Chapter 97

Chapter 97

The Arkham City Hall.

In an office on one of the upper floors.

"I understand. We'll convene a meeting immediately to push for the decision to reclaim the Kamui tribe's land," said the government official in a suit, expressionless as he spoke on the phone from his desk chair.

Not far from him, by a large window, stood two figures.

Eugene now looked haggard, as if he had aged a dozen years in a short period due to overuse of his abilities. His hair had turned gray.

"The plan to expel the Kamui will proceed at the fastest pace," Eugene muttered, looking at Amos standing beside him. "Will the secret realm really close permanently once the Kamui leave?"

"Certainly," Amos replied with a smile, his words creating a strange ripple in the air that penetrated Eugene's ears.

"The deity worshiped by the Secret Church is the ruler of that secret realm, and the Kamui are the main believers of that deity. Once they're expelled, the deity will be like a rootless weed, unable to sustain such a vast secret realm."

If Clay were present, he would have criticized Amos's words for lacking scientific basis.

Fortunately, Amos didn't need to understand any of this, for Eugene didn't either. Moreover, he was utilizing a power similar to Eugene's, albeit much weaker in the aspect of suggestion.

It was thanks to Eugene's obsession with eradicating the Mages that Amos found his opportunity.

Eugene remained silent, his bloodshot eyes fixated on the scene outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, though he was in no mood to appreciate the bustling cityscape. His gaze seemed to pierce through the buildings, as if he could already envision Michigan University hovering within that mysterious realm.

He was more aware than anyone that the University of Michigan's destruction was intimately linked to the agent from the Audit Bureau, for it was he who had been in charge of communicating with Albert back then.

Consequently, when Eugene saw MIT, which should have vanished, within that mystic realm, his shock surpassed that of anyone else.

At the same time, he resolved firmly that he would never allow Michigan University to reemerge into reality.

He couldn't afford to let that Esteemed One's reputation be tarnished!

Just then, the government official's phone rang. He answered it, and his expression shifted visibly, becoming both respectful and obsequious.

"Yes, yes, I understand. Alright, I'll have the meeting canceled right away."

Eugene furrowed his brow slightly and approached the official, asking, "What did they say on the call?"

The government official replied in a daze, "We've received instructions from above to halt all progress on the policy to reclaim the Kamuy land."

Eugene was taken aback. "Why?"

The official remained silent for a long while. Instead, Amos, gazing out the window, suddenly spotted something. He pressed his forehead against the glass, a grin spreading across his face.

Below the large windows, the entrance of the government building had suddenly become the site of a protest by a group of apparent minorities holding up banners.

"No to racial discrimination!"

"No to superstition!"

"This is a society of civil rights!"

"Arrest the criminals who committed assault in the video!"

Eugene also heard the fervent chants from below. At that moment, the hypnotized government official said, "Perhaps you should watch the news."

He switched on the small television in the office, and a news broadcast was already playing on the screen.

The incident involved locals attacking a minority group, but the crux of the matter wasn't the assault itself; it was the racial slurs spewed by the perpetrators during the violence.

The video went viral across major social media platforms, attracting a swarm of media outlets and government officials who switched from one news channel to another. Regardless of the station, this incident dominated the airwaves.

Due to various reasons, racism was deeply ingrained in this society, just waiting for a spark to ignite it. Now, with the divine intervention on Earth, the powder keg had exploded.

In the meantime, unscrupulous media outlets dug into Arkham City's internal networks, utilizing technical means to restore deleted videos and associated comments, causing a massive uproar.

"It's unbelievable that we live in the modern era."

"What is this? A medieval witch hunt? How could they be so cruel, burning their own kind alive?"

"They label that race as demons, but in truth, the demons reside within themselves."

"I looked into why the people of this city hold such beliefs. Can you guess what I found? It stems from a recent factory incident where a hallucinogenic substance leaked, causing a disaster claiming hundreds of lives! Yet, we were oblivious to such an event! Someone suppressed the casualty figures and the public's attention. And now, they've clearly found a scapegoat!"

"Disgusting, absolutely disgusting. The blame is being unjustly shifted onto the innocent Kamui, while the government escapes accountability. Do our authorities have any morals left?"

Within these seemingly 'neutral' comments, the players' presence was lurking, actively engaging.

"I've heard rumors that the government is secretly implementing a policy to reclaim the Kamuy people's land and drive them out of the city. How utterly despicable!"

