Chapter Twenty-Two · Undercurrent Convergence
Chapter Twenty-Two · Section One: The Greywing's Turmoil
Moonlight shone through broken windows into the Greywings' temporary command post, Under the dim yellow light, several core members of the Greywing Faction sat around a long table covered with maps and reports. The air was filled with tension and unease; the internal fissures of the Greywings were undeniable.
"Things are getting worse." A Greywing member said in a low voice, his brows tightly furrowed, clearly filled with worry about the current situation. "The pressure from TRACE periphery is increasing. If we continue like this, We'll either be crushed or swallowed." His words carried an undisguised anxiety.
Another robust Greywing member, evidently one of the team's leaders, looked down at the document in his hand, Slowly spoke: "We have no choice, only one path." He paused, his gaze sharpening, Then continued, "Resistance cannot stop. We just have to find a way to expand our strength, to shake their foundation."
However, before he finished speaking, a young member in the room stood up impatiently, Angrily saying: "Continue resisting? If we go on like this, we won't have anything left, The Greywings will be completely destroyed, you don't see the root of the problem at all! We are not facing an enemy, but the entire system!"
A silence fell over the air in the room, the others were speechless, complex emotions flickering in their eyes. Yes, resistance was undoubtedly a dead end. What they faced was not just a simple enemy, but the colossal structure of the entire power system, a system.
Just then, the Greywing commander looked up, saying coldly: "We still have to make a choice." He looked deeply at the standing young member, without a hint of pity in his eyes.
At this moment, hurried footsteps suddenly sounded from outside the door. The commander immediately stood up, walked to the door, and pulled it open.
"What's the situation?" He asked in a low voice, his gaze fixed on the guard outside the door. "Report, there's a situation outside." The guard's tone was urgent, "TRACE's peripheral operation is approaching, our supply lines have been cut off, the enemy is surrounding us."
The atmosphere in the room instantly became tense, everyone stood up, Packing up maps and weapons, preparing for the impending battle. However, a cold smile appeared on the commander's face:
"It seems the Greywings have reached the end." He slightly turned, looking at the table behind him, a hint of determination flashing in his eyes. "From now on, move out."
A certain corner of the school, late at night.
Lisa Peng looked down at the terminal tablet in her hand, the flashing data on the screen showed some new developments within the school. She calmly browsed every piece of information, capturing every subtle change. "The mainstream faction has started receiving information," she murmured softly, "and the rebellious faction is still stubborn."
She put the terminal tablet away, and slowly walked out of the room. At this moment, Zhao Mingxuan was standing in an open space on one side of the school, facing the night wind, his gaze looking into the distance.
"Everything is progressing smoothly," Lisa approached, saying in a low voice.
Zhao Mingxuan turned back, glanced at her, the corner of his mouth slightly lifted: "One step further, and we can complete the final allegiance." His eyes revealed a hint of calmness and confidence.
Lisa slightly frowned: "However, there's still a problem. Brandon's situation is a bit complex."
"Brandon?" Zhao Mingxuan chuckled softly, "He's just a small interlude, nothing to worry about. Once the tide is initiated, any resistance will be submerged."
Lisa nodded. Although she knew that Brandon's rebellious forces could still pose a certain risk, She knew even better in her heart that once Jason's plan was initiated, none of this could be stopped.
Zhao Mingxuan turned and continued walking forward: "Maintain contact, continue observing. The school's order is gradually coming under our control."
Lisa followed closely: "Understood."
She mused to herself whether the upcoming action was ready to face the real challenge.
Chapter Twenty-Two · Section Two: The School's Spiral
Moonlight streamed through ancient windows onto the school's flagstone path, A gentle breeze swept over abandoned desks, The air was filled with suppression and the tension of an imminent eruption. At this moment, the school was like a giant spiral, Undercurrents surged, and an invisible force could be felt quietly coiling within it.
Lisa Peng walked along a secluded corridor in the school, her steps light and firm, Followed by a few loyal students. She knew in her heart that today's action was key. Some critical nodes within the school needed to gradually align, pushing the protagonist's strategy into the final stage.
She stopped, lightly pressing the terminal tablet in her hand, Data streams flickered on the screen. This data came from the network she was controlling from behind— —The school's ideological system was being gradually shaped by her and Zhao Mingxuan. The school's students, professors, and even part of the faculty, Had been subtly accepting Jason's philosophy—the philosophy of the tide and the strategy of forbearance.
