441: Thousand Paper Cranes

ID [Nuclear Wastewater Connoisseur]: "@Love Shines on All Living Beings, send over your address. I'll air-drop a crate of R-country specialty radioactive seafood. Why don't you try it first?"

ID [General Sent by Qin Shi Huang]: "Innocent? The three hundred thousand in NJ back then would like to give you a downvote. Suggest you read more history; don't mistake ignorance for kindness."

ID [Professional Saint-Bashing for Twenty Years]: "Latest data: the death toll has exceeded 1.7 million. May I ask if the prayers of these saints can lower the number? If not, then shut up."

Shang Wan Ning flipped through these arguments casually, the corners of her lips curling into a smile devoid of warmth.

"It's actually a hundred times livelier than the Underworld APP forum."

Ling Qi placed a freshly brewed cup of Nether Mist Tea by her hand. "The R-country branch is asking for instructions: should we initiate humanitarian rescue for the living souls?"

"Follow the protocol."

Shang Wan Ning took a sip of tea, her gaze indifferent. "Not a single step of the required procedure can be skipped. As for the effectiveness... that depends on their own karmic fortune."

She set down the teacup, her gaze shifting to the casualty data still scrolling on the system screen. "Notify Director He that it is time to start recovering those 'special building materials' inside Mount Fuji."

"A Ning, the Research Institute... I'm afraid they can't spare any manpower." Ling Qi pulled up a schedule.

"The Annihilation Tower project has entered the final critical stage, and all high-level researchers are fully committed. Avila's source analysis has also reached a crucial point."

Upon hearing this, Shang Wan Ning tapped twice on the side of the couch.

"Then have Black and White Impermanence make the trip. Tell Bai Xuan that I want that 'Eight-Headed Serpent Spine' intact."

"Understood."

Ling Qi nodded, then added.

"Several Onmyodo halls and shrines in R-country have shown signs of movement. The current head of the Abe clan has requested to see the branch head three times, inquiring about the Underworld's stance."

"Make them wait."

Shang Wan Ning stood up and walked to the window.

"Once the disaster passes, tell the R-country supernatural community that the Underworld does not get involved in any mortal affairs."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The palace fell into a brief silence, with only the network interface continuing to refresh.

A new trending topic climbed at an astonishing speed.

#R-country Prime Minister Delivers National Address#

In the footage, the Prime Minister looked deathly pale, standing in a studio with water covering his ankles, his voice trembling:

"Citizens... friends in the international community... our nation is facing an unprecedented disaster. As of today, the death toll has exceeded 1.75 million... the number of affected people has surpassed ten million..."

He braced his hands on the podium, leaning forward.

"Here, I implore... I implore the international community to extend a helping hand. If the disaster expands further, could... could you allow our citizens to temporarily transfer to neighboring countries for refuge? We are willing to bear all costs..."

These words instantly ignited the global network.

ID [Is Tokyo Hot]: "Holy crap! Want to send disaster victims our way? Keep dreaming!"

ID [Datang Modao Squad]: "The debt from back then hasn't been settled yet, and now you want to land here? Did you ask the blades in our hands?"

ID [Loyal to Yue]: "Suggest donating some paper cranes just to show some gesture, but letting people over is absolutely out of the question."

ID [Nuclear Wastewater Tastes Good]: "Latest news, 1.8 million dead. Suggest R-country dig a pit and bury everyone themselves; don't come out and harm the world."

Amidst the opposition, a few scattered little angels popped up.

ID [Beautiful Little Angel]: "Why can't we accept them? They are living people too! Our country has vast land and abundant resources, what's wrong with accepting a few tens of millions of refugees? (Heart) (Heart)"

ID [Great Love in the Human World]: "Let go of the hatred! Everyone is equal in the face of disaster. Refusing refugees is too cold-blooded; we will be laughed at by the international community."

ID [Messenger of the Peace Dove]: "I have already donated 500 yuan to the R-country disaster area. I hope everyone has less hostility and more love; they are really so pitiful (Crying)"

ID [All Things Have Spirits]: "Regardless of history, these are individual human lives now! I strongly suggest the country open up the coast and give them a way to survive."

The comments were immediately flooded with backlash.

ID [Your Mom Called You Home for Dinner]: "@Beautiful Little Angel, send your address, I'll send your whole family to eat poop."

ID [Qin Shi Huang Unified the Script]: "Latest data, 1.85 million dead. Suggest these saints go to R-country as volunteers themselves instead of just blabbering online."

ID [Peace Messenger]: "I just checked the IP. The saint above lives near the R-country consulate. Suggest the Special Affairs Bureau pay close attention."

ID [Logic Genius]: "@All Things Have Spirits, Open up the coast!!! Do you know about the refugee problem? Will you take responsibility if something happens?"

ID [Hot-Tempered Bro]: "A bunch of idiots, I bet their brains were soaked in nuclear wastewater. When R-country was dumping nuclear wastewater, why didn't I see you pitying the whole world? Now you remember wanting a way to survive?"

The reactions from various countries' foreign ministries were even more spectacular.

M-country Foreign Ministry Spokesperson: "We express our deep sympathy for the natural disaster suffered by R-country... We have approved 50 million USD in aid. Due to safety considerations, we will not be accepting large-scale refugees for the time being, but we will allow M-country citizens in R-country to evacuate."

Y-country Foreign Ministry Statement: "We express our condolences to the people of R-country. We will provide 10 million pounds in humanitarian aid. Refugee reception matters require further assessment."

Xia-country Foreign Ministry Announcement: "We express concern regarding the disaster situation and will donate 10 million yuan in emergency supplies. Regarding the refugee issue, our immigration law has clear provisions on this."

The most extreme was the H-country Foreign Ministry, which directly announced: "We have folded one million paper cranes and air-freighted them to R-country to convey the most sincere blessings from our people."

Netizens exploded:

ID [Origami Master]: "One million paper cranes? How long would it take to fold those? Suggest just burning them, it's faster."

ID [I Restore Artifacts at the Forbidden City]: "Latest death toll is 1.9 million. I give H-country's move a perfect score."

ID [Nuclear Wastewater Kimchi]: "Suggest R-country use the paper cranes to build a pontoon bridge; maybe a few more people can escape."

ID [Melon-Eating Onlooker]: "Is it possible that the paper cranes are meant for transcending the souls of the dead? After all, there are too many to burn."

Just as the world was arguing endlessly, data from the International Red Cross was pushed to the top:

Death toll: 1,923,471 people

Injured: 4,562,189 people

Missing: 1,234,567 people

ID [Professional Saint-Bashing for Twenty Years] directly posted a screenshot: "Latest data is 1.92 million. Brothers who bet, get ready to collect money; saints, get ready to apologize."

ID [Data Monitor]: "It went up by 20,000 in three minutes. This speed is faster than a stock market crash. Is R-country about to fall?"