Chapter 1952: The Ideal Western District Resident
A stone thrown by a child who appeared mentally unstable could never actually hit an Eastern District inspector. However, for the sake of that stone that hadn't yet struck the ponytailed man, some among the rigidly standing crowd moved. Three agile individuals rushed forward to intercept the stone while maintaining distance from the ponytailed man's group. Meanwhile, the black-clad organization members who had been standing in front quietly used their bodies to squeeze the child to the back. From the front, the movements within the crowd were invisible, but through the gaps, one could see people's swinging sleeves—the child had been sent to the rear, where someone at the very end of the line carried him and quickly fled the street.
Whether throwing the stone or rescuing someone on the spot, both were provocations against the Eastern District inspectors. However, the ponytailed man did not fly into a rage. Instead, he turned to Xu Huo and the others and said, "See? As long as you become an Eastern District resident, those who hate you will be more afraid than you are of anyone hurting you. Without you lifting a finger, they will exhaust every effort to eliminate all unstable factors."
Aside from the Eastern District players, no one present felt comfortable hearing this. It wasn't just a display of Eastern District's strength but also a mockery of the Western District residents' cowardice—cowardly enough not only to lack the courage for a direct confrontation but also to go to great lengths to restrain their own people, fearing that any incident would anger the Eastern District and bring disaster upon them.
They didn't need outsiders to control them; they could control themselves.
"Spineless," another inspector said coldly.
Miraculously, the two did not pursue the matter of the child. Instead, they led Xu Huo and the others onto an aircraft.
The aircraft slowly took off, gradually leaving the Supervision Department building and the crowd gathered outside it behind.
Inside the cabin, there was an electronic projection screen. The ponytailed man leaned back in his chair, swept his gaze over the faces still looking up at the sky, and tapped his wrist terminal to issue orders to other colleagues in the Western District. "Dispose of them."
Everyone in the cabin was startled, unable to help but focus their eyes on the ponytailed man's face, as if trying to discern from his expression who exactly "them" referred to...
The ponytailed man tilted his body slightly to the right, resting the back of his fingers against his cheek, and looked at them. "A group of people who understand trade-offs aren't worth much attention. But if these people would spontaneously protect the next generation, even to the point of sacrificing their lives, then there is no other path for them but death."
These words seemed directed at them, yet also at the black-clad organizations outside the Supervision Department building.
Perhaps the child had nothing to do with them, but in front of the Eastern District inspectors, some among them had stepped forward to protect the child. This kind of solitary courage was not what the Eastern District wanted to see.
The ideal Western District resident should be shortsighted, shallow, fond of infighting and internal strife, and indifferent to the deaths of their compatriots.
Xu Huo turned his head to look back at the Supervision Department building, now far behind. The blurry black specks gathered in front of the building suddenly vanished.
Of course, he wasn't the only one who saw this. Among the six traveling companions, one inspector was so frightened he started crying, trembling and begging for mercy. "Don't kill me... please don't kill me..."
His mouth was sealed shut again, and two inspectors impatiently ignored him.
This wasn't just intimidation; it was a message to the Western District residents: if the Eastern District wanted to wipe out the Western District, they wouldn't even have time to react. Just like those black-clad organization members outside the Supervision Department building—it would take only one player to make them disappear without a trace.
This torment lasted until they reached the Shadow Wall.
To verify their identities, players would not bring them directly into the Eastern District. Instead, they had to pass through the Shadow Wall's inspection checkpoint. This checkpoint was equipped with high-level detection instruments, primarily to screen for items, instruments, weapons, and identity disguises that ordinary inspection instruments could not identify.
This was a mandatory step for everyone entering the Eastern District, except for those using a return ticket.
Xu Huo's group was not the only one at Gate 3. Inspectors from other branches also arrived. All of them wore poison sting bracelets, but their expressions varied—some were afraid, some were expectant. They formed a long line and entered the gate one by one for inspection.
Xu Huo was behind Lin Guang when he inadvertently spotted a member of the Rebel Army among the crowd.
The man had just discussed the replacement plan with him, but the Eastern District inspectors had arrived too suddenly, leaving no time for further communication.
The man mingled with the onlookers, glanced at Gate 3 ahead, and then looked at Xu Huo.
Xu Huo lowered his head and touched the poison sting bracelet on his wrist, signaling his agreement to the earlier proposal.
The man took two steps forward in line and gave an imperceptible nod.
It seemed the exchange would take place inside the Eastern District.
That made more sense. Given the gap in strength between the Rebel Army and the Eastern District, it would be stranger if they could easily pass through the Shadow Wall checkpoint.
From the outside, the Shadow Wall often didn't look like a wall but rather a pane of glass. Through it, one could see the scenery of the Eastern District. However, once inside the checkpoint, one would find that the Shadow Wall was enormous, at least fifty meters thick. The gate opening was arched. Although the internal structure of the Shadow Wall was not visible from inside, there were five evenly spaced metal ring lines on the ground. Judging by the layout, they likely ran through the entire Shadow Wall. Most of these metal ring lines were buried underground, and only by approaching could one vaguely sense them through spatial power.
The inspector inspection required passing through a circular gate three meters high and two meters wide. Each person had to stay inside for about half a minute. If the instrument did not sound an alarm, it meant safe passage.
Just as there were three or four people left before Xu Huo's turn, the inspection instrument suddenly emitted a sharp alarm. Looking up, they saw a person inside glowing with a blue halo. In one breath, they shot through the laser cutting lines that had suddenly connected on the instrument, heading straight for the Eastern District!
The players and armed robots in the passage all sprang into action, but only a third went to pursue the player attempting to sneak through. The rest closely monitored the remaining inspectors.
"Everyone stay where you are. No moving, no talking. Anyone who disobeys will be treated as a Rebel Army member!" a player shouted, then ordered the crowd, "Raise your hands!"
This was a trait. In the next second, all the Western District inspectors in the passage involuntarily raised their hands high. Meanwhile, under the Eastern District player's control, the inspection instrument at the front moved backward and began actively scanning the remaining people.
Xu Huo was almost at the front anyway, and this only sped things up. The circular instrument quickly passed over his head without any abnormality.
However, this action by the players provoked some with ulterior motives in the line. As the inspection instrument drew closer, three more people suddenly attempted to force their way through, one of them shouting, "The will shall never be extinguished!" Unfortunately, they had only moved two or three meters before being killed mid-air by a player. Not only that, but the player deliberately walked over and stomped on the head of one:
"Let me see if your will is extinguished or not!"
(Chapter End)