Deep into the night, beneath the steps of the Glory Court, the silent sparks of an illuminating fire spread quietly.
Yet that loyal voice echoed like a tidal wave in the hearts of everyone present.
The Battlefield Atmosphere Group was unsure how to convey Marshal Julius’s final words to his children, nor how to adequately describe the shock in his heart with even more profound emotion.
After so contemplation, he finally chose to stand under those majestic gates and replay that recording with a louder voice.
The Weilante people are not just the Weilante people of Triumph City.
Rather than him telling them, it would be better for each of them to participate in accomplishing this great task.
Just as Julius ntioned in his last words, the winter that shrouded this wasteland is now past.
There is no longer any savagery on this planet that needs to be conquered by the legion.
But the beast fed by the Weilante people is now gnawing on the flesh of Weilante, becoming the accomplice of the Looter, and even turning into the Looter itself.
It’s ti to move toward a new era.
Faced with the countless pairs of eyes, dense as tiny black dots, the Battlefield Atmosphere Group gradually understood its mission.
He cleared his throat, and with a clear and loud voice, continued after the broadcasted recording.
"I saw Marshal Julius and found the words he left on this set of power armor."
"Long ago, our respected marshal foresaw a day... when our legion had expanded to its limits and there were no longer opponents easy to conquer, this runaway beast would inevitably try to devour us all."
"Thus, he placed a bridle nad loyalty around the neck of this beast."
"When, one day in the future, the high and mighty schers attempt to bind and coerce us in the na of loyalty. When, one day in the future, this uncontrolled beast tries to strangle us all with the rope around its neck... that would be the sign that the final mont has arrived."
"When the survivors of the entire Triumph City are shouting his na, when the darkness over our heads is turned to daylight by the torches in our hands... It signifies that mont is now!"
"Following the wishes of that great man, I have brought this bridle out of the Glory Court."
He placed both hands on his chest, slowly clenching them as if the invisible bridle was truly in his grasp.
The overwhelming emotion caused every cell in his body to tremble uncontrollably.
This was his 52nd speech in Triumph City.
Unlike every previous occasion, this ti he had not prepared a script in advance.
"Will you be strangled by it before dawn, buried along with it in the old era, or will you use this bridle to choke it, bringing our proud loyalty to our new era—"
He slowly raised his clenched fists as if tightening the bridle grasped in his hands.
"Make a choice true to your hearts, for this is the only matter where no one else can decide for you! In this mont, you are Julius, and Julius is you!"
"Loyalty to the people’s choice is loyalty itself!"
In truth, from the very beginning, the outco was never in doubt.
If they hadn’t been fed up with those lies, those holding torches wouldn’t be standing here.
"Strangle it—!"
No one knew who shouted first.
That hysterical voice echoed in the night sky, like a stone cast into a calm lake, soon stirring layer upon layer of ripples.
Emotion is contagious, especially when people are gathered together.
It is for this reason that when people gather and shout loyalty, Legion Leader Teil, who cannot speak of loyalty, becos so fearful, going so far as to resort to the city defense forces’ power.
But now, even if he wanted to stop it, it would be too late.
Thousands of cries rged into one, converging into an ocean vast and boundless.
In front of that ocean, his circus-like antics were like a lone boat.
Everything was just like back then, when that great man led the Weilante people to overthrow the War Construction Committee—
Even a defense departnt as powerful as Leviathan could not stop this torrent!
"Strangle it!!"
"Strangle it!!!"
"Let those conn who blind the Weilante with lies, those thieves who steal our victory fruits, and those disgraceful scoundrels who coerce Weilante with loyalty all go to hell!!!"
"The Weilante shall never be slaves!!!"
Looking at the fiery city district, the Battlefield Atmosphere Group lowered the fists he had raised in front of him.
Gazing at the burning torches, he suddenly thought of the first mural inside the Glory Court—
The fist composed of countless citizens united.
In that crowd, he briefly glimpsed Julius’s face, a slight smile involuntarily appearing at the corner of his mouth.
"...I wonder if you can see this day."
He had fulfilled his role as a "spark plug," accomplishing everything he could.
Now, Triumph City was like an engine already ignited, with no further need for him to do anything extra.
The Weilante people, who made the final decision, would naturally walk the path they had chosen.
At this mont, he felt incredibly relieved, as if all burdens had been lifted off him in an instant.
The "Longest Cycle Completion Task" achievent of the entire server was successfully accomplished.
His mission was finally complete.
Looking at the man standing on the steps, Penny’s eyes filled with glistening tears.
In them were excitent, emotion, joy, and countless complex feelings intermingled.
He did not break his promise!
He really did it!
The legend that had been forgotten by almost all the Weilante people and thought nearly impossible to achieve—
They reunited once again!
Standing at the edge of the crowd, Chief Brock’s face was also filled with emotion.
And not far from him, the guards of the Enforcent Team of Gryphon Street were chatting in a casual tone.
"...If I recall correctly, this should be his 52nd speech."
"By the way, does Julius passing that set of golden power armor to him an he’s our next Marshal?"
"There will be no more Marshals... No, to be precise, there will not be a Marshal like Sir Julius anymore. Didn’t you hear him? Each one of us is him, every one of us is Julius."
"I agree, from now on, the army is the army, politics is politics, law is law, citizens are citizens... The era of the Legion is over. Just like Sir Julius said, we are moving into a new epoch."
"Then how about a different na... how about Leader? We can’t be like a corporation with no one in charge."
"Good idea."
"But after all, he’s not a Weilante... is it okay for him to be the Leader?"
"What does it matter?"
"Exactly, what does it matter if he isn’t a Weilante? It’s not just Weilantes standing up tonight; rather, this is the perfect chance for us to bury the hatchet!"