"You don't understand. Those elitist Celestial Dragons do this just to win the votes of the citizens, especially with the mayoral election right around the corner, you catch my drift? (winks)"

"Hell is empty, for the devils walk among us."

"We must not let the government's scheme succeed. If the fire burns the Kamuy today, who will be the scapegoat tomorrow? Other minority groups?"

"Justice must not be obscured by shadows, and religion can never justify oppression!"

"-demand the government release the investigation report on that incident, give the people the truth, and spare the innocent citizens!"

Eugene had already pulled out his phone and logged onto a social platform. In a short span of time, the issue had garnered over a hundred million views, topping the trending charts across all platforms. It was a ranking that not even money could buy its way down.

Discrimination was one of society's most profound conflicts, especially in a country with a history of large-scale protests and uprisings, albeit less frequent in modern times. Not because the issues had vanished, but rather, they had become more subtle, simmering beneath the surface, waiting for the right spark to ignite a full-blown crisis.

It was clear that this incident had reached the highest levels of power. Just as Eugene had manipulated certain influential voices in high society before, he could easily pin the blame on the Kamui, who had no voting rights. Naturally, they would prioritize the opinions of those who did have the power to vote.

Similarly, Arkham City was electing its mayor, and gubernatorial and even presidential elections were happening elsewhere. Handling such a socially significant issue effectively could be a stepping stone to political advancement.

...

When Lane woke up, he had an inexplicable foreboding sensation lingering in his mind.

He asked Ogur, who was standing by, about the state of the Khamyans.

Ogur replied, "Everything's fine."

Lane heaved a sigh of relief. Then, he inquired about the players' situation.

Ogur: "....Everything's fine."

Lane: "Why did you hesitate so much?"

The ominous feeling in his mind intensified. With determination, Lane logged into the player forum, only to be greeted by darkness.

"Anti-Racial Discrimination Rally! Gather, fellow gamers! We demand that the cards for transportation be from the Khamyan tribe!"

"Sitting-In Protest in Front of the Government Office - Sign Up Here!"

1. "We offer horizontal banners, whiteboards, and custom clothing services at discounted prices!"

2. "Enlist here for the online army, let's charge the social media together!"

3. "Confessions of a Game Water Army Member"

Lahn: Who am I? Where am I? What is going on here?

Lahn began to flip through the previous posts with a darkened expression. The more he read, the more astonished he became.

Just when he thought the players had pulled off their most outrageous stunts, these young geniuses would come up with something even more absurd, leaving him dumbfounded.

Of course, the reason players could gather such force was mainly because the deity, upon realizing the power of public opinion, saw a significant surge in the progress bar for the first act of the main quest. The players featured in the video also gained considerable contributions to the main storyline.

This indicated that the deity's actions in the mortal world were indeed effective!

Druid: Well, I'm experiencing firsthand the meaning behind the lyrics 'I gave you too much freedom' (with a black mark indicating frustration)

Druid: Let me say it again, this game is excessively free-form.

Male Virtue Preacher: This is the first time I've seen a game with such a task completion method! Damn, how fun is this! I want to join the in-game parade too!

If You Dare, Send It: This is truly a game of absolute freedom! I want to play as well! Your skills are amazing.

Unbeatable with Feline Grace: Where is the divine master among mortals? I come with admiration!

A trail of comments followed, all expressing admiration, and most of these Druid usernames were unfamiliar.

Druid: Admiration-driven? Where do you all come from? New cloud gamers?

Silent Night: We've come from other platforms. The big shot's actions have gone viral; now everyone knows about this 'free' game. Its freedom is comparable to Minecraft's.

Cai Wei: I think it might not be as high as Minecraft's since that's a full sandbox game, but in some aspects, it has surpassed Minecraft's freedom...

Dice Gambler, Leave Me Alone: I'm mainly here to witness the god-like moves of the big shots on Earth and wait for the moment this game gets banned.

Three Sesame Bean Cakes: Me too (raises hand) I heard about it from another platform. But why is it still in beta testing? And with so few spots! Let me in quickly, and I'll start a rebellion right away...

Black Cat: WOC, you guys are too intense. Even unruly citizens aren't as demanding as you all (laughs in tears)

Matcha Latte: What kind of people does this game attract? Hahaha, I've said it before, this isn't a Tyrant Simulator!

Black Cat: The game officials have given players too much freedom...

Lahn couldn't agree more.

What on earth is going on?

They're even tackling anti-racism issues, will they start electing presidents next? Oh, wait a moment...

