Long-term salvation

"In other words, Atlas Corporation can only become a true 'great power' if it is a stable 'country', or if it 'owns' a region under stable control. This may be why they intend to take root in East Africa."

"At the same time, their forces are too dispersed. They need to seize assets from the other world across the world, complete the investigation, control, and suppression of supernatural phenomena, rescue civilians harmed by the other world, maintain local law and order, and attempt to improve their economic level."

"This is an extremely costly act. As you can imagine, Atlas's funds are quite tight."

Carson looked at the world map on the slide. Every continent had more or less red dots—those were the locations of the Atlas Corporation or military forces with strong ties to it—and after looking away, he continued:

"But as of now, we don't know why Atlas and Jonathan Irons acted in this way."

"Who knows?" A representative shrugged, leaning back in his chair with a look of feigned disdain on his face. "Maybe he wants to be a savior, or plan to rule the world and then reach for the stars... That would fit in with that arrogant man's life goals."

This sounded like a joke, but many of the representatives of the Organization present nodded slightly - as the undisputed controller of Atlas Corporation, Ains's will was the company's will.

Therefore, in many cases, the analysis of "Atlas" should focus on Irons' own thoughts and personality.

The discussion gradually became louder, making the conference room a little noisy, but it was quickly stopped by the Mobius representative who was presiding over the meeting.

The representative was thin and straight-limbed, and like everyone else present, he was wearing a well-tailored suit and tie. If it weren't for his sinister eyes, at first glance he might have looked like a senior White House aide.

After tapping the hammer in front of him, the Mobius representative looked around and fixed his gaze on Carson Saliers. He said:

"We are aware of the current situation. You have done a good job, young man. Now please leave. The discussion that is about to take place is not for you to participate in."

After hearing this, Carson Saliers closed the slides, bowed to the seated representatives, and left quickly without stopping.

After watching Carson leave and the door close, the Mobius representative spoke:

"I'm deeply saddened that after the last large-scale attack, two of the representatives who were able to come here have been permanently lost. Of course, their remaining assets and personnel have been placed under the control of the Organization and are still functioning. To be frank, I believe everyone present and the powerful figures behind them are mentally prepared for this. After all, we're not playing house."

Despite his grief, the Mobius representative's expression remained icy. He reached out and gripped the hammer's handle. As the cold touch of the hammer returned to his palm, the representative slowly spoke:

"[The Organization] still needs to retreat, shrink, and evolve. The events on Isla Nublar have served as a wake-up call for us—the Atlas Corporation and the Alliance it leads reacted far too quickly, far too quickly for us to react."

“Because of this, [the organization] needs time to develop itself and also needs to absorb more forces.”

The Mobius representative exchanged glances with the ATC, Umbrella, and Militech representatives, then continued, amidst the gloomy expressions of the others:

"For example, Weyland Corporation (from the Alien series), Tagruato (from Cloverfield), and so on... Everyone, your primary goal before ascending to the Soul Seat is to survive, not to wait for death with that last spark of life."

"...In this case, the existence of the other world, its technology, and existing knowledge will have to be gradually developed and passed on to those who come after us," a representative said, a look of barely concealed worry on his face. "If anything goes wrong, the other world will be completely exposed to the world, bringing unpredictable changes to the plan."

"The variables are already significant enough, Mr. Representative. As for whether the inner world will be exposed, that's not a question worth considering. The inner world will inevitably be exposed to human society. The only difference is how soon and how it will be exposed."

"Let's not worry about that for now. It's best for us to divide our respective areas of responsibility and establish an organization to coordinate and dispatch resources, rather than having to communicate right before an operation or experiment begins," said a representative, looking quite overwhelmed. "I don't want to have to coordinate a bunch of intelligence documents, weapons and equipment, and other messy matters before an operation—especially when conducting experiments in the other world!"

"That's right. We must temporarily put aside some of our vigilance towards our 'allies' and at least maintain more cooperation until sufficiently significant benefits emerge."

The representative from Militech nodded slightly. He glanced at the other three as he spoke. The other three had no expression on their faces, simply looking at him simultaneously. After taking a sip of the now-cold tea, the Umbrella representative spoke:

"We will complete the challenging tasks of reviewing subsequent entrants, coordinating resources, and dividing responsibilities into regions and areas of expertise within six to eight months. Even if we try to catch up in the most aggressive way, we still need time for development."

