As Zhou Tianming envisioned his future and formulated basic plans, his gradually relaxing body lulled him into deep sleep while still recovering.
When the doctor returned, he found Zhou Tianming lying quietly in bed. Approaching the sleeping young man, he glanced at the medical report on his tablet and sighed with emotion, "This boy has really been through so much."
...
While Zhou Tianming slept, Alia edited the footage she had recorded and uploaded it to her website's [Real World] column.
The video's view count skyrocketed visibly. She then announced a live stream scheduled in a few hours to explain the content to viewers.
The situation began escalating.
People already receiving medical treatment on Mendel were the first to discover the news. Shocked by what they saw, they quickly spread the information.
Within about ten minutes, Mendel Satellite's administration was alerted.
One look at the reports, and half the officials nearly fainted.
"What in the world is happening? Why wasn't I informed about something this major? Do they plan to tell me after Blue Cosmos bombs us out of orbit?"
In an office, a middle-aged man in a tailored suit roared at several subordinates standing before his desk: "What the hell is the Garrison doing? How dare they cover up a biochemical leak? He—"
The door suddenly burst open, slamming against the wall with a loud crack as the hinges groaned in protest.
A female secretary in a short-skirted uniform rushed in, urgently announcing: "Mayor! Alia-Sisley's live stream has started!"
The mayor pressed a button on his desk. The office curtains automatically drew shut, plunging the room into darkness as a clear projection appeared on the white wall beside his desk.
The screen showed a stunning brown-haired woman with captivating eyes and an hourglass figure, dressed in a form-fitting black women's suit. Holding a microphone, she was explaining the content of the playing video to her audience.
Though many live chat comments focused on flirting with or praising Alia's appearance, numerous viewers expressed genuine interest in the video's content.
One of the previously reprimanded men hesitantly suggested: "Mayor, should we block the..."
The mayor shot him a glare mixing anger with disbelief: "At this point you're still thinking about suppressing information? Cutting the stream now would be like covering your ears while stealing a bell."
Turning to the secretary by the door, he ordered: "Have our people maintain perfect network stability—no interruptions. Arrest every single Garrison member, and make it highly visible. Leave none unaccounted for."
The secretary quickly exited to carry out the orders.
"Mayor, is this really necessary? She's just an internet streamer—"
"Alia-Sisley is no ordinary online streamer. Her nickname, 'Goddess of Justice,' was earned through real action."
"At just 15, she left home and traveled between Earth and PLANT, uncovering truths hidden by society. As a Coordinator, she has hundreds of millions of Natural fans worldwide. Now tell me, how does this 'mere streamer' measure up?"
The man who had spoken was left speechless.
The mayor snorted, his tone laced with pride.
Those below exchanged glances, their expressions filled with doubt and confusion.
On screen, Alia walked the audience through the footage, piece by piece.
When she described Blue Cosmos's attack on the research facility and showed the devastation inside, those not on Mendel felt their hearts wrench, while those on Mendel erupted into chaos.
The once-bustling shopping centers emptied in an instant, and the spaceport was jammed tight.
As she recounted how the researchers had released toxic gas in resistance, the chat exploded into debate—some condemning the act, others cheering it on.
But when they learned the gas had been chosen for its low pollution and ease of neutralization, even in life-or-death circumstances, the crowd fell silent.
She spoke of Zhou Hanxiang, a surviving researcher who risked her life to return to the contaminated zone and prepare the neutralizing agent. She told of Weber, a rookie in the Garrison who was forced into the biohazard-infested facility to die while his superiors refused to send aid.
Each revelation pushed the Garrison further into the spotlight.
At the facility's main gate, idle Garrison members caught Alia's livestream and panicked.
In the blink of an eye, everyone around them knew.
"This wasn't our call—it was Will who ordered us not to help!"
"Yeah, blame Will! He took bribes under the table. Not us!"
...
The Garrison members began pointing fingers at Will.
Inside the guard booth, Will slumped in his chair, eyes vacant, muttering, "It's over... it's over..."
Suddenly, he lunged for the phone, his stubby fingers dialing a number. The moment the call connected, he shouted, "Hel—"
But a cold voice cut him off: "Take the fall, or die."
Like a strangled duck, Will let out a choked gasp, despair twisting his face. "You can't abandon me! I gave you so much money—you told me to protect GARMR&D Corporation!"
The line went dead without another word.
Will's eyes burned with rage, bloodshot and teeth clenched in silence.
Then, a commotion erupted outside—
"This isn't our fault! Why arrest us?"
"It was Will's order!"
"Let me go! I have kids at home!"
Two men in military combat gear entered, guns trained on Will. "Will Crow, you're under arrest. Resist, and we have authority to shoot on sight."
Will offered no resistance, his face blank as cuffs snapped around his wrists.
Outside, another wave of shouts rose—
"Heroes! Heroes!"
A crowd of civilians surged into the facility, cheering as a man and woman emerged.
The moment Will spotted Weber, his breath turned ragged, his eyes wild. Roaring, he broke free from his guards and charged.
Weber remained unfazed when a massive figure suddenly charged at him. He assumed a standard combat stance, first sweeping his leg to strike Will's knee from the side.
Will staggered, losing his balance. Seizing the opportunity, Weber stepped forward, gripping Will's collar with one hand and his arm with the other. With a twist of his waist, he executed a flawless shoulder throw.
Thud!
Will's back slammed into the ground with a dull thump, his face contorted in pain as he writhed on the floor.
"Help me! I have valuable information!"
Will's strained voice suddenly reached Weber's ears, causing his expression to shift.
At that moment, the two uniformed officers aiming to apprehend Will raised their guns, ready to fire. Weber quickly shouted, "Stand down! I've already subdued him."
The soldiers reluctantly lowered their weapons.
The surrounding crowd erupted in cheers, shouting excitedly for Weber.
Alia's live broadcast had ended, but the aftermath continued to unfold. After extricating himself from the crowd, Weber contacted her and relayed Will's desperate plea.
"Leave this matter to you, Weber. I have more pressing concerns."
Weber hesitated, his voice tinged with self-doubt. "M-me? Am I really up for this?"
"Don't sell yourself short. You handled this situation well. Just stay cautious and thorough. I'm tied up here and can't assist."
"Do you need any help?"
"No. I work better alone."
The call ended. In a dimly lit room, Alia stood before a clue-covered wall, her alluring eyes beneath slender brows clouded with worry. "My brethren... what exactly are you planning... Holy Order..."
She raised a delicate finger, pressing it against a single term on the wall—Hammer of God.
...
Inside the shuttle, Zhou Tianming, now awake, had also watched the broadcast. Relief washed over him upon seeing Zhou Hanxiang unharmed.
He was also pleased to see the situation escalate.
With things reaching this scale, Hanxiang should be safe now. Surely, GARMR&D Corporation wouldn't dare target her amid such scrutiny.
Once they left the satellite, who would even care about them anymore?