Lucas Moore: "Huh?"
Colonel Liu: "Huh?"
Director: "Huh?"
Cameraman: "Huh?"
Comments: "Huh?"
The live stream suddenly felt like a springtime pond, filled with the croaks of astonished frogs.
Eighteen years old, PhD, member of the National Think Tank, and even an Executive Deputy Director.
Th-this… is this correct?
It… it has to be, right?
The world does have prodigies. An eighteen-year-old PhD is rare but not impossible.
No, no.
She's also a member of the National Think Tank!
Right, right.
Why couldn't an eighteen-year-old PhD join the National Think Tank?
No. Just no!
Who has ever seen an eighteen-year-old Executive Deputy Director?
Lucas Moore rubbed his eyes, then touched his slightly stiff face. "Sorry, viewers, I must have been seeing things. Let's take another look at Reina May's file…"
"No, man! Executive Deputy Director at eighteen? Am I crazy, or is this world crazy?" Lucas Moore leaned forward in his chair, stretching his neck to stare at the tablet as if he could see through the screen, his whole body resembling a shrimp.
The National Think Tank what does that even mean? Anyone casually picked from there would have a name that commands respect, with wealth, power, knowledge, status, and age. Yet this girl in front of them, only eighteen, is a member? And an Executive Deputy Director?
"Could she really be a genius?"
"This is bad. We might as well go to Gotham and play the Joker."
"Her status alone is mind-blowing. How talented must she be to mix with a group of old men in such circles?"
"And still as an Executive Deputy Director. Elite among elites."
"This isn't surprising anymore. Such a genius definitely deserves to be secret."
"Croak! Someone croaked! I have to report this! We're all playing Blue Star Online, and she's in custom mode!"
"Finally! East Huang has hope!"
The comment section erupted into a wild celebration.
Inside the Strategy Bureau, however, the mood was more complicated. The Commander stared at Reina May's file, emotions a complex mix.
"This little one no, this Ms. Reina May she really knows how to hide her abilities." The Commander's expression looked like a pie chart: one percent happy, one percent puzzled, one percent angry, and ninety-seven percent shocked.
Even without considering other factors, Reina May's official status alone could rival his own. Of course, in terms of real power, the Bureau still held more practical authority.
"With Ms. Reina May on our side, we should be able to clear this Destiny Battle," the Deputy Commander breathed a sigh of relief.
Although individual strength mattered in the Destiny Battle, intelligence also counted, especially in survival situations. Reina May's ability to instantly defeat a slime confirmed her exceptional skill.
"We can't relax yet. Our player's physical fitness is still a concern. We need to help her link up with players from other nations as soon as possible," Lin Xueyuan said.
"Agreed."
"Logical point."
"How's the map comparison progressing?" the Deputy Commander asked the geography team.
"Almost halfway done," the geological team leader replied after a brief discussion with his members.
At the start, the Destiny Battle provided a bird's-eye view. Players' perspectives from different nations were combined to identify overlapping areas. Finally, like assembling a jigsaw puzzle, a complete map of the battlefield was created.
In previous Destiny Battles, this technique had saved countless lives. Once players converged based on the map, their increased numbers meant they could rely on sheer strength in numbers.
At this moment, in the Bureau members' minds, Reina May had become the command center for all nations a strategic mastermind.
"Yes, speed up the comparison. We must transmit the map to our player as soon as possible when we can communicate with her tomorrow," the Commander ordered.
"Yes, sir!"
Watching the geological team work diligently, the Commander adjusted his glasses and glanced back at the file in his hands. Something felt off not due to any mistake or error, but an instinctive, almost mystical feeling that made his brow furrow deeply, wrinkles on his forehead capable of pinching a mosquito.
Probably just an illusion, he thought, setting the file aside and focusing again on the live feed of the Destiny Battle.
At the United Nations headquarters in Brunesel, a conference room had been dedicated to international intelligence exchange since the Destiny Battle began.
The room, capable of holding a thousand people, now had diplomats from various nations in urgent discussion. Multiple screens displayed the experiences of each country's players in the battle.
However, ambassadors from East Huang, Sakura Empire, Northern Union, Sardinia Empire, Iris Church, Royal, Ironblood, and White Eagle were absent. Their delegations were led by secondary officials.
The ambassadors were unfazed, as this was customary. Meanwhile, the eight nations' main ambassadors held discussions in a smaller room next door.
Sakura Empire, Iris, Ironblood, and Royal, seeing that their players had no chance to clear the battlefield, had voted to forfeit, deciding to take a supporting role to assist other nations.
Ironblood and Royal leaned toward White Eagle, while Sakura and Iris, impressed by Reina May's exceptional performance, believed she had the highest chance of success. Northern Union remained undecided.
Two weights balanced on a scale. Whichever side gained Northern Union's neutral vote would win.
East Huang and White Eagle were vying for Northern Union's support.
"I am not denying your player's importance in team strategy or decision-making, but remember, this round of the Destiny Battle is an unlimited survival mode. Intelligence matters, but strength is even more crucial," White Eagle's ambassador summarized.
The Northern Union ambassador nodded subtly. For people living in extreme cold, physical strength mattered more.
The East Huang ambassador frowned. He acknowledged the validity of the White Eagle ambassador's argument. After all, their own player, Jimmy, aside from being a natural fitness enthusiast, had received professional special forces and survival training for a reality show. He had the most impressive credentials among all players.
As the East Huang ambassador sighed, leaning toward supporting White Eagle's argument, a member of East Huang's delegation approached him, whispered, and handed him a new document.
The ambassador's face immediately changed, revealing a remarkable expression.
"Is this true?"
"Absolutely. It is a direct order."
"Understood."
The East Huang ambassador nodded, then looked up at the White Eagle ambassador. "I have new information that should satisfy your doubts."