"How's the progress?" Lisa asked in a low voice, with a hint of almost imperceptible tension.
Zhao Mingxuan emerged from a corner on one side, Looking up at the distant skyline, his gaze focused:
"Everything is under control, Lisa. Everything we do is to pave that hidden path. They don't know yet that they are walking towards allegiance."
Lisa nodded slightly; she knew clearly, The process of the school's allegiance was not something that happened overnight. It required patience, it required time, And even some invisible pressure to urge these people to naturally move in the correct direction.
"What about Brandon's movements?" Lisa asked, A hint of worry in her words.
A cold smile flashed in Zhao Mingxuan's eyes: "He is merely a temporary nuisance. The school's order has already been quietly changed by us. Brandon's rebellion will only become a footnote in history. The power of the tide has already destined him to be submerged."
Lisa frowned; she was not entirely convinced by Zhao Mingxuan's relaxed attitude. Brandon was not just a small rebel, Behind him gathered deep dissatisfaction with the school's order, A potential force that could stir up a storm. But she said nothing more, only silently noted this concern.
"Continue monitoring." Zhao Mingxuan's tone was steady, "If the situation changes, we will immediately adjust our strategy."
Lisa took a deep breath and began to turn to leave. Just as she was about to leave, she suddenly stopped, Looking back at Zhao Mingxuan.
"Do you believe all of this will go smoothly?" She asked in a low voice.
Zhao Mingxuan smiled faintly, his gaze passing through the window to the distant skyline:
"I believe in the tide, Lisa. The tide is ceaseless."
Lisa nodded, Gradually understanding in her heart, This silent tide was already irreversible.
Chapter Twenty-Two · Section Three: Cruel Suppression by External Forces
Late at night in the ruined city, The turmoil of the external world had gradually spread to this once peaceful campus.
Jason's plan was quietly proceeding within the school, but at the same time, The suppression by external forces was continuously intensifying. The cruelty of the world became particularly clear at this moment.
The Purge Faction's rebellion had erupted in the Southern District, And TRACE's peripheral strikes had also become more direct and fierce. These rebel organizations had once tried to break through the existing order, However, they ultimately did not succeed. Violence and suppression became the norm in this world, and the fate of the rebels was already sealed.
Inside an abandoned factory in the Southern District, Several core members of the Purge Faction sat around a table, their gazes gloomy. Their faces were covered with fatigue and anxiety; the intelligence before them showed, External enemies had locked onto their position.
"If we continue like this, we won't have a chance to live," a young member said in a low voice, his voice full of despair.
"Cannot stop." Another member gritted his teeth, A hint of determination appearing on his face, "Can we break through TRACE's peripheral blockade? If we don't break through, we'll forever walk down this dead end."
But just then, an explosion echoed through the night sky, The factory walls outside shook, TRACE's peripheral armed forces had surrounded them outside.
"Prepare for battle!" The leader's voice was high and powerful, "We have no retreat, Only fight to the death!"
However, when they rushed out of the factory, What greeted them was ruthless suppression. TRACE's peripheral armed personnel quickly surrounded them, Using high-tech weapons for precise strikes.
With a burst of dense gunfire and explosions, The Purge Faction members fell one by one, suffering heavy casualties. The cruel scene quietly ended in the dark night. The spark of rebellion was completely extinguished, The youths who once had lofty ideals, Now were merely silent corpses.
Chapter Twenty-Two · Section Four: Jason's Strategic Layout
Beneath the school's quiet surface, Jason had been silently manipulating everything. He did not personally participate in the intense conflict of this situation, But through the actions of others, he advanced everything in an orderly manner. The allegiance of every node, the accumulation of every bit of strength, Were all layouts for his ultimate goal—complete control.
Standing on the top floor of the school building, Jason overlooked this world he had constructed. The night wind gently brushed his black trench coat, his gaze deep and calm. He was not surprised by the violence and suppression in the external world. The world of the strong was destined to only move covertly in the undercurrent, Any violent resistance could only be a fleeting spectacle.
"The tide has finally begun," he murmured to himself.
