175: Chapter 175 The Savior Arrives, All the Officers Are Terrified?

Dead silence fell over the tent once again.

No one was a fool.

The previous rebuttals were mostly born of inertia and a reluctance to give up interests, but after Jiang Ming stripped away the fig leaf so bluntly, everyone had to face the cruel reality:

If your life is gone, what do you need money for?

Jiang Ming Mirror Image One sat back in his chair, his fingers continuing to tap on the tabletop.

"Second."

"I don't understand how to drive a tank, nor do I understand your complex tactical maneuvers. Therefore, the specific deployment of troops will be the responsibility of a joint staff composed of you."

These words caused the professional soldiers present to relax slightly.

What they feared most was a layman guiding the experts. If this transcendent truly wanted to micromanage the movement of every single tank, then this war would be impossible to fight.

"However."

Jiang Ming Mirror Image One's tone shifted. "When your opinions differ, when you're arguing heatedly and no one can convince the other..."

He raised his hand and pointed at himself.

"I will make the final decision."

"My decision is the final order. No explanation is needed, no reconsideration is required. You only need to execute it. Even if I tell you to fill the sea with your bodies, you'll have to jump in for me."

"Agreed."

"Agreed."

"Seconded."

As everyone expressed their stance, the power structure of this hastily assembled "Five-Nation Joint Expeditionary Force"—unprecedented in human history—was formally established at this moment by this young man through absolute power.

Just as Jiang Ming Mirror Image One was about to adjourn the meeting and order the various units to execute the command to contract the defensive lines.

*Zzzzt—*

The dozen or so tactical display screens hanging around the tent simultaneously emitted a piercing static sound.

The images originally showing the map of Tokyo instantly distorted, turning into a field of stark white static.

Immediately following that, an indescribable, terrifying sense of pressure descended upon the tent like something physical.

There was no expected report from the guards; even the footsteps were very light.

But the moment that hand pulled back the door curtain, the hair on the backs of the hundred-plus people in the headquarters stood up in unison.

It was as if they had been thrown into a hyperbaric oxygen chamber; eardrums bulged, and hearts skipped a beat.

First, a soft yet unignorable golden light flowed in, followed by that platinum-colored figure stepping over the threshold.

The Savior, Jeanne d'Arc.

She was dressed in a platinum battle skirt flowing with divine radiance, a Saint's Halo floating above her head. Her originally clear blue eyes had turned into pure gold, devoid of any human emotion, containing only the compassion of one looking down upon all living beings.

The people following behind her were even more heavyweight.

Sir Isaac Newton, who had turned physics into a killing technique, his prism staff tapping out crisp sounds on the ground; Li Bai, with a wine gourd hanging at his waist, dressed in green robes yet possessing a sharp sword intent; and the Old Celestial Master Zhang Ruoxu, with hair and beard all white, exuding an otherworldly aura.

And the last one... uh, a young girl clutching a blue octopus plushie, peeking out from behind Zhang Ruoxu. If he wasn't mistaken, was that the Hydro Archon Furina who had been slacking off in the bye group?

Just by standing there, the energy fields emitted by these five transcendents caused the air in the entire headquarters to solidify like glue.

The American Major General who had just settled in for less than two minutes, and that Russian Colonel who had just been challenging Jiang Ming, both subconsciously stood up from their chairs at this moment.

In the entire room, only Jiang Ming acted as if nothing was wrong, still sitting steadily in the chair belonging to the Commander-in-Chief.

He rose from his seat, walked calmly toward the newcomers, and spoke first:

"Your Excellency Savior, I am Jiang Ming, Commander-in-Chief of the Human Joint Expeditionary Force. May I ask how we can cooperate?"

Jeanne's golden eyes swept across the room, finally resting on Jiang Ming.

"The threat of the 'Beast' is imminent. All forces must be unified under my command to respond to the existential crisis of humanity."

This declaration caused the faces of the officers, who had just barely adapted to Jiang Ming's authority, to change slightly once again.

