Mental Illness Evolution Manual - Chapter 92

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If she were to become smarter, perhaps the first thing she would feel would be pain.

Her own aimless wandering, her forsaken past, the oppression and humiliation she had endured—things she couldn’t comprehend before—finally revealed their true nature, showing her the despair and pain inherent in life.

If understanding things meant seeing all this suffering, Grey Rabbit would rather Duoduo stay as she was, happy and carefree, not knowing what sadness was.

She would live in the base, her life would be secure, no one would bully her. Wasn’t that good?

But he couldn’t decide this matter.

They were not related, what right did they have to make decisions for her? Any act that they thought was for the other person’s good but disregarded their will was self-righteous and arrogant.

If they truly saw the other person as someone they could communicate with on an equal footing, they wouldn’t disrespect her thoughts.

But he would wait. At least wait until Duoduo had recovered and gained some weight, then he would slowly explain the truth to her.

He would ask her about her own wishes and choices.

Yan Xianchuan and the other person stayed at the Yuecheng branch base for two days. During that time, they went out for a walk, mainly to see the living conditions of the people here.

As expected, it hadn’t changed from before.

The people living here didn’t have the same sense of crisis as those in other cities. They went to work if they had to, they went to parties if they wanted to. It was as if the war outside had nothing to do with them.

All the entertainment and recreational venues were open as usual. There were even people holding street dance competitions, right in the square, attracting a crowd of people to watch and cheer. It was lively and bustling.

“Why aren’t these people afraid?” Yan Xianchuan asked, holding a cup of milk tea, watching with interest.

“The world war hasn’t even reached Yuecheng. Compared to the Great Purge, what Azberto has done is nothing,” Lu Mingqiu said calmly.

Besides, the rebels had so many weapons stockpiled. Were they all military supplies issued by the Federation? Probably not.

The Yan family would be crazy not to profit from this war.

They were able to fight the Federation to a standstill with just three legions, they were only slightly at a disadvantage. It seemed like they had plenty of time to hold out. It was impossible that they didn’t have any support behind them.

Selling weapons was the Yan family’s old business. They had made a fortune from war, it was an old story, they had done it countless times. If they hadn’t taken advantage of the Great Purge to fish in troubled waters, the Yan family wouldn’t have risen so quickly.

They were betting on both sides behind the scenes, maintaining a certain neutrality on the surface. They had played this game countless times.

The Federation knew that the Yan family was profiting from the war, but they couldn’t do anything about it. It was just a pity for these ordinary people, they didn’t know anything. They thought that the head of the Yan family was a truly benevolent person, they were still praising him, thanking him for protecting Yuecheng and protecting them.

The people who were being helped felt the same way. They believed that the Yan family was a truly benevolent family.

They had spent hundreds of years building their reputation. The Yan family’s image was deeply rooted, it was deeply ingrained in people’s minds, it couldn’t be easily changed.

When it came to taming the hearts of the people, they were the professionals.

“There’s a strict screening system, those gang members can’t enter Yuecheng,” Lu Mingqiu continued.

But ordinary citizens who were fleeing could come in. The Yan family had set aside a piece of land in the North District specifically for receiving these people. They provided them with accommodation, and there were also staff to help them settle down in Yuecheng and start a new life.

Those who had some money didn’t have to worry about their livelihood. As for those who didn’t have money, they didn’t have to worry either. Yuecheng’s homeless assistance program was very comprehensive. They could work for their food and shelter, just like the homeless people in the city. In the end, their lives were better than before.

Because Yuecheng didn’t have those lawless gangsters.

When the two of them went to the North District, it was also well-organized. The refugees lined up to register, they were assigned to different areas to live according to their savings and life plans. They were also given a copy of Yuecheng’s city regulations.

A person who maintained order saw the two of them, he walked over and asked them what they were doing. Lu Mingqiu said, “We’re here to donate.”

The man replied, “You can donate on the official website, you don’t need to come here in person. There’s a donation channel on the homepage.”

