The Great Worm Lich

“Of course we have to be vigilant,” Facing the doubts of the federal president, Fernand acknowledged without any rebuttal, but he immediately replied in a low voice, “but no matter how vigilant we are, it still deserves our careful consideration. The people are blind followers who are the most difficult to please but the easiest to deceive. After the publicity last time, I’m afraid the ugly dwarfs of the Wizard Li are now federal allies, selfless friends, and trusted comrades in the hearts of most ordinary Americans like those Atlanteans who had just landed on the Earth last time. Of course, we can use the confidential information in our hands to break this illusion of the citizens. Still, if we do so, they would undoubtedly find out about the many facts the government has been desperately covering up like how tens of millions of American citizens are abandoned in the old United States on Earth without any assistance, and how the government has no plans to help them in the future…”

“But we have no choice but to make this critical choice for we’re forced by the difficult situation. The federal government has no power to rescue all citizens! This is not the government’s fault, and it’s not my responsibility!” As though having his conscience reprimanded by the Secretary of State, Rand yelled loudly in exasperation.

“Everyone in this office understands your logic and your hardships, but sir, can you expect the opposition to be equally reasonable? Do you think the reporters of newspapers, TV stations, and websites would understand that our painful choice is completely made because we have no other choice? Do you think the voters would think that the reason the government is doing this is for the benefit of the country and that you have to fabricate a great lie—a promise that can never be fulfilled—for the sake of public interest?” Fernand’s voice became grave as he said, “More importantly, do you think there’s no mistake at all in the previous policies of the White House? If all federation’s material resources had been gathered to build the Noah World when it was first discovered, then it would have been able to accommodate the entire population of the country but because of the lobbying of some interest groups that did not want the economy of the former United States on Earth to decline, do you remember what you did?”

“Enough, Fernand! Enough!” The federal president clenched his teeth, and his face became expressionless as he interrupted Fernand’s words again. “What we have done before is not important; what is important now is what we should do in the future. Tell me, what do you think?”

“President, I’ve thought politics is like playing chess. There are attacks, defenses, advances, and retreats. We must be tough when needed and compromise when needed as well. Only then can we smile to the very end,” Fernand answered in a slow persuasive manner in a hoarse voice. “Now is the time to retreat and compromise. At present, the smartest way for us is to pretend to be deaf and blind and treat the Wizard Li people as our real ally and ask them for help. If those dwarfs do not intend to fulfill the covenant to help us, then we can widely publicize that they have no integrity, and by then, the good impression of the US citizens on Wizard Li would inevitably decline. A few more similar cases and those little dwarfs will slowly be abhorred by the federal citizens like the Atlanteans…”

“What if they agreed?” Rand asked impatiently.

The Secretary of State smiled, “Then it’d be the most ideal, sir. Isn’t it a good thing to use the power of the foreign world’s ally to fight against the foreign world’s invaders?”

“But the Wizard Li people are up to no good…”

“The foundation and core interests of the United States have been transferred to the Noah World, and as long as the ‘ius migrandi’ is controlled by the government, everything will be controllable, won’t it?” Fernand interrupted the federal president with a smile.

Rand was also a good player in political games. After being enlightened by the Secretary of State, his eyes suddenly became bright. After a moment of silence, his taut expression began to relax as he nodded, “You’re right, Fernand. Grasp the critical point, and everything will be controllable. Even if we want to ‘explode a bomb’ in the future, we can determine the equivalent as well. In that case, my respected Secretary of State, you should immediately go to the Wizard Li ambassador in the federation and inform him that the United States requests Wizard Li to fulfill the responsibilities of an ally and join forces to take revenge in South Africa… Wait, no, go inform the Wizard Li ambassador to come and meet me. I’ll personally ask him to send a dispatch troop. All procedures will be carried out most prudently and sincerely.”

“President, I must say that you immediately become a good ‘chess player’ once you calm down,” Fernand put his cap back on, and stood up. “I’ll quickly see the dwarfs’ ambassador and then see the other crucial ‘pawn’ on the ‘chessboard.’ In any case, it’ll be beneficial to us if we can use the power of Wizard Li this time.”

“The crucial pawn? Oh, you mean that magical doctor, right?” Rand said sarcastically as he watched the Secretary of State’s back after a moment of bafflement. “It’s indeed time to ask him to serve for the nation again. Oh yeah, don’t forget to convey my deep gratitude and respect to him when you see him. Also, tell him that I’ve already prepared a new Medal of Honor for him.”

“Don’t worry, sir. I’ll pass on your words to him without fail.” The Secretary of State stopped in front of the office door, turned his head, and put on a meaningful smile before pushing the door out of the federal power center.

