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Kairos's words were like sparks that instantly ignited the suppressed atmosphere of the base.
The deathly silence shattered, replaced by heated debate.
"There's... there's a chance? He said there's a chance!"
A young Watcher's voice trembled as he stared at the wall where the image had disappeared, as if he could still see that patch of blue sky.
"A chance, my ass! Didn't you see the look in that thing's eyes? Sure, it didn't attack this guy, but us? We wouldn't even be enough to get stuck between its teeth!"
A scarred man slammed his fist against a metal crate with a loud clang, drawing plenty of attention.
"Scar's got a point... too strong, those Pokémon... they're nothing like the ones down here," someone murmured in agreement, their voice thick with fear.
"But... that's the surface! Blue sky! Forests! Better than being crushed like rats by the League in this hellhole, right?" someone countered, unable to suppress their longing.
"The guy said it himself—the key is how we get up there and how we coexist. Even if the risk is huge, isn't it worth taking the gamble?"
"Gamble? Gamble with what? Our lives? We can't even hold this damn door anymore!" Scar scoffed dismissively, pointing toward the entrance.
Another dull explosion echoed from that direction, accompanied by cascading dust.
At this moment, hope and fear intertwined on every face. The arguments grew louder, and the base filled with restless agitation.
Some felt Kairos made sense, that the surface, however dangerous, was better than being wiped out by the League or dying trapped underground. But the risk was undeniably massive.
The power of those ancient Pokémon exceeded anything they could have imagined.
Others had been completely rattled by the Roaring Moon's oppressive presence and believed going up would be suicide.
Amid the chaos, Old Smoker bit down on his pipe and quietly squeezed through to Kairos's side.
His prosthetic arm, made of metal joints, nudged Kairos as he muttered in a low voice, "Hey, come with me. Over here."
Kairos glanced at him and followed Old Smoker to a relatively quiet corner of the bar area, where several decommissioned server cabinets blocked most of the sightlines and noise.
Old Smoker took a deep drag from his pipe, smoke swirling around him. He fixed his gaze on Kairos.
Those eyes, usually lazy and indifferent, were now sharp, even tinged with longing.
"Kairos," his voice was low and raspy, like metal scraping against metal. "First question: Do you really think we have a shot at getting to the surface in our current state? Or are we just walking to our deaths?"
As he spoke, he pointed upward.
Kairos leaned against a nearby metal cabinet, his tone calm.
"There's definitely a chance. If the environment's recovered and Pokémon can survive, then humans can too.
As for the danger... you're in danger staying here anyway. The difference is, one's passively waiting to die, the other's actively fighting to live."
"As for ordinary people living up there, I'll be honest—it won't be easy."
Old Smoker silently took another drag, his expression obscured by the curling smoke. After a few seconds, he exhaled a smoke ring and asked his second question, the one he really cared about most:
"And earlier... that candy you gave me... where did you get it? Do you... do you still have more?"
His voice carried a barely suppressed urgency.
One piece of candy had directly evolved his Murkrow into Honchkrow, skyrocketing its strength to four stars!
That kind of effect completely overturned his decades of understanding about Pokémon training and evolution!
This wasn't something from the underground world, or even something the League from his memory could produce!
It was this very item that confirmed to him that Kairos absolutely wasn't from this world!
Kairos raised an eyebrow. He had a pretty good idea why the man had pulled him aside for a private chat.
As for the system's items, he had no intention of keeping them secret.
"They're mine. What, you want more?"
Old Smoker froze at Kairos's blunt answer, his fingers trembling slightly around his pipe.
A flash of conflict crossed his face, as if debating whether to say something, like he was making some difficult decision.
But just then—
"BOOM!!!"
An explosion, far more terrifying than any before, suddenly erupted from the direction of the base entrance!
The entire base shook violently, like an earthquake! Half the overhead lights instantly went dark, flickering wildly!
"Cough cough... The gate! The main gate's been blown open!"
Anvil's hoarse roar came through the smoke and dust.
Everyone immediately snapped to attention, forcing themselves to full alertness, preparing to fight.
However, the anticipated scene of League forces flooding in like a tide didn't immediately happen.
