Chapter 166 Holding the Tai'a Axe Upside Down (3)
Preparing for the speech wasn't her job, but the sudden surge of activity at the Union Buildings gave her the opportunity to operate covertly and transfer Arcia discreetly.
Gradually, she also noticed the unusual atmosphere in Union Buildings. The number of people leaving the company was visibly increasing. This atmosphere was not limited to Union Buildings, but was a microcosm of Pines' entire society.
Manla disease is spreading faster than data predicted, and patients could be anyone around them.
People began to doubt whether this fierce attack was really as "nothing to worry about" as the government claimed.
Family members were forcibly taken away for quarantine, and patients with Manla disease have begun to appear abroad.
Just as she had initially predicted, Pigne could no longer keep it a secret.
Chaos, like a natural cold front, dissipated across the land of Pine with the air.
Healthy people, in a hurtful manner, speculate about the contagiousness of Manla disease and reject ordinary people who exhibit symptoms of Manla disease.
These patients and their families, who have lost their jobs and social status and face discrimination and differential treatment, have a huge impact on society.
Manla disease is like a wound that is constantly being stitched up and then torn open, leaving a festering cycle in Phineas.
Even though Pinheis conducted a thorough search for patients, isolated them immediately, and blocked online information, the scale of the protests still grew larger with each one.
Prometheus's men mingled among them, like pouring Pandora into a burning fire, and the entire public opinion instantly became filled with conspiracy and spiraled out of control.
Lucico's policies may not have had many profound implications, and the Pietère government did not intend to put all ordinary citizens to death, but those incited by fear were no longer able to think so much; what could not save them must be bad.
There is a complete disconnect between public sentiment and government action; the theme of the protests has shifted from the mysterious disease of Manla to resistance against state violence.
As long as there is no definite solution to Manla disease, this fear of death will be projected directly onto the head of the incompetent government. People resent Pinheis's handling of the situation, feeling that the large sums of money they work hard to pay taxes on cannot be spent on them, but must be used to subsidize the parasites in the political system.
Lucico's approach might be effective for general public health emergencies, but the situation is clearly out of control.
Because the Manla disease is like a superpower that suddenly appears in humans, it is inherently irrational and unsolvable.
Weston explained to her that the more infectious a virus is, the less destructive it becomes during transmission; and the more destructive a virus is, the more its transmission routes are restricted.
However, Manla disease combines the horrors of both: it causes widespread outbreaks, is 100% fatal, and is incurable.
This makes it impossible for the situation to be brought under control over time.
Lucico's misjudgment caused his approval ratings to decline in both Parliament and among the public, and his subsequent decisions regarding the Manla disease even failed to gain the support of his allies and the Liberal Party.
They came up with an even more bizarre solution: abandon the isolation of Manla disease, let them fend for themselves, and incidentally recoup the budget spent on these policies so they could focus on dealing with Intori.
Lucicole stood firm against the pressure at this crucial moment, refusing to budge an inch.
Shu Ningmiao glanced at him and saw that in just over ten days, Lucico had lost a lot of weight, and the white hair growing at his temples made him look somewhat pale and old.
She couldn't bring herself to gloat; if Lucicolet couldn't withstand the pressure and Pigne completely ignored the Manla disease, the situation would only get worse.
Although he supported the war, his primary concern was stabilizing the domestic situation; his initial motivation for supporting the war was to divert attention from internal conflicts. If he allowed others to take a laissez-faire approach, the pressure of Manla disease would inevitably have a devastating impact on everyone.
She was annoyed by Lucico's air of complete control, but there were far more arrogant people around him, and the fact that she could stand safely at the top of the Union Buildings was itself a form of looking down on others.
Without finding the root cause of this sudden outbreak of Manla disease, it is impossible to find a solution to Manla disease. On the contrary, as long as we figure out the cause of this outbreak, we may be able to solve the mystery of Manla disease that has lasted for a century.
She felt she had touched a clue, just one step away.
“Intoli was too lucky,” Lucico said. “The Manla disease broke out at just the right time.”
Shu Ningmiao didn't think a country on the verge of destruction could be considered lucky.
Lucico narrowed his eyes, his gaze drifting slightly. "But we also have our luck."
The battle reports from the front lines are still impressive, thanks to the swift and decisive actions of the Pigne's commanders.
The news of Torri's partial victory spread throughout Pigne like timely rain, and the negative sentiment in the country indeed decreased significantly. Lucico seemed to be proving to her that he was right, proving that the hatred within Pigne could be transferred to others.
Lucico was indeed observing her reaction.
She still stood by the window, a few steps away from his desk. When the monk and Xixi were on duty, they would stick to him and not leave his side for a moment, but she was different.
