, only one was a Xia person, the remaining three were R Country people, and one was an M Country person.
M Country person?
Ji An’s pupils shrank sharply, and he gasped in surprise, “Krus?”
Many others recognized this M Country Power User as well.
Cong Xun from the North Base pointed at Krus and said, “Wasn’t this guy swaggering around participating in the auction this morning with several representatives from M Country? How did he get caught and brought here for execution in the blink of an eye? Did I see wrong this morning?”
Du Ruanlan from Luo Shi Base had been nonchalant since arriving at Jing Shi Base, but at this moment, he put away his laziness, and for the first time, there was genuine seriousness in his eyes.
“Krus was caught and brought back. As expected, the charm of the nutrient solution cannot be underestimated.”
Jiang Fuzhong looked around. “M Country must be very annoyed by this coercion. Why don’t we see any of their people?”
Owen pointed with his bright red painted finger to the top floor of a small seven-story building behind him. “They are over there.”
Indeed, there were a few M Country people standing on the rooftop. The black-haired Power Users accompanying them should be the Xia Country people from T Base, as those M Country people were able to attend the auction by piggybacking on T Base’s invitation letters.
Du Ruanlan raised one side of his mouth, the seriousness in his eyes completely dissipated. His cynical playfulness and mischievousness instantly overflowed. Owen’s eyes also lit up with genuine amusement. “What a pity, the distance is too far, I can’t see the expressions on the faces of those M Country people.”
“Power User Crystal Cores,” Gu Jinsheng said.
Ji An suddenly understood. How could Jing Shi Base silently accept such a huge loss and swallow such a major insult? Of course, they had to get this back from M Country.
Gu Jinsheng directly tore up the contract they had negotiated with M Country regarding the supply of nutrient solution to M Country. The various bases within M Country had never been harmonious, merely maintaining a superficial calm. As soon as Jing Shi Base tore up the alliance, M Country’s internal factions started causing trouble.
Although the idea of shipping Mental-type Power User crystal cores to Xia Country was not just the idea of Krus’s base, but a joint decision made by all bases, at this moment concerning the life and death of personnel in all bases, these people pushed all the responsibility onto Krus’s base.
The reason was straightforward and simple: although they had him do it, they didn’t tell him to fail. Now that things had turned out this way, it was entirely due to Krus’s lack of ability. It was already good that they weren’t pursuing responsibility from his base.
The various bases jointly put pressure on Krus’s base, threatening to unite and attack Krus’s base if they couldn’t appease Jing Shi Base, so that Krus’s base would completely cease to exist from then on.
Krus’s base had no choice but to backstab Krus, handing him back to Jing Shi Base. Krus was drugged by the representative team leader Devitt and his team while he was asleep and sent to Gu Jinsheng as an apology, along with an additional large amount of material compensation.
Krus woke up on the execution ground. Although no one explained anything to him, he quickly figured it out.
At first he cursed, then he begged hysterically, and now he was cursing again.
After Ji An understood, the corners of his mouth lifted into a smile.
Gu Jinsheng stood on the tall rooftop and waved his hand casually. Immediately, someone behind him spoke into a walkie-talkie, “Execute.”
The first person dragged towards the Ability Abolisher was an R Country person. At this moment, the R Country Power User had completely lost the inherent arrogance and condescension they usually displayed towards Xia Country people.
At this moment, like a trapped beast, he was in utter despair, tears and snot streaming down his face, begging incessantly. He no longer spoke his self-proclaimed noble R Country language, but pleaded bitterly in fluent Xia Country language that could rival that of Xia Country people.
“Don’t do this to me, please, please, you can’t do this to me. I’m an R Country person. They won’t abandon me, they can’t abandon me! I did it all for them, for my country!”
The R Country Power User was terrified into incoherence, rambling and disjointed. “R Country is the greatest country! It is M Country’s most loyal partner. How dare you touch me! M Country will absolutely not let you off!”
Even at this point, the R Country Power User still held hope for M Country, worshiping M Country, without turning his head to see that Krus, being an M Country person himself, couldn’t even protect himself and was furiously cursing everything about M Country.
No one paid attention to the R Country Power User’s rambling. They dragged him like an animal to the Ability Abolisher, held him down, and roughly placed the helmet on the R Country Power User’s head.
Before the R Country Power User could finish one word, he no longer had a chance to speak. A pain strong enough to swallow heaven and earth swept through his brain. His brain seemed to be filled with an invisible force, swelling like a rising tide to a degree that his brain capacity couldn’t contain.
Just when the R Country person thought the pain would be unbearable and his brain was about to explode, the feeling of swelling to the extreme disappeared, leaving only dense, excruciating pain. Thousands of needles pierced his brain, seemingly directly into his bone marrow, his brain matter, and his Power User Crystal Core, frantically sucking away everything within his brain.
He could feel some kind of energy in his brain rapidly draining away, like quicksand, completely uncontrollable.
The R Country person thought an eternity had passed, but in reality, it was only a matter of one minute. When the helmet was removed from his head, the R Country Power User was already in a daze from the pain, having fallen into a brief coma.
The executing Power User roughly threw the R Country Power User aside, completely uncaring of the R Country Power User who was sweating profusely and whose face was pale as paper from the pain.
The R Country Power Users waiting in line had all peed themselves. The yellowish liquid puddled at their feet, forming a winding trail.
Han Zhiwei from the South Base lamented, “The Sword of Damocles, psychological warfare. This is truly tormenting these little islanders to the extreme, both mentally and physically. As expected, it’s the method of that cold and ruthless Supreme Commander of Jing Shi Base!”
“But it’s also really satisfying! They deserved it!”
In the blink of an eye, it was Krus’s turn. Krus yelled and shouted frantically, struggling desperately like a cornered beast. Just as the helmet was about to be placed on Krus’s head, Krus unleashed an ability, knocking away the helmet.
Krus didn’t run. Instead, he viciously dug out a piece of flesh from the inner side of his upper thigh, extracting a capsule made of a special material from the bloody mess and directly stuffing it into his mouth.
The Power User responsible for escorting Krus was the first to react, shouting loudly, “Not good! He took a pill! He’s going to self-detonate!”