Forty-nine rules of the end times

Chapter 366 Wei Xuan's Decision

Somali Space Agency.

More than the social discussions following the release of the new rules, the people working here are more concerned about the strange events happening on Terra.

All the astronauts on the Imperial Pioneer were in a state of stress-induced apparent death, and the team leader even uttered the bizarre statement "There are demons on the planet" in his last moments of lucidity, which is truly incomprehensible.

Can the frozen crowd return to normal? What exactly does Robert mean by "the devil"? These are all questions that urgently need to be addressed.

But more importantly, what should the remaining people do?

At this moment, a remote meeting is being held between the Soma Space Agency and the Northern Star Space Agency, with the directors and other high-ranking officials from both sides in attendance.

“I know your astronauts may be frightened and want to come back as soon as possible, but this will put the space colonization plan on hold indefinitely.”

The director of the Soma Space Agency said he was currently trying to persuade the director of the Northern Star Space Agency not to make the decision to return Dreamboat-1.

"Moreover, failing to investigate what exactly the 'demon' Robert is referring to will only create more risks for future landing teams. This mine will have to be cleared eventually, even if we don't clear it now."

Upon hearing this, the director of the North Star Space Agency did not change his decision. He slowly said, "I regret to inform you that we cannot allow our precious astronauts to continue risking their lives on Terra. Moreover, we must bring Robert and the others back to Tianshui Star for treatment as soon as possible. Perhaps there is still a chance for them to recover... Given the lack of medical equipment and drugs on Terra, how long can their heartbeats be maintained?"

"They were prepared to sacrifice themselves even before they boarded the rocket! We still hope you can reconsider!"

"We have made our decision and will not consider it any further."

The employees on both sides fell silent for a moment.

Gradually, the director of the Soma Space Agency's expression turned cold.

His tone was no longer pleading or negotiating, but rather harsh and threatening.

"Then we also regret it. If 'Dreamboat-1' returns, we, Soroma, will consider using weapons to destroy it outside of orbit!"

"What did you say?"

This one sentence instantly made the atmosphere of the meeting tense.

"Judging from the video of the survival base transmitted back, Robert and his team members were all thrown into a state of panic in an instant, and the 'demon' that caused all of this did not appear in the video at all... This means that the 'demon' may have the ability to become invisible, or may not be recorded by electronic devices."

"The director of the Somali Space Agency continued."

"Therefore, we have to prepare for the worst: the demon may have infiltrated the 'Imperial Pioneer' or the 'Dreamship One' rocket capsule. If it returns with your astronauts, it could bring disaster to all of humanity. So, before we can investigate and return the rocket, we, Soroman, must shoot it down for the sake of all mankind!"

The director of the North Star Space Agency then warned, "I advise you to think carefully and not to provoke a war between the two countries with irrational behavior."

After saying that, Beixing cut off the communication, and the senior executives on Somaro's side all looked at their director.

"Chief, were you joking just now?"

"If they bring our astronauts back with them, shooting them down would be tantamount to killing several of our astronauts!"

The deputy director then spoke up, saying, "Attack on another country's manned rocket is tantamount to starting a war... I don't think our space agency has that authority."

“…I know that was just a tactical intimidation.” The director sighed. “If we don’t investigate this matter thoroughly, how can we explain it to the Senate and the public? Besides, what if there really is a ‘demon’? Although I don’t really believe it either.”

"Let's try communicating with Beixing again," the deputy director said. "Even if the situation gets worse, Soroma and Beixing can't go to war right now, or humanity will be completely wiped out..."

Before he could finish speaking, the director's cell phone rang.

As soon as the call connected, a loud, cursing voice immediately came through.

"Damn it! Who gave you permission to spout such nonsense! Have you forgotten His Majesty the King's orders? No conflict with Beixing is to be stirred up for the next six months!"

The director recognized the voice of the Grand Elder and his previous harshness vanished. He said in a low voice, "Yes, yes, Grand Elder... I was just worried about our astronauts..." "Shut up! Quickly repair your relationship with the North Star Space Agency, or you can forget about being the director!"

beep--

The call ended, and the bureau chief, looking frustrated, put away his phone. He glanced at the strange expressions on everyone's faces in the meeting room and snapped, "Meeting adjourned! Everyone, go back to what you were doing!"

……

On Terra, Wei Xuan and his team have returned to the rocket cabin of "Dream Boat One".

The survival base that had been painstakingly built outside had to be abandoned—after witnessing the video recording of what happened inside another survival base, no one dared to stay outside the rocket cabin anymore.

Inside the medical room, team leader Wei Xuan entered and saw the doctor pacing in front of the bed, where Robert, whose body was stiff, was lying.

The latter's originally wide-open eyes had been closed, making it no longer appear so ferocious and terrifying.

"Team leader, you've arrived."

"Hmm. How is Robert?"

"It's still the same. Although there's a heartbeat, there are no other bodily reactions, and neither are the others." The doctor shook his head. "It's really bizarre. I've never seen anything like this before. We can only have them examined with more specialized equipment after we return to Tianshui Star."

Wei Xuan nodded silently.

Seeing that he had something to say, the doctor asked, "What's wrong, team leader?"

"We just contacted the ground command center."

The doctor had a bad feeling upon hearing this: "They're not going to tell us they won't let us go back, are they?"

"No, the command center has approved our return, but I feel there's something wrong with it."

"inappropriate??"

Wei Xuan frowned: "The two spaceships we brought here this time are tasked with the important mission of establishing an extraterrestrial survival base and exploring the feasibility of space colonization. This mission is even closely related to the fate of all mankind. I simply cannot accept abandoning it halfway."

"Moreover, returning hastily without finding the culprit who caused Robert and the others to become like this means we didn't obtain any important intelligence. If we send someone again next time, won't we have to start the investigation from scratch again and face the same unknown risks?"

Rather than letting future generations bear the risks, we should try to conduct an investigation ourselves. Even if we can't uncover the truth, we should at least try to obtain some clues for future generations.

The doctor shook his head repeatedly after hearing this: "I am a doctor, and the safety of the team members is my top priority. I'm sorry, team leader, but I do not agree with your decision to stay and continue the investigation."

“No need to apologize, your decision is correct. So my idea is that those who want to go back should take Robert and the others back to receive treatment, and those who don’t want to go back can stay with me in Terra and continue the mission.”

"What!" the doctor exclaimed in shock. "This... if we leave, what about the rocket? Who knows what the next rule will be? What if it's not suitable to launch a rocket to pick you up then—"

"There's no need to worry about that. You will return on the 'Dreamship One,' while those of us who stay behind will be transferred to the 'Imperial Pioneer,' which has enough resources for us to stay for a long time."

The doctor was speechless for a moment, not expecting that Wei Xuan had already made thorough arrangements for staying.

"Ground control has approved my proposal. Let's go, hold a meeting to discuss whether to stay or leave, and then launch the return rocket as soon as possible. Although we have successfully evacuated from Robert's survival base, we cannot rule out the possibility of further dangers."

"...Yes, I understand."

The doctor followed behind Wei Xuan, looking at his back with a hint of admiration.

The courage to stay and carry out the mission after such a horrific event is truly admirable; the doctor admits he couldn't have done it.

After the two left the cabin, neither of them noticed that at the moment the automatic door closed, Robert, lying on the hospital bed, suddenly and almost imperceptibly twitched his stiff eyelids twice.

(End of this chapter)