I changed the world.

Page 289

His temples began to throb rapidly, blood streamed from his nose, his retina was covered in blood vessels, and blood began to seep from the corners of his eyes... He endured the immense discomfort in his body and tried to see more clearly.

But at that moment, he felt a sense of being watched, a feeling so real that he didn't know how to explain it, yet he simply had this feeling:

I was discovered!

As if branded with a hot iron, Zhang Chengxi quickly looked away, instinctively turned her back, and shrank to the area below the window.

At that moment, he subconsciously thought of the passage he had previously seen in Ge Huaiyuan's diary:

"But it seems to have seen me..."

"It really saw me..."

What exactly is that thing? Zhang Chengxi asked himself, but he had no answer. However, he knew that this time, Fengsui Fortress, and indeed all of humanity, had truly encountered a major event!

Zhang Chengxi took out the specially made communicator from his pocket. After a simple operation, the communicator began to attempt to connect to a communication link that originally "did not exist" on any public frequency band.

A short while later, the communicator was connected.

"Hello." A deep male voice came from the other end of the link.

"Call number B1874. I have important information to report back to the country. It's an intelligence level A, extremely urgent. I need at least one colonel to answer the call. Please transfer me immediately." Zhang Chengxi said rapidly. As an officer of the Earth Defense Force, he actually held dual military status, since the Human United Defense Command (HUDC) was a military unit selected and formed by various countries.

Of course, this situation is not theoretically acceptable, since the purpose of the Earth Defense Force is to protect the human race, and its soldiers are separated from the domestic military establishment the moment they join the Earth Defense Force.

In fact, as a school officer, he certainly had direct ways to contact the country, although he would not normally use them. But at this moment, he still thought of seeking support from the country.

"Okay, number B1874, I will transfer you immediately, please wait." This communication link is manned 24 hours a day. The person on the other end obviously knows the importance of this and what it means to connect in this tone so late at night. He doesn't say much and starts reporting directly.

As Zhang Chengxi waited, she anxiously raised her wrist to check the time on her watch.

"Hello, this is Yi Zi 1874. My rank is Colonel Staff Officer. You can call me Chang Geng." About a minute later, just as Zhang Chengxi was becoming increasingly anxious, a calm but serious baritone voice came from the other end of the phone.

Zhang Chengxi knew that the link she had was managed by the Imperial Military Intelligence Bureau. If the Chang Geng on the other end was indeed a colonel staff officer, then he was most likely a high-ranking official at the level of deputy director of the Military Intelligence Bureau.

"Commander Chang Geng, hello. Let me state upfront that everything I'm about to say is true and is happening right now..."

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"I will send over some photos of my diary to prove the credibility of my information. I know this may be hard to believe, but please believe what I say!"

Zhang Chengxi described everything at top speed, and then, without waiting for a reply, she used the stun gun on herself first...

"Crackling..."

A muffled groan escaped his lips, prompting Chang Geng on the other side to think something had happened to him. He quickly inquired, "Yi Zi 1874, what happened to you? Are you alright?"

"It's nothing. Time is almost up, and I need to stay alert, so I gave myself a little push. Don't worry..." Zhang Chengxi said, taking a deep breath, but in a lighthearted tone.

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the communicator. Just as Zhang Chengxi thought the other party might ask a series of questions to question him, and even had already thought of ways to further gain his trust, the other party's ability to accept the information was clearly much stronger than he had imagined: "Yi Zi 1874, indeed, what you said is very serious and involves a wide range of issues, exceeding my authority. However, I personally choose to believe you, and I will immediately report it to higher authorities to seek their support. I need the diary photos you mentioned to verify the authenticity of the incident, and we will immediately begin to confirm the personnel list of the Suifenhe. Now, I would like to hear what you currently need our cooperation with?"

"The photos of the diary have begun to be transmitted. Interstellar transmission takes some time, and I think you will receive the evidence in a few minutes. As for the list of personnel, I believe you should have your own channels." Zhang Chengxi knew that the issue he was facing was not a simple one, but one that could easily drag Da Zhao into a huge scandal involving the Human Joint Defense Command. After all, strictly speaking, his actions at this moment were absolutely in violation of relevant international treaties!

What he was about to do was no different from a coup!

However, he had no choice but to do so, because if his guess was correct, then the situation was already extremely urgent!

While pondering, Zhang Chengxi organized his thoughts: "The situation is urgent because it involves mind control, an ability I've never heard of before, as well as an unknown supernatural entity. So I have reason to suspect that Major General Schwartz may have run into trouble. If that's the case, then his current call for all the officers in Beacon Tower could cause an extremely serious chain reaction."

