Chapter 540: Seriously Double Standards

Boom…Rumble…

Just as Mark, Ran Bing and the others were at a loss for how to respond, a slight jolt was felt and the sound of large metal pieces colliding rang out.

That meant the lift platform had returned to the lighthouse.

So Mark took the opportunity to say, "Both of you, please follow me."

"Alright." Sui Yang and Sui Yue replied in unison, and walked with Mark toward the exit of the lift platform.

Ran Bing and the group of officers hurried to follow.

They left the lift platform.

The city defense troops, responsible for the lighthouse's internal security and whose weapons and gear were relatively inferior, along with many more civilian porters, surged forward to help the Wasteland Hunters squad transfer supplies.

But…

"Damn! How did Captain Mark bring back two giants?!"

"Could it be the Lord of Light and Shadow?!"

"No way… how could that be?"

But when the city defense troops and porters saw Sui Yang and Sui Yue, each one froze in place, not knowing what to do.

Some who worshipped the so‑called "Lord of Light and Shadow" immediately knelt on both knees and reverently bowed to the two giants.

Witnessing this scene further soured Sui Yang and Sui Yue's impression of the lighthouse.

However, the two noticed that Mark, Ran Bing and the rest of the Wasteland Hunters seemed equally displeased by the phenomenon and sneered at the "Lord of Light and Shadow."

Next.

Through the effort of nearly a thousand porters, all the supplies the Wasteland Hunters squad brought were first moved to the lighthouse's lower‑level warehouse, to be sorted and catalogued later by the appropriate personnel.

Having completed all this.

Sui Yang and Sui Yue still needed to follow Mark and the Wasteland Hunters squad to board the convoy again.

Because of the lift platform's location, there remained a considerable distance to the lighthouse's training and residential zones that lead to the central command hall.

Soon.

The convoy unloading the supplies moved at a steady pace around the lower‑level columnar structures of the lighthouse and the spiral uphill passage, arriving at a living area that resembled a small town.

Here, thousands, even tens of thousands of civilians gathered, cheering exuberantly for the returning Wasteland Hunters.

When they saw the two Astate women, who even while seated stood nearly a meter taller than Captain Mark, the cheers halted, turning into shock, prayers, and kneeling.

Even the privileged residents lounging in the comfortable upper zone, living in luxury, wore devout and fanatical expressions, shouting "May the Lord of Light and Shadow protect us!" and "We shall be liberated!"

It seemed the Lord of Light and Shadow, or the church that propagates him, wielded a very strong influence over the lighthouse's inhabitants.

To this, the two newcomers remained watchful.

In a post‑apocalyptic world where despair and death dominate, humanity urgently needs a pursuit, a goal, to regain hope.

Thus fabricating a Lord of Light and Shadow to keep surviving humans passionately working, contributing, drafting and overseeing breeding plans is indeed a top strategy for stabilizing the situation and consolidating power.

As for the Lord of Light and Shadow?

Heh, even if it truly exists, it's merely a self‑proclaimed god's trash.

If it had a physical body and they were to encounter it, it would surely be smashed to pieces.

Before long.

The convoy arrived at the location beneath the "Mushroom Cap," and sequentially entered the Wasteland Hunters base, docking in a garage illuminated by bright lights and a tidy deck.

They turned and got out of the vehicle.

The vast majority of the Wasteland Hunters, including Erika and Jeff, went to the armory to return their weapons, then proceeded to the infirmary for examinations.

Mark and Ran Bing continued as guides, leading Sui Yang and Sui Yue across the base to a "track" about a hundred meters in diameter, marked by flashing indicator lights.

Finally.

The four arrived at the elevator waiting hall, which was equipped with automatic pistols and various defensive weapons.

Seeing the elevator hadn't arrived, Sui Yang walked to the edge of the hall, stood beside a handrail that reached only to his knees, and observed the "track" around him, its rhythmic flashing indicator lights.

"This thing should be an electromagnetic cannon, but it's certainly far inferior to our Empire's," Sui Yue quipped from behind his brother.

"Mm." Sui Yang nodded in agreement.

In reality, the two sides' electromagnetic weapons were incomparable.

A Moon‑Goddess‑class main cannon can accelerate a thousand‑ton projectile to 50‑80% of light speed.

That's already an extinction‑order level weapon, whereas the lighthouse's electromagnetic cannon is at best siege‑class, if even that.

Mark and Ran Bing, hearing the remark, showed no sign of doubt.