While the others in the conference room were still pondering, the four giants of the [Organization] exchanged glances silently. Then, the military technology representative continued:

"We'll have to conduct a few more transactions with the Ibris Organization. Although they've already shown hostility, I think they'd be happy to make things difficult for Irons—to make them move more aggressively in the Middle East, accelerate their control over Ukraine and South Africa, strengthen their influence over the governments of Japan, Europe, Southeast Asia, and some countries in South America, rebuild their intelligence network against Atlas Corporation and other forces, and simultaneously lobby within NATO to launch hostile actions against Atlas Corporation... The British would probably enjoy this kind of thing."

"As for the United States," the military technology representative paused, remembering Senator Armstrong's instructions, and then slowly said, "We will gradually squeeze Atlas out, but before we complete it, it's best not to cause any conflict—we are no match for Atlas right now."

"So what about the other world?" someone asked. Actually, this was the most important thing. "We need to rebuild the data model and get more experimental samples."

When this matter was brought up again, the faces of the participants and even the representatives of several major companies in the organization were filled with hatred and worry.

"Regarding this matter... we will speed up the creation of 'illegal religions' and provide financial support to those that are valuable. The [Organization] will recruit more qualified members to conduct investigations into supernatural events. At the same time, we will increase more channels for the transportation of supplies and look for opportunities to mobilize forces to hunt down Atlas Company intelligence personnel in a certain area, just like we did in Ukraine."

The representative of Mobius said leisurely, and only when he talked about this matter did a smile finally appear on his face:

"Mobius's STEM Phase II research is progressing smoothly. We have the [Death Ray Prototype] and research notes with us. Resuming experiments on the inner world rift shouldn't be difficult. We estimate we'll be able to begin the first experiment in eight months at most. However, everyone, please provide more 'starting materials'. The more the better."

"..."xN

"Since everyone has no objections, let's adjourn the meeting. After all, each of our time is valuable."

The Mobius representative gripped the handle of his hammer tightly, as if wielding some supreme authority. This caused the nearby military technology company representative to cast a hint of inexplicable contempt and longing, but this gaze quickly dissipated amidst the slightly noisy discussion.

When no one knows and no one notices, the undercurrent is flowing quietly, both inside and outside, in the light and in the dark.

Chapter 457: Lei Dian's Peaceful Life

Lei Dian, whose real name is Jack, had just returned home from his job as a bodyguard at a nightclub and was now preparing to take a shower, dress up, and go out.

This former young soldier, the carefully cultivated killing machine, had not yet been transformed into a bio-ninja and was now enjoying his peaceful life. After being thrown out of Aperture Technology's underground headquarters, he did not return to Mukoff Company. After seeing the flaming sword and the golden sun, Lei Dian's heart was filled with confusion and pain.

The confusion about the distant future, the pain of his actions, and even the memories of the past are all tormenting this poor man.

Fortunately, for Lei Dian, he is not completely without comfort.

He is pursuing a beautiful lady.

Of course, according to what Lei Dian himself told the lady, he intended to repay her for her meticulous care for him in the ward.

"I don't think trying to coax a woman into your arms can be considered a reward," Rosemary said, her lips curled up slightly as she ran her fingers across the exquisitely crafted tablecloth in front of her. She looked at Lei Dian, who was sitting across from her with an awkward expression, and continued, "Jack, have you gotten rid of your enemy?"

"...Maybe I was just a small fry, so they didn't come looking for me again."

Lei Dian exhaled slowly. He was also a little surprised by this - Rhodes, the man who called himself that, and the strange old man from Aperture Technology had not come to find him, as if he had been forgotten, and the same was true for Mukf Company - as if he was stuffed into some large open-air skit, everything around him was an actor and a theater, and outside of that there was a pair of eyes silently watching him.

Eyes… Raiden raised his head and subconsciously met Rosemary’s gaze.

After the two of them were silent for a few seconds, Rosemary burst out laughing and said:

"You look like that gorilla climbing the Chrysler Building, Jack."

"Um...actually, it climbed the Empire State Building." Lei Dian's mouth moved, and he tilted his head to look to the other side in an attempt to hide his embarrassment. "You remembered it wrongly, Miss Rosemary - what would you like to eat?"

Raiden quickly picked up the menu next to him and ended the topic.

The two were in a high-end restaurant, surrounded by middle-aged and elderly men and women wearing expensive clothes. There were not many young people like Lei Dian and Rosemary.

The cello musician in the center of the restaurant, the neat and thick dark red carpet, and the crystal chandeliers hanging from the dome all indicate that this is not an upper-class place where thunder and lightning often come and go. The light cast by each exquisite lamp makes the pendants sparkle, which makes people frown.

Amidst the wonderful aroma of French foie gras, Rosemary picked up the knife on the side of the porcelain plate, but she did not begin to enjoy the food. Instead, she said slowly:

"Jack, there's no need to bring me to a place like this."

"You don't like it?"

"No, it's not about whether I like it or not," Rosemary gently cut the foie gras, letting the little bit of juice flow out and swirl around the foie gras on the plate, "It's just that I don't fit in here... You can take me to a movie or a museum or something like that."

Hearing this, Lei Dian smiled. He poured Rosemary half a glass of red wine and asked pretentiously:

"You mean to say that you've already thought of a place for our next date?"

"..."

"Um...did I say something wrong?"

Lei Dian's smile froze on his face. He didn't wait for Rosemary's reply or rebuke. Instead, she looked back at him with a strange look. After a long while, she slowly said:

"Nothing, you reminded me of someone."

He really deserves to be the person that the boss specifically asked to be under supervision... From the looks of it, he is quite capable of hooking up with young girls.

Recalling the jokes among the Army Without Borders agents about their boss and their hopes that he would be the heir to the Army Without Borders, Rosemary suppressed the urge to complain and stuffed a piece of foie gras into her mouth.

After eating, the beautiful agent of the Army Without Borders said calmly:

"I have no intention of continuing this relationship. In fact, I'm going to go Dutch with you this time, Jack."

Whether the observer falls in love with the monitored or the monitored falls in love with the observer, it is an extremely bad thing - what is worse than this is that both of them fall in love with each other at the same time.

There are a lot of reports to write...

"My job?" Raiden's expression softened. He wasn't surprised. "Or my past?"

"No... It's my problem. You're a good person, Jack. No matter what your past was, you're a good person now." Rosemary thought about the files she had seen and the time she had spent monitoring Raiden. She lowered her eyes, afraid to meet the man's gaze. "I can't be with you so easily. My... uh... my 'parents' are very strict. They won't allow it."

"I will try my best to get their approval..."

"No, you know nothing!" Rosemary stood up suddenly and slammed the table hard, attracting curious and disgusted glances from the guests around her. "Listen, you hateful pretty boy! Chin man! You know nothing, and you've just walked into this world like a child—"

After all, there's no need to use a weird adjective like "chin man," right? Raiden looked at Rosemary with complicated eyes, waiting for her next words or a ruthless reprimand.

However, Rosemary said nothing. She just glared at Lei Dian and left angrily with her small bag.

"..."

After sighing, Lei Dian sat down dejectedly in his seat and picked up the dinner knife - subconsciously, he held the dinner knife upside down like a tactical dagger - after realizing this, Lei Dian's face finally showed some despair.

Lei Dian stood up woodenly, paid the bill, and left, walking home alone. The bustling city traffic passed by him, bringing with it noise and a faint mockery.

After returning to the apartment building where he rented, Lei Dian just put his hand on the handle when he realized that someone had already entered!

Who? Was it that man named Rod, Aperture Technology, or Mukoff? Or some other, long-forgotten enemy?

Pursing his lips, Lei Dian clenched his fists, slowly turned the handle, and quietly slipped into the house - only the light in the living room was on, and there was a familiar person sitting on the small single sofa.

"Rose?!"

"Oh, you're finally back, Chin Man," Rosemary raised her eyes, holding a mobile phone-shaped communication device in her hand. She took a deep breath, met Lei Dian's surprised gaze, and said:

“My salary was suspended.”

"what?"

"I've been deprived of all my vacation and bonuses for the next five years, and my monthly salary has been suspended until the work is completed. I've lost all hope of promotion or receiving more important assignments because I gave up. I told him everything and my thoughts, and after 'he' found out, he got the punishment he's getting now... But 'he' didn't even realize I was by your side... He even gave me blessings and encouragement. What the hell... Can I get my bonus and salary back?"

