Chapter 196

When Mo Yin opened his eyes, he thought he had returned to a world he had visited before.

Coarse sand struck his face, causing him to instinctively squint, his eyelashes filtering out the sand carried by the wind. His pupils, accustomed to this, felt no discomfort. A cloth lightly brushed across his forehead, causing a slight itch. The hood fell down with the wind, and his snow-white long hair gently floated in the breeze.

As his vision cleared, Mo Yin realized this wasn’t any world he had been to before.

Layers of swirling sand revealed a massive black structure in the distance, dark and foreboding. It stood on the surface of the vast desert like a dormant behemoth, weary and dim.

Mo Yin slowly looked up, unable to see the top of the building.

“Commander,” a voice spoke beside him. Mo Yin glanced towards the sound; a young man in navy military attire with thick eyebrows and resolute eyes stood there. “Darwin Number is ready for your command, please instruct.”

He hadn’t returned to the real world; instead, seamlessly transitioning into a new micro-world.

Is this the micro-world?

Mo Yin extended his right hand from behind him, adorned with a dark glove, memories gradually flooding back into his mind.

It was the year 3981 AD.

The 179th year of the Sand Age for humanity.

Here, he was still Mo Yin, commander of Sector Nine.

“You stay here.”

Withdrawing his hand behind him, Mo Yin looked once more toward the building at the center of the sandstorm. “Keep Darwin Number on standby.”

The black structure stood alone, seeming devoid of entrances or exits, bearing its own name, the Arbiter. Once just an unnamed tomb long ago, it now remained only for one reason: judgment, for those spirits unwilling to depart as sacrifices grew in number.

Approaching the building, its spiritual force pulsated. As spiritual forces collided, the structure shuddered, slowly opening its entrance.

It had been 1367 natural days since the Arbiter last opened.

This time, members of level 6 and above in spiritual strength had all received the Arbiter’s summons.

Someone had committed an unforgivable crime against the entire civilization.

The interior of the building was bright and radiant without any light source, the spiritual essence of the deceased shimmering brightly. All deceased spirits returned to their purest form of white.

Upon entering the building, Mo Yin was gently lifted by a soft force, naturally sitting down in his designated spot.

There was a certain overlap in setting between this world and the real one, completely consistent in the concept of spiritual essence, while also expanding upon some new concepts.

For example, the spiritual essence of the deceased was white.

Mo Yin had never known that spiritual essence could die.

Thinking of that white mist, Mo Yin’s heart sank, yet he pondered who said the settings in a micro-world were related to the real world? All of this was mere speculation.

Nevertheless, Mo Yin’s heart continued to beat heavily. He had a premonition that something was unfolding before him, whether he wanted to witness it or not, it was already in front of him.

Although the brightness around him was dazzling, Mo Yin saw only a vast expanse of white around him, as if he were alone in this immense building, surrounded by those white spiritual essences clinging closely to the walls, cascading down like waterfalls. No matter where you sat in this building, you would feel baptized by the deathly white spiritual essence.

That moment reminded everyone.

They were all sinners.

As for what kind of sin they bore, Mo Yin found no information within this body. All he knew about this “Mo Yin” in this world was that he was born an orphan, extraordinarily talented, possessed incredibly strong spiritual essence, and had climbed step by step from a commoner to the position of commander of Sector Nine, a role he had held for thirteen years.

A strange tremor swept through the surroundings.

Without any prompting, Mo Yin understood: the judgment had begun.

At the same time, he felt that people surrounded him.

Although he couldn’t see them, and they couldn’t see him, they knew each other’s presence.

There were at least tens of thousands here, drawn by spiritual forces into hiding within this building.

“It is with deep regret that I inform you all.”

The direction of the voice was directly in front of Mo Yin.

But there was no visible person speaking.

Without needing to ponder, Mo Yin’s brain automatically matched this voice as that of the Arbiter.

“Due to Commander’s decision-making error, Sector Three has been fully exiled. The Chaos Dimension Plan is officially declared a failure. All sectors are instructed to immediately cease the development and use of synthetics.”

A deathly silence pervaded the building.

This silence resonated through the spiritual realm, where tens of thousands fell into simultaneous silence.

Except for Mo Yin.

His brain was continuously receiving new information, much like a newborn infant absorbing every moment of existence in this world. Each new term inputted new information into his mind.

