Download App
20.12% I am the Emperor of Humanity across the Multiverse / Chapter 33: Chapter 33: "New" Accra City

Chapter 33: Chapter 33: "New" Accra City

"Very good."

Edgar seemed satisfied with Vogelbaum's response and continued, "Given that the CIA and all arms industry competitors are suspected of attempting to seize Soldier Boy, the plan to bring Homelander into the spotlight needs to be advanced. Ms. Stillwell, please notify the media team, especially the editors of the comics and novels that conceptualize Homelander's origins and display of superpowers. Make sure to portray Homelander as an omnipotent and unparalleled superhero, the greatest of all time."

"I understand," Madelyn nodded and offered a suggestion, "Sir, I think removing 'The' from 'The Homelander' and using just 'Homelander' would be more catchy."

"As long as it satisfies the board and keeps the company profitable, you can decide these things yourselves," Edgar had no objections.

"Alright, leave it to me."

——

...

While the top executives at Vought were discussing who orchestrated the attack, in Accra, the capital of Ghana, which is ten thousand kilometers away and five hours ahead of New York, the sun was setting.

The orange-red glow stained the clouds, and combined with the tropical climate, golden beaches, and emerald ocean to the south, it looked every bit like a holiday paradise.

If it weren't in Africa, Accra would be a magnet for tourists from around the world. But its association with war, disease, and robbery...

Even though Ghana boasts relatively high standards of public security, education, hygiene, and healthcare across the African continent, no one dares to risk their safety, hence staying away from this place.

However, unbeknownst to the outside world, Accra has undergone a significant transformation recently.

From a bird's eye view of the city, its central district and streets are framed by striking black and yellow warning barriers, indicating large-scale renovations, reconstructions, and developments.

Many construction sites feature the skeletal outlines of skyscrapers, apartments, or office buildings rising over a hundred meters.

Other sites are being excavated, seemingly to improve or rebuild the city's underground power, water, and electricity systems.

The construction teams appeared tireless, working through the night under floodlights.

Upon closer inspection, it becomes clear that although this is Africa, over 70% of the construction crew have yellow or white skin.

The conspicuous red "Λ" logo on their attire and protective gear indicates they are Atlas employees, belonging to one of the company's largest and most resource-intensive departments—

The Engineering Department.

The Engineering Department has several branches, including the sappers who work with ARS units, possess higher authority, and know core secrets, and the regular personnel responsible for building infrastructure in Accra.

Since the completion of the Accra Park, which is dedicated to the production and testing of the next generation of weapons, Atlas has expanded outward from the park, continually summoning engineering personnel from around the globe.

After all, Accra is closest to the site with the space portal and is the most suitable to be developed into a secondary stronghold, second only to Seattle.

Between 1993 and 1994, Atlas's presence directly spurred the local economy's rapid development.

Many families and friends followed the engineering personnel to Accra, intending to reside there long-term, becoming the primary consumers in the area.

The remaining 30% of the construction team are locals, rigorously selected by the HR department through a series of tests and exams.

Ensuring the selected local employees possess loyalty is paramount, followed by a temperament not prone to anger, and positive traits such as helpfulness, honesty, and reliability.

This screening process is not specific to any location or person; it is the same regardless of where Atlas recruits new employees.

The company treats every team and employee that integrates into the core and internal operations equally. For example, the ARS Third Infantry Company, providing support to Lyon, received exoskeletons and the latest single-soldier weapons earlier than the Hunters Company led by Arthur Morgan.

Similarly, most re-engineered soldiers ready for combat and mission execution are allocated to the Hunters Company.

While it is impossible to eradicate feelings of jealousy and rivalry completely, Atlas channels these emotions into healthy competition.

The team or department with the best performance of the year receives corresponding equipment, weapons, and rewards, and even the lowest-performing ones receive consolation prizes from Samuel Young's pocket, eliminating the notion of empty promises.

All this is predicated on successfully becoming an Atlas employee under a legally binding contract, a step where 90% of applicants falter.

As for Accra's local population, various factors cause the actual failure rate to exceed 90%.

