Chapter 383

Chapter 383: The Promise

A few days ago, this face might have been unknown to many, but after the medal ceremony, this golden giant had become a symbol of hope in everyone’s heart.

Due to official duties, Wencheng was unable to attend the medal ceremony, yet he did not miss the extraordinary display of interrogation that took place.

It was precisely after seeing this man who claimed to be the Speaker in the playback that his memory seal began to lift more rapidly.

However…

He never expected that this Speaker would appear before him, even though he had regained his memories and confirmed that no such human existed. The strength displayed by this individual and his now officially recognized identity had earned Wencheng’s basic respect.

With a touch of gray at his temples, Wencheng suddenly felt transported back to his youth, seeing on the golden giant’s face the expression of his once strict instructor.

This stirred emotions in him that he thought were long gone.

Wencheng looked at the approaching man, his throat tightening:

"Could it be that you are…?"

The golden giant nodded, and Lin Qingliu, now in disguise, felt very pleased with Wencheng’s expression.

The so-called mastermind loved to see genuine, unmasked shock on others’ faces.

What do you think? Discovering that the psychologist you’ve trusted all along is actually the superior to your superior—what must that feel like?

"Are you the backing behind Dr. Lin?"

"……"

The golden giant fell silent.

I lay my cards on the table, and you claim to be blind?

For a moment, he couldn’t tell if the other person was genuinely oblivious or pretending not to know; maybe he truly hadn’t realized, or perhaps he didn’t want to shatter the final layer of pretense, leaving room for negotiation.

In any case, Lin Qingliu didn’t see the reaction he wanted, so his tone turned friendly, intending to take advantage of the moment:

"Kid, you seem to be lost."

His hand gently rested on Wencheng’s shoulder, the heavy warmth bringing comfort.

Though Wencheng had undergone transformation and military training, he couldn’t compare to the specially designed golden giant.

Under Arthur’s weighty palm, he felt as small, pitiful, and helpless as a student before a strict teacher.

"Kid, tell me your troubles; I’m listening."

The sunshine-like gentle giant pressed Wencheng back to the bedside, seated himself in the chair where Lin Qingliu had previously sat, and waited for Wencheng to speak.

Although he had witnessed those images, for Wencheng, it was only through true expression that he could temporarily alleviate the turmoil in his heart.

This was also a part of psychological treatment.

Under Arthur’s patient guidance, Wencheng began to recount the past he had just regained.

Unlike watching the footage, no matter how many times Lin Qingliu viewed it, he could not fully grasp the inner struggles and pain Wencheng endured when making each decision; he couldn’t completely comprehend Wencheng’s near-foolish loyalty to humanity.

Yet, now he needed precisely this quality.

After Wencheng poured out all his pain, the golden giant looked into his eyes and asked:

"Tell me, child, what do you most want to do right now?"

Wencheng’s gaze remained as steadfast as ever, and he spoke with utmost seriousness:

"All traitors must die, including myself."

"Do you still believe that?"

"Absolutely. Even without emotional influence, those who commit such sins can only atone with death."

"If that’s the case, I will grant you this opportunity."

Arthur rose to his feet, his towering frame making the small room feel even more cramped.

"I promise you that all sins from the Old Era will be resolved by my hand. The guilty will receive their due punishment, and you will also achieve your wish."

"Thank you."

"No need. Everything is for humanity."

"Yes, everything is for humanity."

The door closed, and Wencheng collapsed onto the bed, lost in deep thought.

He did not regret his recent decision; it was just that once he calmed down, he found himself with more time for profound contemplation.

There was no need to dwell too much on who the other person was—whether it was a psychologist with abilities far beyond his imagination or this formidable warrior who could hold his own against Fifth Level Extraordinary Beasts. Both were undeniably beneficial to humanity.

Yet, why had he never heard of such a secretive organization before?

Or perhaps he had heard of it but never connected the dots…

—

By this point, Lin Qingliu had gained a comprehensive understanding of Hope City’s history.

The glorious Old Era, the colonization spaceship that had unexpectedly fallen, the inevitable internal strife and betrayal…

As for who had provided Wencheng with the confidential documents revealing the truth, it was undoubtedly the covertly lurking "Infinite Scroll," which had remained undetected for decades.

With a clear grasp of the past, his vision for the future naturally became sharper.

This night felt particularly long for Lin Qingliu. Though his mind was agile, he still preferred to sketch out his short-term and long-term plans on a blank sheet of paper.

But the more he summarized, the more his frustration grew.

After several days of observation, he had a rough understanding of the council members’ management of Hope City—

Which was essentially nonexistent.

These ten individuals had almost entirely lost their drive. Five of the old-timers were clinging to life by consuming the nutrient solution meant for nurturing frozen embryos.

The enthusiasm of the five newcomers was also waning rapidly. Though they still harbored some passion for governing Hope City, they were all too inwardly focused.

The "death message" left by the Old Era researcher through Unit One’s device continued to influence these council members to this day.

Deep down, they remained chaotic and disorganized, perpetually convinced that the extraordinary beasts outside the city were invincible. The exploration teams they occasionally dispatched were like the feeble sighs of a mortally wounded person trying to prove they were still alive—utterly meaningless, inviting nothing but ridicule.

Well, perhaps not entirely meaningless; now the will of the mycelium had begun attempting to analyze superpowers…

The prime opportunity for external exploration had long passed. The longer they delayed against a late-stage force like mycelium life, the more passive the human side became.

Lin Qingliu’s current plan was simple: "I want it all."

For the city, he needed to devise a smooth transition of power and hold the old things accountable.

For the outside, he had to find a way to gain further advantage before the will of the mycelium could recover from this defeat.

Yet, Lin Qingliu couldn’t shake the feeling that he was overlooking something…

The increasingly troubled Mr. Speaker let out a heartfelt sigh in his small room:

"How can we possibly make Hope City better while surrounded by this group of pests?"