"The fourth Wallfacer, Doctor Luo Ji."
In a hotel in Shangjing, inside the top-floor luxury suite, Emrys swirled his wine glass, his gaze shifting from the orange-yellow sparkling water to Luo Ji, who seemed to be in a daze on the podium on the television.
"It's finally begun—" He slightly curved his lips and took a sip of the sparkling wine.
The Wallfacer Project was a strategic plan to deceive and resist the Trisolarian civilization's invasion of Earth, achieved through extreme personal strategizing and wisdom, and the advantage of closed-off thinking.
The reason for doing this was actually very simple: in the face of the "Sophons" created by the Trisolarians, humanity's basic science had been locked down, making further progress impossible. Thus, there was no chance of achieving a technological leap—a feat akin to a myth—before the Trisolarian fleet arrived.
Secondly, as time went on, more and more "Sophons" would arrive on Earth, which meant that any public military strategy, concept, or action would be completely exposed before the Sophons!
Humanity had no secrets before the Sophons!
Combining the above two factors, there was only one path left for humanity. If they did not want to be destroyed by the Trisolarian civilization, they could only use their limited technological power to resist the more advanced Trisolarians.
But doing so was tantamount to throwing an egg against a rock.
Thus, the United Nations Planetary Defense Council, after in-depth discussions among the heads of various countries, saw the "Wallfacer Project" come into being.
The core of the Wallfacer lies in the fact that Trisolarian thinking is transparent, while humans, due to the characteristics of their language, cannot truly understand the inner thoughts of each individual. This creates a unique "closed-off nature," which is currently humanity's only advantage in resisting the Trisolarians.
The four selected Wallfacers will completely close off their inner selves, concealing and deceiving everyone, including the United Nations and all of humanity, using all resources to achieve their strategic vision.
The entire true strategic thinking, steps to completion, and final objective are all hidden within the Wallfacer's mind, thus achieving the prerequisite: deception of the Trisolarians!
The Wallfacers born under these conditions display 'thoughts' and 'actions' to the outside world that are all 'illusions' designed to achieve the true strategy. They are carefully packaged 'lies,' 'misdirections,' and 'deceptions.'
The Wallfacer will 'deceive' humanity and the 'Trisolarians' until the moment the plan is achieved. No one will know the true strategy conceived by the Wallfacer.
Using lies and disguise to create a massive 'illusory labyrinth of thought,' causing the Trisolarians to lose correct judgment and to delay, as much as possible, the time it takes for the Trisolarians to discern humanity's true strategic intentions.
This is what Emrys meant by a plan to resist an advanced civilization's invasion with extreme personal strategy and wisdom.
And to achieve such an effect, every Wallfacer possesses powers exceeding those of any monarch or ruler, past or present.
The terrifying aspect lies in the fact that, to fulfill their strategy, Wallfacers can mobilize and utilize all available human war resources as much as possible, and during the execution of their strategic plans, they do not need to explain their actions or orders, no matter how absurd or ridiculous these actions may seem.
Of course, to limit the Wallfacers' abuse of power, the United Nations Planetary Defense Council will supervise them, which is their only "Restriction."
"Good! Good! Good!"
Emrys couldn't help but clap his hands in approval.
This action, however, drew a strange look from Maximus. He twitched his lips and asked, "Do you really think this plan can stop the alien invasion? To be honest, given the alien's current technological level, humanity in this world absolutely cannot stop them."
"You're right, they can't stop them—" Emrys smiled. In a way, the ending of the Three-Body Problem was indeed as Maximus said.
Humanity failed to resist the Trisolarian invasion. Even the Swordholder, Luo Ji, only prolonged humanity's civilization to some extent.
And then?
And then Cheng Xin squandered it all.
"What do you plan to do next?" Maximus sat on the ground, staring intently at him, as if eager to act.
"You really want to help them?" Emrys raised an eyebrow and asked.
"No."