Besides Atlas's penchant for and expertise in infrastructure, Accra's public security has also seen significant improvement.

Continuing to observe from a bird's eye view, it is noticeable that pairs of "soldiers" armed and dressed in dark blue uniforms patrol the streets.

If there is traffic congestion, these "soldiers" act as traffic officers, arriving at the scene to direct and clear the way.

These soldiers, identifiable by the red "Λ" armbands, are actually Atlas's regular mercenaries, providing contract services to some unofficial clients.

A private company would typically have no authority over a city's law enforcement.

However, with sponsorships amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars from Atlas, Accra's police, fire, hospital, and other emergency services and public departments had no problem accepting the assistance.

Emergency service personnel were disbanded and restructured, with Atlas overseeing training, selection, and appointments.

If not for principles of sovereignty, international consensus, and various international laws, Atlas and Samuel Young would have had the capability to "buy" all of Ghana.

While this has not yet caught the significant attention of the outside world, the rapid and extensive changes and restructurings will soon make headlines.

Atlas's public relations department is already preparing to address the media's tricky questions, such as "Is Atlas interfering with another nation's sovereignty and desecrating democracy?" and "Is Atlas attempting to legitimize colonial practices?"

To this, Samuel Young would quote Jonathan Irons, the "villain" from Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare, summarizing—

"Drop a few bombs, topple a dictator, and declare it a democracy? Don't kid yourself. People need protection, rules, boundaries, and infrastructure to support it all."

The pinned discussion board contains classic quotes from Irons.

___________________

Read Ahead

P@treon.com/Mutter


Chapter 34: Chapter 34: The Experiment Restarts - Ants

Samuel Young, who had always been indifferent to the "correct" way, still didn't give much thought to the consequences of overexposing Akra. Those unscrupulous media outlets and organizations would have different professionals to "handle" the situation as needed. Without fuel, the fire naturally couldn't continue to burn.

So Samuel never worried about anything. At this moment, he focused on the progress of the "sample experiment."

Shifting his perspective away, he no longer paid attention to Akra City, which was about to step into true modernization, and gradually moved north.

He left the beach and coastline, arriving at an industrial area filled with factories and workshops.

The largest, most extensive, and most heavily guarded was the Atlas Park.

As the sun completely disappeared below the horizon, streetlights gradually lit up, and tens of thousands of workers reached the end of their shifts.

At this hour, some workers went directly back to their dormitories, ready to entertain themselves with games or movies, while others took company-provided public transport to leave the park, heading to the bustling city to drink and chat with their colleagues, each having their plans for the evening.

However, those busy in the three-story Biological Engineering Department Building at the park's core seemed to have no concept of "getting off work."

The building's main and side doors were guarded by ARS officers armed with live ammunition, with snipers posted in hidden positions.

Ordinary workers, upon starting their jobs in the park, would receive a stern warning from their direct superiors to strictly adhere to all regulations and never to venture into areas they shouldn't. Otherwise, "taking a bullet" would be the least of their worries.

After all, the park's core held many of Atlas's secrets.

In a lab on the third basement level of the Biological Engineering Department building:

"No! Please, no... don't! I'm innocent, I'm really not a murderer... really not..."

The small, enclosed space echoed with desperate pleas.

The source of the voice was a slim adult man in an orange prison uniform, lying on a multifunctional operating table, his neck, limbs, and waist bound by metal chains.

Struggling and begging were futile.

This was an isolation room equipped with multipurpose mechanical arms, where researchers didn't have to operate directly, significantly reducing the risk of accidental infection.

In each of the four corners was a surveillance device with a red light, indicating that monitoring was in progress. Additionally, there was a one-way window on the left side for directly observing activities inside the isolation room.

As for the man in the prison uniform, he should be referred to as "Disposable Human Experimental Material."

Internally, such individuals were usually labeled "Grade D materials," with more fiery ARS soldiers calling them "Grade D scum."

"Number D-00267." At this moment, the isolation room echoed with a nasal, emotionless broadcast:

"According to records from Ephrata Prison, you killed a total of three victims, including a 16-year-old girl, between 1986 and June 1, 1990. Your methods were extremely cruel, and you were sentenced to life imprisonment without parole."