After observing her for a while, he asked her an unexpected question, "What do you plan to do after this period of time has passed and Pines has settled down?"
Such a simple question stumped her.
At first, she just wanted to hold all the wealth and power in her own hands and live a comfortable life on Pandora's Spring; later, she wanted to survive and become stronger.
But now, she wants more than just to survive; her desires have never known restraint or satisfaction.
Lucico: "Have you considered becoming an agent?"
Shu Ning pondered for a few seconds, then smiled and said, "No, never mind."
Lucico smiled with relief.
After that conversation, Lucicolai did not speak to her again until the day of the speech.
Shu Changyan didn't return on the day of the speech either, because the magnetic field in Tuoli was turbulent and the signal was lost. I heard that he hasn't received any news in the past few days.
But Lucicole still needs a speech to reassure the public and secure votes.
Although the location of the speech was public, it was still within the Union Buildings. The "ring" surrounding the huge transparent dome of the Union Buildings is where major announcements and speeches have been held over the years. It is open-air with a wide view and connected to the interior of the Union Buildings, making it easy to adjust manpower at any time.
The lectern at the center of the circle was covered by a metal canopy, with fully enclosed corridors connecting the two ends. Every nook and cranny on the canopy had been searched more than a dozen times, and a protective shield made of supernatural abilities was set up in front of the open-air section, making it impossible for anyone to assassinate from a distance.
There were about one hundred people in attendance at the speech, including members of parliament and some government officials. Most of them stood, and all the invitees were separated into a clear area, so even guests could not get close to Lusicola.
Weston isn't here today; he's busy getting to know the details of Manla's illness, running between the research center and the Union Building, much busier than Lucico.
Shu Ningmiao was responsible for guarding the entrance and exit of the right corridor, while Xiao Jiang and Lux were the current agents who remained in Pinne.
As Lux walked toward the podium, he passed by her. Seemingly having forgotten their unpleasant conversation, his dejected expression vanished. He smiled at her and greeted her with great enthusiasm.
Xiao Jiang walked behind her with her hands in her pockets, then whispered to her, "This person seems to be sick."
In fact, Lux's playboy demeanor is somewhat similar to Zhao's. It seems that the military's arrangement for Lux and Xiao Jiang to temporarily partner up also had this in mind. However, Zhao's frivolous temperament is superficial and covers up too much, making him completely different from Lux.
Xiao Jiang disliked Lux from head to toe. Although the two were standing on the left and right of Lucicolai, they seemed to be eight hundred miles apart.
Besides these people, you can also see the speech outside the Union Building, but you might not be able to see Lucico's face even with binoculars.
Shu Ningmiao stood far to the side of the podium, while Xixi followed beside Lucico, clutching the back of the man's suit jacket. He led the girl onto the podium, like a father spoiling his daughter's mischief.
She couldn't understand whether Lucico's bringing Sissi on stage at this time was an act of indulgence towards Sissi, or a complete disregard for her safety. Different people have different interpretations of danger.
After looking around, she continued to gaze into the distance. Her eyesight, enhanced by her superpower, was so superior that she could see the different expressions on the faces of the people gathered on the outskirts at a glance.
Lucicolai rested his hands lightly on the edge of the podium, his posture composed, his voice echoing through the ring via the amplification system.
Outside the Union Building, no security checks or body searches were required. People mingling in the crowd held up white wooden signs taller than themselves in their direction.
The snow-white sign was painted with words written in blood red.
"And what about us?"
Why? Why?
"What right do you have to decide our lives so arbitrarily?"
However, Lucicolai never mentioned the word "Mandela disease," focusing instead on looking to the future; the distant protests could not possibly reach this towering place.
She glanced at the slogans lost in the crowd, her gaze suddenly fixing on a familiar face that flashed by before being concealed by a cloak.
Shu Ningmiao's heart suddenly skipped a beat. How could this person be here?
She reached for the terminal in her pocket, but knew very well that she couldn't contact anyone right now. Her gaze locked onto the throng of heads, trying to catch a glimpse of that person again.
Before she could react, the crowd on the periphery suddenly began to shove and push, and uniformed security personnel with shields cut into the crowd.
"Buzz—"
A dull thud did not come from the distant periphery; the loudspeaker fluctuated inexplicably, emitting a distorted buzzing sound.
Lucico paused for a moment, then continued his speech.
The crowd erupted completely, pushing, shoving, trampling... The instinct for survival drove people to run around like headless flies. Some were knocked to the ground and trampled over by more than a dozen feet, swallowed up by the crowd.
The crimson color began to spread across the ground.
At first, there were only scattered dots, but they quickly merged into a large area, flowing freely across the paving stones and forming dark patches that kept expanding. When hurried footsteps stepped over them, they left longer, bloody footprints.
