I awakened to be a menace at the start of the game, and my parents sent me to the cherry blossom vie

Chapter 293 Thick Smoke

"What the heck?"

Lin Fan's hand holding the microphone froze.

To build a temple?

And it's for myself?

Lin Fan had lived for so many years, and this was truly the first time he had ever experienced something like this.

"Give it to me? But I'm still alive!"

On the other end of the microphone, Night Owl's voice also carried a hint of helpless exasperation:

"Boss, I'm not joking."

Two giant creatures had passed through Raccoon City before, and Domingo and his gang held some kind of prayer ceremony. Who would have thought that the two giant creatures would change direction and bypass Raccoon City?

Now all the survivors believe it, saying it's a divine intervention, and they insist on building a temple for you and those two octopuses.

"..."

Lin Fan fell silent. Well, what a coincidence.

"Where are the Domingo people?"

"We tried to persuade them in the square, but to no avail."

"Advice?" Lin Fan looked puzzled. "He started the fire, and now you're telling me he's putting it out?"

Night Owl seemed to agree that this was somewhat absurd, and awkwardly demonstrated with a dry cough:

"Well... he did kneel down first. I guess he didn't expect things to turn out this way either."

Lin Fan took a deep breath, put the microphone on the table, and looked up at the ceiling. For a moment, he didn't know what to say.

Although Helen and Miller next to him didn't understand much Chinese, judging from Lin Fan's expression, what came from the other end of the communicator was clearly not good news.

After a few seconds, Lin Fan spoke again.

"Forget it, let's put this aside for now and deal with him later. There are more important things to do now."

"Please speak."

"The radiation-eating algae at the nuclear power plant are being cleared, but the ecological changes across North America are irreversible. Have the people I asked you to send dispatched yet?"

Night Owl paused for a moment:

"I was originally planning to send them, but there was a problem in Raccoon City before, with the plants mutating and those two big guys getting close, so I didn't dare to move. But now that the crisis is over, I'll make the arrangements."

"OK."

Lin Fan nodded and continued.

"Tell them to take the highway, not the shortcut. The vegetation in the wilderness has completely changed now, and nobody knows if those things will attack people on their own."

"clear."

"Also, if you encounter any survivors on the road, take them with you if you can."

"receive."

After the communication ended, Lin Fan put the microphone back in its original position.

The control room was silent for a few seconds. Helen glanced at the monitor and cautiously asked:

"Mr. Lin, those two outside... how much longer?"

"It should be soon." Lin Fan glanced at the monitor screen.

On the screen, the giant bird's tentacles are cleaning the last patch of radiative algae blanket on top of the cooling tower.

Little Wu squatted near the base of the tower, its tentacles reaching into the gaps in various pipes and rummaging around, just like an octopus searching for crabs in a crack in a rock, even though it is an octopus.

This scene seemed somewhat ridiculous to Lin Fan. After thinking for a moment, he added:

"About ten minutes left."

Helen nodded, visibly relieved.

Although Lin Fan said they were his "friends," the sight of two enormous, black objects, hundreds of meters tall, standing right outside the window would frighten anyone.

Miller, having regained some of his military composure, walked over to Lin Fan and asked in a low voice:

"Mr. Lin, after we've cleaned them up, will these two... stay?"

"No," Lin Fan said. "They have their own things to do."

Miller breathed a sigh of relief, but then became curious again. After all, it was quite frightening to see two such large creatures moving around on land.

"What is it?"

Lin Fan glanced at him: "You have a lot of questions."

Upon hearing this, Miller immediately shut up and stopped asking questions.

Meanwhile, in Raccoon City...

In the city square, Domingo looked at the dense crowd in front of him with a headache.

As a former papal bishop, his greatest talent in life was preaching and spreading the gospel.

Now, his missionary work has reached an unprecedented peak, with a huge crowd kneeling in the square, numbering at least a thousand.

Logically, he should be happy.

But now, he can't be happy no matter what.

The reason is simple: the enthusiasm of these people has completely slipped out of his control.

"Father Domingo! We must build a temple for the true God!"

"Yes! And Mr. Lin too! He is an apostle of the true God, he too deserves a temple!"

"I used to work in architecture, I'll do the design!"

"I'm strong, I'll move bricks!"

Domingo stood on the steps in the center of the square, looking down at the excited crowd below, beads of sweat dripping from his forehead.

"Gentlemen, gentlemen!"

He pressed his hands down, trying to quiet the crowd. "Faith is in the heart, not in buildings. The true God is everywhere; He doesn't need—"

"Father, you are too modest!"

A burly, shirtless man squeezed to the front.

"God just saved all of our lives! What else could this be but a miracle?"

"It's a miracle, no doubt, but—"

"Since it's a miracle, then a temple should be built!"

Domingo's lips twitched, and he felt incredibly regretful.

He glanced back at the core clergy behind him, who also looked troubled.

One of them leaned close to his ear and whispered, "Domingo, how about... we..."

Before the other person could finish speaking, Domingo glared at him and said, "Do you want to die?"

The man shrank his neck.

Domingo and the others knew very well what kind of person Lin Fan was.

His attitude toward matters of faith, in particular, has always been very clear.

To put it bluntly, you can do whatever you want, just don't cause trouble.

Lin Fan turned a blind eye to the construction of a small chapel and the holding of prayer activities.

But to build a temple?

Or is it built for Lin Fan himself?

Domingo felt a chill run down his spine just thinking about Lin Fan's reaction after his return.

"No, absolutely not."

He took a deep breath and faced the crowd again.

"Friends, I understand how you feel. But God's will is for us to live well, not to waste our energy on building."

The apocalypse is not over yet; we should focus our manpower and resources on strengthening defenses and stockpiling supplies.

"The priest is right!" someone in the crowd shouted. "Then let's build a small one! It won't take up too many manpower!"

"..."

Are you guys even listening to me?

Domingo closed his eyes.

That's it, these people won't listen to a word.

Just as he was racking his brains trying to figure out how to suppress the matter, a familiar figure appeared at the edge of the square.

Lin Jianguo.

At this moment, the other person, as if nothing had happened, stood on the steps of the municipal building not far from him, watching the commotion with an expressionless face.

Domingo, as if seeing a savior, quickly ran over.

"Mr. Lin! You've come at the right time. Please help me persuade them—"

Lin Jianguo glanced at him, his tone indifferent: "You want me to advise you? You brought this upon yourself, is it reasonable for me to advise you?"

Is it unreasonable?

Domingo was speechless at his words.

"I...I never expected it to turn out like this."

Lin Jianguo ignored him, his gaze sweeping over the survivors kneeling, standing, and gesturing excitedly in the square.

After a few seconds of silence, he spoke: "Let's build it."

Domingo's eyes widened, as if he couldn't believe his ears: "Huh?"

"Build a small one."

Lin Jianguo ignored him and continued, "But it's not a temple, it's called a memorial hall. It commemorates those who survived the apocalypse."

Domingo paused for a moment, then realized what was happening.

Memorial Hall...

Why didn't I think of that?

This is a good name; it satisfies the survivor's emotional needs without making Lin Fan feel like he's being worshipped as a god.

"Mr. Lin is brilliant," Domingo said sincerely.

Lin Jianguo glanced at him:

"Come on, I was just saying. You should think about how to explain it to that kid when he gets back."

One sentence immediately froze Domingo's smile on his face.

……

Time passed by, bit by bit.

On the monitoring screen, the giant crow's devouring operation was nearing its end.

The tower walls, which were previously covered by radiative algae, have once again revealed their grayish-white concrete surface. Although they are pitted and full of corrosion marks, they have at least been restored to their previous appearance.

As the radiation-eating algae were completely devoured, the vegetation around the nuclear power plant clearly stopped growing, and the dark red vines on the ground ceased to wriggle.

"nailed it."