"No! It wasn't me! I'm innocent!"

Upon hearing this, D-00267 immediately denied the charges vehemently.

The broadcast ignored him completely.

Simultaneously, several holographic screens appeared above D-00267's line of sight, displaying surveillance footage, videos, and testimonies from witnesses with blurred faces and altered voices, presenting conclusive evidence.

"D-00267, you can question the police, prosecutors, and jury of Washington State, but do not question the professionalism of the Atlas investigation department. It damages their reputation and affects their annual evaluations.

Finally, Atlas sincerely thanks you for your unconditional cooperation in assisting us with this experiment."

After viewing the evidence and hearing the broadcast, D-00267 immediately dropped his innocent, pitiful demeanor, a hint of malice flashing in his eyes.

However, before "he" could continue begging, a mechanical arm with a needle moved to his neck, injecting the red liquid from a transparent tube into his body.

?!

The sudden injection, coupled with the fear of the unknown experiment, sent D-00267 into a renewed panic.

"Spare... ugh... ugh... argh!!!"

In less than a few seconds, D-00267's veins bulged, he spat blood, and his whole body convulsed uncontrollably.

Eventually...

With a crisp "bang," D-00267's head exploded from the inside out.

"Hiss!!"

Accompanied by a beast-like roar, a tumor-like mass resembling an ant's head, along with numerous vine-like tendrils, completely took over D-00267's body.

Bound by metal chains, the mutated form struggled violently, its wrists and ankles twisting in grotesque angles, as if trying to tear its body apart to escape.

But before that could happen, multiple mechanical arms moved in, surrounding the operating table and quickly extracting samples of blood and tissue.

Then...

"Boom!!!"

Flames instantly engulfed everything, burning fiercely for several seconds.

When the isolation room returned to silence, all the heat-resistant equipment and walls were merely scorched, while the mutant, unable to even scream, had turned to ashes.

"Whew!"

Immediately after, the isolation room filled with a pale white disinfectant mist.

——

...

Meanwhile.

In the third-floor corridor of the Biological Engineering Department building:

"You did well this time. Walter is already anxious. So, is there anything you want?" Samuel praised Arthur and his team as they walked alongside him.

"Boss..." Arthur grinned, as if he had been planning this for a while. "I heard from Director Wang that their research department is developing optical camouflage. I wonder if..."

"When the individual camouflage gear is ready, your hunters will be the first to get it."

"Hahaha! That would be great!"

Arthur's hearty laughter echoed throughout the entire floor, and the hunters beside him also looked forward to the new equipment with gleaming eyes.

"Alright." Samuel shook his head slightly and instructed: "I will reopen the space gate the day after tomorrow. Before that, you and your hunters must prepare everything and cooperate with the elite of the third company to provide fire support for the investigators. Understood?"

"Yes!"

"Good."

With that, Samuel used his highest authority to unlock the sensor door and entered an office, while Arthur and the others stood guard outside.

Inside the office;

"Indeed... Indeed... Ants make this virus easier to shape, but how can I avoid significant genetic mutations in humans? Hmm... challenging, but I like it."

Sitting at her computer, Alexia was so focused on her research that she didn't notice Samuel had already arrived at her desk.

___________________

Read Ahead

P@treon.com/Mutter


Load failed, please RETRY

Weekly Power Status

Batch unlock chapters

Table of Contents

Display Options

Background

Font

Size

Chapter comments

Write a review Reading Status: C33
Fail to post. Please try again
  • Writing Quality
  • Stability of Updates
  • Story Development
  • Character Design
  • World Background

The total score 0.0

Review posted successfully! Read more reviews
Vote with Power Stone
Rank 200+ Power Ranking
Stone 88 Power Stone
Report inappropriate content
error Tip

Report abuse

Paragraph comments

Login

tip Paragraph comment

Paragraph comment feature is now on the Web! Move mouse over any paragraph and click the icon to add your comment.

Also, you can always turn it off/on in Settings.

GOT IT