Chapter 232: The Reckless Children

“Is something wrong?”

After seeing Mr. Su take the call, Elder Ye, the first old captain of the Sea Country, asked with a smile.

“It’s nothing, just a minor dispute.”

Mr. Su returned to his seat, explained with a smile, and said, “Let’s continue.”

Hearing this, everyone in the meeting room felt something was slightly off.

They knew it couldn’t be just a ‘minor dispute’. A call demanding Mr. Su’s personal attention during his meeting with the Sea Country’s expert team, even after his secretary picked up, had to be serious.

But Mr. Su showed no signs of anxiety, indicating he still prioritized receiving the expert team.

…

“From what Elder Ye said, it seems you place great importance on the cooperation between the Sea Country and the Alliance?”

Mr. Su asked with a smile, picking up the previous topic and diverting everyone’s attention.

Hearing Mr. Su, Elder Ye nodded with a smile. “It’s just as the suicide note from that genius scholar—the one who jumped from the Alliance Research Institute building—predicted,” he continued. “The emergence of Mentally Altered Persons will inevitably bring unimaginable shocks to our accustomed social structures and civilized order. We must prepare for the arrival of God.”

“Although, like most people, I don’t particularly like this potential God.”

He chuckled here, adding, “But I also know that His level will surely surpass anything we can imagine.”

Mr. Su listened, nodding slightly.

What Elder Ye said reflected a common consensus.

Currently, most High-wall Cities and organizations haven’t widely disclosed information about mental alterations to avoid causing panic.

But as administrators, everyone is keenly aware of the changes they are facing.

From these changes, it’s not difficult to estimate the kind of impact the future holds.

…

“Compared to those madmen who want to become gods, the only thing we ordinary people can do is unite.”

Elder Ye shared his perspective. “This unity must be seamless, built on mutual trust. Not like now, where cities and factions entrench themselves, suspicious and prejudiced. We desperately hide our findings while trying to unearth others’ secrets. We preach peace but privately wage bloody battles over population, resources, and even training liquids.”

“…”

His words ruthlessly exposed the true state of affairs between the various factions, making people feel rather uncomfortable.

At this point, Professor Bai chimed in with a smile, “Elder Ye makes a good point.”

“However, regarding cooperation, there’s no need to be so pessimistic. Many now realize the importance of working together. The Alliance’s third academic exchange conference three months ago shared significant materials, increasing everyone’s understanding of mental alteration.”

“…”

“Because everyone simultaneously increased their understanding, they’re all eager to proceed with Second Stage research?”

Elder Ye scoffed, “That Alliance conference, in my view, did less to promote understanding and more to fuel competition. This current order, with an Alliance formed from individual city-states, is inherently flawed. It was merely a temporary measure after the Red Moon incident, a buffer while waiting for civilization to rebuild. Its disadvantages outweigh its advantages.”

“What we need now is to become a single entity again.”

“Only then can we most effectively gather all our strength and leverage our advantages.”

“…”

“Ah…”

Elder Ye’s words visibly moved many in the meeting room.

They seemed surprised that Elder Ye would speak so frankly.

What was more unexpected was that the Sea Country harbored such ambitions?

Mr. Su turned slightly, gazing out the meeting room window. Dusk was approaching. With few buildings nearby, the entire Donghai Grand Hotel seemed exceptionally quiet, not even a bird’s chirp could be heard.

He looked back at Elder Ye with a smile, “Elder Ye seems quite passionate about this.”

Elder Ye chuckled, took out a black bag and an old pipe, gesturing slightly.

No one else smoked, and they frowned slightly seeing his body still hooked up to an IV drip.

Elder Ye didn’t stand on ceremony. He stuffed tobacco into the pipe bowl, slowly lit it, and exhaled a plume of acrid smoke.

Then he sighed softly, “Of course I’m passionate. More and more people are having mental issues, more and more people possess those damn abilities. They’re monsters, damn it! Do I even need to say how terrifying they are?”

“This old man, I was once ambitious, refusing to yield to age. When the moon first turned red, the world was full of madmen. I refused to accept it, took several hundred people, and fled to the sea. No matter how hard it got—there were times we only had a sip of water every three days—we survived. Now, those few hundred have become hundreds of thousands. Isn’t that something to boast about?”

