Chapter 513: Chapter 336: Absurd World (Part 2)
She ran desperately through the streets, trying to escape this hell, yet unfortunately, she was targeted by the beast. Her routes of retreat were blocked, and she stood in the middle, wailing loudly.
As the beast pounced, this mother erupted with astonishing maternal instincts. She squeezed into a corner, back outwards, lying there, using her body to forge the final shield protecting her kin.
Yet, in the face of the bloody reality, the power of motherly love was truly insignificant.
The mother was swiftly torn apart by the beast, and the child she protected was snatched from the blood-soaked corpse, becoming food for the beast.
The hovercar driver stared in a daze, and Sikinkov covered his mouth, tears welling up in his eyes.
At this moment, the border district had completely descended into an earthly hell, fear and despair engulfing the entire area; countless lives disappeared amidst this merciless slaughter.
Sikinkov suppressed the negative emotions within, wiped his moist eyes with his sleeve, and said sternly to the driver, "Ascend, I want to see the situation from a higher vantage point."
The driver snapped back to reality and quickly complied.
The hovercar ascended into the sky, the details on the streets gradually disappearing, replaced by a broader view.
Sikinkov surveyed the scene below, aided by binoculars, quickly grasping the current state of the border district.
Tunneling insects emerged in the northern border district, and the beasts surged out from the tunnels they dug.
For now, the beasts hadn’t fully spread out, primarily concentrated in the severely affected north district, while only small-scale beast appearances were found elsewhere.
On streets not yet fallen, large crowds were rushing about, presumably civilians fleeing from their homes, escaping east.
Sikinkov swiftly realized: "They’re heading for the Rust Wall, seeking refuge in the Inner City... Quick, return to City Hall!"
...
In the City Hall Main Conference Room, various satellite images and related videos are displayed on the screen, while Sikinkov describes what he personally witnessed.
"As I said earlier, currently the main area fallen is the northern border district. People there were scarce to begin with, making the beasts’ breakthrough point there a blessing in disguise."
"In other sections of the border district, the populace hasn’t been severely affected yet and are collectively fleeing towards the Rust Wall. We should immediately open the entries in the walls and bring them in."
After Sikinkov’s report, the room fell silent, everyone merely gazing at the papers in front of them without uttering a word.
Amir’s expression seemed peculiar; he coughed lightly and slowly spoke, "Uh... Sikinkov, first we must commend you. Going to such a dangerous place for inspection, truly, you’ve worked hard."
"But... what did you just say? Open the Rust Wall entries to let those border folks in?"
Sikinkov puzzledly asked, "Is there a problem? Although New Moon City enacted the Rust Wall Isolation Act years ago, nominally, the border district is still an inseparable part of New Moon City, and its people are still citizens."
"With such a large disaster, are we going to abandon them outside the Rust Wall?"
Amir shook his head, "But have you considered that the safety of the Inner City is more crucial? If we open the Rust Wall access points, and beasts follow the border folks inside, then what?"
Sikinkov spoke heavily, "That’s why we need to devise specific plans! How the security forces should guide civilians to refuge, where to establish isolation barriers to resist beasts, how the forces should be directed, how they should fight. Isn’t this what we need to discuss next?"
Amir touched his nose, somewhat awkwardly saying, "Uh... True... you were outside inspecting, so you aren’t aware of this... It’s like this, we have no security forces to command anymore."
Perplexed, Sikinkov asked blankly, "What do you mean? I don’t understand."
Amir coughed lightly, spread his hands, and said, "The security forces have been requisitioned by the giant enterprises; they need manpower to transfer internal assets."
Shocked, Sikinkov’s face quickly turned angry: "That’s our security forces! They are vital to the safety of this city! How can they be requisitioned at a whim? What’s the basis?"
Amir gestured for Sikinkov to sit down and spoke soothingly, "I mentioned before, under emergency situations, the three giant enterprises have the right to requisition governmental military equipment. It’s codified in the World Government statute."
Sikinkov rebuked: "They have the right to requisition military equipment, fine, I’ll accept that! But the statute never mentions they can commandeer security forces’ personnel!"
"Without the security forces, how will this city’s safety be ensured? What about those millions outside the Rust Wall?"
Amir was growing impatient from repeated confrontations, his tone turning irritable: "Then tell me, those three big shots sent me a joint notice saying to commandeer the security forces, what am I supposed to do? Get stubborn and play hero?"
Sikinkov stated firmly, "I’m not asking you to be a hero, but you should at least adhere to the basic duties as City Council President!"
No longer having patience, Amir flicked his hand, coldly glancing at him: "Just shut up, Sikinkov. Instead of arguing with me, why not pack your things at home? We need to start preparing to evacuate too."
...
At this moment, news of beasts appearing in the border district had already spread far and wide.
Though the Inner City had yet to be affected, panic was permeating every corner.
At this crucial juncture, societal inequality was brutally magnified. For ordinary people trying to escape the city, it was no longer about purchasing expensive tickets; they simply weren’t allowed to leave.
Tens of thousands of security forces had already assembled, controlling all thoroughfares leading to the airport, ensuring that the elite and their vital assets could evacuate first.
Transport trucks formed a lengthy parade, starting from the vicinity of the Heaven-Reaching Tower to the airport, green lights ensuring an uninterrupted flow, creating a continuously pulsing steel transportation line.
The vehicles of ordinary citizens, on the outer streets, were stuck in unbreakable congestion, car horns blaring incessantly, occasionally resulting in clashes between car owners and sheriffs, followed by people being knocked to the ground by batons.
Inside the airport, planes and floating airships awaited departure on the vast runways, with cargo equipment unloading various heavy items from the transport trucks.
The privileged executives of giant enterprises and social elites were arriving one after another, not only with their families but also with numerous packed valuables.
Remarkably, one executive from a giant enterprise hired a specialized team to transport a rare limited-edition piano from his home during evacuation, taking up substantial space that could have accommodated more evacuees.
The Anti-Violence Fourth Section was ordered to station within the airport, despite the absence of any real threats, they had to ensure the elite’s sense of security, however negligible it may be.
The members of the Alpha Squad were at the airport’s core, amidst serene surroundings, and the evacuating elites showed no signs of panic, many still laughing and chatting with their families, as if the disaster never mattered.
After all, with their wealth and status, New Moon City was merely one of many residences.
Boarding a plane, enjoying some red wine and a nap, upon awakening they’d gaze at their holiday manor, and a brand-new life would commence.
Ivan observed the absurd sight before him, starkly contrasted with disaster, grinding his teeth.
An Alpha Team member’s face paled, asking solemnly, "Captain, there are neither beasts nor riots here, what are we doing? Isn’t our place the front lines?"
Ivan’s face twitched, he retorted through clenched teeth: "Don’t ask me, ask the City Council."
As the Alpha team members remained silent, a woman wearing an executive uniform from Hegemony Company approached, holding a Chihuahua inquisitively peering around.
"Hey, you." The woman pointed at Ivan, commanding, "Tell your on-site supervisor, my Barbie is timid and doesn’t like strangers nearby, arrange a private jet for me."
The Chihuahua named Barbie shrank in the woman’s arms, baring its teeth aggressively, barking incessantly at Ivan.
After the woman left with her dog, Ivan removed his helmet and smashed it to the ground, cursing: "This world is insane!"