Through the lingering smoke, a voice amplified by a high-powered speaker echoed clearly into every corner of the base:
"Survivors within the Watcher base, this is the Commander of the League's 'Genesis Engine' Garrison Forces, Four-Star General Quinn."
The instant that name was announced, the base fell silent once more.
Even Elara, who had been struggling to get up, froze completely, her face turning ashen.
Anvil gasped and unconsciously took half a step back, his face filled with disbelief.
"Quinn... the 'Iron Blood Quinn'? Isn't he in charge of central district security? Why would he personally come here?" an older Watcher's voice trembled.
"We're done... it's really him... I've seen his photo... his forces never leave survivors..." another voice was nearly sobbing.
The voice from outside continued, cold and commanding:
"We have obtained, through special channels, intelligence that you possess information regarding the current state of the surface world and... the existence of certain powerful creatures."
Quinn's voice paused, as if carefully choosing his words.
"In truth... the League is not, as you believe, intent on imprisoning humanity underground forever.
Returning to the surface and restoring humanity's glory is the League's ultimate goal!
It's simply that the process is extraordinarily difficult. We must plan carefully and ensure absolute certainty before executing such a plan."
His tone suddenly became earnest:
"Now, on behalf of the League's Supreme Council, I present you with an ultimatum! Lay down your weapons and surrender all information regarding surface conditions, Watcher organization intelligence, and all data on the surface creatures you've discovered!"
"Additionally, hand over the discoverer of this intelligence!
In exchange, the League will grant amnesty for all past crimes of the Watcher organization and allow you to become legitimate participants in the 'Genesis Engine' project, sharing in the glory of returning to the surface! This is your final opportunity!"
Amnesty!
Legal status!
Participation in the surface return!
These words hit like bullets, instantly striking those Watchers teetering on the edge of despair.
Especially those who had just been terrified by the League's overwhelming force and whose fear had been deepened by the Roaring Moon footage.
"Am... amnesty... legal... we can survive?" a middle-aged man muttered, light flickering in his eyes. He was clearly wavering.
"And... and participate in returning to the surface? The League... the League really would take us up?" a young woman's voice carried hope.
"Better than getting killed right now, right? And... that's Quinn personally promising..." someone whispered in agreement.
"Bullshit!"
At that moment, Elara's furious shout drowned out the wavering voices. Despite her injuries, she struggled to her feet, her face flushed red from both anger and blood loss.
"Don't believe their lies! What amnesty? What participants? They just want to monopolize the intelligence!
Once we hand everything over and lose our value, we're dead! Their so-called Genesis Engine—I'd bet anything it's not about bringing everyone to the surface!"
"After all these years, I know the League best."
Another high-ranking Watcher emerged from a corner, his face dark.
"Elara's right! You actually believe the League's promises? They won't even leave you scraps!"
Kairos stood in the shadows of the corner, silently watching the Watcher organization split before his eyes.
Some had shifting gazes, clearly tempted, quietly edging toward the entrance. Others gripped their weapons tightly, standing behind Elara and Old Smoker with resolute expressions.
Arguments erupted again, even more intense than before, filled with desperate choices about the future and distrust toward their comrades.
The atmosphere in the base reached its breaking point. The fragile alliance could collapse from within at any moment.
Kairos remained calm inside.
Whatever the Watchers chose was their own business.
He'd done what he should and could do.
He'd given them the intelligence, pointed out the path.
Whether they chose to grovel before the League, betting on the one-in-ten-thousand chance of being treated as human, or chose to fight with everything they had and seize the opportunity to get out, that was up to them.
Of course, if he put himself in their shoes, he would never trust the League's words.
He'd always believed that only by firmly grasping your own destiny in your own hands did you truly have a chance.
But he wasn't going to share this advice with these red-faced arguers now.
After all, even if he did, they might not listen.
Just as the internal arguments were about to escalate into infighting, Old Smoker, who had been silent all along, suddenly moved.
He stepped forward and, in front of everyone, pulled something resembling a handgun from his coat.
Bang!!
