Even past two in the morning, the light in Feng Wuji's room did not go out. Four monitors were lined up on the desk, each displaying a different information source. The leftmost monitor showed official government statements from various nations arranged chronologically, while the center two displayed major media reports and emergency analyses from academic institutions. The rightmost monitor organized information he had independently collected from anonymous message boards and the dark web.
The sound of typing on the keyboard resonated regularly. Feng Wuji recorded vast amounts of information into his database while selecting what to keep and what to discard. In the midst of confusion, fact and speculation intermingle. His work was to discern that boundary line.
The United Nations Security Council convened an emergency meeting six hours after the announcement. The agenda was establishing international standards for representative selection. Each nation would naturally attempt to send in many of its own citizens. The framework of one hundred people was far too small for a population exceeding seven billion. Competition was inevitable.
However, for Feng Wuji, that discussion was only a secondary concern. He had already been designated for selection. The problem was the existence of other designated selectees.
He opened another window. A list he had created was displayed there. Famous strategists, military experts, psychologists, and authorities on negotiation techniques from around the world. A total of three hundred seventy-two names were lined up. Someone among these might have been designated for selection just as he had been.
Feng Wuji placed his hand on his chin. What the higher-dimensional being had cited as selection criteria was "influence." The fact that his strategic text was being read around the world had become the reason for his selection. Then the other designated selectees should also be people who possessed influence in some form.
On one of the monitors, footage appeared showing a former high-ranking official from the U.S. Department of Defense responding to an interview. The man's expression was stiff, speaking while choosing his words.
"The representatives will require the highest level of capability. Physical, intellectual, and mental toughness. We need to proceed carefully with the selection process."
Feng Wuji muted the audio. Official views had almost no information value. What was important was what was happening beneath the surface.
He stood up and looked outside the window. The lights of the city appeared brighter than usual. Many people were probably unable to sleep. In the apartment building across the way, room lights were turning on one after another.
His mobile device vibrated. Feng Wuji picked it up and checked the screen. The sender of the message was Yang Qingya. His editor at the publishing house, a person who had greatly contributed to the success of his previous work.
"Are you safe? I was worried because I couldn't reach you."
Feng Wuji sent a brief reply.
"No problem. Currently concentrating on information gathering."
The response came immediately.
"I can't sleep either. Emergency meetings continue at the company. The entire publishing industry is in chaos. What will happen to your next work?"
He thought for a moment before answering.
"Unknown. Depends on the situation."
He avoided further explanation. He had not yet told anyone that he had been designated for selection. Information was a weapon. It should not be disseminated more than necessary.
Feng Wuji placed the device on the desk and sat in the chair again. New information was flowing across the monitors. News that the Russian government had announced it would select representative candidates from special forces units. Movement as expected. Each nation had a tendency to rely on military power.
However, recalling the competition content the higher-dimensional being had described, Feng Wuji judged that pure combat ability alone would be insufficient. Strategic ability, capacity for deception, and survival instinct. These were qualities that could not be acquired through training alone.
He added a new item to his database. "Hypothesis: Diversity of Competition Formats." As subitems, he enumerated "Physical Combat," "Psychological Warfare," "Resource Management," "Alliance Formation and Betrayal," and "Information Warfare."
He analyzed the abilities required for each item. For physical combat, military personnel and martial arts specialists would have the advantage. For psychological warfare, negotiation technique experts and specialists in human behavior. For resource management, economists and logistics experts.
However, no human excelled in all fields. In other words, there was the possibility that cooperative ability as a team would be required.
Feng Wuji recorded that hypothesis and deepened his consideration further. Would the one hundred representatives compete individually, or would they cooperate as a team? The higher-dimensional being had not stated this clearly. It was necessary to consider both possibilities.
The clock hands indicated three o'clock. Under normal circumstances, this would be the hour for sleep, but tonight only, sleep was a secondary priority. He stood up to brew fresh coffee.
On the way to the kitchen, he stopped his feet in front of the bookshelf. Placed there was a copy of the strategic text he had written anonymously. A different author name was printed on the cover. This book had been read around the world and had influenced the decision-making of power holders.
And now, that influence had made him a target for selection.
Feng Wuji picked up the book. When he turned the pages, the sentences he had written entered his vision. Human cognitive biases, traps of group psychology, analysis of power structures. Everything was logically organized and presented as practical strategy.
Would this knowledge be useful in the competition he was about to face? He himself had no certainty. There was no information at all about what kind of beings the representatives from other planets were. There was no guarantee that human psychology would be applicable.
