Chapter 874: Longyou Shuangzixing (8)

They walked for a long distance, took countless turns, and even climbed a nearly vertical, rusted ladder.

Finally, the man stopped in front of a metal door disguised as an abandoned pipe valve.

He knocked on the door a few times in a rhythmic pattern.

The door slid open a crack, letting out a sliver of faint light.

The man squeezed in sideways, then signaled for Lia to follow.

The door closed behind them.

Lia found herself in a small secret space, which appeared to be a converted, abandoned large pressurized cabin.

Under the dim emergency lights, seven or eight people were sitting or standing.

Among them was Hanke, the old mechanic she had seen during the day; his eyes widened when he saw Lia.

Furthermore, there were two people wearing Greyhound soldier uniforms!

They were not wearing helmets; they were exactly the one old and one young soldier she had seen that afternoon.

Seeing Lia, everyone became tense, and some even subconsciously reached for the crude weapons hidden behind them.

The tall man who brought Lia in took off his mask, revealing a weather-beaten face.

He held up the scrap of paper in his hand.

"She says she came looking for the 'Survivors'. She works at the Administration as a data entry clerk. She says... she can see some data."

The man paused and added.

"She also mentioned the 'cleansing' at Channel 7 this afternoon."

Hanke stood up and said excitedly.

"Rex! You can't just bring a stranger in like this! What if..."

The tall man called Rex raised a hand to interrupt him.

"I know the risks, Hanke. But she is right; no one can stay on the sidelines anymore. And..."

His gaze swept over the two soldiers.

"Our team also needs new blood, especially... blood that can provide different kinds of help."

The young soldier looked at Lia and suddenly spoke.

"This afternoon... were you there too?"

Lia nodded.

"I saw you... let Mr. Hanke go."

The young soldier and the older soldier looked at each other and fell silent.

Rex walked up to Lia and said to her.

"You say you want to join us. This means that once discovered, you will die even more miserably than that pair of grandparents.

This means you are no longer an 'Asset' of the Star Alliance, but its enemy. There is no turning back for you."

"I know. From the moment I left my room, I never thought about turning back."

Rex scrutinized Lia, and finally, he nodded slowly.

He reached out his hand, palm open and facing upward.

"Welcome to the 'Survivors', Lia Moran."

He called her by her name, clearly not entirely ignorant of who she was.

"Remember, we are not here to overthrow the Star Alliance—that is unrealistic. We exist for one simple purpose: to let as many people as possible survive in this hell."

Lia placed her hand gently on Rex's rough palm and replied.

"To survive."

Longyou Shuangzixing · Mi-You Star · Liuli City · Top Floor "Twilight Hall"

Artificial twilight light filtered through the glass windows, casting a soft golden glow.

The air, having passed through multiple filters and aromatherapy treatments, carried a cloying scent that completely blocked out the metallic stench of the factories below.

City Lord Huolakesi stood in the center of the hall, holding a glass of golden liquid produced on a distant agricultural planet, his face filled with a fawning smile. Beside him were the key officers of the Garrison stationed by the Fengqi Star Alliance on Longyou Shuangzixing.

These officers were completely different from the ordinary "Greyhound" soldiers patrolling below.

Their uniforms were crisp and made of fine materials, and their sashes and medals glittered, representing their rank and glory within the Star Alliance military system.

They enjoyed treatment slightly lower than the management but far superior to the lower-class residents, possessing certain privileges while also bearing the responsibility of maintaining the "stability" of this important mining planet.

"Gentlemen, please drink up!"

Huolakesi's voice was loud, striving to create a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere.

"To the health of Special Envoy Grendel, to the great victory of the Fengqi Star Alliance, and to thank all of you colleagues for your unwavering support for Liuli City and for my humble work!"

The officers raised their glasses in response, wearing formulaic smiles.

With the arrival of the Special Envoy, the martial law, and the stationing of the Liquidator, everyone knew the singing and dancing before them was merely a fragile facade.

After three rounds of drinks, Huolakesi gave a wink, the attendants retreated silently, and the background music in the hall was lowered by a notch.

The smile on Huolakesi's face faded slightly, and he sighed, putting on an expression of "we both work hard," and said to Brigadier General Breken, the commander of the Garrison.

"General, the Special Envoy is decisive and has extremely high requirements. This is our honor, but also a tremendous pressure. The 'Extreme Efficiency Mode'... sigh, those 'Assets' below, as you know, are deeply lethargic; I fear complaints are inevitable, and perhaps even... some restless actions."

Brigadier General Breken was a tall, middle-aged Fengqi man. Years of military life had carved weathering onto his face, but it had also fostered a cautious, even somewhat conservative, personality.

He swirled his glass and glanced at Huolakesi.

"City Lord, there is no need for such modesty. Your management of Liuli City is plain for the Star Alliance to see. As for that mining slag... hmph."

He snorted.

"Giving them food and clothing, letting them contribute to the great cause of the Star Alliance, is their glory. They dare to complain? Whips and electric batons will teach them to know their place."

His words drew echoing laughter from the surrounding field-grade officers, though it sounded somewhat dry.