Chapter 1574: Choking the Throat
R1 Base was a new base completed only two months ago. Its entire structure was underground, with a large expanse of forest above serving as cover, making it difficult to detect even with satellite observation. Entry and exit were through underground tunnels, which merged into main roads via other nearby mountain tunnels for concealment. Personnel normally used these passages, while the base location had only a few elevator-style emergency exits, allowing evacuation by helicopter in emergencies.
Almost all of the government's high-level daily work was now conducted here, especially confidential high-level meetings.
Twenty minutes ago, a laboratory researching and developing longevity potions tailored for X country's citizens was destroyed by players. A newly produced batch of potions and the latest research results were all stolen. After the situation was reported, R1 Base quickly convened a meeting.
Attending the meeting were not only the recently appointed decision-makers but also several elderly figures who had just been pushed out of the core leadership. However, they sat in the second row by the conference table, barely able to voice any opinions. About a third of those seated at the table were players in their thirties or forties.
Whether they were new decision-makers or these players, they had once been government personnel, but they had moved from supporting roles to center stage, now holding absolute authority. At this table, even Minister Ji of the Special Defense Department had to sit on the sidelines.
The core institutions had just undergone a major overhaul, and the newcomers were brimming with confidence. Previous strategies had been effectively implemented and yielded ideal results. Today's agenda focused on measures to suppress unofficial players.
When dealing with player organizations and unaffiliated players, the government had anticipated resistance. But frankly, civilian players were no real threat, and player organizations strong enough to challenge the government would not easily damage their current relationship with it.
What they needed to handle were the more radical players—commonly known as troublemakers.
Before nationwide spatial restriction devices were installed, players' movements were hard to control, and precautions had to be taken to prevent them from sneaking into important locations.
"...We don't need to do much, just take down the most prominent few," said a middle-aged man in uniform. "And it's not just civilian players—we have such people internally too."
The elderly man at the head of the table tapped the surface. "Let's set internal matters aside for now. First, discuss how to deal with the gathered players."
Indeed, the government had already received news of the player association cooperating with unaffiliated players. They even knew more about their layout than the two sides themselves and understood that their internal conflicts had yet to be resolved.
"Besides Xu Huo, who else is there to stand up for them?" The middle-aged man was also a player, and his attitude toward players and everyone in this room was dismissive. "Focus on taking him out, and the rest won't amount to anything. Haven't you seen those two factions bickering without any result? Aren't they just waiting for Xu to charge ahead for them?"
The player across from him, also in military uniform, frowned. "Do I need to remind you that Xu Huo is a dual-direction Super Evolver? After Dr. Tang's last psychological assessment, it was made clear that if District 014 doesn't produce a particularly talented player in the short term, no one will surpass him in Mental Super Evolution for the next five years. The Special Defense Department's Spatial Evolvers have also tested him—even in spatial power, he far exceeds our current Super Evolvers."
"Are you afraid?" The middle-aged man sneered.
The military player slammed the table. "Watch your attitude, Xie Song! Just because you're a player now doesn't mean you can look down on everyone. Whether it's Xu Huo, the player association, or the unaffiliated players, they are not our enemies. Get that straight!"
Xie Song's expression remained unchanged. "So you're saying you're fine with them growing strong enough to challenge the state?"
The military player stared coldly at him. "It's not a matter of 'us versus them.' Don't try to use government-trained players to crush the player association's momentum."
Xie Song spread his hands. "As if I have ulterior motives. Isn't the recent mutant fungus incident a perfect example? Look clearly—we're being choked by our own people. To put it bluntly, if Xu Huo ever wanted to blackmail the government, he could just launch a large-scale poisoning."
"I don't believe you're all comfortable with a knife at your backs."
The room fell silent. Xie Song's reasoning was twisted, but many harbored a secret desire: they wanted the King Fungus.
"Everyone, I don't think it's necessary to always assume the worst," Minister Ji of the Special Defense Department spoke up. "If Xu Huo didn't want anyone to know he had the detox fungus, he wouldn't have voluntarily offered it back then. He also helped a lot during the Black Rain incident."
"Although he hasn't joined the Special Defense Department or the player association, he's clearly a player leaning toward us. Otherwise, he wouldn't have rushed back immediately upon hearing about the mutant fungus."
"I understand—good things are desirable to everyone. But he's not the only one with good things. If we start fighting over his today and mine tomorrow, won't everything fall into chaos?"
"What did you say!" Xie Song's smile vanished, his gaze sharp.
Minister Ji met his eyes. "You know exactly what I said."
The two sides were at a standoff. The elderly man at the head of the table had to tap the surface again to draw everyone's attention. "We should actively recruit capable and driven young people. The Special Defense Department did well this time—hasn't Xu Huo already agreed to help resolve the mutant fungus issue?"
"Regardless of the outcome, at least his attitude is good."
"However, subsequent coordination can still be discussed with him. The Special Defense Department's personnel assignments can't just follow his whims."
Minister Ji said nothing, his forced smile strained. In the end, they still wanted to push out the original Special Defense Department personnel.
"As for the player association and unaffiliated players' gathering, even if they've found Xu Huo, we should first see his stance. It's not like things can't be negotiated."
"And if Xu Huo uses this mutant fungus incident to make exorbitant demands?" Xie Song pressed again.
The elderly man's expression grew more serious. "Then he must understand that national dignity is not to be trampled!"
"Why bother with all this guesswork?" A sudden voice rang out in the meeting room. Xu Huo, still carrying the smell of barbecue, stood behind the elderly man's chair, smiling at everyone. "Why not just ask me directly?"
The moment he appeared, the first thought of those seated was how the external instruments and personnel had detected nothing. The next second, they instinctively stood up. The players among them immediately leaped over the table to surround him, but just as they were about to strike, they were yanked back into their chairs.
The proportion of players in the room wasn't high, and most were pulled back to their seats with a series of cracking sounds. The few who dodged the ability weren't lucky either—space ray blades spread across the room, severing their hands and feet one after another, pressing against their throats as they knelt.
Thin streams of blood trickled down the edges of the invisible weapons. Some wanted to resist, but when they looked up, countless sharp tangents crisscrossed the entire meeting room, choking every single person's throat.