The Chaos Dimension Plan was an advanced plan in which all enforcement sectors could participate.

Centuries ago, they had already unlocked the secrets of genetics, beginning the creation of synthetics through various genetic cultivations for a variety of uses.

Each sector had a different development direction for synthetics. Sector Three’s direction aimed to imbue synthetics with spiritual essence.

This research direction was absurd, but each enforcement sector held independent enforcement powers. Before the Arbiter’s warnings, they had each been free to conduct their own plans without interference or criticism.

Yet clearly, Sector Three had failed.

They had created a super synthetic being, codenamed “Limit,” originally intended to impose limitations, but ultimately it became uncontrollable and indirectly pronounced the death sentence on the Chaos Dimension Plan.

The entire Sector Three had fallen into exile, beyond salvation.

Listening to this message, Mo Yin vaguely felt a sense of familiarity, while also contemplating.

What connection did the “synthetics” mentioned in this world have with the “synthetics” in the real world? In reality, synthetics had gained spiritual essence through a super synthetic being, an event that greatly inspired the entire Union. Why did Sector Three fall into exile here, leading to the declared failure of the so-called Chaos Dimension Plan? What exactly was the Chaos Dimension Plan that only the Arbiter knew? The Commander’s authority was insufficient.

“For the mistakes committed by the comrades who fought together, Sector Three has completely exiled, beyond accountability. As the highest enforcer, I cannot evade blame and am willing to accept judgment in place of the Sector Three Commander.”

A commotion stirred within the silent building.

The disturbance lasted less than a second before immediately ceasing.

Above the building, sparks of snow-colored light burst forth, falling like rain. The entire structure emitted a resonant lamentation, the white spiritual essence on the walls suddenly surging. Mo Yin felt a warm touch on his face.

—The Arbiter had taken their own life.

This was the thirty-seventh Arbiter to do so in the Sand Age.

The judgment concluded, the Arbiter closed, and those within the building were expelled. Mo Yin returned to the sandy expanse, the black structure still standing before him, but now in a dormant state. Those who had attended the gathering within were drawn back to their respective sectors through the pull of spiritual essence.

This was Sector Nine, Mo Yin’s jurisdiction. The wind and sand often hovered between S1-S3 levels, with a population decline ranking among the highest in all enforcement sectors.

Wu Zhong walked through the wind and sand to Mo Yin’s side. “Commander…”

His tone conveyed a hint of confusion.

Mo Yin said, “The Arbiter took their own life.”

Wu Zhong hesitated momentarily, unsure of how to respond.

The dormant Arbiter was the most common building within each enforcement sector. Wu Zhong said, “Then you…”

Mo Yin replied, “Wait. A new Arbiter will be elected soon.”

“That’s fortunate.”

“Fortunate?” Mo Yin glanced over, his snow-white hair falling over his cheek, sliding past his violet eyes, his handsome face inducing a shiver of cruel beauty.

Wu Zhong emphasized, “I mean, they’re fortunate.”

Mo Yin neither confirmed nor denied, gazing at the Arbiter for a few seconds before saying to Wu Zhong, “Deactivate Darwin Number’s attack mode and let it rest.”

At noon, the iconic Blood Moon of Sector Nine hung punctually in the sky, emitting a bright red glow.

“The ecological environment here is truly dire.”

Two men in robes emerged from the landing spacecraft, followed by four guards who established a transparent protective barrier using spiritual essence, shielding them from the abrasive wind and sand.

One of them frowned and looked around. “Are there still people in District Nine? It makes me wonder.”

“Yeah, there are.”

“Don’t tell me you’re talking about that severely altered commander.”

“Altered? How so?”

The other person smiled faintly. “I find that quite beautiful, actually.”

“Oh, I can’t stand you. Please, I beg you, stop showing that fake smile in front of me,” Charlie shouted, “There’s no water here for me to jump into and wash away this goosebumps on my skin.”

The person continued to smile, even brighter now. “I apologize if the warmth of my smile dries out your skin.”

“Ah-ah-ah-ah—”

After Charlie had screamed in place for a while, he quickly regained his composure. “I hope you won’t get kicked out by that bad-tempered commander here.”

“It’s okay, I have a good temper.”

“Come on, you’re a bad guy, an annoying jerk. Be careful, I heard the commander of District Nine hates people like you the most.”

