Forged in Fire, Built to Break

"Doesn't anyone find it strange?" someone commented in the chat. "Commander Jiang has been doing well, so why change leadership now? With the new apocalypse just emerging, changing commanders is usually a bad omen, isn't it?"

"I felt the same way earlier, but I didn't dare say it... From what I know and feel, Miss Jiang is quite capable. This third apocalypse might not even be able to defeat her, and she hasn't done anything wrong, has she?"

"Didn't you hear? This communiqué was personally written and issued by Jiang Xiaoci... She wrote her own resignation letter. There's got to be more to this than just a simple swap for a commander better suited for the third apocalypse."

"Well... it's not easy to comment on what's happening above us. The new commander must be more capable, right? We should trust the superior's decision."

Such fragmented discussions occasionally popped up in the chat channels, but were quickly drowned out by a fresh wave of praise. Most ordinary citizens didn't care about the internal issues at the top. As long as life below continued smoothly, they didn't mind what the higher-ups did. Even if some noticed something odd, it wasn't easy to speak out. After all, the personnel change hadn't had any negative effects, and the new commander was indeed doing their job. The people had no reason to protest.

The only ones with hidden thoughts were the management survivors who had strong ties to Jiang Xiaoci. Though most of the city's key management were Mike's trusted talents, about thirty percent were survivors, many of whom had been personally selected by Jiang Xiaoci. They were highly talented individuals.

These people were certainly capable, having passed Jiang Xiaoci's strict selection process. They cared for the people, worked hard in disaster relief, and were loyal to their superiors and the people. Yet, it couldn't be denied that their rise to power was directly linked to Jiang Xiaoci. Even if Jiang Xiaoci didn't give them special attention, they still felt grateful for the opportunity she'd given them. Some of them, knowingly or unknowingly, formed small factions or cliques within the disaster response teams.

While such behavior seemed harmless—just a survival instinct—it could lead to bigger problems in the long run. History had shown that the most prosperous forces and dynasties often fell due to internal divisions that started as small, inconsequential alliances.

Mike had seen the discussions in the chat. It didn't surprise him; this was just how human nature worked.

"The society is still in its early stages," Mike mused. "People tend to seek their own benefit, so many actions need to be practical. Sometimes, that means I have to suppress that 'practicality.' Not every behavior that follows the norm is right. We need to prioritize the majority's interests, not just cater to a few individuals."

Jiang Xiaoci's communiqué was, in fact, a subtle warning to those few individuals. She used her resignation letter to send a clear message and reduce the impact these internal shifts might have on disaster relief efforts.

Mike smiled as he thought about it. "Xiaoci will definitely clean house in the personnel department. Some people are probably thinking she won't make drastic changes, but once the axe falls, they'll understand that she won't tolerate their scheming."

"And, having thirty percent of survivors in the management team is too risky. We'll need to cut that down later."

While Jiang Xiaoci and Dong Fangzhi were busy, Mike wasn't idle. He was already planning his next move to recruit more talent and replace the survivors in management positions. Good talent was indispensable; at least they didn't have their own hidden agendas.

However, to maintain harmony and morale, he still needed to leave some positions for the survivors, especially those genuinely passionate about disaster relief.

Just as Mike was strategizing, something unexpected happened in Chen Dafeng's area.

"Wait... What's he doing? Another slaughter?" Mike muttered in surprise. "He's back in the Ghost Fog!"

Mike realized that he hadn't been paying attention, and now Chen Dafeng had once again gotten himself trapped in the Ghost Fog, engaging in a violent battle. But this time, the enemies weren't ancient soldiers but a large group of soldiers in khaki uniforms, numbering about two thousand, hiding in the grass along a national road and engaging in a fierce gunfight with Chen Dafeng.

"They're Japanese soldiers?" Mike blinked in disbelief.

Chen Dafeng was fighting like a man possessed, showing no signs of the hesitation or confusion he had shown in previous encounters. Instead, he was filled with a bloodthirsty delight, his face twisted with rage as he tore through the enemies.

"Let's see how you like this!" he screamed, landing powerful punches that sent bodies flying.

The surrounding black bullets filled the air, but Chen Dafeng didn't flinch. Even when the enemy threw grenades and fired large artillery, he remained unscathed, as if modern weapons were useless against him.

For Chen Dafeng, this was turning into a one-sided massacre, and he was loving every moment of it. He had no idea that this peculiar mist could summon these Japanese soldiers, but now he was relishing the opportunity to fight them.

One versus two thousand.

Though the battle raged on for hours, Chen Dafeng finally broke through the fog, his steps light and carefree, as though he had just finished an exhilarating experience. He was smiling, feeling fulfilled, almost as if he had just spent time with a beautiful woman.

"Damn it, this kid's going to get addicted to the Ghost Fog!" Mike chuckled bitterly. "Next time, he might actually look forward to being trapped in it."

Truth be told, for a warrior with strong combat abilities and a sense of national pride, there was nothing more exhilarating than killing Japanese soldiers. If every encounter in the Ghost Fog turned into an opportunity to fight them, it wouldn't feel like a crisis—it would feel like a gift from the heavens.

"I wonder," Chen Dafeng pondered, "if killing them again will destroy their souls?"

As he considered this, he reunited with his team and resumed the journey. But after traveling for only a couple of kilometers, the Ghost Fog returned, swallowing him up once more.

"Damn it!" Chen Dafeng cursed. "Three times in one day?! What is this, some kind of joke?!"

Even Mike was stunned. "What kind of luck does this guy have, encountering the Ghost Fog three times in such a short time?"

Mike couldn't make sense of it. He called upon his probing skills but found no new hidden attributes on Chen Dafeng. Puzzled, Mike reached out to the old man, hoping he could shed some light on the situation.

"Mike, I'm busy," the old man's voice responded. "Is this really urgent?"

"It's urgent!" Mike quickly explained the situation. "Chen Dafeng's been trapped in the Ghost Fog three times now. What's going on?"

The old man's tone was calm. "The likelihood of encountering strange phenomena is tied to the number of people around. In a densely populated city, the chances are lower for each individual, but when there's only one person, like Chen Dafeng out there, he's more likely to encounter them."

"That explains it," Mike said, realizing the issue. "So Chen Dafeng's doomed to keep getting caught in these phenomena, huh?"

The old man let out a chuckle. "Why worry? The kid's strong. He won't die. The real issue is whether New Chang can hold out until he gets there."

Mike nodded grimly. Though New Chang wasn't as secure as Jinling, it wasn't as weak as he feared. Still, every delay meant more suffering for the people.

"You're right," Mike said, more to himself than to the old man. "It's my fault for not planning better."

The old man's voice softened. "You'll learn from this. Every decision you make impacts the lives of others. But don't let mistakes keep you from acting."

Mike took in the old man's words, a little more enlightened. As he looked at Jiang Xiaoci in the command center, and then at the figure of Chen Dafeng emerging from the Ghost Fog, he realized something. The reason all these capable people chose to follow him wasn't because of fate or destiny. It was because he embodied the collective hope of those around him. It was that hope that drew them in, that belief that they could reach the light together.