CHAPTER 875: CHAPTER 875: BIOCHEMICAL WARFARE

The world of "Wasteland OL" is not isolated islands but a seamless, continuous whole.

A typhoon in the Poluo Sea might trigger torrential rains in Baiyue Province.

After such a long closed beta, players have become accustomed to the intertwined events happening on the wasteland. So when Wild Wind saw the army throwing corpses into the river, he immediately connected it to the potential impact of viruses carried by the corpses on the downstream settlements.

After consulting with the academy researchers, Fang Chang immediately relayed the message to Absek, hoping that the Poluo authorities could prepare for epidemic measures.

However, regrettably, faced with overwhelming tasks and incessant factional conflicts, Absek evidently did not take it seriously enough.

He verbally agreed and indeed instructed the health committee member, but neither did the former nor the latter take this "small matter" to heart.

Actually, it’s no wonder he wasn’t concerned.

Players’ understanding of viruses is entirely different from the wasteland wanderers’.

After all, infectious diseases were rare in the Human Alliance Era, and for those living on the red soil, they were even less of a concern.

Alliance volunteers often caught colds due to discomfort from the climate, even the awakeners like Big Eyes had a cold once.

Yet, Absek, having lived there for so long, had only heard of people dying from hunger or poverty but never from a virus.

The greatest legacy left by the Human Alliance to their children is actually hidden in everyone’s DNA.

It’s the product of controlled evolution.

Even if human civilization has stagnated, naturally occurring viruses would likely need centuries to catch up with human evolution.

However, this is only the scenario under natural evolution.

Add technological catalysis, and the situation is entirely different...

Almost the day after Fang Chang warned Absek to prepare for the epidemic, severe calamities struck the river-side village north of Tiandu.

More than sixty percent of the nearly hundred households in the village showed fever symptoms, and among those feverish patients, more than half fell into deep comas.

Fortunately, players had anticipated possible events, and the Alliance stationed Tiandu Battlefield Hospital immediately sent medical teams to treat the patients while isolating the village, and also collected virus samples for testing.

Moreover, academy researchers also followed up with investigations.

It was only at this point that Absek realized the horror of "biological warfare" and hurriedly dispatched a thousand team from Tiandu City to stations along the Everflow River, and coordinated with the Alliance Battlefield Hospital to define control zones, then sent telegrams throughout Poluo Country, instructing all units to prepare for health and publicity work, advising survivors not to drink unboiled river water directly.

In fact, there’s no need for Absek authorities to promote.

Upon hearing that the Southern Legion had poisoned the Everflow River, survivors from Tiandu to Jinjaron Harbor were terrified.

Every household placed pots and pans on the roof, waiting for rain from the sky, not daring to touch river water, and even avoiding drinking well water.

Though there was suspicion of exaggeration, no one dared to gamble on that probability.

After all, except the academy’s researchers and the Alliance’s Battlefield Hospital, no one could guarantee that boiling the water would definitely inactivate the virus.

On the third day of the infection outbreak, the Alliance’s Battlefield Hospital, with the support of academy researchers, quickly completed the analysis of samples.

Even though Absek found the first half of the report from the Alliance Battlefield Hospital confusing, upon seeing the projected casualties of over a million at the end, he couldn’t help but curse.

"Those damned Weilante people are truly vicious!"

Though Alliance doctors also explained in the report that the death toll wouldn’t directly reflect onto the total population and household registry, as it might overlap with natural deaths, it still shocked Absek into a cold sweat.

A million people!

Lion City itself has only a million people!

Those Weilante people can wipe out an equivalent of a whole Lion City of Poluo people just by peeing into the Everflow River!

Moreover, according to the analysis model provided by the Alliance Biological Research Institute, the virus named "Mortal Serum" has completely contaminated the Everflow River’s water systems.

Though currently the virus’s transmissibility is low, with future modifications by the Southern Legion, who can say what might happen?

