Chương 52: The Federation's Kill Line

The pretty girl with pigtails glanced at the video her best friend handed her.

"Wow, this guy looks like... how did it turn out to be this jerk!"

Luo Jiuli recognized the boy in the video; it was Lin Shuxuan, who had humiliated her during the day.

"What's wrong with Jiu Li?"

Meeting her best friend's questioning gaze, Luo Jiuli remained calm. The important thing now was to find out how far her best friend's thoughts had progressed regarding Lin Shuxuan.

"It's okay, I apologize. Baby, why did you find him funny?"

Her best friend gestured with her hands in front of her chest, explaining the ins and outs of Lin Shuxuan and Yu Xin's affair.

"I've heard about that woman's story; she clearly has no feelings for her husband at all."

"But because of a marriage contract, one must remain a widow for life, and cannot wear bright clothes or talk to the opposite sex in public."

"This is so unfair!"

Did Lin Shuxuan do such a thing? That's certainly somewhat... No! He must have had some ulterior motive... The experiences during the day allowed Luo Jiuli to quickly discern Lin Shuxuan's true colors.

He must be after that woman's beauty, and he's trying to justify it with a high-sounding excuse!

After casually replying to her best friend, Luo Jiuli leaned back on the soft sofa.

How could she let her best friend see through Lin Shuxuan's true colors? She was a little worried.

A young girl's stirrings of first love stem from curiosity, and she must nip these feelings in the bud.

My silly best friend, let me protect you one more time.

Snap your fingers lightly.

A bowl of popcorn popped out of a microwave-like kitchen appliance next to it.

This is a molecular-level kitchen module; as long as there are enough raw materials, it can produce any ordinary food.

The convenience is certainly not as good as the one in her home, but since she came here to study, it's normal for her living conditions to be somewhat worse.

The taste is a bit strange... Luo Jiuli frowned slightly after eating a few kernels of popcorn.

Oh well, it's a tool for ordinary people after all.

......

"Oh! Lin Shuxuan, you've broken this!"

Li Rufeng winked and made faces.

"You're talking nonsense, it's been put back together, isn't it?"

Lin Shuxuan remained unfazed as he screwed the fallen screws back in.

He and Li Rufeng had slid down the pipe and then arrived here.

This place is located below the military academy.

It was pitch black but empty.

Huge copper pipes crisscrossed, illuminated only by pale yellow xenon lamps overhead.

The place where they were located was flat ground, and the copper pipes stood tall and straight like the pillars of this world, crisscrossing to create a path for people to walk.

The previous passage was extremely long, and we are now at least 100 meters underground.

But this is still not the limit of this world. There are several deep well-like entrances on the ground beneath our feet, which obviously lead to a deeper place.

Lin Shuxuan did not explore further.

That familiar, chilling feeling was right in front of me.

Like the wind in a cave, it pulled him forward; that was the power of the Star Orbit Society.

There's a Star Orbit Society outpost right below the Federal Military Academy?... Lin Shuxuan was horrified. Is this what they mean by "blind spots under the lamp"?

He still remembered the explosion in Xinhai City that was comparable to a nuclear explosion, a trace of Guan Yunyang's battle against the Star Orbit Society's powerful members.

Moreover, the other party escaped unscathed; otherwise, the interrogation in that basement would have resulted in more than just two heads.

The shadow of death loomed over once more.

The wisest course of action at this point would be to turn back immediately and then inform Guan Yunyang of the situation.

But the problem is, how should he say it?

"Li Rufeng, after we came down, what special feelings did you have?"

"A special feeling? Does 'especially smelly' count? The smell here is outrageous."

It seems that only he could perceive the anomalies of the Star Orbit Society.

He didn't completely trust Guan Yunyang either; the Federal Major General was unfathomable in his methods and cunning, and he couldn't figure out what the other party was thinking.

It would be best to gather as much information as possible about the Star Orbit Society... Lin Shuxuan walked forward, his footsteps echoing against the bronze pillars in the empty underground space.

"Li Rufeng, are you familiar with the Star Orbit Society?"

"Of course, infamous, they were shot dead on the spot if they were discovered on Tianbang Star."

"However, in some backward and impoverished rural areas, they can still disguise themselves as missionaries and not understand the thoughts of those bigwigs in the Federation."

Lin Shuxuan, who was hit by the area-of-effect attack, was somewhat annoyed.

Damn it, I'm from Xinhai, you're the one from the countryside... But he quickly realized it.

In his view, Xinhai City was a fairly advanced city, but after all, the planet it was on had been riddled with holes by ecological erosion, and compared with Tianbang Star, it was indeed a remote and impoverished place.

As for why the federal government doesn't publicize the dangers of the Star Orbit Society, it's probably because they're worried about causing panic among citizens.

The Star Orbit Society possesses unpredictable abilities, employs unpredictable methods, and acts brutally.