Lahn fell silent for a moment.

In his previous life, there were actually players who ran for president.

Never mind then.

Lahn glanced through the most frequently appearing usernames in the forum threads – God on Earth.

Why does that name sound so familiar?

Oh, it seems to be that player who preached last time.

Lan rubbed his chin and, guided by the friendly pointers from the forum members, eventually found a live stream.

It wasn't God Among Men's live stream. God Among Men was one of the few players who refused to go live no matter how much they were urged, but he didn't mind others streaming him.

And currently, in the neighboring live stream section of the forum, the hottest stream was one featuring him.

The moment Lan entered the live stream, he was astounded.

"I have a dream that this nation will rise up and truly embody the essence of its creed: 'All men are created equal.'"

"I have a dream that on this soil of Arkham City, people of every hue, regardless of status or creed, boys and girls alike, can sit together, bound by the fraternal ties of friendship..."

Amidst a throng of people, God Among Us stood in the heart of Arkham City's central square, delivering an impassioned speech. The player who once played the role of a priest, poaching believers from other religions in the city's most impoverished district, now wore an aura of untouchable sanctity. Thousands had gathered, densely packing the square, yet the atmosphere was surprisingly quiet, even serene. Every onlooker, players included, held their breath, intently watching the man seated at the feet of the divine statue.

"I dream of a day when Arkham City transforms, even if its authorities continue to ignore our voices, as they may be drafting policies to expel the Kameyu tribe. But there will come a time when the residents of Kameyu will be brothers and sisters to the citizens of Arkham City, walking hand in hand..."

"…If Arkham is to become a great city, and if this nation is to become a great nation, this dream must resonate, letting the voices of equality and freedom echo in every corner!" *

"Hiss—It's just too brilliant, too brilliant! I've watched this speech countless times, yet I still feel so moved qwq"

"The guy in front, that's the charm of a speech, isn't it? This is purely an individual masterpiece. The God Among Us didn't even use any 'skills'! Damn, it's a real-life oratory success!"

"It's also the atmosphere on site. Can you believe it? Amidst so many people, you can only hear The God Among Us speaking. The silence around is the scariest part."

"In fact, there were sounds. I heard someone crying."

"Thanks, that makes it even scarier."

"Ahhhh, I'm so excited listening to this, I've punched the air several times in my room."

"I was listening while running, and now my feet hurt, but I can't stop."

"I recorded it. Next time when my teacher asks for a speech, I'll practice with The God Among Us's version qwq"

Indeed, this is absurdity at its peak, absurdity opening the door for more absurdity, reaching unparalleled levels of peculiarity.

What kind of person was he in reality? Could someone of his status truly afford so much time for gaming?

But, but...

"Alon, quick, move the camera!"

"What?" Alon was still absorbed in the leader's speech.

"Shift it, to the left! Just a bit to the left!"

Alon obeyed and slightly shifted the camera to the left.

Soon, two small figures appeared in the frame, and they were...

"Minorities?"

"No, look at their attire. They're Kamui people!"

Alon also recognized them. It was inevitable, as players, especially those from the Secret Church faction, had become quite familiar with the Kamui, to the point that many had exchanged fashion items with Kamui women for their traditional clothing.

But how could these two children be here? Weren't they warned not to go out during this time?

The pair, seemingly siblings, with the boy around seven and the girl around five, stood on a small stoop. He held his sister's hand, both of them gazing at the direction where the divine being was, their eyes shimmering like little stars amidst the dense crowd below, all fixated on the divine presence.

At their age, they might not fully grasp the significance of the speech, but they were undoubtedly affected by the atmosphere, especially by the divine presence.

The five-year-old girl, in a moment of absentmindedness, took a step forward but lost her balance. Her brother quickly reached for her, but with no support nearby to steady them, they both began to tilt downwards.

"Ahh! Be careful!"

The live-stream chat feed instinctively flooded with alerts, but it was clear they were too late. Ah Long subconsciously pushed his way in that direction, but the crowd was too dense; there wasn't even room to sit down. All he could see was the two children falling from a three-meter height.

...They didn't fall.

Spontaneously, the crowd lifted the children, passing them along like a fluid current towards where the divine presence was believed to be. The fear on the kids' faces hadn't faded before it transformed into curiosity.

Black arms, brown arms, white arms, yellow arms...

People of different races and skin tones held the children aloft, moving them through the air above the square. Eventually, they landed safely in the only open space in the square, right beside the manifestation of the divine.

