They Follow Me—How Could I Let My Brothers Suffer?

Becoming the New Mechanism!

Jiang Xiaoci's words made Mike shudder.

The thought was too insane!

Mike had never considered this possibility. Like all other Earthlings, he had always been wary and subtly fearful of the mysterious force. Its arrival had shattered the peace of Earth, plunging humanity into an endless cycle of apocalyptic disasters. If one were to compare its power scientifically, it might rival that of the Trisolarans.

But now, Jiang Xiaoci was proposing something far more audacious—she wanted Mike to take its place, to replace the mysterious mechanism and become the new "mechanism" in the eyes of the people!

"This... this is hard to believe," Mike hesitated, unsure if he had the confidence to directly challenge such a terrifying force and usurp its transcendent position.

"Xiaoci, if we do this, it could lead to a massive catastrophe."

"Are you afraid, sir?" Jiang Xiaoci asked, her tone light.

"Not really afraid," Mike replied, shaking his head. "I just don't want to drag others into this. I don't want to be the villain."

He frowned at the thought. One misstep, and humanity could be wiped out. Mike had no intention of letting his ambition doom the entire planet.

"Sir, since I proposed it, do you see any punishment from that mysterious entity?" Jiang Xiaoci smiled knowingly.

Mike froze, and a realization hit him.

Right!

If the mysterious force truly was as powerful as everyone said, controlling Earth's fate, then surely it would be aware of Jiang Xiaoci's words by now. If it were as omnipotent as claimed, understanding the changes in human thought would surely be child's play.

And yet, it hadn't intervened.

This could mean one of two things:

"Either this is still within the rules," Jiang Xiaoci mused quietly, "or it simply cannot stop me. This is a permitted act of 'defiance' and 'replacement.'"

"According to the intel Wang Shi shared, I lean towards the latter."

Mike listened intently as Jiang Xiaoci explained further.

"Wang Ban Chang clearly mentioned that the review mechanism is a tool of higher civilizations, a recognized phenomenon throughout the cosmos."

She paused, eyes glinting with calm certainty. "I believe Wang Ban Chang's intel to be accurate. If it's something the universe tacitly accepts, then it must operate according to a set of underlying rules. This means the 'review mechanism' is superior to the current enforcers. No matter which mysterious entity is overseeing Earth's review, it must comply with those rules."

"Thus," Jiang Xiaoci continued, "even though achieving this might be difficult, theoretically, sir, you still have the possibility of replacing it."

She smiled softly. "From now on, the world will only know of your supremacy, undaunted by the mysterious power."

The world?

Mike's mind raced. Was this really just a preliminary idea?

Xiaoci's ambition seemed boundless, and as her words sank in, Mike felt a sense of unease. What was she truly planning?

"Xiaoci, every time you say 'just a preliminary idea,' it turns into something far more grand than I expect," Mike sighed, almost resigned. "You've calculated all of this, haven't you?"

"Sir, have I ever let you down?" Jiang Xiaoci replied with a soft smile.

Mike's heart skipped a beat. Her tone was so calm, yet her words carried an unmistakable weight.

"No, you haven't," he said, though his doubt remained. "But I don't think I can replace the mysterious force. My power comes from it, after all. I can't just take its place from the source."

Jiang Xiaoci's smile remained enigmatic. "I never underestimated you, sir. We're both bound by the same rules, so let's use that to our advantage. If the entity controlling everything is also within these rules..."

She paused, a playful glint in her eye. "Well, we can play the game too."

Mike felt a chill. What was she plotting? Her tone had shifted, as though she were already several steps ahead in her strategy.

"Are you sure about this, Xiaoci?" Mike's voice was cautious now.

"I am, sir," Jiang Xiaoci assured him. "The mechanism may seem untouchable, but we have the power to shape our destiny within it."

Mike didn't know whether to laugh or worry. He had just wanted to assign new tasks for the personnel and discuss how to handle the upgrade tokens. Instead, Jiang Xiaoci had thrust him into a whirlwind of grand schemes.

With a resigned sigh, he handed over the reins. "I trust you, Xiaoci. You handle the upgrade arrangements."

"I won't disappoint you, sir. Not now, and not in the future," she promised, her voice filled with quiet determination.

Mike sighed deeply. "Alright, let's go with it. You know me—I'm not the smartest, but I trust you."

With that, Mike left the task of handling the upgrade tokens entirely in Jiang Xiaoci's hands. He had faith in her, even if it meant walking down an uncertain path.

"Let's see how this plays out..."