It was unanimously decided by the Planetary Defense Council that the Fourth Wallfacer, Merlin Emrys, needed to hold a public hearing under the witness of the United Nations Planetary Defense Council and major media outlets worldwide.
The purpose of this was to prove the identity of the Fourth Wallfacer to the public and to clarify the public opinion and rumors spread by the ETO organization.
At the same time, the Fourth Wallfacer, Merlin, also had all his work and powers temporarily suspended by the United Nations Planetary Defense Council.
This included deployable resources, relevant personnel appointments, and military experiments, all of which had to wait until the public hearing concluded, with results depending on the outcome.
Merlin, as the person involved, also took a plane and arrived at the United Nations headquarters in New York.
After the previous terrorist attack, the soldiers stationed at the entrance of the United Nations had clearly increased, and the security level had risen by several notches, with checkpoints set up layer by layer to ensure the smooth conduct of this hearing.
Wade had been waiting at the entrance early.
Seeing Merlin arrive, Wade handed him a cigarette.
"This hearing will not only have the Planetary Defense Council, but also the other three Wallfacers, and the most advanced medical genetic testing team. What are you going to do?"
"The other three Wallfacers?"
Merlin was a little surprised.
"Why aren't they doing their own thing? Why are they coming to the hearing?"
"I don't know." Wade shook his head.
"Perhaps it's the Council's intention. They've already realized that the Wallfacers' power is too great, and seem to intend to reduce and control it."
"At this time?"
Hearing this, Merlin couldn't help but raise his eyebrows, a little surprised.
"Whose suggestion was it?"
It should be known that in the original work, the Wallfacers' immense power lasted until the end of the second 'hibernation'. The reason was that the three Wallfacers were successively 'Wall-Broken', and the disclosure of Taylor and Rey Diaz's insane plans led to the complete collapse of public trust, which then caused the Council to reduce their power, eventually leading to their complete abolition.
But now, the Wallfacer Project has just begun.
Taylor and Rey Diaz's Wallfacer plans have not been Wall-Broken by the Trisolaran organization, so why would the Council want to reduce the Wallfacers' power?
There was a hint of strangeness in this.
"The Council representative from France, huh... It's been decades, and it's still the same." Wade didn't seem surprised, flicking the ash from his half-smoked cigarette and looking back at the United Nations building, he let out a cold laugh.
"Looking at the essence through the phenomena, peeling back the disguised shell, it's not hard to guess... Because your plan made 'them' feel danger, so they want to dismantle the 'Wallfacer Project' from within."
France... Okay, Merlin understood.
It seems that the so-called "Planetary Defense Council" isn't a monolith after all.
But thinking deeper, isn't this actually a microcosm of history?
Even when facing the crisis of extinction, what humanity does first is not unity, but rather vying for power and profit.
On this point, Wade, who deeply understood the darkness of human nature, had a lot to say.
"The outcome of this hearing is not important at all."
Wade threw the cigarette butt on the ground and crushed it fiercely with his leather shoe, a chilling glint in his eyes.
"'Defaming' you is the most important thing. Aren't humans such ridiculous creatures? Compared to a flawless 'hero', people are more willing to believe that...
This hero is actually not perfect."
His cold gaze shifted from the United Nations building to Merlin.
"You shouldn't have come... This 'hearing' was destined from the start. They don't care whether you are truly 'human' or not; they just want to be carrion vultures, taking the nutrients they desire from your fallen 'corpse'."
"I know."
Merlin smiled meaningfully.
He had even guessed that the public opinion and rumors spread by the ETO organization could cause such a significant effect in society and among ordinary people, and behind it, the Planetary Defense Council's pushing and fueling was inevitably involved.
As for the reason, it's easy to guess, isn't it?
Some people have become impatient, revealing greedy fangs, eager to swallow him and the 'fruit' whole.
Saving humanity can be done by a Wallfacer, but... wouldn't it be even better if it were a certain Human Lighthouse?
"If you know, why did you still come?"
Wade frowned tightly, his tone somewhat agitated.
This public hearing was ostensibly giving Merlin an opportunity to clarify his position.
But what was the real situation?
No, Merlin could never clarify.
Even if his genes were identical to humanity's, he couldn't clarify this rumor.
Because no one wants the 'truth,' including the currently agitated ordinary people; they just want to 'eat' Merlin.
This is also what Wade meant when he said Merlin shouldn't have come.
The best way to clarify public opinion is not self-defense, as that would only fall into the trap set by the other side.
The best method is to act as if the public opinion doesn't exist, or to handle it coldly.
Yet, Merlin came.
In Wade's view, this was the most foolish way to handle it.
Merlin possessed 'superpowers,' the direction of humanity's evolutionary ladder. As long as he maintained a firm stance, the United Nations Planetary Defense Council would not be able to force him to do things he didn't want to.
But if Merlin willingly jumped into this 'self-defense trap,' then that would be another matter entirely.
Whether he wanted to or not, once he stepped into the 'hearing' trap, the outcome was destined to be completely devoured.
"I have my own way."
Merlin's expression remained relaxed, and he patted Wade's shoulder.
"Don't worry, everything is according to plan."
Although there was a slight error in the middle, causing the original plan to deviate from its course.
Now, he was being jointly targeted by ETO and the Council, but overall, it was still within his expectations.
"Can you really do it?"
At least, Wade couldn't imagine how Merlin could win.
In this hearing, from the audience to the judges, everyone was an "insider"; he truly couldn't think of how to break the deadlock.
Even the enemy was too.
ETO would certainly not lady this opportunity to completely bring down the "Fourth Wallfacer."
In other words, Merlin... was in a precarious situation.
"Otherwise?"
Merlin asked with interest.
"I have a way" Wade pulled another cigarette from his pocket.
Clink!
Amidst the clear sound of the Dupont lighter, flames reflected in Wade's cold pupils.
The tobacco was slowly lit, and with a wisp of smoke drifting away, he took a deep drag, laughing sinisterly like a malevolent spirit from hell.
"I used a little trick and installed a few time bombs in the United Nations conference room. With a 'boom'... they'll all be completely dealt with, including the other Wallfacers. Then we'll pin this attack on ETO, and you... will be humanity's only hope."
How ruthless!
Merlin couldn't help but raise his eyebrows, shocked by Wade's vicious plan.
The key was that this guy wasn't just talking; he had even put it into action. No wonder Wade was considered the most terrifying existence by the Trisolaran civilization; he truly was terrifying!
Yes, it is.