Dimensional Codex System: I'm really not a cultist!

Chapter 1580: Chapter 1578: Vanguard Battle (Destiny 2 Only Feels Slightly Above Average)

”The League of Nations has already begun to act. They will closely monitor each member of SEELE, taking their own measures to eliminate them once they reveal their true faces. This is a war, under the shadow of the colossus that SEELE has become in its control of the world, peace-loving people are uniting for the future of humanity...”

Fang Zheng put down the feather pen he was holding, then closed the ”Ratziel” in his hands. In the next moment, the all-knowing Angel turned into a wisp of smoke and dissipated.

”Phew... I’m really exhausted.”

Feeling the consumed Divine Power, Fang Zheng shook his hand. If possible, he truly didn’t want to use the power of ”Ratziel,” but it was unavoidable. In order to completely eradicate SEELE and its minions without exposing the outer world, it required cooperation from all sides, and these days, Fang Zheng had been using ”Ratziel” to make adjustments to this world’s ”inner workings.”

Simply put, it’s a cycle of mutual entanglement among three parties.

Through ”Ratziel,” Fang Zheng successfully ”fabricated” an anti-SEELE faction within the League of Nations. In fact, these people always existed, but Fang Zheng used the records in ”Ratziel” to unite them. Now, in this world, there is a tripartite struggle involving NERV, SEELE, and the anti-SEELE forces, and up to this point, it’s already considered the final sprint stage.

And now, the moment of decisive battle has arrived.

The League of Nations, with Fang Zheng’s help, has taken control of NERV. But internally, this remains an absolute secret. Put simply, Fang Zheng is now like an imperial envoy holding an imperial edict. Until the very last moment, this edict cannot be revealed. And Fang Zheng also learned through ”Ratziel” that just before being killed by him, Gendo Ikari had already failed in negotiations with SEELE.

Next, just like in the movie, SEELE will deploy troops to forcibly occupy NERV.

However, this time... they aren’t facing just NERV’s pitifully small armed forces. In fact, Fang Zheng had already prepared for this day.

Fang Zheng picked up his phone and answered a call.

”Colonel Lin Youde, how is it?”

”Everything is in place and ready to go at any time.”

A strong and resolute male voice came from the phone.

”Evacuate the residents of Tokyo-3, abandon all defenses on the surface, and transfer everyone into NERV headquarters. Evacuate all members below level D, starting now, completely seal NERV headquarters.”

”Understood, but if the enemy deploys the mecha forces...”

”Leave it to EVA to handle.”

”Yes.”

Indeed, the army currently occupying NERV headquarters is not the government of Japan’s army but an innocuous Peacekeeping Force. After the Second Impact, Japan needed massive resources and funding to construct the EVA, so they ceded Old Tokyo to the nearby Peacekeeping Force.

And this force is the Peacekeeping Force stationed in Old Tokyo. Fang Zheng obtained command of this force through internal League of Nations channels and secretly deployed it to the headquarters before SEELE’s final assault.

After all, most of the staff at NERV aren’t related to the Human Instrumentality Project, and those traitors and spies who were related had long been dealt with by Fang Zheng using ”Ratziel.” The remaining are mostly administrative and technical personnel, and counting on them to deal with the military is obviously unrealistic.

This is how the entire plan works.

To completely seize NERV, SEELE is bound to go all out. This means those hidden in the shadows must actively engage this time. To conquer NERV, they need to issue orders and even reveal themselves. And NERV’s job is to hold out long enough against SEELE’s attack. During this time, the anti-SEELE faction within the League of Nations will closely observe those who emerge, take notes, and then round them up.

For Fang Zheng, this is the best solution. Of course, the prerequisite is that NERV must withstand the assault. Only if NERV holds out will those people be detained for wasting resources and unauthorized military deployment and various other charges. After all, this isn’t just about the military; it’s also political. The interests involved are quite complex, and even the anti-SEELE camp can’t just overturn everything with slogans of peace and justice.

That’s why Fang Zheng uncharacteristically used ”Ratziel” to resolve the issue, because this way, SEELE could be completely annihilated without requiring Heavenly Dao Palace’s intervention, and humanity in this world could continue to develop. As for the EVA and its data, Fang Zheng planned to either destroy it or take it away—after all, with ”Ratziel,” erasing whatever information is just a matter of a single command.

Next...

”Beep... beep...!”

As Fang Zheng pondered, the sudden, urgent alarm sounded, interrupting his thoughts. Fang Zheng squinted and stood up.

