Emrys' good mood lasted only one night.
Early the next morning, he received shocking news from the news.
The television screen showed UN Secretary-General Sai, who had appeared yesterday, but at this moment her expression was solemn as she took out a manuscript, and read with a hint of sorrow:
"Yesterday, shortly after the United Nations Planetary Defense Council (PDC) officially announced the appointment of Doctor Luo Ji as a Wallfacer, an extreme violent attack occurred in the plaza outside the headquarters.
Doctor Luo Ji was shot at close range by an unidentified assailant as he concluded the Wallfacer Project oath ceremony and left the headquarters building.
On-site security personnel immediately took action, and the assailant was subdued on the spot. Doctor Luo Ji was subsequently rushed to a nearby medical facility by the UN Emergency Medical Team for intensive care, but—due to severe injuries, he unfortunately succumbed.
The Planetary Defense Council expresses its strongest condemnation of this despicable act targeting a Wallfacer. This attack is not only the murder of Doctor Luo Ji as an individual, but also a blatant challenge and sabotage of humanity's highest strategy to resist the Trisolarian invasion: the Wallfacer Project.
We will—"
Bang!
The television was instantly shattered!
An extremely terrifying psionic power, like a storm, swept through the entire room. All electrical facilities, furniture, decorations, including the walls and floor, were completely destroyed!
Emrys, at the center of the storm, looked like a suppressed volcano.
Luo Ji is dead?
No, this is simply impossible!
Luo Ji is the future Swordholder and the Guardian of humanity. How could he die?!
Perhaps it's a 'Wallfacer' deception?
Emrys considered this possibility, but then he dismissed the idea. If it really was a 'feigned death,' the UN would have no need or meaning to conceal Luo Ji's true situation.
With 'Sophon' present, humanity is almost transparent to the Trisolarians. Such a clumsy lie would be impossible to hide from the 'Trisolarians,' so there would naturally be no need for it to exist.
In other words... Luo Ji is really dead?
After reaching this highly probable 'conclusion,' Emrys didn't feel good. His original deployments and plans were all based on 'Luo Ji' being a Wallfacer, but now that the most crucial 'Luo Ji' was dead, it meant that his plans were once again disrupted!
With Luo Ji's death, the Dark Forest and Snowfield projects are effectively completely shelved—the plans of the other Wallfacers are also destined to fail.
And humanity, having lost its 'deterrent,' is utterly defenseless against the Trisolarians!
Damn it!
Damn Trisolarians! Damn Sophon!
And, the most damnable 'ETO'!
Emrys took a deep breath, suppressing the nameless rage. Repeatedly disrupting his plans, the Trisolarians are truly—lighting a lamp in an outhouse—courting death!
Regardless of whether Luo Ji is truly dead or not.
But as soon as this news was released, it meant that they could no longer hide and had to enter the sight of various countries in advance.
"ETO? Trisolarians? Very good—"
Emrys' face was grim, his eyes brewing an abyss-like murderous intent, as he forcefully crushed the hard marble countertop.
"Clean your necks, all of you wait for me!"
He wanted to stand behind the scenes, manipulating 'Luo Ji' as a Wallfacer, to gradually achieve his strategy, thereby incorporating the Trisolarian world here into the Holy Terra Alliance of the multiverse through a 'boiling frog' approach.
But now, this idea was shattered.
Very good, well done.
Emrys sneered. Since that was the case, he could only use a slightly more brutal method. He would make the Trisolarians genuinely regret assassinating Luo Ji!
Because that was the only 'gentle' way.
If he personally stepped forward, it wouldn't be as kind and gentle as Luo Ji, merely a threat.
Since the fourth Wallfacer was assassinated by the Trisolarian organization, the protection for the other three Wallfacers was directly raised several levels, entering an absolute security level.
And this news also stirred up a huge public opinion storm on a societal level. Fear ignited the anger in people's hearts, pointing towards the culprit—the ETO!
Three days after the assassination.
Shi Qiang, rubbing his temples wearily, walked out of the Security Bureau's door and looked up at the dark night sky.
During this period, due to his failure in protection, which indirectly led to the death of the fourth Wallfacer, he was plunged into immense public criticism, as well as interrogations from superiors and colleagues.
Although his old superior, General Chang Weisi, helped him shoulder part of the responsibility, these continuous days of interrogation also left Shi Qiang physically and mentally exhausted.
"My dear brother Luo" It was hard to imagine that this experienced police officer would also be so crestfallen and melancholic as he was now.
He pulled out a cigarette from his clothes and put it in his mouth.
Just as he was about to look for a lighter, he found that he couldn't find it no matter how hard he searched.
Just then.
Snap!
A crisp sound, and a burning flame was offered. Shi Qiang didn't think much of it, raising his hand to shield the flickering flame, and leaned in with the cigarette in his mouth.
Sizzle...
The cigarette was lit. Shi Qiang took a deep drag, let it circulate in his lungs, and slowly exhaled the drifting smoke, his eyes a little dazed. He turned to look at the person who had lit his cigarette.
"Thanks, friend."
"You're welcome, this is your lighter."
The person smiled and opened his palm to him.
In his palm was an extremely cheap, ubiquitous lighter, but it made Shi Qiang stare blankly for a few seconds, then he couldn't help but laugh angrily.
"Oh, you stole it from me?"
He wondered why he couldn't find it. So it was taken by someone?
"Stealing is taking someone else's property without their knowledge. I took it and then returned it, how can that be called stealing?" Emrys smiled, tucking the lighter into Shi Qiang's jacket pocket.
"Friend, are you looking for me?"
Shi Qiang narrowed his eyes. Years of working on the front lines had given him extraordinary eyesight and intuition.
"You took my lighter, then returned it, and you're waiting for me here—it can't be just to light my cigarette, can it?"
"Actually, I'm from the Earth Trisolarian Organization."
Emrys said.
Shi Qiang's smoking motion stiffened for a few seconds, then he stared into Emrys' eyes and grinned.
"Oh, actually, I'm also in the organization, and I even specially leaked information to assassinate the fourth Wallfacer, Luo Ji. Pretty impressive, right?"
He really is... a bastard.
Emrys laughed dumbfounded, patting his shoulder.
"I didn't expect Mr. Shi Qiang to also enjoy joking."
"Didn't you start the joke first?"
Shi Qiang sneered, taking a deep drag from his cigarette.
"What is it really about? If you're trying to get information from me, I'm afraid you'll be disappointed. I've already been dismissed and am under investigation. I don't have any inside information."
"No, no, no, I'm not here to inquire about those things."
Emrys shook his head, chuckling.
"Mr. Shi Qiang, I'm here because I hope to use your identity to help me with a favor."
"What favor?"
Shi Qiang asked.
"Please, Mr. Shi Qiang, suggest to General Chang Weisi that he recommend me to the United Nations to replace Mr. Luo Ji as the fourth 'Wallfacer'."