49 Apocalypse Rules

April 20th. Apocalypse Rules Strategy Research Room.

A meeting was held to review the statistics from the tenth rule, and a data analyst reported on the number of casualties.

"The current countable death toll is approximately 2,329,012. Furthermore, after this rule ended, many people have developed mental health issues of varying severity. The most serious cases have left individuals unable to care for themselves."

Everyone present had already braced themselves, knowing the casualties this time would be severe.

This was evident from the continuous announcements of countries dissolving and collapsing during the Rule Stage. Even though the North Star Country’s administrative capabilities far surpassed other nations, it was certain to have suffered a heavy blow this time.

But hearing the death toll of over 2.3 million still plunged everyone into silence.

"We can’t give up on those with mental health issues. We must do our best to treat them," Gao Liangwei said.

As someone who had personally experienced Five Senses Elimination, he deeply understood that only those with a foundation of mental health and resilience could endure it. Anyone who was mentally fragile, or had depressive or nihilistic tendencies, would suffer doubly in that state, which could easily lead to a complete mental breakdown.

"Also, the tally of people entering the country from abroad is complete. The total is approximately three hundred thousand," the data analyst reported. "Some of these individuals have rather special statuses and may require special arrangements."

"People with special statuses?" someone asked, confused.

The data analyst explained, "The children of some royal families, as well as some former high-ranking officials."

Someone snorted in disdain. "Their countries are gone. What’s so special about these royal children and officials? Are we supposed to give them preferential treatment?"

The North Star Country was not a monarchy, and its citizens held no particular reverence for royalty.

Especially since most of those now entering the country were from nations that had already collapsed. Regardless of their former status, they were all the same to the North Star Country.

Gao Liangwei said, "Their former status doesn’t matter. They are all refugees now, so there’s no need for special arrangements. Apply for spots in the shelters for them and have them wait in line like everyone else. However, we need to disperse them. Now that they’re in the North Star Country, they must integrate. Sticking together in cliques won’t be permitted."

The data analyst nodded. "Understood."

"Speaking of foreign arrivals, there’s one more thing," said the liaison from the diplomatic department stationed at the Strategy Research Room. "We just received news last night. The two sons of Prince Lado of the Andai Kingdom, along with their entourage, were killed in a bomb attack. Prince Lado himself is missing, suspected of being kidnapped."

"We had already reached an agreement to grant them entry, and yesterday was the scheduled date. His two sons died in Guan Yu County, which means they had already crossed into North Star territory."

Hearing this, everyone’s expression turned grim.

Even if the Andai Kingdom was finished, Prince Lado had reached an entry agreement with North Star officials. Since his two sons were killed by a bomb within North Star borders, the government certainly had a responsibility and obligation to investigate.

"Who did it? Are there any leads?" Gao Liangwei asked.

"One of Lado’s subordinates, a general named Qikan, contacted us. He said the convoy was attacked by Shadow and that he managed to escape in the chaos."

"Shadow did it?!"

"Shadow does have a grudge against Lado. Didn’t he blow up the royal palace before?"

"This is an attempt to wipe them out completely..."

As everyone broke into discussion, Gao Liangwei frowned and asked, "Is there any evidence to prove it was Shadow?"

The diplomatic liaison shook his head. "For now, we only have Qikan’s testimony. However, the higher-ups have already ordered the Strategy Research Room to send someone to investigate."

Gao Liangwei looked at Zhang Minglu. "Dr. Zhang, do you think it was Shadow?"

"It doesn’t really seem like Shadow’s style," Zhang Minglu said. "If he really wanted to eliminate them, would he have actually let someone like Qikan escape in the chaos?"

"Besides, I think we can try sending a private message directly through the Ascender’s Home website to ask. We shouldn’t jump to conclusions before the investigation is complete."

"Alright, I’ll leave the inquiry to you," Gao Liangwei said. "That’s all on the refugee matter for now. Next, let’s discuss the delivery of the new batch of shelters and our preparations for the eleventh rule."

...

"That’s the situation."

On Eden Island, Amanda held a tablet with both hands in front of Adam. The face of the King of Soloma was on the screen.

After listening to Adam, he asked, "You no longer wish to fight for those three fragments?"

Adam shook his head. "I already know the full story. Whether the fragments are reassembled or not doesn’t matter much to me anymore. Besides, snatching three fragments from Shadow? Sounds like a lot of trouble... However, many soldiers sacrificed their lives for us to obtain these two fragments, so I’ll let you decide what to do with them."

The King of Soloma pondered for a moment. "Since you no longer have the desire to fight for them, the fragments can be given to Shadow. However, in exchange, he must do one thing for the Empire."

Adam asked curiously, "What is it?"

"I will tell him later."

Adam was a bit speechless. "If you put it like that, Shadow will definitely refuse. What if you asked him to go die? You think he’d just do it?"

"I wouldn’t do something so pointless," the King of Soloma snorted. "This deal must be carried out as a formal commission. I want the users of that website to bear witness, leaving him no room to back out."

"Er, I don’t think Shadow would back out if he agrees to it."

"Just do as I say."

"Fine, you’re the boss."

The video call ended. Amanda seemed reluctant. "Adam, are you really going to hand over the fragments? You went through so much trouble to collect them, especially the one from Largan. Remember how dangerous it was facing that giant-footed monster!"

Adam smiled. "Amanda, don’t be so shortsighted. If we can use two fragments to befriend Shadow, the benefits will outweigh the drawbacks. Besides, it’s not even certain if Shadow will agree to the King’s condition."

"That’s true..."

"Alright, give me the tablet. I need to log into the website and send him a message."

...

Guan Tong was currently sitting in front of his computer, looking at a post.

"Shadow God’s Bloody Revenge! Prince Lado’s Entire Convoy Annihilated!"

The post contained several pictures of multiple cars in flames, and one even captured the border marker between Antu City and Guan Yu County.

"As expected of the Shadow God! So cool!"

"I know the Andai Kingdom is gone, but for the Prince to just get blown up like that? Seems a little harsh."

"Judging by the route and the border marker, were they trying to enter the North Star Country?"

"Nice one, Shadow God! Scum like that should never be allowed into North Star!"

"If Lado had already negotiated his entry with the higher-ups, the officials must be flipping out right now..."

Everyone in the comments believed it was true, assuming Shadow was the one who did it.

Guan Tong frowned. ’Are they deliberately using me as a scapegoat?’

It was true he had a grudge against Lado and planned to settle the score with him eventually, but that didn’t mean he would accept being framed by someone with ulterior motives.

He checked the user who made the post. The nickname was a string of letters and numbers, and when he clicked on the profile page, he saw that the account had, as expected, been registered today.

This suggested the poster was likely trying to deliberately stir things up. Did that mean they were connected to the real attackers?

As Guan Tong was thinking, several new private message notifications popped up.

He glanced at them. There was a message from "Primordial Man," as well as one from the official account that had tried to contact him before.

After checking both, he confirmed two things.

First, Lado had indeed reached an entry agreement with the government, only to be attacked midway. The attackers, afraid of being investigated by the officials, had pinned the blame on him.

Second, the King of Soloma was demanding he "do one thing" in exchange for the two fragments, and it had to be done in the form of a public commission...

More than what the task might be, Guan Tong was concerned about the format: a public commission.

’Using a public commission means he wants every user on the website to pay attention to this deal.’ He tried to guess the king’s objective. ’Is he trying to get the website’s users to act as supervisors, or does he want everyone to know that "Shadow" has made a deal with the Soloma Empire...’