The white silhouettes of the airships stretched across every part of Cruen.
They hung in the air in layers, at varying heights. Beneath them, apart from the enclosed cabins, there were extended hanging baskets, within which tiny black dots could vaguely be seen moving. Those were soldiers of the Lion Empire.
“Whoa~ Is this real?! “
“Hail! “
“Is this the rescue operation enacted by the motherland?! “
The square erupted. On the crisscrossing streets throughout the city, people under the shadows looked up with dull eyes, watching the airships whose stitched fabrics were even larger than their own houses, slowly drifting towards the distant hanging zone.
And far away, even more similar figures were continuously ascending.
Inside the office, Haimasen, holding one hand behind his back, arrogantly raised his chin at nearly a forty-five-degree angle towards the miraculous scene outside the wide-open windows and doors, and snorted with a laugh:
“This is the extraordinary achievement we have made, under the guidance of the correct conceptual framework laid down by the Minister of Development Planning and the Minister of Military Affairs, uniting the Military Academy of Sciences with the 7th and 3rd Industrial Corps.“
Applause thundered, filling the inner hall.
Haimasen raised his right hand, bent his arm as if waving it diagonally toward the upper left, thumb tucked in with four fingers together, and shouted, “Long live the Empire!“
“Long live the Empire!“
A synchronized sound of arms rising followed. Everyone in the room raised their arms, bent, and pointed diagonally to the upper left.
“Long live the Empire!“
“Long live the Great Krun! Long live the sacred military troops!“
Yang Zicang and Zorro silently stepped back two paces, leaving this moment belonging to the Steffen people to themselves.
Hidden behind the crowd, Yang Zicang sensed a gaze from his left. He turned his head to see one person from his hometown squad—deeply involved in the “Great Krun” project—looking in his direction with a mixture of politeness, confidence, and pride.
“Looks like the Mortav gentlemen are completely sidelined today,” Zorro remarked beside him.
He then saw Yang Zicang gazing like an observer of a world wonder, looking out toward the sky filled by the creations of human hands.
“Our plan isn’t half bad, isn’t it, Brother Bucheng?” a gentle voice came from beside Yang Zicang.
Yang Zicang turned to look at the man who had stepped closer.
“No matter when I witness such a scene, I cannot help but feel sincere wonder at its birth and reverence for its designers. “
The man felt genuine delight at Yang Zicang’s heartfelt praise. Raising his hand from behind the applauding crowd, he said:
“My name is Alienong. I’m the liaison officer for this team. “
“I am Yang Buchen. Today’s radiant glory belongs to you all. “
Alienong smiled faintly.
……
The entire staff of Mortave spent the afternoon marveling at the emergence of such an action plan.
The “Complete Colossal Krupp ” operation spread almost at the speed of light, reaching all cities on the continent still connected by telegraph and telephone lines.
“Breaking news! It’s about Stefen’s response plan to the end of the world! “
“What have they done now?! “
“Another new plan?! “
Unproofread urgent messages were printed out. People everywhere anxiously crowded together to read the newspaper, no larger than a leaflet. But soon, many sighs of disappointment were heard among the crowd.
“I thought it would be like the Seawater Backflow Plan—an operation capable of saving hundreds of millions of lives. “
“Alas, they’ve at least come up with a plan. Look at the countries in the mid-northern part of the world now; you can barely find any dignitaries still in their capitals. “
“Such an airship operation can’t possibly cover every city. I’m guessing they’ll just quietly take the elites away. “
But the propaganda apparatus of Stefen’s vast imperial territory did not think so.
Radio stations across the country were thoroughly roused to fervor; documents from various departments surged into their broadcast rooms with unprecedented swiftness, as if every committee member and chief official wanted to leave their signed mark at this very moment.
“Led by Academy President Haimasen, in collaboration with the arms factories to counter the subterranean devils in the apocalyptic crisis, the action has forged an colossal fleet of airships vast enough to burst the very vault of heaven.“
“When doomsday arrives, they will wrench our homeland’s people from the brink of death and, cradled by the air and human wisdom, allow our precious lives to carry on!“
By afternoon, nearly every loudspeaker across the Stedfin dominion blared out such searing, zealous broadcasts.
“Let us cheer for all the heroes who took part in this endeavor.“
The miracle turned Keruen into an ocean of joy. People danced and sang; on the streets, cars converged into such a rare clog they could not move an inch.
Before the sunlight had fully set, the city had already descended into darkness. Yet the roar of cheers showed no sign of stopping.
After dinner, Yang Zicang accompanied Motaav and the others, who insisted on heading out to absorb the festive atmosphere of a carnival, as they walked along the streets.
“We’ll be saved.” Beside him, a man and a woman wept and embraced each other.
