Chapter 239 [Revised] Earthlings' Tentacles Covered with Slime
War is ruthless and bullets are blind. Laser weapons are often used in interstellar battles, and it is not impossible for soldiers to be instantly reduced to ashes.
The 209th Squadron's search and march mission failed, and the 30 scouts were hung up with black and white photos.
After organizing a brief memorial ceremony, Bai Ling returned to the empty office, wanting to be alone.
Death was terrible, but what was even more terrible was that his soldiers died without knowing why.
Those who can be sent to perform reconnaissance missions are all brave and careful special forces soldiers. If they can all be ambushed, the enemy's strength may have increased worryingly.
As to whether it was a weapon upgrade or other aspects, Bai Ling didn't know.
But the only thing Bai Ling could be sure of was that there had been no large-scale explosions or attacks with thermal weapons there - this information was very accurate, and was interpreted from the data from the bracelets of the soldiers who had died.
During the past six months, all wearable identity bracelets in the empire's territories have been updated.
Compared to the old version, the new bracelet is more difficult to destroy and cannot be removed privately. In contrast, the new bracelet can detect citizens' heartbeat, body temperature and brain waves more accurately.
All of this data will be uploaded to the cloud synchronously and stored by the Empire's citizen management system.
You can even upload when there is no internet connection.
Bai Ling had never paid attention to its operating mechanism. In his impression, this was an imperial black technology with a unique patent. At least as far as he knew, the Federation had never built a cross-galaxy cloud server of this scale. There are even some federal information security experts who are so jealous that their eyes are bleeding while they denounce the Empire for stealing citizens' privacy.
Bai Ling did not take the accusations from mainstream society in the Federation and other countries seriously.
In his opinion, installing wristbands on citizens has far more advantages than disadvantages. Especially in this world full of pheromones, it can greatly speed up the trial process of gender-based crimes and avoid false and wrongful convictions.
It’s the same old question: Which is more important, life or freedom?
Of course it’s fate.
Moreover, in Bai Ling's case, this citizen management system is often bound to the login system of the ship fleet, and to a certain extent acts as an information firewall - in the past hundred years, there has never been a record of it being breached. As a part of protecting confidential information, it is terribly strong.
Most military and civilian weapons and equipment produced by Gorgon must be equipped with the official system Themis.
As for other manufacturers, some are sticking with it, while others are turning to the federally developed system, “Blue Wall.”
However, Bai Ling always felt uneasy when using a system produced in a neighboring country, fearing that one day he would be controlled from a distance and his mecha would self-destruct.
Thoughts drift away and then pull back.
Bai Ling calmed himself down, tapped on the virtual keyboard, and called up the data of the thirty dead soldiers reported by the Themis system again.
The last place they disappeared was a pond in a downstream branch of a river.
Judging from the map, there are no buildings around and the environment is nothing special.
Bai Ling zoomed in and looked at it repeatedly, trying to find clues that caused him to feel strange. The finger moved up along the river, and continued to move up. Upper reaches of the river was the largest settlement on the New Columbus planet, the city of New Columbus.
And in the city of New Columbus, there is only one company, and that is the interstellar pharmaceutical research and development giant [Reco Bio] in which Swordfish Duke holds a 90% stake.
Bai Ling stared at the screen. The scattered light in the dim light made his outline look cold and stern. He squinted his eyes.
The death of the reconnaissance team is definitely related to Swordfish.
·
Afterwards, Bai Ling held a meeting with his wingmen.
In fact, most of the time, the people sitting here are military attachés, and they discuss military affairs. Sometimes, North would be included to make up the whole group, so they cannot be called formal staff.
But one day Sava mentioned that His Majesty the King has seventy-two Demon Pillars with equal power, so we should also set up an organization.
As for what to name the organization, North offered a suggestion:
"There is a ready-made name in history, the Privy Council. If it is under the Queen, it would be 'Her Majesty's Privy Councillor'."
Sava pondered: "Your title is correct, but we can't call Bai Ling 'Your Majesty'. There is only one His Majesty now. If we call him that, outsiders might think we are usurping power."
North touched his chin and said, "That's right. Let's wait until the old man leaves. Now let's call the Privy Council."
Kidd raised his hand to express his opinion: "The term Privy Council sounds too old-fashioned. How about the Privy Council? 'So-and-so Council' sounds more mysterious."
“I agree!”
Bai Ling went out to get a cup of coffee and came back to find that everyone at the table had already decided on a name for their group.
[Privy Envoy - French Fries Nemesis]: Come on, have fun (wings flapping face)
[Privy Councilor - Lord of Darkness]: (slaps back) Your wing is poking my face!
Bai Ling: “…”
It feels like playing a board role play. Forget it, let them play.
Today's meeting was still lively.
Bai Ling went online and told them his guess.
The Lord of Darkness immediately rushed out and said, "This is easy. Give me the coordinates and I will blow that crappy company to pieces."
Bombing type.
[Righteous and Awesome]: "I think it would be better to send the vanguard to sneak in quietly, so as to avoid unnecessary losses to the greatest extent possible."
This is Kite.
Assassination type.