Chapter 560 The Real Soldier

"I suggest that the Empire immediately report this incident to the Human Union Defense Command and deploy its fleet to cut off all military and civilian ships from Beacon Tower and its surrounding asteroid belt, regardless of their reasons."

"Under no circumstances shall any spacecraft be allowed to enter the core region of the solar system before the incident is resolved. Any spacecraft that refuses to comply with control shall be destroyed immediately!"

Due to the rise of interstellar development, several large mining companies now have multiple mining sites in the asteroid belt surrounding Fengsuibao. Consequently, civilian mining and transport ships frequently travel between Fengsuibao and Earth and the Moon. Zhang Chengxi's suggestion effectively brought these ships under control as well, and at the same time, he himself lost the possibility of returning to Earth before the incident was resolved.

Chang Geng, on the other side, had obviously also figured out the subtext of Zhang Chengxi's request. He did not ask to return and get away from the dangerous place, but instead asked to be included in the quarantine as well.

This behavior clearly made Chang Geng feel more favorably toward him, and his tone became even gentler: "I've noted it down. Is there anything else you need?"

"There are two railborne battalions stationed at Fengsui Fortress, namely the 206th and 208th Rapid Reaction Forces. I hope that Major Wang Hanjun, the commander of the 206th Rapid Reaction Force, can cooperate with me. I need domestic coordination in this regard."

"Do you know what this means?" The tone on the other end of the communicator immediately turned serious.

“I know.” Zhang Chengxi said calmly, “Without orders from my superiors, this would be considered a mutiny, and I would be sent to a military court. Even if my guess is proven to be correct, I would be transferred from my post, and my military career might come to an end.”

"So you still insist on doing this?"

"You have fulfilled your obligation to remind us. Perhaps we can arrange a spaceship for you to evacuate first. The domestic authorities will explain this to the Joint Human Defense Command."

Zhang Chengxi remained silent for a moment. He knew that there might still be an element of probing on the other side, but if he agreed to the proposal, then it was highly likely that it could be done domestically.

Although Beacon Tower is under the jurisdiction of the Human Joint Defense Command, the Empire still maintains a large number of officers stationed there due to its influence. With their cooperation, it would not be difficult to bypass the Beacon Tower's command system and send a small spaceship back to Earth.

For him, this was clearly a safer option.

However, is this really the choice he should have made?

He once again thought of the words left in the diary of his classmate, Major Ge Huaiyuan, who had already died in the line of duty—

I am a soldier, and I must fulfill my responsibilities!

He exhaled: "You should know that from the very beginning, the Earth Defense Force has had only one strategic objective."

"That is, when humanity is attacked from deep space, to fight a resolute and uncompromising resistance for the continuation of the race."

"Even if the enemy is so powerful that they are invincible..."

"I am a soldier in the Earth Defense Force, and I must fulfill my duty..."

After a moment of silence on the other end of the communicator, Chang Geng's tone became noticeably more serious: "I understand. You are a true soldier, and I will convey your advice truthfully. As for Major Wang Hanjun, I will immediately begin arranging communication; it won't be long."

"As for the rest, we will try our best to organize more support. However, due to the distance in time and space, follow-up support will take some time. Unfortunately, in the short term, you will have to rely on yourself."

"We will keep in touch if there are any further developments."

"I understand. Well then, goodbye." Zhang Chengxi visibly breathed a sigh of relief. The fact that the other party had made this statement meant that the country was already prepared for this, so at least at the very least, she had achieved her goal.

The other end of the communicator did not immediately cut off the connection:

"If you return safely, I'd like to treat you to a drink. Finally, I wish you good luck."

After hanging up the communicator, Zhang Chengxi immediately switched to the base's internal communicator and dialed Major Wang Hanjun's communicator.

After a short silence, the communicator was connected, and Zhang Chengxi said directly, "This is Zhang Chengxi, Major Wang. Where are you now?"

"I just received orders from headquarters and am heading to the main conference room. As you know, our military camp is quite far away, so it will take me some time to get here." The voice on the other end of the communicator was strong and resonant, with a northern Imperial accent.

Upon hearing that Major Wang Hanjun had not yet arrived, Zhang Chengxi breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, things had not yet reached the worst possible point.

"Major Wang, please return to the camp immediately. I have evidence that Beacon Tower is in serious crisis, and Major General Schwartz may already be in trouble," Zhang Chengxi said solemnly.

"Major Zhang, do you know what you're saying?" The voice on the other end of the communicator, which had just been tinged with a hint of laughter, instantly turned cold and serious.

“I know exactly what I’m saying and what it means. I will show you the evidence in person.”

"Major Zhang, this is a serious act of disobeying orders. I cannot accept your suggestion." Major Wang Hanjun's tone remained cold, showing no intention of compromise.

