86 Leader
◎Who? Me? ◎
As for Jing Ting, Yan Xunzhi hadn't seen her since arriving in the South District, assuming she'd just been transferred back. Only recently did he learn that Jing Ting had been accepted to stay in the South District thanks to her excellent grades.
But before the alien wave arrived, Kong Wei had Sun Yesuo transfer her to headquarters on a special secondment basis. Jingting was working on a strictly confidential project and couldn't disclose it. Sun Yesuo, having received a request to ease her relationship with Kong Wei, finally spoke to her about the matter.
Although the alien wave did not cause any major damage, there were many casualties in the outposts in each district.
If an ordinary A-level sentry from Jing Ting stayed in the southern area where the alien wave outbreak was the most severe and was known for its strong spirit, he would at least not be completely safe.
Yan Xunzhi was silent for a few seconds after hearing this. "That was caused by her. What kind of thing is this? The thief cries thief, giving a slap in the face and then giving a sweet date?"
Sun Yesuo was stuck by her, "Uh..."
What she said made no sense; the alien wave was caused by them all.
The Federation has been keeping an eye on them. If the experimental subjects want to go to the surface together, they must have an opportunity, and the alien object tide is the perfect opportunity.
"But the plan was disrupted. The alien wave got out of control." Sun Yesuo said after a while, "It's not difficult to transfer her within the military region, but it's very troublesome to transfer her to the headquarters. We didn't plan to transfer her originally. We all felt that it wasn't a very dangerous problem, and it would be too much trouble to transfer her to the headquarters. It was Kong Wei who said that in order to avoid any accidents, we should transfer her there."
Yan Xunzhi collected his thoughts.
"...So why did the alien tide get out of control?"
Sun Yesuo asked her to ask Kong Wei, but she kept the question in her mind for the whole afternoon and then asked her back with the same answer.
Kong Wei rubbed his temples with a slight headache, "Didn't you read my memory?"
"That's not complete!" Yan Xunzhi complained, "I'm just taking it in, okay? It's not like I'm watching your life all over again like a movie. Fifty or sixty years... God! I'd be old by the time I finish watching it."
Kong Wei laughed, stretched out his hand, and wiped the corner of her eyes with his fingertips, "You are indeed old."
Yan Xunzhi opened her hand and said, "Go away."
"Actually, I don't quite remember. I didn't plan such a massive counterattack. After all, I just wanted to get the experiment to the surface through a legitimate means. I didn't want them to fight to the bitter end on the ground and suffer so many casualties..."
She hesitated, "You didn't see it, and actually I don't have any recollection of it. Maybe Zeng An wanted to kill me later, and Xiao Mingran was in my mind. If she killed me, she would have to die too, so I might as well just detonate it."
Neither she nor Xiao Mingran were the kind of people who would sit and wait for death, and they would rather take someone else with them if they died.
Yan Xunzhi agreed with this explanation. If Kong Wei really couldn't return to the dungeon, Xiao Mingran's riot would be beneficial to her.
The mental bait attracted foreign objects to break through the defense and rush towards the ground tower. The federal protective network was not installed in vain, and a group of foreign objects must have fallen on this road.
Her only luck at the time was that the exoskeleton was still able to keep her warm. If the exoskeleton had lost its heat, her body would have been almost certain to die, but perhaps she, or perhaps Xiao Mingran, could have used other foreign objects to transfer their spirits and linger within their bodies...
Until it is possible to be reborn again.
Zeng An committed suicide. His death was very graceful, and his spirit was broken.
The one who was even more talented was Kong Wei, who pieced everything back together and connected it, and the memory was completely shattered to pieces at the end of the search.
During the investigation of Zeng An, unexpectedly, she did not reveal much information.
Zeng An was initially able to join Kong Wei's experiment not only because he was a guide, but also because he had the idea of bringing humans back to the ground.
However, the continuous success of experiments in this life exposed that Kong Wei's experiments were based on strengthening mental power, which was extremely alienated. On the basis that the Federation had already strongly advocated strengthening the sentinels' bodies and making them more adaptable to the ground, it further aggravated the guide's weakness.
Before the experiment reached this stage, it would have been difficult for her to obtain such results.
In the Federation, there are far more people who want to destroy this experiment than those who hope to develop guides and successfully return to the ground through them. As Kong Wei's chief researcher, there are always many people who want to contact her, and the purpose of many people is just to kill with a borrowed knife.
