Chapter 585: Chapter 582: "I’ll live and die with you.
Evening streets bustled with a ceaseless flow of decrepit trucks.
Under the stone bridge, tattered boats like insects on the dew stirred the river into sparkling ripples.
In the slanting sunlight, a girl with fluttering black hair pushed Su Ming’an in a wheelchair across the bridge, now a golden hue.
A cool breeze lifted her bangs, and she raised her eyes to look toward the distant checkpoint enclosed by black fences and high earthen walls.
Noel walked beside her, his white robe billowing in the wind, his eyes serene as a lake.
"The sixth, the seventh, the eighth, I didn’t see you in those worlds. The last time I saw you was with Ming Hui," Su Ming’an reclined in his chair, his voice gentle.
"Mm," Yuanyuan responded, "I’ve been here for twenty-three years. I haven’t been to those three worlds you mentioned."
"So just in this world alone, you’re already older than me," Su Ming’an said.
Noel’s eyebrows twitched—how had Su Ming’an suddenly become so tactless!
How could he say a girl’s age was big, where had all of Su Ming’an’s strategy emotional intelligence gone?
"Haha," Yuanyuan laughed, "I really like this life."
She took out a gaming device, and pixelated characters bounced around on the screen: "Look, I can make games now."
Su Ming’an glanced at it: "Impressive."
Through these three worlds, she not only learned to paint and play the stringed instrument, but also to create games, all while honing her swordsmanship to perfection.
In the long years, she had an extended life.
They walked along the bridge, the cars on the streets flowed ceaselessly, and the gradually westward-leaning sun tempered its dazzling light, casting a vast expanse of twilight.
"...The identity of an Observer," Noel spoke after a moment, "like an adventurer shuttling through worlds, experiencing different lives, I’m truly envious."
Yuanyuan shook her head, "I can’t contribute to the human points progress bar, I’ve stepped out of the game itself, living only for myself. I’m very selfish; there’s nothing to envy."
"That’s not selfish," Noel said, "You helped the most important Number One Player, which is much better than some followers who seek death on purpose."
"Alright," Su Ming’an signaled for Noel to tone it down.
It wouldn’t be long before the jokes about Lv Shu would have the live comments bursting into laughter.
"The Ninth World... Overall, there aren’t any special crises, I’ve never stepped into the Danger Zone, I don’t know how dangerous it is out there," Yuanyuan started to share the instance information, "You are the City Lord, even if betrayed by Eden and Hawk Hound, once you return to Central City to deal with them, you will still have an absolute advantage."
"People in the battle group hold a lot of hatred for the City Lord," Su Ming’an made a shushing gesture, "Just call me Lewis, I’m a psychology professor in the Core Area now."
"Alright," Yuanyuan said with a smile.
Su Ming’an checked his wristwatch; Central City had already sent out a call for help.
He had long sensed the battle group’s stance was different, it seemed not as simple as just hating Acto. The battle group and the City of Measurement weren’t entirely at odds; it also undertook some gray-area tasks.
...What would the outcome be if the battle group got in touch with Central City?
As they neared the checkpoint, Su Ming’an immediately spotted Che Kylstia, the leader of the battle group, speaking with a squad captain.
The man’s scarlet cloak hung behind him like a banner, his face marked with the remnants of sandstorms and knife scars.
He was followed by a team of battle group members, most of whom looked travel-weary.
"...Regarding the defense situation in The Fringe, this is our status. In any case, the battle group still requires this space, it’s better for both sides not to fall out..."
"Understood. Then, prepare to enter the city in half an hour."
"..."
As Su Ming’an and the others approached, Che turned his head.
"Lewis? Perfect timing, we’re about to head into the city, would you like to join us?" Che, seeing Su Ming’an, the "Think Tank," smiled.
He treasured the theories that Su Ming’an had discussed with him as if they were precious gems.
"Let’s go together," Su Ming’an said.
As they passed by some soldiers, he overheard them discussing in hushed tones.
"...Did an explosion just happen at the Eden Garden Union Pavilion?"
"...What’s going on, I heard that the City Lord went for an inspection? What’s the problem, and why isn’t the Dawn System doing anything about it..."
"...I don’t know, let’s get ready, we might have to change shifts soon."
Hearing the soldiers’ discussion, Su Ming’an frowned slightly.