Because merely the aura exuded by the twin brothers, their absolute power capable of crushing serpents and dogs, plus the presence of a burst‑arrow gun and plasma cannon before them…

Any further doubt would only be self‑deception.

Moreover, Ran Bing's gaze kept drifting among Sui Yang, Sui Yue, and Mark.

For some reason, she felt that if she brought the twin brothers before the city lord, the lighthouse might literally "collapse."

The feeling grew stronger, yet Ran Bing wasn't sure whether to tell Mark.

In a moment.

A "ding~" reminder cut off Ran Bing's indecision.

She turned her head and saw the elevator doors open, revealing a "female captain" dressed in a fitted trench coat, her long black hair flowing, accompanied by several elite city defense troops, entering the hall.

!!

No need to think further, it was clear that the female captain and the city defense troops, upon seeing the Astate, were each thrown into a stunned state, unable to believe humans could be so massive and magnificent.

More importantly, these people had expected the two survivors they found to look gaunt, pale, and on the brink of death.

The contrast was striking.

Without time to catch up with Mark and Ran Bing, the female captain stepped forward and introduced herself to Sui Yang and Sui Yue:

"Both of you, I am the chief commander of the lighthouse control room, Jing Nan. The city lord is already waiting in the central hall; please follow me."

"Hmm."

Sui Yang and Sui Yue gave slight nods and said nothing more.

Moreover, when the elite city guard came to their senses and tried to remind the two Astates to lower their weapons and gear before proceeding, Ran Bing frantically signaled with a blink and a wave, "Don't be asking for death!!".

Fortunately, Jing Nan, realizing the situation was beyond expectations, promptly halted the city guard's reckless action, thus averting another clash.

Immediately thereafter.

The elevator rose upward, reaching an open space where sunset light streamed through numerous large sealed windows, illuminating the deck and the central command hall for the personnel.

In terms of protection and safety, there were twenty elite city guards and two dedicated heavy three‑dimensional units stationed.

Furthermore, before Sui Yang, Mark and others arrived, the supervisors and officers in charge of the lighthouse's various sections had already been waiting here for a long time.

Seated at the front of the hall, on a platform of staggered steps, an elderly man with a white beard, dressed in splendid robes, the "old man", was the lighthouse's city lord—

Morgan.

Naturally, Sui Yang and Sui Yue's height and physique once again left everyone in the command hall, Morgan included, utterly stunned.

After things calmed down.

Several people cast resentful glances at Mark, as if saying, "Where are the survivors? This must be a deity's arrival!".

In fact, when Mark communicated with the control room—that is, reported to Jing Nan—he never mentioned "survivors" at all, using the term "guests" instead.

Cough…

City lord Morgan cleared his throat lightly, easing the previously intense atmosphere, and looked at the ice‑cold Sui Yang and Sui Yue, asking:

"Both of you, may I ask where you come from? The surface... the underground... or perhaps...?"

By the end, Morgan's gaze drifted as if he knew some secret of the surface, and he treated the two Astates' affiliation as belonging to a certain "old friend's" camp.

"Heh."

Seeing Morgan's slight expression, Sui Yang, too lazy to keep a friendly demeanor toward these hypocritical, arrogant, and somewhat overbearing fellows, let out a cold snort and said:

"My brother and I are imperial princes, quasi‑reservists of the Fallen Formation Legion, and the most solid defense of the Human Empire.

As for where we come from, your logic might find it hard to grasp; the simplest explanation is that we hail from another parallel universe.

As for why we came…

It's simple: our father opened a Space Gate and sent us to your Earth to help our compatriots fight and eliminate the anomalous creatures threatening human existence.

At the same time, we will consider incorporating this Earth's inhabitants into Human Empire's rule and offering protection, shielding them from any—listen carefully, any—abnormal, heretical, and alien scum invasion."

Having said that, Sui Yang scanned the surroundings, glanced at the hall's ceiling, and finally fixed his gaze back on Morgan, his tone slightly heavier:

"Also, my father is likely watching every move here at this moment.

So, City lord Morgan, may I ask whether you are willing to voluntarily cede authority to be ruled by our Human Empire.

Of course, before the Human Empire dispatches its military forces and basic officials, we still need you to serve as city lord.

I admit my brother and I could also take the role, but we simply lack the inclination; after all, we still must gather supplies and deal with the threat of the nearby devouring beasts."

His words hung in the air.

The whole venue fell silent.

Except for Mark and Ran Bing, everyone's expression was frozen.

Parallel universe, Human Empire, Human Emperor…

Isn't that nonsense?

