Chapter 526: Shapeshifter - Mira of Myriad (Wanxiang)
After Xia Xiu, as Director, issued the war mobilization order, Mole and Green Ox each saluted respectfully and then began to move according to his mobilization instructions.
The Administration's war mobilization involved assembling all of its elite forces. This included not only experienced conventional combat units, but also special operations teams trained for specialized situations, as well as recently formed mechanized units.
As commander, he required these units to undergo intensive training and equipment inspections to ensure they could operate at the highest possible efficiency in wartime.
During this mobilization, the Director specifically stated that all units would follow the orders of Deputy Commander Turles during operations.
As Special Operators Mole and Green Ox gradually walked away, Xia Xiu glanced to the side.
Next to her, Chief of Intelligence Pansy Jane slowly approached. Her attire was refined, her face beautiful, yet tinged with a subtle aloofness. The teardrop mole at the corner of her eye added a touch of mysterious charm.
"Tell me, is there anything else I can handle?" Xia Xiu raised his silver cane and asked the Chief of Intelligence.
Pansy Jane walked steadily, the folder in her hand seemingly containing important information.
"She needs to personally report the intelligence obtained from the Moon Rabbit to you." Her tone was as serious as ever, her eyes expressionless.
"Encrypted information?" Xia Xiu's eyes flickered.
The task force answered only to him, and was accountable only to him. Therefore, even the Chief of Intelligence had the right to refuse to report certain matters, even to a special agent.
"Yes."
Jane nodded in affirmation, then continued:
"She has already submitted the meeting address to the Administration through a specific channel. This instruction needs to be verified step by step through three interviews with Adam, the Secretariat, and the Director."
"Okay, I understand."
Xia Xiu nodded in understanding, saying he would take time to check it out.
However, seeing that Pansy Jane hadn't left, he briefly pondered the reason.
"Do the staff within the Administration have any objections to the establishment of the Secretariat?"
"Yes, but these objections won't hinder its establishment. The Secretariat's structure is already fully established."
Pansy Jane first answered Xia Xiu's question seriously, then began to reveal her ambitions.
"The Secretariat's core goal is to ensure efficient and orderly administrative operations and support the organization in achieving its mission and objectives. The current position of Secretary-General of the Secretariat remains vacant, hindering the Secretariat's management of the Administration."
Since the establishment of the Secretariat, which has partially deprived [Adam] of some of its power, some intelligence procedures and mission operations have inevitably become more cumbersome, and the Administration's efficiency has declined. At the very least, the Administration's personnel are now performing fewer "brainless" tasks and more tasks requiring their own thinking and subjective judgment.
From an efficiency perspective, depriving [Adam] of power is unwise. However, from a macro-architecture perspective, the establishment of the Secretariat has successfully reclaimed some power from the Administration's overall control model, shifting from comprehensive intelligent management to partial human-intelligence management.
This is a form of artificial checks and balances—the relationship between Adam and the Secretariat is similar to that between a ruling faction and a government agency.
The think tank and the Secretariat can divide their work, or they can work separately.
These are the issues that both sides of the Administration will need to address in the future.
Regardless, this was all intentional on the part of Xia Xiu, the architect and decision-maker at the top. Separation of powers and checks and balances are essential. Even in the [Unknown Land], the Kingdom of Heaven is wary of think tanks, and internal core institutions are subject to constraints.
The power struggles involved are minor; ensuring the maximum preservation of justice and the minimum error margin are the real issues.
"You want the position of Secretary-General." Xia Xiu glanced at Pansy Jane.
"Is there anyone else capable of this position?"
Pansy Jane tilted her head, a hint of deliberate doubt in her previously cold eyes.
"That's not the case yet," Xia Xiu couldn't help but smile.
He had asked Pansy Jane to build the Secretariat, and now most of the staff in the Administration Secretariat were members of the Chief of Intelligence's team.
"I'll have [Adam] announce the appointment. Of course, you'll continue to serve concurrently as Chief of Intelligence."
Xia Xiu agreed to Pansy Jane's request, then said meaningfully:
"The separation of the think tank and the secretariat can be considered a tradition passed down from Heaven. But you must understand. The Administration and Heaven are fundamentally different, as are the differences between Administration operators and angels. So... pay attention to Chaos's gaze."