More pressing is that even though this sword is hanging over his neck, besides anxiously worrying, he has no other solutions.

This is a confrontation between the Southern Legion and the Academy and the Alliance.

Though this duel decides the life and death of Poluo Province survivors, they themselves lack even the qualifications to stand in the ring.

Only at this moment did Absek truly grasp the power of technology, and the importance of education reform advocated by Kaba Committee Member.

If knowledge cannot be mastered and applied in society, the Poluo people will never truly rise, and will always suffer endlessly!

Putting down the report, Absek wiped the sweat on his forehead and cursed again.

"Damn... This education reform has to proceed!"

No matter how much resistance, it must be carried out!

Looking at the cursing Absek, the Internal Affairs Committee member Wadia, standing in front of the desk, although unclear why the leader suddenly turned to education reform, lowered his voice to report.

"Rest assured, sir, Kaba Committee Member and his family have been moved to the Heavenly Palace, currently under the protection of the Internal Affairs Committee, nobody can harm them."

Absek sighed and continued.

"Now I don’t worry about Kaba, but rather those students. Tiandu is about to erupt into fighting, and now there’s an epidemic; we need to arrange their departure quickly."

Akale County has already fallen.

The twenty thousand cannon fodder at the front are about to fall, soon Duwata and Nigeli’s commands will be up next, including his own direct line.

Compared to the poison in the Everflow River, the Legion Leader’s advancing army is the more pressing threat.

The Alliance has already warned him about possible events in the city, and before that, he must send those students away.

Watching the worried Absek, Wadia pondered for a moment before softly stating.

"This task was originally the responsibility of the Education Committee, but ever since Kaba Committee Member was taken away, rumors have circulated of the army wanting to purge the Education Committee, causing the entire education department to be almost paralyzed..."

Absek shouted angrily.

"Who the hell is making noise there!"

Wadia smiled bitterly and said.

"It’s probably General Duwata... but it could also be his subordinates."

"That sly fox!"

Absek squinted his eyes.

What a clever ruse!

Duwata had clearly seen through his true intention of confining Committee Member Kaba Ha. On the surface, it was to pressure the Education Committee regarding the big exam and to appease the discontent in the army, but in reality, it was to protect the person.

So that guy did this trick, helping to promote his "good deeds."

From the perspective of the authorities, there’s no way to clarify the hidden truths behind the scenes.

After all, they did arrest the person; now to clarify it was for their good—not to mention whether anyone would believe it—would instead anger the major soldiers he had just appeased.

Absek squinted his eyes and pondered for a long time before looking at Wadia and ordering.

"Since they’re playing such a trick, let’s play the full set with them... From today on, the Education Committee will temporarily be taken over by the Internal Affairs Committee until the end of the wartime state."

Wadia’s expression turned serious, and he respectfully complied.

"Yes!"

...

Not only the pressing cat, but also the mice cornered were red-eyed.

Even as the legion’s iron hooves approached the city, the people of Poluo in Tiandu had not forgotten their ancestral skills but instead intensified under the cruel pressure.

A small examination not only caused a committee member to fall but also nearly paralyzed the entire Education Committee. Schools closed, and teachers went on strike demanding the release of Kaba Ha.

As for the soldiers in the city, each and every one of them stared fiercely.

No matter whose command they were under, their dissatisfaction with Kaba Ha was the same.

They all wanted to see who dared make a move!

The ones singing the opera this time were again the Internal Affairs of Poluo Country.

A group of officers wearing black hats quickly took over the courtyard of the Education Committee and announced Absek’s orders.

Due to the Education Committee’s passive resistance, the Internal Affairs Committee would now take over.

As soon as the news spread, it instantly caused a huge stir, making waves in the city.

Some clapped and cheered, saying that those old fossils should have been dealt with long ago, while others sighed, feeling sorry that Committee Member Kaba Ha hadn’t met a wise leader.

The sharp contradictions had effectively fragmented all the strata of Poluo Country.