Even though this is the apocalypse and everyone is fighting desperately for survival and redemption, it doesn't mean they consent to being fooled!

Yes, you both stand three meters tall, possess superhuman physiques, and wield large‑caliber weapons.

But who knows if you are hiding beneath the surface as remnants of an old great nation?

It should be noted that before 2048, nations worldwide were competing in every field, driving technology to leap forward.

Before 2048, many colonial ships belonging to great powers successfully launched, though the lighthouse dwellers knew nothing of their subsequent fates.

One certainty, however, is that before 2048, many great nations already possessed organized squads of super soldiers.

Thus, after Sui Yang and Sui Yue finished speaking of their Human Empire origins from a parallel universe and of an imperial father who can arbitrarily alter physical laws and shatter cosmic barriers, the crowd instinctively disbelieved them.

Calling the twin brothers fools would be an understatement; they truly have power, yet everyone already regards them as "con artists".

"Hahaha!!"

At that moment, a burst of unrestrained laughter echoed through the hall, drawing everyone's attention.

The source of the laughter was a man dressed in splendid attire.

He possessed an impeccably standard physique, golden hair and refined features, truly comparable to the main‑universe's fourteen‑ and fifteen‑line stars.

Don't underestimate the fourteen‑ and fifteen‑line stars; they are selected from hundreds of millions of people.

Unfortunately, this Earth is in its apocalypse; no matter how strong the aura or artistic talent, it is merely a burden.

And this blond‑haired man is Morgan's biological son, the great Lord of Light and Shadow, in charge of the Light and Shadow Church, Charles.

The laughter faded.

Charles elegantly used his gloved left hand to wipe away a tear of laughter from his eye, looked toward the nearby Sui Yang and Sui Yue, and said:

"Both of you, stop fabricating stories; just get straight to the point and tell us what kind of deal you want.

Human Empire, Human Emperor, you…

Bang!!!

But Charles hadn't finished speaking when the sound of something resembling a "watermelon" hitting the ground and bursting interrupted him.

But that "watermelon" was none other than Charles's own blond skull, handsome and fair‑skinned.

"Splat… splat…" Milky‑white brain tissue sprayed outward.

"Thump!!" The headless corpse collapsed onto the spotless floor.

Gurgle... Gurgle...

Blood flowed like a stream, endlessly gushing from the wound, and after a moment it stained a patch red.

As the "principal culprit" behind all this, Sui Yang merely flicked the bloodstain clinging to his right fist, then lowered his head to stare at the still twitching corpse, and said with obvious displeasure:

"Trash, father and the Empire are not things that scum like you can insult."

??

!!

When they heard Sui Yang speak again, they finally realized that the city lord's son, the illustrious Light and Shadow Church leader Charles, a pivotal figure within the Lighthouse, had just died like that?!

The most terrifying part was that no one had seen Sui Yang make a move.

One moment Sui Yang was clearly beside Sui Yue; the next, Charles's head was gone, and Sui Yang had already shifted position, standing in front of Charles's body.

The others were all astonished, but one person felt sorrow far greater than shock.

"My child!!"

Realizing what had happened, Morgan was overwhelmed with grief, staggered and rolled off the city lord's chair, trembling uncontrollably all over.

Through the accounts of Mark, Ran Bing and others, Sui Yang and Sui Yue learned that the Lighthouse forbids free love and has abandoned the old society's family ties; the so‑called "Three Great Laws of the Lighthouse" were promulgated by the Morgan city lord standing before them.

What Sui Yang and Sui Yue didn't know was that the city lord Morgan, who proclaimed the abolition of family ties, not only managed the Light and Shadow Church for his son, but also often turned a blind eye to his son's transgressions.

Now, Morgan voluntarily shouted, "My child!"…

What a damn double standard.

"City Lord! City Lord!"

"Quick! Slay these two bastards!"

"Tap! Tap tap!"

Charles was blown off his head, Morgan wailed in grief, and in an instant a fierce clash erupted in the great hall.

Everyone, I'm shamelessly asking for leave again; today's team‑building has arrived.

There's rope‑pulling on the beach and various other things; I can't write about it, sigh, I don't want to ask for leave, but I have no drafts left. However, I've recently gotten the rhythm under control and can write over a thousand extra words a day, so I won't ask off casually.

Later I'll write some "small worlds", after all the "big guys" have been beaten down enough.

Finally, thank you all for your support, thank you for subscriptions, recommendation votes, monthly tickets and donations~!

(End of chapter)