Lin Fan immediately contacted Da Wu in his mental sea of ​​consciousness.

"Yes. The main body of the radiation-eating algae has been completely removed. However..."

Big U paused for a moment,

"Lord Lao, this is just this area. I can clearly sense that this is continuing across the entire continent."

"I know."

Lin Fan said,

"We can take it one step at a time. You and Xiao Wu should first devour all the radiation-eating algae around here."

"I understand. But what about Xiao Wu..."

"What's wrong?"

"It said it didn't want to leave."

Lin Fan was taken aback: "Why?"

"It said the soil here contains what it needs. Some kind of mineral. It wants to stay and eat for a while."

Lin Fan remained silent for two seconds.

"...Let it eat, but don't dismantle the nuclear power plant."

"Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on it."

After ending the call, Lin Fan opened his eyes, and the next moment, he saw on the monitor that the huge body of the Great Crow began to slowly move in the southeast direction.

Meanwhile, the little dog lay on the open ground outside the nuclear power plant, with several tentacles piercing the ground, looking exactly like it was "feeding".

"The big one is gone."

This scene brought a smile to Miller's face, who had been intently watching the screen. However, upon seeing that one hadn't left, he couldn't help but ask,

"What...what is that little one...doing?"

"Eat something," Lin Fan said.

Eating?

What kind of answer is that?

Miller opened his mouth, then decided not to ask any more questions.

The atmosphere in the control room finally relaxed.

The soldiers rested in twos and threes against the wall. Helen sat at the control panel, watching the various monitors to check the overall status of the nuclear power plant.

Just when everyone thought they could finally catch their breath, Miller suddenly cried out in surprise as if he had discovered something.

"etc."

He stared at one of the monitor screens: "What's that?"

The crowd couldn't help but gather around.

The footage showed the perimeter monitoring of the nuclear power plant to the northwest.

The camera captured a half-withered, mutated forest, with a plume of smoke slowly rising above it.

It's not a small amount, it's a very large area.

Thick black smoke billowed upwards, carried by the wind towards the nuclear power plant.

"Fire?" Helen frowned. "Is there a fire over there?"

Lin Fan stared at the thick smoke for a few seconds.

The color of the smoke is not right.

Unlike the grayish-white color of ordinary burning wood, it is darker and more intense, with some green mixed in.

"What's in that direction?" Lin Fan asked, puzzled.

Helen pulled up a map of the area surrounding the nuclear power plant and swiped her finger across the screen:

"The northwest area used to be agricultural land."

"Agricultural land?"

Miller leaned closer to take a look at the map, then his expression became subtle.

"I think I know what they're talking about. I guess it's some kind of illegal agricultural land."

"Is this land not designated for agricultural use?" Lin Fan asked, looking at him.

Miller coughed lightly: "It's legal in Oregon...it's a marijuana plantation over there."

"..."

The control room was silent for a second.

Upon hearing this answer, Lin Fan couldn't help but say, "So... someone over there might have set the marijuana field on fire?"

Miller thought for a moment: "Judging from the scale of the smoke... it should be."

Lin Fan fell silent.

Whether there are living people over there or not is irrelevant to him, and whether or not he burns marijuana is none of his business.

But what if the fire spreads to his side...?

This is not what he wanted to see.

Thinking of this, he looked up at Miller:

"Miller, I remember there's still an troop carrier in the yard. Take some men and go check the situation. If possible, try to put out the fire!"

"Roger that." Miller turned and left, ordering four people to follow him.

Helen asked with some concern, "Is it safe to go out now? Those plants outside—"

"After the radiation-eating algae stopped, the aggressiveness of these plants has decreased significantly," Lin Fan said. "As long as you don't provoke them, there shouldn't be any major problems."

As the two were talking, Miller and his men had already disappeared at the end of the corridor.

Lin Fan sat back down in his chair, his gaze falling on the monitor screen displaying the thick smoke.

The thick smoke continued and appeared to be getting bigger.

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