Within the crowds of people loudly drinking and singing everywhere on the streets, there were complete strangers—men with men, men with women, and even weeping men embracing their Labrador retrievers—to express their excitement over the possibility of rebirth.
These colossal beasts drifting across the sky silently demonstrated their fearlessness in the face of demons and doom.
Yang Zicang could tell that Motafer was very, very envious.
“I too want to create… a scientific creation that can help so many people survive. “
This civilian researcher gazed up at the sky with fascination.
Dereiano, standing beside him, patted him on the shoulder. This man had completely given up on the “New Television ” plan he had proposed earlier.
No matter how hard he tried, he could never make it compare to this mighty army of the skies before him. This moment was destined to be recorded in history, but the new television…
He shook his head and said to Yang Zicang:
“The public’s emotions are too intense; the ministers will surely respond. The political winds within the preparatory committee will definitely shift somewhat. “
The group pricked up their ears, listening to the cheers echoing through the air, cries of “Long live President Haimasen! ” and “Long live the Minister of Development! “
“I reckon the preparatory committee is about to replace its acting chief yet again by tomorrow, ” Yang Zicang said, his tone unreadable.
Zorro watched his face, illuminated by the glimmering light, with his hands in his pockets, and nodded.
……
Amidst the faint sounds of celebration in the distance of the city. Inside the quiet courtyard of the research institute, a few children were playing hopscotch under the dim shadows of the trees, drawing squares on the ground with stones.
Inside the living room with a retro, steady decor and a fireplace.
The Science Council President, with a full head of white hair and a whites-peppered mustache that matched, sat on the sofa, frowning slightly as he watched the footage on the screen in front of him—images flashing repeatedly showing giant airships slowly crossing the city.
“To be able to replay the afternoon’s footage even now… “
Dawuti slowly nodded, expressing his approval of this device.
“Nowadays, true scientific warriors capable of making such breakthroughs are rare. “
“Indeed, indeed, Mr. Dawuti. “
The wealthy businessman Maifuzhe, seated on one side of the sofa, bent over with a fawning smile and nodded:
“This is all thanks to the proposal from the Minister of State. As well as the help of those within the Society of Preservers who understood this recording technology and worked day and night to transform the filming equipment. “
Then he glanced slightly toward the warrior standing to the right of the sofa, who stood motionless like a statue, with a strange metal cuckoo bird perched on his shoulder.
If one were to ask where the safest place in Steffin was at this moment, it would have to be this room—precisely, this sofa and the few square meters around it.
And if one were to ask where the most dangerous place in Steffin was at this moment, the answer would remain the same.
“The Society of Preservers, ” muttered Dawuti, the Science Council President, furrowing his brow briefly.Muttering this murmur, he then set aside the name of this ancient party, rarely involved in political elections:
“Can this machine see farther places? “
“The State Minister’s subordinates have already taken the cameramen and equipment out of the city to record our night-long citywide celebration, determined to preserve this grand moment forever. However, real-time signal transmission is still a problem. “
As he inquired, the door to the room was knocked on.
The man who had been standing silently in place calmly turned his head, glanced over, and walked to open the door.
A student residing in the research institute, accompanied by a communications soldier in a brown-and-blue uniform, saluted at the doorway:
“Reporting to Lord Science President. This is the Prime Minister’s latest document regarding the Science Heritage Preparatory Committee. It is recommended that the ‘Complete Grand Krupp’ execution team be extended a Science Heritage investment invitation. The matter is now presented for your esteemed reference and determination as a science commissioner and parliamentarian. “
Dawuti waved a hand to acknowledge he was aware.
The flat-haired young man in the blue-black uniform entered the room, carrying the documents that needed a response. Soldier No. 4 closed the door, then walked back calmly and stood quietly beside the old man.
Dawuti gave it some thought:
“As far as science and technology themselves are concerned, having a large number of airships ascend simultaneously can indeed be inspiring to the people. But this thing before our eyes is also a valuable crystallization of courage and wisdom that cannot be overlooked. Yet what the people sincerely need right now is a more tangible hope for survival. “
The flat-haired student jotted it all down with a swift scratch of his pen.
Maifuzhe immediately realized that this time, the Fogbound State tycoon that the Heritage Preparatory Committee had taken such pains to proactively invite was now all but excluded from the inner circle of the current committee.
The older man lifted his head again, focusing his attention on the small screen ahead, which was broadcasting faint cheers. The student (Yang Zicang) also stared in surprise at the object before him, completely captivated by it now.
“What a pity, Mr. Congressman Maifuzhe. By the way, I don’t even know the name of this new device yet. “
Maifuzhe gave a dry chuckle: “At my welcome banquet, its designer said it currently had no name. “
“No name? ” The older man was somewhat taken aback.
