Saving Unpermitted

Chapter 104: The Oriole

The people trapped in the pit still had food and water, but their hearts were filled with extreme panic. This forced gathering rapidly consumed people’s inner selves, and some individuals entered a numb state, standing like statues in the deep pit of the square.

The negotiations weren’t going smoothly.

The synthetic humans were quite firm, and Shu Jun insisted on not meeting Zhu Sheng or any other human leader. Whenever the human side attempted to intercede, whether through soft or hard means, Hu Yan blocked them all.

He wasn’t worried about the humans finding leverage—Yu Jin was still guarding his people in their usual location, while the remaining residential areas without “rescue” were jointly managed by the remaining synthetic humans and the Old Fourth outside. They were all gathered east of Y City, oblivious to the chaos within the city.

Hearing the arguments from the human negotiators, Shu Jun couldn’t help but find it amusing.

“The player system appeared two hundred years ago, and this generation has simply grown accustomed to it. The upper echelons of the United Government bear some responsibility, but you need to understand that the majority of people are innocent… That’s what they say.”

“Do they think I’m unaware of this? Such arguments are only meant to console ourselves. To hear them say it? The perpetrators aren’t worthy of discussing this.”

“The player system has undergone adjustments. If we sit down and cooperate now, they are willing to provide the most reasonable medical care and ensure system transparency.”

“That’s only because we are holding lives in our hands, right in front of the people of Y City, that they are willing to discuss terms. Once we let go, who will guarantee it, who will define ‘most reasonable’ and ‘transparent’? Spare me. These words sound more like they are meant for ordinary people in Y City to hear—’Look, humans are being so ‘sincere’, why aren’t the synthetic humans relenting?’ …They certainly know how to incite emotions indirectly.”

“Captain Shu, are you suggesting that we stop negotiating?”

“We will negotiate, but first let them correct their attitude—who said we will coexist and cooperate afterward? How many people can accept humans without any resentment? If we were truly to live among humans, before any so-called understanding emerges, terror and rejection would be at the forefront.”

“Um… Captain, I was thinking…” Hu Yan scratched his head. “You said they have also suffered from the Erosion Swamp, so they should have some understanding of the hardships we face in combating it. Will our strong stance have a counterproductive effect?”

“Do you think Ai Xiaoxiao is suffering?”

“Ah? I suppose… she must be suffering, I guess.”

“What is she suffering from?”

“…”

“‘Knowing’ and ‘understanding’ are not the same thing. The human forces may be able to understand the terror of the Erosion Swamp, but in the end, they still have to obey others. The understanding of the general public mostly remains at a superficial level of ‘hardship’. The understanding between compatriots is already discounted, let alone between different species. Most people will only see the Erosion Swamp as a troublesome thing, and it’s great that there were anomalies dealing with the mess before.”

“No, this is too much…”

“I don’t deny that some people may feel sympathy or guilt. But how long can this momentary sentiment last? When they have to choose between the different species and their loved ones, will their stance change? Nobody knows. I cannot gamble everyone’s future on the enemy’s ‘understanding’ and ‘humanity’.”

Hu Yan’s expression slowly fell. “Do you really like Marshal Zhu? Captain Shu, please don’t sacrifice yourself for someone in a higher position…”

Shu Jun’s face twitched a few times. “What do you take me for? My feelings for him are personal; do you understand? In this war, there’s no room for personal feelings.”

Hu Yan glanced to the side, clearly skeptical.

Shu Jun wished he could punch him. “Get lost!”

“I can’t leave, so what should I do?” Hu Yan quickly switched back to a worried expression. “To be honest, I can’t figure out how to resolve this. Your direction doesn’t seem like a path to peace, does it? Besides, I’m not ignorant of leading a team. Zhu Sheng won’t just let us make demands; it’s a matter of principle.”

“A’Yan didn’t go over there just to watch the show.” Shu Jun smiled. “By erasing ‘Zhu Yanchen’ from the public eye earlier, we gave him a little break—he should have enough time.”

“Enough time for what?”

“You don’t need to worry about it. Just be tough in the negotiations. In the current situation, the goal is not to reach a resolution.”

On the other side of Y City, the Tang Family.

“Oh, A’Sheng, you still… still think you can… get me?” Tang Heyu hiccupped heavily into the communicator. “The survival of humanity? I heard it clearly, but what does it have to do with me? You, hiccup, you said there would be no problems, right? Hm?”

Zhu Sheng had mobilized almost everyone in the Tang family before the old man finally agreed to an audio call. As he spoke, his tail was practically wagging in the air with a face full of satisfaction.

Zhu Yanchen turned his face away, unable to bear witness to this dispute between the older generation.

“If it’s all over, then it’s all over.” Tang Heyu, relying on his reputation for being mentally unstable, continued to fan the flames. “Anyway, I, hm, I’m old too. When I’m gone, it won’t matter even if the earth stops spinning.”

“I won’t force you to come out of retirement.” Zhu Sheng didn’t sound angry. “Heyu, I know you’re not doing well right now. I just need you to interpret a few key points from your paper—the young people are researching weapons to resist the Erosion Swamp and the synthetic humans’ abilities. Your paper could be of great use.”

