NIP Chapter 1540 - 790: Love, Hatred, and Compassion
Chapter 1540 - 790: Love, Hatred, and Compassion
Just like how heavy metal pollution tends to accumulate at the end of the food chain.
In the slow descent over hundreds of years, people at the bottom simply lost hope, completely numb and somewhat objectified, while the nobles at the top truly and thoroughly became mutants, fully alienated from start to finish on the spot.
Under the counterattack of Ember, the vast majority exploded on the spot, and the Seven Cities Council was completely annihilated. The remaining beneficiaries were all unrecognizable, barely human, how could they still command and counterattack?
Let's just say Fernan got the MVP!
That wave of his output directly sent away all those who could hinder Ji Jue now!
As for the remaining insects, a few still trying to jump and counterattack, without needing Ji Jue to do anything, two Peace Cats kicked the door open and subdued them, then changed clothes and waited to take the stage and swing...
Just like that, with one hand holding the authorization obtained from the Taiyi Ring, openly suppressing bandits and evil. With the other hand holding the rules and laws of the Seven Cities, openly bringing everything under control.
Effortlessly, the Seven Cities change hands!
After the trial was completed in the morning, representatives from each city gathered at the old site of the Pu City Council in the afternoon. It was unanimously decided that the Seven Cities cannot go a day without a ruler, and families cannot go a day without a leader. Right there on the ruins, they voted on the spot, unanimously passing, and placed the yellow robe on... Minkler, who had just woken up and was still drooling!
The Seven Cities Alliance welcomed a new leader once again!
Minkler, who was still serving as a mascot in the United Defense Fleet two months ago, thus transformed into an even more powerful mascot of the Seven Cities!
"You really have caused me such hardship."
Minkler cried on the spot in Pu City, after several refusals, ultimately had no choice but to accept the position, sighing and lamenting incessantly: "If I mess things up, how could I face the Seven Cities, how could I face everyone, how could I face Mr. Ji!"
Before this, a large number of Peacekeeping Cats, just off the production line from Luo Island, had already appeared in various places across the Seven Cities, taking over security.
A deluge of surveillance cameras appeared in every corner, the Paradise System's surveillance and management had penetrated into every aspect.
Emergency aid from Luo Island and Xiang State, along with the first batch of volunteers from the Chongguang Church, had penetrated into every community and slum.
After the initial chaos, everything returned to order.
Finally, Ji Jue had time to deal with the biggest trouble in the Seven Cities...
——People.
The people who were polluted by Zhi Fu during the descent of the Seven Cities, resulting in objectification and mutation.
Thanks to the short period of descent, the mutation wasn't deeply rooted. Most of the alienated people experienced temporary mild mutation; as long as they were removed from the environment, they could recover somewhat, although they were left with ailments and disabilities, but at least they were alive.
But there were still large numbers of people too exhausted and in pain, overly mutated, even frequently finding themselves merged entirely with creation.
For such severe mutation cases, the simplest, easiest, and most cost-effective solution was the universal method used by all countries.
Kill!
Zhi Fu's infection is hard to remove, leaving it is a curse, even if they survived, they would eventually be completely mutated.
Resolve it early, it's better for everyone.
But having actually seen the weary faces in the mire, heard their cries and wails, having been a Cursed himself, how could Ji Jue possibly raise the slaughter knife against them?
Forget it, it's not like there's a lack of money.
The wealth accumulated over many years by the Seven Cities families through rat-race dealings, aside from being used for the coast factory district's expansion, mostly went to those worthless commoners.
Treatment and correction for mild mutations, surgeries and rebirth for moderate mutations, including the continuous consumption of prosthetics and medicines... Roughly calculating, even if only a third was left for them, it would be enough to maintain them in a normal state, screwing nuts on Director Ji's assembly line until they died!
As for the hopelessly severely mutated individuals, they all disappeared without a trace.
No one questioned, no matter how harsh the moral critics, they couldn't blame Ji Jue for this.
As for the new factory area added to the Sea Abyss Park, that's another story.
"I really admire your malicious intent and evil plan, sir!"
The Spirit of Workshop sincerely acclaimed: "At our time of greatest need for manpower, suddenly there was a batch of useful, durable, and unrequited, fanatically faithful slaves!
I believe they will be eternally grateful and dedicate themselves to you until the end of time!"
"...Don't say it like that, okay, Isis?" Ji Jue sighed helplessly, "They are already pitiable enough."
"Okay, then I'll put it another way..."
Isis obediently complied, admiringly sighed: "You truly are a saint of a splendid human!"
You curse so filthily!
Ji Jue hesitated to speak, "Why don't we just continue with the slave topic, I feel like I'm awful, without a bit of conscience... Isis? Isis, are you listening?"
Honestly, why don't you just curse me a couple of times!
The Spirit of Workshop kept silent, merely silent.
