You said mechs were going to fight monsters, but instead you're destroying stars with your bare

Chapters 162-164: The Interior of the Fortress (Anti-Censorship 2.0)

"No...no! This is a frame-up! It's fabricated!"

Qingquan's mind went blank, and she screamed instinctively, trying to explain herself.

"This is malicious suppression of whistleblowers! They want me to shut up!"

However, her explanation seemed so weak and powerless at this moment.

Some of the mech pilots who had initially supported her quietly distanced themselves from her.

Just when everyone thought the turmoil was about to end, the leader of a particular faction suddenly stepped forward.

Completely opposing slogans once again resounded through the sky. The revelation of the truth, instead of quelling the conflict, caused the entire scene to explode instantly!

When their lies are exposed, the extremists become even more radical in an attempt to cover up their mistakes.

Chaos instantly swept across the entire square! Builders who supported a particular faction and those who supported the opposing faction completely broke off relations and started fighting.

This conflict has long since transcended a simple physical clash.

It evolved into a "great confrontation" involving the entire population and filled with postmodern absurdity.

The tools that were normally used to build homes have now become objects of interference.

A burly man, wielding a giant wrench with tremendous force, repelled a mech pilot who attempted to launch a sneak attack.

The mech pilot, however, was not to be outdone.

He steadied himself in mid-air and pulled out a high-voltage welding gun with his other hand.

A beam of intense energy shot out, interfering with the wrench in the burly man's hand.

Even more alarming are the builders who have awakened supernatural abilities.

They also completely let go of their inhibitions.

For a while.

On the square, ice crystals and flames flew together.

On the construction site, tools and building materials dance together.

A petite girl waved her hands.

Dozens of sharp ice crystals appeared out of thin air and poured down on the opposing camp like a torrential rain.

Meanwhile, a middle-aged man on the other side suddenly unleashed a burst of blazing flames, melting away all the ice crystals.

They even burned the protective gear of several members of a particular faction who got too close, creating a chaotic scene with a variety of unexpected attacks.

Even several heavy engineering mechs joined the fray.

They wielded their enormous mechanical arms as if conducting a fierce combat drill.

Each fall was accompanied by gasps and tremors.

What should have been a great project symbolizing human hope and unity has now been completely reduced to a chaotic and absurd battlefield of opposing sides.

The project has come to a complete standstill, and personnel injuries have surged.

The observation team sent by the project command was completely dumbfounded by the unexpected scene of conflict.

The head of the observation team, drenched in sweat, hid behind the protective vehicle and strained to report to his superiors through an encrypted channel.

"Headquarters! Headquarters! The situation on the ground is completely out of control! Requesting backup! Repeat, requesting backup!"

"What caused the loss of control?!" came an urgent voice from the other end of the channel.

"It's...it's 'Qingquan'! The problematic information about mecha pilot Yang has been exposed in public, and now the two factions are in complete conflict!"

The observation team leader transmitted the live footage over, and the surreal and intense confrontation caused a brief silence to fall over the communication channel.

Meanwhile, in a spacious office in an institutional building far from the construction site, the atmosphere was so oppressive it seemed to freeze.

This is the emergency meeting room of the Mech Pilot Qualification Review Committee, a branch of which consists of several core members.

The holographic screen was displaying the chaotic scene in the square.

Meanwhile, in one corner of the screen, Yang's exposed information was being played on a loop.

The director, sitting in the main seat, had a livid face.

The veins on his forehead throbbed.

The cigarette in his hand had long since gone out, and he was completely unaware that ash had fallen all over him.

Yang Moumou is not just an ordinary mecha pilot.

She is the benchmark of the "new era mecha pilot" that their faction is pushing hard.

It is an "important symbol" that they use to gain more say and resources within the committee.

Her resume, her image, and her "achievements" were all orchestrated by them.

Now, this crucial "symbol" has been smashed to pieces in front of everyone!
"Check! Check it for me!"

The director's voice was hoarse and low.

"Who did this?! Who has the audacity to directly hack into the base's system?! I want all their information!"

A technical supervisor, wiping away cold sweat, reported: "Director... the other side's technology is too advanced; it's impossible to track them!"
"Moreover...and the information he released...we checked it internally, and the content is consistent."

The director slammed his fist on the table.

