Did You Destroy the World Today?
Chapter 19: Where's the Negotiation We Agreed On??

After going around in circles, he was back where he started.

Lin Xu stared in astonishment at the man before him. He never expected his multiple objectives and leads would intertwine in such a manner.

"Returning them to you."

"We didn't take advantage."

"We're just executors."

The hostage's meaning was crystal clear.

Both the M46X and PEEK-RTM materials were achievements of the Planetary Reincarnation organization.

The materials research institute found through online searches had merely acquired—or more accurately, "appropriated"—these achievements from Planetary Reincarnation.

So the real force behind the success of the Star Voyager-1 project wasn't any official institution, but this mysterious "Planetary Reincarnation" group?

How did they possess such technological R&D capabilities?

Or had they already been deeply entrenched in this field with extensive accumulated knowledge?

After all, this was an organization aiming for Mars as their "promised land," dedicated to space travel.

They were fundamentally different from those cults swindling money and sex...

Lin Xu faintly sensed he'd grasped a thread of the truth.

But how this story's logic connected remained momentarily unclear.

——Not that he had time to ponder further.

The hostage had already led him into the Technical Director's office and booted up the computer.

With trembling hands, the man entered the password, successfully accessing the system.

"Everything... everything's here..."

As the hostage pointed at the displayed information, Lin Xu gestured for him to step aside before raising his gun and firing.

"Bang!"

"AAAAAHHHH——"

The man collapsed convulsing, his kneecap shattered, rendering him mostly immobile.

Only then did Lin Xu safely turn to the computer screen, where two open process documents clearly displayed industrial production methods for both key materials.

Well damn.

It was all in the names.

The so-called PEEK-RTM was simply polyetheretherketone manufactured using liquid molding technology. The general direction was straightforward, but the technical details involved numerous completely uncharted territories.

While feverishly absorbing both materials' information, Lin Xu questioned the hostage:

"Both materials are Planetary Reincarnation's achievements?"

"Yes... they're all yours..."

The man's face twisted in agony. Checking the time, Lin Xu saw only 17 minutes remained.

Plenty of time.

He offered reassurance:

"Relax, shooting you was just to prevent you attacking me."

"I'm not with Planetary Reincarnation, nor am I here for revenge."

"Answer my questions properly, and nobody dies by my hand today. Understood?"

"Understood... understood... that's good... that's good..."

The man seemed to relax slightly, stammering his response before Lin Xu continued:

"What else do you know about these materials' origins?"

"I truly know nothing else..."

The man shook his head frantically.

"This was always a forbidden topic, and it's ancient history now..."

"Over a decade ago!"

"I only know their industrial production methods were originally patented, until the patents got revoked..."

"I was just an apprentice then, but I knew those patents inside out."

"I remember all co-applicants' names. Later, one appeared on government wanted posters as a terrorist leader..."

"Then both patents got revoked, replaced by direct technical guidance from the materials institute."

"Back then, I knew nothing about Planetary Reincarnation. Years later, around '40, when the organization got exposed, I saw that name again in news reports about the so-called terrorists."

"That's all I know."

"Shoot me if I'm lying!"

Observing the man's reaction, Lin Xu nodded approvingly.

"Good, you're cooperative."

"But I've more questions. You're—"

"Attention inside! Drop your weapons! Surrender immediately!"

Lin Xu's interrogation was interrupted by amplified shouting outside, followed by flashing lights at the window.

Snatching the laptop, Lin Xu rolled behind the hostage, using his body as cover while shouting:

"Stay back!"

"Approach and I execute him!"

As the trembling hostage shielded him, Lin Xu pressed the rifle against his head while frantically absorbing the onscreen information about both materials.

The police outside were irrelevant—standard procedure demanded lengthy negotiations before any assault.

That bureaucratic process would take at least half an hour.

With only 15 minutes until the Apocalypse?

No sweat!

If he could hold out these final minutes, he'd win!

"Stay calm, stay calm."

Lin Xu patted the hostage's shoulder reassuringly.

"You'll be unharmed if you cooperate."

"Just keep covering me while I finish reading, then I'm gone."

"Your injury isn't serious—with modern medicine, just get an artificial knee."

The hostage responded with a pained grimace.

Gritting his teeth through the pain, he hissed:

"...Thanks."

"You're a good person—you won't kill me, right?"

Less an affirmation than self-comfort, yet technically correct.

Lin Xu had no intention of killing him.

When the Apocalypse came, everyone would die anyway.

"Of course not. I've no grudge against any of you."

"Keep your head still! Block me!"

"If I live, you live. That's a promise."

"Understood! Understood!"

The hostage spread himself fully to conceal Lin Xu, simultaneously shouting at the window:

"Don't come in! He won't hurt me!"

"I'm safe! I'm fine!"

"He's leaving soon! No hostility! Let him go!"

Hearing this outburst, Lin Xu suddenly understood Stockholm syndrome.

Truly, desperate people will cling to the slightest kindness like a lifeline.

Grateful, Lin Xu glanced up at the hostage and, noticing the bleeding leg wound, instinctively advised:

"Bleeding too fast—apply pressure. Just twelve more minutes."

"Twelve minutes? Understood! Understood!"

The hostage immediately bent to compress the wound.

——And as he lowered his head, light flashed again at the window.

Lin Xu's pupils contracted violently.

A six-rotor drone streaked past his vision.

Behind its blinding white glare flickered faint yellow sparks.

"Bang!"

Lin Xu heard the gunshot.

But by then, the bullet had already pierced his forehead.

An instant later.

"Thud!"

The projectile exited, exploding his skull like a watermelon dropped from height.

Blood and brain matter erupted as consciousness plunged into darkness.

Lin Xu reopened his eyes, cursing viciously:

Fuck!

Where's the negotiation we agreed on?!!?