[Pink Bunny]: "Everyone, that place can't withstand your bombardment. If we don't handle it well, our reputation will be ruined."
North is the type who always gives advice in a earnest manner.
"What do you mean?" Sava asked.
North: "Well... how should I put it? They are quite xenophobic. In the entire empire, they may be the only group of people who don't want us to liberate them."
"Because they are..." North glanced at Bai Ling subconsciously, "Earthlings."
Bai Ling raised his eyebrows slightly, remembering this.
New Columbus is not very big, but the ethnic distribution there is special. Since this was one of the earliest landing points for ancient humans on Earth, and many immigrants from Earth were later settled here, the local Earthlings account for a relatively high proportion, reaching 30% of the total population of the planet. About six million people.
When they come to the Empire, they are generally registered as beta gender. Apart from the mark "Native Place: Earth" in the identity column, their other treatment is no different from that of the Imperial people.
But as North said, this group of Earth immigrants is relatively xenophobic.
This xenophobia is reflected not only in the fact that they have their own communities, hospitals, schools and language, but also in their slight hostility towards imperial seafood and birds.
North spread his hands: "I used to have an Earth student who called me 'animal' to my face. Well, although I am indeed an animal, it is a bit like treating me as if I were not a human being - I have 72% human genes."
After listening to Kidd, he said empathetically: "Different cultures cannot be forced to blend together. A little xenophobia is understandable. For example, I can't stand some of the arrogant people in the capital planet."
This time it was Seibu Tsukasa's turn to express his opinion. He had been stationed on various planets and had some understanding of the local customs and habits. He frowned:
"The biggest problem of New Columbus is not xenophobia, but faith. I'm afraid you haven't been there for a long time, at least five or six years? Anyway, two years ago, I was sent there by the Central Army and found that most people there believe in electronic Buddhism. They have to offer sacrifices and kowtow three times and nine times every day at a certain time."
Everyone looked at each other in bewilderment.
Electronic Buddha and cyber belief are new things that have emerged in recent years. It was originally popular in the Artiodactyl Kingdom and the Federation, but now there are believers on many developed planets in the Empire.
For example, when Bai Ling was still participating in club competitions, there were contestants who performed rituals on the spot, praying to the electronic Buddha to draw a good fortune.
But Bai Ling declined the offer. He still remembered the bionic monk whose temple on the space station exploded. The manufacturer was from Earth and the engineer was named "Xiaosong Zen". He almost flew into a black hole and died.
Huo Yuan pondered: "Is there really any reward for their obsession with praying to gods and Buddhas? If so, which organization is providing them with benefits? If not, are they brainwashed?"
"Of course there are benefits," Saibuji said, tapping the map. "This Rico is the biggest backer in the area. They rely on this company to make a living, and they get a lot of benefits from this super pharmaceutical company. Of course, they don't want us to kill the Duke of Swordfish and disrupt their current lives."
After listening to everyone's opinions, Bai Ling concluded:
"In the final analysis, it's still a welfare issue, which is not difficult to solve. Tell them that after the revolutionary army arrives there, the previous welfare will remain the same. We will not lay off employees, but will nationalize the Rico Company."
As he spoke, he looked at Xiwusi and instructed: "Also, find out if there are any locals from New Columbus in the military, and ask him/her to contact their relatives and friends to see if they can mobilize someone to serve as a paid informant for us."
"Yes, sir." Xiwu Si lazily saluted.
The meeting was about to end, and North suddenly asked again:
"What if, I mean what if, we have exhausted all negotiation options and they still resist?"
After he said this, he looked at the suddenly changing expressions of the people around him and realized that his words had crossed the line.
Because what he said was equivalent to asking directly, "Bai Ling, will you stand with your fellow Earthlings, or with us?"
A question of stance.
Seeing that the topic was sensitive, Sava quickly came to the rescue, "We haven't even started yet. We'll talk about it later."
But Bai Ling obviously listened. He lowered his eyes and thought deeply for a while, and finally answered carefully and responsibly:
"If I can't suppress it, I will reserve the right to use weapons to control the situation, depending on the circumstances."
·
Imperial Capital Star, Imperial Palace.
The news that the revolutionary army was advancing soon reached the emperor's office.
On the dark red carpet, huge suction tentacles were wriggling anxiously. Cade was as anxious as a squid on an iron plate, fearing that he would be cooked by Bai Ling's iron shovel in the next second and rolled into a shape that was cut into pieces.
"The Duke of Swordfish is here!"
Following the servant's chant, Cade rushed to the door as if he had found a life-saving straw, and said with a bitter face: "Duke, they are here, and they have even gone to your territory! Is my kingdom really going to end? My dear, please think of a way to save me!"
Duke Swordfish calmly pushed away his slime-covered tentacle and said, "Your Majesty, don't panic. I have asked for help."
"What foreign aid?" Upon hearing this, Kaide's eyes lit up. "As long as he is willing to lead the troops into battle, I will personally reward him! Is he here?"
“Here I come.”
Cade stretched his head and looked out expectantly, but froze after a moment. The large tentacles behind him bent into eight question marks in confusion.
"Where are my strong soldiers? Why is there a... monk here?"
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