Chapter 133: Life is the Most Expensive Chip
“Father—”
Fortunately, Cheng Lei reacted quickly enough, running up to support Cheng Yun by his armpits and carefully helping him into a chair.
“Don’t get too agitated, please.”
Cao Yuan also went over to help with Ye Xing.
Ye Xing: “Yes, yes, yes, calm down, calm down! Have some hot water first!”
“In short, this is my reason; this is my hometown! I just can’t stand to see it like this!”
Cheng Yun gasped for air, looking somewhat dejected.
“Honestly, I don’t care if you believe this motive. I am a dying man and will not see the final outcome of Oasis City, but I will provide all manpower, material resources, and intelligence. You only need to promise me one thing.”
He looked at Ye Xing, then turned to Cao Yuan.
“After occupying this city, Kole must not be pardoned; he must be sent to the gallows, and it cannot be a private, secret execution. He needs to face trial before he dies! All his crimes must be publicly disclosed.”
“That’s easy to say!”
A B0SS is meant to be killed, after all.
Ye Xing thought that on this point, the Executive Officer and Cheng Yun could definitely reach a consensus, not to mention the players.
“But there’s one thing I’m curious about. It’s understandable not to let the Sand People outside know about the disgusting things the City Lord and nobles have done, but it can’t be a complete secret within the city, can it? At least you know very well. Has no one ever opposed it in the past?”
“Of course, people have opposed it, and among them were some who held higher positions than I do.”
Cheng Yun said.
“But the reasons given by the City Lord and the noble faction are relatively easy to believe.
“Whenever I raised objections in meetings, they would say that this is historical inevitability, that in this post-apocalyptic wasteland world, we don’t have many choices and can only make concessions for survival. They would say that I, or anyone else, cannot bear the responsibility of trial and error.
“They would say that in such a world, any weak, idealistic governance policy can easily lead to irreversible terrible consequences, that the expansion of civilization can easily lead itself into a trap, that human progress is not necessarily good, and that the fate of the previous generation of interstellar civilization has already proven this point—similar nonsense, endless talk.”
Ye Xing listened and curled his lips.
“Although I know it’s all wrong, it’s really hard to refute directly.”
“Indeed, it’s a sophistry refined over 300 years,” Cao Yuan said disdainfully.
“So, if I understand correctly, most Oasis City citizens have actually accepted this idea of civilization willingly degenerating and giving up on itself?” Ye Xing asked.
“You could say that,” Cheng Yun replied.
“Most people may not know how to express it, but deep down, they have lost faith in human civilization, feeling that just being alive is enough, and a little suffering is nothing.
“Later, the appearance of Apollo, instead of alleviating, intensified this sentiment, because now everyone saw that even the technologically advanced Celestials were just a bunch of space-traveling bullies and bandits.”
Ye Xing: “So, as long as we can show that human civilization hasn’t completely ended, that there’s still a side that can inspire people and give them hope, then there’s still hope to awaken the populace!”
Cheng Yun looked up and glanced at him.
“I’ll be direct, young man, this is not easy at all.
“I don’t want to speak ill of my compatriots, but the general education level of Oasis City citizens is not high. They can’t immediately understand the changes that the technology of the previous generation of civilization could bring, and the extent of their inner numbness is probably far beyond your imagination.”
“We didn’t even think about preaching big reason,” Cao Yuan explained. “The Executive Officer intends to start from the most relatable aspect, which is people themselves and the lives of those close to them.”
“You—what are you going to do?”
Cheng Yun looked at him with some vigilance.
“Don’t be nervous. What my brother said is not about threatening or taking lives, but quite the opposite.”
As Ye Xing spoke, he took out a small glass bottle containing pills from his pocket.
“This is something the Executive Officer specially instructed me to bring you; it can cure your illness.”
Cao Yuan, listening nearby, was utterly speechless.
This kid’s tone was too casual, too understated!
Can he be more serious? Have some sense of ceremony?
It was as if it wasn’t some ultimate miracle drug that humanity had dreamed of, but a box of pastries given when visiting someone’s home.
Like walnut shortbread!
Brother—are you thinking of releasing an exclusive video later, so you want to create a contrasting effect to make the bullet comments complain?
If this was truly Ye Xing’s goal, then it must be said that he succeeded.
The person opposite was stunned for a long time, their expression more like complete petrification.
“I’m sorry, I might not have heard clearly—”
“It’s a special medicine, to cure your illness.”
Ye Xing “translated” his words again.
“My daughter should have already told you two that I have cancer, and that it has fully spread and entered the terminal stage, right?”
Cheng Lei: “As you requested, I told them truthfully—”
“Then…”
Ye Xing: “It’s fine, this is top-tier high-tech! It works! One pill a day, as written on the instructions, you’ll see significant improvement after the first pill, and by the third to seventh day, your body will be perfectly healthy.”
Cheng Yun did not show the expected ecstasy.
Because he didn’t know what to say anymore.
Although Cheng Yun was not a doctor, he understood basic pathology.
Widespread cancer cells meant that they could no longer be treated or killed separately from other normal cells, and surgery was out of the question. Even if they could be removed, they couldn't be completely cleared.
The spread cancer cells would rapidly diffuse; to put it without exaggeration, the cancer cells were eating him alive from the inside out.
If the other party had brought out a futuristic-looking instrument, that would be one thing, but a bottle of medicine? What the hell! How could chemical agents work at this stage? With my knowledge, I really can’t figure it out.
It looked just like a cold capsule. “Cough!”
Cao Yuan really couldn’t listen to Ye Xing’s introduction anymore.
Although sincerity is the most effective weapon to move others, his introduction sounded just like those people on the street who hawk abstract health products to unsuspecting elderly people.
“Mr. Cheng, this thing is only called ‘medicine’ in name, but in reality, in terms of its mechanism of action, it is completely different. In short, according to the Executive Officer, it will be the core of our subsequent plan, and you happen to be the first user.”
He didn’t explain the concept of “carbon-based nanobots.”
Because for people whose knowledge has been Dating after the apocalypse, such a description could easily bring to mind parasites; and for those who truly understand, they would immediately realize that similar designs could be used to create gene-targeted bioweapons.
That would only make things more troublesome and harder to explain.
“Okay…”
Cheng Yun took the medicine bottle with a skeptical look: “Then, please be sure to convey my gratitude to the Executive Officer.”
Cao Yuan: “We certainly will. We won’t disturb your rest for now, but the mission must begin as soon as possible.”
Next, Ye Xing and Cao Yuan discussed separately with Cheng Lei, informing her of the mission requirements.
“You… are going to the video arcade tomorrow morning?”
Hearing Ye Xing’s words, Cheng Lei was completely stumped.
Huh?
Why go to a video arcade?!
“No—let me ask, at this critical juncture, is understanding our daily entertainment activities important for the upcoming operation?”
“Of course, it’s very important!” Ye Xing’s tone deepened, “By the way, will it seem strange to go so early in the morning?”
Cheng Lei: “…That’s not necessarily the case. Many workers in the city work night shifts, and their schedules are completely reversed from normal people. Seven or eight in the morning is when they get off work, and many of them will relax for an hour or two before going home to sleep.
“However, the entire city is currently without power—”
Ye Xing: “It’s fine, please find a shop with an honest owner and book the place for us. As for the time, let’s say from seven to eight-thirty.”
Cao Yuan: “After the video arcade mission, I need to return to the camp that afternoon, so please arrange the transportation vehicle as well.”
“No problem—”
Although she didn't understand what Cang Yuan wanted to do, Cheng Lei still agreed.