CHAPTER 1574: CHAPTER 1574: GRIPPED BY THE THROAT

R1 Base is a new base that was completed just two months ago. The entire structure is underground, with large areas of forest on the surface for concealment. Even with satellite observation, it is not easily discovered. Entry and exit to the base are through underground tunnels, which then use nearby mountain tunnels to merge back into the main road. Normally, personnel use these routes, and the base itself is only equipped with several elevator-type secure channels that can be used in an emergency evacuation by helicopter.

Currently, almost all daily work by government high officials is completed here, particularly some classified advanced meetings.

Twenty minutes ago, a laboratory dedicated to researching long-life potions suitable for persons from Country X was destroyed by players, with the newly produced batch of potions and the latest research results looted. After the situation was reported, R1 Base quickly convened a meeting.

In addition to the decision-makers who had just taken office recently, the meeting was attended by several elders who had just been sidelined from the core leadership. However, they all sat in the second row at the table, almost unable to express any opinions. About one-third of those seated at the table were players aged around thirty or forty.

Whether it was the new decision-makers or these players, they were once government personnel. However, they have moved from their previous auxiliary positions to the forefront, gaining absolute authority. At this table, even Minister Ji of the Special Defense Department could only sit on the sidelines.

The core institution had just undergone a major reshuffle, and it was a time when the newcomers were full of energy and confidence. The previous strategies had been powerfully implemented and were yielding ideal results. The topic to be discussed today was the suppression measures against unofficial players.

When dealing with player organizations and some unorganized players, the government has anticipated resistance. However, to be blunt, civilian players are not a major force, and player organizations with the strength to challenge the government would not easily damage their current relationship with the government.

They had to deal with some relatively radical players, commonly known as troublemakers.

Before spatial restriction instruments were set up nationwide, it was difficult to control players’ movements, so precautions had to be taken against these people reaching important places.

"... We don’t have to do much; we just need to take down the few most active ones," said a middle-aged man in uniform. "It’s not just civilian players; we have such people internally too."

The elder at the head of the table tapped on the surface. "We’ll leave internal matters for today. Let’s first talk about how to handle the gathered players."

Indeed, the government side had already received information about the Player Association collaborating with unorganized players. They even understood these groups’ arrangements better than the groups themselves and knew that their internal issues hadn’t been resolved yet.

"Who else is there apart from Xu Huo to stand up for them now?" The middle-aged man, who was also a player, maintained a dismissive attitude towards players just like everyone else in the conference room today. "Focus on dealing with him, and the rest are not a threat. Haven’t you seen those two groups arguing endlessly without a resolution? They’re just waiting for Xu to lead the charge for them, aren’t they?"

The player sitting opposite him in a military uniform frowned and said, "Do I need to remind you that Xu Huo is a Super Evolver? After Professor Tang’s psychological counseling last time, it was clearly stated that if no particularly gifted player emerges in Zone 014 in the short term, no one will surpass him mentally in Super Evolution in the next five years. Even the spatial evolvers of the Special Defense Department have tested him, and even in terms of Spatial Power, he far surpasses our existing Super Evolvers."

"Are you scared?" The middle-aged man scoffed.

The military-clad player slammed the table, "Watch your attitude, Xie Song! Just because you became a player doesn’t mean you can dismiss others. Whether it’s Xu Huo, the Player Association, or unorganized players, they are not our enemies. Think it over!"

Xie Song’s expression remained unchanged, and instead, he said, "So you acknowledge they will challenge the state after growing stronger?"

The military-clad player coldly stared at him, "It’s not either-or; you can’t use government-trained players to undermine the Player Association’s morale."

Xie Song spread his hands, "Sounds like I have a personal agenda, right? This recent mutated fungus incident is just an example, isn’t it? Look carefully; we’ve been strangled by our own people. To put it bluntly, if Xu Huo wants to coerce the government, all he needs to do is poison a large area."

"I don’t believe you’d be willing to have a knife pointed at your back."

The conference room fell silent for a moment. Xie Song’s argument was flawed, but many secretly shared the same thought—they indeed desired the King Fungus.

"Everyone, I don’t think it’s necessary to always assume the worst of people," Minister Ji of the Special Defense Department finally spoke up. "If Xu Huo didn’t want people to know he possessed Antidote Fungus, he wouldn’t have voluntarily revealed it with the Black Rain incident. We owe thanks to his help with that."

"Though he hasn’t joined the Special Defense Department or the Player Association, it’s evident he’s inclined towards us. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have rushed back upon hearing about the mutated fungus incident."

"I understand—good things are always in demand. But, Xu Huo isn’t the only one with valuable resources. If today, someone wants his, and tomorrow they want mine, that’s just chaos among ourselves, isn’t it?"

"What are you implying!" Xie Song’s face lost its humor as he glared sharply at him.

Minister Ji met his gaze directly, "You know exactly what I’m implying."

Both sides were at a standoff, and the elder at the head of the table was forced to tap on the table again. After drawing everyone’s attention, he said, "We should actively enlist young talents with ability and drive. The Special Defense Department did well this time; Xu Huo has already agreed to help resolve the mutated fungus issue."

"Regardless of the outcome, his attitude has been excellent."

"However, the subsequent coordination work can be negotiated with him. Special Defense Department personnel cannot simply be shuffled according to his whims."

Minister Ji said nothing, though his forced smile seemed somewhat strained. The discussion all boiled down to maneuvering original Special Defense Department personnel aside.

"Regarding the gatherings of the Player Association and unorganized players, even if they seek out Xu Huo, we should first assess the opposing side’s attitude. It’s not like we can’t negotiate."

"What if Xu Huo makes extortionate demands over the mutated fungus incident?" Xie Song asked again.

The elder’s expression turned more serious, "Then we must let him understand that the dignity of the nation cannot be desecrated!"

"Why speculate and guess so intricately?" a sudden voice echoed in the conference room. Bearing the scent of grilled food, Xu Huo stood behind the elder’s chair, smiling at everyone, "Why not just ask me directly?"

The moment he appeared, the first reaction of those seated in the conference room was one of surprise and doubt—why hadn’t anyone or the instruments outside reacted? Within moments, everyone instinctively rose, with the players who had already changed rushing to surround him across the conference table, only to be pulled back to their seats at the last moment.

Initially, the player proportion in the conference room wasn’t high; most were pulled back to their chairs with a "clatter," while a few managed to avoid the characteristics. However, that didn’t mark the end of their ordeal. The rapidly spread Spatial Ray Blades within the conference room soon severed their limbs, their kneeling postures pressing against their throats.

Lines of fresh blood trickled down the invisible weapon’s edges. Some were still unwilling to comply, but when they looked up, they found that the sharp secant lines already crisscrossed the entire conference room, locking around every individual’s neck.