"Of course I know! The problem now is how to handle it!" He glanced at his trembling subordinates, his eyes bloodshot. "This situation must be controlled! We absolutely cannot let the impact escalate!"

Upon hearing this, another committee member spoke up.

“But now everyone in the base has seen it. How do we control it? This isn't a simple problem anymore; it's a crisis of trust! If we don't handle it properly, the credibility of our entire mech pilot selection system will be..."

"Then let's create even more attention to divert it!" A resolute glint flashed in the director's eyes.

They launched a series of diverting attention and confusing the public, leaving everyone present holding their breath.

This is no longer a simple matter of control. It's about completely reversing the nature of the entire incident and shifting the blame to an external threat.

"But Director, what exactly do you mean by external interference sources..."

"No buts!" The director whirled around, his eyes sharp. "Then let's point the finger at the abyss! No one on this ship can escape unscathed! If Yang is finished, none of us will be able to escape responsibility! Now, immediately, carry out the order! I refuse to believe that these guys think they can ignore order just because they have mechs and superpowers!"

After kicking all his subordinates out of the office, the director locked the door from the inside.

He knew in his heart that his previous explanation had many flaws and could only temporarily stabilize the situation; it could not withstand further scrutiny.

Since we were able to uncover information about Yang, we can certainly uncover more, perhaps even... uncover him himself.

He began to review the situation, but the more he thought about it, the more cold sweat he broke out on his back. His first thought was indeed to cut his losses and save himself.

They completely abandoned Yang as the "problem point" and pushed all the blame onto her alone.

But this thought only lasted a short time before he suppressed it.

Because Yang was never an isolated case.

She was a link in that complex system that they had personally set up.

He thought of the promise made by a certain college.

A few weeks ago, in order to qualify several applicants whose scores were different.

The college provided sufficient resources.

The team responsible for "adjusting" the data was his own team.

The relevant records are still stored in encrypted devices.

He then thought of a few other companies.

They are the supplier of simulators specifically designed for the mech pilot qualification exam.

The reason they are suppliers is because their simulators have adjustable assessment parameters.

This access is held only by him and a few key personnel.

In return, these companies promised continued "cooperation and support" and provided certain conveniences for the director's relatives...

The director then suddenly thought of the relationships within the committee.

Since the outbreak of the crisis, he has used this system to deploy countless people and gather a great deal of information.

This system is no longer just a simple tool.

It has become a complex being with enormous tentacles.

A kind of inertia gradually formed.

A group that is dependent on the status quo has emerged.

Regardless of the original intention.

Once running, it will quickly connect to numerous other processes.

Some people are responsible for coordination and communication, some for technical processing, some for information dissemination, and some for equipment maintenance...

Many people's positions and expectations are closely tied to maintaining the "status quo" of this system.

They formed a complex and interconnected system.

And now...

Yang, this "problem point," was detonated.

If a thorough investigation were conducted, it would be impossible to find only her.

The investigation team followed the leads and investigated further.

It will drag him, the college company, and everyone else connected to this system out, one by one!

At that time, his former "collaborators" will not hesitate to push him out in order to protect themselves.

He is not the master of this system at all; he is just a key link in it.

He was firmly bound by the system he had helped build.

Thinking of this, the director shuddered.

A chilling sense of crisis gripped him.

He cannot retreat, nor can he retreat to any other option!

Controlling the situation was no longer solely about protecting Yang, or even entirely about protecting himself.

He did this to preserve the "status quo" that would allow all stakeholders to continue operating temporarily!
He needs to shift his focus to a broader perspective.

An external threat must be used to divert attention from internal conflicts.

We must use stronger measures to deter anyone who tries to dig deeper!
This was no longer a choice, but the only way out that he believed in.

This heavy, desperate realization quickly dispelled the worry in his eyes, replacing it with a resolute determination to burn his bridges.

He walked to the innermost part of the desk and pressed a complex sequence of fingers on an inconspicuous decoration.

Beneath the heavy solid wood tabletop, a hidden compartment quietly slides open.

Inside was only a palm-sized, completely black communicator without any markings.

This is his real "trump card".

The director picked up the communicator, took a deep breath, and pressed the only button.

The communicator made no sound, but a signal that could not be detected by normal means had already crossed space.

A moment later, a synthesized voice, encrypted and disguised with no discernible human emotion, rang directly in the director's mind.

You... seem to be in trouble.

(End of this chapter)