For this reason, she could only discern carefully and waver.
But Kong Wei's experiments, based on her previous life's foundation, progressed rapidly once she made a breakthrough. Zeng An realized she was close to success and panicked. Since she didn't trust anyone at the moment, she worried they might disguise themselves and steal her results—after all, no matter which side Kong Wei leaned towards, she was the one closest to the ground.
Surrounded by this pack of wolves, Zeng An decided to go it alone.
Kong Wei is the leader and also the experimental subject. She participates in every step of her evolution. She knows her mind very well and has developed a special set of mental attacks against her.
But Kong Wei's ability still exceeded her imagination - and she never thought that there was also a Xiao Mingran who was famous for his attack and had a naturally alienated nature.
After Kong Wei learned to lead the experiments, she no longer shared many things with Zeng An.
The safest way to kill Kong Wei is to die together, but if they die here together, the experiment will most likely fall apart. Then, no one, including the sentinels and guides, will be able to return to the surface.
Besides, if I kill her, will the guide change for the better?
The eight regions on earth evolved differently, and that is natural.
Zeng An's last words to Kong Wei were, "I lost."
She smiled calmly. Kong Wei looked at her and said, "It's okay, at least I lost with dignity."
The information conveyed caused the Federation to issue an emergency recall. The experimental class could only be delayed for a moment, and long-term ground experiments had to be put on the agenda.
Surviving on the ground for a long time, firstly, the Federation has no ability to go up, so they can temporarily avoid being hunted; secondly, if they can really live on the ground for a long time, when they return to the underground city, there will already be examples, and the voice of the masses will definitely drown out the federal decision.
Most people don't have so many twists and turns, nor do they have too many lofty ideals. They don't care whether they are alienated or the sentinels become stronger. They only know that they will return to the ground and stand on the ground again as normal people.
All these grassroots people are the foundation of the federation.
This is the group of people she wants to call on.
This is the most likely scenario. The people who are eager to return to the ground will force the Federation to continue experimenting and promote evolution on a large scale.
Yan Xunzhi turned his chair nearby as if it had nothing to do with him.
Soon after the reconnection, Kong Wei started taking her to various large and small gatherings, calling it familiarity. Yan Xunzhi felt that he was just trying to improve her appearance and train her to be the same obvious mascot as in the previous life. He even carefully dressed her up twice for this purpose.
Before leaving, Kong Wei pulled her back and looked her up and down, "Could you please not dress so... flashy?"
Yan Xunzhi: “…”
It’s all for her! Yan Xiaosenbing got angry and swore to dress prettier from now on to please her. She’s a dog!
Every time she goes to a meeting, she wears those two most ordinary training suits. She throws anything a little fancy into the closet. Ugh! I won't let her wear them!
Kong Wei did suggest that she be included in the meeting, but without the constant presence of someone like in her previous life, her position in the experiment was rather isolated. The experiment was nearly successful, and Yan Xunzhi hadn't been aware of the previous ninety-nine steps, so how could she know where this final one would lead?
Secondly, I'm really not interested, so I'll just treat it as a mascot of a successful experiment, and be happy and at ease, how nice!
"...Yan Xunzhi!" He almost dodged when his chair was pulled. "Your mental power has evolved in vain! Why are you distracted every day?"
Yan Xunzhi hurriedly came back to his senses, "Ah...? I'm not distracted, I'm listening."
Sang Wanyin was speechless. Just as she was about to say something, Kong Wei suddenly interrupted, "Any objections? If not, then it's arranged this way."
Yan Xunzhi immediately made amends and became active, actively striving to be part of the atmosphere group, "No objection! I have no objection!"
In an instant, everyone's eyes turned to her.
Uh...did she say something wrong? Was it wrong to agree with Kong Wei? What kind of arrangement did Kong Wei propose?
Officer Yan, who hadn't heard anything, touched his nose guiltily. Seeing Kong Wei had already stood up and walked out faster than anyone else, he said, "Alright, since everyone agrees, let's do this. Without further ado, let's start preparing for the ground. The meeting is adjourned."
As soon as the last word fell, her figure flashed out of the door and disappeared without a trace.
Sang Wanyin came up to her and poked her, "Congratulations, Leader Yan, you will be our supreme leader from now on."
"..." Yan Xunzhi said, "You are sick."
