In the crowded corridor, there was nothing but dead silence.
The Grand President slowly moved his neck, looking out at the numerous gazes fixed on him, and spoke with an affable and graceful demeanor: “I didn’t expect so many people to come and welcome me. Esteemed friends of the Mist State. “
“Uh… this… “
“This gentleman seems to be…? “
This group of people in the corridor, forming a semi-arc around door 302, looked at the pointed ears of the distinguished gentleman, gradually exchanging glances with each other, as if trying to confirm their own conjectures from one another’s eyes.
“Haha. ” The President let out a dry laugh, leaning on his cane at the doorstep and said:
“Gentlemen, it may be that you are seeing the real me for the first time. I am the current President of Waldestadt, Friedrich Bergmann. “
His gaze briefly flickered over a man with a severely burned face in the crowd behind him, then fixed upon the young man before him who was calmly observing him with a composed look. Stroking his beard, he smiled and said:
“My esteemed White Violet Hero, Chairman Yang Buchen, ah me, finally I get to meet you. At the last incident at the Ross Central Dispatch Station, your contributions were immense. I was truly eager to personally come and see our hero. What a pity, you left too quickly. “
“Ha…? ” Yang Zicang swept a glance at the President, who was looking back over his shoulder as if appraising him.
He then glanced at the copper doorplate marked 302.
A long competition…
If there were to be a single person best suited to the theme of this room…
The corners of Yang Zicang’s eyes twitched. If he hadn’t already agreed to a protocol…
“Ah, perfect timing. “
Yang Zicang’s train of thought was interrupted by the President’s voice. Friedrich Bergmann, leaning on his deep brown, ornately carved cane, pulled a sash featuring a sixteen-pointed golden medallion from behind his back.
“This is?! “
“Last time I didn’t get the chance to give it to you in person. How perfect, my dear friend. “
Holding his walking cane behind his back and raising the other arm to display the medal to the crowd, the Grand President smiled as he slowly showed everyone the exquisite and magnificent design of this ribbon.
“This time, with so many distinguished gentlemen as witnesses. I wish to award this ‘Sixteen Eagles at Dawn Medal🏭—the highest honor representing our nation—to our hero, Mr. Yang Bucheng. “
Clap, clap, clap! Sparse applause echoed down the corridor, followed by a few whistles, and then more and more cheers.
Amid the warm atmosphere, Grand President Frederick Bergman smiled lightly, stepped outside, and removed the medal from its ribbon. He hung it on the chest of Yang Zicang, who was wearing a black Vanizer Army coat. Then he patted it gently.
“Chairman, you have quite a heroic bearing. “
Looking down, Yang Zicang was stunned for a moment.
“Uh, thank you, Mr. President. “
……
On the coastline of the Valendian Federation,
amidst desolation and wails, vines from the water crawled onto the beach and into the cities, crossing patches of withered figures littered sporadically on the ground, pressing deeper into the dense human front lines.
“Third Echelon, prepare! “
Facing the cracked urban buildings buried in vines.
The bare-chested man standing atop a small rooftop caught Yin Bo’s eye, as he watched over a child and guarded a pile of luggage.
Following that figure’s shout, a long line of people ahead in the bustling crowd either jumped or squeezed their way forward toward the dense array of glowing, overlapping hexagonal translucent force fields ahead.
Force fields of various sizes, as they overlapped, were constantly being pierced by the encroaching metallic vines.
But they were quickly reinforced as people from behind stepped up, spreading a set of rotating starry patterns with both hands to open up new barriers and plug the gaps.
“Are you from Team Five? ” A voice sounded beside Yin Bo.
Turning his head, he glanced at the woman in her thirties who had squeezed in next to him. “Team Four, ” Yin Bo said. “I’ll be preparing next. You watch over these. ” He patted the pile of boxes and clothes by his side.
“Ha, alright. I’ll take charge here for now. ” The woman shrugged off her jacket, revealing a lean vest and a fit, sturdy figure.
Amid the buzzing murmurs and suffocating atmosphere spreading through the crowded masses, hearing these sounds, the woman silently shook her head with a sigh and draped her clothes over the luggage pile.
Yin Bo, along with many others, was pressing forward to prepare for the next round of defense, when suddenly, some unusual sounds spread from beyond the crowd behind him.
He turned to look.
Outside this wide, spacious path, a high-flung banner was approaching from a great distance.