Lu Mingqiu put on a helpless expression and said, “It’s my sister, she insisted on coming to see these people with her own eyes.”

Yan Xianchuan cooperated very well. She looked a little suspicious and wary, she said, “Yes, I saw online that people from other cities are very rude. I want to see what they’re like, whether they deserve to be saved.”

What a spoiled person.

Lu Mingqiu sighed helplessly. The staff member showed a look of understanding, he said softly, “Actually, I wasn’t very willing to come here before. Yuecheng is so good, it’s not for them to come here and cause trouble. But after staying here for two days, I feel like everyone isn’t as exaggerated as they say online. They’re actually pretty good.”

“Really?” Yan Xianchuan said suspiciously, “Then I have to see it with my own eyes.”

“Hahaha, I understand, I understand,” the staff member said, “They all live in the apartment buildings in the north. You can see them as soon as you look. But remember to watch your bag, what if it gets stolen? You can’t be too careful.”

“The head of the Yan family is so kind. Maybe that’s what it means to have a broad mind. If I were him, I definitely wouldn’t agree to accept these refugees.”

The staff member led them to the relief area, he pointed to a row of apartment buildings in front of them and said, “That’s it. You can go by yourselves. I have to go back to work.”

Lu Mingqiu said thank you, then looked inside.

There was nothing special about the standard apartment buildings. They were no different from the other districts. It was just that the people inside didn’t have any energy or vitality. They looked listless, their faces were filled with confusion, grief, and the relief of surviving.

When the two of them walked in, these people all looked at them, with confusion, vigilance, incomprehension, and numbness.

They weren’t as the staff member had guessed, they didn’t try to rob them. Everyone was very honest.

Those who liked to commit crimes had been screened out when they entered the city. Most of the remaining people were ordinary people with no bad habits.

They each had a copy of the Yuecheng regulations, which was filled with the city’s rules and regulations. Things like no smoking in public places, no littering, no fighting, no drug use, and all other behaviors that affected the city’s appearance were prohibited. Violators would be punished, ranging from fines to imprisonment.

Robbery and theft were serious crimes that could result in imprisonment for several days. These people were already grateful to have received assistance, they wouldn’t think about breaking the rules. They were worried that they would be thrown out again.

Yan Xianchuan felt thirsty as she walked, so she went to the supermarket and bought a bottle of water. When she came out, she saw Lu Mingqiu chatting with someone sitting on the steps at the entrance.

“It’s so hard to get a Yuecheng residence permit. It’s actually a good deal,” the person said, even a little happily.

Yan Xianchuan blinked a few times.

When the two of them walked out, Lu Mingqiu said softly, “The head of the Yan family said that people who work in Yuecheng for more than five years can get a lifetime Yuecheng residence permit. If they work for more than ten years, they can get a Yuecheng household registration.”

“He really knows how to win people over.”

Yan Xianchuan shrugged, “Actually, it’s not bad. For these people, this kind of life is already pretty good.”

“Yes, they’re grateful to the puppet master behind the scenes,” Lu Mingqiu’s eyes were complex, she said softly, “No matter how good it is, it’s fake. They’re just being treated like slightly better leeks, they’re being willingly harvested.”

“There are definitely people who like this kind of life,” Yan Xianchuan’s words had a subtle, mocking tone, like she was watching a show, “They have food and drink, it looks fair, it’s great.”

“You know, many people call Yuecheng Eden.”

She rolled her eyes, she looked at the person next to her, she drew out her words, “They’re stubborn people. Don’t you think you’re doing useless work? Even if you succeed in the future, they won’t thank you. They might even scold you for meddling.”

“What I do has nothing to do with them,” Lu Mingqiu said calmly, “I just want to do this, that’s all.”

She smiled softly, “A successful revolution needs the people to witness it. They’re just witnesses. As for what they really think in their hearts, whether they really need it, it’s not something I’m considering.”