Too lazy to serve further!
At this moment, in the dark Valley of the Sea Abyss, under the illumination of countless lamps, amidst the scarred ruins, between numerous engineering equipment, there unwittingly appeared silhouettes of people.
Those once severely mutated laborers, drudges, even the lowest-tier poor and beggars, have now become completely different.
After surgeries and rebirth by Punabantu, their mutated limbs and organs were removed, replaced with brand new mechanical prosthetics and internal organs.
In the face of Zhi Fu's pollution, Ji Jue opted to fight poison with poison.
Through Isis, he assimilated and replaced the objectified parts, transforming them from the erosion of Zhi Fu's evil into appendages under Ji Jue's influence...
Now, they have become symbiotically united with the Spirit of Creation, collaborating with various large-scale equipment, enthusiastically engaging in excavation and reconstruction work.
"Mr. Ji, the initial excavation can already start. Based on the current progress, it is expected to be fully operational by next week..."
A middle-aged man whose half face and head have been replaced with metal machinery cheerfully presented his report.
Ji Jue glanced at the report absentmindedly, sighed, hesitated several times, and finally spoke out amidst Isis's indifferent mockery: "I just pulled a private line from the Seven Cities. Now if anyone wants to contact their family, they can make calls.
For video calls, it might take a while, given your current state... However, with the technology upgrading, after a few iterations, you can change your name and return to normal life like regular people."
"...Thank you, Mr. Ji."
The middle-aged man was startled for a moment, then relaxed with a smile: "But we all feel this place is great; we really like it, at least it's peaceful.
You've done so much for us already.
No one knows how to thank you enough."
Ji Jue remained silent, then coldly replied after a while: "You work, I pay, no debts. I don't even know your name, nor am I interested. Better not overthink it."
"That's enough."
The engineering supervisor genuinely smiled, expressed gratitude again, then turned and left, immersing himself in work.
From the beginning to the end, he never mentioned his name.
Ji Jue, hands behind his back, surveyed indifferently for a while, then turned and walked away.
[Sir...]
"Hmm?"
[You actually dislike people, don't you?]
Isis, who observed the entire time, suddenly asked without warning.
Ji Jue was silent for a moment, shrugged slightly:
"I just... don't quite like them."
Isis said no more.
She had long been confused, her uncertainty stretched over a long time.
It's precisely due to such understanding of her creator that she felt even more bewildered.
[Sir, I can't comprehend.]
"Normal, me too..."
Ji Jue shook his head: "Even kind can't understand each other and love each other. How could you possibly do so? Perhaps I'm the one who showed you a wrong example."
He fully understood his own abnormality.
And beforehand, he had a deeper experience with confusion toward others.
If hatred requires qualifications, his former self, upon losing everything, should naturally detest the world more than anyone. Yet, he couldn't bring himself to hate it.
Precisely when he lost all hope, Guardian Lv carried him out of the fire, Mrs. Lu raised him, Ye Chun and the teacher pulled him from the mire, allowing him to truly accomplish something, to change everything.
Many people tried their best to make the world better, even just a little.
But why are there still so many who clearly know they are of the same kind, yet cannot cherish each other, even wallowing in ignorance, prejudice, paradox, and fallacy, sowing pain and creating despair recklessly?
Even wearing human attire, some allow themselves to become beasts and vermin, more terrifying monsters than Heavenly Calamities and more hideous than Great Evil.
And even feel proud and self-satisfied.
From ancient times to now, from Thousand Islands to Central Earth, from Empire to Federation, it seems unchanged.
He has seen too much.
"Too complicated, Isis, and far too terrifying."
Ji Jue's steps halted just for a moment, murmuring softly: "Sometimes it even makes me... afraid."
Too many things to fear.
Afraid of failure, afraid of losing everything he painstakingly regained.
Even afraid someday he might unconsciously resent the world...
[You never had the responsibility for all of this, sir.]
Isis reminded again: [You don't bear such massive obligation to the world.]
"I know, none of this concerns me, I should be a cold observer, not wasting energy, even standing atop, enjoying it, laughing heartily."
He contemplated, then gave a self-mocking smile: "But I cannot permit—"
Ji Jue was well aware of his own darkness and selfishness, knowing he is destined not to become a benevolent saint or fearless hero.
He doesn't expect everyone to be rational, kind, and merciful, even stupidity and self-indulgence are alright.
Yet, the person known as Ji Jue was formed by the care of kind.
It's exactly because of this, he cannot tolerate those who believe they possess some righteousness and logic yet freely destroy all this—the evil demons and hideous beings!
"If someone does not cherish kind, then I will teach them the consequences of not cherishing kind!"
Though he is unable to save the world, Ji Jue can still do what is within his capability.
For instance, first calm himself, finish the tasks at hand, then roll up sleeves, and utterly destroy the dogs of You Sui... crush them to dust!