Sang Wanyin pouted at her, "You're the one with the problem!" Then she gloated over her misfortune, rolled her eyes, and said, "Who told you to be distracted? Go back and ask yourself."
“…”
Yan Xunzhi shuddered and had a bad feeling.
When she intercepted Kong Wei at the door at night, she grabbed her waist and led her inside. "Don't stand at the door. Let me talk to you inside."
This made her bad premonition almost certain. Yan Xunzhi gritted his teeth and pushed her outside the door. "Don't even think about going in today if you don't explain clearly. What's going on? How could Sang Wanyin say that I was the highest...?!"
Kong Wei slightly raised his eyebrows.
Yan Xunzhi lowered her eyes and suddenly realized that their positions were reversed. She had stopped Kong Wei outside the door and was questioning Kong Wei.
Yan Xun subconsciously let go.
Kong Wei gently pushed her into the room, lifted his heels and hooked them, then closed the door.
"Zeng An knows I succeeded, but I'm not sure she's revealed it," she said. "The guy Sang Wanyin beat up has been found out, and they're not trying to kill you because of the experiment. The Federation probably doesn't even know you've succeeded yet. I'll go to the surface, and you stay. This is the least risky."
"I'll stay if I want to. What's wrong with the leader?"
Kong Wei smiled. "I'm on the ground, and someone has to make the decision. I think you're suitable, so I'll give you the power. You have to listen carefully recently."
Yan Xunzhi was stunned. "Are you crazy?"
Kong Wei smiled and touched the back of her neck, "My medicine doesn't have this side effect."
"...Is it because Sun Yesuo rejected you?" Yan Xiaosenbing was numb. "Then don't give up on yourself and put the blame on me..."
Who? She?
Is she in charge of things and making decisions?
She must not drag all of humanity into this pit with her, from which they will never be able to escape!
Kong Wei didn't mention anything about this or that. Yan Xunzhi thought she was just making up the numbers at the meeting, but she didn't expect such a big pit to be waiting for her...
Kong Wei said, "I really think you're suitable. Look, you have a researcher to guide you in the experimental direction, Sun Yesuo will clean up the mess for you, and if there are any difficulties in implementation, Sang Wanyin will help you solve them. You're lucky, and you can make the final decision. How perfect."
"You are so..." Yan Xunzhi could hardly squeeze out the words. This is too much of a joke!
Kong Wei sat down and looked up at her. Their eyes met, and there was a moment of emptiness.
"I know you don't like me talking about my previous life..."
She said calmly, "But I want to say that a person's basic character never changes. I'm too cold and indifferent. Even if I don't go to the surface, I'm not suitable to be a leader in the future."
"Among these people, Tu Shengsi Ban, Sun Yesuo is indecisive, and Sang Wanyin is ruthless. To use the old saying, we can wave the flag and charge into battle, but we are not fit to be monarchs and rule the world."
"Besides, Yan Xunzhi." Her voice was like a pool of stagnant water, calm and without any fluctuations. "Actually, you are thirsty for power."
……Yeah?
Did she really have nothing to ask for, or did she know that her life was just like this, so she had nothing to ask for.
The flowers in Kong Wei's picture are blooming.
It turns out that the landscape also has four seasons: spring, summer, autumn, and winter. She had never experienced such a deep connection with her before. Influenced by her ability, her whole body felt numb, and she unconsciously leaned forward, almost clinging to her.
The whereabouts of her spirit are buried deep within her image.
It fit perfectly, with only a small piece left unsealed. Yan Xunzhi finally saw why Kong Wei and she were so well matched, yet no one else could connect with them.
It could almost be said to have been made for her, almost completely surrounding half of her, like a small circle inside a big circle, gently embracing her.
"Does it hurt?"
"It doesn't hurt."
She felt a pang of pain in her heart, and she couldn't explain what it meant. Kong Wei looked at her and smiled, raised his hand, and suddenly stopped.
Then he leaned forward slightly and kissed the corner of her eye. There was a very faint scar at the corner of Yan Xunzhi's eye, short and like a teardrop mole.
She covered the teardrop mole and kissed away her tears.
"It really doesn't hurt." Her eyes were like the moon, and she smiled, "I never suffer any loss. If it hurt, I would definitely ask you for something."
【Author’s words】
Pickled Fish: Don't go away, next chapter.
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