He needs to be more careful to conceal the fact that he can control the other person's power, otherwise he won't be able to explain it no matter how many mouths he has.

A clump of black mud covered my feet, and I could feel a faint pulling sensation coming from it.

The force wasn't strong; as a martial artist, Lin Shuxuan could have easily broken free, but he didn't.

With a sigh, he tossed the food he had just taken from the pipe into the mud.

With a few chews, the food quickly disappeared.

Black Mud released his ankle and swarmed away to the side.

"What's going on with these people?"

Those black muds were not monsters, but rather humans with degenerated limbs, their bodies fused with filth, their shapes indistinguishable.

Along the way, there were such dark and indistinguishable shapes everywhere.

The savages who were able to find food in the garbage dump were already considered lucky; these creatures underground were like mollusks, wriggling and struggling to survive.

"Have you bought a ticket to leave Tianbang Star?"

Li Rufeng did not answer, but instead asked a seemingly unrelated question.

Lin Shuxuan nodded. When the prophecy revealed that he would devour Luo Jiuli, he had considered leaving Tianbang Star. A second-class ticket cost 20, 000 yuan.

"These people... let's just call them people for now; they were also citizens of Tianbang Star when it was first established."

"But perhaps due to changes in the industrial structure, or perhaps due to the impact of new technologies, they lost their jobs."

"Without property or savings, one naturally cannot afford a ticket to leave."

"Tianbang Star is the capital of the Federation. How can we just watch these people suffer under the noses of the officials and kick them all out?"

What kind of Federation kill line is this...? Lin Shuxuan sighed softly, then asked:

"Are you familiar with this place?"

Li Rufeng seemed to know too much, even though it was his first time here.

"I've only heard a few urban legends, no wonder those bastards in the Federation don't deny it."

"Compared to our most advanced cities being built on the bones of a group of unemployed people, ghost stories are much more interesting."

"I didn't expect you to be such a radical youth..." Lin Shuxuan glanced at Li Rufeng, who had the appearance of a beautiful woman.

During their conversation, the two arrived at a deep pit.

This is also where the power of the Star Orbit Society lies.

"I remember the route I took along the way; this should be the military academy's waste disposal center."

"All the garbage passes through the transfer point and should be processed here."

Just as Lin Shuxuan was about to jump into the deep pit to investigate the situation of the celebrity gathering, Li Rufeng grabbed his arm.

"Don't move, it's garbage disposal time."

As soon as he finished speaking, a deafening roar came from the sky.

With a loud bang, the alloy gate above slowly opened; large clumps of garbage wafted in, accompanied by a sour, putrid stench.

It all fell into the pit.

What happened next made Lin Shuxuan think about it every time he ate for the next week.

From within the pit, countless arms stretched out, densely packed like soft seaweed, writhing chaotically.

The countless chewing sounds converged into one, sounding like a monster with hundreds of giant mouths eating.

My sanity... Lin Shuxuan's SAN value is dropping like crazy.

"That's impossible! The federal government couldn't possibly have designed these people as part of the waste disposal process!"

Despite the discomfort in his stomach, Lin Shuxuan questioned the situation.

The scene before him was beyond his normal worldview. Even if the Federation didn't care about the lives of these people, it couldn't possibly treat them like microorganisms that decompose garbage.

Designed as a waste disposal process.

The dim light couldn't illuminate Li Rufeng's expression.

"I doubt even the Federal officials anticipated this step."

He pointed to the top of the pit, where there were also several sluice gates.

"I guess it will only open when the garbage in the pit reaches a certain height, so that the accumulated household waste can continue to be transferred and processed."

"It was just that this group of unemployed people discovered this treasure trove. They didn't even have to lift a finger, and a steady stream of food kept coming in."

His tone was full of sarcasm.

So it seems the Federal Underground is really class-based... Lin Shuxuan recalled what he had seen and heard along the way.

Those strong enough to climb the pipes would go to the surface at night to forage for food.

Those who are slightly worse off beg for food in the pipes below.

The weaker ones come to this deep pit, waiting for the daily garbage to be dumped in.

This is just one example from the military academy; throughout Tianbang Star, who knows how many others are living in such a wretched state.

If there are people deeper inside, can they really be considered human? The thought sent a chill down Lin Shuxuan's spine.

Then another problem arose before him: how should he investigate the Star Orbit Society under these circumstances?

Countless human bodies lay piled up beneath the deep pit; if Xinggui was hidden beneath these bodies, how could he possibly investigate?

Just as I was hesitating, the cold, damp feeling that belonged to the Star Orbit Society suddenly disappeared.

Damn it... Lin Shuxuan wanted to chase after him, but he didn't know where to land.

Unlike before, this time the members of the Star Orbit Society did not use any mental link abilities, so Lin Shuxuan could not use his administrator privileges to force them to return.

