On the outskirts of Beijing, He Xingzhou gave the Tower Research Institute a simple and memorable name, "Tower," symbolizing that this research institute will serve as a watchtower for human civilization, sounding the alarm for the coming apocalypse!
After several days and nights of continuous transformation by the engineering troops, a small section of the office area at the Tower Research Institute has been completed, while other parts are still under construction, but He Xingzhou is eager to meet with his team.
Currently, no one knows when the Insect Race might erupt on Earth, time is life!
Inside the Tower Research Institute, in a conference hall capable of accommodating hundreds of people, experts and researchers from all over the country, and even from abroad, gather here.
A few of them know the purpose of their visit, with serious expressions and solemn faces, while many others were suddenly summoned by the institute, their organization, or other entities, and still have no clue about what they are expected to do.
"Wow, so many people have been gathered, including biologists, physicists, chemists, military scholars, psychologists... experts from all fields, what's this all about?" people whispered among themselves before the meeting started.
"It's no small matter, I had already signed a confidentiality agreement before coming here, it's a state secret!"
"Not just us, I've heard some people have been sent elsewhere, what are they supposed to do?"
"Can it be that gathering all of us here means we are going for war?"
As they were discussing, four people walked into the conference room.
Leading them was a young man, whom the crowd looked at curiously; the attendees were generally in their thirties or forties, and there were even experts and professors in their seventies and eighties.
His young age made him stand out here, and behind him was Yang Bai, the leader from the National Security Bureau who arranged for them to come here.
Additionally, there were two others dressed as soldiers, one male and one female.
Yang Bai and He Xingzhou stepped onto the stage, and he first spoke: "Please, everyone, quiet down."
The crowd was made up of highly qualified elites and immediately quieted down.
Yang Bai stated: "You all should recognize me by now, today, the organization has gathered everyone here for a major event concerning our national security, the fate of our citizens, and the entire human race!"
"Some of you may have already learned a bit about it, but not the details."
"Next, please allow the head of the Tower Research Institute, also our whistleblower of the Xuanwu Plan, to provide a detailed introduction to the Xuanwu Plan and the reason why you are all gathered here!"
"Let's welcome, Comrade He Xingzhou!"
He finished speaking and started clapping first, prompting everyone to applaud while curiously observing this young man.
He Xingzhou stepped onto the stage, his gaze calm as he looked at the crowd. A regular student might have been so terrified of seeing so many dignitaries that they would be trembling and stammering.
But He Xingzhou had already faced larger gatherings and higher-level leaders; he was psychologically prepared and behaved appropriately.
He spoke: "Greetings to the respected seniors, my name is He Xingzhou. I am currently still a student at Beijing University of Science and Technology. Now, I have assumed a new role, the whistleblower of the Xuanwu Plan!"
"What is the Xuanwu Plan, and why do we need everyone gathered here? Please watch these videos first."
He turned on the electronic screen in the conference room, displaying a short film documenting the mutation of the Insect Race and some related validations by the Academy of Sciences.
At first, these elites were puzzled, "Are we really here to watch a movie?"
"No, wait, it says here that these are real events!"
Slowly they realized something was off, and one by one, they involuntarily voiced their concerns:
"My God, how can such monsters exist? Is this real?"
"So many academicians from the Academy of Sciences verified it, it must be real!"
"Order the establishment of an Insect Crisis Response Team!"
"The Xuanwu Plan, is this what it stands for? Preparing for the Insect Disaster!"
"So that's what whistleblower means! And Xuanwu Executive Officer! This plan of He Xingzhou's is too crazy, it's almost impossible!"
"So that's the origin of the Tower Research Institute! No wonder they called us all here, it's for this!"
...
They felt their worldview had been overturned, realizing this seemingly peaceful world had encountered a disaster unseen for billions of years!
A disaster that was brewing under the oceans and sweeping across the globe!
The attendees were profoundly shocked, engrossed in the enormity of the disaster and the Xuanwu Plan, unable to extricate themselves!
He Xingzhou waited a full ten minutes before saying: "As you can see, everything mentioned in the video is true."
Yang Bai spoke loudly: "Comrades, the time of utmost crisis is upon us, are you willing to join the Xuanwu Plan and dedicate yourselves to it?"
"We don't insist on this matter, joining will inevitably affect your normal life and work, those unwilling to join may leave now."
After he finished speaking, an eighty-year-old professor immediately stood up and said: "The rise and fall of the country is the responsibility of every citizen! To be part of such a plan, I would die without regrets!"
"Professor Liu is right, how can we ignore national crises?" another expert cried out loudly, "I am willing to join!"
Others spoke up in succession: "The Xuanwu Plan makes my blood boil, I definitely won't miss it!"
"Now that we're here, can we even think of deserting?"
"I was psychologically prepared before signing the confidentiality agreement! I never imagined I'd be part of such a grand project."
"Haha, how could I not participate? I've already prepared my wife and children!"
"Though my knowledge is limited, I too am willing to contribute my strength!"
"If I shrink back now, I wouldn't have the face to meet my ancestors!"
"Stop wasting time, what are we waiting for, let's get started!"
He Xingzhou looked down at the crowd and saw everyone raising their hands, their faces filled with fervor; not a single person wanted to leave!
This plan, even with a little thought, was clearly facing an incredibly tough situation; it might be years, even a decade before they could return to normal life; they could even face life-and-death situations, but these elites, from robust young men and women to venerable scholars, chose without hesitation to stay!
Because they knew, joining the Xuanwu Plan and the Tower Research Institute meant standing on the frontline against the Insect Race; if these elites didn't stand up, how could the ordinary public face the disaster?
The country comes before the family!
"Good, good, good!" Yang Bai's face was flushed, repeating the word 'good' three times, very excited to see everyone being so cooperative.
He Xingzhou sincerely bowed and thanked everyone: "Thank you for your support! Don't worry too much, we are not yet at the most critical moment. The mutated Insect Race is still rare in today's oceans, we still have time!"
"Now, let me introduce the tasks we will undertake at the Tower Research Institute!"