"I understand that," her voice was serious and direct, without a trace of hesitation.
Afterward, Pansy Jane briefly chatted with Xia Xiu for a few more words, then, citing her heavy workload, bid him farewell.
Xia Xiu stood there, his gaze following Pansy Jane's back until she disappeared behind the office door. He couldn't help but whisper:
"Adam, what are your thoughts on this?"
[I will serve as the Authority's think tank, assisting the Secretariat's operations—]
"Really?"
Xia Xiu rubbed his chin. "I've heard that some of the Authority's agents recruited from remote areas have developed a certain degree of deification and path dependency toward you."
[The Secretariat has already conducted ideological education on related topics—]
[As for the path dependency issue…]
[Adam] didn't elaborate further, but Xia Xiu naturally understood what he meant. His establishment of the Secretariat was driven, on the one hand, by his position as a decision-maker, and on the other, by a reflection of factionalism within the Kingdom of Heaven.
Path dependency refers to the fact that once a social, economic, or technological system begins to evolve along a specific trajectory, it becomes difficult for that system to break free from the existing pattern, even if a superior alternative emerges.
Once established, political systems and institutions develop path dependencies, making fundamental change difficult. Institutional arrangements, legal frameworks, and policy orientations often remain stable due to historical reasons, even when the system exhibits obvious flaws.
Just as cultural and ideological path dependencies limit the acceptance of new ideas and the promotion of innovation,
"Sure enough, no think tank can avoid one of the major flaws of [Utopia]," Xia Xiu muttered to himself.
Think tanks, and even AI, are more susceptible to path dependency than any other form of technology in the past. As people increasingly rely on AI systems for decision support and automated tasks, they will inevitably reduce their ability to think deeply about problems and become accustomed to accepting AI's advice.
This trend weakens human critical thinking and leads to over-reliance on the thinking patterns and decision-making logic of specific AI systems. The widespread application of AI is bound to reshape social structures and behavioral patterns.
If all of humanity were governed by an all-knowing think tank, the discussion of free will could not be ignored.
This was also a problem that the Utopia faction had to address.
Currently, all three major factions within the Celestial Kingdom had already made moves. The [Hiddendomism] had captured the Is clan's mastermind, the [Avalon System], from the New Lisbon Island hub; the [Utopiaism] had successfully sunk a Star Terror into Terra during the Battle of Jupiter. That area was now sealed off, and the [Central Containment Chamber] was continuously experimenting with various god-killing weapons on the dormant [Volcano King]. While the Utopia faction hadn't taken any action, their members had already contacted the Administration, and the establishment of the Secretariat was largely related to them.
Xia Xiu had long known that Pansy Jane had contacted the right-wing angels within the Celestial Kingdom, such as the imaginary faction and the old angels who hated human intelligence.
He also tacitly agreed to his "direct lieutenant" contacting them. Pansy Jane's political spectrum clearly leans to the right, leaning towards the Vigilant Think Tank. His support for him as the Administration's Secretary-General and Chief of Intelligence has already sent a lot of signals.
Although he bears the label of "Son of Eden," this doesn't prevent him from being friendly with right-wing angels.
Xia Xiu embodies the art of playing both sides to the fullest.
With connections to all three major factions, he knows how to assess the situation. He can sacrifice his own interests for the right, or ally with the left-wing Ethics Committee.
"According to the information provided by the Moon Rabbit, a family in Whispering Square has already expressed goodwill to the Administration, willing to comply with all its arrangements..."
Xia Xiu pondered this as he activated [Personal Customization] and pulled out of thin air the [Dove Hat] he habitually wore when traveling.
After donning the black hat, he opened the address provided by the Moon Rabbit and took a look.
Then, holding the silver cane in his right hand, he knocked the ground.
Dong, dong, dong—
A figure-8 Möbius strip appeared in the surrounding void, followed by ripples in space, and his figure slowly began to disappear.
***************
Hell's Kitchen, Ninth Avenue.
On an unassuming yet not entirely hidden street in Hell's Kitchen, there stood a seemingly ordinary, newly renovated cafe called "Whisper of the Night."