“Later, once things stabilized, I brought people back several times to hunt down those madmen running rampant. You could say that the decline, even disappearance, of madmen on this land now… well, I deserve some credit for that, no matter how you slice it…”

“But now…”

He suddenly coughed violently, then let out a low sigh. “Me? I’ve been a hero my whole life, never admitted defeat.”

“But after encountering those Ability Users, I feel utterly powerless.”

“Forget everything else. I’ve spent the latter half of my life dealing with guns. Held guns more than I’ve held women. Fired hundreds of thousands of bullets just to hone my marksmanship…”

“But those madmen? They pick up a gun and immediately shoot better than me.”

“I’ve weathered countless storms in my life. To put it bluntly, I could make those hotheaded youngsters wet themselves with just a look.”

“But those Ability Users…”

As he spoke, his chapped lips trembled, “A single look from them can make someone kill themselves…”

…

No one interrupted him; they all felt somewhat emotional hearing this.

Elder Ye no longer seemed like a composed leader, but more like an old man stubbornly refusing to accept his age.

Of course, many leaders of the current factions had started as ordinary people.

“And what I’m talking about are just ordinary Ability Users…”

Elder Ye continued, sighing deeply, “Not to mention those rumored to be even more powerful… the S-ranks…”

“I heard they possess the power to destroy an entire city at will!”

As he said this, the emotion on his face shifted from lament to distinct fear.

The crowd exchanged glances, unsure what to say.

Professor Bai offered a slight smile and spoke, “I don’t think Elder Ye needs to be quite so pessimistic.”

“Ability Users are indeed powerful, but they are also part of us. We don’t need to view them all as enemies. This is simply a change brought by the Red Moon that we need to adapt to. Including the S-rank Ability Users you mentioned—perhaps they truly are candidates for the godhood spoken of in that genius researcher’s last words, but there might still be room for maneuver.”

Pausing slightly, his expression turned serious. “I believe we shouldn’t just blindly fear or be pessimistic right now.”

“What we should do is understand them, accept them, and guide them.”

“…”

Professor Bai’s words seemed perfectly normal to everyone in the meeting room.

This had always been Qinggang’s perceived attitude towards Ability Users.

But upon hearing Professor Bai, Elder Ye’s gaze snapped towards his face.

“That’s your problem!”

His voice turned somewhat harsh, his tone sharp and serious. “You’re always overly confident, thinking you can control these people, even command them. But you have no idea how dangerous people like them become once control is lost…”

“I also know that all the major High-wall Cities are recruiting Ability Users, even trying to deconstruct their powers through experiments.”

He lifted his head, his face, weathered dark red by the sea wind, showing a profound expression:

“But do you know how I see this situation?”

After a pause, he gave a wry smile. “The Red Moon appeared in the sky, destroying the old order and civilization.”

“For us, who are scrambling to adapt and survive in this world, the emergence of Ability Users… it’s like a bunch of kids making mud pies. They’re at an age where they should just be spitting and pulling hair, but suddenly someone drops crates of military-grade weapons right in front of them. Now, every child—kids who don’t grasp the value of life or the power of a bullet—has a gun.”

“So, when you find yourself among such a group of reckless children, how do you protect yourself?”

“…”

When he posed this question, his expression was extremely grave as he looked seriously at Mr. Su and Professor Bai before him.

At this moment, many felt their hearts sink slightly, overcome by a bad premonition.

The night outside the window seemed to deepen.

*Crackle…*

The incandescent lamp overhead flickered a few times, then stabilized, casting a pale light.

Professor Bai merely furrowed his brow slightly and remained silent.

Mr. Su met Elder Ye’s gaze and said, “Elder Ye mentioned in the fax from a month ago…”

“That you were coming this time to exchange experiences regarding S-rank Ability Users?”

“Then, I wonder if you…”

“…”

“I’ve already brought him.”

Meeting Mr. Su’s gaze, Elder Ye gave a calm chuckle.

Then, his gaze shifted to the young man in the red cloak standing behind him.

*Rustle, rustle, rustle…*

As his gaze shifted, a wave of tense commotion suddenly swept through the entire meeting room.”