However, to everyone's surprise, Jiang Ming Mirror Image One did not argue, nor did he show even a hint of displeasure.

He simply nodded calmly, then stepped aside, vacating the chair behind him that represented supreme command, and made a "please" gesture.

"As it should be. Please take a seat, Your Excellency Savior. We need a new battle plan."

This decisiveness left everyone present stunned.

Even Li Bai gave him an extra look, seemingly not expecting him to relinquish power so easily.

Jeanne, however, did not take the seat.

To her, secular power was meaningless. She walked straight to the large hand-drawn map, her golden eyes looking down at the red markings representing the South Asian subcontinent.

"Time is short; we must take the initiative to attack."

Her plan was simple and direct.

"Saber, Rider, and I will head to New Delhi immediately to test the Beast's strength and collect data."

She pointed to Furina and Zhang Ruoxu.

"Caster and this Daoist Master will remain in Tokyo to ensure the safety of the 'gate'."

Hearing this, Furina tightened her grip on the octopus plushie and nodded like a chick pecking at grain, looking very well-behaved as if saying, "I definitely won't cause trouble."

Zhang Ruoxu stroked his beard, having no objection to this arrangement.

Just as Jeanne was about to issue the final order, a voice interrupted her.

"Your Excellency Savior."

It was Jiang Ming Mirror Image One.

He walked to the other end of the map and extended a finger, pointing at the Chinese region, specifically the location representing the Potala Palace.

"Before the attack, there is one more important issue."

"The 'Holy Grail' is still there."

"If we let the Abyss's pollution spread there, we might face a polluted 'Beast' with infinite energy."

As soon as these words were spoken, the temperature in the tent seemed to drop a few more degrees.

Jeanne and the others were all clear about the rules of the Holy Grail. That thing was the final prize, only touchable by the winner, but now, the prize itself had become a nuclear bomb that could detonate at any time!

Jeanne was silent for a moment.

In her divine eyes, a very rapid calculation seemed to flash by.

Then, she spoke again, her voice still steady.

"I am no longer a contestant, but the 'Savior'. The rules do not apply to me."

"I can attempt to transfer the Holy Grail and bring it to a safe zone."

This new piece of information slightly eased the hearts of everyone present.

The final operational deployment was quickly re-established.

Li Bai and Newton exchanged a glance, seeing in each other's eyes a desire for the challenge and a fighting spirit toward that "unreasonable" enemy.

They would serve as the first echelon, heading to New Delhi to perform the most dangerous reconnaissance and containment mission.

To ensure success, Jeanne raised her hand, and two golden lights merged into the bodies of Li Bai and Newton respectively.

"This is a replenishment of three command spells, just in case."

Li Bai felt the burning sensation on the back of his hand and cupped his fists in a salute to Jeanne.

Newton merely nodded slightly, accepting the support.

"Then, I will immediately head to Mirror China to transfer the Holy Grail." Jeanne looked at Jiang Ming. "Until I return, the defense of Tokyo is entrusted to you."

"Understood."

Jiang Ming nodded.

"Miss Furina, Celestial Master Zhang, please also assist the Commander-in-Chief," Jeanne instructed finally.

Zhang Ruoxu gave a Daoist salute. "It is my duty."

Furina nodded. "Leave it to me."

The plan was set; there was no further delay.

Jeanne's figure was the first to turn into golden points of light, vanishing from the tent into thin air.

Newton tapped his cane lightly on the ground, and a light gate composed of countless geometric patterns opened out of thin air. He walked in without looking back.

Li Bai glanced at his Master, Zhang Ruoxu. The Old Celestial Master gave him a slight smile, and then Li Bai followed Newton into the gate of light.

In the blink of an eye, only Jiang Ming, Zhang Ruoxu, and Furina remained in the headquarters.

Along with a group of human officers whose brains had stalled, not yet having recovered from that "meeting of gods."

Humanity's last line of defense split into three paths.