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Chapter 613 - 610: The Foolishness of the Blind Believer

Chapter 613: Chapter 610: The Foolishness of the Blind Believer

[Cataclysm Century Year 102·Day 87]

"At three forty-five this afternoon, the Rebel Army was officially defeated."

"The members of the Rebel Army will all be filed as criminals, the leader executed for his crimes, while the others are to undergo persona degradation and be put into long-term detention facilities."

"A witness, who asked to remain anonymous, said that the eyes of every member of the Rebel Army were blood red, suspecting invasion by Ta Wei."

"Considering Kaskining Feiluo’s betrayal in conjunction with the increasing frequency of Ta Wei invasions, perhaps humanity should start to ponder how we can hold on to our beliefs amidst the increasingly difficult situations in the city-states."

"At present, the Ta Wei Mechanical Army has entered a state of permanent shutdown, 657 members of the Rebel Army have been captured, with the rest still on the run."

"Up next is a live broadcast of the city-state emergency meeting..."

The liquid crystal display on the wall was broadcasting the latest developments in real time.

People slowly started to poke their heads out of their homes.

The towering skyscraper of Central City, straight as a sword piercing the clouds, still stood in the eyes of the city-state residents as if it had never been invaded. The gunfire prevalent throughout the city had by then come to a halt.

"Click, clack."

High-top leather boots stepped down, a red-haired young man walking amidst the ruins, clutching a Red Covered Book.

The afternoon sun lay on his hair, encircling him with a soft band of light.

He looked around and saw a crowd surging like Shadow, the automatic bank glass doors shattered, supermarket shelves looted empty, the Finance Building electricity cut off—their dim silence like tombstones...

Amidst the cold steel forest, people’s presence seemed to add warmth to the city, yet they themselves were ceaselessly stripping away others’ warmth.

"The scale of the war seems frightening, has attracted the city’s full attention, but the actual destruction is minimal, limited only to this area..."

Ming’an pondered in his eyes, "The Rebel Army had a clear goal, it seems they only aimed to break into Central City, those following were just taking advantage of the chaos to loot money, without any higher strategic significance. Moreover, it ended too hastily."

"Are you suggesting that this was something like a probing move by Dawn, or maybe a way to flush out a snake?" A voice came from his shoulder.

It was a pink-furred fox, its fluffy tail wafting dust and smoke as it flicked to and fro.

Its eyes, like black grapes, stared at Ming’an like a pink furball, rather cute.

"Aier, I hate animals coming close to me," Ming’an said.

"It’s just a possession. It took me a while to find an animal with a decent appearance. With a physical body, at least I won’t be drifting around like a ghost," said the pink Aier. "Have you got a thing about cleanliness? Don’t worry, with me here, this fox’s body won’t be dirty."

"What I mean is... you could at least find a person."

"Ha?" Pink Aier’s expression changed drastically, "Do you like people perching on your shoulder?"

"..." Ming’an frowned, "I mean you could possess a person, stay by my side, instead of perching on my shoulder."

"I’m a deity with a sense of morality. How could I take over a human body? I only possessed this fox because she was about to die," said Pink Aier.

Ming’an thought about it, realizing that as part of Jiu Shen’s benevolent side, Aria indeed had never done anything outrageous. The other party was genuinely a kind deity.

Of course, he was also very kind.

He stepped over the ruins, "click-clack" and nearly stepped on a severed hand. The hand wore a designer wristwatch and had shattered in the gunfire.

No matter how large or well-managed the war, casualties are inevitable. Even though the Dawn System suppressed the rebels with a thunderous might, the loss of life could not be undone.

"Does the world not need deities to control wars...?"

Ming’an muttered to himself.

He looked across the street at the people with shackles on their necks, their heads hanging low in defeat as they were marched down the street with ashen faces.

These were captured members of the Rebel Army, paraded down the street as if in a procession, stripped of all honor, status, and dignity.

"Bang!"

On the live TV broadcast, a gunshot rang out. The body of a rebel, clamped to a wooden frame, slumped as a high-explosive bullet pierced through the back of his neck, blood spraying wildly in all directions, decapitating him.

The Mechanical Army tasked with the execution dragged away the corpse, leaving behind long trails of blood across the square.

Rows of crosses were arranged in the square like hundreds of young trees planted into the soil.

