When the game shut down, I took my skills with me.

Chapter 76 The Ark Rescue and the Expensive "International Humanitarianism"

Global Security Council, Emergency Virtual Meeting Room.

Dead silence.

Unlike the arguments and chaos that had occurred when dealing with the trouble caused by Ivanov, the meeting room was now filled with a suffocating silence.

On the enormous holographic screen, the red alert representing the "Lighthouse" project's exploration fleet flashed wildly, like the last beat of a dying heart.

"Help! Help! Mayday! This is Explorer One! The passage is completely blocked by lava—the Hellfire armor's heat insulation is failing! The oxygen system is malfunctioning! We—"

Serafina Vince's voice, a mixture of shrillness, panic, and despair, became her final, poignant cry before the communications were completely swallowed by the lava.

On the screen, the life signals representing the members of the "Pioneers" team are going out one by one.

The American representative, the gray-haired four-star general, was no longer the arrogant figure he had been when he accused Ivanov. He slumped in his chair, his face ashen, his lips trembling slightly, but he couldn't utter a single word.

The "Lighthouse" project, hailed as a shining example of human technological achievement, is now experiencing a devastating failure, broadcast live globally.

"cough."

A soft cough broke the despairing silence.

Qin Shiyue slowly stood up, his expression serious and solemn, as if he were presiding over a memorial service.

On behalf of the China Dragon Shield Bureau, I express my deepest condolences for the failure of the "Lighthouse" project's exploration mission and the sacrifice of the "Pioneer" team members.

His words were full of official formality and lacked any personal emotion.

"However," he changed his tone, his gaze sweeping over the ashen-faced American representative, "according to Article 7 of Chapter 3 of the *New Era Global Cooperative Operations Guidelines*, promulgated by Order at the time of the Council's establishment, each member unit shall independently bear all risks when carrying out its respective mission. Cross-regional rescue operations must be approved by a vote of the entire Council, and the resources consumed in the rescue must be exchanged for equivalent value."

Qin Shiyue's voice wasn't loud, but it struck everyone's heart like heavy hammers.

The phrases "acting according to regulations" and "equivalent exchange" in particular instantly brought the representatives from various countries, who had just harbored some sympathy for the United States, to their senses.

"Commander Qin is right." A gruff voice rang out, and General Ivanov grinned, revealing a set of white teeth, his gloating expression undisguised.

"We Red Bears don't have enough icebreakers to sail into a Pacific volcano to rescue people. Besides," he raised a virtual vodka glass to the American admiral, "I've heard your data models can calculate everything, haven't they? Why don't we calculate now the probability of success if we send a swimming team?"

The merciless mockery instantly turned the American general's face a deep purplish-red. He slammed his fist on the table, wanting to retort, but found himself unable to utter a single, forceful word.

"Now is not the time to discuss responsibility!" the French representative tried to smooth things over. "We should be thinking of a solution as soon as possible—"

"Find a solution? Of course, we must find a solution according to the rules." Qin Shiyue interrupted him righteously, "Without rules, there can be no order. This is an ironclad rule that the administrator established for us through 'order.' If we break the rules today because of 'humanitarianism,' how will we face even more severe challenges tomorrow? We cannot only learn half of the teacher's teachings!"

His words were spoken in a grand and impeccable manner.

The meeting room fell into another stalemate. Everyone understood that the so-called "voting" and "discussion" were nothing but a formality. Once the process was complete, the team inside the volcano would be reduced to ashes.

This is not a rescue discussion at all; it is a naked political game against the "Lighthouse" project.

Just as Serafina's virtual image became almost transparent due to despair.

A cool, rational voice came from the head of the table.

"The Ark can provide rescue."

It was Su Muqiu who spoke, having remained silent since the start of the meeting.

As Lu Yuan's representative and the highest administrator of the Ark Safe Zone, her position transcends all other forces.

—The moment she opened her mouth, she attracted everyone's attention.

