novelraw Chapter 68 : God’s Invitation Letter
Chapter 68 : God’s Invitation Letter
Chapter 68: God’s Invitation Letter
Capital, Bureau 869 headquarters.
A secret internal hearing was in progress.
Chen Mo stood expressionlessly in the defendant’s seat, accepting questioning from the upper echelons.
“Comrade Chen Mo, do you admit that, during the Hai City incident, there was serious command misconduct on your part?”
“I admit it.”
Chen Mo’s voice was calm, without the slightest ripple.
“Do you admit that your erroneous decisions led to massive losses to the nation and the people?”
“I admit it.”
“In view of your serious dereliction of duty in the Hai City incident, after organizational deliberation, it has been decided to remove you from the position of Deputy Bureau Chief of Bureau 869, retaining you for observation.”
“I accept all arrangements made by the organization.”
There was still no expression on Chen Mo’s face.
He knew that he was merely a scapegoat.
The root of this disaster was not his command failure, but the upper levels’ irrepressible greed and arrogance.
But with so many people dead, a city destroyed because of it, and the official forces suffering an almost total annihilation in terms of combat results, someone had to step forward to take the blame.
In the battle of Hai City, as the direct commanding officer of Bureau 869, he was the most suitable choice.
……
Chen Mo sat on a long bench. The crisp uniform on his body had already been changed into ordinary casual clothes, and the general’s stars on his shoulders had been removed.
He had gone from a major general bureau chief to a consultant with an idle post.
Footsteps sounded, and a middle-aged man in a Zhongshan suit walked over, carrying a black metal briefcase in his hand.
“Old Chen, take it easy.”
The middle-aged man sat down beside him and placed the briefcase on his knees. “There was no other way for those above either.”
Chen Mo gave a self-mocking smile, lit a cigarette, and said, “I understand. Compared to those brothers who died in Hai City, being able to sit here alive and bask in the sun already means I’ve gained something.”
“The higher-ups’ strategy toward the ‘Game of Gods’ has changed.”
The middle-aged man lowered his voice, his expression grave. “The lesson of Hai City was too painful.”
“We tried to use mortal wisdom to interfere with a god’s chessboard, and the result was being ground to dust.”
“That kind of cost, the nation cannot bear a second time.”
Chen Mo exhaled a smoke ring, his gaze somewhat hollow. “So what now? Just leave it alone? Let those players slaughter each other in the cities?”
“No. It’s not intervening in the game process anymore, only harvesting the results.”
The middle-aged man explained, “The new guiding principle is: official forces will no longer directly intervene in the game’s progress, no longer attempt to encircle or control all players.”
“We will only observe and record, and under normal circumstances, absolutely will not interfere again.”
“When the game ends and a victor is decided, then national resources will be mobilized to recruit them.”
Chen Mo fell silent.
This method was cruel, but it was indeed the optimal solution for minimizing losses at present.
“Then what about Wang Jingyi?” Chen Mo asked.
“She’s the nation’s treasure now, valued immensely by the upper levels.”
“She’s currently being protected in an underground fortress. Even if the world were to be destroyed, she would be among the last batch of people to die.”
The middle-aged man patted the briefcase. “Oh right, she also handed over something, said it was one of the extra rewards she obtained as a victor.”
Chen Mo’s gaze fell on the black briefcase, and his heartbeat inexplicably skipped a beat.
“This is… what does this mean?” Chen Mo’s voice trembled slightly.
“This is an ‘invitation from the Game of Gods’.”
“It can allow its holder to participate in the next ‘Game of Gods’.”
The middle-aged man slowly opened the briefcase. Against the black velvet lining, a card emitting a faint silvery glow lay quietly there, like a ticket leading to hell.
“Those big shots up there almost tore the place apart arguing over this card.”
The middle-aged man sneered. “They all want immortality, all want to obtain transcendent power.”
“But if you let them go themselves, every single one of them shrinks back.”
“After all, the tragic state of Hai City and the players’ mortality rate are right there. They cherish their lives and don’t dare use it themselves.”
“They want to possess power, but don’t want to bear the risk.”
“Use it on death warriors? They’re afraid they won’t be able to control them, afraid of raising a wolf that would bite its master.”
“So after countless rounds of exchange of interests and wrangling, this hot potato ultimately landed in your hands.”
The middle-aged man pushed the case in front of Chen Mo. “Chen Mo, you are the most suitable candidate.”
“You have experience, you have ability, and most importantly, you are absolutely loyal to the nation.”
“Can I do it?” This sentence from Chen Mo sounded as if he were asking the middle-aged man, and also as if he were asking himself.
“This is an organizational decision.”
The middle-aged man’s tone was calm. “The Hai City incident made us completely recognize the terror of transcendent power.”
“You are, so far, the person who understands the ‘Game of Gods’ the most.”
“Moreover, after experiencing the tragic state of Hai City, you should also be holding a ball of fire pent up in your heart.”
“So we hope you can use it to find a way out for this nation, and even for all of humanity.”
Chen Mo looked at the silver card, extended his trembling fingers, and lightly touched that icy surface.
In that instant, he seemed to once again hear Li Wei’s furious roar before death, see Bai Yu’s despairing gaze, see those subordinates who had turned into pools of blood, and the suffocating horror when that Demon God descended into the world.
Was he afraid?
Of course.
But even more so, it was a wildfire rekindled amid the ashes.
He was sick of powerlessness, sick of the humiliation of only being able to watch comrades sacrifice themselves while being unable to do anything.
“I accept.”
Chen Mo closed his eyes, took a deep breath, then grabbed the invitation in one motion. A bone-chilling ferocity seeped out from his eyes. “If hell needs someone to go, then let it be me!”
……
Unlike the official side’s caution and pragmatism, the upper echelons of the Ascension Alliance fell into unprecedented madness.
Although they suffered grievous losses in the Hai City incident, they had also personally witnessed the power of “god”.
That absolute power capable of destroying everything made their yearning for “divine grace” become even more fanatical, even more regardless of cost.
Hai City, aboard that luxury cruise ship built at enormous expense.
Zhao Yuan stood on the deck. The sea breeze messed up his hair, but could not blow away the madness in his eyes.
He had personally witnessed a miracle.
At that moment, secular money, power, and status all turned into filth in his eyes.
Only that power, that power capable of rewriting reality and ignoring rules, was the eternal truth.
“Boss, Mr. Gao Yuan… he has already left.”
A trusted subordinate reported in a low voice. “He took away all the funds and materials we prepared for him, but… he did not leave behind the invitation in his possession.”
“Normal.”
Zhao Yuan was not angry. Instead, he revealed a faint smile. “He’s a smart man. He knows that it’s priceless. If it were me, I wouldn’t hand it over either.”
“But he left you a letter.” The trusted subordinate handed a white envelope to Zhao Yuan.
After Zhao Yuan took it and finished reading, he gave an order, “Release a message globally through the dark web.”
“The Ascension Alliance will auction an ‘invitation from the Game of Gods’. All are welcome to participate.”
“As long as you have strength, we won’t ask about your origins, nor question your methods.”
“Yes!”
After the subordinate left, Zhao Yuan looked at the pitch-black sea, as if he saw a staircase leading to the divine throne—though that staircase was paved with white bones and cemented with fresh blood.
“O god…”
He murmured to himself, “Next time, I will definitely grasp the corner of your robe.”