Chapter 380 - 348: Incited Charge

Chapter 380: Chapter 348: Incited Charge

In the dead of night, in a remote corner of Icefield Town, several figures gathered, discussing something in low voices.

"The Landing Site is heavily fortified. The perimeter alone has numerous soldiers and multiple layers of checkpoints. It won’t be easy for us to get close."

"It seems sneaking into the Landing Site the way we snuck into this country is impossible."

"So what do we do? Force our way through the checkpoints?"

"On our own, we probably don’t have the strength."

"If we had support from a Bishop, maybe..."

"The Bishops have to guard against retaliation from the Soloma Heresy. Their responsibilities are too great, they can’t be spared. We can only rely on ourselves."

"Perhaps we could try using the other people in this town."

"That’s a good idea, indeed."

After a brief discussion, the figures departed.

After they left, a lone figure slowly emerged from the shadows.

Shangyuan Zi watched them leave, her gaze cold.

’Bishop, Heresy... Are these members of the Fire Worship Cult?’

She mulled it over for a moment before melting back into the darkness.

By early the next morning, just as the sky began to lighten, the town was already filled with a clamor.

So many people had flooded into the town over the past two days that there was no longer enough housing. However, many had come prepared, bringing high-end sleeping bags and other thermal gear to sleep outdoors at night.

But this was January, the coldest month of the year, and on an icefield no less. With night temperatures dropping to dozens of degrees below zero, that these people were willing to endure it was no small feat.

The town’s only tavern was already packed to the brim. A young woman sat at the bar, loudly proclaiming something.

"Folks, we’ve all traveled thousands of miles from all over the world. Didn’t we all come here just to see the alien with our own eyes? I can understand Sisiya and the Human Federation not letting ordinary people ask questions—after all, it costs food. But on what grounds do they forbid us from even looking?"

"The lady’s right!" someone called out in agreement. "This alien life form was delivered by the Fire Thief! The Human Federation claims to represent all of humanity, but not only have they monopolized the right to ask questions, they’ve even monopolized the right to simply witness it! It’s despicable!"

"It’s true."

"The Human Federation claims they’re holding meetings to pass resolutions on what questions to ask, but in reality, it’s just a bunch of higher-ups making all the decisions behind closed doors."

"That’s a good point!"

The young woman’s speech, backed by numerous supporters, stirred the tavern crowd into a chorus of approval.

Whatever their individual reasons for coming, everyone shared the desire to see the Alien Intelligence with their own eyes. Besides, making the trip had been incredibly difficult for many; transportation wasn’t convenient like it was back in the age of peace.

Shangyuan Zi was just outside the tavern. Leaning against the wall, she could still hear the roaring from within, a testament to the fiery atmosphere inside.

She recalled the furtive discussion between those suspected members of the Fire Worship Cult last night, guessing to herself, ’Use the power of the other people in the town... Looks like they’re planning to use inflammatory rhetoric to incite all the outsiders here to march on the Landing Site together.’

’Will this affect the Commander’s plan?’

Shangyuan Zi knew Guan Tong was at the Landing Site right now, looking for an opportunity to ask his question.

If the situation in town was going to affect things on his end, she would have to inform him immediately using the [Communication Secret Scroll].

’However, given the strength of the Sisiya defenses, I doubt everyone in town combined could break their lines. And the moment a conflict breaks out, reinforcements would arrive immediately.’

’...I’ll just wait and see how things develop.’

Just then, a burst of shouting erupted from within the tavern.

She heard a group of people shouting, "Protest! Protest! Protest!"

Inside the tavern, spurred on by a few instigators, the crowd was chanting in protest to show their dissatisfaction. But while some shouted, a cunning glint flickered in their eyes, hinting that they each had their own ulterior motives.

Just then, a middle-aged man in glasses suddenly climbed onto a table and shouted, "Everyone, listen to me for a moment!"

As someone took the high ground to shout, the crowd stopped chanting and turned to look.

The original instigators were also quite surprised. They exchanged furtive glances, wondering what this man with the glasses, who wasn’t part of their group, was about to say.

