Chapter 1233: Chapter 475: Defection (Part 2)

Chu Yan pressed a device on her arm, and a projection gun slowly rose, projecting a holographic curtain into the air in front of the two.

The screen continuously rolled with characters and identity information, and Lin Xian immediately became serious as he watched.

"Cheng Yu, Gender: Female, Scientist at the Phoenix Society’s High-Energy Physics Research Institute, Resume: Former core member of the European Nuclear Research Center, led the ’Night Owl Plan’ for dark matter detection. After joining the Phoenix Society, she was responsible for analyzing the properties of Star Abyss, successfully developed the first-generation Dark Energy Shield Coating, went missing on Apocalypse Day, August 21."

"Mike Xiao, Gender: Male, Commander-in-Chief of the Southeastern North American Defensive Line/Phoenix Society Mecha Assistance Forces Staff Officer, commanded the ’Anger Wave Defensive Line’ to resist the first large-scale wave of Abnormal Bodies for 72 hours post-Apocalypse Day, winning crucial time for the North American United Front’s evacuation, defected with a 40,000 troop unit to join the Descent Faction on Apocalypse Day, July 19."

"Su Lin, Gender: Female, Former Original Federation Ethics Committee Chair/Sociologist and Philosopher, founder of the Post-Apocalyptic Ethics School after Apocalypse Day, authored ’The Human Anchor Point in a Dying Civilization’, which laid the foundation for the Superpower User Human Rights Act. Presided over the formulation of the ’Superpower User Wartime Ethics Convention’, advocated against the tragedy of Superpower User human experiments within the Federation, known among civilians as ’Socrates of the Dark Age’. On September 3, was taken by a mysterious unit, later confirmed to have joined the Foundation Organization."

"Du Zhen, Gender: Male, Captain of the Ashen Snake convoy, European Transcendent-level Superpower User, convoy of 5,300 people, went missing with the entire convoy on August 13..."

Lin Xian watched the screen roll with the characters, gradually becoming solemn; these people were clearly not ordinary figures, among them were senior scientists, philosophers, military commanders, high-level Superpower Users, large convoy or organizational leaders, and even many key members of the Phoenix Society. The reason they were documented almost all boiled down to one reason.

Defection!

Or maybe it shouldn’t be called defection, but rather, all these people chose the camp of the Descent Faction.

"What happened to these people, how did they suddenly..."

"Brainwashing."

Chu Yan looked at Lin Xian and said, "The North American United Front and Phoenix Society’s Nightwalker Unit 1, responsible for protecting individuals of substantial value, are currently investigating this situation, concentrated within the last two months. From these individuals’ action paths, we’ve discovered many hidden Descent Faction lines within the Phoenix Society, with some individuals being directly contacted."

Lin Xian frowned: "Did you not anticipate such direct recruitment beforehand?"

"You’re oversimplifying," Chu Yan shook her head, sighed, and said: "From our investigations, some of these people participated in survivor forums, obtained special materials, others encountered accidents during scientific research, or even people just played a particular game. These are all the simplest personal activities, but the outcome is always the same."

"Playing games? What games?"

"It’s not really a game, at most, an AR experience game. Our personnel have recently been involved with it and are researching it, finding that it wasn’t developed by humans, more like a...Taboo Item," Chu Yan said.

Lin Xian furrowed his brows: "Civilization Pretense..."

"It seems what Hua Xiaoling gave you is the same," Chu Yan remarked.

Lin Xian shook his head in puzzlement: "But I don’t understand, is it that easy to recruit these people? I’ve previously encountered numerous cases, including Julius, even Chen Yanshu of the Holy Revelation mentioned some grand unification nonsense; from my perspective, the Descent Faction’s tricks apart from scaring people into hiding like ostriches during the apocalypse, hold no allure. How did they recruit so many, and they’re all elites?"

"Perhaps...the answer is in that item Hua Xiaoling gave you," Chu Yan said seriously, looking at Lin Xian: "Currently, the Human Camp is on alert, many people are clueless about what’s happening, the Descent Faction must be conducting some operation, many departments are analyzing acquired materials, some contacts with Descent individuals have reported upwards, everyone heard that ’grand unification’ theory, many have been influenced. Professor Ye is allowing the Nightwalker department to research the game, but now the Deep Red is upon us, coupled with this internal collapse crisis..."