“What is that? “
Some people stood on tiptoe to look.
Riding a sturdy steed that had been galloping for a long time, a figure clad in a pale, thin robe gripped a tall, slender wooden pole to which the banner was high aloft.
“I bring news that the Demons can be defeated! “
“What! “
The people on both sides of the road made way for the galloping horse.
“We have confirmed intelligence from across the Southern Nations overnight! “
The man on the horse, whose voice was hoarse from shouting who knew how far and for how long, yelled, “Helvica Kestle has verified the intelligence! Over at Outerlkov, they have beaten the Doom Vines that emerged from the mountain! “
Amidst a chorus of shocked, or skeptical, shouts, a few people moved to block the path of the rider. “Our men are already organized to hold the line against the Demon. “
“Halt! Don’t charge our forward formations! “
The horse charged forward regardless, but two figures with powerful auras bristled and barred his way.
“Stop! “
“Whoa there! ” The exhausted warhorse reared up with a sidelong whinny, its fit body sliding to a halt.
“Speak clearly! What exactly happened? We need to coordinate with the commanders here and draw up a plan systematically, ” the man said, glaring at the rider. “Drop your banner pole and get down. If you have any useful experience, come over here and tell us off to the side. “
“As if there’s time for that! “
“We need order, ” another person said, “or everyone here will start moving because of you, and it’ll turn into chaos directly. “
On horseback, the tawny-skinned young man from the Hellfire Sect gritted his teeth, frowning. Under the gaze of the surrounding crowd, he looked down at the ground, considering whether to dismount.
Suddenly, the buzzing and hissing sounds of gunships came from the high altitude behind them.
He turned his head with many others’ gazes, looking towards the distant end of the long road. There, above the statue of the famous father and son, people come to greet in a famous statue action as fathers lifting luggage.
A formation of bombers, scattered like a flock of wild geese, swooped over everyone’s heads, accompanied by the high-pitched whine of the wind, racing towards the coastline on the other side.
“Ah, ” the young man on the horse let out a long sigh of relief, his chest heaving. The flagpole in his hand landed and rested easily on the ground with a thud.
He looked somewhat astonished at the roadblock men who were gazing towards the planes flying to the force field’s front line, “Their efficiency will be a bit faster. It seems my intelligence doesn’t need to be shared for now; it will be transmitted over here. “
No sooner had he spoken than a series of explosions and screaming incendiary bombs detonated one after another, like fireworks, over the dead city blanketed in metal creepers.
……
The guerrilla forces and rebels on the Heiwen Zike border began crossing the border, transferring towards the Waldestadt front line.
Some of the open plains among them had already been covered by vines, but after a night and morning of baptism by campfires and artillery fire, now with several trucks carrying oil drums leading the way, they dared to gather together and follow the slow-moving trucks as they trudged through those deserted villages and towns.
Upon hearing this news, the chief officials of Hervenczak set aside some of their concerns about the border, a solemn air hanging over them.
At the same time, they also felt a twinge of strangeness regarding Waldestadt’s unusual acceptance.
“Father-in-law, tell me, if Waldestadt suddenly starts taking in these refugees who bear armed strength, isn’t it afraid of problems emerging within its own country? “
On the sofa, with both hands clasped and elbows resting on his knees, the Second Prince across from him faced the old man with graying hair and spotless attire, who pondered for a moment.
“Perhaps that Grand President has made some kind of promise, intending to use this chance to suppress some of the country’s states and prefectures that have slipped beyond control. “
The Second Prince, appearing over twenty years younger than the Fourth Prince, tilted his head and thought for a moment.
“Hmm, reasonable. This Frederick, he finally shows some bold determination, worthy of the man I once admired. “
…
Special Defense Command.
Office of the General.
To the sound of raps on the door, light yet deliberate footsteps hurried urgently into the room.
“General, there are two pieces of latest news. “
“Speak. ” A figure standing before his seat in neat military attire, leafing through an image report, responded deeply.
The long-haired woman with shoulder-length hair and powerful eyes said:
“Just received a piece of news: within the World Ark, a member of the original team of Chairman Yang Buchen’s capable assistant, Zhao Anlong, along with the personnel he brought, has announced their departure from the World Ark and formed a new team called the ‘Dragon’s Domain Relief Committee’. “
Ross slightly stunned, turned his face over.