“I believe that I’m on the right path. Other people’s opinions won’t affect my decisions.”

She was a person who absolutely insisted on her own way. Yan Xianchuan had known this for a long time. But seeing her say these words so casually, the control and confidence in her words, the decisiveness that was the opposite of her beautiful appearance, always made Yan Xianchuan feel a pleasant palpitation.

Humans like to explore the unknown, explore secrets, and enjoy being different. She was no exception.

Few people knew Lu Mingqiu’s true side, she was one of them, and she was the closest one.

She liked being special.

The two of them left the relief area and returned to the base branch. In their free time, Yan Xianchuan didn’t idle around. Instead, she was guided and trained by Lu Mingqiu.

It was mainly some fighting skills, she even took a psychology class.

Yan Xianchuan’s mental state had been very stable recently. In fact, as long as she didn’t experience external stimuli, she looked no different from a normal person.

With Lu Mingqiu as her new anchor, she entered a field she was good at and accustomed to. She honestly became a normal person.

She was a smart woman, aware of her mental condition, even adept at using it as a shield and a get-out-of-jail-free card. Lu Mingqiu dragged her to psychology classes, intending to help her understand herself correctly.

There was always something to do every day, time passed very quickly. The next day at noon, Grey Rabbit sent a message, the marked bishop in red was on the move. At the same time, there was a second piece of intelligence, the druid, Ge’er, had successfully infiltrated the Federation’s office building in Gaoshan City, confirming that Azberto was there.

Two pieces of intelligence, two different choices. Lu Mingqiu pondered for a while and decided to go after Azberto.

Tracking the bishop in red would lead to very uncertain intelligence. Even if they knew where he went, they couldn’t be sure if it was the church’s main base.

It could be an important branch, or he could be meeting someone on behalf of the church. But Azberto’s threat was imminent.

The lower-class citizens in Gaoshan City had been wiped out. Some of the higher-class citizens had also been summoned by death. Only those who had never committed any crimes were left, they were living in the city in fear, not daring to run out.

Azberto gathered them together, he gave them classes every day, spreading the concept of the new world, telling them his ideas.

They also became Azberto’s talismans. With ordinary people around, even if the Federation knew his location, they couldn’t directly bomb him with missiles. It would cause a crisis of trust among the people.

Over time, some people actually thought it was pretty good.

Their living environment was good, and they weren’t under strict supervision. It wasn’t like being in prison, they had a certain amount of freedom.

Besides, what was wrong with the new world? At first glance, there seemed to be nothing wrong. A world of equality, without oppression, wasn’t that good?

Their safety was guaranteed, there would be no more evil people, there were only good people here. Everyone was positive and upward, how wonderful!

Some people thought this kind of world was good. These people were mostly those who had never done anything bad, they liked to follow the rules and the crowd. Some people thought it was boring and meaningless. This kind of life was like stagnant water.

It was a little too simple and hasty to screen people based on whether they had a criminal record.

Some people were good at disguising themselves, they were good at avoiding the law, they would do some petty crimes, but you couldn’t say that they were innocent good people just because they hadn’t been punished.

Besides, there was no such thing as absolute equality. Forcing everyone to be equal was also a kind of inequality.

In Lu Mingqiu’s eyes, Azberto’s ideal country was a pure mirage, it was fragile.

Humans are social animals. Since they live in groups, there will definitely be classes. Some people are geniuses, they are better at making a career than others. For such people, forcing them to receive the same feedback as ordinary people, wouldn’t that be unfair to them?

Besides, people change. Azberto roughly divided people into two categories, he didn’t consider the possibility of good people turning bad, nor did he consider the possibility of bad people turning good. He just made a blanket statement, it was too absurd.

There is no absolute fairness in this world. What Lu Mingqiu wanted to do was to create a relatively fair environment, where everyone had the opportunity to rise, they wouldn’t be affected by their class status, they could change their lives as long as they worked hard.

