Signs of New Conflict: The Nation's Battle Against the Apocalypse

Mike knew that this question from Mike was sensitive; anyone with a bit of political experience would immediately pick up on the hidden undertones.

Looking at the current commander system and contribution rankings, if the second batch of commanders valued individual strength, the newly ranked ones would surely have a place. But these individuals were clearly not as devoted in terms of faith as the first batch. Even if their nature wasn't bad, they were likely to be more self-interested, often remaining passive on most matters.

Could he count on them to seriously engage in disaster relief? Mike didn't think so.

"…Of course, it's a comprehensive evaluation," General Wang said, pausing briefly before smiling and continuing, "Comrade Su, the work of the commanders is incredibly demanding. Most of the ones who prefer to lead from the front have a high casualty rate... So, we cannot let small things cause us to lose sight of the bigger picture. We must learn to trust others more."

"People fearing the apocalypse isn't a mistake. For those who dare to step forward after careful consideration, we should offer as much trust and encouragement as we can."

His words were positive and official, but Mike understood all too well. There was no pure "trust" or "encouragement" here—what lay beneath was more likely resignation. If the first batch of commanders had put up a fight, there'd be no need for the second batch.

From this, it was clear that the situation for national disaster relief was less than optimistic. Perhaps the apocalyptic crisis in many regions was already reaching a tipping point.

As Mike thought about it, he realized: "It seems like I've been in Jinling too long, thinking most of the country's regions were similar to here, at least not too bogged down by the apocalypse's mechanisms."

"From the looks of it, the apocalypse mechanism is still the greatest and most urgent threat for most regions... In that case, I really must be quite capable—no wonder they're handing over Xin Chang to me."

Wait... there's another possibility!

Mike suddenly realized: "Could it be that the second batch of commanders also plays a role in balancing and restraining the first batch?"

"After all, if no new commanders are appointed and the first batch keeps growing unchecked… they'll eventually become too powerful. If we look at the long term, the higher-ups must be thinking not just about surviving the apocalypse but also about what happens afterward."

"Does that mean... the more I stand out in disaster relief, the more likely I'll be caught in a struggle with the new commanders? I might be dragged into it sooner than I think."

"Even if I realize this, it doesn't matter. It's an open plot—no one can criticize it. The fact that we need new commanders for the relief work is an established reality, something that has to be resolved."

The more he thought, the more unsettled Mike became. He realized that, regardless of his faith, stance, personal interests, or collective interests, there was no escaping the political struggle.

Both the new and old commanders were pawns for the higher-ups, all expected to contribute heavily to the disaster relief efforts. Anyone with ulterior motives could easily spark a backlash.

Mike remembered how he'd risen so quickly during the First and Second Apocalypses, thanks in part to his acquisition of Little White Bear and his defeat of the city-center refuge. He knew that anyone among the new or old commanders who showed signs of questionable intent would be targeted and quickly eliminated for the sake of greater unity.

After all, the powers under each commander's control—resources, forces—were a tremendous boost for everyone else! Once the infighting began, it would be easy to fall into a deadlock.

The remaining commanders, all clever people, would not want to become the next target for a collective strike. They'd have to buckle down and focus on proper disaster relief. Whether they were sincere or not, they'd have no choice but to do their part.

And the eventual outcome, no matter how it played out, was irrelevant. What mattered now was time.

Undoubtedly, from the very start, the higher-ups had been trying to find ways to break the stalemate and escape the cycle of apocalyptic wars. As long as they could stall, the commanders would soon face a new dilemma: would they serve the state or oppose it?

Meanwhile, those loyal to the country would inevitably step forward to declare their allegiance. Would the remaining commanders have any choice left by then?

It was a brilliant move, one that left Mike in awe.

But even from his limited understanding, Mike saw that this series of maneuvers by the higher-ups was nearly flawless. They addressed the immediate disaster relief needs, reassured the public, and, at the same time, prevented the country from sliding further into the chaotic rule of apocalyptic warlords.

"If Cao Cao once controlled the warlords through the Emperor, today's righteousness controls through its own people!"

"The righteousness still holds, far stronger than the Han Emperor of old! They may not know when they'll return, but the sword of righteousness remains hanging over the heads of the commanders!"

"Truly, no one can compare to the country's strategists. These are the people who are leading the country from the depths of its most humiliating era, bringing China back to the peak of the world."