At this time, a blue family Ford car sped fast on the highway 700 kilometers southeast of the new Columbia City. Sitting on the co-driver seat, Zhang Lisheng had his head lowered absent-mindedly.

Within ten years from the date of the automobile’s popularity in the 1950s, the USA had managed to gain the reputation of ‘a country connected by roads’.

Before the US planned to build a new city, the first thing it would do was to construct standardized roads since smooth traffic was considered to be the most critical link in infrastructure. Because of this, all the interstate highways in the desolate areas of the States in modern times must be flat, spacious, and timely maintained, and this habit naturally was brought to Noah World.

“I’m feeling like I’m passing a desert road in Kentucky like the road trip around the United States I took before going to college. Oh look at the four-lane road, the fiery sun and the golden desert, I miss the carefree days of the past!” Randy, who was sitting next to the young man driving the car, looked at the endless long yellow sand outside the front windshield and said in a bored manner.

“Other than the missing the time before college, I think you miss your busty girlfriend at that time more, right? I forgot her name already. Was she called Annie or Amy or something?” Harry, in the back seat, immediately chuckled as he ridiculed.

“Oh shut up, boy! Don’t interrupt my feelings for the lost peace. I’ve long forgotten about that busty girl called Annie, okay?” Lavin family’s second son said with a curl of his lips, “Besides, liking busty chests is the common interest of men, better than you seeing long legs…”

“Excuse me, my lovely brothers, there’s a lady in the car, okay? I really should have followed Aunt Lili’s driving,” Upon hearing the joke between her elder brother and younger brother that was getting more outrageous, the sleepy Riley shook her head in agitation and said, “Don’t you two have any other topic other than women? Why can’t you two be as stable and mature as Lisheng?”

“Stable and mature? You mean saying nothing in a daze after getting in the car? That’s not my character, oh little Riley,” Randy laughed heartily as he answered his younger sister. Glancing at the black-haired young man who had kept his head down, not saying anything since the very start, he asked curiously, “Lisheng, Lisheng, wake up, bro. We’ll be arriving in new New York C in less than 100 kilometers. What have you been thinking along the way?”

“Oh, I’m wondering what kind of person grandpa is,” Zhang Lisheng raised his head and smiled before spouting out a lie. “Speaking of that, I’ve seen most various professions, but I really don’t know any judge, especially the chief judge of a state appellate court.”

“Don’t worry, Lisheng, Grandpa Carmen Li may look a little stern, but in fact, he’s nice to get along with and is very humorous as well. Your uncles, aunts, and cousins are all very nice people too. Besides, you’re so outstanding, so nobody will…” Riley, who was sitting behind the young man, did not see through his lies. She consoled her in a low voice but suddenly stopped halfway for a few seconds before losing control and shouting aloud, “Oh my god! What am I seeing? I-Is that a rainbow and a fountain? How can these things exist in the desert?!”

“What…” Randy, who was driving, had his attention jolted by the sharp cry. Turning around to look at Riley, he looked in the direction of her gaze and saw that in the distant desert far away, a beautiful rainbow was hanging under the hot sun in the air. Hundreds of thick water columns were pouring straight into the sky under the seven-colored rainbow.

At once, due to his shock, the Lavin family’s second son made a slip of his hands and caused the car to draw a dangerous ‘S’ shape on the highway. Fortunately, all passengers in the vehicle had their seatbelts fastened, so no accident occurred.

“F*ck Randy! Drive properly…”, Amid the scream, Randy hurriedly turned his head and tightened his grip on the steering wheel. Even so, he continued to shout, “You’re right, Riley. This is really f*cked up! Who would fix so many large fountains in the desert?”

“That’s not a fountain, Randy,” Zhang Lisheng, who also followed the gaze of Lavin family’s eldest daughter to see the rainbows and water column, first frowned in shock. A few seconds later, a realization smile appeared at the corner of his mouth as he said, “it must be the strong earthquake yesterday that has caused the desert formations to roll over and break, allowing the water to spew out from the underground.”

“Groundwater, is there such a large amount of groundwater in this desert? This is really a miracle,” Randy said with his eyes wide. “I think this amount of water is enough to build a small oasis city, and who knows, perhaps a big city can be built too if it’s entirely excavated. This land belongs to new New York, right? How lucky are these New Yorkers!”

As soon as the Lavin family’s second son’s words left his mouth, Zhang Lisheng smiled and waved his hand softly before replying, “Congratulations for answering wrongly, bro. Didn’t you pay any attention to my news at all? Don’t you know that many deserts between these states of new New York and Washington are now owned by LS?”