The sound of a palm slapping the table erupted.
In the main command headquarters of White Poplar Barrier City, Tai Monarch’s eyes flickered with clear emotional fluctuations; the trajectory of the war sandbox was unexpected.
Yao Guodong lay on that wide table, completely lacking the dignity and demeanor of the highest local administrative officer, as it was he who had just lost composure and slammed the table.
Yao Guodong murmured to himself:
"An elite follower at disaster level 2 suddenly died, allowing the reconnaissance squad to survive... this is a small probability event, right?"
After a few milliseconds of model simulation, Tai Monarch came to the answer:
"Yes. Originally, the survival rate of this reconnaissance squad was less than five percent.
If a small probability event occurs and leads to an almost impossible final result, it can only indicate the presence of a ’variable’ among them."
Yao Guodong shook his head and checked the numbers of our forces in this polluted area.
"Recruits from the Huangquan training camp... reconnaissance squad... They don’t seem capable of tackling followers of disaster level two."
Years of frontline experience made Yao Guodong respect the facts rather than adhering to doctrines.
"Gao Pao, Zhao Su, Qin Shi... all are ungraduated rookies. Strange, could it possibly be unrecorded personnel appearing in the polluted area?"
Tai Monarch similarly assessed judgments through continuous updates from vast datasets via data models.
"The death of a disaster level two follower indicates ’that person’s’ influence factor is at least ’strong’, which is level three."
The highest research institute of Dongxia has a rating standard for followers in polluted regions.
There are nine total levels: the initial ones are ’Paper’, ’Tough’, ’Strong’, ’Fierce’, ’Wild’.
These four levels represent the largest numbers among follower creature groups.
The subsequent levels of ’Quasi-God’, ’God’, ’Old Contextual’, ’Out of Context’ belong to Great Demon chaos levels, impossible to appear in the physical realm in regular forms.
"Check! Call that guy, Fu Lei, for me!"
Yao Guodong immediately said.
"I will record this abnormal event for future investigation."
Tai Monarch frowned lightly.
If only level three ’Strong’ appeared in the polluted area stationed at White Poplar Barrier City, it would be manageable.
The most concerning and troubling issue is that the unknown existence might not be merely ’Strong’.
"If it reaches level four ’Fierce’ or even level five ’Wild’, both White Poplar Barrier City and the defense lines will face a significant threat."
Tai Monarch sent this judgment back to Central City, waiting for the Governor’s Mansion’s response.
A glance over the first defense line covering thousands of kilometers reveals almost no equivalent presence to counter a level five entity.
It is necessary to mobilize top warriors from the rear, even deploying Divine Machine.
"The Seventh Battle Group is responsible for supportive defense in this great expansion movement. The root of this anomaly might come from them."
Tai Monarch suddenly said.
"According to defense regulations, the Fourth Battle Group will not initiate an offensive unless receiving an aid request."
Yao Guodong shook his head:
"But according to the specific deployment of the first defense line, even if White Poplar Barrier City faces an impact from the follower creature group and suffers devastating damage, it might prompt the Fourth Battle Group to strike, leaving the outer defense line vulnerable."
Tai Monarch chose silence as the Western Front’s first defense line’s existence is to counter the mad counterattacks from polluted area followers.
Simply put, White Poplar Barrier City is essentially on the reserve list of sacrifices.
"I have no regrets for being a soldier, guarding the barrier."
Yao Guodong said with a determined expression in a deep voice:
"Just a bit regretful, Dongxia’s flame of civilization has continued for nine hundred millennia, formed by the selfless contributions of countless nurtured ’children’, who had sacrificed themselves.
Although born as Dongxia citizens, it is justified, but... they are too young."
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At the Governor’s Mansion, Feng Wuyang left the "machine room" and had been sleepless since the great expansion movement officially commenced and progressed comprehensively.
His spiritual consciousness linked with Tai Monarch, observing Heng Province’s New Star from an extremely elevated perspective.
The grand battlefields on both the eastern and western lines were under his watch.
"Continue boosting forces ahead of the eastern battlefield, deploy seventy percent of Boren Barrier City to the numbered 477 pollution area.
The reconnaissance corps continues gathering intelligence on followers’ activity intentions in that region, especially the ’Silver Snow Wolf’ tribe..."
Feng Wuyang’s spiritual fluctuations spread like tides, with streams of information transmitted through Tai Monarch.
Such massive and extensive workload was maintained for nearly eighteen hours.
Heng Province’s New Star’s Lord Governor finally disconnected the spiritual link to "clock out" for rest.
The great expansion movement has barely been underway for two months, yet Feng Wuyang visibly aged and withered, with age’s grooves etched across that face, only his eyes remained bright, shining like stars.
"Your body is sending a warning, and I am obliged to remind you, esteemed Lord Governor, you should rest."
Tai Monarch silently appeared, resembling a specter.
"The Western Front will soon become a hell."
Feng Wuyang shook his head, seated in the dark hall, the lights turned off, resembling a silent statue.
"I must ensure every soldier’s sacrifice on the Western Front is worthwhile."
Tai Monarch’s eyes, as deep as ancient wells, stirred, releasing exceedingly sharp and caustic words.
"It’s said that when humans suffer from moral and conscience chastisement, they deliberately create pain, even torture themselves, to evade reality and avoid interrogations.
Esteemed Lord Governor, do you do the same?"
Feng Wuyang smiled slightly, unperturbed, providing an answer: