Chapter 38: Confiscating Property

After taking control of the Great Wilderness Mountain underground city, the military didn’t just maintain order and comfort the wounded civilians; their first priority was to inventory the assets of the underground city. This was crucial information and left no room for carelessness.

They were already well-versed in comforting the populace; ever since the catastrophe, disaster relief had been their constant work. Yet this time was different: the wounds in the hearts of these disaster victims ran deeper, for they had endured ongoing persecution as experimental subjects—healing would certainly take longer.

Fortunately, as soon as the war ended, measures were swiftly implemented. For instance: the demands of the insurgents were fully heard, and it was guaranteed that no further illicit experiments would ever be conducted within the Great Wilderness Mountain underground city. From now on, residents could choose whether to stay or leave; those who wished to leave could apply for special subsidies in Shazhou City. For those who chose to remain, not only would their civil rights be restored, but anyone whose health had suffered due to experiments would enjoy free medical care.

Moreover, the majority of research center staff and doctors were declared innocent. This decision was made partly to stabilize the situation and facilitate subsequent efforts such as patient treatment and legitimate research projects, but above all, because these people had acted under duress—they too were victims.

As for the rest, they were shown as much mercy as possible, for they were pitiable souls. Enough blood had been spilled in the underground city; the military had no wish to see it flow again. After all, unlike the dark organization, they were a regular army. Still, while the death penalty was spared, lesser punishments were not avoided. To consider the victims’ feelings, those responsible were immediately relocated.

In short, the Great Wilderness Mountain underground city had become a place of healing. Encouraged by each other, everyone was gradually stepping out from the shadows.

Of course, beyond quelling unrest and comforting the masses, the coalition’s greatest task was the takeover of the underground city and its property.

The future of the city had already been decided before the army set out: once liberated, the Great Wilderness Mountain underground city would be incorporated as a district under Shazhou City’s administration, becoming an open and normal urban area, with the hope that its residents would soon adapt to ordinary life.

Nevertheless, the Great Wilderness Mountain would not be fully open just yet. Residents could come and go as they pleased, but outsiders could only enter upon approved application. This was mainly because the underground city held important assets left by the dark organization—vital for unraveling their secrets, and worth in-depth study.

For example, in scientific experiments, although the organization had removed all experimental data, some results had been preserved by researchers—especially in reproductive experiments. A considerable number of experienced personnel remained, and their expertise was of epoch-making significance for addressing infertility and enabling same-sex couples to have children.

Although this was essentially reaping the fruits of others’ labor and hardly the most honorable course, it would be a waste not to utilize the technology now that it existed. Of course, official organizations would never experiment on real people, which only meant slower progress.

For the coalition, the priority was experiments related to combat enhancement and the confiscated munitions factory. This was critical for assessing the organization’s true capabilities and ultimate objectives, and would guide future victories over them.

Take, for instance, the pharmacological experiments. The Academy of Sciences had long been puzzled by the organization’s forbidden drug research: these drugs could rapidly enhance certain human functions, but with dire side effects, and legitimate institutions were forbidden from such studies. Thus, knowledge was lacking. However, ample evidence of these experiments was uncovered during the recent investigations. The worry was not of being surpassed, but that if these drugs leaked into society, the health of many would be jeopardized, and the authorities would not be able to treat the victims in time. Some experimental data was found—not the latest, but enough to prepare, so as not to be caught off guard as they were a year ago.

But the most significant gain of all was the industrial zone of the Great Wilderness Mountain. First, by analyzing its industrial base, the military could gauge the dark organization’s current level of technology—clearly on par with, if not superior to, the authorities, especially in biomedicine. This confirmed suspicions that the recent events had been long in the making.

Moreover, the layout and design of the underground city’s industrial district were unique, unlike the featureless labs discovered previously. This offered new investigative leads, and governments worldwide—long groping in the dark—were ecstatic.

Yet the coalition’s greatest satisfaction lay in the seizure of the munitions factory. Although some managers had fled and sabotaged a few machines, most equipment was intact, and the workforce remained. With some repairs, production could soon resume: combat mechs, mechanical exoskeletons, military pharmaceuticals, and so on. This would significantly boost individual combat capacity and improve treatment for the wounded.

There was even more encouraging news: according to visiting experts, combining the technology found here with existing knowledge could accelerate the development of a new generation of intelligent robots.

In sum, the Great Wilderness Mountain underground city was a veritable treasure trove. No wonder the enemy had tried to destroy it before retreating—had it not been for internal dissent, they might have succeeded, and the coalition would have lost out entirely.

As for those who evacuated from the underground city, they had anticipated the coalition’s takeover and the exposure of some organizational secrets. Fortunately, the most advanced technology was not left behind, nor were any insiders privy to the organization’s true nature; the losses were not substantial.

Yet for them, trouble was looming. First, the defeat was a blight on their records, weakening their standing within the organization and limiting future advancement. Second, until a new base was established, experiments would have to be conducted using borrowed facilities—never ideal, especially given fierce internal competition. Third, while hardware for a new base could be acquired, test subjects were now difficult to find, as governments worldwide were on high alert, making hunts ever more perilous.

Luckily, they had achieved breakthroughs in reproductive experiments and had managed to bring with them preserved human sperm, eggs, embryos, and even some infants produced in prior trials. Once resettled, they would both build the new base and relaunch these projects to stockpile human resources.

Incidentally, few within the organization now possessed this technology. Due to heavy experimental attrition and the scarcity of new subjects, many bases faced a dire shortage. By offering technology transfers, they could accelerate the construction of the new base. With luck, they might even catch up with the “God-Making Project.”

Having resolved on a course of action, Professor Wu began building a new base at a fresh site. This time, lessons had been learned: internal personnel were thoroughly vetted, and a carrot-and-stick approach was adopted for experimental subjects, rather than sheer oppression as before.

Furthermore, the liberation of the Great Wilderness Mountain underground city was cast as official persecution, and a bounty was proclaimed: anyone who reported and helped capture the coalition would be richly rewarded by the organization, with a chance to become a “god.” Special attention was paid to the leaders, such as the “Falcon Squad,” who were now being hunted relentlessly and from every angle.

By presenting themselves as the weaker party and sowing the seeds of hatred from the outset, they ensured vengeance would always have fertile ground.