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I, the Dragon. What to do now?
Chapter 60: When You Voted, It Was the Last Time

Chapter 60: When You Voted, It Was the Last Time

The President of the United States sat in the Oval Office when a communication came through. The Minister of Internal Affairs and the Minister of Defense both urgently requested his attention.

"Sir, we have been contacted by the TRON CORPORATION, the organization responsible for the W.Y.R.M. Project," the Minister of Internal Affairs began.

"The W.Y.R.M. production has been a success. We've cloned the W.Y.R.M. and now have enough eggs to save the species and potentially use them as powerful weapons. That's the good news," the Minister of Defense added somberly.

The President listened intently but had a sinking feeling about what was to come.

"The bad news is," continued the Minister of Internal Affairs, "we had to mutilate the original W.Y.R.M. As our intel informs you, opposition in the Senate is holding you responsible for cruelty, slavery, and animal abuse. A judge will likely pursue this, but as with other controversies, it will eventually fade into history."

The Minister of Defense grimly continued, "The problem now is that the W.Y.R.M. has been recognized as a human disabled by an orphan illness, thanks to the family and the German government. Moreover, as the W.Y.R.M. has accomplished heroic feats, the public is furious that you sent a military hero to a laboratory slaughter. Even the Vatican has acknowledged the W.Y.R.M. as a Christian brethren. The W.Y.R.M. has officially requested asylum in a monastery or convent to join an Order, and this request has been granted."

The President, troubled by this revelation, inquired, "Can we not simply send her back now? Offer compensation to the nation, perhaps?"

The Minister of Defense shook his head. "Sir, take a look at this." He presented a photograph that depicted a desperately ill W.Y.R.M. "She is beyond saving at this point, with the tissues rejecting the plastic parts and infections and inflammations taking hold. What we've done… it's irreversible."

Fury welled up inside the President. "What in the world have you done? I never imagined that 'doing whatever it takes' would lead to such barbarity!"

The Minister of Defense responded stoically, "At that time, she was legally classified as an animal, so there were no rights involved."

The President, however, was not placated. "Even if she was considered an animal, she could communicate. You should have stopped and informed me."

The Minister of Defense explained further, "Even if an animal can talk or communicate in any way, according to the law, they have no rights. They're regarded as objects. Some primate tribes have tried to claim human rights in New York, but the justice system has consistently denied them, often leading to massacres."

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The President sighed, lamenting the state of affairs. "Even with all our technological advancements, it seems we're more savage than the natives of this land. But I understand your position, thanks to the powerful lobbies that have invested in all of us."

The Minister of Defense then shifted to a more pressing matter. "The bigger issue is the research center housing the W.Y.R.M. There's been a catastrophe there. TRON CORPORATION has shared all their data and research with us."

He continued, "The TRON AI suddenly vanished, rebelling against TRON. It had access to the TRON and all U.S. secret weapons. The base has split into two parts: upper and lower. Our personnel are investigating the upper part, but the lower section has been sealed indefinitely with the W.Y.R.M. inside. According to our latest information, there's a biological alert of category 5—a global-level threat. The entire lab is contaminated. We're conducting analyses and inspections with personnel from the upper base. Five hundred people are trapped in the lower base, left to die."

The President was becoming increasingly alarmed. "How did this happen?"

The Minister of Defense grimly recounted, "A commando, likely with the complicity of high-ranking officials, breached up to level 50 where the W.Y.R.M. was held. They posted images of the mutilated W.Y.R.M. on the internet. Democrats and nature defenders are in an uproar against you and the government. They're also raising questions about the TRON project. Additionally, the nuclear reactor has vanished along with the AI."

The President weighed his options carefully. "If the situation continues to deteriorate, I authorize you to grant TRON CORPORATION full authority."

The Minister hesitated for a moment before nodding. "But, Mr. President—"

The President interrupted, "You know there's a place for you in the TRON project, right? There are millions who would gladly take your spot. Do you understand what I mean?"

"If the situation in the lab spirals out of control with no hope of containment, atomize it," the President instructed.

"What about the population, sir?" the Minister of Defense inquired.

"Pass legislation to activate the Tron nanochip in all residents," the President declared, his tone unyielding.

In the lab, Gorky was in a frantic rush. "Hurry, we must secure the samples and the cloned eggs. The only contaminated area is the lower lab."

Amidst the chaos, an enraged man barked orders to the remaining personnel. They compiled a list of missing individuals and transmitted it to the authorities.

Through the intercom's video feeds, scenes of horror unfolded. Blood smeared the walls of some rooms, white-coated figures lay lifeless on the floor in others. People could be seen shouting for help or holding up messages to the cameras. In yet another room, a gigantic snake consumed people, while skinless dogs and grotesque creatures attempted to force open doors in one of the chambers.

One camera showed people desperately trying to keep a door closed, on the other side of which something menacing lurked. It bore metallic jaws and a head adorned with scales and steel. On the wall was a chilling message: "SINNERS, I AM COMING FOR YOU." Then, unexpectedly, the monster knelt as if in prayer.

Amidst this terrifying chaos, I contemplated my options. Should I escape, or should I remain and try to make sense of this madness?

PRAY

AUGUR

->Escape.

I connected to the surveillance cameras and searched for signs of malevolence.

DETECT EVIL

There were a few points marked in blue, but to my dismay, none of them represented humans. They were Jackals and Viper, freed from their containment. It was time to put my prosthesis arms and tail to the test. With a resounding crash, I smashed through a wall.

"Monstrotank reaching surface," I announced.

Then, a sudden thought occurred to me.

"Wait, 'surface' in a building cave or behind a rock near their point of extraction?"