Everyone harbored a pent-up emotion in their bellies, just missing an outlet to release.

It is no exaggeration to say that this riddled-with-holes Tiandu is like a leaky house. Even if no one kicks the door, it might fall one day by itself.

In this sense, Absek indeed had to thank the legion.

He not only secured the Angel Wheel investment from those big-nosed people but also, thanks to their savagery, managed to prop up this crumbling house.

For an ordinary dock worker, this was almost the limit of his ability.

In short, although the whole process was full of twists and turns, the outcome was satisfactory.

The 500 students selected by the big exam eventually waited successfully for the flight to Mammoth Country.

Additionally, after repeated communication between Tiandu University and Mammoth University, the latter arranged for 100 more study slots for the former, aimed at officers and the families of fallen soldiers.

On the day of the departure, at the military airport on the outskirts of Tiandu, the guardrails beside the runway were crowded with families seeing off the children.

Looking at his father, whose face was full of wrinkles yet brimmed with smiles, the slightly naive-looking young man lowered his head, whispering in a voice only the two of them could hear.

"Dad, when I’ve studied well... I’ll take you to the alliance."

Old Rots was slightly stunned, then grabbed his son’s shoulders with both hands, looking at his eyes in surprise.

"Silly child, what are you talking about? Lord Absek is waiting for you to come back and be an official; why go to the alliance."

Nayak lifted his head to meet his father’s simple and honest face and those surprised eyes.

The neighbors always praised his father for being honest, but he knew that his father was actually not honest at all.

That man with cloudy eyes was actually more cunning than anyone and more worldly.

However, Nayak did not think his father was a bad person, nor did he think being cunning was something bad.

In the cruel jungle, even rabbits, which were harmless to humans and animals, had a thousand eyes and a thousand ears.

If his father weren’t cunning enough, he and his siblings wouldn’t survive at all.

On the contrary, the bad ones are those who racked their brains trying to label his father as honest.

In the farms of Dog State, the most honest creatures were the double-headed cows.

And they were the most at the mercy of others.

The old empire once bestowed them with supreme honor, but never truly respected them for a second.

Nobles could freely enjoy them, outsiders could as well; only those who raised them could not.

Everyone in Tiandu said that the world had changed, but he could see clearly that this changing thing throughout the year, whether it changed or not, what difference would it make?

The people were still the same people.

They had been sad, angry, awake, and asleep, but they had never really changed.

Looking at his father still kept in the dark, Nayak lowered his voice and continued to speak.

"Leader Absek never said that... it was all of you who spoke for him."

Seeing the clueless, foolish child, Elder Rots wished he could shake him awake.

"Does something so obvious need anyone to say it? Stop thinking too much, just focus on your studies, listen to your father."

Nayak didn’t say anything, ultimately sighed lightly, and kept the truth within his heart.

"I understand."

Anush’s death was the real surprise, the ones who killed him are truly doomed.

But he couldn’t change anything.

No matter how promising his studies were, that imprisoned Kaba committee member would be his life’s ceiling.

If he learned his father’s abilities, perhaps he could become an un-imprisoned Kaba committee member, or one praised on the pedestal... but what significance does that have?

Power was never his pursuit, nor those ever-changing colorful paper money.

In truth, he was more interested in looking at the moon.

He heard that two hundred years ago was a great era, people then were much stronger than now, and more knowledgeable, just a tiny step away from truly reaching the stars.

It’s a pity that great endeavor was abandoned midway, someone has to continue the unfinished journey for those pioneers.

He wanted to be that kind of person.

Of course, this didn’t mean he would abandon his family.

He would simply use his own methods to help them...

Unaware of what his son was thinking, Elder Rots just saw him finally lower his head obediently, revealing a relieved smile, as he grinned and patted his son’s head.

"Good boy..."

A sentence from a neighbor during yesterday’s drinking woke him up.

His son eating imperial grain was something bound to happen.

Perhaps he should seriously consider naming the family for the future sake...