However, even so, he had a weapon. Adaptive ability. The ability to respond flexibly to unknown situations and construct new strategies. That was his true strength.
Feng Wuji returned the book to the shelf and flipped the switch on the coffee maker. The sound of water boiling resonated in the quiet kitchen.
His mobile device vibrated again. This time it was from an unfamiliar number. He checked the screen with caution.
The message was concise.
"Feng Wuji. I was also designated for selection. I want to meet and talk. Tomorrow at three in the afternoon, third floor of the Central Library. I'll be waiting if you come. —Liu Siyuan"
Feng Wuji retrieved the name from his memory. Liu Siyuan. A former tactical advisor to the Chinese military, currently a civilian security consultant. He had abundant combat experience, and there were rumors that he had been involved in operations in multiple conflict zones. Though not remaining in official records, his name was frequently mentioned in unofficial information sources.
Feng Wuji considered whether he should reply. The higher-dimensional being had stated that contact with other representatives was recommended but not compulsory. In other words, it was necessary to weigh the information that could be gained from contact against the risk of his own information being leaked.
After several minutes of circulating thoughts, he replied.
"Understood. At three."
It was a brief answer. He would not provide unnecessary information. He needed to meet and ascertain what intentions Liu Siyuan had in seeking contact.
The coffee was ready. Feng Wuji poured it into a cup and returned to the desk. New news was flowing across the monitors one after another. A report that India had recommended mathematicians and physicists as representative candidates. Information that Japan was coordinating in the direction of selecting martial arts masters and corporate executives.
Each nation was proceeding with selection based on its own criteria. Cooperative spirit was not yet visible. Feng Wuji recorded this and added to his analysis notes.
"Observation: Each nation is prioritizing its own interests. International cooperation is superficial. Substantively, it is a competitive relationship."
This was as expected. For humanity to conduct unified decision-making, crisis awareness alone was insufficient. Concrete adjustment of interests and a process of trust-building were necessary.
However, there was only one month of time. During that period, one hundred representatives had to be selected, training conducted, and coordination as a team established. Theoretically possible, but in reality many obstacles were anticipated.
Feng Wuji took a sip of coffee. Bitterness spread in his mouth. He was beginning to think about his own role. As a strategist, there was the possibility he would assume a position integrating the other representatives. However, that simultaneously meant becoming a target.
Opposing forces always arose around power. Among the representatives, too, those attempting to seize the initiative would appear. Feng Wuji did not wish to be caught up in that competition. His goal was survival and victory, not internal power struggles.
However, there were also cases where it could not be avoided. For those times, he needed to advance preparations.
Breaking news displayed on one of the monitors. News that the United Nations had announced provisional guidelines for representative selection. Feng Wuji confirmed the content.
The guidelines were vague as expected. Each nation would select candidates independently, and an international committee would conduct final coordination. Regarding designated selectees, their decisions would be respected. Overall, it was merely a formal framework.
Feng Wuji closed the window. It was pointless to have expectations of official movements. What was important was the quality of the people who would actually be selected and how they would cooperate.
Tomorrow's meeting with Liu Siyuan would be the first point of contact. Feng Wuji began formulating strategy regarding what he should hear and what he should say there.
The other party was a military specialist. He had combat experience and probably high physical combat ability as well. For Feng Wuji, that field was a weakness. However, in strategy and psychology, he could hold the advantage.
The problem was what degree of intelligence Liu Siyuan possessed. If he were a simple military man, he would be easy to handle, but given that he held a career as a tactical advisor, there was the possibility he was equipped with advanced thinking ability.
Feng Wuji told himself not to underestimate the other party. Assume all representatives possessed high ability and take responses accordingly. This was the basic principle.
The clock indicated four o'clock. The sky was beginning to gradually brighten. Feng Wuji looked outside the window. The city was quiet, but the sound of a siren could be heard in the distance. The confusion was still continuing.
He powered down the monitors and sank deeply into his chair. He needed to take several hours of light sleep. To prepare for tomorrow's meeting, he would organize his thoughts and maintain his physical condition.
Feng Wuji closed his eyes. In the darkness, the words of the higher-dimensional being revived.
"Survive and achieve victory."
It was a simple command. However, behind it, countless complex elements were hidden. Feng Wuji needed to unravel them one by one.
And there was the most important question.
What did sublimation to a higher dimension mean?
Was it truly something of value?
Feng Wuji did not have the answer. However, for survival, there was no choice but to achieve victory. Questions should be postponed.
He breathed in deeply and directed his consciousness toward rest. From tomorrow, the real preparations would begin.