Chapter 288

The Desolate Sea Extreme Rally.

For those who know the inside story, just seeing these few words is enough to start the suffering.

It is just like those streamers chasing traffic who choose to walk or ride bicycles or other messy tools to the high plateau; the wind and sun are merely trifles. From the moment they make the choice and take the first step, what accompanies every breath is constant torment.

In this world, a hundred miles outside the central city lies the wilderness.

It is a no-man's-land that is too cruel even for beasts.

Humans live by relying on civilization. Once separated from civilization, even a fleeting traveler will suffer the ruthless ravages of nature and disaster.

If one only looks down from an airship, those fleeting glimpses are nothing but sparse and boring scenery. But if one is truly in the midst of it, let alone walking, even just using wheels to measure the distance, the problems faced are endless.

Food, water, supplies, maintenance, medicine, heating... and even the trials and challenges from the world itself!

This route, which traverses the entire Federation, does not even have a fixed path. Due to frequent disasters in the wild, it actually changes every year. In past editions, there has been no shortage of situations where participants failed to finish.

Frigid and scorching regions, ice fields and deserts, salt lakes, acid rain, earthquake zones, and mudflats and swamps...

Along the entire route, except for a few large cities and a small number of gathering places, everything is an extreme environment ravaged by disaster, with thousands of miles of uninhabited wilderness.

Not to mention the harsh race format and the near-nonexistent rules.

There is no route reconnaissance, no timing or time control, and not even any cumbersome rules or detailed treaties and regulations; there is only the most basic stage timing. After the race begins, all he has to do is get from one end to the other by any means necessary—even if he has to push the tires by hand, he must crawl to the finish line.

The winner takes all, the loser eats dust!

It tests the manufacturer's design, craftsmanship, and maintenance, as well as the drivers' quality and endurance, the vehicle's build quality and workmanship... and even the crucial factor of luck.

Its difficulty no longer lies in simple speed, but in the challenge to the extreme and the impossible.

Precisely because of this, it is loved and followed by so many enthusiasts, who even place it on a pedestal, looking forward to the arrival of one new god after another.

When compared to the malice of the entire world, not only ordinary people but even the Heaven-Chosen will appear so insignificant.

Because it is difficult, people choose to challenge it.

Among the Twelve Supreme Virtues, Metamorphosis is the first and Ruined Ruins is the last; one is spirit, the other is matter. This is just like the struggle between spirit and matter, the entanglement between Metamorphosis and Ruined Ruins. This desire for Metamorphosis that exists at the deepest level of every living soul collides with the vast and cruel material world, which is enough to stir up dazzling sparks and light.

Endless, chasing the limit!

Just within the classification of the Desolate Sea Rally, there are eight categories based on cylinder displacement and sixteen categories for original and modified vehicles, which can be said to cover all vehicle types used for operations in the wilderness.

Over the years, different branches and levels have naturally formed. Among them, the top level, the modified group for vehicles over 2000cc that receives the most attention and pursuit from the audience, has always been the private preserve of military-industrial enterprises!

No matter how one boasts about oneself or buys traffic, reality is always reality. Those who can pass are experts, and no matter how those who cannot pass explain it, it is just the crying of sycophants.

In PvP games, there are still so many supporters, trolls, or haters, let alone a real, authentic competition?

If the Coast Auto Factory was only on the fringes before this, now, the moment they chose to participate, it meant drawing their swords against all their peers in the military-industrial track.

Whether strong or weak, tall or short, let us see the truth in the results!

Thus, overestimating one's own strength, launching a challenge...

At this moment, inside the conference rooms of Echo Industrial or Tiancheng Industry, there was instead silence, a dead silence.

On the high-and-mighty main seat, there was already no one there.

In the middle of the meeting, news was received from the Central City.

Conveyed by a secretary or staff member from the Federal Security Force, it was the final result of the talks.

Fight!

There must be a loser.

Shang Tongwen remained silent, listening to the voice on the other end, and only after a long time did he slowly say, "I understand."

But the voice when he spoke was so hoarse and low that even he himself had not expected it.

It was as if he were being burned by rage.

After hanging up the phone, he slowly turned his head and said to the secretary, "Tell those surnamed Gao that if they still want to stay out of it now, let alone meat, there won't even be a soup bowl left. When the time comes, just wait to kneel on the ground and beg others to reward them with bones to eat!"

The secretary nodded and hurried away.

Only Shang Tongwen remained, slowly returning to the conference room. The others had already tactfully left and dispersed; no one dared to stay and be an eyesore. In the dead silence, he stared at the last message conveyed on the screen, looking at that face that was young to the point of being outrageous, his expression blank.

The secretary knocked on the door suddenly and entered: "President Shang, a call from the Viceroy's Mansion..."

"I will reply later. Tell the Viceroy that everything is normal."

"Mr. Shang, a call from home." Another person pushed the door and entered, looking hurried: "It's urgent, the Second Master hopes you will reply as soon as possible."

"Mr. Shang, the Cosmic is holding an emergency meeting..."

"Mr. Shang, the Central State Military Department..."

"Mr. Shang..."

"GET OUT!!!"

In the dead silence, Shang Tongwen could no longer restrain himself, turned back, and roared.

That pair of eyes was bloodshot, like a wild beast, ready to devour someone. "When they were all eating until they were fat and bloated, they didn't say a word. Now that the dinner plate is not guaranteed, they are urging others to go on stage and risk their lives?" Shang Tongwen scolded angrily: "What the hell were they doing earlier? When I said we couldn't sit by and watch Lu Yingyue grow, what were they doing then! Eating shit?!"