The loud noise grabbed everyone's attention. The next moment, he had already pulled something else from the inner pocket of his grimy leather jacket.
It wasn't a weapon, but a palm-sized card made of special material.
The card's edges had extremely fine gold threading, and its surface was covered with a matte coating.
In the dim, flickering light, the card's center displayed an emblem of intricate lines resembling a ship's wheel combined with a shield, reflecting a cold gleam.
Below the emblem was a line of small code and a name: [Project Ark - Senior Engineer, Mason Hart]!
Old Smoker held this card high, ensuring every Watcher could see it.
The loose, carefree demeanor of the information broker completely vanished from his face, replaced by deep, burning anger.
"Everyone shut the hell up! Look carefully!"
His voice was still raspy, but it carried a power that pierced through to the heart.
"I'm not called Old Smoker! See this? Mason Hart!! Senior Engineer of the League's Project Ark core team!"
The base fell into instant silence.
Everyone was stunned by this sudden revelation of identity. Even Elara stared at him wide-eyed, clearly having had no idea about this twist.
"Project Ark... what's that?"
"I know a little... supposedly the League's highest secret... but wasn't it abandoned long ago?" Anvil's voice also carried shock.
"Abandoned?" Mason Hart, or rather Old Smoker, let out a cold, mocking laugh.
"What absolute horseshit! Project Ark never stopped! Its core was never about leading humanity back to the surface! Its core is complete lockdown! Containment! Keeping all humans penned up like livestock in this sunless underground, then draining every last bit of value from us!"
"All so the League's high-and-mighty lords can concentrate all resources to maintain their own wealth and privilege!"
He jabbed his finger outward, toward where Quinn's voice had come from, cursing:
"Their recent Genesis Engine project—you know what it's really for? Huh?"
"They say it's to benefit the underground world, but it's actually designed to completely drain the energy the surface world just recovered! For what? To strengthen their rule! To maintain the empire they've built in the underground world!"
"They don't care if the surface becomes a dead zone again, and they don't care about our lives!"
He swept his gaze across the wavering faces and let out another cold laugh:
"Bring humanity back to the surface? Bah! Don't think I don't know what you're planning! Quinn! I know exactly what you Ark faction bastards are scheming! Hand over the intelligence? Then wait to be silenced? Dream on!"
Old Smoker's—no, Mason Hart's—words exploded like thunder overhead!
The League's promises were instantly torn open, revealing the cold, cruel truth beneath.
Those who had been wavering saw the luck and hope drain from their faces like a receding tide, replaced by fury at being deceived.
"Damn... so that's how it is..."
"Those League dogs! Absolute scum!"
"Almost... almost fell for their lies..."
"Let's fight them! We're dead either way, might as well go out fighting!!"
The division within the base vanished instantly. In this environment, humans were just that fickle.
General Quinn outside had clearly heard Mason Hart's exposé. His cold, amplified voice now carried a hint of anger:
"Stubborn fools! Since you choose destruction, then vanish completely! Attack! Leave no one alive!"
With his declaration—
"RUMBLE!"
The heavy sound of metal treads grinding against the ground echoed. At the base entrance, the blown-open, twisted remains of the gate were completely smashed aside by overwhelming force!
Through the billowing smoke, the first things to charge in were two heavy armored vehicles, like mobile fortresses!
Their bodies were covered in thick armor plating, white high-pressure steam hissing from their joints.
Close behind came an entire row of Magnezone that had undergone energy amplification modifications!
They were larger, with the magnetic levitation rings circling their bodies spinning at high speed, emitting a piercing hum.
Powerful currents danced across their surfaces, radiating energy waves far more terrifying than the previous Magnezone!
Kairos could sense that every single Magnezone's aura had firmly reached Gym Leader level!
At the same time, a man wearing an immaculate dark blue general's uniform, four gleaming gold stars on his epaulettes, slowly entered the base entrance surrounded by heavy forces.
His features were cold and hard as stone. Just standing there, he emanated a suffocating sense of oppression.
This must be General Quinn.
And the moment Kairos saw his appearance, he couldn't help but pause slightly.
Hm?
This man...
Why does he look somewhat familiar?
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