Che smiled beside him, "The Lord of Acto City is actually inspecting this city, can he really change anything?"
"You hate Acto as well?" asked Su Ming’an.
After scanning the surroundings and confirming no one was eavesdropping, Che lowered his voice:
"In fact, I don’t hate him. Nobody should hate a former hero."
"Then why..."
"Because of ’rightness,’" Che said. "To take over my father’s battle group, I need to hate him, otherwise, I can’t unify the people or raise such a large team. I need to be responsible for these people. Otherwise, the scattered and disunited group would soon die in the outer conflicts."
Su Ming’an understood.
For the stability of the battle group, Che had to show the appearance of someone who was inspirational and hated the City Lord; he was struggling desperately for the survival of the majority.
This stance of a leader reminded him of Fengchang.
Knowing that this approach was wrong, but for collective survival, he still had to maintain fervor and ignorance.
"I actually... would really like to be friends with him. He has been my hero since childhood, without him, the people of Doomsday City would not have survived day to day," Che shook his head. "It’s ridiculous, isn’t it? If he saw me, the leader of the largest Rebel Army, he’d probably want to kill me on the spot."
He looked up, gazing at the sunset that was slowly sinking in the distance, a trace of regret passing over his face.
"Heroes should not be slandered, nor should they become the stepping stone for the dawn of a new era... They at least deserve a beautiful twilight," Che said. "I... am still too naive, too young."
"If our stances were not opposed," Su Ming’an said softly. "I would be willing to be that friend."
Che was momentarily stunned.
Just as he was about to say something, the bright red warning lights suddenly lit up above the watchtower.
"Beep, beep, beep—"
The grating alarm sound echoed across the land, as the soldiers, as if on cue, sprang into action, quickly forming lines and taking their positions.
The red alert light signified a high-level command from Central City. A command of this magnitude required mobilizing the entire city.
The soldiers stared tensely at the tower, wondering what significant event had occurred.
"This is a red command," Che, no longer concerned with what Su Ming’an had just said, immediately decided to take his people and leave. "We should go back now; we won’t be able to enter the city today. Once such an order is issued, the city is bound to be sealed off. We’ll return to the battle group first."
As Luo pushed his wheelchair, Su Ming’an turned his head and watched the tower blinking red in the distance.
...Was this the highest command from Central City? Was it to pick him up?
The officer responsible for receiving the command lingered in the tower for a long while without coming down.
While the soldiers were anxiously awaiting, the officer’s trembling voice came from the tower:
"Receive... the highest red command from the Dawn System, Hawk Hound City team, to capture, to capture..."
His voice trembled to the extreme; people had never seen this normally strict officer look so panicked.
The officer moved to the edge of the tower, his face extremely pale under the sunset, he clutched the handrail of the tower, trembling all over.
"Arrest..."
His voice echoed down from the tower, mixed with panic and extreme disbelief.
"...arrest Yasa Acto."
As he issued the command, even his own voice carried a hint of doubt.
Su Ming’an’s heart skipped a beat, his pupils contracted, and a surge of fear rose within him.
"What?" Someone immediately spoke out.
The usually highly-ordered soldiers voiced their loud confusion and objections. Some even thought of disregarding order to climb the tower and see the command for themselves.
"Impossible!!!" One soldier roared angrily.
"Is the command wrong? No, the Dawn System never makes mistakes; could it be... a false report?" Another was visibly bewildered.
"Such a command must be an error!"
Rather than believe this command, they would rather suspect their officers of reporting falsely. It was too absurd.
At the sound of this command, everyone was plunged into immense doubt and shock.
...Why would this happen?
...Why would Central City issue such a command to arrest their own City Lord?
Yuanyuan’s eyes widened, her sword trembling and almost falling to the ground.
"Let’s go, back to the squad," Che immediately ordered. Whatever game Central City was playing, it was none of their squad’s concern: "Lewis, let’s go."
Su Ming’an didn’t move, nor did Noel.
They heard a hollow, cold female voice echo through the city.
The voice traveled to every corner of the City of Measurement, emanating from the residents’ televisions, street loudspeakers, airship broadcasts, and military receiving equipment... from every conceivable sound-carrying mechanical device.
