Matsuzaki, leading two children, followed behind Yang Tao. After all, seeing is believing, so he prepared to go with Yang Tao to see the so-called 'home'.
"Mr. Matsuzaki, are you saying that the partners of Initiators are called Promoters?"
"Yes."
"No matter if they are criminals or Thugs, as long as they have the ability, they can become Promoters and take a child?"
Matsuzaki nodded slightly.
Yang Tao pulled a cigarette from his backpack, and with the sound of flint striking, the cigarette was lit by an orange-red flame.
He took a deep drag, alleviating the pent-up frustration in his heart, and looked forward, saying, "Mr. Matsuzaki, what a distorted world."
"A child is actually worth less than a criminal; such humans can no longer be considered human."
Matsuzaki showed a bitter smile and said, "The main reason is that these children are too special. They are born carrying the Gastrea Virus, and living in the city, they could turn into Gastrea monsters at any time..."
"Heh heh, then why use these children as Initiators? Why are there even Promoters? Isn't it just fear that this group of children with powerful abilities will get out of control? I think it won't be long before the children who haven't been brainwashed into Initiators will be purged..."
"And die inexplicably..."
Matsuzaki's face showed a look of shock, then his complexion turned deathly pale. He felt that what Yang Tao said was very likely true.
The calls to resist the children in the city were growing, and the behavior was becoming increasingly extreme.
Matsuzaki's mind raced, trying to find a suitable solution, but he found that he was completely powerless.
In this environment, separating from the human collective was almost equivalent to suicide.
"Mr. Matsuzaki, we've arrived."
Seeing Matsuzaki deep in thought, Yang Tao spoke up to remind him.
"This is the underground shelter I built for the children. Its safety is very high..."
Matsuzaki snapped back to reality, his attention immediately drawn to the Fanatic Mutated Iron Golems standing motionless on either side of the entrance.
"Oh? Aren't these strange sculptures a bit too conspicuous??"
"Heh heh, these are not just sculptures; they are also the children's guardians."
"Guardians?"
"You'll find out later."
Matsuzaki didn't even notice the two giant 'high-rises' over 50 meters tall behind the 'sculptures,' staring at him with crimson eyes.
Leading Matsuzaki underground, Yang Tao dug the shelter very deep to avoid bombs, missiles, and even burrowing Gastrea monsters.
"Wow, their clothes are so pretty!!"
"Isn't that Aoi? She's here too!"
The children were eating. They had changed a lot compared to their disheveled appearance yesterday, becoming even cuter after showering and changing into new clothes.
When the children saw Yang Tao, they all stood up and bowed to him.
Yang Tao also smiled and nodded, then said to Mr. Matsuzaki beside him, "You can observe here first, and then make your choice. I won't force you and the child, but I hope you understand that I have the power to shelter these children..."
Looking at several identical 'Alices', Yang Tao, unable to tell who was who, could only call out, "Monday, please help me show Mr. Matsuzaki around."
Monday, who was eating with the children, nodded and walked to his side.
"Mr. Matsuzaki, I have some matters to attend to, so please excuse me for now."
With that, Yang Tao walked to a nearby room. This room only had a single teleportation stone tablet. He opened the teleportation page and silently thought "laboratory."
The next moment, his figure disappeared.
Inside the laboratory.
Yang Tao found Professor Connors, who was conducting an experiment, and asked, "Professor Connors, how is the research on the Gastrea Virus I need?"
Through Matsuzaki's introduction, Yang Tao also learned that this Gastrea Virus not only devours humans but also injects its bodily fluids into human flesh to infect them. The Gastrea Virus has a powerful ability to modify DNA, and at the same time, it possesses super strong survival ability and powerful adaptability.
Only by destroying their brains and hearts can they truly be killed.
Uh...
Very powerful, but with obvious weaknesses.
Connors stopped the experiment in his hand and said, "We have successfully isolated the viral prototype, and through experiments, we have castrated some of its abilities. However, the airborne transmission you require will take some time. This virus has very poor survival ability in the air."
If the airborne transmission ability were strong, then the people in this world would have probably died out long ago.
"Alright, take your time. First, give me some Gastrea Virus. I'm going to cause some trouble first."
Connors nodded slightly and called his assistant, instructing him to separate some Gastrea Virus stock solution.
After chatting with Connors about the Gastrea Virus for a while, Yang Tao left with twenty bottles of Gastrea Virus stock solution. This modified Gastrea Virus had lost its multi-stage evolution ability; it would undergo genetic collapse at most after reaching the third stage of growth.
Furthermore, it does not infect the brain, meaning that even if an infected person turns into a monster, they will not lose their original thoughts.
Leaving the laboratory and returning to the base, Yang Tao gathered all the children, including those who had joined that morning.
Looking at their tender young faces, Yang Tao smiled and said, "I can give you a new body, thereby completely ridding you of the identity of the so-called Cursed Children. It can also limit the erosion of the Gastrea Virus in your bodies, which means you will have your current strength without worrying about turning into those Gastrea monsters."
"You can make your choice..."
Hearing that they could return to normal, the children looked at each other, many of them showing incredible expressions, asking if it was true.
Yang Tao nodded slightly and smiled, "Don't worry, no matter what you choose, you can live here."
"Children, I'm going out for a bit. You can take your time and tell me once you've decided."
They had lost the right to choose since birth, living precariously in this city under the reputation of Cursed Children.
...
In a plaza in the city, Yang Tao looked up at the huge television hanging on the wall.
A beautiful young woman with an extraordinary and refined aura appeared on the television, sitting upright.
Through the discussions of the passersby around him,
Yang Tao also learned the identity of this person: the Seitenshi, the supreme leader of the Tokyo Area.
"After the albinism phenomenon of Megalith No. 32 was discovered, Her Highness the Seitenshi held a press conference at the Holy Residence."
'Heh heh... how interesting. There's even a press conference in an apocalyptic world.'
He shook his head slightly and continued to watch the scene on the television. He saw the beautiful Seitenshi open her red lips and say:
"Starting today, we begin the countdown. Megalith No. 32 is expected to collapse in four days."
"Everyone will be selected by lottery, and thirty percent of the personnel will enter the underground."
Instantly, the public, hearing these words, erupted in a clamor like turbulent waves, discussing the matter animatedly.
Many people's faces showed expressions of anger.
"Thirty percent! How can this be?"
"How could the Megalith suddenly have a problem? Doesn't the government have a contingency plan?"
"How could the Megalith suddenly collapse for no reason?"
The emotions of the crowd grew increasingly agitated, showing signs of an impending riot.