Dual Worlds: I Have a Doomsday World

"The apocalypse has been going on for nearly a month, and the Dragon Country’s rescue forces are already stretched thin. The Zombies are evolving too quickly. Without this Potion, I’m afraid many Survivor Camps will fall in another month at most."

Ding Yang seemed to have seized the opportunity, expressing his gratitude while also airing his grievances.

He went on for quite a while.

Watching Ding Yang, Lin Qi sensed that something was off!

’Ding Yang is a man who values efficiency. Normally, unless he was scheming something, why would he ramble on for so long?’

’He usually gets straight to the point, resolving matters with maximum efficiency.’

’For him to talk this long... something is definitely wrong with Ding Yang!’

Lin Qi had already figured out Ding Yang’s methods; he’d even put them to use himself yesterday.

How could he not see what Ding Yang was thinking?

"Director Ding, feel free to speak your mind. We’re practically partner units. Even if it’s something difficult to say, you can rest assured and say it."

Ding Yang had already tried this "soften him up first" routine on Lin Qi twice, and Lin Qi had even used it back on him once.

There was no need for the two of them to beat around the bush anymore.

As long as the request was reasonable, within his capabilities, and posed no danger to himself, Lin Qi didn’t mind lending a hand.

Ding Yang’s expression instantly became a little awkward.

’With emotional intelligence like that, it’s no wonder Lin Qi couldn’t pass the civil service exam after graduation.’

’Seeing through a ruse without calling it out is the most basic social grace!’

’Who just calls someone out and makes things awkward like that?!’

Tactically rubbing his nose, Ding Yang began, "As expected of you, Lin Qi. You truly have a discerning eye."

After the flattery, Ding Yang stated his real request.

"To be honest, yesterday when I sent Warriors to Changpu District to request Tier Two Extraordinary Items, Director Jiang Shangyang of Changpu District came to Hongshan Camp with the locomotive."

"He came to us for help. According to Director Jiang’s description, traces of a Tier Three Monster have appeared in Changpu District. However, according to the Headquarters’ manual, no signs of Moon Worshipers have been found yet."

"In other words, it’s a naturally occurring Tier Three Monster, and a highly aggressive one at that."

"Director Jiang heard about what happened between our Hongshan Camp and the Mo University Camp. He hopes that, through me, he can ask you, Lin Qi, for support in dealing with that Tier Three Monster."

’So that’s what it was. Ding Yang’s long-winded speech was all a setup for this moment.’

’Lay out the miserable state of the various camps, then bring up the plight of the Changpu District Camp, and even deliver the ’reward’ from them in advance. If Lin Qi were a bit more thin-skinned, he would have found it impossible to refuse.’

Lin Qi thought for a moment, then asked, "Director Ding, while I may have the Ability to deal with a Tier Three Monster, the risk is substantial. After all, I’m still a ways off from becoming a Tier Three Extraordinary myself."

"Logically speaking, the Headquarters has Tier Three Extraordinaries. Why aren’t they sending one to help? Why would Director Jiang come to me for help through you instead?"

This was what confused Lin Qi. The Tier Three Extraordinary from Headquarters was just here the day before yesterday. Why not just make a quick trip to Changpu District to provide support?

Ding Yang was silent for a moment before explaining, "The number of Tier Three Awakened at Headquarters is currently limited. Headquarters issued a notice to all rescue teams that Tier Three Awakened must prioritize handling incidents related to the Moon Worshipers to prevent a large number of Tier Four Monsters from appearing within the Dragon Country."

"As for ordinary, naturally occurring Tier Three Monsters, Headquarters has ordered all local rescue teams to hold their positions and wait for reinforcements until personnel become available."

’A manpower shortage?’

Lin Qi hadn’t expected the reason behind it to be so simple.

But after thinking it over, Lin Qi felt it was reasonable.

’The Dragon Country officials must be swamped, especially those Tier Three Extraordinaries they created in a short time using that unknown Extraordinary Item.’