At the same moment Elder Rots sent his son onto the plane, General Pickley’s youngest son Gale also grabbed his luggage amid tearful goodbyes from a group of dissolute friends.

Unlike Elder Rots’ son, he didn’t really want to go to Mammoth City.

Firstly, war was about to break out, he didn’t want to be too far from his father.

Secondly, that’s the territory of the ruthless Laxi, his father’s hand couldn’t reach there; he’d have to live meekly, unlike the freedom he enjoys in Tiandu.

In Tiandu, he could count on a hand the people he dared not offend. As long as they’re not from the Alliance or College, he could offend anyone as he pleased.

This wasn’t all.

Here, he had a group of good friends he played with, ones he was most reluctant to leave.

However, helplessly, it wasn’t up to him.

In his father’s words, this opportunity was fought for with his father’s life at Duwata’s committee, a colossal debt of gratitude has been incurred, even if he doesn’t want to go, he must.

Although Gale was a bit decadent, somewhat indecently so, he wasn’t stupid.

Faced with his father’s belt in hand, he could only reluctantly conform.

Just as Gale was about to board the plane, a slightly chubby young man pushed up to him, tears streaming.

"Boss, you... who knows when you’ll be back once you go."

Feeling a bit moved inside, Gale still put on the demeanor of a big brother, patting the younger one on the shoulder.

"Don’t whine like this, if you truly miss me, then knuckle down and study for a year or so, take the exams next year and come join me!"

Upon hearing this, the expression of the chubby young man turned bitter like a gourd.

"Boss... you know how twisted that old timer’s questions are, even if I want to pass, my heart is willing but my strength is lacking."

Other sons of thousands of leaders also chimed in, buttering him up.

"Yes, Boss."

"Our brains aren’t as good as yours."

Seeing this group of young men dawdling without boarding the plane, standing by the cabin door waiting to close it, the impatient players finally spoke up to rush them.

"Hey, can you hurry with your scene? We have the next one to send off!"

Scene?

Gale froze for a moment, but dared not ask more.

His father had repeatedly instructed him about whom he could and couldn’t provoke.

Politely saying a word of apology, Gale immediately squeezed into the cabin with his luggage, casually finding an empty seat to sit.

Shortly thereafter, the roar of engines vibrated across the cabin walls, four blue arcs pushing the massive fuselage faster and faster on the straight runway, then taking off.

It was a runway painstakingly hammered by survivors around Tiandu with hoes and shovels.

Those silver wings carried all the expectations from the ground, lifting off temporarily from Earth’s gravity, flying towards the unknown far away...

...

On the other side, in the northwest of Lion State, near Sulak County of Dog State, soldiers carrying rifles were patrolling along the square-shaped field embankments.

They were servant armies from the colonies, and although they spoke the same United Human language, their accents varied.

At the same time Ryan’s Thousand Team took Akale County, General Olet led the 17th, 18th, 19th, ten thousand troops and captured Dog State, advancing towards the central region of Northern Three States, towards Sheep State.

As the subordinate of General Otley, stationed in Sulak County, Ross also followed the deployment, leading the 171st thousand team to the northern frontline.

As for Sulak County, it was handed over to the servant army sent from the colony for defense.

This place is considered a logistics hub for the northern line, with fairly significant strategic importance.

Additionally, a "tough guy from the Alliance" who refused to confess even under duress was also handed over to the servant army taking charge of the defense.

Unlike the Weilante people, these laborers from the colony didn’t have much zeal for torturing prisoners. Seeing that the latter wouldn’t confess no matter what, they threw him into the dungeon and ignored him.

To be honest, Old Dog actually felt a bit regretful about the slack work attitude of these lackeys.

Not because he’s a masochist, but mainly because the big-nosed fellow who locked him up said he would give him a hard time, but kept repeating the same tricks.

He has to admit that he was initially scared and wet his pants.

However, he soon discovered, quite unexpectedly, that he could take it.

