This time I chose Paladin.

Chapter 277 But where is God?

After sending the signal, Nie Weiyang remained silent, like a rock, blending into the darkness and silence.

Wait patiently.

Time flowed slowly amidst the chirping of insects. In the distance, an unknown mutated animal growled as it wandered through the jungle, gradually approaching the riverbank, seemingly searching for something.

Thirty-five seconds is the necessary delay in the process of spell encryption, signal relay, and rune decryption, and it is also the price to pay to ensure that the fragile communication is not spied on.

Two thirty-five-second intervals, plus the time it took for the other party to organize their thoughts, caused the communication talisman in Nie Weiyang's hand to vibrate slightly, with a soft, water-like light flowing through it.

Heito's reply has arrived.

A calm and collected young voice rang out from within the talisman. Nie Weiyang recognized it as Mu Jue, the liaison officer directly in his contact position:
"Message received, Comrade Nie Weiyang."

"The Hirado authorities have initiated an emergency analysis procedure and are studying the intelligence you sent back and assessing the appropriate course of action."

Mu Jue's voice was as clear and logical as ever, without any extra emotion, but his speaking speed was slightly faster than usual.

"I must explain to you that the core energy and limited resources of Pingdu and Huaxia must be prioritized for internal agricultural recovery, food supply chain security, reconstruction of basic industrial systems, and stable energy network supply."

"Objectively speaking, in the short term, we probably won't be able to organize a large-scale and effective operation with sufficient influence to deal with serious incidents in such areas overseas."

This was a rational judgment based on harsh reality, and Nie Weiyang was not surprised.

In any era, ensuring the survival and stability of the core areas of one's own civilization is undoubtedly the primary task.

Mu Jue then changed the subject, raising Pingdu's request: "Furthermore, based on the information you provided regarding the former civilization's refuge and related facilities, the technical department and the Energy Strategy Agency have jointly submitted a request:
"Could you please try contacting 'Administrator Number Two' and inquire about the possibility of allocating some of the energy left over from the previous civilization to facilitate the systematic reconstruction within China?"
"Any form of energy replenishment will greatly accelerate our social reconstruction process."

Nie Weiyang pondered for a moment, his fingertips unconsciously stroking the cold hilt of the sword.

He replied, "Request received. I can try to inquire, but please don't have too high expectations."

"The current state of the pre-civilization ruins is complex and extremely unstable, and you should have some understanding of the internal rules and restrictions they impose through your previous contact with them."

"I must emphasize that my relationship with Administrator Number Two is limited to a certain degree of cooperation. I cannot guarantee his response, much less represent his will or promise any outcome."

He must draw clear lines to prevent the rear from developing an unrealistic dependence on this uncertain cooperative relationship under immense survival pressure, which could harm both parties.

Mu Jue's reply arrived quickly.

"Understood. Ping is very grateful."

“Any potential or possible assistance is extremely valuable at this time.”

Mu Jue's tone seemed slightly more relaxed, although his voice remained steady.

"We expect to deliver a more detailed response to Pingdu’s comprehensive analysis results and preliminary action plan to you at this time tomorrow via the same encrypted frequency band."

"Please be sure to pay attention to your own safety during this period."

"Received. I'll contact you again at this time tomorrow. Over." Nie Weiyang ended the call crisply.

He knew perfectly well that Pingdu's strategic focus and limited strength would inevitably be mainly within the border.

The most likely form of support that Hirado could provide is intelligence sharing, limited non-military resource transactions that have been rigorously evaluated, and strategic support.

This is enough.

Nie Weiyang was filled with a myriad of thoughts.

He retracted the heavy radio prototype into his storage space, then subtly moved and disappeared into the shadows of the forest.

He crossed the dried-up riverbank and returned to the town of Kushui.

……

Early the next morning, Nie Weiyang left Kushui Town and moved in the direction Lin Shouheng had previously indicated.

That's the direction of Life Manor. Lin Shouheng himself hadn't been there, so he couldn't synchronize the map. But last night, some... well, some 'kind people' provided him with a lot of information, which solved his immediate problem. Thank you to these kind people; I hope they live well in the future. Oh, and for some of them, I hope they'll be more magnanimous in their next life.

Just a few miles from Kushui Town, after venturing deeper into the more remote and pristine jungle, Nie Weiyang's keen senses detected unusual activity ahead.

He silently climbed the giant tree, intending to hide among the intertwined branches, but his weight, which was now excessively tall even without armor, almost caused him to fall.

Nie Weiyang: “…”

Nie Weiyang silently released the branch and fixed himself to the tree trunk. His cold gaze pierced through the gaps in the leaves, looking down at the chilling scene in the forest clearing below.

That wasn't some struggling survivor squad, nor was it a border patrol team.

That was a slave-catching team!

About fifteen or sixteen armed men, equipped with relatively fine cloth clothing and leather armor, wore blank expressions. They shouted and drove away dozens of ragged people.

These people were sallow-faced, emaciated, and included men, women, and children of all ages. Their hands and feet were bound together with rough hemp ropes, and they were linked together like livestock about to be sent to the slaughterhouse.

Their eyes were mostly empty and lifeless, as if their souls had long been ripped out, leaving only numb shells. Only when the whip lashed their flesh with a whooshing sound would their bodies twitch uncontrollably and let out a suppressed groan of pain.

"Hurry up! What are you dawdling for! Do you want to get whipped again?"

A burly catcher roared, his long stick stabbing mercilessly into the back of a frail old man.

The crowd trudged along, sinking deep into the mud and decaying leaves, their despair almost vanishing into thin air.

Suddenly, in the middle of the line, a man who was so thin that he was almost just a skeleton collapsed to the ground.

He struggled a few times, but like a fish out of water, he could no longer get up on his own.

"Damn it! Another piece of trash!"

The leader, a burly man with a fierce look in his eyes, cursed impatiently and strode forward.

Without any intention of checking or helping him up, he directly pulled out a gleaming dagger from his waist.

The man lying on the ground seemed to realize something, letting out a hoarse moan, his eyes flashing with a final glimmer of hope for survival.

But that brilliance was extinguished in an instant.

With a flash of light, swift and clean, the sharp dagger precisely sliced ​​open the man's throat, blood gushing out like a burst water sac, splattering onto the surrounding mud and the terrified faces of the slaves beside him.

Not much, but it's very hot.

The leader, as if discarding a broken tool, casually kicked the reflexively convulsing body, sending the man tumbling into the nearby thicket of thorns.

"Useless trash! You're wasting my time!"

He spat, flicked the sticky blood off his dagger, and roared at the other silent, pale-faced slaves: "You all better see this clearly! This is what happens when you waste time!"

"Go! If you don't reach Aoshan before dark, none of you will get any food!"

The pungent smell of blood, the stench of incontinence, and the sour odor of sweat permeated the forest clearing, making one feel nauseous.

The group murmured amongst themselves, unable to say anything. A young girl, her eyes filled with tears, stared intently at the bushes.

“Dad…” she murmured.

Dad...you always said that these days will be over soon, that God loves us, and that God will save us.

Where is God? I long to see Him.

You say God will save those who suffer, but so many people in the world are suffering...

Why isn't God coming?

(End of this chapter)