Lan Jue paused. "There are so many people on this planet. Why would that be a bad thing?"
Lan Qing's voice was low. "Have you ever wondered why so many people are still alive?
The aliens have evolved to the top of the food chain. They must have countless ways to extract human DNA.
There's another reason they're still alive – to buy us time.
Once we launch an all-out attack, they'll have a way to let our soldiers see them slaughter the survivors.
What should we do?
We have no choice, we have to save them.
But there are so many of them, so many planets.
We don't even know if we have enough soldiers.
How long will it take to save them? "
Hearing Lan Qing's words, Lan Jue's face grew solemn.
Previously he'd been more concerned with the evolution of the alien home worlds. That was the key to the entire operation.
But after hearing Lan Qing it seemed the problem was even more troublesome than he'd imagined.
It was indeed evolving. However, no one knew how long it would take for it to evolve.
If they wasted too much time and the home worlds finished their evolution, the consequences would be unimaginable.
"They're too cunning." Lan Jue clenched her fists. "But we have to save the people on this planet.
Those were hundreds of millions of their compatriots!
Is there a way to solve this problem? "
Lan Qing's eyes flashed. "I'll have to think about this carefully.
I'll ask Admiral Kang and Huali to come here. We'll discuss a plan.
Our original plan will have to be overturned. "
Lan Jue's heart sank.
The situation was getting worse.
They didn't have enough soldiers to begin with. Even if they tried to save the people they wouldn't be able to defeat the aliens guarding the planets. They couldn't even begin to search for the home worlds and stop their evolution.
It wasn't long before Kang Hui, Hua Li, the Wine Master, and the Keeper arrived.
Everyone gathered together.
Lan Jue explained her findings in detail, adding a list of statistics.
After listening to his story, everyone present frowned.
Lan Qing turned his attention to the Keeper.
"Your Majesty, what have you discovered about the infected?" The Keeper had followed the Wine Master here, so he must have discovered something.
The Keeper's face was grave. "We've just had a preliminary examination, and the situation is very complicated.
Simply put …
It was like a virus, a very terrifying virus. These viruses directly affected the body, directly changing the human genetic chain and body functions.
On the surface, this mutation was actually benign.
It greatly enhanced the quality of the human body and increased the vitality.
Stimulating the body's potential, allowing the gene's effects to be more prominent.
But in fact, the core of this virus is to change the human mind. It's invisible psychic waves. After the psychic waves are modified, the frequency of the waves is similar. Every infected body seems to have this in common. This is probably the reason why the aliens control them. "
Lan Jue nodded. "So what you're saying is that the aliens want to change our bodies, stimulate our potential, and control us for their own use?
From there, we can further use and understand human technology? "
The Keeper shook his head.
"That's what I thought in the beginning, but just now, this idea has been shattered.
If I'm not mistaken, the aliens are using this method to expose the human genome to them. It's easier for them to understand and learn from our genes. They'll be able to find the advantages of our genes, and use them to improve and evolve their own. "
"Wasn't that what you said when you returned from the alien planets?
They say the Marauders will use our genes to complete their evolution.
This is consistent with my judgment. "
Lan Jue nodded. "Is there any way to help them recover?
There are many who have been infected. "
The Keeper's brows furrowed. "It's going to be difficult.
We've never seen anything like this before, and it's going to be very difficult to figure out what it is.
Even the effect of ordinary virus drugs was very poor, not to mention this unprecedented virus.
With our current level of technology, it's going to take more than a year or two to figure out a cure. "
Lan Jue asked. "What if there's another way?
Like with technology?
Or … "
The Keeper shook his head.
"There's nothing suitable with technology.
The virus works directly on the human genome. You can't just destroy it, can you?
If you do that, you'll end up in a vegetative state that will never recover.
At present, there's only one way to cure them.
That is, if they have enough willpower and physical strength to use their immune systems to neutralize the virus.
If such a person exists, all we need to do is extract their cells.
Then I'm confident I can create antibodies to treat the virus in a short time.
But the chances of that happening are close to zero. "
The alien virus was so strong that if a normal person could resist it, they wouldn't be so easily infected.
Lan Jue's eyes flashed. "What if we Adepts are infected?
Our bodies are far stronger than humans. Would we be able to produce the right antibodies? "
The Keeper paused. "In theory, it's possible.
But it's not a small risk.
The aliens who created this virus are on a higher level than we are. I'm sure they've considered the possibility.
That's why we can't risk it. "
Lan Qing nodded. "We'll have to postpone it for now. Your Majesty, I'll have to trouble you with this.
What we need to do next is to reformulate our battle plan. "
Even he felt a little helpless at this moment.
From a scouting standpoint, Lan Jue's mission had been a success.
However, the successful reconnaissance brought back bad results.
The Allied forces were in even more trouble.
They couldn't just sit back and watch.
But with their current strength, saving lives would be a problem.
Even if the alien home worlds were still in the midst of their evolution, it would still delay their final assault.
No one knew how long it would take for the alien home worlds to evolve.
If they had already completed their evolution by then, then everything would be over.
Their original battle plan had been affected by the results of their scouting mission.
Kang Hui's brows furrowed. "Admiral Lan, I'm in favor of saving those who are still alive.
However, with our current military strength, it's too difficult to achieve this. If we're not careful, it's very likely that we'll be consigned to eternal damnation.
We may not be humanity's last hope, but this may be humanity's last chance.
You'll have to choose between the two. "
Lan Qing nodded. He understood what Kang Hui meant.
Everyone wanted to save lives, but doing so would be dragging them into the abyss.
That would be a huge obstacle to the entire plan.
It could even lead to a complete defeat.
Lan Jue continued. "We can confirm that the alien home worlds are in the midst of their evolution, or are preparing to do so.
For the time being, we don't have to worry about the home worlds.
Excluding Europa, there were still plenty of humans living on the seven outer planets, including those who had been infected.
Saving them all won't be easy.
But how can we give up on them like this?
I agree with Admiral Kang's suggestion.
If we can only choose one course of action, then we'll have to choose the lesser of two evils.
Defeating the Marauders is our only option.
All of humanity is at stake. "
Lan Jue's heart was torn as he spoke. Of course he wanted to save them, but did the bigger picture really allow it?
Lan Qing continued. "It would be best if we could have the best of both worlds. It doesn't matter if we have to take some risks.
But that's only if we have enough power.
Let's brainstorm and think about it together. We will strive to find a suitable method. "
"It won't be easy," Huali said. "Admiral Lan Qing, I suggest you start with a full-scale attack.
It's best if we have the best of both worlds, but if we don't, it won't affect our progress in the campaign. "
Hua Li's words were the most pertinent. Even Kang Hui felt conflicted about what to do next.
The death of the Northern Alliance had left a shadow in his heart. Now the Western Alliance was facing the same fate. If there was a way to save people, he wanted to do it.
Lan Qing nodded. Given the situation, Hua Li's suggestion was the most appropriate.
Apart from this, there was no other better way.
"Very well, then we'll proceed with the original plan." Lan Qing's voice was low.
Lan Jue sat in silence. He'd long since learned the entire plan, and there was only one thing on his mind – save his people.
How many people were left on the seven planets?
Everyone had family, loved ones, and their own lives.
Their homes were invaded, their lives threatened. Lan Jue's mind flashed with the anguish and despair of these innocent people.
He was a kind man by nature. If there was a chance he could save them, he wanted to save them.
But they needed to find the best of both worlds. They had to destroy the alien home worlds as soon as possible in order to save their people.
What was the point of saving these people?
When the planets finished their evolution, humanity would be destroyed.
(To be continued.)