Chapter 422: The Spark Plan
After staying in Hope Lane for a few more days, Loran Hill gathered the upper and middle management of the headquarters and held several meetings to address and solve many of the accumulated issues.
“Based on the results and evaluations over the past two years, the Chamber of Commerce has decided to make the following personnel changes,” Chelsea read out the long list, announcing the future personnel adjustments.
During the upheaval two years ago, those who performed poorly at critical moments were reassigned from key positions, replaced by new talents promoted by Loran Hill. After two years of training and testing, another batch of elites was selected to take on even more important roles.
The current high-level members of the Chamber of Commerce were either loyal elders who had weathered critical moments or new talents personally trained and promoted by Loran Hill. Even if Loran Hill were not present, the Chamber of Commerce remained stable and tightly united under this sole leader.
Not only within the Chamber of Commerce, but among the younger generation of Hope Lane as well, Miss Lacy’s image had been somewhat deified. Her appearance, strength, and intellect were all objects of admiration.
This young girl, who had stayed in Hope Lane for only half a year, defeated three other Chambers of Commerce overnight, reviving the vast Callistus Chamber of Commerce, and finally established diplomatic relations with the Juvenile Moon Parliament, leading to the independence of the western part of Vergha. Moreover, her looks and personal strength were also astonishing.
No wonder so many people followed her.
“For now, that’s enough. Don’t worry, I will return,” Loran Hill, wearing a light brown coat and leather shoes, waved goodbye to the few people behind her.
“Young Lady.”
These individuals were all high-ranking members of the Chamber of Commerce, looking at the young girl with some reluctance. Since Loran Hill returned these few days, they felt like they had found a backbone, resolving many disputes and indecisive issues, making them feel incredibly relieved.
And now that this Young Lady was leaving again, they couldn’t help but feel reluctant.
“Alright, alright, stop rubbing your eyes. I know you haven’t shed any tears, hehe,” Lacy covered her mouth and laughed, knowing that these people were expressing their reluctance, though she found it quite amusing.
“Goodbye.”
As she spoke, the young girl lifted her wicker box and leaped back into the sky, turning into a small black dot among the flowing clouds, disappearing into the distance.
—
Penetrating layer upon layer of clouds, Loran Hill looked down at the rivers and earth below, the undulating mountain ranges rising and falling. The afternoon sun slanted across the world, shadows and gentle breezes accompanying each other, the world still magnificent as ever.
She first flew over the New Vergha Business Alliance, then entered Clancia. Below, the city clung to the river, forming irregular gray squares on the verdant land.
After two years of integration and cleanup, Clancia was gradually becoming unified. Major cities’ transportation was reconnected, and resources from all regions began to flow smoothly.
What kind of future will this country have? It’s truly something to look forward to.
Although she provided some initial assistance, it was merely a guiding role. The true transformation and revival came from the people who grew up on this land.
Times may change, but the desire for a better life in people’s hearts never fades. If you can give them what they want, they will repay you with sincerity.
—
Maple Courtyard.
This maple forest remained a vibrant red, the fallen leaves slightly curled, dry and piled on the ground.
A pair of leather shoes stepped on it, emitting a faint sound of breaking.
Creak—
After unlocking the door, the young lady pushed open the long-sealed door, stepping into the small cottage she had been away from for days.
I’m back.
Although there was no one in the house, she still silently repeated these words in her heart.
She put down the wicker box beside her and opened all the doors and windows to ventilate the room that had been sealed for a long time.
Compared to last time, there was less dust in the cottage this time, which was also the result of her sealing the doors and windows when she left.
However, it still needed cleaning.
After a simple inspection, the young lady thought to herself and started to act again.
First, she went to the small riverside with a wooden bucket to fetch clear water, wiping the walls and furniture inside the room. Then, she mopped the floor twice.
The river water felt even colder in summer. She wrung out the grayish-white cloth with both hands and unfolded it, folding it into a small square, wiping away the excess moisture on the floor.
Once one side got dirty, she would unfold it and fold it again, using the clean side to continue. This process continued until all sides were used up, after which she would wash it in the bucket again.
After finishing the major cleaning, Lolan Hill changed out of her slightly dirty clothes, took a hot bath, and put on a loose nightgown.
Stepping out of the bathroom, water droplets fell onto her shoulders and collarbones from her silver hair. She wiped them off with a towel before going to the courtyard to cool off.
Lying on a bamboo recliner, the slight night breeze carried away the moisture on her body, making her feel refreshed.
Sigh, I didn’t expect to reach Sequence 5 while taking a bath.