"Major Wang, please wait a moment. You will soon receive instructions from the country. Alternatively, you can directly verify with the country. Please believe me, the situation is urgent, and I am not joking!"

There was silence on the other end. Clearly, Zhang Chengxi's words made Major Wang Hanjun hesitate. As a fellow soldier dispatched from the country, although he had theoretically left the Da Zhao military, when the situation became so serious that he had to choose between two options, Wang Hanjun would never betray his country.

"Major Zhang, do you understand the nature of this? This is a mutiny!" Wang Hanjun's voice, no longer cold, came through the communicator, now lowered. Clearly, Wang Hanjun had misunderstood; he most likely believed there was a problem with the joint domestic and human defense command…

"I understand perfectly well what this means, I'm not joking! Major Wang, I'm on my way, please wait for me in my office!"

“Alright, I’ll check with the authorities back home. You should come over as soon as possible.” Wang Hanjun didn’t say anything threatening. As a major, he was certainly not stupid. Although he didn’t know what Zhang Chengxi was planning to do, it must have been instructed by the authorities back home. Otherwise, he would never dare to do such a thing on his own, as it would be enough to ruin his reputation!

After turning off the communicator, Zhang Chengxi quickly went out and headed towards the rapid reaction force barracks.

Chapter 561 Major Zhang, where are you going?

The rapid reaction force's camp is not located in the same place as the main spaceport where Zhang Chengxi is currently located; it is situated on the other side of the asteroid, connected by an orbital module. The barracks are relatively close to the asteroid's energy core fusion reactor, presumably because the initial plan was to provide nearby support should problems arise.

After leaving the conference room, Zhang Chengxi grabbed the handrails on both sides of the corridor and quickly headed towards the location of the orbital module. The orbital module was located on the west side of the first floor of the building, and he was currently on the southeast corner of the second floor near the airport control tower. There was at least a three-minute walk between them, so he had to hurry.

The effects of the medication and pain were still ongoing. In Zhang Chengxi's vision, everything was swaying in fragmented ways, which made him extremely uncomfortable and affected his balance. After a while, he even felt nauseous. However, he knew that he had to overcome all of this.

Although he no longer looked in the direction of the Suifenhe, the feeling of being watched still lingered with him intermittently. It was a very peculiar experience, but he knew that his time was probably running out, and he had to hurry...

As he turned a corner on the stairs and reached the first floor, a voice suddenly came from ahead: "Major Zhang, where are you going?"

Zhang Chengxi looked up and saw an officer wearing the rank of second lieutenant walking towards him not far away. At this moment, the fragment of his vision was in normal mode, so he saw everything around him normally. He recognized the officer in front of him. He was an officer in charge of airport communications and a mixed-race man named Leo.

However, Lieutenant Leo's question made him instinctively feel that something was wrong, because this was not how a subordinate should speak to a superior officer. The military is a hierarchical organization, not to mention that there was a difference of several ranks between the two. Under normal circumstances, Lieutenant Leo's reaction to a field officer should be to stand at attention and salute, not to ask him where he was going.

Zhang Chengxi was already on high alert, and upon hearing this, he immediately stopped and reprimanded her sternly and bluntly: "Lieutenant, this is not a question you should be asking."

However, after hearing such a reprimand, Lieutenant Leo did not show any fear or offer any explanation. Instead, he quickened his pace toward Zhang Chengxi and asked with a smile, "Major Zhang, His Excellency Schwarz has issued an order to summon all officers of colonel rank and above from the base to a meeting. The direction you are heading is not towards the command post, is it?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Chengxi's eyes narrowed instantly, and he felt increasingly uneasy. He ordered sternly, "Lieutenant, do not overstep your authority. Now, I order you to return to your post or dormitory!"

As a military base, the beacon tower has most of its staff holding military ranks, and it is naturally managed under military regulations. Normal soldiers, except for mid- to high-ranking officers, are required to strictly adhere to a nighttime schedule unless they are on duty. Lieutenant Leo, however, is clearly not among the mid- to high-ranking officers, so theoretically, he should only be in one of two places: on duty or in his dormitory bed.

Just as Zhang Chengxi gave the order, the scene before his eyes flickered again, and the next thing he saw made him draw his pistol...

The Lieutenant Leo who appeared in his field of vision at this moment was no longer a normal person. His face, which had been smiling just a second ago, was now open like a flower petal in Zhang Chengxi's vision. Thick mucus dripped from the open petal, and he could even see the organs that were densely packed on it, like sharp teeth.

Behind him, a seemingly real yet ethereal thread extended through the wall, making him appear like a marionette.

Clearly, he is no longer a "human"!