“What kind of people?”

Charlie glared at him angrily. “Sly politicians! You’re the slyest politician I’ve ever seen!”

“Quite a compliment.”

He nodded slightly at Charlie. “I hope to have your vote in the Enforcer elections.”

“I’d gladly vote for you to die sooner.”

“The probability of Enforcers committing suicide is almost catching up with droughts, but clever people like you still persist in this, regardless, I insist that it’s the most suitable way for you to die. I believe you will be very sensational, not like the last term. Die so quietly.”

“Maybe,” he stopped and looked ahead. There was a completely black building in front of him. From the outside, it was a pure circle, guarded at the entrance, and more people were coming. It seems that District Nine is not as lifeless as rumored. “I won’t die.”

After entering the building, the sandstorm was finally isolated outside. Charlie ordered the guards to continue building the barrier. Inside the barrier, he continued to speak to him. He could talk to him on the spaceship, but the guy on the spaceship has been playing chess games for his own amusement, completely indifferent to talking to him. Charlie could only endure it.

“Poor people who can survive in District Nine and become commanders. Can you imagine how terrifying he is?”

“He has contact with the commander of District Three. Do you know what he said?”

“I’m not interested in the last words of the dead.”

“That’s not his last words, that’s his quotes before his death. Please respect the dead. I admit that the commander of District Three’s research direction was completely wrong and caused a big mess, but my God, the super synthetic man, haha, he is really talented… Wait, let’s change the topic. He and that severely altered commander met only once. He said that when you first see him, you would think he is a perfect gentleman, but as soon as you shake hands with him…”

Charlie shrugged and spread his hands. “Game over.”

As the two were talking, a voice suddenly appeared in the space.

“It’s rare for you two to come to the place of the lower class.”

Charlie’s open hand froze in place, and the person next to him smiled and looked at him. Charlie widened his eyes and communicated with him mentally.

—[See, I told you he’s not a gentleman! Gentlemen don’t break through mental barriers to eavesdrop on other people’s conversations!]

He smiled and responded.

—[Let me remind you, there are no privacy regulations in District Nine.]

Charlie: “…”

No privacy regulations mean that all the mental power in this area is connected to this highest commander, including those who enter this area, which means that when their spaceship enters this area, they are naked in front of the commander of Nine.

Charlie slowly put down his hand and turned to smile at the newcomer, “Hello, I am Charlie, the commander of District Four, you can call me Charlie directly.”

Mo Yin’s eyes passed directly over this Charlie and looked at the person next to him.

The other person was wearing a light-colored robe, like most people of this era, with long hair, a gentle face, and a smile on his face, but it didn’t make people feel gentle, but rather made people wonder what he was thinking.

“Hello,” he reached out his hand, “Commander of District One, Tianshu.”

Mo Yin did not extend his hand, letting his gaze lightly pass over the other’s hand.

“The supplies?”

“At the transit station.”

“I thought negotiations required sincerity.”

“We are sincere,” Tianshu withdrew his hand, smiling. “Political negotiations are an art of compromise, there’s no need for such blunt force, wouldn’t you agree?”

Mo Yin sized up Tianshu.

Tianshu was also assessing Mo Yin.

His deep purple eyes were a result of the unique environment of District Nine, their intense hue stark against his face, giving him an unsettling appearance. They seemed forcibly plucked from the eye sockets of a wild beast and transplanted onto a human face, while his white eyelashes added an eerie charm.

The Executive of District Nine appeared like an amalgamation of beast and monster.

“I’m sorry.”

He said apologetically, but his expression revealed an unyielding stubbornness.

“I understand neither politics nor compromise.”

Charlie and Tianshu returned to the spaceship, which then moved to the border between District Nine and District Four, facilitating communication within District Four.

“What now?” Charlie said. “You said to start with the toughest nut to crack, it would be much smoother that way, but obviously, he doesn’t want you to crack it. I could see from the moment I laid eyes on him that he has no intention of negotiating. Did you see the look in his eyes? He looks like he hates the whole world, ready to make enemies with everyone.”

Fingering the king piece on the chessboard, Tianshu said, “Two ways.”

“First, I find a way to convince him to join us.”

“Second,” toppling another chess piece, Tianshu lifted his face, smiling at Charlie, “I find a way to remove this obstacle.”