The helmet helped shield most of the pain, enabling him to relish the frustrated expressions on the faces of those Weilante people while fully conscious.

In the face of his iron-like will, these Weilante people were at a loss, having to endure his mockery of "Is this all?" and "Bunch of amateurs."

Anyway, he wasn’t in a hurry to die, so why not practice the United Human language and gather some intelligence in the meantime.

And those Weilante people trying to extract information from him didn’t hold back while torturing him but also didn’t dare to actually kill him.

Moreover, he had one more enjoyable pastime: sharing his "game experience" with his good buddies in their private chat group.

Even though none of the four people in the group wanted to hear him elaborate, they all urged him to go find a wall to smash his head against; if he kept staying down, the DLC might be over already...

Another quiet night, Old Dog heard some noise outside the door, thinking it was someone coming to deliver his meal, but unexpectedly, a sneaky fellow came in.

The man was very short, thin, with some dry grass stuck to his clothes and hair.

Old Dog took one look at this guy and was sure he wasn’t a Weilante lackey, so he curiously asked in faltering United Human language.

"Who are you?"

"I’m from the Family Meeting! You can just call me family! Brother, you’ve been through a lot!"

The young man, with no concern for the grass on him, hurriedly walked up, pulled out a key, and unlocked the cage door with a clang, then undid the lock at Old Dog’s feet.

Family Meeting?

Chewing over this term repeatedly, the dim-eyed Old Dog suddenly brightened up, stammering as he continued.

"Oh, I’ve heard of you guys; you even went to City of Dawn, right?"

He remembered this group.

Because of a post from Brother "Without Family," this group had become popular on the Forum once, with many players donating money to them.

The NPCs in the game were highly intelligent, yet there were too few willing to indulge them in jokes.

The young man, with a sincere smile, either understood his mumbling or didn’t, soon spoke seriously again.

"...This isn’t the place for talking; I’ll get you out of here first!"

Barely understanding his words, Old Dog couldn’t help but feel excited, finally having a chance to save his progress.

Yet as he thought about leaving this place, he suddenly felt a bit reluctant.

"Hey, you guys are too kind... Honestly, you don’t have to worry about me; I’m quite comfortable here."

The young man, whether he understood or not, directly abandoned communicating with him, slung him over his shoulder, and stealthily slipped out the door.

The night was silent, except for the croaking sounds.

Old Dog, despite feeling like staying, had no intention to harm, so ultimately he obediently shut his mouth.

Just as the two figures left the small dark room, the roar of jet aircraft engines came from the sky.

A metallic hydrogen aerial bomb landed precisely on the camp where Old Dog had been, and the explosion flames instantly illuminated the night.

The astonished servant army hurriedly scrambled around after the airstrike, ironically creating a window of time for the two hiding by the edge of the village to escape.

At this moment, Old Dog’s peripheral vision suddenly caught sight of a few sneaky figures hiding in the darkness.

They carried some automatic rifles stolen from the village...

On the distant hillside, two players in ghillie suits were holding binoculars, gazing at the explosion center.

"Ammo depot explosion, nicely done."

In the communications channel came the static sound of electric currents, followed shortly by Falling Feather’s voice.

"Where’s that newbie?"

Night Ten yawned.

"Been retrieved... Honestly, I think it’s a bit redundant; that guy suicides fastest. Instead of wasting time dragging, he might as well restart. Could’ve recouped the lost experience by now."

Wild Wind glanced at him.

"Everyone’s comprehension of the game differs; you can’t expect everyone to think like you."

Night Ten made a helpless expression.

"I’m just saying casually... Time to leave."

The two haystacks silently disappeared over the hillside as if they’d never been there.

After the fall of Akale County, they didn’t retreat with other brothers from the Burning Corps, instead riding electric scooters all the way west to Lion State.

Afterward, their mission was to cooperate with the Alliance’s air force and the Guerrilla team active in the area, targeting the Southern Legion’s logistics system.

As for the rescue, it was just a convenience...