Du Gang looked at Meng Yuan, blinking blankly, and took a drag from his cigarette. If they weren't in a virtual world, he'd have suggested Meng Yuan get a drug test.
The information was overwhelming; he needed a moment to process it.
Previously, Du Gang had entertained many theories, such as an overseas super-genius hacker or a mysterious foreign tech company. He even considered aliens.
But he hadn't expected this possibility.
Could everything about Orderlies be real? Could there really be demons in this world that could traverse history and reality, alter timelines, and endanger humanity?
Wasn't this… a bit far-fetched?
It was harder to accept than some inexplicable black technology.
Meng Yuan, of course, anticipated his reaction.
"I understand that this is difficult to accept, but don't worry; you'll soon have an opportunity to verify it.
"At precisely 1:37 p.m. the day after tomorrow, a small historical slice will briefly overlap with reality, and a portion of its forces will manifest in the real world.
"There are twenty-seven locations where they will appear, all within the country, twenty-two of which are around the city of Tiandu.
"Given the historical period of this slice, these demons are likely to appear in the form of Dongyi warriors.
"There might be a few mounted soldiers, armed primarily with cold weapons—Dongyi knives and longbows."
As Meng Yuan spoke, a piece of paper appeared in his hand, which he handed to Du Gang.
Du Gang took it and saw it was a map with marked locations where demons were expected to appear.
"Some of these places are in busy urban areas!
"Even if they're using cold weapons, if they encounter unarmed civilians…"
His face darkened. Although he wasn't sure whether to believe this so-called 'Beichen,' if this were true, the consequences could be devastating.
Meng Yuan continued, "That's why I need your cooperation."
Du Gang asked, "What kind of cooperation?"
Meng Yuan explained, "It's simple: secure these areas and evacuate civilians.
"If you're concerned, you can station plainclothes officers nearby, but try not to cause alarm. The existence of Orderlies cannot be revealed to the public.
"As for these demons, I can arrange for players to handle them."
Du Gang was surprised. "Players? No, it's too dangerous to involve civilians.
"If there's a risk, we should handle it ourselves."
Meng Yuan continued, "You don't have to worry about player safety. I'll grant them the power of Orderlies, allowing them to fight the demons without realizing it, using a special format.
"Even if they 'die,' it will only deplete their Orderly power without harming them physically.
"I understand your concerns, but these matters must be handled through Orderly methods. Although firearms could neutralize these demons for now, gunfire would cause panic and compromise secrecy. Besides, as demon power strengthens, firearms will gradually lose their effectiveness.
"Therefore, all you need to do is evacuate these areas; I'll handle the rest."
Du Gang fell silent, weighing his options.
"Why will I lose access to some game content now that I know the truth?"
Meng Yuan replied, "It's simple. Demons have a unique ability to influence human minds. Prolonged exposure to demons' mental attacks could lead to severe psychological issues or even a breakdown.
"Players, however, won't realize they're fighting demons, as they believe this is just a game. With the power of Orderlies protecting them, they're shielded from demonic influence.
"In the future, I'll send players into the historical slices where demons reside to exterminate them completely.
"So, once you know the truth, you can no longer personally confront demons. You'll be limited to simulated trials."
Du Gang nodded slightly, understanding. "I see…"
Though he still harbored doubts, the explanation was at least internally consistent.
And in two days, he could verify it.
For the sake of public safety, he decided it was better to be cautious than to dismiss it outright.
With that in mind, Du Gang nodded. "Understood. I'll report this and arrange for these areas to be evacuated.
"But there's one problem.
"What reason should we give for the evacuation? And what if fighting noises break out? Keeping this fully under wraps seems impossible.
"If the secret leaks, players will inevitably find out, and your plan will fail."
Meng Yuan was prepared. "I've thought about that.
"The reason is simple: an offline game event."
"An offline event?" Du Gang was momentarily surprised.
Meng Yuan nodded. "Yes.
"Have your team pose as Dark Sands staff, approach businesses and residents in these areas, and explain that you're setting up an offline game event requiring site reservations for an MR experience.
"The offline event is a cover for the demonic incursion.
"Once the area is cleared, I'll set up special zones around it. When players arrive, they'll wear special devices—though, in reality, these devices grant them Orderly power.
"This way, players will think it's an MR gaming mechanic.
"If there's some collateral damage or if bystanders hear or see something from afar, it can all be explained as part of the 'offline event' and 'filming set.'
"Any post-event repairs or compensations will be handled later."
Du Gang was curious. "What is this special MR system you mentioned?"
Meng Yuan explained, "MR is mixed reality, combining real and virtual visuals.
"Though current MR technology is limited, players already believe that Dark Sands' developers possess advanced tech.
"I've also devised a plausible explanation for this black technology, which, with official endorsement, will convince most people."
Du Gang asked, "What explanation?"
Meng Yuan replied, "We'll claim that Dark Sands is the result of over a decade of R&D by a top domestic research lab. It's a breakthrough in VR and MR technologies.
"The realism of Dark Sands hinges on two key technological pillars: one, an algorithm that taps into people's subconscious to auto-generate virtual worlds, akin to dreaming, where the mind seamlessly connects with VR; two, decoding humanity's DNA and collective subconscious to uncover historical data, recreating authentic historical slices.
"The game's unparalleled realism is due to its subconscious foundation, like dreaming. Players are immersed in a world collectively built by countless subconscious minds.
"Additionally, humanity's DNA and subconscious store ancestral memories, which, when tapped, reveal detailed, authentic historical segments.
"The name Dark Sands has another layer of meaning beyond the players' interpretations.
"It's built on collective subconscious—consciousness is the visible island, and the subconscious is the submerged part, hence the name 'Dark Sands.'
"This explanation may sound sci-fi, but it's more plausible than revealing the truth about Orderlies.
"With official backing, even skeptics won't find a better explanation."
Du Gang nodded thoughtfully. "Hmm… this could indeed keep the secret.
"But will these demonic incursions continue? Will they grow in scale? What if players can't handle them?"
Meng Yuan replied, "Don't worry.
"I can mobilize players to counterattack within historical slices. Exterminating the demons there will strengthen the Orderlies' power. Historical slices will become frontline strongholds.
"Even if demons attempt future incursions, they'll enter these slices first, keeping their influence on reality minimal. Eventually, reality can become a completely safe zone, free from demonic interference."