Chapter 1068: Chapter 1067: Aftermath of the Los Angeles Incident
"You’re back! Where are Sister Qingyan and Sister Ying?"
"Shen Ying is in seclusion, and Qingyan is around Phoenix Mountain seeing patients," Lu Zheng replied. "We also have some business here."
"What business?" Lin Wan asked curiously, thinking about the minimal needs for Blue Star.
"We need to find a printing factory to print a batch of imitation ancient books." Lu Zheng patted the gourd and took out the newly compiled ’Barefoot Doctor’s Manual’ by Liu Qingyan.
"No need to apply for an ISBN, just print ten thousand copies," Lu Zheng said.
Lin Wan nodded, "Just say it’s game merchandise, not for publication or sale, so it’s fine if the text doesn’t match."
"Okay, by the way, have there been any news outside in the past month?" Lu Zheng asked.
Lin Wan laughed, "You were away for a month and missed quite a bit of drama."
Lu Zheng showed interest, "Tell me more."
"The West Coast of the Lighthouse Country is in chaos. Various forces, including the military, FBI, CIA, government agencies, major financial groups, Skull and Bones Society civilian consortium forces, and agents from other countries, almost fought to the last brain cell." Lin Wan laughed.
"So chaotic?" Lu Zheng asked curiously, "Why did they fight?"
"Because they believe they have evidence of this secret event," Lin Wan said.
"What? Impossible?" Lu Zheng exclaimed in surprise.
The incident was handled by Si Lingxi, everyone involved was burned to nothingness, not even ashes left, no evidence of any sort. Did they discover any traces through monitoring or clues?
That’s not right. If we were discovered, Lin Wan wouldn’t be this happy.
Si Lingxi also looked curiously at Lin Wan.
Lin Wan didn’t keep them guessing, couldn’t help but laugh as she said, "Those ’evidence’ turned out to be various religious sects fabricating ’miracles’ or ’Holy Artifacts’ to fool the public into believing."
Lu Zheng, "..."
Si Lingxi, "..."
"Seriously, do those professionals have brains like dogs?" Lu Zheng shook his head.
"Of course not." Lin Wan shook her head, her eyes squinting slightly, "Because even the Lighthouse Country reacted with panic later and swore to allies, hence more people believed the Los Angeles incident wasn’t controlled by the Lighthouse Country."
Lu Zheng raised an eyebrow.
"Of course, given the Lighthouse Country’s previous notorious record, many people remain skeptical," Lin Wan said. "However, the Lighthouse Country has deployed many forces in California, so other countries had to secretly follow suit, after all...
If it’s a mysterious event, they would prefer not to let the Lighthouse Country take the lead, at least they want to be involved."
Lu Zheng couldn’t help but laugh, but upon reflection, he understood.
If this event was as some conspiracy theories suggest, controlled by viruses and microchips, it would be a scientific incident. While other national forces might fear it, it remains manageable, as there’s a trace to follow, and they can comprehend it. At worst, whether stealing, kidnapping, or developing antidotes and electromagnetic interference to disrupt the chips, they know how to defend.
But if it’s a mystical event, it’s entirely beyond scientific explanation. Should the Lighthouse Country grasp it, they’d be at a loss for comprehension and defense, reduced to helpless prey against a butcher’s knife.
Thus, if some secret sect managed to fabricate a ’Divine Artifact,’ even if they were ninety-nine percent sure it was fake, they wouldn’t risk that one percent chance.
Naturally, everyone rushes in, competing against each other, fighting tooth and nail until even discovering it’s just a wooden carving wouldn’t matter.
Thinking this, Lu Zheng found the situation amusing, "The Lighthouse Country practices religious freedom, there must be tens of thousands of various sects of all sizes, right? In cases like this, they’d all pop out to make themselves known, wouldn’t they?"
Lin Wan shrugged, "In this month alone, countless new sects have been established. The smarter ones create their identities and make a ’Divine Artifact,’ while those agents can’t blatantly target them, as it might induce panic among the civilians."
What would civilians think if government agencies forcibly seized these artifacts when the sects hadn’t violated any laws?
It proves the sects were telling the truth!
"How’s the higher-ups’ response?" Lu Zheng was curious.
Logically, Hua Country’s top officials should know the truth, but if they didn’t send anyone over, would it seem a bit aloof?
"Every now and then, they issue proposals suggesting inspections of the Lighthouse Country’s laboratories," Lin Wan couldn’t help but laugh, "Saying we should believe in science, insisting it’s all man-made with traces, while bringing up the Lighthouse Country’s past deeds to mock them."
"As for the Lighthouse Country, no traces of our agents have been found in Interpol’s channels," Lin Wan said, "Of course, this fits our persona. On the surface, there’s always nothing to critique."
"Oh? On the surface?"
Lu Zheng raised his eyebrow, understanding Lin Wan’s hint, "Is there some underground movement?"
Lin Wan smiled slightly, "It’s nothing significant, just numerous discreet parcels being sent abroad from home recently."
Lu Zheng blinked, puzzled.
"The Lighthouse Country customs intercepted one—it was a silver cross with a high-energy battery installed inside, using echo circulation technology, broadcasting Bible chants, creating an omnipresent ethereal feel indoors and outdoors."
Lin Wan laughed, "Apparently, the cross contained enough power to continuously play for a year."
"Wow." Lu Zheng was speechless, "High-cost custom, mechanical divine intervention, is this in case the Lighthouse Country gets too occupied?"
Lin Wan smirked, "Could those culturally ignorant locals concoct anything divine?
Addresses and contact info of those sect leaders aren’t secret, their promotional materials are all over the platforms and easily traceable.
In the past ten days, the frequency of ’miracles’ and ’Holy Artifacts’ appearances has skyrocketed, and I can’t even guess how much originated from our research institute."
The Lighthouse Country’s officials, consortiums, Skull and Bones Society, religious forces, foreign agents, international powers...
Plus who knows how many forces are stirring up trouble, like Hua Country’s mischief.
Genuine, fake, a mixed crowd...
Lu Zheng shook his head, smacked his lips, "A whole month and still not quiet?"
"Surfaces have quieted down; at least Los Angeles has returned to normal, and general law and order has even improved." Lin Wan smiled, "The only downside is the drastic drop in tourist numbers, but there’s nothing to be done."
Lu Zheng shrugged, "Indeed, they protest and riot at the drop of a hat; it’s normal for tourist numbers to fall. What’s it got to do with us?"