Sure enough, just as expected, they’ve come.

When Fang Zheng arrived at the command center, it was already a scene of tension and chaos.

”Unable to conduct external communications! The entire network’s external data connections have been severed!”

”All external terminals have experienced data breaches, targeting MAGI!”

”Where’s the source?”

”We can confirm there are intrusions from three sources.”

Heh, well done.

Upon hearing this, Fang Zheng’s lips curved slightly. It was certain that the high-level individuals issuing orders were definitely SEELE’s members in the shadows. As long as they were caught red-handed, they were doomed.

”Second Tokyo has issued an A-801 order! The special legal protections for NERV’s special agency have been abolished, and its command authority is transferred to the Government of Japan.”

”Dream on.”

Fang Zheng snorted lightly.

”Evacuate all personnel, completely seal off NERV’s subterranean headquarters, cut off all surface connections. Seal all passages, and activate self-destruct mode.”

”But this would completely cut off NERV’s connections with the outside world, and... why are Commander Ikari and Vice Commander Fuyutsuki nowhere to be seen?”

Faced with the staff’s inquiry, Fang Zheng did not answer, and at this moment, Misato Katsuragi’s voice sounded.

”Commander Ikari and Vice Commander Fuyutsuki are currently absent. According to orders, I will temporarily serve as NERV’s Supreme Commander. From now on, lock down the underground city, execute immediately!”

”Yes.”

Although unaware of the situation, the staff member nodded anyway.

”Thank you for your hard work.”

Looking at Misato Katsuragi in front of him, Fang Zheng waved his hand.

”What’s the situation?”

”Everything is normal so far, but we don’t know how long we can hold out.”

Misato Katsuragi also understood Fang Zheng’s plan and naturally agreed wholeheartedly. She was unwilling to sacrifice her colleagues, especially since most of the NERV staff were non-combat personnel...

”Colonel Lin Youde’s troops are already in position.”

”Very well, I’ll leave it to you here, First Lieutenant Katsuragi.”

After saying this, Fang Zheng stood up and turned to enter the elevator.

NERV Headquarters, Seventh Helipad.

Three EVAs stood silently there, together with their pilots.

”I think you all know the current situation.”

Looking at the three people in front of him, Fang Zheng spoke, then turned his gaze to Shinji Ikari.

”Shinji, about your father, I’m very sorry.”

”..........”

To Fang Zheng’s words, Shinji Ikari remained silent. Truthfully, he was extremely surprised to hear about Gendo Ikari’s death.

Not surprised by his father’s death, but surprised...surprised that he felt nothing about his father’s death.

In fact, upon hearing of his father’s death, Shinji Ikari considered whether he should cry profoundly or show some sort of sad emotion. But in reality, he found himself utterly unfazed, as if he had been informed, like an actor on stage, that he needed to perform the role of ”a child who has lost his father.” Although he could enact that performance, deep in his heart, Gendo Ikari’s death did not stir a ripple.

After all, he had seldom lived with his father; to Shinji Ikari, Gendo Ikari was just a ”familiar stranger.”

”SEELE has already convinced the Government of Japan and plans to forcibly take over NERV Headquarters to implement the Human Instrumentality Project. We need to fight the invaders.”

At this point, Fang Zheng looked at the three in front of him.

”I know this is difficult for you because this time your enemies aren’t Angels, but fellow humans. So, I’m only seeking your opinions. If you’re willing, you may board the EVAs to the battlefield. But if you’re not willing, it doesn’t matter since you’re only children. Contending with Angels is one thing, but killing...is certainly not your obligation.”

”But if we don’t go, who will stop those invaders?”

Asuka frowned and asked.

”I’ll have Red Ponytail take action; you’ve seen her skills.”

”Her? Isn’t that child even younger than us!”

”That’s just appearance. In fact, she’s much older than you.”

”No way.”

Clearly, Asuka didn’t believe Fang Zheng’s nonsense, she clenched her fist tightly.

”I’m still indebted to her, how can I just watch her protect us again? I’m going, number one. Baka Shinji, what about you?”

”I’m going too.”

Rei Ayanami silently gave her response, while Shinji Ikari hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

”Since you’ve decided, I won’t say more.”

Fang Zheng extended his hand and patted the three on their heads.

”You need to remember this is a defensive war. You must protect your colleagues, those you work with day and night, from being killed...and it’s also for yourselves.”

With that, Fang Zheng abruptly waved his hand.

”Alright, deploy!”

”Yes!”