Under an umbrella.

Their figures slowly merged into the spreading rain and mist.

*

*

04:25 PWeather/light rain

Manhattan New Area·JH District.

This area is close to the port, and its name sounds like a peaceful and peaceful place, but it is actually a desolate area on the edge of the city.

Far away from the bustling and political center of Manhattan, this place is considered one of the isolation places for "infected people".

The headquarters of the Neutrality Federation is located in this remote corner. There are no high-rise buildings around the building, only some low and dilapidated warehouses and factory buildings.

Several deserted streets extend to the port, and the wheels of trucks passing by occasionally grind over the waterlogged roads, making bursts of harsh sounds.

The Neutral Federation is one of the few non-governmental organizations among the infected.

It maintains a nominal cooperative relationship with the federal government, but is also deliberately marginalized because of the identities of those infected with "uncanny hoof disease".

Although JH District sounds like a peaceful place, in fact, it is an isolation zone deliberately arranged by federal politicians to isolate infected people from the center of Manhattan and away from political circles and public sight.

Although the infected people have officially recognized identities on the surface, there is still obvious discrimination and injustice behind them.

Nonetheless, the area's appearance has quietly changed in recent months.

The rapid architectural trend of the new world is sweeping across, and some creative and futuristic buildings begin to appear here.

New buildings such as towering skyscrapers, glass-covered squares, mechanical sculptures, and biomechanical-style laboratories have given this originally quiet and desolate area a brand new look.

These unique buildings form a strong contrast with the old factory warehouses, creating a sense of time and space.

These new buildings have attracted the attention of more and more investors and developers, and some powerful guys within the federal government have begun to make crooked ideas.

Although they have never explicitly expressed their support for the rights of infected people, the development potential of this land makes them covet.

The place that was originally regarded as a place of abandonment has now become a new hunting ground for capital operations.

Directly in front of the headquarters of the Infected Neutral Federation, several new speed-style buildings form a sharp contrast with the old buildings of the Federation.

The federation's headquarters is an old building that has been eroded by time, with mottled marks on the exterior wall still visible.

This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! The sign at the door is swaying in the wind, with the words "Infected Neutral Federation" engraved on it. Although the handwriting is clear, there is a hint of isolation and helplessness.

Within the federation, the atmosphere is equally dull and tense. Although they have nominally joined the government system, they have been unable to truly integrate into the mainstream political circle.

Many infected people are still forced to live on the margins of society, unable to receive the respect and rights they deserve.

The current situation is becoming increasingly complex, and the federal government's coveting of this area has made the members of the Federation even more vigilant.

In the office of the president of the federation.

Fifty-two-year-old Selina Lockhart sat behind her simple but neat desk, her eyes cold and solemn.

President Selena's appearance is unique, and the typical equine features are particularly obvious on her body: her horse ears poke out from her silver-gray hair, with an elegant ponytail at the end; although she looks very young,

Half a hundred years old, her figure still retains the unique strength and agility of people infected with odd hoof disease, especially her leg muscles, which appear tough and powerful after years of training.

The old president is an acquired infection of benign odd-foot disease, which gives her greater endurance than ordinary people, but it also becomes a sign that she is incompatible with society.

In front of her, there were several documents marked "top secret" stacked up. The thick stack of papers looked extremely heavy, and each document recorded chilling facts.

The handwriting on the document is clear and the paper is thick. It seems that every second these words exist, it will become the fuse of a social unrest. Selina knows very well that once these reports are leaked, the relationship between infected people and humans will

Violence will break out across the board.

The numbers in the first reported incident report pierced her heart, and a trace of sadness and anger flashed in Selina's eyes.

An indiscriminate attack in Area G of the Level I quarantine zone for infected people resulted in five deaths, 20 serious injuries, and the destruction of housing and infrastructure. Witnesses described the Cultural Committee’s “Rangers” armed with heavy weapons shooting at innocent infected people.

.

"Shut up forever", these cold lines lingered in Selena's mind, and she clenched her fists.

Houses were set on fire and residents lost their homes, which was undoubtedly a death sentence for the entire community.

Her eyes moved to another, more disturbing report, about multiple kidnappings and disappearances in the quarantine area.

This kind of horrific planned violence is not just a one-off attack, but also specifically targets infected leaders and activists who dare to speak out and oppose government policies.

Aya - she remembered this name, the brave girl who protested against the segregation policy, and now there is no news from her.

Selina opened the third report, and the content also chilled her.

Equipment at the processing plant in Zone E Industrial Zone was looted, workers were beaten, and losses of millions brought the entire community to the brink of economic collapse.

The robbery and destruction of the black market in Area C has deprived infected people of their only way to obtain medical supplies and daily necessities.

The last report was like a cold needle piercing Selina's heart.