God, in human form, embraced the two children with a warm smile, then took each of their hands and bowed to the crowd.

The kids were slightly bewildered but mimicked God's gesture, bending down as well. The thousands before them erupted into applause, initially gentle like raindrops, soon escalating into a thunderous downpour accompanied by cheers that echoed incessantly.

"....Incredible, holy moly!"

"This scene could win a presidential campaign, I swear."

"Did you record it? Did you record it? Upload it quickly!"

"Oh my god, oh my god, an eternal masterpiece!"

"Perfection! I have a feeling this game is about to go viral again. The developers owe us this moment!"

"Unbelievable, unbelievable! This game is divine!"

"How incredibly liberating!"

"A classic born of serendipity, timeless indeed!"

Lane watched the deity holding hands with the two children by his side, and a slow smile spread across his face.

Despite the players' unbridled nature, who were known as the Fourth Calamity,

After the chaos and storms, new green shoots would still sprout from this land.

...

As the live-stream chat had mentioned,

The video, upon upload, quickly gained over ten thousand views on the player forums, breaking beyond its niche circle.

In-game social media buzzed with over a hundred million views, and everyone became acquainted with the Human God, cough, or rather, his pseudonym, Norman Kin.

He swiftly entered the mainstream media's spotlight, instantly becoming an in-game internet sensation. In-game, as Human God, he had no qualms and readily agreed to numerous talk show and speech invitations, boosting his credibility score exponentially.

Some players speculated that Human God would soon become the most credible player, and if he seized this popularity wave to give speeches, he might genuinely venture into politics.

The players on the forums couldn't help but react.

Lan also held his breath.

So you were the player who ran for president in the previous life?

This was too much; it left Lan feeling numb with astonishment.

As the anti-discrimination movement gained momentum, the higher-ups promptly issued an order to the government of Arkham City, forcefully suspending the policy of evicting the Kamis.

In the Arkham City government, Eugene looked grim and defeated.

Everything was over. Eugene knew that his plan had failed.

Originally, he had intended to hypnotize government officials quickly to expedite the implementation of the policy. By the time others realized what was happening, it would be too late. Even if those hypnotized politicians regained consciousness, they wouldn't question the impropriety, as the policy would already be in place, and they would have reaped its benefits. They would naturally remain silent and align themselves with Eugene's camp.

But now, everything was ruined.

Eugene never imagined that the situation would escalate so drastically. No, it was clear that someone was manipulating events behind the scenes...

Fixated on those initial videos, Eugene suddenly had an idea. He turned to instruct the government staff to investigate the main figures in the footage.

Swiftly, the government's investigation results were released, and without exception, none of the individuals in the videos were found, be it the victims' corpses or the perpetrators who should still be alive. They had vanished as if they had evaporated from the face of the earth.

By now, the situation was clear as day.

"Haha…" Eugene grasped his hair in disbelief, "This is a trap. How could they…dare to do this?"

Eugene had figured out that the reason the incident had escalated so drastically was that the masterminds behind it were likely members of the secretive cult.

They were responsible for the videos and the flames.

But what Eugene couldn't understand was how they could be so daring and insane.

Were the ones burned alive and tortured in those videos also their fellow cult members?

It was an outrageous display of...

"What an eye-opening fanaticism," Amos muttered, a smirk curving his lips as he chuckled.

Eugene didn't share his amusement. Nervously, he bit his fingernails, "If we fail, no, if we can't drive the Kamuy out now, we've already failed. My hypnosis won't last long. Once they regain consciousness…"

With that, his story comes to an end.

The Audit Bureau functioned as a semi-official entity, operating under the shelter of the state machinery and thus subject to certain levels of supervision. One of the official red lines was that Origin Abilities could not be used on government personnel.

It was evident that Eugene had now crossed a line. Once these people came to their senses and requested an investigation from the Audit Bureau, it would be all over. Especially since he was the secretary of the Director; the worst-case scenario could even implicate that esteemed figure.

Just a moment, why would he do such a thing? If his hypnotizing of government officials were to come to light, the Audit Bureau might face an even worse situation.

Oh, I've been caught.

Amos observed the shifting expressions on Eugene's face until their eyes finally met, causing him to smile slyly. "What is it, my dear?"

"You... It was you..." Eugene's lips trembled as he struggled with a conflicting realization. In the intensity of his consciousness, he had broken free from Amos's influence and grasped the truth.