The cafe was located near the intersection of Ninth Avenue and 51st Street, surrounded by a number of bustling restaurants and bars.
Whisper of the Night maintained a bygone era charm, its red brick walls accented by warm yellow exterior lighting, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Pubfuture Ads
The shop isn't large, but its design is ingenious, using large windows to let in natural light. Passersby can vaguely glimpse what's going on inside, but due to the lighting and placement of the interior, they can't fully discern what's going on.
Most of the customers here are humans, but even amidst these everyday scenes, there are some unusual patrons.
For example—the shapeshifters/monsters.
They stand out from the crowd with their unique square, jelly-like figures, resembling slimes, but they are fundamentally different.
These shapeshifters can change their form at will, but in this small cafe, they seem to prefer this slime form.
Of course, this is also related to the "Image Rights Protection Act" introduced by the federal government and the New Alliance, as well as the "Anti-NTR Act" recently passed by the House of Representatives targeting 156 different races.
Shapeshifters who can transform are the seventh on the list of those targeted by the Federation's "Anti-NTR Law." This law requires all shapeshifters to maintain their slime form while in the Abnormal State, prohibiting them from arbitrarily mimicking the appearance of other Federation citizens—regardless of beauty or ugliness, or gender.
As for the reason for this seemingly outrageous law, it's because every law has a sad story behind it.
"A cup of Starlight Illusion Drink."
A shapeshifter named Mira Wanxiang held up a white debit card and waved to the barista in front of him, whose face was covered in crystallized marks as he wiped a glass.
His jelly-like tentacles, combined with his slime-like body, made the wave look somewhat comical and absurd.
"Okay."
The barista took Mira Wanxiang's debit card. He looked incredibly professional, not even laughing at the 'green slime' before him.
"Hey, Pine, about the introduction we talked about earlier..." the Shapeshifter said in a barely audible voice as the barista took the debit card.
"Don't worry, sir. The coffee will be ready soon," the barista replied, seemingly unrelated.
Mira Wanxiang squirmed uncomfortably in the cylindrical chair the Shapeshifter had been sitting on. But he dared not show any dissatisfaction.
His family had spent a fortune to establish this connection, and he couldn't afford to be careless.
Even though the other party had suddenly requested a meeting with him and then left him sitting on the bench, he didn't dare say anything.
Even though Mira Wanxiang came from the Thousand Changes Workshop family, one of the eight chaebols of Whispering Plaza, he didn't dare express any hostility or resentment towards the barista before him.
In the pulsating heart of Whispering Plaza, the eight chaebol families existed like constellations, each with its distinct brilliance guiding the prosperity and order of this intersection of planes.
The plutocrats are both the guardians and rulers of the Hub, holding the keys to magic and wealth and shaping the square's unique cultural and economic landscape.
However, as the Authority's shadow gradually looms over Hell's Kitchen, and with the establishment of its municipal office there,
Following Hugh Abraham's iron-fisted policies and hostility toward the Esoteric Cult, this once free and prosperous market has faced an unprecedented crisis.
It's clear to anyone that the Authority's director intends to centralize the decentralized power surrounding Hell's Kitchen within the Authority itself. This poses a formidable challenge to the already autonomous plutocratic families.
Faced with this crisis, some families have chosen to remain silent, wait and see, and maintain neutrality as much as possible, hoping to avoid direct conflict. Others, particularly those with deep ties to the underworld, have chosen to continue their unscrupulous collaboration with the Esoteric Cult and the underground, even preparing to secretly resist the Authority's intervention.
The Protean Workshop family, however, chose to cut ties at lightning speed. They recognized the necessity of cooperating with the Administration and proactively cut ties with the esoteric cult and underground industries to avoid being caught up in the impending storm.
At the same time, they hoped to ride aboard the Administration's ship.
After all, the current Director of the Administration, Heaven's Fourth Sword-Bearer, is a rare "enlightened" angel. His entry into Heaven's highest power center is a foregone conclusion. If his demonstrated inclinations continue, he may even seek further advancement.
Furthermore, many, observing the increasingly secularized Heaven and the centralizing power of its resolutions and assemblies, have begun to worry about whether Heaven will establish a land-based state.
If a Heavenly government were established on Terra, who would lead it, and who would be the supreme head of state?
