China's 5th, 13th, and 17th armies moved towards the Yalu River, accompanied by 5 armored divisions. No one believed China was just talking anymore.
On the morning of June 19th, the United States made its stance clear. President George personally stated in a televised address that the war between China, South Korea, and Japan was a matter of ethnic conflict. Adhering to the principle of non-interference in other countries' internal affairs, the US would not intervene in this war. He specifically urged the three countries to exercise restraint and minimize civilian casualties. Regarding Japan's use of poison gas weapons, the US avoided the topic.
Subsequently, statements from various countries were released, largely similar in content, adopting a basic "Four Nos policy": no support, no opposition, no participation, no aid. Simply put, watching the fire from the other bank.
China had to prove its kingly status through strength.
As events unfolded, Adam, deviating from his usual behavior, proactively sought out Zhao Xiang, bringing along a set of documents.
In Zhao Xiang's private office, looking at the materials meticulously prepared by Adam, Zhao Xiang's eye twitched unconsciously. He asked incredulously, "Is this true?"
Adam calmly stated, "My analysis won't be wrong. The virus-type poison gas used by Japan this time can infect simply through skin contact, and the mortality rate after infection is 100%. Currently, there are no defensive measures against it in the world. Preliminary deduction suggests it's likely technology obtained by Japan from Noah's Ark."
"That's not what I'm talking about." Zhao Xiang trembled as he looked intently at Adam. "I'm talking about, does Japan really have poison gas bombs in China?"
"This is my speculation," Adam said composedly.
Putting down the folder in his hands, he truly felt tired, tired of being manipulated by others. Zhao Xiang understood Adam's purpose for coming at this time. It was precisely because he understood that he felt so tired. He remembered when Adam was just an innocent child, who would cry for a withered flower, grieve for a dead ant. But now, he seemed to hold the fate of everyone in his hands. Everyone seemed to be living according to the path he dictated. Why did it turn out like this?
"Adam..." Zhao Xiang's tone carried a long-absent warmth. "We... can we talk? Truly talk."
Adam calmly sat in the seat opposite Zhao Xiang: "What does the Chairman want to talk about?"
"What exactly do you want to achieve?" Zhao Xiang looked questioningly at Adam. "What kind of world is it that you need?"
"Why does the Chairman ask this?" Adam crossed his arms over his chest.
"I'm not senile yet," Zhao Xiang sighed. "I'm not unaware of you letting the Japanese spy go. I imagine you've reached some agreement with them too. Otherwise, given the current situation, even if Japan had the guts, they wouldn't dare invade another country. Every step they take now, every action, should be within your plan. This document you submitted today is meant to sway China's attitude."
Zhao Xiang inquired, "What kind of world do you want to see develop?"
"Just unity," there was no need to beat around the bush anymore. "Because there are too many different thoughts, different cultures, that's why there are divergences, wars, poverty, betrayal. I just want a better world."
"A world controlled by you, right?"
"Why care about who controls it?" Adam felt an urge to laugh. "Human history is about being ruled. Only under the leadership of the strong can humanity progress. I will point out the path you should take, avoid mistaken stumbles. If humanity develops according to my thoughts, they will truly live happy lives."
"You still don't understand, do you?" Sad eyes looked at the god-like Adam, as if he were the most pitiful existence. "Is a life without mistakes still life? Without losing some things, how can one know the importance of those things? Humanity constantly makes mistakes, and precisely because of this, humanity strives to find correctness. Fallen down? Just get back up. What's important is that we can still run, feel the reality of the ground with our own feet. Even if at our speed, we might never see the finish line in our lifetime, we can pass the remaining path to our descendants. They will continue to run. That's enough, because we've always been trying, we pursue and yearn for the finish line, the future that belongs to us. And you are like an express bus straight to the destination. We can reach the end faster and safer, but actually, we don't just want to reach the end; we just like running. In our envisioned future, there is no finish line. Now I can say loudly to you: 'We are no longer foolish primitive people; we have grown. We no longer need the support of gods. We have the ability to stand on our own, straighter than anyone else!'"