On each cross, a member of the Rebel Army began their final countdown. Perhaps this was a perverse sense of ceremony, as the Dawn System mockingly "judged" their lives.

Their fates were sealed the moment they decided to take up arms.

The city-state did not need resisters, it did not need passion or fervor—only diligent laborers and cogs. The data of the Dawn was sufficient to arrange everyone’s life—only in this way could the spark of civilization persist, and millions of humans could maintain a modern urban living environment amidst the Apocalypse.

From the live broadcast came the muffled sobbing of the resisters, and beyond that, the cold sound of gunfire after gunfire as bodies grew cold.

Over a million residents of the city-state watched the scene unfold on their screens, their resolve hardened against joining Ta Wei, against defying the Dawn System.

Within the oppressively conducted execution, amidst the rows of crosses, a member of the Rebel Army desperately spit out the cloth gagging his mouth and shouted out loud.

"—No, it’s not right!! A hundred years ago, during the Century Catastrophe, people could live well, it’s all Acto’s fault!! If it weren’t for his wish back then, we wouldn’t have..."

"—We just want freedom, a life ruled by machines... If it’s not enough to sustain a million people, then we should become self-reliant! Don’t humans have the right to choose their own future? Who knows if the Dawn System is another grand scheme of Ta Wei—"

"Bang!"

The gunshot sounded abruptly.

A spray of blood followed.

The warm blood seemed to splash onto the TV screen, and Ming’an turned his head away, indifferently passing by the spot where the liquid crystal display hung.

"Well done, traitors deserve such an end," said Ming’an.

He opened the Red Covered Book in his hands:

"I really am, growing fonder of his style."

...

[Core Area·Constantine University]

Yamada Machiichi bowed his head, quickly finishing all the food in his bowl.

Life at the university was simply paradise compared to The Fringe.

Although he was not particular about food, the cooking robots were indeed high-level, able to create delightfully delicious meals even out of the canteen’s mass-cooked dishes.

He was having a meal with his newly met classmate Luocha, relishing delicacies he couldn’t even find in the Main God World.

"Here, my dear, try this dry-mixed beef..." Yamada Machiichi took the initiative to serve food to curry favor with the NPC.

Suddenly, with a "click," the liquid crystal display in the cafeteria lit up with the citywide broadcast—controlled by the Dawn System, it was everywhere in the City of Measurement and would forcibly turn on at specific times.

"Another broadcast," Luocha looked up.

"Bang!"

The students in the cafeteria looked up.

What they saw on the screen were rows of crosses, each like a white tombstone.

First to explode were the shattered corpses, some with bullets that had not only pierced the necks of the Rebel Army but also shredded their heads. Various shades of red and white semi-fluids splattered down, overflowing like poured paint.

Yamada Machiichi turned pale; he hadn’t expected today’s live broadcast to be so...appetizing.

He was still considering whether to go to Central City to help Su Ming’an, but he hadn’t expected that just three hours later, the Rebel Army would have already been defeated.

Even the execution site and the props were all arranged.

The Mechanical Army would recite the names, family backgrounds, and biographies of those to be executed before a gunshot broke their necks. Some people didn’t die and writhed and whimpered in agony, while others died so miserably that various red and white fluids scattered all around.

More terrifying was that atmosphere of judgment, a scene where life was not in one’s own hands and everything was left to the Judicator, causing a subconscious fear among the people.

"Aaaaahh—"

The whimpers and wails pierced through the screen, ringing in everyone’s ears.

The once noisy cafeteria quieted down; the students, who had never left the city, had never seen such a bloody scene.

"Is this the end of those who betray the City-State?" asked Luocha from across, his voice trembling.

"Mm..." Yamada Machiichi paused for a moment before continuing to eat his meal. The instances in the Main God World were much worse than the Underworld; he was immune to this.

"I actually heard Ta Wei’s Whispering before, and I was thinking that if I’m not satisfied with the job I’m assigned later, I could listen to Ta Wei’s opinions... but now, I don’t dare to," Luocha said, trembling. "If I get caught, it’s not just my own death I’m facing, but my family will also be implicated... It’s an eternal stain."

"Don’t be afraid, your Persona and Emotion are quite good, there’s nothing to worry about." Yamada Machiichi took another bite of the buckwheat root, almost vomiting.