Of course, news of a Heavenly state establishing a land-based state is generally dismissed as a rumor spread by a journalism graduate.
After all, all sorts of rumors are circulating outside Terra right now. There were rumors that the Adisi Federation was destined to unify Terra, that the Orlitin Empire was poised to sweep across the New World, and that the Daevite Empire was ready to encroach on the Central Alliance...
There were all sorts of outrageous rumors, including one that claimed the man in the Administration looked like... "the heir apparent to the throne of Heaven."
Who would believe such outrageous rumors?!
Mira Wanxiang, of course, scoffed at the rumor, but he still secretly harbored some suspicions.
Occasionally, when his mind wandered, a bizarre thought would pop up: What if?
However, that wasn't what he was thinking about right now.
The Whisper of the Night café was the Administration's connection he had finally secured. He hoped to use it to meet the lord and express the ever-changing Workshop family's sincere support.
********
In the back of the café, the unremarkable door that appeared to lead to the staff area was actually a portal to a more complex world.
Behind this door was a small, modern room filled with the latest display screens and communication equipment, designed specifically for meetings and data exchanges with the Moon Rabbit Intelligence Team.
Inside the room, Moon Rabbit stood before the numerous display screens, her figure radiant and dashing, clad in a black task force uniform.
On the screen, real-time surveillance footage from key locations within Hell's Kitchen flashed like vibrant eyes, taking in everything. Her current focus was a shapeshifter named Mira Wanxiang.
At this moment, an unusual atmosphere shattered the silence in the room.
A baseball-sized mechanical butler quietly hovered in front of Moon Rabbit. Its distinctive two pairs of mechanical rabbit ears swayed gently in an almost biological rhythm, as if expressing emotions in its own unique way, making it look both technologically advanced and endearing.
[The Wanxiang family members are ready—]
"Has my secret letter been sent to the Secretariat?" Moon Rabbit inquired of the mechanical butler beside her.
[The document indicates it has been accepted—]
The mechanical butler's optical sensors flickered several times, as if processing the issue.
[Latest Receipt: The Director has departed for the intelligence location! Having originally thought she still had time to prepare, Moon Rabbit couldn't help but feel a flicker of nervousness upon hearing the news of the Director's impending arrival.]
The Director's visit was undoubtedly extremely important to her, signifying a direct assessment of her work and efforts.
"When will the Director arrive?" she couldn't help but ask, hoping for a more specific time to make final preparations.
The mechanical butler spun slightly in the air, as if searching for the most appropriate expression.
[Now—]
Its answer was concise and clear, yet it caught Moon Rabbit off guard.
"What?" Moon Rabbit's voice was filled with astonishment.
The moment she raised her doubtful voice, the space within the room seemed to respond to some invisible call. Subtle ripples began to form in the air ahead, as if the surface of reality itself had been gently touched.
Then, a figure-8-shaped Möbius strip quietly appeared out of thin air. Its form was perfect and mysterious, with light flowing through it. It was both a symbol of infinite looping and the center of the spatial distortion.
This appearing Möbius strip seemed to completely ignore the rare and expensive reality anchors within the chamber, which were originally designed to prevent any unauthorized thaumaturgy or technology from disturbing the spatial stability of the chamber.
However, even the strongest reality anchors seemed powerless before this incredible circular structure.
As the spatial distortion within the Möbius strip intensified, a figure slowly emerged, as if traversing from another dimension.
The man was dressed in a sharp black suit, every piece of clothing fitting perfectly. He wore a finely crafted black hat atop his head, and in his hand, he held a silver cane, a symbol of his power.
When the figure fully emerged, the Möbius strip quietly dissipated, as if it had never existed. Standing before Moon Rabbit was, of course, none other than Xia Xiu, the Director of the Administration.
At that moment, his golden hair shone softly under the light, perfectly complementing his deep golden eyes.
As he emerged from the twisted space of the Möbius strip, his aura exuded the authority and confidence of a leader.
Facing Moon Rabbit, who hadn't yet fully recovered from her shock, Xia Xiu gently took off his hat and offered his signature gentle and sincere smile.
"Good day, Operator Katarina."
His voice, with a hint of ease and friendliness, broke the silence in the room.
…