"If this is all you want to talk about, I think we have nothing more to say." Adam stood up, like a god looking down upon mortals. "Having received this document, China fundamentally cannot launch any attack against Japan anymore, not even supporting South Korea is possible. Otherwise, if Japan really releases poison gas in China, the casualties will be incalculable, mostly civilians. By then, the national regime will completely collapse. Moreover, such news cannot be announced, or public panic will cause great social chaos. All you can do now is watch quietly. Rest assured, if the plan doesn't change, China will definitely be the country that unifies the globe."
Finished speaking, Adam walked out the door. In the empty office, Zhao Xiang collapsed onto the cold desk.
Just as Adam said, all he could do now was watch quietly; he no longer had the ability to change anything. He could only hope to see someone capable changing things.
At this moment, on a peaceful beach, an old man dressed casually lay quietly napping under a beach umbrella. A gentle breeze blew through the glass wind chime under the umbrella, producing crisp sounds, like a serene lullaby. The old man unconsciously smiled at the corners of his mouth. Suddenly, a black figure appeared on the sea surface. Four blue camera lenses retracted and extended, adjusting focus. It strode towards the old man. Looking closely, dozens of lead blocks were still attached to his hands and feet.
"I've completed it." The figure took off his helmet and threw it beside the old man, collapsing weakly onto the warm sand, gasping for breath, as if just rescued from the brink of suffocation.
The old man finally woke up, looked at his watch, and said, "You took forty-five minutes. I said you could only take forty minutes to run two kilometers."
"You said forty minutes, but the simple oxygen tank in 'Night' can only be used for twenty minutes," 13 pulled off the lead blocks from his body one by one.
"Don't complain. Overcoming difficulties is also part of training," Nie Yun argued cunningly. "You exceeded the time limit. Let me think about how to punish you."
"Running two kilometers underwater with a load of one hundred thirty kilograms?" 13's voice trembled. "Forget running, just being able to walk is a miracle."
Nie Yun completely ignored 13's words, continuing to think about punishment.
"How about we punish him by making him responsible for dinner tonight," 24 appeared beside them sometime.
"I agree," 36 said.
"I think so too," 1 stated his position.
"Alright, since everyone unanimously agrees, your punishment is to cook dinner!" Nie Yun "justly" accepted everyone's suggestion.
"Knew it would be like this." Sighing, he climbed up from the ground. "Have you guys ever cooked?"
No one paid him any attention, packing things up and heading towards the small wooden cabin nearby.
Recalling their state just after leaving Beijing, the peaceful life now seemed almost like an extravagant hope.
The five, originally rootless, couldn't find a place to belong in the vast society. Fortunately, Nie Yun remembered one person – Hong Yang in Shanghai. After explaining their situation, Hong Yang immediately arranged for them to stay on this small island the company had purchased but hadn't yet developed. In this remote place, the five found tranquility for the first time. No one said it, but everyone truly enjoyed this kind of life, like the life of a real ordinary family.
Returning to the not-too-big, not-too-small wooden house, it was still early. Nie Yun would, as usual, hide in the garage, tinkering with his research. 36 would go online to play some games 1 called trash. 24 liked watching tear-jerking romance soap operas. 1 would quietly lean against the headboard, reading some world classics 36 called boring.
13's task was simple: sleep in a bathtub filled with warm water. Daily training pushed his physical limits to exhaustion. If he didn't seize the time to rest, he wouldn't be able to complete tomorrow's tasks.
When the clock in the living room struck five, 13 would wake up precisely and head to the kitchen to accept his "punishment."
When the sixth chime sounded, everyone would gather at the dining table. Only Nie Yun needed reminding to come eat. The first time he saw the dazzling array of various delicacies before him, even Nie Yun sighed and called 13 a culinary genius. Upon inquiry, learning 13 learned it from a few picked-up cookbooks while wandering, the title of genius was further affirmed. Thus, sometimes when everyone saw delicious new foods in magazines, they would give them to this genius for "research."
Meals were exceptionally quiet, without superfluous words. Everyone seemed hypocritical at this moment. Although unspoken, everyone would invariably watch the evening news broadcast together. Perhaps only 13 was truly indifferent.
The changes in the world couldn't change 13. But things often don't develop as one wishes, instead being completely in the hands of God.