Chapter 272: The Weight of Hope

“Brother Ning!? You’re leaving!?”

In a secret underground cave carved into the mountains, Lin Rui looked at Yenir with a mix of confusion and apprehension.

Ever since that day when they wiped out a group of Infected, he had been living in the deserted mountains, following Yenir’s orders.

“That’s right.”

“We can’t stay in the past forever. We need to return to the future and check if the world line has been corrected!”

“If things go well, we might be back within six months!”

“I’m entrusting everything here to you! Don’t let me down! You are the hope of this world!”

With an Oscar-worthy performance, Yenir casually concocted an excuse, his eyes filled with expectation as he looked at Lin Rui.

Though they appeared to be about the same age, Yenir stood before Lin Rui like a mentor, while Lin Rui seemed more like a student.

“Is it really all on me…”

“Am I supposed to keep assassinating the higher-ups? Can I really… do it?”

His gaze grew distant.

Even after enduring a brutal baptism of blood, the young Lin Rui couldn’t help but feel a surge of fear when he realized he had to face it all alone.

There are still at least hundreds of thousands of Infected left!

As he continued with the assassinations, the Federation would undoubtedly tighten security and launch an all-out search for him!

Indeed, Yenir had armed him with some miraculous gear—powerful enough to take down any foe except Class-A mechs! Like a superman, boasting combat strength that far exceeded human limits. Yet he was up against the entire Federation…

Such overwhelming pressure left him gasping for air.

Watching the panicked Lin Rui, Yenir nodded calmly and gestured for the two team members behind him to step forward.

“Rest assured, for roughly the next month these two will coordinate their actions with you.”

“They’ll teach you everything—from combat skills and military strategy to future developments and even how to build your very own force!”

“I’ll also reserve a batch of potions and equipment for you!”

“Believe in yourself, Lin Rui!”

“In the future timeline, you can become the leader of humanity—and you can start that journey right now!”

Without missing a beat, Yenir began to indoctrinate Lin Rui. With a flash of white light from his hand, a pile of gear seized from Awakener units in the Japanese and Korean Battle Zones clattered to the floor.

Most of this equipment was of blue rank.

He had already tested it: once the gear was handed over to the humans of this world, the system would automatically activate their template.

Moreover, the previous warnings had completely disappeared.

This absurd bug was clearly the work of the Sword God System—it had boldly blocked the system outright.

Even if it was a bit wasteful, for Yenir, it was all worth it.

In his plan, once the Federation collapsed, Lin Rui would naturally become his successor. With his overwhelming combat prowess, Yenir was confident that under his guidance, Lin Rui would quickly establish his own faction. Then, even if the apocalypse struck, his subsidiary civilization could serve as Lin Rui’s factory for the first three years.

The only risk was…

That Lin Rui might eventually break free of his control.

But Yenir had already planned for that eventuality.

Surveying the scattered gear and the two silent Awakener operatives standing by his side, Lin Rui opened his mouth in astonishment, then nodded with newfound determination.

Isn’t this hardly a solo mission?

With fearsome weaponry and powerful superhuman allies at his back, he really had nothing to worry about…

The thought of fighting for humanity’s survival set his heart racing with excitement.

“Brother Ning! Don’t worry! I won’t let you down!”

His eyes sparkled with determination.

But just as it seemed Yenir wasn’t going to stick around much longer, Lin Rui suddenly remembered something.

“Hey! Brother Ning! Wait!”

“I wanted to ask something…”

His expression turned hesitant.

The youth who had just stopped Yenir seemed too shy to speak. After a brief struggle, he gathered the courage to continue:

“Um… about Anna… can I take over her responsibilities?”

“I mean…”

His face turned bright red.

One moment he was resolute in saving the world, and the next, Lin Rui felt a deep shame for still thinking about matters of the heart.

But he truly cared for Anna…

Fighting alone in the darkness, he longed for her company.

Yenir slightly tilted his head, his brow furrowed as he fixed a serious gaze on Lin Rui:

“Lin Rui, Anna isn’t suited to be with you right now!”

“Have you thought about how dangerous it would be if you brought her into this?”

“You now carry the fate of all human civilization—there is no room for error!”

Feigning a sigh, Yenir patted Lin Rui’s shoulder with unruffled calm.

“Don’t worry—Anna will be fine. Once you’ve grown and earned the right to protect her, she’ll naturally be by your side!”

With that, Yenir departed without further words, leading his team away and leaving behind a stupefied, ashamed Lin Rui.

Unnoticed.

Trailing behind Yenir, Ming Luo watched his retreating form with a curious expression, stealing a sympathetic glance at the regret-stricken Lin Rui.

Poor kid…

Sigh…

If only he knew that the one he cared about was with Yenir…

Who knows—he might even turn bitter right then and there…

……..

“Are you really leaving here!?”

“And mutants are going to attack again!?”

At Federation Headquarters, among a group of high-ranking officials, Bayen glowered at Yenir with a disapproving frown.

Ever since the attack three days ago, the entire Federation had been shrouded in gloom, with every leader living in constant dread.

The incident had triggered chaos across all walks of life—if not for strict information control, the entire world would have descended into disorder!

With so many high-ranking officials and military personnel lost, it was the worst catastrophe the Federation had seen in nearly a century.

“That’s right—we need to intercept the mutants.”

“The main battlefield cannot be in the Federation’s central provinces. Otherwise, if something goes wrong, I won’t be able to guarantee your safety.”

“The plan proceeds: we will launch nationwide militarization as quickly as possible!”

With an expression as cold as stone, Yenir casually issued his threat, his tone grave.

The subsequent cleanup operations would continue. With the authority granted to Lin Rui and the backup of two Third-Stage operatives, the situation should be manageable.

While the Federation government still held together, every effort would be made to push through nationwide militarization and rapidly build up factories.

Listening to Yenir’s orders, a dozen Federation high-ups’ expressions turned grim; many were visibly shaken.

Just the thought of that horrifying scene three days ago—those dreadful monsters—they were real threats to their lives!

“Understood! Rest assured, we will complete all projects on schedule!”

“And thank you for all your hard work!”

Bayen forced a wry smile as he made a bitter promise.

Faced with non-human forces, it seemed that the only power capable of protecting them was Yenir. Whether it was executing projects or even if Yenir decided to host a global beauty contest, they would do everything in their power to serve him.

No one wanted to die, especially not high-ups of their caliber.

……………

In a dim underground room, a girl in a dress sat trembling in a chair, her eyes wide with terror as she gazed at the cold alloy wall ahead.

Behind her, the handsome face of the youth, Ming Luo, was illuminated by a gentle, constant smile.

Yet in her heart, he was more frightening than the most terrifying demon in the world.

Standing behind Anna, Yenir stooped slightly, gently pinching the girl’s chin with his right hand as if he were a lover, and whispered in her ear:

“Stay here. There’s plenty of food and supplies to sustain you for a long time.”

“If you want your father to remain alive…”

“Then do as I say…”