Void Jigsaw Puzzle

It was late at night, but the streets and alleys of People's Square were still bustling with lights and people.

Although Wuming City was collapsing, several core urban areas and entertainment centers scattered throughout the city were not affected too much.

Since everything is going to be destroyed anyway, why not live each day to the fullest? This is the sentiment of many people.

The deafening artillery bombardments at the entrance of Cuiyun Corridor were too far away from the city center. Apart from the members of the Jigsaw Team who escaped back, most ordinary people had no idea what was happening in the southwest corner of the city.

Eat as usual, drink as usual, ride as usual, and dance as usual.

Zhong Chenmu walked silently in the crowd, watching the various expressions and movements of the people coming and going, hearing their joys and sorrows, and suddenly felt an extremely unreal feeling.

“Am I really in the same world as them?”

Just now, he told Hydronian everything that had happened recently, and was now taking a walk while waiting for Hydronian's response.

Since communication between the two of them can happen at any time, he doesn't like staying in a quiet room. This will make him look like a fool. He is obviously chatting with someone, but from the outside it looks like someone is playing with him pitifully.

Being in the bustling city and talking to hydrogen thoughts can achieve perfect balance.

Just as he was walking past a row of barbecue shops, Hydrogen Thought's reply came.

"We're aware of everything that's been going on recently, and thank you very much for your report. We're unaware of many of the details, but the general direction and situation are similar to what we've observed. Overall, since the launch of Project 'Reunification,' the original purpose of this game has been largely achieved. Many of our compatriots, myself included, have found long-lost enjoyment in observing it, and we've even placed bets on the outcomes of some events. The only suspense left in the game is who will be the winner: your Jigsaw Team or Team Grape Moon. We're all very excited."

Zhong Chenmu was about to continue reading when he found that the message of hydrogen thought suddenly stopped.

"That's it? You haven't responded to any of my requests!"

He was a little unwilling to give up. While sniffing the aroma of grilled squid, he replied to Hydron: "Hey! Where are the two questions I just asked? What are your answers? Why are you completely avoiding the topic?"

The owner of the grilled squid stall didn't have much business to do at the moment. Seeing a young man standing in front of his stall, seemingly preoccupied with something, his eyes fixed on the sizzling iron plate, he quickly called out, "Hey, little bro, give me some grilled squid! Spicy squid, how spicy you want it? There's nothing grilled squid can't solve. If there is, give me a few more skewers! If that doesn't work, you'll be fired!"

Zhong Chenmu glanced at him, waved his hand, and hurried forward.

The boss sighed and shook his head: "Little brother, you are very worried. It seems that you are hurt by love... Emotional hurt can only be healed with time. Just a few skewers of grilled squid are definitely not enough..."

After leaving the barbecue stall, the smell of oil smoke surrounding me suddenly decreased a lot, and I felt refreshed.

Going further, there is a row of stalls selling second-hand goods, including all kinds of books, toys, action figures and jewelry.

Hydrogen Thoughts replied again, "Because there's nothing to discuss. The fundamental principle behind the 'Return to One' plan was to provide entertainment. Now that the game has reached its most exciting juncture, the final champion is about to be decided. Do you think we'll agree to declare the game over?"

"But the current situation is that Team Grape Moon has acquired extremely dangerous weapons of mass destruction, and is likely to indiscriminately attack members of our Jigsaw Team and ordinary people in Nameless City. This in itself is beyond the scope. Your original principle was: this game is only played among members of the Prophet Society, and will not affect ordinary people. In fact, as the game has progressed, many ordinary people have become innocent victims. That's fine, after all, our weapons before were only cold weapons, but now, Grape Moon, and the dead Pierce, have invented hot weapons from nowhere, and the whole situation has undergone a qualitative change!" Zhong Chenmu shouted in his heart.

"That's your problem. As the captain of Team Jigsaw, how will you deal with this disparate weapon disadvantage? Isn't this the time to demonstrate your leadership? Is it weapons that are the decisive factor in war? No, it's people."

"..."

Seeing that Hydrogen Thoughts refused to budge, Zhong Chenmu could only turn his attention to the second question he had raised. "Okay, so what about my second question? Regardless of who the winning team is, it's provided you with plenty of emotional value and fun. So, can everyone in Wuming City enter the open area you've opened up on Taibai Star? You've never clarified this before, and I've always assumed that was the arrangement, but I just wanted to confirm it."

Hydron didn't answer immediately.

Zhong Chenmu wandered around the flea market area absentmindedly.

In the cold wind, a group of young people were working hard to promote the results of their once cherished or impulsive purchases. Many of them had red faces from the cold and kept rubbing their hands and stamping their feet.

Yet, there are still more people looking than buying. Often, sellers at neighboring stalls can only buy each other's second-hand goods to achieve a pitiful sales volume and to enhance their presence, which is quite similar to the "exchanging children for food" in famine times.

At this time, Hydrogen Thought's reply finally came.

"If everyone in Nameless City could enter the open area we set up, wouldn't that be too unfair to the winning team who worked so hard? Why should ordinary people just win without any effort?"

"But, your resources are so abundant, and your territory is so vast, can't you open up any open areas? Isn't a population of one million a piece of cake for you?"

"This isn't a question of resources. True, we could easily accommodate tens of thousands of Nameless Cities, not just one. But the principle isn't the same. If the winning team doesn't receive differentiated rewards, what's the point of their struggle? How can the ordinary people, the rabble, enjoy the fruits of the victorious team's bloody battles?"

"No! The purpose of Jigsaw Team's struggle is to enable everyone to go out and live an open life, rather than sinking into a closed and broken civilization. We don't mind them sharing the fruits of our struggle!"

"Then... wait until you become the winning team, then come and discuss this with me. Oh, and you guessed it right, Team Pu Yue currently possesses 20 heavy armored vehicles equipped with artillery. How about this? Finally, I'll give you a piece of genuine intelligence."

After saying these cold words, Hydronian returned to silence. No matter how much Zhong Chenmu called him, he seemed to have disappeared without a trace, and there was no response.

Zhong Chenmu yelled "Fuck it!" and was so angry that his whole body was shaking. He clenched his fists, but didn't know where to swing them.

"Has a firefight with Team Pu Yue's terrifying firearms become an unavoidable option..."

What he didn't know was that the sellers of the second-hand goods stalls around him were looking at him with some fear, fearing that he would do something out of line or even overturn their stalls.

......