Tang Heyu looked at Zhu Yanchen, who was sitting on the side, sipping tea, and grinned. “What crazy talk are you spouting? Back then, you didn’t even want to put my, oh, what was it called, ‘baseless speculation’, into the database.”

“I made a mistake in judging the player system,” Zhu Sheng admitted frankly. “You can curse me however you want, but if you still remember that paper from back then, please provide an interpretation.”

Zhu Yanchen gently put down the teacup and looked at Tang Heyu, who was about to take off. The old man also knew that he couldn’t float down easily, so he relaxed a little and said, “I’m so annoyed. I… I’ll keep drinking. When I remember, hiccup, I’ll contact you. You’re the only idiot who doesn’t know how to cherish a good son.”

“…” Zhu Sheng remained silent.

“I want to read all of Zhu Yanchen’s papers. After so many years of idleness, I also want to find something to look at.” Tang Heyu exchanged a glance with Zhu Yanchen and nodded. “The young people at the research center are being wasted by you. Their minds are filled with rules and regulations. What can they figure out?”

“Thank you for your hard work.” Zhu Sheng showed no emotional fluctuations throughout the conversation.

“Your father…” Tang Heyu cut off the communication, sighed deeply, and didn’t say anything else.

“That should be enough.” Zhu Yanchen didn’t pay any attention to Zhu Sheng’s attitude, showing no emotions either. In this regard, the father and son were indeed quite similar.

“Hey, do you really think you can fool Sigma with all this?”

“Sigma may not notice these things, but Luo Duan definitely will.”

The following days were a tense tug-of-war. The synthetic refused to back down, and the humans had no intention of unconditional compromise. With the resources they scavenged from the outskirts of Y City and the food and water obtained from the square residents through hostage-taking, the team of synthetics managed to live decently. However, resources were limited, and the players couldn’t truly rely on the resources provided by humans.

Everyone knew that the war would eventually ignite. Neither side’s leader would be foolish enough to seek a tiger for its skin*. There was good news though—at least during this standoff, the strange Erosion Swamps didn’t attack the city again, and humans finally breathed a sigh of relief.

*(与虎谋皮) Metaphor referring to negotiating a tiger and asking for its skin, which poses a conflict of interest with the object of pursuit and won’t succeed. In other words, asking for the impossibility.

What people didn’t know was that strange Erosion Swamps were lurking in the corners, not missing any important information within the city.

Such as this—

“Tang Heyu has made a new discovery about the Erosion Swamp?”

“No, it can’t be called his discovery. It seems that Zhu Yanchen had given a similar theory, and he just interpreted it. We’ll have a new weapon against the Erosion Swamp soon—it’s completely different from before, and the purification effect is terrifying.”

“…Will Y City be saved?”

“Yes. Ah, if Marshal Zhu was still here, the panic wouldn’t have lasted this long. The synthetics wouldn’t be arrogant for much longer. We have confidence this time! It’s a pity that the people in the square are being controlled. If everyone could produce weapons together, the efficiency would be even higher.”

“So, they’re not ready yet…”

“Of course not. They can’t just conjure them out of thin air. Many details need to be worked out. It is said that once they are truly developed, they will target Shu Jun first. If Shu Jun dies, the synthetics will lose their backbone.”

The conversation continued casually until the two researchers returned to the hotel room next to the command center.

The researchers’ mood improved considerably, and they happened to be one of the key subjects observed by Luo Duan. Due to security concerns, this wave of joy didn’t reach the square residents, but it reached Luo Duan’s ears.

“Let’s go,” he whispered to Sigma.

“Why?”

“The level of human scientific research isn’t low, but their direction has always been limited. If they are truly stimulated and successfully enhance their purification weapons, it will be highly disadvantageous for us. I don’t have much knowledge in the field of research, and we can’t gamble on something like this.”

“What about taking action after Shu Jun’s death?”

“After they finish testing the prototype? That does seem most reasonable, but during this period, we must ensure that we are close enough. In case their new weapons are indeed effective, we must destroy Y City at any cost.”

He paused for a moment and contemplated deeply.

“Of course, it’s best to be cautious. The synthetics and humans have been consuming each other for long enough. Once Shu Jun is injured or dead, it will be the perfect time to strike.”

A massive monster slowly emerged from the ocean. Its countless hands gripped the mud as it began to move towards Y City.

Luo Duan remained motionless, sitting on the back of one of its hands and gazing at the gray sky.

Many days had passed, and he had neither eaten nor drunk, yet he felt no hunger. The illusions before him grew more vivid, and the voice of his beloved became clearer. Perhaps he was still human, or perhaps he had already become one of Sigma’s “brains”… He couldn’t tell.

Luo Duan examined his swollen hand. His skin was long devoid of its natural color, faintly exuding a watery texture, and the entire hand was subtly deformed.

His flesh seemed to be melting, and he could no longer feel the temperature or the sensation of things.

But that was fine; there was no state more suitable for revenge.

However, his warrior instinct told him that something was still amiss. He must have missed something, while another part of his heart screamed for destruction and rest. Having gone for days without conversing with “normal people”, negative emotions in Luo Duan’s mind grew denser, making it difficult for him to breathe and think clearly.

Enough. He had considered all the factors. He had been Shu Jun’s old rival for so many years so he wouldn’t make a wrong judgment.

The synthetic humans wouldn’t lend their aid to the humans. As long as this was certain, he would win.