As the Fuxi System's reminder came, Jason's thoughts gradually converged. Now, it was time to start expanding influence, Establishing a stronger control network. He needed to lay more groundwork for the upcoming large-scale layout, Allowing these seemingly tiny nodes, At some point in the future, To become the key to his strategic success.
Chapter Twenty-Two · Section Five: Still Water Runs Deep
As daylight gradually faded, night once again enveloped the school. In this world composed of chaos and unease, Jason still stood in his top floor office, Silently watching the distant city ruins.
Today, he had once again, through information flow and psychological suggestion, Brought more of the school's nodes under his control.
Jason no longer directly participated in the school's surface affairs. His vision was farther, his goal larger. The turmoil in the external world was continuously escalating, and he knew, The future storm would not be as simple as just the current resistance and suppression— —He was at the center of this storm, Skillfully manipulating every chess piece.
He looked at the map before him again, His fingertips lightly tracing the marked locations— —Southern District, Northern District, Greywings, Purge Faction, These former forces of resistance may have failed, But their aftershocks and residual power still existed, Still needed to be controlled by him.
"The tide, will ultimately arrive," he whispered, silently reciting Fuxi's philosophy in his heart.
The Fuxi System's prompt came at this moment, its tone still steady:
"Situation Update: Peripheral node screening completed, peripheral situation has stabilized."
Jason nodded slightly; the stability of the peripheral nodes meant he could concentrate more power within the school. The gradual formation of allegiance nodes filled him with confidence in future control. All loyalists in the school, Had gradually joined his strategic layout through silent contact.
He knew that as the forces inside and outside the school converged, His plan had entered a critical phase. And in this process, the most important thing was to maintain patience and secrecy, Letting everything flow quietly like a tide, rather than breaking the existing order through violence and conflict.
Jason's gaze fell upon the ruin map again. Each marked location represented a covert flow, Representing a future sphere of influence, his sphere of influence. Every allegiance node, every potential change, Was paving the way for a larger strategic layout in the future. The school was just one part of it, The larger game was still waiting for him to initiate.
At this moment, Lisa Peng entered the room, She said softly: "The situation inside the school has further stabilized, guidance of allegiance nodes is progressing smoothly."
"Very good." Jason responded briefly, but he did not let down his guard. He knew that beneath the stable exterior, unforeseen crises still lurked.
Lisa continued: "Rebel activity has been successfully suppressed, But Brandon's strength has not been completely dismantled. We need to be vigilant about his potential actions at any time."
Jason took a deep breath, His gaze lingered on her face for a moment, saying in a low voice:
"No need to worry, Lisa. Brandon's resistance is merely temporary; his strength is not enough to shake the trajectory of the tide."
Lisa was silent for a moment, then nodded:
"But his extreme actions could still bring unexpected risks."
Jason smiled slightly, walking towards the window, A deep light flashing in his eyes:
"Risk? Without risk, there is no growth. What we want is not a sudden victory, But gradual control of the entire world. The power of the tide, Always accumulates in the dark, Only waiting for the right moment, Can it sweep through everything completely."
Lisa stood in place, looking at Jason's calm back, A complex emotion suddenly arose in her heart. She understood that Jason was no longer just a simple student, But a strategist controlling the entire situation. There was a silent authority in his words, Making her feel compelled to obey, to believe.
"You are right," Lisa said softly, "Our goal is to control the entire situation, Not to deviate from our course for local victories."
"Exactly." Jason turned around, his gaze firm, "Brandon's strength is nothing but a small stone on our path forward."
Lisa said nothing more, nodded, turned, and left, Leaving Jason standing alone by the window.
A philosophical principle the Fuxi System had whispered suddenly surfaced in Jason's heart:
"With wind and clouds rising, the tide is silent, The one who walks does not argue, worldly affairs do not contend."
He took a deep breath, A new light flickering in his eyes. He knew, He was already at the center of this historical storm, And the power of the tide, Was silently converging. Every step in the future, Would gradually become visible in the undercurrent's advance.
Chapter Twenty-Two · Section Six: Tides in the Undercurrent
Late night, the school campus was still quiet. Jason stood by the window, gazing at the dim yellow streetlights outside and the distant ruined city. The cold night wind blew, Swaying tree shadows cast onto the walls, As if narrating the unknown secrets in this world.
Jason's thoughts, however, had long drifted to farther places—the changes in the external world, The convergence of the tide, And his constantly expanding network of influence.
