152: The ever-changing international situation

He slowly stood up, his eyes hollow and despairing, and walked step by step toward the depths of the desert.

He didn't know where he was going, only instinctively refusing to face the cruel reality.

As time passed, Ryan's mind became increasingly hazy, and his consciousness gradually blurred.

His body became weak from prolonged dehydration and excessive grief. Every step required immense effort, as if his legs were filled with lead.

Every step felt like a final struggle against fate.

Finally, he arrived at the edge of a cliff.

Below the cliff was a bottomless valley, where fierce winds ravaged the air, letting out mournful howls as if summoning him.

Ryan looked down the cliff, and a sense of relief welled up in his heart.

He felt he had lost the meaning of life; the dissolution of his country had caused his world to completely collapse.

In the final moments of his life, the flag of Maosi Country flashed in his mind, its vivid colors gradually blurring before his eyes.

"Goodbye, my country..." Ryan whispered softly, his voice instantly swallowed by the fierce wind.

Then, he leaped, and his figure quickly vanished below the cliff.

[Wilderness Survival Announcement]

[Stateless contestant Ryan died due to jumping off a cliff]

After this tragic news spread, the world was shocked once again.

The news of Ryan's death and Stry joining Pretty Country were like two heavy bombs, setting off massive waves globally.

People were stunned by this sudden turn of events, unable to recover their senses for a long time.

No one expected that in the cruel game of Wilderness Survival, the dissolution of a country would trigger such complex and intense chain reactions.

Social media instantly exploded, with various forums and platforms dominated by related topics.

Netizens were divided into different camps, engaging in fierce discussions.

Some felt tragic admiration for Ryan's determination and loyalty to his country.

"He defended the nation's final dignity with his life; his death is glorious."

"Ryan's leap was a final, profound tribute to his country."

"The saddest part is that he died for his country, but his country could no longer respond to him."

Regarding Stry joining Pretty Country, opinions varied. Some understood it as a necessary, forced choice for survival, while others accused him of betraying his country.

"Faced with life and death, he chose to live, but he lost the most precious thing."

"This was an instinctive choice made in desperation; he shouldn't be overly criticized."

"If even your own country is gone, what's the point of lingering on?"

However, more viewers focused their attention on the subtle changes in the international situation.

They speculated whether some countries might secretly trip up or even directly harm others in real life just to increase the number of their own contestants.

This concern was not unfounded. As the benefits brought by Wilderness Survival became more obvious, the importance countries placed on it grew daily.

After all, this involved not only national honor but also immense economic interests and geopolitical influence.

Suddenly, the international situation became extremely tense.

The foreign affairs departments of various countries entered a state of high alert. Diplomats frequently met, ostensibly for friendly exchanges, but actually to test each other's boundaries, creating a tense atmosphere.

Military experts also began analyzing the situation, expressing various opinions on television programs and online platforms.

Some warned that the risk of war was gradually rising, while others called on countries to remain calm and resolve issues through peaceful negotiations.

Pretty Country was particularly active during this turmoil.

They publicly declared that Stry's choice was absolutely correct. At a press conference, the leader of Pretty Country spoke righteously, reading from a script.

"Mr. Stry's choice is a rational judgment for survival and development. Our Pretty Country has always been a nation full of tolerance and opportunity, and we welcome all ambitious individuals to join us and create brilliance together."

However, behind these high-sounding words, Pretty Country was secretly plotting to take action against other nations.

Domestically, Pretty Country's propaganda department was also busy. They heavily promoted the benefits of joining Pretty Country through various media channels, attempting to attract more stateless contestants or contestants dissatisfied with their own countries.

They produced exquisite promotional posters, printed with advanced survival gear, abundant supplies, and comfortable living environments, alongside a striking slogan: "Join Pretty Country, start a new survival journey!"

At the same time, they ran numerous ads on social media, using highly inflammatory language to describe how contestants in Pretty Country's team easily overcame difficulties and marched toward victory.

Lu Fan and An Lan, who were in the wilderness, were also stunned by this announcement and took a long time to recover.

An Lan couldn't help but gasp: "This... Maosi Country dissolved? And the contestant joined Pretty Country?"

Lu Fan also couldn't help but frown. If his previous speculation was correct, would the resource crisis be solved when massive amounts of supplies appeared in only a few countries?

The problems churned into a mess in his mind, impossible to sort out, so Lu Fan simply cast them aside.

"If you can't figure it out, don't think about it! My head is going to smoke if I keep trying!"

While joking with himself, he stretched widely, his movements exaggerated like a big bear waking up.

Seeing An Lan frowning, Lu Fan smiled and comforted her: "Don't think so much. This situation won't happen to our country. In today's world, no country dares to claim they can wipe us out."

Hearing this, An Lan couldn't help but laugh: "I'm not worried about our country, I just can't quite figure things out."

"If you can't figure it out, then stop thinking about it. You might as well think about what we're doing tomorrow."

Lu Fan finished speaking and slowly ambled over to where the Honeycomb Briquettes were drying, squatting down to examine them carefully like a seasoned craftsman.

These Honeycomb Briquettes were made by him and An Lan with great effort. The earthy brown coal blocks were neatly arranged, like soldiers awaiting inspection.

"Hey, it'll take two more days to dry completely."

He tapped one of the blocks lightly with his finger, producing a dull sound. "You guys better hold up; don't fail me when the time comes."

As if the Honeycomb Briquettes could understand him.

Next, he walked towards the Storage Room, preparing to properly store the precious wasp pupae.

Opening the Storage Room door, a faint fragrance of honey and the unique scent of wasp pupae wafted out.

He carefully picked out the wasp pupae one by one, his movements gentle as if handling rare treasures.

"These little fellows are the definition of deliciousness."

As he picked them, he couldn't help but swallow, picturing the golden, crispy appearance of the fried wasp larvae in his mind.