The end of the world is approaching, I'm handing myself over to the country.

Chi Zhengyang took a deep breath.

He looked tired.

He braced his hands on the table, as if all his strength had been drained.

He wished it were all a lie, just a prank by Lin Mo.

But more and more facts were telling him, over and over again, that Lin Mo was not lying.

The end of the world is really coming.

Humanity only has five short years left.

Chen Feng and his ten men did not hesitate at all.

"I swear by my faith!"

Chen Feng took the lead and solemnly swore an oath.

"I will not reveal what happened today to anyone!"

"May I be struck down by heaven and earth if I break this oath!"

The other nine people also took a solemn oath, their faces filled with reverence and solemnity.

Chi Zhengyang nodded and waved.

"Alright, everyone go back and rest."

"Don't put too much pressure on yourself. At least we still have time to prepare."

"yes!"

Chen Feng saluted again, then turned around and, with his nine team members, left the conference room with heavy but firm steps.

The office door was closed gently.

In the room, only five elderly people and the heavy, oppressive atmosphere remained.

a long time.

Mr. Qian, who had the worst temper, finally couldn't hold back anymore.

"Old Chi! Isn't it too hasty to tell them the whole truth like this?"

"They're still young. What if someone can't handle such a heavy burden?"

Old Qian puffed out his beard and glared, "Exactly! As long as we stubbornly deny it, they'll never find out the truth!"

Chi Zhengyang shook his head and poured himself a cup of tea that had gone cold.

"Old Qian, you're underestimating them."

"They're not fools. Don't forget, those ten are the elite of the elite, handpicked from countless individuals."

"The more we try to cover it up, the more suspicious they will become. Rather than letting it get out later, we might as well put some pressure on them."

He paused, then continued, "Moreover, they have the right to know what they are risking their lives for."

"not to mention......"

Chi Zhengyang raised his head and looked at Old Qian.

"Hasn't a variable already appeared? Chen Feng's mental strength is the best proof of that."

"But if this matter is not clarified at its root, it will only lead to countless suspicions."

"You can't hide fire with paper."

"Moreover, the emergence of mental power has given us hope, but unfortunately, Zhou Jian's genetic changes have not returned in sync."

Finally, he added one more sentence.

"Moreover, I trust these ten children, and they deserve my trust."

Mr. Qian was speechless. He opened his mouth, but in the end he could only sigh heavily, slump back into his chair, and stop talking.

Yes, these children are trustworthy.

But the price of this trust is far too heavy.

The entire office fell silent again, the atmosphere heavy with tension.

......

On the way back to the dormitory, the footsteps of the ten people were synchronized, yet unusually heavy.

The corridor lights cast long shadows of them onto the cold floor, weaving a silent web.

No one speaks.

It felt as if a huge rock was pressing down on each of their chests; the mission called "pioneer" was heavily imprinted deep in their souls.

The dormitory door was pushed open, and bright lights shone in.

They took off the clothes they were wearing, which were already completely soaked with cold sweat.

Lei Yue ripped off his soaking wet T-shirt, revealing his muscular, bronze-colored skin. He grabbed a dry shirt and put it on with a rough motion.

He looked at Chen Feng, and in the end, he couldn't hold back any longer.

"Captain, what's your opinion on this matter?"

His voice was a little hoarse, breaking the oppressive silence in the room.

Everyone paused for a moment, instinctively turning their gaze to the two of them.

Chen Feng was changing his clothes when he heard Lei Yue's words. Without pausing, he calmly put on his clean training uniform and buttoned up the last button.

Then he turned around.

"Just do your own thing."

Chen Feng's words were devoid of any warmth, crisp and decisive.

"From now on, no one is allowed to discuss these matters!"

"Not even in private!"

Definitely.

No room for compromise.

Lei Yue opened his mouth, but all the words he wanted to say were stuck in his throat, and in the end he could only let out a muffled groan and fall silent.

He knew the captain was right.

This is an order, and also an ironclad rule.

Some responsibilities, once shouldered, can only rot inside until the end of life.

Zhou Jian walked over. Unlike Lei Yue, he was not as burly. He was more lean and wiry, with every muscle exuding explosive power.

He reached out and patted Lei Yue's broad shoulder, the sound of his palm hitting the muscle making a dull thud.

"Don't worry."

Zhou Jian tugged at the corners of his mouth, revealing a cheerful smile.

"Haven't we always hoped to serve the people?"

His words were simple, yet they conveyed a pure conviction.

Yes.

From the first day they put on this uniform, their belief was to protect their homeland and serve the people.

However, this time, we are one step closer to our goal.

Lei Yue nodded heavily and said no more.

Chen Feng didn't speak. His gaze slowly swept across the room, finally landing on the fingers of each team member.

That bronze-colored login ring for Wasteland Era.

A strange glint flashed in his eyes.

He felt something was off when he quit Wasteland Era, but now he's finally certain his guess was right.

He then solemnly looked at the others and said, "From this moment on, you shall never remove the rings on your hands that are used to enter the Wasteland Era."

"Neither when showering nor when using the toilet!"

He paused, then emphasized his words.

"Do you understand?"

Zhou Jian was flexing his wrists when he heard this, and he paused for a moment, looking at Chen Feng with some confusion.

"Captain, is this thing... really that important? And since the login information is linked, it's useless to anyone else who gets it."

He subconsciously twirled the ring on his finger, feeling its cool touch. Aside from allowing them to enter the Wasteland Era, it didn't seem to have anything special about it.

But when he saw Chen Feng's extremely serious face, he immediately realized something.

The captain never gives meaningless orders.

He must have his reasons for emphasizing this.

Zhou Jian put away his indifference and nodded solemnly.

"clear!"

"clear!"

"clear!"

Others echoed his sentiments.

Seeing everyone nod in agreement, Chen Feng's tense nerves relaxed a little.

But the heaviness in his heart did not diminish in the slightest.

He looked down at the ring on his finger and tightened it even more.

This tiny ring now seems as heavy as a thousand pounds.

A thought that had never occurred to Chen Feng before quietly emerged in his mind, solemn and sacred.

It was as if they were making the most solemn vow to their unbreakable faith.

If one day I betray my faith.

If one day I betray the people behind me.

I hope that I will be like that person back then...

It will turn into a cold corpse...