"Everyone can see this is the most conscientious senator; he personally admitted zombies don't exist!"
"Indeed, the federal government is deceiving us. We should elect sincere people to be our governor!"
"Support Jefferson, the politician who dared to go against the tide and was the first to speak the truth!"
"It is precisely the lack of such truly honest people in the federal government that has led to large-scale riots in various states. This matter is entirely the responsibility of the federal government."
Online public opinion intensified. Even though the platform continuously banned several internet celebrities supporting the Freedom Fighters, it was still unable to stop the spread of information.
News of the public destroying blockades also came in from various places.
"The zombie lie is exposed, and the public is violating lockdown regulations and taking to the streets, leading to fierce clashes with the police!"
"Multiple branches of Renxin Pharmaceutical Company in various locations were attacked by unidentified individuals in the middle of the night, resulting in five branches being looted and three warehouses being burned. The police have launched an investigation."
"A large-scale zombie virus outbreak in Kentucky State. Zombies are madly attacking military police and civilians. The situation is out of control, and the military has decided to deploy bombers to destroy the ground zombies."
"A large number of civilians flocked to the gates of military bases to express their dissatisfaction, and were driven away by gunfire. At least 12 people were killed and 85 injured at the scene."
"An organization called 'Bloody Peace' is calling on everyone to take up arms and arm themselves..."
At the state campaign office, Jefferson looked at the gradually increasing support rates on the projection, a relieved smile on his face.
Knock, knock, knock!
"Come in!"
The assistant entered with an investor.
"I have something to discuss with you!"
The investor said with a dark face and a low tone.
"Hey, my friend, we are about to win the election, you should be happier!"
Jefferson smilingly invited the investor to sit down and signaled the assistant to leave.
Soon, only the investor and Jefferson were left in the room.
"Are you crazy?"
As soon as the assistant closed the door, the investor blurted out.
"You told everyone there are no zombies, but you know that zombies are real!"
"The reason zombies haven't taken over the world now is because of the lockdown and control measures taken."
"Without the lockdown and the test kits, it wouldn't take a day for the entire Sky Eagle Country to be finished, and my business would be ruined. Do you know that?!"
The investor poked Jefferson's chest with his finger.
"Heh heh, okay, okay, calm down, calm down!"
Jefferson spread his hands to indicate he meant no harm. Seeing the investor's emotions slightly easing, he took a bottle of wine from the wine rack and poured a shot for himself and the investor.
"The reason I did this is not entirely for myself, but for you, my friend!"
Jefferson said with a serious expression.
"You are in the real estate industry. A zombie outbreak is a fatal blow to the real estate industry."
"If zombies appear in the area you developed, do you think anyone will buy your houses? Would they be crazy enough to date zombies?"
"Real estate sells value, surrounding facilities, prosperity, humanistic environment, and so on. But as soon as one zombie appears..."
As Jefferson spoke, he threw his unfinished cigar into the investor's wine glass.
"The entire region will collapse, completely ruined!"
"The entire national real estate industry is sluggish because of zombies. But why is our state's real estate industry so strong?"
"It's not because the capital is here, but because there are no zombies here, and the people here believe that zombies do not exist."
"I saved you, helped you, and I am about to win the election. In this situation, you are still unhappy? I simply cannot understand!"
"This..." The investor paused, it seemed to make sense.
Although he knew Jefferson was quibbling, it was a fact that his own industry was not affected.
"Therefore, I suggest that you can sell favors to those voters while the zombies have not yet arrived in our state!"
"Many people are willing to move from other states to support the Freedom Fighters here. You can completely sell your properties to them at a low price."
"This way, you can show your support for the Freedom Fighters, avoid being vandalized like Renxin Pharmaceutical, and at the same time liquidate your assets before the crash. Isn't it a win-win situation?"
Jefferson persuaded further.
"The incident with Renxin Pharmaceutical was done by the Freedom Fighters?"
"Indeed, I should have thought of it long ago... Alright, I'll do it now. I'm leaving!"
The investor, as if struck by a sudden enlightenment, turned and left the governor's office.
At this moment, the assistant knocked and entered with a grim expression.
"Senator, we have trouble!"
"Hmm?" Jefferson quickly reached out and took the tablet from the assistant.
On it was a news report:
"A 'honesty' trend is sweeping through state elections, with politicians coming forward to openly support the Freedom Fighters, oppose the federal government's deception of the public, and claim that zombies do not exist."
Jefferson rolled his eyes disdainfully and said,
"They are just some political opportunists who want to imitate me, but they haven't succeeded!"
"And they are all participating in elections in other states. What does this have to do with me?"
The assistant quietly reminded him:
"From an election perspective, it really has nothing to do with you, but..."
"These states themselves have outbreaks of the zombie virus, and they are all our neighboring states."
"Before, they strictly enforced lockdown and test kit screening, which prevented the zombie virus from spreading further..."
"But now, once they say the same thing, the government, to cater to public opinion, will have to compromise..."
"Once their control measures are relaxed, then... a zombie outbreak is only a matter of time, and it will soon affect us here too."
The assistant's words were a revelation to Jefferson!
"I understand. Contact the investor immediately and ask him to add another ten million. I just saved him from bankruptcy; he won't care about this little money."
"Yes, Mr. Senator!" The assistant nodded.
"Then help me book a flight to Xia Island for tomorrow morning. Bring my family, and your family. Buy enough supplies for 50 years. We'll go together. Don't forget to contact the local trucks in Xia Island."
Jefferson instructed again.
"But... tomorrow is the last day of campaigning before the election. Aren't you participating in the election?"
The assistant asked.
"Be clear-headed. In a few days, being governor or anything else won't be important anymore. Survival is the most important thing."
"I predict that this country is about to be destroyed. If we wait a few more days, I'm afraid we won't even be able to book plane tickets!"
Jefferson sighed.
He had completely forgotten that he was the primary contributor to the current situation.