Rosemary muttered to herself, leaning against the sofa cushions with a blank look in her eyes. She crossed her legs, her face filled with a complex expression of impatience and despair, and a little... a strange thought that even Thunderbolt couldn't fathom.

However, Raiden felt his heart beating wildly, almost wanting to sing out loud.

"I'll support you!" he said.

"Take care of yourself first, idiot."

Rosemary said this with a hint of mockery. She reached out to gather her drooping hair. After a few seconds of silence, she calmly, yet with a hint of fear, asked:

"Jack, if one day you find out that I have a secret in my heart, will you hate me?"

"...I won't," Lei Dian reached out and pulled Rosemary up from the sofa, holding her in his arms. "Maybe I'll be angry, or even leave you, but I can promise that I will come back."

"—but I can promise, I will come back—but I can promise, I will come back—"

Raiden: "...There's no need to write it down with a recorder, right?"

"Sorry, it's just professional custom," Rosemary shrugged, but after sniffing, she hugged Lei Dian tightly again and whispered, "If you dare to break your oath, you'll get your jaw knocked off."

"So why the chin?!"

Chapter 458: A "Small Gift" for the Soldiers

Arkham Forest.

The new soldiers of the Army Without Borders are undergoing training. They are elite soldiers who have retired from the United States Army. After going through layers of selection, review and preliminary understanding of the creations in the other world, they can come to Arkham Town for further advanced training.

These soldiers are the second-tier and backbone forces that handle events in the other world, and they will be qualified to become members of the [Mobile Task Force] later on.

There are also many unqualified people who choose to go to Africa to make a living with Atlas Corporation. There are quite a few of them - thanks to the impact of the disintegration of the Soviet Union, NATO as a whole has gradually relaxed from its high combat readiness. Disarmament should be reduced and projects should be cancelled. After the Soviet Union is gone, even kickbacks can be taken more boldly... Even the United States is the same.

Especially the United States Army. The Pentagon plans to reduce 18 Army divisions to 10. Although the implementation of this plan has been stuck in a quagmire due to obstruction and lobbying by certain forces, many experienced grassroots soldiers and non-commissioned officers have already begun to enter the retirement process and have been thrown into the rapidly developing prosperous society to endure the torture of life.

Under such circumstances, Atlas Corporation and even the [Organization] began to recruit people. Although Congressman Armstrong had some complaints about this, he did not slow down at all.

The chaos and changes brought about by the collapse of the Soviet Union will continue for a long time until the world ushers in another drastic change.

Of course, these are too far away for Sergeant Keegan P. Rath (Chapter 155, from Call of Duty: Ghosts), who is leading the training. He now needs to lead a group of "new recruits" to carry out hunting missions:

Hunting in Arkham Forest for the "little gifts" that the BOSS brought back from Central America. Of course, the soldiers will not really use live ammunition.

Those who haven't completed the task need to give their cigarette rations for the next week to those who have completed the task. As for themselves? They can only smoke Red Apple cigarettes that no one wants - no one wants to see this thing in their cabinet multiply!

With such a mood, the soldiers of the Army Without Borders stepped into the Arkham Forest, which was always in subtle changes. As their own back garden and pasture, the three descendants of the evil god had transformed this forest, which already had a weak connection with the other world, and "allowed" outsiders to enter. Sometimes, as authorized managers, the soldiers had to bring back the naughty children from Arkham Town who were lost in the forest.

But now there are some new things that can bring back the naughty kids and let new legends spread in the town of Arkham, such as... the Count of Monte Cristo in Hill Manor raised several velociraptors.

"Fresh footprints. They're hanging around nearby."

Keegan P. Rath muttered to himself, holding the rifle in his arms, and turned to the corporal next to him who was a Ranger.

"Don't mistake them for ordinary beasts. They're monsters that have undergone genetic modification and have been 'upgraded' by the young ladies of the villa. Their strength, speed, and even intelligence far surpass those old antiques in documentaries—they're truly monsters from the otherworld!"

"We're lucky there's no T-Rex... I've seen people from Team Six smoking Red Apples for a week, and the same goes for Teams Four and Three."

The corporal nodded in agreement. He pushed his hunting hat up and sighed in the scorching sunlight streaming through the gaps in the shade.