Forced labor, extremely harsh conditions, and many infected people being taken away and never heard from again, the existence of the "slave market" has become a dark reality that infected people cannot escape.

This is not the first time that she has faced such a thing.

But every time, Selina knew that the living space of the infected was being eroded little by little.

But this time, the situation may be even more dangerous.

She closed her eyes and inadvertently grabbed a pen on the table with her fingers. The pen tip gently poked the table, as if she could hear the wood squeaking slightly.

Among the four social groups dominated by people infected with equine oddfoot disease, the Infected Persons Neutral Association has always been regarded as the most "cowardly" existence.

They try to remain neutral between infected people and normal humans, and do not want to be involved in any confrontation with extreme forces, nor do they want to have a head-on conflict with the government.

Compared with other HIV-positive organizations, they are more willing to promote the integration of HIV-positive people into society through pragmatic cooperation. However, this neutral stance makes their position within the HIV-positive group particularly awkward.

The Pseudoman Movement Alliance, Liberation Hooves, the Neutral Federation of Infected Persons, and the Infected Persons Workers Federation—these four organizations represent the four social groups of people infected with equine oddfoot disease.

Each group has its own goals.

Pseudoman Sports League.

This is a moderate organization that advocates equal rights for HIV-infected people and is committed to promoting social acceptance of HIV-positive people through legal means.

This organization is composed of a group of infected people with high aberration rate but good education and social status. They hope to fight for the equal rights of infected people in society through public dialogue, protests and legislative promotion.

The sound of liberation hooves.

It is a radical organization of infected persons that is extremely opposed to the Edici government and horse racing, and advocates fighting for the rights of infected persons through violent resistance and acts of destruction.

They believe that any peaceful means are futile and that only by attacking the core structures of government and society can the fate of the infected be truly changed.

Workers' Union of HIV-infected People.

As the name suggests, this is an organization composed of workers, manual laborers and grassroots workers, mainly composed of infected people who are forced to do low-paying, dangerous or strenuous work inside and outside quarantine areas.

Their goal is to fight for the rights and interests of infected people in the working environment, as well as better wages and working conditions through strikes, protests, marches and other means.

Infected Person Neutrality Federation.

A group that tries to maintain a neutral attitude between infected people and normal humans. They advocate avoiding confrontation with any extreme forces and do not want to directly conflict with the government.

They believe that through neutral stance and pragmatic cooperation, infected people can gradually integrate into society without resorting to violence or fierce resistance.

The four groups represent the four main social groups of people suffering from [Plasmogma].

You should know that infections caused by oddfoot disease are divided into many types, such as congenital and acquired, benign and malignant.

People with mild congenital deformities usually come from infected families, and their parents or ancestors are infected. This infection is passed down within the family, and they have known that they are different from ordinary humans since they were young, so they have a firmer sense of their identity.

Sometimes, they have an extremely contradictory relationship with normal human society - the macro question of whether pseudo-human beings belong to the human group has been discussed countless times. Even the Kingdom of Heaven has different opinions on the pseudo-human group.

A group of people with acquired mild aberrations. These people were originally ordinary humans who became infected during sudden infection events.

They usually experience great psychological impact, their originally peaceful lives are broken by the infection, and their social relationships and careers are also affected.

People with acquired mild deformities often have a more difficult time accepting their new identities.

They may deny or hide their aberrations at the beginning and try to return to their original lives, but social rejection forces them to eventually face reality.

Selina Lockhart, as the president of the Neutral Federation, is exactly such an acquired infection.

Her horse ears, pony tail and strong leg muscles all show her deformity, but she still retains her inner self-identity as an ordinary human being.

In the Neutral Federation, many people, like her, find it difficult to fully accept the fact that they are out of touch with society. Therefore, the "fragility" of this organization is particularly prominent.

In the eyes of other infected organizations, this moderation and cowardice of the Neutral Federation is a manifestation of "compromise", and has even been called a "traitor" by the Liberation Hoof.

Moderates in the Puppet Movement Alliance are also dissatisfied with them, believing that the neutral federation does not have the courage to promote real change.

Even among the infected, many young members have gradually lost confidence in the federation and turned to groups that are more active in fighting, especially when they see that the government has done nothing and other groups have made some progress in their struggles.

These contradictions and pressures have made it extremely difficult for the leadership of the Neutral Federation.

They tried hard to maintain the neutrality of the group, but they clearly realized that the patience of the infected was running out, and their own original beliefs were beginning to falter.

External oppression and internal divisions have put the Neutrality Federation into unprecedented difficulties.

Selena faces not only government suppression and social discrimination every day, but also doubts and opposition from infected people.

As president, she tries to maintain a balance between various interests, but such a balance is obviously becoming increasingly difficult to maintain.
To be continued...