"Is there concern that the Human Camp might disintegrate?"

"Defection isn’t as simple as a few people," Chu Yan explained: "Ordinary people could be overlooked, but these individuals are leaders, thinkers, strong figures within the Human Camp now. Their departure causes everyone to ponder one question: What is the truth? What did the Descent Faction see? Have they truly discovered a way to save the world or prevent Human Civilization’s extinction? If they indeed contacted the Dark Civilization, more people will become restless."

Lin Xian said: "Especially those surrenderists, pacifists?"

"Yes."

Lin Xian pondered a moment, then slowly said: "Hua Xiaoling told me that what’s inside could uncover the truth about the Dark Civilization, perhaps the answer indeed lies within. I’ll thoroughly study it over the next few days, see what sort of bewitching potion the Descent Faction brewed."

Chu Yan remained silent; Lin Xian raised his eyes to her, discovering she was calmly gazing at him, then laughed: "What, are you worried I’ll defect too?" 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

"Won’t you?"

"Do you think I will?" Lin Xian replied with profoundness: "You know me well, don’t you? You understand all the secrets of my Mechanical Heart."

Chu Yan’s gaze flickered slightly, then she turned her eyes away: "But I don’t understand Hua Xiaoling, don’t grasp what she’s conveying to the public."

She spoke as she raised her head towards Cheng Yu’s information, saying: "She was once Professor Ye’s student, a staunch materialist, her family was all killed by Red Man Gu, including her 12-year-old son. I’ve seen her a few times, she spends each day either in the research lab or Nightwalkers’ database, her team researched how to almost fatalistically resist the dark invasion. Though not very vocal, from her eyes I saw steadfastness and conviction, yet such a person joined the Foundation without warning, the organization that fostered the Deep Red World and created Red Man Gu. This is more terrifying to me than S-Class Abnormal Bodies."

After finishing, Chu Yan was silent for a while, Lin Xian watched her and then said:

"Think positively."

"What?"

Lin Xian said: "If the Dark Civilization needs the Descent Faction to help it ’recruit’, in a way it indicates that the Dark Civilization hasn’t directly destroyed or overtaken Blue Star, or perhaps they want to be more cautious. Regardless of the purpose, that’s actually a good thing, right?"

Chu Yan slightly furrowed her brow, then seeing Lin Xian stand up with a serene smile

"If humans want to crush ants or destroy an anthill, they wouldn’t bother with splitting, supporting reprisal, right?"

Chu Yan paused at the words, Lin Xian’s smile at the moment seemed to hit a certain spot in her heart, immediately, the shadows in her eyes eased somewhat, she looked at Lin Xian, her lips slightly lifted: "With Deep Red upon us and the world about to end, do you still see things this way?"

Lin Xian raised a finger, interrupting: "Deep Red is Deep Red, world destruction is world destruction, the two aren’t causally connected. Blue Star’s been around for billions of years, what hasn’t it witnessed, it’s merely about how we humans save humanity, it’s not the end of the road yet."

Chu Yan looked at him: "What do you plan to do?"

"I’ll soon head to South America to meet up with Dawn Center, I’ve acquired a Taboo Item, supposedly it can traverse Star Abyss, perhaps I can test it in the Deep Red, to get a real understanding of this world-ending scenario. Director Ding at my house has a habit I admire; she says regard life and death lightly, even the most terrifying nightmare can be scientifically explained. We’re not yet at the stage of dimensional reduction strikes."

Chu Yan nodded, looking at Lin Xian: "Then be careful, any issues..."

"Contact you at any time." Lin Xian eyed the house under the cold, dark lamp light, a chill deathly air made him shiver involuntarily, then he told Chu Yan: "Seems like I’m in a much safer situation than you, you’re the one needing caution, you can always contact me with Grace without waiting for me to link with you mentally."

"Oh, right." Before leaving, Lin Xian suddenly said to Chu Yan: "South Heavenly Gate should be used when necessary, the darkness has already made its move, we must..."

"Respond accordingly."