Alien Species Invasion? I Kill Them Back.

Chapter 138: Chapter 136: The Meeting Ends

Feng Ling and Pei Xianjue weren’t required to speak during the second half of the meeting, but it wasn’t as boring as she had imagined.

Feng Ling listened with great interest, finding it all quite fascinating.

Everyone voiced their opinions. While the shared goal was naturally to safeguard the interests of all humanity, their different standpoints led them to subtly jockey for their own benefit, engaging in some innocuous probing, competition, and back-and-forth negotiations.

The process was incredibly draining and time-consuming. The meeting continued until 11 PM with no sign of ending.

People are more likely to compromise when exhausted.

Many of the subsequent agenda items and proposals, once raised, were met with almost no opposition and passed smoothly.

It wasn’t until the topic of "the universalization of Hunters" was raised that the atmosphere in the meeting room grew delicate—

Captain Shen of Yuquan City was clearly a proponent. He said, "It’s actually quite simple when you think about it. Imagine a gang of bandits breaks into your home. You can either grab a weapon to protect your family yourself, or you can give a weapon to every family member so each person has the ability to self-defend."

"Captain Shen, that analogy isn’t quite fitting, is it?" someone objected. "Cards and weapons are different. A weapon can be taken back at any time, but once a Card is absorbed by the body, it can’t be retrieved. We have to consider the potential risks this could create down the line."

Shen Mu smiled. "The analogy may be imperfect, but the plan itself is worth exploring. Think about it. We used to only have taxis. Then ride-hailing apps appeared. Or consider the annual flood relief efforts—official forces are involved, but so are civilian rescue organizations. So, this Hunter initiative could very well be a supplement to the Inspector system. Just imagine—"

Shen Mu scanned the room, then raised his phone and gave it a little shake.

"Suppose a citizen is attacked by an Alien Species and calls for help, but the Inspectors are short-staffed. The dispatcher can only send in the Special Attack Team. Yet, the Special Attack Team’s casualty rate has remained high for the past six months, and they’re also facing a manpower shortage. But what if we had a separate Hunter system? Our dispatchers could immediately notify the Hunter closest to the person who called. This way, the citizen’s safety is ensured, and the pressure on our Inspectors is relieved. Isn’t that the best of both worlds?"

The meeting room erupted into a clamor of discussion.

Someone else spoke up. "But Hunters, unlike Inspectors, haven’t undergone systematic combat and ideological training. Their personal qualities vary widely. Who can guarantee that these Hunters will actively join the fight against the Alien Species, rather than using the power of their Cards to commit crimes?"

"Speaking of which... just last month, a superpower user broke into a jewelry store to commit theft. We initially thought it was an Alien Species, but after being captured, the culprit confessed to being human. To avoid a public relations disaster, we had to publicly claim the perpetrator was an Alien Species. This shows the Hunter plan is a double-edged sword. It’s hard to say whether it will make our society more stable or more chaotic."

"On this point, I agree with Captain Shen. Whether the Hunter plan is implemented or not, these people who hold Cards aren’t going to disappear. Some got their Cards by killing a Pollution Body, others by killing an Alien Species, and some just got lucky and stumbled upon an Alien Species’s corpse. They live in every corner of this society. If we had a system to manage them and give them opportunities for training and education, the resulting social impact would absolutely have more pros than cons."

Voices of support gradually grew louder, while dissenting voices faded.

But there was also the silent majority.

Feng Ling observed that at least sixty percent of the people at the conference table hadn’t spoken, including the old man they called the General.

Just as she was thinking this, the old General looked up, his gaze incredibly sharp.

He wasn’t looking at her, however, but at Pei Xianjue beside her.

"On this matter... why don’t we hear Deputy Pei’s thoughts?" the old General asked Pei Xianjue with an amiable smile. "Deputy Pei, do you believe the Hunter plan should be promoted further?"

Pei Xianjue answered immediately. "General, I completely understand Captain Shen’s sense of urgency. Malicious Alien Species incidents are becoming more frequent, and the various branches are all facing personnel shortages. Universalizing Hunters could indeed alleviate this situation to some extent. However, I believe the time is not yet ripe for such a push. The Hunter system has just been launched; we should wait and see how it performs. I’m confident that after it has been operating for a while, it will mature and provide the confidence needed for the next phase of its expansion."

Shen Mu gave Pei Xianjue a long look. After she finished, he added, "In that case, let’s table this proposal for today. We can reconvene in a month to discuss it, after the Hunter system has been running for a while."

This was the final item on the agenda.

Shen Mu offered a few polite closing remarks, then declared the meeting adjourned.

Feng Ling quietly checked the time—it was almost midnight.

The dignitaries filed out of the meeting room, where staff guided them to the dining hall.

At this hour, the only food available was a late-night supper, consisting of light, easily digestible soups and broths.

Food like this held little appeal for Feng Ling. After a quick circuit of the buffet, she decided to head back and sleep.

Pei Xianjue saw Feng Ling leaving and wanted to go with her, but she also recognized this as a chance to network with the others. After a moment’s hesitation, she decided to stay.

...

Quite a few people had their eyes on Feng Ling.

An independent Hunter with no powerful backing was an ideal candidate to win over.

The moment Feng Ling stepped out of the dining hall in the Supervision Building, she felt several gazes lock onto her.

She glanced back.

Inside the dining hall, a few people were smiling at her in a friendly way, looking as if they were about to come over and chat. And it wasn’t just one person.

Feng Ling felt a headache coming on.

’Maybe I should just pretend I didn’t see them and head straight back to my room.’

Just as she was thinking this, Su Yuqing suddenly walked over and waved. "...Feng Ling."

At the sight of Su Yuqing, those who had been preparing to approach paused. Apparently deciding the moment wasn’t right, they abandoned the idea.

The smile on Feng Ling’s face became a little more genuine. "Captain Su, not getting a late-night snack?"

"Not that hungry," Su Yuqing said. "Are you heading back to Qingjiang tonight? Or are you going to rest in Yuquan City for a few days before you go?"

"I’ll probably stay for a few days. I rented an RV to get here, but it’s already too small. The two cubs I’m raising have gotten too big for it... Oh, right! You haven’t seen them since they’ve grown, have you?" Feng Ling patted Su Yuqing on the back, grinning. "Come on, let’s go to my room so I can show you. I guarantee you’ll be shocked!"

Su Yuqing’s back smarted. As they walked, she said, "I saw the photos in the news. They really have gotten huge... I actually came over to ask you, what are your plans for housing when you get back to Qingjiang City? Keeping Pollution Bodies in an apartment... the building management will probably have an issue with that..."

Feng Ling stopped in her tracks and turned to Su Yuqing. "Are you saying... I can’t live in your apartment anymore?"

Su Yuqing—her landlord—forced a smile. "I’m afraid not."

Feng Ling: "..."

’What a disaster.’

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