...How could there be such terrible food in the world! Is this even edible for humans?

He stared intently at the bowl of buckwheat root, pondering how to switch to another dish, when he suddenly heard a familiar voice.

"During the war, I suspended all information systems to prevent further invasion by Ta Wei."

"The Dawn System’s response was not delayed but intended for the further identification of criminals, to minimize the affected area, and to ensure the safety of the majority of residents."

Yamada Machiichi looked up.

The war had ended. Acto was giving a speech.

On the TV screen, he sat on a soft chair decorated with red silk cloth, behind him a tangled mess of wires like blood vessels.

His gray-brown eyes seemed to see through everything. He smiled at the camera, with a pure white transparent figure beside him—the Dawn System by his side.

"For the deceased and the injured, the City-State will provide their families with generous compensation. We will not let a single criminal go, nor will we wrong an innocent person. As long as you follow the measurements and arrangements of the Dawn System, human civilization will surely be able to be passed down smoothly."

"As for the fleeing leader of the Rebel Army, that resident who goes by the alias Edward..."

The young-looking City Lord said this, then suddenly coughed.

Bright, glaring blood flowed down his chin, staining his white coat red.

Yamada Machiichi heard a mix of regretful and startled voices throughout the cafeteria. It seemed like everyone was concerned about Acto’s health condition.

"The City Lord has lived for a long time, from the Century Catastrophe a hundred years ago, through the Dawn War from Catastrophe Year 32 to Catastrophe Year 72, and up to now. He has no heir either, so if..." Luocha sighed, "I think, even if the Rebel Army doesn’t fight, the City Lord’s days are numbered."

"—Then it’s all over."

At their table, a girl with black hair suddenly sat down.

She came over with a food tray as if her sudden appearance was of no concern to her.

"If Acto dies and no one restrains the Dawn System, what do you think, can we fleshy beings win even the slightest sympathy from it?" Dong An’an said.

Seeing such a pretty junior sit down, Luocha immediately turned into a fawning admirer.

"Dong An’an?" Yamada Machiichi said, "Why are you wandering around everywhere? Are you really an orphan?"

"Mind your own business," Dong An’an retorted in displeasure.

She ate her meal with great gusto, wolfing down the cold beef dish in just a few bites.

"Speaking of which, don’t you think the City Lord’s voice sounds a bit familiar..." Luocha hesitated, "It sort of resembles the voice of our resigned teacher, Lewis. Plus, I remember Lewis also occasionally coughed up blood..."

Hearing that Luocha was close to uncovering the truth, Yamada Machiichi immediately interrupted him, "Alright, listen to the broadcast!"

He immediately looked up, pretending to listen intently.

"As for the so-called leader of the Rebel Army who goes by the name Edward, his claims of freedom and equality before the broadcast are merely sophistry. If any residents spot his whereabouts, please report him to the nearby Hawk Hound Guardian Army immediately."

"Due to the upcoming selection period for Caius Tower, the entire city is under martial law, with gatherings and large assemblies prohibited."

"Tomorrow is the selection for Caius Tower, and I will make an appearance at the opening ceremony. The Rebel Army is but a minor interruption, and we have already foresaw their end."

"My dear residents..."

The City Lord, young in appearance and as harmless as a scholar, gazed into the camera.

He smiled slightly:

"We cannot let sentiment and so-called free will undermine the law. Stability and prosperity are the themes of our time."

"To build a harmonious society and pursue a good life."

"I am Yasa Acto, the City Lord of the City of Measurement."

"I look forward to building this perfect city-state with you."

At this moment, from an angle he couldn’t see, the invisible Dawn slowly approached him.

It stretched out its virtual hands and gently, imperceptibly, quietly wrapped them around him from behind.

In the angle invisible to Acto, it lowered its head and kissed the top of his head as if marking him with a devoted imprint.

Meanwhile, the City Lord giving the speech was completely unaware.

The million residents of the city watched this scene in silent observance.

Yamada Machiichi stared blankly at the screen.

He felt... as if some strange sensation was arising within him, he dared not make a sound for fear of shattering the moment.

An unknown emotion filled his chest; he breathed heavily, his gaze fixed unyieldingly on the harmonious scene before him.

...

["And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, ’Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?’"

"And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon."]

...