"Being a pawn in their game? Honestly, I can't argue with that."

Mike couldn't help but smile bitterly. He had a feeling that any commander who had already seen through these moves was now trapped in the game, unable to turn back.

Even those who had joined before, having realized this, would likely still be reluctant to let go of the power that came with being a commander.

"For those capable people, whether it's for historic fame or the pursuit of power, there are always choices. But they would never settle for being forgotten."

"...Comrade Su? Comrade Su?"

General Wang's voice suddenly broke through his thoughts.

"Ah, I'm here!" Mike quickly snapped back to attention.

General Wang chuckled. "Comrade Su, what do you think about what I just said?"

Mike cursed silently. He'd been lost in thought and missed what the General had said.

After a brief pause, General Wang, as if knowing what was on Mike's mind, smiled again and asked, "It seems your work is quite exhausting, drifting off like that... What I asked was, we've made initial progress in understanding the apocalypse war scenario, and based on our assessment, the third apocalypse scenario should feature monsters, not human armies. So, I'd like you to rally the people of the two cities to vote for the A-level difficulty."

"This would not only bring more survival supplies to the people but also help us better understand the core mechanics of the apocalypse by tackling the higher difficulty from the start."

"What do you think of this plan, Comrade Su?"

General Wang's tone was one of inquiry, but Mike knew it was essentially an order.

Cooperating with the state was the duty of every commander.

"An A-level difficulty... might be too tough. Maybe we should start with B-level?" Mike cautiously offered his suggestion.

"Actually, the people are very concerned about your safety and don't want to see too many casualties in the war scenario. That could lead to a loss of the greatest hope for resisting the apocalypse."

"Comrade Su, your concerns are thoughtful, but over the past two months, we've built up enough strength. According to expert analysis, A-level is the best starting point."

General Wang smiled slyly. "Of course, I'll submit your suggestion, but before that, I hope you can cooperate with the higher-ups' plan."

"It's only by working together, inside and out, that we can navigate through this apocalyptic disaster."

"Alright, I'll arrange it properly."

Mike nodded. The higher-ups had made their decision. This was beyond his control.

Even if Mike didn't rally the two cities to vote, the higher-ups would certainly instruct the other commanders to organize a collective vote.

Perhaps the state had already figured out another use for the commanders: conveniently managing the apocalypse war difficulty and directly influencing the public's choices.

That was an enormous advantage.

"Alright, that's all for now. If there's anything else, I'll notify you immediately, Comrade Su."

General Wang's voice was about to cut off when he added, "Once again, on behalf of the military, I want to express our heartfelt thanks. We've seen all you've done for the people. The people will never forget the sacrifices of their heroes, and neither will we."

"In this age of apocalyptic disaster, we need more brave souls like you, Comrade Su. I look forward to seeing more of your performance this month."

"And, of course, as a personal piece of advice…"

General Wang paused, then laughed meaningfully, "Comrade Su, you need to take better care of your health. Don't let your mind wander like that next time. Our time for discussion is precious."

Hmm?

Mike froze. Did that sound like a hint?

He quickly recovered, responding cheerfully, "I will, General. I'm just an ordinary person, and I'll serve the people as best I can. No one will harm them, even if the apocalypse comes!"

"Good, that's the spirit!" General Wang chuckled, praised him, and then gave a few more instructions before cutting the connection.

"This world... It's about to get messy."

Mike looked at the fading communication interface and sighed softly. "The people suffer in both the rise and fall of empires. The apocalypse is far from resolved, and now the infighting between commanders begins."

"But perhaps, this is the best solution… better than doing nothing and letting the people perish on their own in the face of the apocalypse."

"This next phase... It'll depend on the commanders with unwavering faith. If they hold strong, the infighting won't spread too much."

"If they fail… well, this is the higher-ups' maneuvering, a gamble in the apocalypse."

Mike knew that the higher-ups had already pulled off something impressive. Given the constraints of the mechanisms, they were effectively isolated from the rest of the world. But with the situation becoming more complex, and the ongoing apocalyptic cycles, Mike couldn't see how things would unfold.

"This era… All I can do is try my best."

"Maybe it's time to talk to Xiao Ci. If he's free, we should discuss this with him."

Just as Mike was about to open the skill interface, he suddenly noticed Chen Dafu's view.

"Wait? That kid's already approaching Xin Chang?"

"How did he get there so fast?!"