No one responded.

And no one dared to speak again; only the low, dull ringing of the phone kept sounding, over and over again.

But now, Shang Tongwen had finally calmed down.

He was silent, not saying a word, just quietly smoking a cigarette.

Indifferently staring at that little bit of scarlet fire burning out, crushing it into nothingness in the exquisite ashtray.

The elders of the Shang family, the Viceroy of the East City, the internal Cosmic, the Forward Party members, the key officials of the Military Department...

Overnight, everyone had actually started urging him to fight for his life, for everyone's wealth.

There was not even any room left to take a step back.

And he could not retreat.

Please... you... bookmark_(!)

If he showed even a trace of weakness at this juncture, he wouldn't even need others to kick him while he was down; he would be abandoned himself, and even his former allies would fall apart. Those friendly competitors who seemed to be on good terms with others might—no, they would absolutely—change their faces and pounce on him, happily devouring Echo's flesh and blood.

Just like the feast when they once carved up the Coast.

In the midst of tigers and wolves, there is no morality or righteousness to speak of; apart from climbing upward, all cowardice and seeking comfort is just waiting for death.

"Get me Tiancheng, the Northern Territory, and Xinyuan."

The last fire extinguished in the ashtray, Shang Tongwen slowly raised his head, restrained his violent and fierce gaze, and revealed a smile once again, only this time, there was no warmth in it at all.

"If she wants to fight, then let's fight."

"Fight until we win, fight until we die, fight until everyone stops breathing."

"Let everyone see..."

"Who is the one who loses in the end!"

"WON!!!"

Amidst the cheers and shouts, applause rang out, one after another.

At the dinner party after the press conference ended, the canteen was packed. Except for the second floor where visiting guests were entertained, the gathering of employees on the first floor was even more lively and noisy.

Perhaps it was the red envelopes that Assistant Ye distributed to everyone, perhaps it was the achievements the Coast had made, perhaps it was the rapidly rising reputation on the internet, or perhaps, the expectations for the future...

After experiencing these months of torment and trials, the newly graduated university cattle and horses had also shed their childishness, the pure glow in their eyes replaced by a thick "work-smell," and even white liquor could be chugged straight from the bottle, celebrating and cheering wantonly.

All regular employees received a salary increase, and the university students who had persisted until now also received internship certificates and an unexpected employment contract. After signing, they could go back and wait for graduation, and when they returned, they would be regular employees. In addition to base salary and performance, benefits were distributed according to rank. Although it wasn't exaggerated to the point of nine insurances and three funds, the five insurances and one fund were set in stone, and even the previous internship time was included in the length of service.

For many students who took out loans for school, not only did they get the crucial credits and internship stamps, but they also received extra wages and allowances, and they didn't even have to look for a job after graduation. How could there be any reason not to celebrate?

For a time, they couldn't help but let themselves go, getting drunk and losing their composure, crying on the tables, hugging coworkers and shedding tears, and some even taking advantage of the drunkenness to confess to colleagues... Although a small number of people might be a bit confused about gender, it didn't hinder everyone from happily celebrating.

Yan Jian was the first to be chugged down, performing a fountain while slumped in his wheelchair, and was quickly dragged away.

And Ji Jue, whose treatment was even more exaggerated than his, was miraculously sober after a thousand cups, standing proudly, laughing at the sky, letting as many people as he wanted line up to toast him, without even his face turning red.

Just kidding, when drinking with Sister Wen, he didn't dare to pull any tricks or he would be caught, but drinking with this bunch of university cattle? That would be letting them see the bare-handed forging of Non-Attack!

If even a drop of alcohol was drunk, count it as his loss!

Wine doesn't make people drunk, people make themselves drunk. In the joyous atmosphere, Ji Jue couldn't help but lose his composure, even performing a bottle-chugging for everyone, finishing a whole bottle of white liquor in three seconds.

"Congratulations, Factory Manager Ji." Ye Chun, who was beside him, sipped her drink and followed the crowd to toast him with a cola.

"Not at all, not at all, it all depends on the senior sister's support behind the scenes!"

Ji Jue slapped his thigh, his eyes lit up, and he was instantly thirsty and impatient: he hadn't talked about his great achievements in revitalizing the Coast for three minutes!

It was a beautiful time and scenery, and there should be someone to share the joy with him...

It was a pity that Ye Chun had already become immune to his dog-barking, and even slipped away before he opened his mouth, leaving Ji Jue standing alone, sighing at the sky.

Messages and calls on his phone were endless, coming from all sides.

Not just Tong Shan and Wen Wen, but also Chen Xingzhou and Chen Yubo, and even the supporters from all sides over these days.

To some extent, the moment the press conference started, Ji Jue had already succeeded.

This banquet was not only to celebrate the resurgence of the Coast, but also his victory celebration.

Up to now, with the resumption of work, production, and revitalization of the Coast, his duties had been fulfilled, and the work entrusted to him had come to an end. He could now retire with his achievements, as an artisan far from disputes, restore his original transcendent status, and no longer have to get involved in this muddy water.

Just wait for the dust to settle and divide the gold.

"So, there's no need to take such risks."

Tong Shengnian on the other end of the phone said this: "Regarding the Desolate Sea Rally, I suggest you reconsider."

(End of chapter)