But it was too late now.

In Amos's hands lay the greatest leverage over the Inspectorate.

Moving behind Eugene, he reached out to grasp his neck. "My dear Eugene, I believe our collaboration has been quite amicable, don't you think?"

Eugene was momentarily speechless. He knew the magnitude of his mistake. If the government officials investigated and found out about Eugene, they would tear the entire Audit Bureau apart.

His paranoia had blinded him, and he had been lured into a devilish trap, making a grave error.

"So, think about what you can do now to make amends..." Amos's fingers tightened casually, and instantly, Eugene felt a shortage of oxygen, causing dizziness to wash over him.

All he could do to make amends...

"I'll kill all the Kamui and then take my own life," Eugene muttered, the only voice echoing in his mind.

Amos chuckled. "Make it impossible for them to trace it back to you, and at the same time, you'll be helping your dear Director clean up the mess, won't you?"

Eugene's breathing quickened, his chest rising and falling rapidly as he painfully closed his eyes.

He was also an expert in hypnosis and psychology, aware that Amos was manipulating him.

However, his brilliance lay in his understanding of Eugene's obsession. It seemed that there was no other choice left for Eugene, even if it meant jumping into a bottomless abyss.

"I...," Eugene said with difficulty, "I understand."

With that, fatigue deepened on his face, and his already gray hair turned even whiter in an instant. A subtle hint of defeat shone in his eyes.

"A wise decision," Amos curled his lips.

In response to Amos's "praise," Eugene showed no emotion. Neither did he feel honored nor enraged; he seemed utterly apathetic, "So, what's next? It's impossible to expel the Kamui now. As for your suggestion to kill them, the Kamui have become the focus of society, and there are still people protecting them."

"Have you heard of Extermination Day?" Amos asked, proceeding to explain without waiting for a response, "A traditional festival in Arkham City, commemorating the divine act of banishing monsters to protect the indigenous people. On this day, the citizens hold grand ceremonies, with everyone dressing up as monsters or gods. Don't you think it's the perfect stage?"

Eugene: "…What do you plan to do?"

Amos chuckled but didn't answer. At that moment, his gaze shifted towards the entrance.

"Knock, knock."

A knock sounded from outside the door.

"Is Chief here? We've brought some documents."

Amos and Eugene remained silent, and the room fell quiet. Moments later, someone pushed the door open and entered from outside.

It was the disguised Black Cat, now dressed in a sharp suit, giving off an air of a government official at first glance.

Upon entering the office, he scanned the room nonchalantly like any ordinary clerk before placing a stack of documents expressionlessly on the desk. Then, with a calm demeanor, he walked out.

"Tsks, it's not him either," Black Cat murmured, frowning as he left the office.

The live stream viewers consoled him.

"Pat pat, great job, Black Cat! Impressive how you infiltrated Arkham City's government offices. You've got us all stunned."

"Sob sob, why are your dice rolls so amazing while mine only hold me back? qwq"

"That doesn't add up. In my deduction, the mastermind should be here," Black Cat muttered. "According to Strongest Man and Madman's intel, there's an important meeting within the government today. The Kamui Extermination Policy will be discussed for decision-making. The mastermind behind the scenes has to be present."

It was due to this information that Black Cat had hurriedly arrived today and thoroughly investigated the presence of two non-staff members on this floor.

The room he had just entered faced the conference room, allowing him to observe the comings and goings of people outside the meeting door and get immediate news on the outcome. Originally, Black Cat expected the mastermind to push through the policy at any cost, thus ensuring their presence in this office.

Yet, no one was there...

The black cat suddenly remembered something and immediately dashed towards the surveillance room. Upon entering, he panted as he addressed the staff in charge of monitoring, "S-sorry, the Chief's confidential documents that I was supposed to leave in the office are missing. They're crucial files for the meeting. Could you please switch the cameras to that room? I want to see if anyone entered without permission."

"Phrasing: Successful"

"Oh... Well, that shouldn't be a problem." The staff, assuming the black cat was in a hurry, noticed the ID badge on his chest and instinctively pulled up the surveillance footage.

On the video, two individuals were seen standing inside the Chief's room.

Glancing at the timestamp, it was clearly the moment when he had just entered!

The black cat's pupils constricted slightly. At that moment, on the surveillance footage, he saw the man with shoulder-length black hair and a gentle appearance lift his head, smiling towards the camera's direction:

"I'll see you next time," he said.