Chapter 59
The sea level is rising much faster than Xia Ke and Chen Ying had anticipated.
The day after Chen Ying left Hongqi Village, the rain began to fall heavily. The continuous rain curtain hung in the gray sky, giving people an inexplicable sense of oppression.
"According to meteorological experts, the sea level in the East my country Sea and Southeast China Sea is expected to rise by 20 meters due to the heavy rainfall in the coming month, rising global temperatures, and melting polar ice caps, which could trigger a climate disaster that could cause hardship for residents."
"The National Emergency Disaster Office has issued an evacuation notice for residents in coastal areas today. Currently, residents in coastal areas will be temporarily transferred to cities in the west and north with higher elevations. Residents are advised to bring their ID cards and extremely valuables, follow the instructions of their neighborhood committees, and evacuate in an orderly manner."
This brief message not only ignited the domestic internet but also caused a huge uproar abroad.
"What does this notice mean? I don't understand it. What does it mean to be a climate disaster of the 'stay-at-home' level?"
"I remember there was a news report a while ago that the coastline in some coastal areas had receded by fifty meters. Back then, everyone was still eating and drinking normally. How come a coastline rise of twenty meters means the entire coastal area has to be relocated?"
"Upstairs, these are not two different concepts at all. Do you know what a 20-meter rise in sea level means? It means that our country's coastal areas will become a vast ocean, and it won't recede. If the sea level really rises by 20 meters, it will be an absolute disaster."
"But the news reports say it's about the temporary relocation of residents from coastal areas..."
"Friends in coastal cities, how are you? It's been raining for many days, and our city's drainage is not very good. Many places have already been flooded. The sea level in coastal cities is so low, the seawater backflow must be even more serious."
"Thanks for the invitation. It's not good. It's only been raining for one day, and the floodwaters in our city are already up to our thighs. People are panicking after seeing the news. Supermarkets that are open are full of people rushing to buy water and noodles."
“My home is also in a coastal city, but we are quite far from the sea, so the flooding in the city isn’t that severe yet. The community has just notified us to evacuate, and the city we’re being evacuated to is in western province.”
"Although our village is not a coastal city, it is relatively close to the sea, and the village has just been notified to evacuate."
An exceptionally large-scale relocation is underway, with every second counting.
After Chen Ying prepared the money to purchase the city protective shield, Xia Ke immediately purchased the physical item from the system store and handed the city protective shield and installation instructions to Chen Ying.
Chen Ying and her entourage solemnly received the city protection shield, which was contained in a transparent box, from Xia Ke. This shield would expand upon activation, protecting the entire city within it.
The installation of urban protective shields is not complicated. While people were being transferred from coastal areas, experts flew to various cities to install urban protective shields simultaneously.
While the country was busily preparing for the impending disaster, the internet abroad was filled with mockery of the country.
"The most authoritative climate expert in the United Kingdom has issued a clarification, saying that the sea level will indeed rise due to the impact of rainfall and glacial melting, but it is impossible for it to rise as dramatically as the United States predicted, by twenty meters. Seawater will overflow into coastal cities, but it will only be about the height of a one-story building, and it is impossible for the United States to submerge the entire city. The United States is just exaggerating!"
"The most important thing is that their government actually listened to these so-called experts and carried out a massive relocation of people from coastal cities across the country. It's absolutely ridiculous."
Not only are foreign netizens mocking the country, but even foreign governments are subtly posting sarcastic comments.
In response, the Flower Kingdom did not refute the claim. Instead, it convened a diplomatic conference to solemnly announce the fact to the world and concluded by stating that the Flower Kingdom had developed a protective shield for cities that could prevent them from being eroded by water. Coastal countries interested in purchasing the shield could contact the Flower Kingdom.
This statement immediately topped the trending topics on foreign websites, and countless people indulged in a frenzy of ridicule and abuse against the "flower country" (a derogatory term for a country known for its promiscuity).
Only those who cared took this news from the Flower Kingdom to heart. Those living in coastal cities took their families and valuables to inland cities to avoid the storm. They preferred to be safe rather than not, and if they didn't come back, that was fine. It was a bit of a hassle, but safety was the most important thing. Those who originally had plans to go to coastal cities also quietly chose to cancel.
These foreign politicians and netizens who were mocking them soon stopped laughing.
The rain was getting heavier and heavier, and the coastal city was flooded at an alarming rate. In just one day, the floodwaters had already reached the first floor, and the rain was still pouring down.
Another night passed, and the water had reached the second floor, exceeding half of what the authoritative expert from the United States had predicted.
People finally started to panic, and foreign governments remembered the city protection shield that the government of the Flower Kingdom had mentioned before, and they all made calls to inquire.
In just one week, the massive relocation of coastal cities was completed. By then, the floodwaters in these coastal cities had reached the height of a seven-story building, turning the entire city into a vast expanse of water.
A netizen from China posted a video on social media showing him and his family sitting on a bus with half of its tires submerged in water, sailing through the water and carrying the residents out of the city.
"I'm in a coastal city in the south. It's strange, the news keeps saying that sea levels are rising, but our city is flooded up to our calves. The floodwaters have receded a lot since a couple of days ago. Is it still necessary to evacuate under these circumstances?"
A netizen quickly commented under the video, "It's very necessary. You live far from the coastline, right? I suggest you watch this video. After watching it, you will be very proud of your country. (Link attached)"
After clicking the link, this netizen saw the most serious video of their life.
The video was probably filmed inside a car. Through the gaps between the towering buildings, netizens could see a murky, yellowish curtain of water. The curtain of water was thirty meters high and had a strong sense of oppression. Just looking at it made people feel short of breath and unable to catch their breath.
Netizens stared wide-eyed as they discovered that the water curtain was actually seawater flowing backwards!
The seawater, enough to destroy the entire city, was stopped by something invisible!
That's why it wasn't that the water had receded, but that it had been blocked. An indescribable emotion filled my heart, my throat tightened, and proud tears streamed down my face.
He opened the comments section and learned that the hero who protected the city was called the City Protective Shield, the research and development company was there, and the red flag was flying...
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