A day later, apart from the war zone, Earth maintained its normal peace and tranquility. The vast majority of people were unaware of the dire fate their planet faced.
In his early twenties, Cui Zhihao, carrying a backpack, set foot on Spratly Island. He was Bai Zhongqi's junior at San Francisco and greatly admired his senior. After dropping out of school, he returned to his home country, did not follow his family's arrangements, and spent days online clashing with those who opposed Iridium Star and the Star Alliance.
After the completion of Spratly Island, the relocation project to Spratly Island had been launched. Although the war was still ongoing, and many people were watching and waiting, most were aware that no Earth nation had the capability to shake C nation's control of the surrounding regions anymore. The many advantages offered by Spratly Island had been publicized, and rumors swirled on the internet, teasing, "Once you step on Spratly Island, you become a successor to communism."
The comprehensive provision of daily necessities, basic consumer income for nationals, a new education system, job training programs, and job distribution; all these benefits made people exclaim that European welfare countries were simply no match for the policies of Spratly Island. Although similar policies had already been implemented previously in Ruyi City and Lunar Palace City, most people were not yet ready to move their lives to outer space.
Cui Zhihao was fortunate to successfully apply for residency in the special district of Spratly and arrived at Tai Ping City, this dreamlike city. Although he had seen some pictures and descriptions online, when he actually arrived here, he was still dazzled. Various uniquely shaped skyscrapers, vehicles speeding in low altitudes, and robots walking on the streets made it resemble a city of the future.
He held his Sunarmon Mobile Phone in hand, and his AI assistant notified him of the address of his new home. Housing was provided free to all Spratly residents, and he had received a one-bedroom apartment of 75 square meters, located north of the city center business district of Tai Ping City.
Just as Cui Zhihao was about to follow the AI's directions and take public transport to his new home, suddenly, a face popped up on his phone screen. Not just there, but on screens across various buildings in Tai Ping City, the same face appeared.
It was the Iridium Star Chancellor, Bai Zhongqi.
"Residents of the Star Alliance, global citizens, I am the Iridium Star Chancellor and Earth citizen Bai Zhongqi. I have taken the liberty of conducting this global video broadcast to convey an important message to you."
Seeing Bai Zhongqi, Cui Zhihao was still very excited. His senior had become a figure of great influence, and although he guessed no one could reach the heights Bai had, Cui Zhihao still aspired to follow in his senior's footsteps and make his own mark.
He looked around and saw that nearly every smart device, whether it was the Sunarmon Mobile Phone, city's holographic screens, or people's old-fashioned devices, all were showing the same image. Cui Zhihao couldn't help but marvel, guessing that the Iridium Star people must have hacked into global devices directly.
As he suspected, at this moment in Imperial Capital, Edo, Washington, Paris, and Berlin — every city and every corner of Earth was broadcasting Bai Zhongqi's speech. Taxi drivers' radios had no other channels, students' computers weren't showing movies or cartoons; all communication mediums were dominated by Bai Zhongqi's voice.
"For a long time, a powerful force had lurked within human society, dominating the world's political and economic life. A larva that enters the human body, consumes the human brain, and replaces humans, acting in society wearing human skin, this terrifying alien parasitic creature has been on our planet for over a hundred years. They arrived before the people of Iridium Star, yet they lack the cooperative spirit and friendliness of the Iridium Star people. Known as Brain Worms, these alien parasites manipulate the power of capital to control world politics; by promoting false individual freedoms and democracy, they cloud the minds of the populace, making them voluntarily exploited and controlled.
Today, a significant proportion of politicians, business tycoons, and scholars in some major countries are infected by these Brain Worms; they look no different from us but have sinister motives and pose a great threat to humanity. Not only do they enslave our brothers and sisters making us strive our entire lives for nothing, but they are also the vanguard for another more powerful alien race invading Earth.
Now, the coordinates of Earth have been leaked by these Brain Worms. A powerful alien force, the Teizenes, who feed on sentient beings, are ready to strike, preparing to turn Earth into their pasture, using us as their nourishment.
However, the people of Earth shall not surrender! The Star Alliance has exposed the scheming of the Brain Worms and joined forces with true Earth-lovers and peace-lovers to overthrow the fraudulent regimes controlled by the Brain Worms. Through the East Asia war, the Star Alliance has shaken the old order, striking hard at the Brain Worm's ruling structure.
My fellow citizens, although I am the Chancellor of Iridium Star, I am also an Earth-born Earth citizen, your compatriot. Today, I am asking each of you to contribute your strength for the continuation of Earth's civilization, for our descendants to thrive and prosper in the Galaxy, to enjoy a truly beautiful life and freedom. The Star Alliance will fight for Earth's independence and freedom until the very last moment. We have never been in such peril, but we have also never been so close to unity. My fellow citizens, please fight with us. The future Earth will be protected with our blood!"
This message was instantly communicated to every corner of the world. Regardless of what people were initially doing, they were all captivated by this information. After Bai Zhongqi finished speaking, the world boiled over like a kettle left on the fire.
Have humans always been ruled by non-human parasitic creatures?
Is Earth facing a massive alien invasion?
Is the Star Alliance seeking the strength of every country and individual globally to combat the aliens?
Each piece of news was earth-shattering, and many people even at that moment couldn't believe their eyes and ears, thinking it was just a poor-taste prank.
After watching, Cui Zhihao was also boiling with fervor, tightly clenching his fists. He suddenly looked up and said to his phone's AI, "Apply immediately. I don't want to continue my studies at Xingyang Central University anymore. I want to enlist, I want to fight the Teizenes, I want to protect Earth."
"Are you sure? This seems like a reckless decision."
Cui Zhihao nodded firmly. "If Earth is done for, there's no use in studying. The senior has spoken, and as a junior, it's my duty to volunteer courageously."