chsdbacks Chapter 25 Luo Ji: 3-Day Deadline
Chapter 25 Luo Ji: 3-Day Deadline
The others in the room could understand Tan Xueqiu's anger and resentment; the battle against the apocalypse was just too frustrating and desperate.
The atmosphere in the meeting room became heavy and oppressive once again, because the "what if" that Tan Xueqiu mentioned could indeed happen.
The Chief of Staff of the Solar System Fleet looked at Luo Ji and said, "This matter depends on what Mr. Luo Ji decides."
Luo Ji said, "Are you willing to give me the decision-making power? If my guess is true, I can no longer intimidate the Trisolarans."
The Chief of Staff of the Solar System Fleet said, "Since we have entrusted you with the power to wield the sword, we will naturally respect your decision."
Luo Ji looked at the highest-ranking officer of the Solar System Fleet and said, "Even if I decide to destroy the entire human civilization?"
The Chief of the General Staff nodded and said seriously, "Even if you decide to destroy the entire human civilization!"
Luo Ji looked at the others, but no one spoke; they all just nodded at him.
Luo Ji closed his eyes, then opened them, his gaze calm and resolute, just as he had four years ago when he stood alone before Yang Dong and Ye Wenjie's tombstones, conversing with the entire Trisolaran world.
He glanced at his watch: "It's 16:37 PM now. Thirty days from now, at 16:37 PM, if the Trisolaran world doesn't provide a satisfactory explanation for your abnormal behavior, I will press the switch. Sophon, I know you're here."
A mirror-like sphere appeared beside Luo Ji, displaying two lines of text:
Mr. Luo Ji, your decision is not rational.
Since you've already guessed that we have technology to avoid the Dark Forest attack, pressing the switch will only lead to your demise.
Before Luo Ji could speak, Tan Xueqiu, staring at the sophon unfolding in the lower dimension, said, "A lose-lose situation is better than a win-win situation. Even a lose-lose situation is better than letting you win. Even if the Dark Forest strikes and destroys the Earth and the solar system, it's better than letting you gain it!"
Did you consult other Earthlings before making this decision?
You are only a few hundred people, but there are billions of people outside.
It's not fair that a few hundred of you are making decisions for billions of people!
Tan Xueqiu said, "Whether it's fair or not is not up to you to decide. Besides, the current situation is ultimately your doing."
Luo Ji sensed something amiss in Zhi Zi's reply and frowned, asking, "What are you planning to do?"
We don't want to do anything, Mr. Luo Ji. We just feel that other humans on Earth should also have the right to know.
Upon seeing this, the expressions of everyone in the room darkened.
The Chief of Staff of the Solar System Fleet said, "Are you trying to incite public opinion and cause internal strife within our ranks?"
"The Trisolarans couldn't have imagined such a method. You must be Yun Tianming. Do you hate Earth and your mother civilization that much?"
Cheng Yuan, inside the safe house on the Trisolaran planet, was too lazy to reiterate that he was not Yun Tianming. The more he tried to explain, the more convinced the other party would be that he was Yun Tianming.
Furthermore, what does it mean to "hate Earth" or "hate Mother Civilization"? I am not from the same background as you.
Actually, you should call me "High Dimension Ancestor". You wouldn't exist without us!
New words appeared on the mirror sphere that Zhizi unfolded: Don't misunderstand, I just want other people on Earth to have the right to know as well.
After displaying these words, the mirror sphere disappeared, clearly indicating that it had no intention of continuing the conversation with them, but Zhizi must still be in the meeting room watching them hold their meeting.
Ken Okafor, Secretary General of the World Academy of Sciences, stepped forward to encourage everyone: "Gentlemen, the appearance of the Sophon is a good thing, proving that Mr. Luo Ji's decision still poses a threat to them. This shows that things haven't reached the worst point yet!"
The UN President nodded and said, "Secretary-General Ken is right. The fact that Zhi Zi didn't step forward earlier, but only after Mr. Luo Ji made his decision, shows that he has still managed to deter them."
"The Trisolarans said they wanted others to know, which means they have no other means of interfering with Earth now, so they can only use this method to incite public opinion, cause internal strife in our country, and force us to make concessions."
"To paraphrase an old Eastern saying, 'The donkey of Qian has exhausted all its tricks and has reached its limit.' It is precisely at times like these that we cannot give in. Let's see who can't hold on any longer."
Tan Xueqiu said, "Actually, we can release the information before the Trisolarans. I believe that as long as we explain it clearly, the public will understand our decision. Although it may cause some unrest, it's just a minor ailment."
Indeed, they could release the information first, paving the way for the Trisolarans and leaving them with no way to go. As for the turmoil caused by releasing the information, it would be nothing more than a minor setback.
I believe most people are wise!
On the Trisolaran planet, in the safe house, Cheng Yuan said to the Trisolaran Prime Minister: "Immediately arrange for people to spread the news to the human world that Luo Ji will press a switch in thirty days to activate the gravitational wave broadcast, thus inviting the Dark Forest attack upon them."
"The key points of our propaganda are as follows: First, why should a minority be able to decide the fate of the majority? This is unfair!"
"Second, the human leadership is already plotting their escape. They won't just wait to die in thirty days; they will escape to space aboard the most advanced warships. Only the civilians will die."
"Third, make public the conditions I offered Luo Ji."
"Fourth, expose the resumes of Luo Ji and other high-ranking Earth officials, focusing on their dark spots. For example, Luo Ji was once a prodigal son who used the power of the 'Wallfacer' to find himself a place to live and a wife, thus causing humanity to question his morality and, consequently, to question his decision to wield the sword."
"Is it really appropriate to entrust the fate of two worlds to someone with little sense of responsibility and low moral standards?"
As Cheng Yuan issued his orders, the Trisolaran Prime Minister sighed in his mind: "Your Excellency the Supreme Ruler is indeed a high-dimensional being. These schemes are incredibly ruthless. They certainly couldn't have come up with these ideas."
As expected, humans still need humans to heal them; high-dimensional medicine works so fast!
"The propaganda aims to incite distrust among ordinary people towards the human leadership, thereby putting pressure on them."
"In addition, the immigration plan needs to be accelerated. Unnecessary bottles and jars should be discarded or destroyed. For a civilization, people are the most important thing."
Cheng Yuan glanced at the images Zhi Zi had transmitted. "Based on my understanding of Luo Ji, he will definitely press the switch in thirty days. If our spaceship doesn't reach Earth by then, we'll have to leave this universe!"
"Have the Second Fleet, which is already advancing, find a way to speed up its advance, ideally reaching Earth within thirty days."
Luo Ji chose this time very cleverly, thirty days, exactly thirty-three days before the second fleet of the Trisolarans could arrive on Earth, just three days off.
However, Luo Ji's choice of this time was also reasonable. A month has exactly thirty days, which is neither too short nor too long. Luo Ji believed that this was enough time for the Trisolaran world to think things through.
As for why Luo Ji didn't immediately threaten the Trisolaran world to explain, he wanted to give humanity some time to prepare.