"Based on the supercomputing capabilities of 'Order,' with current human technology, the success rate of conventional rescue methods is zero." Su Muqiu calmly stated the facts, while a detailed data report was projected onto the main screen.

"The only solution is to send top-tier players with exceptional individual combat skills and the ability to adapt to extreme environments to conduct a 'precision airdrop' to forcefully breach the volcano's interior and create a rescue route."

She paused, her gaze falling on Serafina's pale, bloodless face.

"And currently, there is only one person who meets this criterion."

"Ark First Combat Order, War Goddess, Lin Wei."

Lin Wei!

The moment the name was uttered, a collective gasp filled the conference room.

That battle maniac who, in the system announcement, single-handedly wiped out countless high-level demon nests! That woman hailed as the "walking calamity"!

If there's anyone in the world who could physically withstand volcanic lava, it would probably be her.

A spark of hope was rekindled in the eyes of Serafina and the U.S. general.

"On behalf of the U.S. government, I request that Ark immediately commence rescue operations!" the general said urgently. "We can pay—"

"Rescue? Of course." Su Muqiu raised his hand, interrupting him. His tone remained calm, but carried an unquestionable business air.

"However, according to the principle of 'equivalent exchange,' the Ark's rescue is not free."

"First," she held up her first finger, "Project Lighthouse must open all your underlying data models, environmental analysis algorithms, and the complete data log of the 'Heart of the Volcano' mission to the Ark. We need these failures to improve Order's global database."

"Impossible!" Serafina screamed instinctively.

This is tantamount to handing over the lifeblood of the "Lighthouse" project! Their global leadership is built on these core algorithms. Giving them away is like dissecting their brain and exposing it to others!

Su Muqiu ignored her screams and continued to extend his second finger.

"Secondly, for this rescue operation, Ark will deploy one of its latest 'Streamer'-class space fighters and one War Goddess priest. Based on Order's assessment of the risks and resources of the operation, the 'Lighthouse' project must pay Ark 800,000 World Contribution Points as 'rescue fees.'"

Eight hundred thousand!

This number left all the representatives present feeling suffocated.

This is almost equivalent to the total revenue from all missions in the "Lighthouse" program during this period!

This isn't a rescue operation; it's blatant profiteering! It's the most expensive form of commercial extortion disguised as "international humanitarianism"!

"This is extortion!" The American general trembled with rage.

"No, General." For the first time, a faint smile appeared on Su Muqiu's face, a smile calm and distant. "This is called business cooperation. After all, for those lives about to be lost, any price is worth paying, isn't it?"

Her words were like the sharpest knife, precisely piercing the other person's vitals.

On the screen, another life signal representing the "Trailblazers" team went out.

Time is not on their side.

Serafina looked at the dwindling life signal on the screen, then at Su Muqiu, who appeared calm as if discussing an ordinary business deal, and at the representatives from various countries who stood by, watching from the sidelines, some even with a hint of schadenfreude.

Her body trembled violently with humiliation and anger.

But in the end, all the pride and resentment were reduced to just two words.

"I agree."

These two words seemed to drain all the strength from her body.

An agreement has been reached.

Under the notary power of "order," a relief agreement that could be described as an "unequal treaty" was drafted and signed in an instant.

Almost at the same moment.

Gaia Plane, Ark New City, Military Airport.

Lin Wei, dressed in red leather armor and wielding a giant axe, stood quietly in front of a streamlined aerospace fighter jet that shimmered with a silver-white metallic luster.

Su Muqiu's concise command came through her communicator.

"Target: Active volcano at coordinates K-27 in the Pacific Ocean. Mission: Rescue all survivors. Authorization Level: Unrestricted."

All means are permitted.

"clear."

Lin Wei nodded without saying anything more. She leaped into the cockpit of the fighter jet.

The next second, accompanied by a roar that tore through the air, the fighter jet named "Flowing Light" transformed into a silver lightning bolt, soaring into the sky and instantly breaking through the spatial barrier of the Gaia plane, its target pointing directly at Earth, the Pacific Ocean that was being devoured by flames and death!