Seeing the delighted expression on the gray-haired old man’s face, the wealthy merchant seized the opportunity to flatter him:
“Mr. Science Speaker, how about you, on behalf of our hardworking Prime Minister, name this brand-new technology presented upon the wanderer’s return home. “
“Name it, huh… ” Dawuti frowned, his fingers tapping briskly on the wide armrest of the sofa. He tilted his head to the right and asked, “Do you have any suggestions? “
“Uh, no, Cuckoo, ” Little Bird shook her head like a rattle-drum.
“Father, whatever you like will be fine, ” Soldier No. 4 stated calmly.
The young man with the crew cut stood silently, not saying a word.
Dawuti’s brow furrowed even deeper. He let out a soft sigh, placed his hands together in front of him, and gazed at the screen.
Seeing this, the wealthy businessman chuckled by the side and said:
“How about this? Name it after this historic moment co-created by you, who are witnessing this very moment, and the members of the Old Dimensionalists who transmitted this crucial footage this afternoon? “
“And what would that be called? “
A young man with a crew cut in a black-and-green uniform spoke up from the sidelines:
“Teacher, let’s call this thing a ‘Tivi machine.’ “
“Yes! The Mortaff brand Tivi machine! “
The wealthy businessman flattered, saying, “This historic moment will be recorded together! “
……
Cheng Yunze and his team hurried back to a warehouse filled with bustle. By now, a large crowd had gathered there—basically everyone nearby who knew a bit about technology. They had been assigned here in the afternoon and were busy dismantling and assembling equipment amid the noise.
Haili Huikewen, wearing a mask, walked over and handed a stack of documents to Cheng Yunze, the sound of various clatters filling the air.
“Mr. Cheng, are we still not going to transport people tonight?“
So far, none of them had any idea what this group was truly about to do.
“The first half of the night is simply impossible. I’ll try to arrange a train for rescue in the second half. How many people have you contacted? Get them lined up to wait. Make sure they board and disembark as quickly as possible.“
“Yunze, I think I have a few minutes now. Let me go ahead and make two trips first.” Ning Jiajia said, her fatigue evident at the side.
“You…” Looking at the resolute expression on the woman’s face, Cheng Yunze, equally covered in dust, nodded and instructed,
“Alright. Zhiquan, make sure you keep her safe.“
“Got it, big bro.“
The members of the Four Phases team immediately turned and hurried out. From inside the room, one could hear the wind rushing by outside.
After checking the progress here, Cheng Yunze let out a slight sigh of relief and then asked,
“How’s Shi Defen doing? And everything going smoothly for Yang Buchen?“
Unexpectedly, a gentleman from Augustus standing before him shook his head.
“Our advisors speculate that Mr. Buchen’s journey may not have gone smoothly. We should have the specifics confirmed by tomorrow morning at the latest. “
Cheng Yunze’s expression shifted slightly. “What’s wrong? “
“Just like us, a group ofFogfolkover there had secretly been preparing a rescue plan to deal with the impending disaster. “
“Now, the skies above their entire capital have been surrounded by airships. Additionally, our intelligence personnel are verifying whether there is any backup plan in place. “
Hamilton Wycliffe chimed in, “Based on the clues we gathered late last night regarding the fabric and steel supplies used by Steffen over the past six months, it seems they are indeed carrying out more plans of this kind. We’re just not sure which areas are involved yet. “
Cheng Yunze let out a soft sigh, silently reflecting on what his fellow countrymen were getting up to in this world.
Right as they were chatting, a burly, bearded man from Augustus approached and whispered a few words to the group.
“A group of stranded refugees in a central nation has seized a local city and announced a recruitment drive for individuals capable of manufacturing weapons. “
“These bastards… “
……
The next day, Yang Zicang, although notified that he had been excluded, was still invited to observe the ceremony. He sat somewhat helplessly in the bustling hall alongside the diplomatic delegation of the Black Writ Kingdom.
He was originally an invited person of interest, but now had become not only a mere witness but was also inadvertently serving as a foil to bolster the national pride of the Steffen people.
“Ladies and gentlemen, and international friends. Welcome to the awarding ceremony of the Steffen Lion Empire…“
The man’s voice at the microphone was broadcast through loudspeakers to the square, where tens of thousands surrounded it, and even beyond, reaching the further reaches of the empire through the airwaves of a radio.
— “Our world will not sink into total despair, that is the pledge and roar made by Steffen’s warriors…“
The crowd on the square buzzed as they listened.
At the reception hall, Motov and the others looked up at the giant airship in the courtyard, listening to the sound broadcasted through the horns atop the pillars. The committee members’ solemn voices echoed throughout the yard. People celebrating the festival joyfully walked hand in hand through the streets.
— — “Our Empire shall… remain intact…“
Suddenly, a dull crash echoed, ‘Bang!’.
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