It spread through the Core Area, the Second Ring District, the Third Ring District, and The Fringe. It came from the speakers above the checkpoints, resonating in their ears.
"—The Dawn System is now issuing the highest red command."
"Any force or individual who successfully captures Yasa Acto is permitted entry into Central City."
"Repeat one more time."
"—This is the highest red command issued by the Dawn System."
"—Any force or individual must not disobey or show favoritism. Violators will be categorized as criminals and be expelled from the City of Measurement."
"—This is the highest red command issued by the Dawn System."
"There are no mistakes."
...
"Ding-dong!"
A system notification sound rang in Su Ming’an’s ear.
[Due to the ’Dawn System Pursuit Order,’ you have temporarily detached from the forces of the City of Measurement.]
[The current instance has been temporarily divided into two major factions—you and the other faction.]
[Faction power comparison:
(Our side: Su Ming’an, Noel) versus 1,018,019,789 (All enemy members)]
...
Seeing these words, Su Ming’an felt a tightness in his chest.
...Four thousand to a billion in power points.
He lifted his hand to look at the wristwatch on his right wrist, where the bright red words [Central City has received a distress signal] were clearly visible.
Xike stared at him with her deep blue eyes, silently watching.
"Xike, don’t you have anything to say?" Su Ming’an said.
As soon as Central City received the distress signal sent by Xike, they wanted to kill him.
"...Central City wants to kill you, only because the Dawn System has discovered your intent," Xike blinked, "I am your personal AI, Doctor. I share life and death with you."
As she spoke, she remained calm and gentle. Under her sunlit, dazzling blond hair, those eyes were clear as crystal.
Yuanyuan on the right took a step back to block Xike’s screen, to prevent the squad members from seeing.
Che on the left had heard everything Xike said very clearly, his eyes widened as he stared at Su Ming’an, unable to utter a single word.
He knew all too well what the title "Doctor" stood for.
"Lewis, no, City Lord..." Che looked troubled.
Su Ming’an stared into Xike’s eyes and then looked away.
Xike was also under the control of the Dawn System; it had already said that once the Dawn System awoke, it couldn’t even trust itself.
...It seems the Dawn System really was invaded by Ta Wei.
Maybe it was his recent resistance to Ta Wei that the Dawn System had detected.
He was the only one with a purely human identity, the only one not implanted with a Dawn Chip, and there must have been something special about him.
"Sigh, how did Central City also become problematic? What a shitty start," Noel said with a wry smile beside him: "I gave up my position as second in command in Eden to save you, and look, I’ve thrown myself in too."
Although he said this, there was no regret visible on his face.
"Ding-dong!"
Another system notification sound followed immediately.
[Since both factions have been established, the faction leaderboard is now open, and world chat is open ahead of schedule.]
...
The rapidly scrolling white chat filled the world chat column in an instant.
[Abbot (Delka Guild): It’s a world-scale task! Who is Acto? Why have I never heard this name?]
[Bark (Freelancers Alliance): It’s the City Lord! This city is called Acto’s City! Wait, why does the Dawn System want to arrest its own City Lord??]
[Xia Zhuo (House of Keke): What the hell? I looked at the faction leaderboard, the other faction has only two people, Yasa Acto and Ya Heng, and they are not even true player names?]
[Kleist (Moqi Guild): It’s Su Ming’an, it has to be Su Ming’an! I saw Lv Shu’s Mantis earlier!]
[Qiuqiu (Remote Control Legion): If it’s Su Ming’an, do you guys still want to capture him?]
[Mo Li (Sealed Artifacts’ House): Everyone, disregard this world task, let the Number One Player proceed on his own, for the sake of the human race’s points progress, we can’t fight each other.]
[Pearl (Feng City): He just sniped our squad captain! Why can’t we retaliate? This is a competitive world! And it’s only an arrest, he won’t die. Do we really have to disobey the Dawn System? We still have the Dawn Chips inside us! No one knows what will happen if we show insubordination!]
[Wu Yu (Lighthouse Guild): Well, at worst, we die, right? Shouldn’t everyone die to clear the way for the Number One Player?]
[Pearl (Feng City): Fuck off with that bullshit! Ten thousand people clearing a path for him? If we don’t capture him, others will, do you think this is a pure sanctuary of benevolence?]
[...]
Su Ming’an frowned deeply.