Maximus revealed his blackened teeth, his entire being seemingly in a strange state, his eyes swirling with a chilling murderous intent.
"I just genuinely—dislike intelligent life other than humans and want to kill them. It's that simple."
Good, this is very Warhammer.
"Me too." Emrys chuckled softly, swirling his wine glass, his gaze falling on Luo Ji on the television. He said meaningfully, "No rush, let's wait a bit longer. He will come to us sooner or later—the show go on for a while."
Luo Ji was still bewildered.
He, Luo Ji, an ordinary sociology Professor, had actually become the fourth Wallfacer?!
In the vast United Nations conference hall, silence descended. Representatives from various countries and factions looked at the 'fourth Wallfacer candidate' with incredulous eyes.
Luo Ji stood on the stage, his expression dazed.
This feeling was like falling into a deep sea, enveloped by pressure from all sides, causing him to lose all perception of the outside world.
The whispers from below the stage and the shocked, doubtful gazes seemed to transform into invisible blades, piercing his heart.
Even after the United Nations meeting concluded and the crowd below dispersed, Luo Ji, still standing on the podium, remained in a state of mental daze, feeling as if he were dreaming.
"Doctor Luo Ji, are you alright?"
UN Secretary-General Sai, after tidying her documents, woke up the still-dazed Luo Ji.
She felt great sympathy for this young man.
It could also be said that she understood the young man's current state of mind, as not every ordinary person can remain calm as water when a great responsibility falls upon them. Most people's first reaction is usually fear.
"Why me?" A sobered Luo Ji, feeling as if he had fallen into a 'bottomless pit,' eagerly asked, "Did you make a mistake? I'm just an ordinary person!"
"Calm down, Doctor Luo Ji."
UN Secretary-General Sai's expression was calm, as if she had long anticipated Luo Ji's current reaction. She observed him meaningfully, her voice soft and gentle as she said, "As you said, in the face of this disaster, we are all ordinary people. As for the reason for choosing you—you need to find it yourself. I cannot tell you the specific reason without authorization."
"Then, then, then—then why didn't anyone tell me in advance?!" Luo Ji grew anxious.
UN Secretary-General Sai looked at him, a faint, unreadable smile on her face.
"Doctor Luo Ji, you should know that this mission does not require prior notification before it is assigned."
"I refuse!"
Like a desperate person clinging to the only piece of driftwood, Luo Ji gritted his teeth and roared, "I refuse to become a 'Wallfacer,' and I refuse all the responsibilities and obligations you are imposing on me!"
"Alright."
Sai's face still held that peculiar smile, her lips slightly upturned, her eyes containing a certain profound meaning.
Looking at the smile on her face, Luo Ji felt a sense of daze, as if he saw the young man who called himself a 'Wandering Trader' also wearing the same smile as her.
"Remember my smile now, from this moment on—such a smile will accompany you throughout your life."
"No! I don't want to!!!"
Luo Ji's forehead pulsed with veins, and he roared like a madman, then stumbled and ran wildly out of the United Nations conference hall.
"Luo Ji!"
Shi Qiang had just stepped forward when he was pushed away.
"Get lost! Don't follow me!"
Luo Ji seemed to have collapsed, roaring and shouting fiercely, "Everyone get out! Don't follow me! Get out!"
"Luo Ji, it's very dangerous outside, I suggest you—" Shi Qiang was about to speak when he was roughly shoved to the ground by Luo Ji, who was completely irrational in his rage.
Then, Luo Ji ran out wildly.
He arrived on the dark streets of New York at night. As he looked up into the distance, he felt a sharp pain in his chest, as if he had been hit by a car. His internal organs felt displaced, and he flew backward, crashing heavily onto the ground.
Bang!
A delayed gunshot reached Luo Ji's ears.
"Am I—going to die?"
Just before he lost consciousness, he seemed to see Shi Qiang rushing towards him, and guards swarming from all directions.
If only I had known, I wouldn't have taken off my bulletproof vest.