Chapter 489: Chapter 324: Advance Arrangements (Part 2)
But since last year, after Ou Chenyu killed An Churan, the research on the Black Extinction Virus was significantly delayed. Qi Ling joined the team too late, making it impossible to stop the Beacon Incident in advance.
In the original plot, when the Beacon Incident broke out, the borderlands were completely turned into a living hell.
Su Mo withdrew his thoughts and continued, "I want to ask you to do something. With Wolf Attack’s current reputation, although you don’t have the title of King of the Borderlands, you are already the Uncrowned King, far beyond groups like Crow’s Nest or the Ashen Gang that need to rely on the support of the three giants."
"Whether it’s among major groups or among ordinary borderlanders, any word you say is sure to be followed by a great response."
"Therefore, please go and evacuate the people in advance. Mobilize as many as you can, let them pack their bags, take the necessary items, and then leave the borderlands."
Hibell rubbed her temples, her face full of difficulty, "Boss, since you’ve already said it, I won’t ask why you know such an outrageous thing."
"Even if we believe you, you’re asking us to tell the borderlanders around us to leave their good lives behind, take their families, and flee from the borderlands? To escape as far as they can?"
Su Mo: "Yes."
Hibell: "But how is that possible? Who would believe us without any proof?"
Su Mo: "With Wolf Attack’s reputation, some will believe, though we must admit that not everyone will."
"In any case, do your best. If you can persuade even one person, it’s worth it. You can’t save everyone, but you can save as many as possible."
As a Transmigrator, Su Mo naturally knew the development of the plot later on.
However, from the perspective of Wolf Attack and others, this seemed too absurd.
The World Government was established in the Dawn 3rd Year, with the influence of the three giant corporations reaching its peak in the Dawn 29th Year, establishing the initial map of the Human Realm.
In these hundred-plus years, it was always the Human Realm expanding into the Land of No Master.
Because whether it was the forces from beyond the borders or the wild beasts, the power in the Land of No Master had no order and couldn’t form a unified force.
Take wild beasts, for example; although some have high intelligence, they at most create a pack leader effect, leading a group of dozens to hundreds of beasts.
Even a beast pack of such size would be meaningless in front of the defensive structures and heavy firepower of a border patrol station.
Even if a few high-ranked beasts occasionally attacked, elite Extraordinary Beings could handle them.
So, while the Land of No Master seemed plagued by beasts, it actually posed no threat to the Human Realm, and there had never been a large-scale beast invasion inland in over a hundred years.
And now, someone is telling you—New Moon City, one of the five great human cities, and its surrounding areas will fall under the beast’s assault.
Such talk, even in the drunken ramblings of men, is something to laugh at.
Hibell felt quite troubled, scratching the back of her head, "Boss, you’re asking us to believe in something so startling without giving reasons; what are we to do..."
Su Mo sighed, "I can’t convince you to believe, but if you ultimately don’t do as I say, I can understand."
"After all, fully evacuating the borderlanders isn’t something as simple as just saying it; it requires enormous manpower and resources."
"So, deciding on this requires great courage. If you don’t believe me, I understand; I can’t force you to do anything."
"I just want you all to ask yourselves, have I ever lied to you? Even once?"
"I told Wolf Attack because I trust you, and all I want is to receive equivalent trust from you, nothing else."
These words made Hibell’s gaze become tangled, remembering Su Mo’s pressure-free support to Wolf Attack despite the Scythe of Death. Even if it’s just to repay a favor, he should be trusted once.
But since this involves the entire Wolf Attack, she dared not make a decision alone and could only look towards Fenrir.
Fenrir’s gaze remained unchanged from start to finish, still calm, only the silent contemplation signaling she was thinking.
After a long while, she didn’t respond but instead asked, "Even if we evacuate the people, where can they go?"
"To live in such a desolate place as the borderlands, they must have nowhere else to go; otherwise, they’d have left long ago."
"After leaving the borderlands, where can these people go? Where can they find refuge?"
Su Mo looked into Fenrir’s eyes and resolutely said, "Inner City."
"Inner City?" Fenrir paused, a tone of confusion, "Have you gone mad, or am I mad? If we truly carry out a large-scale evacuation, so many people, are they all supposed to enter the Inner City through the sewers?"
"Not through the sewers," Su Mo gave an astonishing answer, "but through the Rust Wall."
Fenrir: "The vast majority of borderland people don’t have legal status; the Rust Wall could never be open to them."
Su Mo: "I know, but I’ll find someone to open the Rust Wall for you."
Fenrir: "What if he fails?"
Su Mo: "He will turn out successful."
Fenrir: "I don’t trust such baseless promises; if that person fails, and the people are trapped between the firepower zone of the Rust Wall in front and the flood of beasts behind, what will they do?"
Su Mo’s mouth curled into a bitter arc, saying quietly, "If he fails, at least I believe, he’ll choose to die with you."
Fenrir: "You’re asking us to stake the lives of hundreds of thousands, even millions, on what you consider a possibility?"
Su Mo: "Yes, I’m betting because if we don’t, the entire borderlands is destined to become a hell on earth. Betting offers a chance, perhaps a possibility, to save most people."
Seeing Fenrir fall into silence, the previously quiet Troy worriedly asked, "Even if what you say is true and all correct, what about Wolf Attack itself?"
"We’ve been fighting, with so many brothers sacrificed, every inch of land gained with their blood."
"If we invest a lot of manpower to evacuate the people, and Ashen Gang and Crow’s Nest seize the opportunity to take over our territories, causing massive loss, what then?"
Su Mo nodded, "There’s no need to say if; what you worry about will surely happen. You can even foresee the worst-case scenario: all that Wolf Attack has accumulated will vanish like smoke."
Troy said angrily, "Then you still want us to do it? For those lands, to become the King of the Borderlands, do you know how many people Wolf Attack has sacrificed?"
Su Mo didn’t answer but asked another question, "In your opinion, what is the King of the Borderlands?"
Without waiting for Troy’s reply, Su Mo continued, "The King of the Borderlands isn’t measured by how much land one has, nor does it depend on how many groups support you."
"Major groups can vote under the instruction of giant corporations to choose a so-called ’King of the Borderlands,’ but that’s not the real King of the Borderlands."
"A true king doesn’t rely on the support of giants or other groups, nor need a titular crown."
"It’s only when all borderlanders respect you from the bottom of their hearts, acknowledge you, that you are the true King of the Borderlands."
"Now tell me, what kind of king do you want to be?"
"Do you wish to be like Crow’s Nest and the Ashen Gang, overseeing the borderlands in name but actually draining the borderlanders to grow themselves?"
"Or would you rather, as per your original aspiration, lift each borderlander out of that hell, allowing them to live with heads high, even if facing unbearable costs?"
These words brought a long silence around them. Troy fell silent, while Hibell seemed to have a fire burning in her eyes, both looking towards their leader.
Fenrir looked deeply at Su Mo, gradually, her lips lifted slightly in an almost undetectable arc.
She gave a brief smile, her dark purple eyes filled with the depth that memories bring.
"The way you speak, it really reminds me of the old man back home."
With that, the call was cut off.
Fenrir didn’t give a definitive answer.
But Su Mo knew she already had her answer.
