Chapter 1209: Sun Zhongliang

Dense electrical light erupted from beneath the two Emperors' feet, illuminating the entire meeting room as if it were daylight. Deafening roars echoed from all directions, like the Earth groaning beneath them.

The people in the meeting room seemed to not yet understand what was happening, only startled by the terrifying aura that erupted from the two figures, glancing around in confusion.

It wasn't until a staff member rushed into the meeting room, shouting beside Sun Zhongliang: "Di-Director! Project 7012's boundaries have been expanded! There are newly appeared unknown stone corridors and spaces all around us!"

"What?" Sun Zhongliang was stunned.

"Our people are exploring the surroundings and haven't found the new boundary yet... but a conservative estimate puts the area at over ten times its original size." The staff member paused for a moment. "And, we also discovered stairs leading underground... but Project 7012 didn't have any stairs when it was originally designed!"

Sun Zhongliang had led numerous teams to explore this underground facility countless times; it was only one level deep. Where could stairs possibly have come from? And where did those stairs lead?

"What did you two do?" Sun Zhongliang looked at Chen Ling and the other man, bewildered.

"We reshaped this underground facility," Chen Ling slowly stated. "We're not sure exactly how much it expanded; you'll have to send people to explore it yourselves... But it should be large enough to accommodate the current survivors of Wushan."

Even for Chen Ling and Ying Fu, using their reshaping abilities to this extent in one go was extremely taxing. Perhaps only a seventh or eighth-tier expert like Lou Yu himself could have done better.

Both Sun Zhongliang and all the guests present were utterly shocked. They had never heard of a divine art capable of reshaping matter, nor had they ever known of anyone who could expand a century-old underground facility dozens or even hundreds of times its size in such a short period. It was nothing short of a miracle!

"Your biggest concern has been resolved." Ying Fu gazed at Sun Zhongliang. "Now... what excuse do you have left to object?"

Scarlet warning lights flashed in the meeting room, and almost everyone's eyes were fixed on Sun Zhongliang.

Sun Zhongliang stood there, stunned. Moments later, he quietly clenched his fists.

Two days prior. Halfway up Cloudy Mountain.

"I'll take the call from upstairs." A light drizzle fell from the sky. At the entrance of the Mid-Mountain Hotel, Sun Zhongliang glanced at the glowing number on his screen, his expression complicated. He took a black umbrella, stepped away from the 749 Bureau personnel, and walked alone towards a deserted spot by the mountain.

Sun Zhongliang pressed the call button. "...Hello?"

"Sun Zhongliang, your proposal has been rejected," a deep voice said from the other end of the line. "You want to activate the powers of divine art users to protect the entire town of Wushan. That's too risky."

Sun Zhongliang's body trembled slightly.

"But are we really going to abandon the public? That's hundreds of thousands of people... I know those inheritors; I've dealt with them for decades. They won't be content to just live underground once they know the truth. If that's the case, why don't we join forces with them..."

"Hundreds of thousands of people? Do you know the total population of the country?" The voice on the other end sounded somewhat helpless. "Sun Zhongliang... I've always admired you, but I didn't expect you to still be an idealist at such a critical moment. War is like a fierce beast, swift and violent. We can't protect everyone. But you must understand, among our billion-plus population, only a few hundred possess divine arts. They are cultural treasures, vital assets to be protected. To put it bluntly, the entire town of Wushan's strategic importance doesn't compare to those few hundred individuals. You want them to protect ordinary people, but even if they join forces, can they withstand a single nuclear strike? Even if they survive the first, what about a second or third? How do you know how many nuclear weapons the enemy will deploy here? Furthermore, Project 7012 is only so big. How many civilians can you accommodate? If you shelter only a small fraction, what will the un-sheltered population think? What if they turn around and attack the underground facility?"

Under the barrage of questions from the person on the other end, Sun Zhongliang opened his mouth to explain, but ultimately couldn't utter a single word.

"Your current attempt to mobilize these divine art users to protect the public shows you can't distinguish priorities. I put you in charge of Bureau 749, not to lead them into danger!"

With that person's final declaration, the matter was settled. At that moment, Sun Zhongliang clearly understood that his proposal had no chance of being approved.

"...I understand."

The person on the phone was silent for a moment, then spoke again, coldly: "Sun Zhongliang, do what you're supposed to do... I'll reiterate one last time: do not take risks."

Beep, beep, beep...

As the call disconnected, Sun Zhongliang slowly lowered his phone. Tiny raindrops pattered softly on the brim of his black umbrella. Sun Zhongliang looked down at the town below, shrouded in a hazy mist, his gaze incredibly complex.

Sun Zhongliang knew very well that his proposal was indeed very risky. The reason he still pushed through with it was for the "White Hands" who would inevitably turn away from Bureau 749 once they knew the truth, and also for himself. He had never married or had children, and his parents had passed away years ago. He had no personal attachments in society, which was a significant reason why his superiors trusted him with Project 7012. However, this did not mean Sun Zhongliang lacked compassion. He had traveled all the way from Shanghai to Wushan, and whenever he saw children playing joyfully in the streets, couples walking together, or a four-generation family sitting outside basking in the sun, an unspeakable sadness would well up within him. He knew that in a few days, all of this would turn to dust. Yet, despite knowing everything, there was nothing he could do.

Sun Zhongliang had never experienced happiness himself, which made him yearn for it more and cherish it more deeply, even if that happiness wasn't his own. But with the nation and the fate of humanity at stake, Sun Zhongliang also knew he couldn't lead them into danger. So he extinguished all his fantasies, disregarded his own emotions, and performed his duties as the director of Bureau 749 according to plans and regulations. Even if he became the target of widespread condemnation, he didn't care.

But now... the flicker of hope he had personally extinguished was igniting in the darkness, in a way he had never imagined.

Sun Zhongliang looked at the two Emperors before him, took a deep breath, and as if having made a profound decision, slowly began: "I have nothing to say... The door is open. As long as they are willing, you can take them. This underground facility has ample resources prepared. As long as you can bring the survivors here, I will make sure all of them are settled. Regardless of what happens outside, this place can guarantee their sustenance for at least ten days."

Sun Zhongliang's gaze swept over everyone in the meeting room, his back ramrod straight.

"I, Sun Zhongliang, will bear all the consequences."