Resurrection Empire-Chapter 1027 - 395: More Evil Than Evil
Ren Zhong did not head straight to Lower Origin Capital City, but had Xiao Xingyue first take him back to Starfire Town.
Upon returning to town, he first hosted a meeting, gathering most of the senior management staff.
Those unable to return listened in via the "Dream Network."
At the meeting, Ren Zhong first commended everyone for their recent performance.
Although the pace of external military expansion has temporarily halted, it looks like there haven't been many changes in the Ren Group lately, but every day here is an ongoing qualitative change.
Fresh talents continuously emerge from the academy, heading towards the newly integrated, scattered towns across Source Star's map and quickly assimilate into local settings, revitalizing the resource recovery companies in charge rapidly, with Ren Group's production capacity share in Tanggu Group steadily rising.
At the same time, with comprehensive support from Purple Crystal Mining and Source Star Military Industry, one new oil and coal mining site after another swiftly gets constructed and goes into production. Every day, new coal and oil are being delivered to Ren Group's territories via transport airships.
Firepower plants, oil refining plants, internal combustion engine manufacturing plants, and similar facilities are springing up one after another.
The group opted for a balanced development approach, not concentrating all resources within Starfire Town alone but gradually spreading outwards.
These new industries also offered more job opportunities, encouraging more unemployed non-professional wastelanders to migrate here at any cost.
Ren Group accepts them all, resulting in noticeable population growth.
The rate of population increase even exceeded the rate of new job creation, with the unemployment rate climbing past 10% at one point.
At this time, Ren Zhong ordered the Starfire Army to expand again, solving this problem.
A large number of young adults enlisted, receiving elite-level military training, thereby freeing up jobs and further enhancing the Starfire Army's war potential.
Ren Zhong praised, "Everyone has done well, but we must not be complacent. We should always remember the farther goal and unwaveringly progress towards it. Every lapse means moving a step closer to death or disappointing those friends, family, and subordinates who have pinned their hopes on you."
"Half a day ago, I just escaped from Mengdu Group, having done some things there..."
Ren Zhong informed everyone about the troubles he stirred up in Mengdu City.
"Mengdu Group will not let things rest, we're likely to face a situation surrounded by enemies on all sides. Our resource recovery companies and mining sites abroad may also face raids."
After saying this, Ren Zhong paused briefly.
He was observing everyone's reactions.
In normal forces, hearing such major news from their leader usually instills unease and anxiety.
But here, no such thing happened.
No one whispered among themselves, no one furrowed their brows; everyone remained calmly waiting for Ren Zhong's next words.
Everyone knew that regardless of the situation, he would certainly have a solution.
Ren Zhong was pleased with their reactions and continued, "Meanwhile, we'll also receive comprehensive support from partners, whether in manpower, materials, or transportation capacity. This incident is both a risk and an opportunity, because risks and opportunities always coexist. The Starfire Army has been ready for a long time; it's time to show what a real army is."
"From now on, Ren Group enters first-level combat readiness, and in the face of any provocation, the most ruthless strikes must be executed. Only through actual warfare can we test if the blood and sweat have been wasted! Meeting adjourned! Sun Miao, come to my office."
Three hours later, Sun Miao finished reviewing most of the critical information Ren Zhong brought back and fell into deep thought.
He lay reclined on the reception sofa in Ren Zhong's office, curled up, deep in thought, scratching his head.
Ren Zhong actually already knew what conclusion he'd reach but hadn't figured it out.
Looking at Sun Miao in this state, Ren Zhong seemed somewhat lost in thought.
Nowadays, Sun Miao is no longer impoverished, with many assistants under him, yet he remains disheveled, his hair messy like a bird's nest, with unknown substances dyeing his prominent cheekbones black, a lab coat covered with various stains resembling world-famous paintings, making him appear quite unkempt.
Compared to when they first met, Sun Miao is even slimmer now.
Additionally, Ren Zhong's keen eyesight noticed a few more silver strands in Sun Miao's hair.
When a person begins to have white hair, it indicates that they have passed thirty and are entering old age.
Sun Miao has always been tired and exhausted. Ren Zhong wished Sun Miao could take a break; otherwise, he believed Sun Miao wouldn't make it to the day of the great migration.
But Sun Miao couldn't take a break now.
The entire biotechnology sector of Ren Group completely relies on him, whether in research or production.
Ren Zhong momentarily didn't know what to do, but a sense of inexplicable sadness gradually arose within him.
"Ren Zhong, what the hell are you doing? I'm talking to you, sleeping here still! Damn!"
A roar echoed beside him, pulling Ren Zhong back from his daydreaming state.
He smiled awkwardly, "Got lost in thought while pondering. Sun, go ahead."
Sun Miao responded and then said with a heavy tone, "Besides me, there truly are experts in Mengdu Group's Number One Laboratory. I know 'Tree Plan' well, but didn't expect their progress to continue once I left, instead of just standing still."
Ren Zhong: "Yes. I was also deeply shocked when I saw it."
Sun Miao continued, "But the really terrifying thing is this Legion Beast plan. I used to only know Armored Soldiers and dissected many Ruined Beasts, even participated in extracting Ruined Beast genes to manufacture Armament Transformation Potion, but transforming humans completely into pure Ruined Beasts while maintaining human consciousness is unprecedented."
Ren Zhong: "Yes, Hugh Augustus is deranged."
Sun Miao shook his head, "It's not just Hugh Augustus, but the entire Mengdu Group. From ancient times to the present, they've always been deranged. Such massive genetic information analysis must involve millions of experiments. It's impossible without hundreds of years, yet the truly horrifying thing is the synergy between 'Tree Plan' and 'Legion Beast Plan' leading to a transformation."
Ren Zhong: "I'd like to hear more."
Sun Miao: "It's entirely possible to combine numerous multi-headed vegetative humans into a super computing Legion Beast human. If more people are continuously merged, it's possible to create a super brain monster with computing power close to the 'Net', having both an intelligent brain's memory capacity and human's reasoning and divergent thinking abilities. I'm unsure if Number One Base intends this, or can achieve it, but I can. In the end, I am stronger than those in Number One Laboratory."
Ren Zhong opened his mouth wide, feigning surprise, "Incredible! Unbelievable!"
Sun Miao: "Quit the act, I know you knew long ago."
Ren Zhong: "..."
He knows me well, Brother Sun does.
Sun Miao: "But the question now is whether to proceed."
Ren Zhong pondered for a moment and decided to share another type of monster he saw deep within Number One Base with Sun Miao.
These are two different pseudo-"Net" approaches. One requires human brains; the other doesn't, only human bodies.
Both paths are very evil, the difference being that, ethically, Sun Miao's proposed path is more wicked, but inevitably faster in efficacy.
After listening, Sun Miao pondered briefly and suggested, "I think we must take this gamble. To defeat evil, we must be more evil. Ren Zhong, I know you're a good person. So, don't make this decision, leave it to me. I've already harmed many people in Mengdu Group, I don't mind harming a few more."
Ren Zhong shook his head, "Don't excuse me; I'm the final decision-maker, and I can't shirk responsibility."