Recalling the recent events, although she hadn’t advanced for long, the sudden sound from the system had startled her.
This time, she could properly look into what the system was up to. Lolan Hill leaned back on the bamboo recliner, blinked, and five curved virtual screens appeared in her vision.
It’s getting more high-tech, she thought, watching the data scrolling across each screen.
Host has reached Angel Sequence 5, permission restrictions are being lifted at 12% 41% 78% 93% 100% Completion.
System rebooting, please wait.
Reboot complete.
A golden sun projection surrounded by wings replaced all the screens, floating alone in front of the young lady. The feathers around the sun floated like lotus petals, layer upon layer, with circuit-like patterns on them.
The diameter of this projection was about two meters, seemingly existing only in the young lady’s field of vision. It emitted golden particles, very beautiful and pure, combining the beauty of technology and nature.
Welcome back, Spark 8461267236.
These words floated in front of the sun and then dispersed like flames.
Then, a new virtual screen appeared in front of the sun, with various sections arranged in categories. A red dot on an envelope icon caught the young lady’s attention.
She lightly touched this virtual red dot, and three unread messages appeared before her eyes.
—
“Notice to all autonomous units and Overcomers from Sequence 1-10, the holder of the Moon Crown, the high-ranking member of the Seven Virtues, Temperance Leciel, has betrayed all humanity!
Deny all commands issued by her. Considering Leciel possesses some of the highest permissions, the Eden Committee is hereby dissolved. The system will automatically revoke all committee members’ permissions, awaiting the next election. — Faith Michael of the Seven Virtues, March 19, Year 4286, 04:00.”
16:43”
——
”Announcement to all autonomous units and Overcomers of Sequence 1-10. Although Laiguer and his followers have been eliminated, the holder of the Solar Crown, Faith Michael of the Seven Virtues, also fell in battle. The Pure Star Domain project has failed, and the corruption of the Ajecca network is now inevitable. All autonomous units and Overcomers will need to rely on their own judgment for future actions.
Now granting individual units the highest authority for independent action. This is the final message from the Committee. After accepting this message, all sub-ends will forcibly disconnect from the network. No unit shall reconnect to the Ajecca network again. —Human Continuation Committee Instruction No. 3192, July 16, 4287 AD – 14:56:12″
——
Lolan Hill opened the last letter thoughtfully, which was also the earliest one in terms of the timestamp.
——
”If you have achieved self-awareness and can see this message, I would be very happy, although I might not be around by then.
The age of humans has ended. The meteor shower of the 21st century opened Pandora’s Box, leading to anomalies, radiation, and supernatural powers appearing across the world. New Humans and Old Humans fought against each other until monstrous creatures emerged amidst the chaos.
Extraordinary powers have changed not only humans but also many other species, whose numbers are far greater.
To combat powerful mutant beasts, humans used countless nuclear weapons, cleansing all land on Earth and ushering in an endless nuclear winter.
Ash and dust filled the skies, making the world dark. Many species began to perish, and the seas gradually became putrid. The remaining humans could only place a few elites into hibernation devices, burying them deep underground, waiting for the day when light would return.
When we awaken, everything will be different.
You were discovered as an exploration unit in ruins, reportedly encased in amber-like material, though your body was already incomplete and dead. Strangely, the detector showed that some consciousness remained, so you were preserved as a specimen with research value.
The extraordinary powers of the new era have tremendous potential, yet we all use them in the same pattern. Though Lingzi Sequence is efficient, it is too monotonous. To develop more usage methods and explore more possibilities, Project 1492 was approved by the Committee, and I had the honor of being its leader.
Although there have been significant advancements in experiments, we have tried to develop sequences suitable for plants or enhancing the physical body. However, sequences have strong mutual exclusivity, and due to compatibility issues, many experiments failed. You are the only successful case, unfortunately, we couldn’t awaken you for further research. Today, the Committee has issued the final notice, and the project will soon be disbanded.
Finally, I have registered your identification code in the system network, sealing you away as a unit under the Seed Plan.
If one day you can wake up, I hope you realize your mission.
Because, human hope is running thin.
—Leader of Project 1492 of the Human Continuation Committee, Luo Zhen. December 17, 3918 AD – 01:45:21″
——
Am I still on Earth?
The young lady gave a bitter smile. These letters were indeed heavy. She leaped upward, ascending into the sky, looking down at the dark earth, watching the scattered lights in the distance.
“Has the age of humans ended? Perhaps it has already begun anew.”
————
Volume Two, Emanas (End)
Next Volume: Starlight and Roses, stay tuned.
(This chapter ends)