Since the gradual stabilization of the allegiance nodes, the school's situation had quietly changed. Students, professors, and even some staff, Had begun to unconsciously accept the guidance of the protagonist's philosophy. Everyone's thoughts, like a tide, were gradually led into the deeper undercurrent. All of this was not violent suppression, But silent influence, slowly changing everyone's choices and actions.
However, this process was not simple. Even if it appeared smooth on the surface, In reality, the protagonist still faced enormous implicit pressure.
"We have reached a critical moment," Jason murmured to himself.
He turned, walked towards the nearby table, And picked up the school strategic planning map. It was marked with the positions of every potential loyalist, Every seemingly tiny power node contained immense potential.
Jason looked at the markings on the map, Rapidly calculating the next step. Every single step had to be precisely accurate, Otherwise, if there was even one mistake, All efforts would be in vain.
"Is Brandon still unwilling to give up?" His voice was without any fluctuation, As if asking an irrelevant question, But in reality, his thoughts were already as deep as the sea.
Lisa Peng entered the room, her expression still calm: "He is still gathering his remaining forces, preparing for a final counterattack."
Jason's lips slightly curved upward, his gaze lingering on Lisa's face for a moment: "Counterattack? He and his forces are destined to be a part of my plan. No matter how he resists, he will ultimately become part of the tide."
Lisa was silent for a moment, seeming to weigh the deeper meaning of Jason's words. She knew that the protagonist never easily let anyone completely deviate from his trajectory. Although Brandon resisted fiercely, in the deep-level strategic layout, His every action was merely paving the way for Jason's goal.
"However, his resistance is indeed troublesome," Lisa said, "The pressure from external forces is also gradually increasing, TRACE's peripheral suppression will accelerate. We must quickly consolidate internally."
"I know," Jason nodded in response, his gaze still calm and composed, "But precisely because of this, we must rapidly expand our network within the school. Once the allegiance nodes are completed, our strength will achieve a qualitative leap. External conflicts are always just localized fluctuations. The real battle is in the future."
Lisa said no more, knowing that Jason's resolve was set. She understood that what the protagonist was focused on was not the immediate violent conflict, But how to make the entire system operate quietly behind the scenes. The power of the tide is never on the surface, but in the lurking depths.
Behind the school's apparent calm, undercurrents surged. Outside, the city was a mess, the aftershocks of rebel activity constantly spreading. Brandon was still continuing his actions, Attempting to unknowingly turn the situation around, seeking opportunities for counterattack. But in this world on the verge of collapse, Brandon and his comrades were unaware, That they had long been surrounded by the vortex of the tide.
Within the school, new allegiance nodes had quietly formed. Zhao Mingxuan, Lisa, Jason, and other core members, Connected these nodes one by one, Like threads weaving a network that was seemingly invisible, yet incredibly solid. Among them, the most important loyalists were not just students and professors, But also the school's management personnel. The addition of these people made the protagonist's power more covert and powerful. Even if on the surface they still maintained the school's daily order of operation, In fact, they had already become a component of the undercurrent, directly participating in Jason's strategy.
Signals and Covert Instructions
"Are you sure?" A student, under Jason's instruction, Began to quietly disseminate an information flow within the campus. This information flow was not noticeable, nor did it have clear instructions, Just a simple signal, hinting at a change in a certain direction.
"Belong, without resistance."
The information content was simple and direct; it did not force anyone to accept it, But through subtle means, Allowed those who received it to feel the call of the undercurrent unknowingly.
As the information flow spread, more nodes gradually integrated. They began to establish connections within the school, Forming an information system that was invisible on the surface, but incredibly solid in reality.
Jason knew that none of this happened overnight. The power of the tide had to unfold progressively in a formless manner, Every step had to be an irreversible choice. Only after completely eliminating the sprouts of resistance could the tide finally converge smoothly, Reaching the ultimate goal he anticipated.
However, he also knew that external pressure still existed. Although the situation within the school was gradually stabilizing, the residual power of the Purge Faction remained a hidden danger. Brandon and his followers, although appearing to have failed on the surface, Their tenacity and unyielding spirit could still stir up fluctuations at certain moments.
Jason slightly frowned, How the external pressure and the school's covert changes would intertwine, Would become the key point of the next phase.