The other party used physical means to create distance between him.

If I could also use the Star Orbit Society's abilities, I could transcend physical limitations and pull my opponent into a mental battle... Lin Shuxuan's thought had just formed.

I felt that the space around me was slightly different.

A chilling feeling lingered throughout his body, fluctuating with his thoughts.

There's just not enough fuel.

燃料。

As if it were an innate instinct, he knew that as long as he jumped into the deep pit and crushed a few shapeless black mud heads, he could immediately unleash the domain of the Star Orbit Society.

"No, I can't do that."

"Who are you talking to?"

Li Rufeng was puzzled.

"We've almost finished watching, let's go back."

Having completely lost sight of the other party, Lin Shuxuan turned and left.

The two remained silent throughout the journey.

After a long pause, Li Rufeng finally said quietly:

"I'm planning to spend some credits to help them out a little."

This is probably just a drop in the ocean... Lin Shuxuan didn't discourage the other party, but instead said the same thing:

"Count me in too."

......

Early in the morning, Lin Shuxuan was having breakfast in the cafeteria, while Hai Lanlan was gulping down her soup next to him.

After discovering that following Lin Shuxuan meant not having to pay for meals, the food-loving girl diligently squatted at the cafeteria entrance every mealtime.

Lin Shuxuan wasn't stingy either, so he ordered a nourishing soup made from a water-type mythical beast to replenish Hai Lanlan's nutrition.

Eating steamed buns every day is not healthy.

Hai Lanlan picked up the soup bowl and drank it all in one gulp, then smiled and let out a satisfied burp. She then rested her chest on the table and folded her chin on it.

This table was bearing pressure it shouldn't have had to... Lin Shuxuan was horrified, wishing he could switch places with the table.

Then he saw a small hand quietly resting on the edge of his bowl.

Hai Lanlan's eyes darted around as she secretly pulled Lin Shuxuan's breakfast closer to her.

Lin Shuxuan laughed and simply pushed the breakfast in front of her.

The scene that unfolded underground last night was still vividly etched in his mind, and he would think of it every time he ate, causing him to lose his appetite.

Otherwise, he would be the one stealing Hailanlan's breakfast right now.

Sunlight streamed down from the openwork ceiling of the cafeteria.

The weather on Tianbang Star is controlled by the high-altitude kinetic orbit, so it is always sunny.

Looking at the exquisitely designed cafeteria with its white carved pillars and sophisticated layout, Lin Shuxuan felt a sense of disillusionment.

As the capital of the Federation, he had long heard of the splendor and prosperity of Tianbang Star, but he never expected that such a sordid place was hidden within it.

Most importantly, the Star Orbit Society actually has influence on Tianbang Star.

Ironically, the process by which he discovered this secret was also a secret; he couldn't share this information with Guan Yunyang.

Fortunately, the other party on Tianbang Star was probably not targeting him.

After all, it's the federal capital; if the sky falls, someone tall will hold it up.

"Let's go."

Hai Lanlan tugged at his sleeve.

"Okay, are you full?"

Lin Shuxuan asked the question casually, but immediately regretted it.

Hai Lanlan's eyes brightened slightly, and she said crisply, "No!"

This breakfast cost Lin Shuxuan 15 credits, which doesn't seem like much, but it's equivalent to 1500 yuan in federal currency.

He doubted that even if he gave the prize money from the competition to Hai Lanlan, she would eat it all up in a very short time.

"Won't they come to freeload off me again then...?" Lin Shuxuan thought of this subtle possibility.

With such a foodie around, it would take him forever to save up the 50000 credits needed to buy the Daotu.

Meeting with Ye Lingyue, the stunningly beautiful girl slightly eased Lin Shuxuan's gloom.

"This is today's battle plan."

"We're blocking the evacuation point, shooting anyone we see, understand?"

Hailanlan wholeheartedly supports the feeder's plan.

But Ye Lingyue hesitated.

"Wouldn't that be too unethical? I'm afraid you'll get cyberbullied."

Compared to the past, being criticized for blocking the evacuation point was only a minor incident... Lin Shuxuan's lips twitched slightly.

He only knew Mu Ning's match schedule, but couldn't figure out his movements.

Mu Ning is too weak; this can't even be considered a death match, and the future vision doesn't provide any hints.

If you want to catch the other person, you can only use this clumsy method.

......

"Lin Shuxuan! You are despicable and shameless!"

Lin Shuxuan remained unconcerned by Mu Ning's roar.

"What, when you posted those rumors and slanders against me, didn't you expect this day to come?"

"I didn't post that!"

"I don't believe you. Show me the interface."

"No."

Feeling guilty, yet still daring to argue... Lin Shuxuan forcibly activated Mu Ning's smart bracelet.

When he finally saw what was inside, he was stunned.