As he was thinking, Lin Qi suddenly realized something else.

’No, it’s more than that. The reason the Dragon Country Command Headquarters chose to prioritize dealing with the Moon Worshipers isn’t just because of a manpower shortage.’

’It’s because dealing with incidents involving Moon Worshipers allows them to meet the quotas for that Extraordinary Item, which lets them issue more Merit Medals and cultivate Extraordinaries at a faster rate.’

’It’s a strategy of fueling war with war.’

’As for ordinary Tier Three Monsters?’

’Although they’re also highly dangerous to individual camps, expending energy to deal with them in the early stages of the apocalypse... ’

’...would actually slow down the Dragon Country’s speed of cultivating Extraordinary Power, and could even cause attrition to their existing forces.’

’Save one camp, or plan for the future salvation of the entire civilization.’

’It was a trolley problem.’

’But Headquarters had made its choice with extreme decisiveness.’

Seeing Lin Qi fall into deep thought, Ding Yang grew a little anxious.

He had a good relationship with Director Jiang from Changpu District; they had even come from the same recruit company back in the day.

After learning of the crisis, Ding Yang couldn’t just sit by and do nothing.

Today’s plan of giving Lin Qi a gift, playing the victim, and asking for help was something Ding Yang had specifically devised to save Jiang Shangyang.

Lin Qi saw Ding Yang’s expression and reassured him, "Don’t be anxious, Director Ding. I’m not saying I won’t help. I just have some more questions I’d like answered."

Lin Qi wasn’t finished with his questions, but seeing Ding Yang’s expression, he said, "Alright, one last question then."

Ding Yang nodded quickly and said, "Please, go ahead."

"Although Changpu District faces the risk of a Tier Three Monster, Hongshan Camp is safe enough, and the railway line is relatively secure."

"The area around Hongshan Station is large enough to temporarily house tens of thousands of people. I want to know why Director Jiang of Changpu Camp isn’t choosing to evacuate and take shelter, but is instead determined to hold out in Changpu District?"

Lin Qi had a guess as to the answer.

The trolley problem he had just been contemplating gave him a clear line of thought.

Hearing this, Ding Yang fell silent for a long time.

He sighed, then finally said, "Actually, within the first week of the apocalypse, after the major camps completed their initial search and rescue operations and saved nearly sixty percent of the survivors, the commanders of all the camps proposed to Headquarters that after clearing the railway system, they should consolidate all of the Dragon Country’s survivor forces to form massive base cities."

"But that proposal was rejected."

After saying this, Ding Yang fell silent again for a moment, then added, "The day after the proposal was rejected, Headquarters gave an order: all rescue teams organized by districts, counties, and cities must establish Survivor Camps centered around their local stations and survive on site."

"No commander is permitted to lead survivors away from their designated location without a direct order."

"According to the orders from Headquarters, Director Jiang can’t lead his people out of Changpu District. He can only hold his position and wait for reinforcements."

After hearing Ding Yang’s words, Lin Qi thought to himself.

’Just as I thought. Headquarters is decisive, but also wise.’

’This was, without a doubt, another trolley problem.’

’Gathering all the survivors within the Dragon Country would certainly be effective in reducing casualties.’

’Massive base cities would provide survivors with better living conditions.’

’But the price would be...’

’...abandoning most of their territory, letting it be occupied by Zombies, monsters, and Moon Worshipers.’

’Perhaps this method would minimize casualties in the early stages of the apocalypse.’

’But they wouldn’t even make it to the later stages. All it would take is for the Zombies to get a little stronger, for the Moon Worshipers to casually create a few Tier Four Monsters, or for a few Blood Moon Envoys to appear.’

’What awaited the Dragon Country after that would be true disaster.’

’In contrast, with the current method, while survival is harder for the individual camps, it stretches the front lines and grants them the greatest potential for growth.’

’Trading lives for potential.’

’Gambling that potential on a future.’

’This was the choice made by the Dragon Country Command Headquarters.’