Chapter 580.2: Escalating Conflict

But with Na Fruit, they didn’t need a single word. Entire settlements could be turned into breeding grounds for them.

Cold sweat trickled down Yi Chuan’s brow.

10 minutes ago, he had wanted nothing to do with the dispute between the New Alliance and local survivor factions. But after seeing the report, he knew he had to report to the Highest Council at once.

Neural interference technology was no secret, it had already been infamous in 2113. Compared to Singularity projects like Project Complete Human, it was nothing.

That antique finding new life in the wasteland in such a form was something he had never imagined. Nor, likely, had the Highest Council.

After all, both the Brocade River Province and the Ocean Edge Province were far too distant from them...

Seeing Yi Chuan’s silence, Chu Guang continued, "Pinecone Ranch is just a microcosm of Torch Church settlements. Similar cases are common in the Brocade River Province and the Ocean Edge Province. On the surface, those settlements look like any other, but their core has already been replaced with puppets of the church... and now the green plague is spreading north."

"Originally Na Fruit was a tropical crop, but the Torch Church modified it so it could thrive in subtropical climates. If they are allowed to continue this dangerous experiment, it won’t just be the Brocade River Province that falls, the eastern provinces and even the Among Clouds Province will not be spared. Or do you believe you can stop your own people, or your neighbors, from eating the stuff?"

Yi Chuan looked at him gravely and said, "I understand what you mean. This is indeed no small matter... I will report it to the Highest Council immediately!"

Chu Guang nodded, just as serious. "I’m glad you understand the urgency. But reporting is only one part. We must also let more people know of their plot, and we must act while spreading the word. If the Highest Council debates for a month, and we lose another wave in the meantime, the Brocade River Province will already be lost."

At this, Yi Chuan’s face showed unease.

Acting before the Highest Council’s judgment, that was against procedure.

"... You know that’s impossible. Even if I wanted to help, I’m just a diplomat. I don’t have that authority."

Chu Guang did not relent. "Then do what lies within your authority. We don’t need military aid, the New Alliance army can stand against anyone. What we need is technical support. Specifically, we need an expert of electronic warfare!"

Reinforcements heading to Pinecone Ranch were already on the way and would arrive soon.

But if they could not suppress the enemy’s electronic warfare, their smart weapons would never reach full effectiveness.

Unfortunately, hacking was not Little Seven’s specialty. It was only an assistant AI.

Even if the shelter had impenetrable cyber defenses, that was thanks to the shelter’s server-side systems. Little Seven could only call upon those inside the shelter.

Also, Little Seven’s core was in the shelter, 800 kilometers from the frontlines. Asking a mainframe to fight under high ping and interference was hardly feasible.

He needed a human expert in electronic warfare, on site, to solve the problem.

It was to protect their drones. Also, they had to drag that so-called Archbishop Luo Qian out of his so-called Sanctuary.

Hearing this request, Yi Chuan fell into thought. Then suddenly his eyes lit up and he sat straighter. "That can be arranged. There happens to be an expert in electronic warfare right here in Dawn City!"

Chu Guang asked immediately, "Who?"

Yi Chuan’s eyes gleamed. "Eclipse! A-110 series androids! Every one of them is a specialist in electronic warfare!"

...

While Chu Guang finished his meeting with the Enterprise’s envoy, in the Brocade Lake Municipality not far from the ranch, a great host of Mutant Human warriors had assembled.

A hulking cybernetic Mutant Human strode heavily up to Gaen, clasped his fists, and said in a low voice, "Kuru! We assembled!"

Behind him, countless green heads bobbed, a sea of bodies stretching as far as the eye could see.

Most of the warriors had undergone cybernetic alterations. An iron heart here, an alloy-steel forearm there, an arm fitted with a cannon or a chainsaw...

Unlike the rabble Oge led, Kuru’s men were the elite of the Qi Tribe. Giants like Pido were commonplace in his army.

The tribe’s honor had been shamed by those weaklings. They had lost to a flock of cowardly two-legged sheep.

Kuru swore he would reclaim that honor.

Expressionless, Gaen nodded slowly, then looked over the dense horde of warriors behind Kuru and roared, "Our allies are in trouble! The ones who attacked them are the same who killed our brothers!"

"To Pinecone Ranch!"

"The survivors there are our food!"

There was no need for lofty rhetoric. To rouse those beasts, it was enough to tell them where to sate their bloodlust.