The white wooden sign fell to the ground and was crushed by blood-stained boots, breaking into pieces with a "crack" and scattering all over the ground.
The blood-red writing seemed to melt away, blending into the dark color of the ground.
Within minutes, white tear gas spread across the area, obscuring the chaotic scene, but those on the Union Buildings "roundabout" were clearly not so calm, and a sense of anxiety permeated the air.
Lucico's voice remained steady as it came through the loudspeaker: "The challenges we face are not insurmountable; all it takes is trust, communication, and sincerity..."
The restless atmosphere masked some subtle anomalies, and as the faint air current swept by, a beam of silver light shot out from it, moving so fast that it left only a fleeting afterimage on the retina.
A bullet.
A bullet appeared out of nowhere in the air and hurtled toward Lucico.
There was no one in the direction the bullet came from; only empty air.
Shu Ningmiao was probably one of the first people to discover the bullet. She stared at it, her hand already on the hilt of her sword.
At her distance, even if no one could stop her, throwing a sword now would completely miss the bullet.
At the same time, a subtle, strange feeling arose in her heart.
Sisi huddled behind the man, motionless, her face pale.
Before Lucico could even get close, the bullet was deflected by a wind blade casually flicked by Xiao Jiang. She crouched down like a cheetah and rushed toward the open space where the bullet had come from, her face expressionless, her eyes scanning her surroundings for any suspicious signs.
Lux seemed a beat slow before he gripped the gun handle and raised it, his gaze slowly locking onto Lucico.
All the guards formed a cross-cover position, their eyes scanning the crowd intently. The captain, who was standing further away, was giving instructions into his communicator. Although he was deliberately lowering his voice, Shu Ningmiao could still hear what he was saying.
"Internal problems, block all exits, repeat, block all exits."
Of course, the bullets appeared out of nowhere, but the Heart Stone didn't react at all, so there must be a traitor among them.
Before he could even catch his breath, the second bullet had already been fired.
But this time, no one could stop it.
This time, it appeared on Lucico's chest, not flying towards him, but forming directly on his chest. The distance was so close that even Shu Ningmiao didn't have time to react.
The bullet had already touched the fabric of Lucico's suit—she could even see the marks of the fabric fibers being squeezed and deformed.
Blood mist exploded at his collar.
She saw it very clearly.
The bullet missed his head and his heart, precisely choosing a spot that avoided vital organs at almost zero distance.
Lucico let out a muffled groan, his fingers gripping his shoulders tightly.
Only then did the guests realize what had happened, and panic spread like wildfire.
The entire audience erupted in uproar.
Amid the chaos, Lucico slowly lowered his right hand, which was covering his shoulder, as if he had just brushed dust off his clothes.
The piercing wound was shown to all viewers through the camera lens, and the blood soaked through the black suit, but it did not appear overly gruesome or terrifying.
His hands were supporting him on the podium, his knuckles resting on the edge of the podium, slightly white.
"Please remain calm." His voice, steady and clear, carried through the microphone throughout the circle. "There are some people who don't want this speech to continue, who don't want us to believe in a better tomorrow."
For a fleeting moment, Lucico's gaze met hers in mid-air, and in those eyes, she saw an inscrutable expression.
"But we... still believe in each other for tomorrow."
He gently pressed down on the microphone.
Countless people surrounded and protected him as he evacuated into the Union Building.
Lucico turned his head slightly and gave some instructions. The people separated, and Lux followed him into the elevator, while Xiao Jiang was left at the roundabout to scout.
She was outside the system, and no one except Lucicolet directed her. She now had two options: either blend into the crowd to avoid danger, or follow Lucicolet.
The training I received before the speech covered emergency plans for this situation, and Lucico is now in a safe house on the seventh basement level of the Union Building.
She glanced back, her mind racing, but she still headed towards the elevator. Lucicolet's assassination in public might have been staged, but she recognized the Intoli from before in the crowd.
He possesses the symbol of life, and regardless of whether Achini is still alive, he is inextricably linked to Prometheus.
Since they've shown up here, their target must be Lucicolet.
The elevator doors closed, and the floor number seven (representing negative seven) remained lit. The elevator shuddered slightly but did not move again.
Someone coughed softly.
Besides her, there were several other staff members in the elevator. Shu Ningmiao didn't look closely and didn't know who was coughing.
The elevator doors opened again, and the people next to her suddenly walked out.
She frowned and closed the elevator door again.
Some people say, "Limited position."
The elevator shuddered again, as if it had been pulled back by something, and stopped moving downwards.
Shu Ningmiao reached out and pressed the door open button, but the door didn't open. Instead, a cold, hard object silently pressed against her spine, tapping it lightly, the action conveying a silent threat.
"Little sister," the person behind her said, "it's been a long time."
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