Chapter Sixty-Six: The World Conference (Part Two)

“Secretary-General, isn’t your deduction a bit too bold? From a rational standpoint, since Alpha Corporation created such a thing, if they can't control those so-called players, what is their purpose?” The speaker was Mir Trick, the highest leader of the Northern Europe region.

Faced with this question, Seville remained calm, not betraying any emotion. With her characteristic smile, she replied, “Mr. Trick, your point is reasonable. It does seem contradictory, but have you considered—if those players had the power to organize, would we still be sitting here, peacefully holding this meeting?”

The room fell silent. Jiangke Jason, the leader of the South China region, frowned and said, “Could it be that something went wrong during their experiment? That these suddenly appearing players are actually failed products, or escapees?”

In everyone’s mind, the game pod must be some kind of space teleportation device, and on the other end of the teleportation, perhaps there was some terrifying biological laboratory. Of course, this was a reflexive assumption, poisoned by years of science fiction movies.

“If it’s as Mr. Jason suggests, then the Federation should take the initiative to win over these young people. They have a basis for cooperation with us,” proposed Mr. Liang from Central Asia.

“Win them over?” Trick, who had always been at odds with the Central Asia region, sneered. “Do we have that luxury of time? We must uncover the secrets within them. If we lag behind in technology, we must make up for it technologically. Otherwise, what can a few escaped specimens from some lab do for us? I suggest we seek answers from their bodies!”

“They are citizens of our nations. Citizens are not meant for live experimentation!” For the first time, Mr. Liang’s voice grew agitated.

“Ridiculous!” Trick snorted. “Are you talking to me about human rights and morality, Mr. Liang? Don’t think I don’t know—you notified your capital’s research teams to go to the provinces before you left, didn’t you?”

Mr. Liang was momentarily stunned. “I never intended to harm them, only to find some clues without threatening their lives.”

“Wow!” Trick made an exaggerated gesture. “What a refined excuse. I almost believed you. Did any of you buy it?”

Those around them chuckled quietly to themselves.

“Silence!” Seville’s tone remained even. “Let’s first discuss the scenario Mr. Jason mentioned.” Seeing that the Secretary-General had spoken, everyone else settled down. The Federation’s rules still had to be followed—at least on the surface.

“In my view, if things are truly as Mr. Jason suggests, then it hardly matters what we do next.”

“Why so pessimistic, Secretary-General?” This time, it was Mr. Anger from the Red Sun region.

Seville gave a bitter laugh. “This is not pessimism, Mr. Anger. It’s the reality. If, as Mr. Jason said, these sudden appearances are only failed products or accidental escapees, then I ask: what about the successful ones? How powerful could they be? And how many remain unaccounted for? Let me do some math for you—fifty million people vanished worldwide that day. If it’s truly human experimentation, and I estimate a one percent success rate, do you think we stand any chance if the other side is prepared?”

The room fell into silence. Fifty million—one percent is still half a million. The thought of half a million such terrifying beings was overwhelming.

“If that’s the case, there’s no point in discussing countermeasures. For example, Mr. Trick’s suggestion of a technological breakthrough—let me ask: have you broken through the spatial technology in the game pod that can transport people? If I give you a year, can you guarantee you’ll succeed? It's already been three days since the incident. Let me ask, has any research team among you managed to dismantle the game pod?”

Once again, everyone fell silent in the face of her question.

“So, Secretary-General, do you suggest we just sit and wait for death, surrender outright?” Anger sneered.

“Surrender?” Seville’s laugh was cold. “If it really comes to that, we’ll have to give the mastermind behind Alpha Corporation whatever they want. If they want to lead the Federation, I’d give up my position without a word. If they want to be emperor, we’d have no choice but to make them a throne and kneel to proclaim ‘Long live the king!’”

Her words were bleak and resolute, but no one present could refute her. The atmosphere grew heavy once more.

“Then, Secretary-General, what do you think we should do next?” Mr. Liang took the initiative to ask.

Having regained control of the discussion, Seville flashed her signature smile. “I propose that all regional governments of the Federation publicly announce their willingness to cooperate with the players, offering incentives and extending goodwill. We must find out what’s inside the game pod, and we need first-hand intelligence. Those who emerged from the pods know the most, and such intelligence is far more valuable than their superpowers. Charging forward blindly will only lead to disaster!”

After making her proposal, Seville raised her left hand, signaling a vote. This was the highest form of voting in the Federation’s Supreme Council, reserved for major events: the Secretary-General could call the vote, and at least eight of the twelve regional leaders needed to support it for the proposal to pass.

Mr. Liang didn’t hesitate—he raised his hand first, followed closely by Jason from South China. Apart from Trick and Anger, all other regional leaders also raised their hands.

“Very well!” Seville smiled. “Ten to two. I hereby declare this proposal officially passed. Let me state clearly: this proposal was adopted in accordance with the Federation’s highest constitutional procedures. No Federation member may defy it. Otherwise, I am empowered to remove you from your position as regional leader. If you refuse, you may choose to withdraw from the Federation—if you can represent your country, that is.”

Anger and Trick’s expressions darkened. Everyone present understood whom her words targeted, and it was clear the two men were far from pleased.

“Then, I hereby announce that this world conference is now concluded.”

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After the meeting, most regional leaders did not leave immediately. Instead, they lingered to confer with their usual allies—Mr. Liang and Jason from South China, for example, had a particularly close relationship. But Seville, as Secretary-General, boarded her private jet at once to return to her own country.

“Secretary-General, aren’t you going to stay and confer with Mr. Liang and the others?” On the flight, it was her Minister of State, Grant Goda, who asked the question.

“No,” Seville’s eyes flashed with a sharp light. “I have more important matters to attend to.”

Regarding this “more important matter,” Goda hesitated. “Are you sure you want to go through with this?” To be honest, he found his leader’s decision utterly mad. While she had sometimes made unexpected moves before, this was on a different scale—she planned to personally test the game pod herself.