After a brief pause, shifting his gaze and murmuring to himself, Ross looked at the woman and asked:
“Does Chairman Yang Buchen have any response? What’s the purpose behind the establishment of this organization? “
“Well… for now, there’s been no reaction whatsoever. ” The woman leaned forward slightly, her voice lowered, her shoulders trembling faintly as she took a breath. Under Ross’s puzzled gaze, she struggled to steady her voice and said:
“General, Aida Wen has fallen. “
“What did you say? “
“It… ” The suppressed fear in the woman seemed to burst out with these words, her trembling so intense that tears uncontrollably fell as she said:
“The news hasn’t been released; it was delivered through an original letter. Someone set off a bomb that was planted in advance at a gathering, and then the entire Aida Wen was covered by the vines of the apocalyptic demon. Cities outside the peripheral seawater tributaries have urgently begun dispatching… ammunition and supplies. “
The calm general slowly sat back down in his chair.
“It’s okay, fortunately, we already have new methods. Issue orders: immediately shut down all communications, maintain nationwide wired and wireless silence. “
Another knock sounded outside the office door.
The woman wiped away her tears, walked steadily over to pull the door open, and pressed herself against the wall on the way. The soldier outside rushed in, dashing over to the edge of the desk piled high with books, documents, and communication devices.
“One thing, General. ” The visitor began, speaking urgently, even raising an arm subconsciously to point at the corridor outside in irritation, clearly furious. “It’s the World Ark! “
“What about them? ” The General asked in a deep voice.
“They… they said they want to delay the transfer of the communication equipment we just captured by a week, announcing that they will gift the seven-day usage rights of this system to the small, weak nations suffering from the apocalypse, to help them make their voice heard. For example— “
“For example? ” The General’s voice rose slightly, carrying a tone of helpless scoffing. His face was cold as he stared at the man.
The soldier, as if humiliated, blushed deeply and said, “For example, to General Oderlev, who just announced the founding of his nation not long ago… “
“Report~! ” A loud shout came from someone outside the door, legs snapping together.
The sobbing woman, the blushing soldier, and the furious Ross all turned their heads to look at the man dressed in the ceremonial uniform of the Royal Guards standing at the entrance.
“Mr. General Ross, our Prince inquires whether he could dispatch a special escort to take him to the World Ark headquarters. “
“That’s impossible. Please leave. If he wants to board an airplane, he is welcome to depart at any time. “
“Yes, sir. “
……
Hailikoni sat tensely in an ordinary small car, her lips pressed tightly together.
“We’re here, ma’am. “
“Thank you. I don’t have much to give you; consider this as payment for the fare. ” With that, she handed the driver a small, ordinary-looking pendant decorated with a bit of gold dust.
The man glanced at the sparse golden patterns on it, let out a surprised “Oh, ” then grinned as he watched the woman’s retreating figure leaving the car and called out:
“Dear lady, how can this be? This is far too generous. I, I… ” He hesitated, feeling both reluctant to part with such an item and too embarrassed to accept it in exchange for the fare, patting his pockets for something else.
“Wait, miss! ” he shouted. “I have some change here for you—though it’s a bit short. But I assume you could use it. “
In the occasional gust of chilly wind, Hailikoni, who had already intended to leave, turned around. She looked at the handful of coins he handed over, among which lay two Heiwen Cike silver coins.
“Thanks. ” She smiled from under her headscarf, took the coins from his hand, and quickly hurried down a side street.
The driver glanced in the direction she had gone, then turned back, gazing fondly at the pendant in his hand. He had often heard these days of people who, lacking funds, would barter rare treasures from their collections.
But he had never thought such a thing would happen to himself.
……
Outside the grand theater.
Compared to before dawn, the weather had dropped considerably, becoming bitterly cold.
“Whoa~ “
Wang Zhi and He Yishu, who had just walked out of the theater, felt as if they had stepped into a different season, huddling slightly as they stood by the entrance.
The campfire beside them had already burned brighter amidst the smoke, and even more people had gathered around it.
“You are like a flame in the winter~ “
Wang Zhi, wrapping his arms around himself, hummed a tune and shivered, then turned his head to look at He Yishu.
“Wow. Yishu, do you feel it? It’s like winter has already arrived. “
The handsome man beside him glanced sideways at the roadside campfire on the other side, where a crowd had already gathered. Wang Zhi said:
“Buddy, how about we go warm ourselves by the fire first, and then continue looking for more information? “
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