Chapter 44: I Choose You! (Please Vote for Me)

Xie Jing was in the process of examining Huang Ling’s body.

Don’t get the wrong idea!

While the two of them were chatting idly, Xie Jing took the opportunity to rest his hand on Huang Ling’s shoulder. Then, using his sensory abilities, he quickly scanned Huang Ling from head to toe.

As expected, Xie Jing discovered a complex black pattern over Huang Ling’s heart.

Back in the Tiga world, Xie Jing had checked Kamiyama Asuka thoroughly but hadn’t found anything unusual. At the time, he had wondered if the curse had somehow descended upon his original world instead.

And now, the worst had come to pass.

Letting go of Huang Ling’s shoulder without drawing attention, Xie Jing sighed inwardly. This was not something he could tell others; even if he did, they would surely think he was insane.

Don’t panic! Think! Think—how did the seniors in those novels handle this?

Xie Jing racked his brains, but could not come up with a solution.

The protagonists in those novels had long since relied on their systems to roam freely through myriad worlds, living carefree lives! The main world barely got more than two thousand words of description!

Xie Jing felt a little frantic. Why was he so unlucky as to encounter something like this?

The curse from the Tiga world had somehow crossed into his own, transcending space and time. It was beyond all reason!

Wait—science?

Suddenly, Xie Jing remembered something.

He recalled that the Father of Ultra had once told him: when a curse descends, all sorts of bizarre phenomena occur, and monsters will appear on Earth!

On this planet, the most advanced conventional weapons were merely electromagnetic railguns, and the best fighter jets carried only missiles—the most basic of physical attacks.

But in the Tiga world, though most technology lagged behind this era, weaponry was another matter entirely: all kinds of laser weapons and impossible fighter jets abounded, and there were even massive spaceships like the Atlantis. Their military technology outmatched Earth’s by more than a little.

A hard drive appeared in Xie Jing’s hand, containing the structures, materials, and research data for all TPC weapons, as well as various experimental results.

This was the most terrifying aspect of traveling through countless worlds.

It made the impossible possible. Using plausible physical principles—or even inventing a never-before-seen formula—what seemed unthinkable on Earth could be made scientific reality.

Currently, Earth’s military power was useless against monsters, save for nuclear weapons—a desperate measure that harmed the user more than the foe.

In other words, humanity’s safety was utterly unprotected. If monsters appeared, mankind would be doomed!

Xie Jing had no intention of standing by and doing nothing. The contents of this hard drive were obtained through his own authority; for a genius scientist with an Ultra identity, none of it was secret.

The only problem was how to deliver it to the state.

The data on this hard drive was pure black technology for this world. Even a small portion would greatly advance any nation’s technological strength.

Xie Jing didn’t want to upload the information online—that would expose his identity. He wasn’t worried for himself, but if Huang Ling were threatened, he couldn’t accept that outcome.

Should he ask someone else to deliver it?

No, he didn’t know anyone with access to the highest levels, and he feared things could go wrong along the way.

Give it to the police?

Out of the question. The police would probably arrest him as a criminal and give him a week’s free room and board.

The capital was too far away and too conspicuous. Most importantly, the River-Crab Divine Beast resided there year round.

As Xie Jing mulled over his options, he heard a sentence from the TV:

“Today, General Zhang Zhonghua, Minister of the XX Military Commission, visited Xiangnan Machinery Plant to offer guidance. He said it was imperative to follow DZY’s recommendations…”

Xie Jing, who had some understanding of the Chinese military system, immediately looked up at the screen and saw a vigorous middle-aged man.

“Good! You’re the one!”

After dinner, Huang Ling dragged Xie Jing to watch TV for a while, and before they knew it, it was eleven o’clock.

Wishing each other good night, they went to their respective rooms.

As soon as he entered, Xie Jing locked the door, opened the window, and let starlight surge through his hands. A bright light flashed and vanished instantly.

He couldn’t risk putting on a show on this Earth. With advanced surveillance and satellites everywhere, not to mention bored people snapping photos of the moon with their thirty-megapixel dual-lens phones, it was too dangerous.

If someone caught footage of a glowing figure, his future would be in ruins!

Transforming with utmost caution, he extinguished his starlight and melted into the night sky.

Finding the general’s location was easy. Having grown up in Shaqun City, Xie Jing happened to know there was a simple guesthouse near the XX Machinery Plant. Given that the TV said the general would continue his work there tomorrow, he was almost certainly staying at the guesthouse tonight.

Never underestimate a guesthouse. The name might evoke the 1990s, but when it belongs to a military-industrial enterprise, it’s low-key luxury.

After all, if foreign buyers came and weren’t satisfied with their accommodations, a lost customer could cost much more than a few million in local currency.

As a top-level leader, General Zhang stood before the floor-to-ceiling window, smoking, his brow furrowed in thought.

The world was changing unpredictably. The Beacon Nation was causing trouble everywhere and often threatened China. Though China’s strength was growing, and new toys appeared now and then, the Beacon Nation still possessed far deeper foundations.

After years of painstaking research, they had only just succeeded with the Black Ribbon, while the Beacon Nation already had hundreds of fifth-generation fighters in service.

With arms crossed, General Zhang gazed out at the silent night, opened the window to let the smoke out, and muttered self-mockingly,

“They say the Beacon Nation’s development came from a crashed alien spaceship. Why hasn’t such a kind alien ever crashed in China?”

He stared blankly outside, sighed, shook his head, and dismissed such wild dreams.

“The nation’s progress… must be made step… by step…”

Before he could finish, he saw a strange creature floating outside the window.

For a moment, both Xie Jing and the general were stunned. They stared at each other in disbelief, and General Zhang’s hand moved toward his sidearm, his mouth opening as if to shout.

“Whoa! Don’t shout!”

Xie Jing reached out quickly, covering the general’s mouth, then slipped nimbly through the window.

The general tried to resist, but was helpless before Xie Jing.

“General Zhang, please don’t call out. I’m human—a citizen of China!” Xie Jing shifted into human form.

As expected of a national leader, General Zhang’s adaptability was remarkable. After taking two deep breaths, he nodded to Xie Jing.

Xie Jing released him, and the general did not shout. He simply stared at Xie Jing, as if he had discovered some world-shattering treasure.

“General Zhang, forgive me for disturbing you tonight. I have something to discuss—something that concerns the survival of humanity itself…”

The two spoke for about an hour. When Xie Jing finally left, General Zhang looked at the black hard drive in his hand, silent and thoughtful.

After a moment, he stepped out and summoned his aide.

“Contact the ZX office for me immediately. There’s a major emergency! It concerns the fate of China and the world!!!”