Reaching this level would be very good.

But speaking of which, Lu Mingqiu had to admit that, as members of the Polov family, they had many similarities that were difficult to erase.

For example, their stubbornness.

Perhaps that was the family heirloom of the Polov family.

It was impossible to kill Azberto with conventional weapons, so they could only rely on human assassination.

The candidates needed to be carefully considered.

Lu Mingqiu’s ability was too useful. Although her position and role in the Resistance were very important, if she was present in this operation, it would definitely be twice as effective.

The longer the war lasted, the more casualties there would be. She had to go.

Yan Xianchuan would naturally follow her, mainly to ensure her safety. Although Lu Mingqiu’s ability level was higher, her physical fitness was only at the level of an ordinary person. Compared to Yan Xianchuan, who was tough, she was like the difference between tofu and stone.

Of the remaining people, Grey Rabbit had to stay with Duoduo, he had other tasks. The bard, Wandou, could be brought along, her ability amplification was very useful.

White also had to go.

After careful consideration, Lu Mingqiu decided to bring the Holy Knight from elsewhere to join the operation.

His real name was Enoch. He was originally a believer, but he later learned the truth about the church, his faith collapsed, and he awakened his ability.

The doctrine preached by the church was false, it was just to deceive believers. But the redemption he wanted in his heart was real. His ability was very strange, perhaps because of the belief he wanted to protect and his self-proclaimed knightly ideals.

Although his code name was Holy Knight, a more accurate description would be a melee mage in a game. His ability was a staff that was almost two meters tall, it was powerful when swung, it could break steel pipes.

He could also use a few “magic spells,” adding a shield to people, increasing their dodge, reducing damage, they were all protective skills. There was only one that could be considered an offensive skill—Holy Light.

Compared to its true effect of calming the mind, its external manifestation, a bright ball of light, was very dazzling. It often had a surprising effect in battle.

It was jokingly called the “energy-saving version” of Holy Light.

Lu Mingqiu chose him for another reason. Enoch’s name sounded gentle and weak, but he was actually a very strong man. Just like his code name, he was like a knight. He was almost two meters tall, with broad shoulders and well-developed muscles. He had very high defense, cold weapons could only leave scratches on him.

Wandou could stay outside and provide support, but White had to go deep inside. His physique was even worse than Lu Mingqiu’s, he was terrible at shooting and fighting, he needed someone to protect him. The Holy Knight, Enoch, was the best choice.

They four would be the core, they would also need two teams to provide cover.

Not to cover the outer army, but to cover the ability users around Azberto.

No one knew how many ability users he had or what their abilities were. He had never experienced any crisis, so he naturally wouldn’t reveal his trump cards.

There were too many unknown and uncertain possibilities. A slight misstep could cost them their lives, but every member of the Resistance was prepared to sacrifice themselves at any time, they weren’t afraid of danger.

After the group gathered outside Gaoshan City, they chose a corner on the edge where there were no troops stationed. Black hacked into the road surveillance and erased their tracks.

They didn’t go above ground, they chose the underground transportation network, the sewer. They relied on the map provided by Black and headed towards the administrative center.

The structure of the administrative center had been figured out by the druid, Ge’er. To maintain the accuracy of the intelligence, he hadn’t left, he had been hiding in the administrative building, providing coordinates for the subsequent operation.

At this moment, Azberto was sitting in his office, listening to his deputy report on the battle situation, “The other side suddenly launched an attack, they used electromagnetic cannons, our communication network has been paralyzed. It seems like they’re launching a general attack.”

Azberto’s light gray eyes narrowed slightly, his face was cold, he said, “McCarthy isn’t a reckless commander. He wouldn’t suddenly attack without a special reason.”

His index finger tapped lightly on the table, the rhythmic tapping sound echoed.

On the strategic map, thirteen cities had already been invaded and slaughtered by the legions. Had the Federation issued an order for him to end the war as soon as possible?

Azberto fell into thought.

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