Their craving for blood and violence ignited instantly, and their deafening roars shook the ruined city.

Mutant Humans waved weapons and bellowed wildly.

"ARGEHGHHH!"

"Eat them!"

...

A great host of Mutant Humans set out from the east of the Brocade River Province, moving quickly toward Pinecone Ranch.

Meanwhile, a colossal steel airship was lifting off from Dawn City, advancing toward Brocade River Province.

What had begun as a 20-man infiltration was spiraling into a larger conflict as every side escalated.

The 50,000 strong settlement had been drawn into the eye of the storm.

The Torch Church had not expected that things had reached such a level.

When word came from the Archbishop that a New Alliance’s airship was inbound, the Apostles at Pinecone Ranch turned pale.

At first, they had only planned to make use of the intruders in their ranch, to run a little experiment, and maybe teach the New Alliance a small lesson.

They had not expected the northerners to be such sore losers that once their infiltration faltered, they would flip the damn table, mobilizing their main weapon.

They did not fear conflict with the New Alliance, nor believe a one-year-old organization could match them, but they had not prepared to wage war immediately, least of all at the moment of an impending Tide.

The airship was still 800 kilometers away, and it would arrive by morning.

But they were not naive enough to think the New Alliance had only airships.

The four Apostles fretted like ants on hot coals, debating hurriedly. No matter how they argued, in the estate not far away, gunfire still raged.

Beneath the side hall of the Guesthouse, in the underground laboratory, Night Ten yanked his short blade from the Torch Church Executioner’s forearm, stripped him of gear, and bound his limbs with plastic ties.

The VM had finished copying the data.

Dragging the prisoner into the chamber with the Spirit Interference Device, Night Ten leveled his rifle at his head. "Shut it down."

Wu Zhe smirked faintly before chuckling, "You’ll be disappointed. I’m just a soldier, I don’t know how to turn it off. Why don’t you try blowing it up?"

Night Ten didn’t waste words. He kicked him in the gut.

Wu Zhe clenched his teeth against the stabbing pain in his arm, sneering despite it, thinking what a pity.

If he could trick this man into destroying the device beneath Pinecone Ranch, that would have completed his mission.

Truth was, only minutes ago Night Ten had intended to blow it up. But after seeing the downloaded files, he abandoned the idea.

Simply shutting it down would not return the people outside to normal, any more than smashing a monitor would shut off a computer.

The device induced test subjects into the state of Divine Trance, but what truly made locals into Cruncher-like beings was the Frequency Band 03 signal it emitted.

The device had engraved chaotic data into their brains. Whenever they entered a trance, they became what they were.

Only the severity differed.

Unless another signal band was used to overwrite them, re-brainwashing those warped by Na Fruit, they would cycle unpredictably between a state of normalcy and frenzy.

It was better to leave them as they were. After all, they wouldn’t tear each other apart in their state.

Looking at the prisoner who refused to speak, Night Ten gritted his teeth and hauled him toward the exit.

Wu Zhe grimaced in pain, then closed his eyes. He remained silent.

At the door, the little girl Yang Xiaoyang stood trembling, staring helplessly as they emerged.

When her eyes met Night Ten’s, she lowered her gaze in shame, unable to look at him.

Optical camouflage only worked when moving slowly. It broke down between differing light levels.

Clearly, she had seen the man.

But under threat, she had kept silent, maybe even told him there was no one inside, then watched as he walked in with his rifle ready.

Night Ten did not blame her for not warning him.

Truth was, if she had cried out, it would have ruined everything, putting her in danger, spoiling his chance to counterattack.

"Our plans have changed. I’ll need you to stay here a while... Watch Yinyin well. Don’t let her hurt herself. Don’t get too close either."

Hearing this, despair and sorrow clouded Yang Xiaoyang’s eyes. However, she said nothing and merely nodded silently.

She thought she had betrayed the man who saved her. Being left behind was only fair.

Seeing her mistake, Night Ten laughed softly and ruffled her hair. "What are you thinking? I’m not abandoning you, just asking you to wait here. If you’re tired, take a nap. I’ll be back soon."

Yang Xiaoyang whispered, "Where are you going..."

"To kill every last one of those bastards!" Night Ten grinned, leaving what he thought was a dashing back view as he strode toward the stairs.

Dangling in his grip, Wu Zhe sneered.

Kill them all?

What a load of crap.