Chapter 44 A Common Request

Two girls, one thinner and the other smaller than the other, gave him two choices.

The scene was incredibly serious, serious enough to determine the fate of two girls, yet it also had a strangely absurd sense of humor.

Mao Anlin sensed the humor in the joke, but didn't laugh.

In fact, this is an extremely serious and important matter for the safety of the base, and even for the entire post-apocalyptic war.

Mao Anlin glanced at Tan Fu first.

Tan Fu's problem is even bigger, because once she's on the network, it's like a fish in the sea; everyone's terminal devices are just her "palace," and she can spy on all privacy!

She said she didn't get her hands on Yao Du'an's military cell phone, which is true, but is she not allowed to?

Why is Tan Fu not allowed to access the base's classified digital archives or the headquarters' conference room?

Could she gain massive control over reconnaissance and combat drones, thereby influencing the battlefield?

Can she arbitrarily tamper with combat orders and reconnaissance information sent through Starlink?

If she wanted to, she could kill many people; she's already dared to kill, even her own family!

This girl is like an overly powerful and intelligent AI, with independent thinking and a cold demeanor; she is truly frightening.

But Tan Fu's strength has its roots, while Qi An inspires a sense of unknown fear.

These two people are walking on a knife's edge, concealing their plot to murder from the authorities and openly threatening him!

Mao Anlin was thinking of a hundred ways to control them.

For example, it seems that Qi An has quite a few teammates who fight alongside him?

There are also silent implantation surgeries, hypnosis, memory alteration, and long-term psychological guidance...

However, there are risks involved, because both girls are mentally and intellectually strong, and Qi An has not yet fully grasped their abilities.

Using harsh methods might damage their abilities, and what kind of trouble would it cause if they found out?

While there were ways to deal with both girls, Mao Anlin felt that he was the one being restricted.

Because all conflict is merely internal consumption within humanity.

He almost touched his brow, because he had suddenly grasped another humorous point:

The confrontation with the two little girls is a form of "internal exhaustion of humanity"!

Mao Anlin suppressed his laughter and asked the two people in front of him, "Becoming a 'collaborator' or 'protector' of humanity seems a bit too general."

As a condition for not mutating and not dying, what exactly do you want?

The word "immortal" seemed to contain a hint of irony, but Qi An ignored it.

She suddenly felt a little nervous. She had been hiding for many years, and she would tear out a page from her monthly journal after writing on it.

But now the highest-ranking person on the mainland is right in front of her, and after learning all her secrets, he asks her what she wants!

She gripped Tan Fu's fingers tightly, so nervous that she felt the sunlight was so bright that she couldn't see the subtle expressions on the other person's face!

But no matter how nervous she was inside, she couldn't show the slightest hesitation on her face. She steadied her voice and said:

"First point: We need our own living space."

We will choose our own accommodations, and there must be no surveillance equipment in the residences. The base must not place any intrusive or non-intrusive monitoring, listening, or location devices on us.

Our daily whereabouts and actions, except those related to the mission, are not reported to the base.

After saying this, Qi An stared at Mao Anlin's expression.

He seemed unsurprised and offered no comment; the only noticeable gesture was raising an eyebrow, perhaps signaling her to continue.

Qi An continued, "Secondly, all experiments and tests related to us must adhere to the principles of openness and voluntariness."

For example, if you need my blood, you should find me when I am conscious and tell me what you need the blood for.

If this harms my physical health or violates my principles, I will not give it to you, and you cannot force me to give it to you.

It seemed like the other person was still waiting for her to continue, so Qi An continued:

"Third point: Tan Fu and I, especially Tan Fu, are not infectious patients who need to be isolated, nor are we some pampered little princesses."

We are just two people working at the base. We have positions, our own accounts, salaries and benefits, the power to decide what to buy with our salaries, and the power to decide our own itinerary, provided that our safety is guaranteed.

If there is a mission, please follow the normal military procedures and be notified by your superiors.

After receiving the notification, we will report for duty, get to know our colleagues, and then carry out the tasks; there are no special requirements.

After Qi An finished speaking, he held his breath and waited for the other person's reaction.

Mao Anlin, however, was also waiting for her fourth condition.

After a moment of silence, Mao Anlin asked, "That's all?"

Qi An frowned, somewhat wary, but nodded truthfully: "No, that's all."

This is just the general principle; the person on the other end is extremely busy, and the specific details will definitely be handled by staff.

Does he hope to draft a detailed agreement here?

Mao Anlin wasn't complaining that the requirements weren't detailed enough; he was just surprised by how simplistic they were.

It's not that it's flimsy, but rather...

All of Qi An's requests can be summarized in one sentence: treat them as two different people.

They have made grand pronouncements about being "collaborators" and "protectors of humanity," and they do indeed possess such powerful and bizarre abilities, but all they ask of them is to be human!

They are not privileged individuals, and they have no special demands. They simply want to be two ordinary people with a home, a job, and a life!

Mao Anlin's gaze was momentarily clouded. Even though people tend to pursue what they lack, for the two "little monsters," ordinariness was the most difficult thing.

But this ordinariness doesn't mean that the two of them and what they do are ordinary; it simply means that the requirement is ordinary.

He sheltered countless lives, killed Ash Priests, and fought desperately on the most dangerous battlefields, all for a wage—the most basic human rights to survival and freedom.

People were always afraid to look him in the eye, but Mao Anlin couldn't keep his eyes on the two girls for long.

Their past achievements are real, their injuries are real, their tension is real, and the expectation shining in their eyes is real...

The apocalypse has indeed killed many people, but it hasn't killed civilization.

"The base will provide you, especially Tan Fu, with a team of guards."

You need to faithfully carry out the tasks assigned by the base.

You can choose your own residence, but only within a safe area.

All your trips outside the base's security perimeter must be reported, and you need to apply to leave the base.

The principles of all freedom are security and loyalty.

"As long as you do these two things, the base won't interfere with your lives." Mao Anlin stood up.

Just before turning away, he remembered something, smiled, and extended his hand to Qi An:

"Hello, Comrade Qi. You've worked hard in the battle."

Qi An was somewhat stunned, until Mao Anlin walked out of the ward and disappeared into the distance.

The sun had climbed to its zenith, and the sunlight poured in like buckets, making people feel hot and dizzy from head to toe.

Lin Jiaran cautiously pushed open the door, startling away the illusory shaking light screen.

The third girl entered the ward, first staring at Tan Fu with a scrutinizing, critical, and somewhat annoyed look, before darting to Qi An's side:

"They actually let us in on this floor!"

Once I can prove my identity, show that I'm your friend, and get your permission, I can enter!

What happened? Things have changed so much!