"Everyone! My name is Louis. You may not know me, but I’m a member of the contact delegation. And I was the first person to formally question the Alien Intelligence!"

The contact delegation? The very first person to ask an official question?!

The moment Louis finished speaking, the newcomers who didn’t recognize him gasped in astonishment.

Meanwhile, those who already knew Louis nodded and spoke up, vouching for his identity.

"He’s telling the truth."

"That’s a man who’s going to be in the history books—assuming we still have history classes in the future."

Louis waited for the crowd to quiet down a little before continuing, "You may have seen the news online. After the communication model for the Alien Intelligence was established, we members of the contact delegation were kicked to the curb and forcibly removed from the Landing Site."

"My colleagues have all left by now, but I’ve stayed behind. Why? Because just like all of you, I staunchly oppose the Human Federation and those barbaric Sisiya soldiers monopolizing the right to observe the Alien Intelligence!"

"There’s only one week left until the Fire Thief comes for the retrieval! Shouting slogans here isn’t going to change a thing!"

Louis took a deep breath and bellowed, "If you have any courage, then let’s all go to the Landing Site together! There are thousands of people from all over the world in this town right now. If we all march to the Landing Site, hand in hand, let’s see if those Sisiya soldiers dare to block our path and open fire!"

Hearing this, the original instigators were ecstatic. They’d never imagined someone would jump in and do their job for them.

Besides, Louis, as the first official questioner, had far more sway over the crowd than they ever could.

Unsurprisingly, as soon as Louis finished speaking, the tavern erupted. The crowd roared, and they quickly settled on a new chant.

"To the Landing Site! To the Landing Site!"

...

An official Sisiya vehicle pulled up to the Landing Site. After someone disembarked, Sikokun went over to meticulously verify their identity before allowing them into an RV to wait.

"A new questioner," she said to Guan Tong upon returning.

"So soon? Looks like the Human Federation has more questions to ask."

"When are you planning to ask? The protocol ends in a week. Are you really going to wait until the final hour?"

"No. That would be too risky. This black alien ooze’s response pattern is to answer after it eats. If I cut it too close to the last hour, it might not finish eating—or not have time to answer at all—before the Fire Thief retrieves it."

"That’s true."

"I’m going to wait a little longer. Let the Human Federation go first. If I ask my question now, it’ll just cause you guys several more days of headaches, won’t it?"

"..."

Sikokun knew Guan Tong was right.

Though she didn’t know what he meant by "asking within the Domain," she knew that the moment he did, the Human Federation would find out.

The question itself might be concealable, but the feeding that follows cannot.

If Guan Tong were to ask his question now, the consequence would be the Human Federation learning that an unauthorized person had posed a question. They would then demand the Sisiya soldiers on-site conduct a rigorous investigation, and might even implement additional lockdown measures.

The less trouble, the better. Guan Tong’s willingness to wait until the very end would indeed save Sisiya, and Sikokun herself, a lot of hassle.

Besides, there was another reason Guan Tong hadn’t mentioned.

By being on-site, he could learn the outcome of the Human Federation’s questions, allowing him to observe the scope and capabilities of the black alien ooze’s responses and judge whether his own question could even be answered.

As for what question Guan Tong actually intended to ask, Sikokun had no idea. She had asked Yelena, but she didn’t know either.

"Whatever question you intend to ask, for the safety and security of the Sisiya people, please act within your limits."

Those were Yelena’s words to Guan Tong as she was leaving the museum, and he had, of course, taken them to heart.

"The questioning begins at ten o’clock. Everyone, get ready."

At Sikokun’s command, the soldiers on-site sprang into action.

Just then, however, her expression suddenly changed, as if she’d just received an urgent message.

A moment later, her voice came over the private channel Guan Tong was on, urgently reporting to Yelena.

"Governor, I’ve received a report that a crowd of over a thousand people from around the world has gathered, demanding to enter the Landing Site and observe the Alien Intelligence. They are currently attempting to storm the outermost defensive line. Please advise on how to proceed."