At least, for now, the army is still in the hands of the Weilante, and the risk of reform is the smallest.
When the army is no longer only Weilantes, then trying to reform might no longer be a re change, but a transformation.
An elderly guard looked at the thousand steps of the Glory Court and suddenly uttered a heartfelt sigh.
"Besides... no one has ever talked to us so openly about his plans, and he talked about it for a full 52 tis."
A young guard looked at him and said noncommittally.
"I think what matters is not what you say, but what you do."
The elderly guard nodded.
"That’s right, a slick talker might be a fraud, but a lazy fraud who doesn’t even bother to deceive is just a bandit, worse than a fraud... Haven’t you suffered at their hands?"
Brock did not participate in his colleagues’ discussion.
Rather than expressing his opinions, he preferred to listen to their views on the future.
However, he thought if that guy wanted to participate in the selection of the Leader, there probably wouldn’t be anyone who could compete with him...
After all, before that guy, no one had ever united so many Weilante people together.
Not to ntion the Weilantes, but also including the aliens living in Triumph City.
Except for Julius himself.
Incidentally, those thieves who manipulated the Weilante in Julius’ na didn’t deserve to compete at all.
Standing at the entrance of the great hall, staring at the lifelike Golden Armor, Rezer’s face revealed a genuine smile.
Suddenly, from that spirited silhouette, he saw the shadow of another person.
It seed that gentleman was the sa way...
His murky eyes were montarily lost in mory, his gaze piercing through the mists of ti.
"We finally et again..."
"Sir."
...
Embassy Street in the City of Dawn.
Sitting in the study, Centurion Bennott couldn’t help but hold his breath.
After listening to Kuike’s report, he was stunned for a long ti, and only after a while did he reach out with a trembling index finger to pick up the glasses on the table and put them on.
"So... Marshal Julius has really already..."
His heart felt like a pot of mixed emotions had been overturned, and he was montarily at a loss for words.
To say who is the most loyal, the Civil Official Group proclaiming second, probably only the Imperial Guard dares to claim first.
After all, their interests are tightly bound to Triumph City, and they are the only ones who have been consistently implenting Triumph City’s decrees, treating the slaves in their territories kindly.
As for the malice and exploitation of slaves towards other slaves, that’s another matter entirely.
Most civil officials are more inclined to believe that Marshal Julius must still be alive, just sleeping in the Sleep Cabin.
Including Bennott himself, as this was the scenario most consistent with the interests of the Civil Official Group.
He at most hoped that the Marshal would sleep on, never having the irreverence to think that the gentleman had already slumbered eternally.
Looking at the unable-to-accept-it Centurion Bennott, Kuike slowly nodded and said in a very light voice.
"That was a very long ti ago, and also the top secret of the Imperial Guard. Not to ntion you didn’t know, even so ministers in Triumph City have no idea."
When he said this, he paused for a mont to give Centurion Bennott ti to organize his thoughts, and then continued.
"...We didn’t tell the whole truth about one thing; participating in the Sticky Community was not a direct decree of His Excellency the Marshal, but an exploration based on his last wishes."
Bennott squeezed his aching brow and said in a hoarse voice.
"...Looking for that guy from The Unconquered Land? For that prophecy? Last wish?"
Kuike nodded.
"Yes, that was the original intention for our risky intervention in the political situation, and also what I have been doing all along. But the final result was beyond our expectations; the person had actually been among us all along, and before we actively sought him out, he found us first..."
The wonder of fate might just lie in this.
Though the original intent of the Imperial Guard eventually amounted to nothing, joining the Sticky Community itself turned out to be one of the few brilliant moves for Triumph City.
When he got to this point, he paused for a mont.
"I have to thank you for this, the talent was discovered by you."
Bennott let out a wry smile.
"...Should I take this as sarcasm?"
If he had known it would turn out like this, he would rather have nipped that trend in the bud.
After all, that guy was overthrowing all interest groups.
This naturally included the civil official group.
"Please take it as gratitude." Kuike said sincerely, looking at him without joking, continuing, "Thanks to his appearance, our mission is finally over, and Mr. Julius can finally return to soil & rest in peace."
Bennott remained silent for a long ti without speaking, then he let out a long sigh.
"Maybe I should go back for that gentleman’s funeral... Such things cannot be missed."
Kuike nodded.
"Go back, they need you there."
Not just a funeral delayed for more than a century, but a whole lot of leftover issues are waiting for the awakened Weilante people to solve after dawn.
Settling old mistakes is just the beginning, not the end.
After sending off the army, they still have to decide the path forward.
As the ambassador of Triumph City stationed in the City of Dawn, Bennott often dealt with the Alliance and other survivor forces on the wasteland.
At least in Kuike’s view, he was the most suitable helmsman, if nothing else, then a guide.
Watching Kuike leave, Bennott pondered for a long while, then called in Dominie, who had been evading earlier.
Seeing Bennott with red-rimd eyes, Dominie was stunned for a few seconds and hurried forward to ask.
"Mr. Bennott... what’s wrong with you?"
"It’s nothing."
Rubbing his sore nose, Bennott composed himself for a mont, then solemnly said,
"Sothing major happened in Triumph City, I have to go back, and you’ll temporarily take over this diplomat role."
Upon hearing this, Dominie, who didn’t know what had happened, froze on the spot, helpless for a mont.
"... ? But—"
"No buts, that’s an order. I’ll draft an appointnt letter for you shortly."
Saying this, Bennott got up from the sofa, regaining a determined look on his face.
Realizing the seriousness of the situation, Dominie stared at him without blinking.
"Mr. Bennott, please tell what really happened—"
"Marshal Julius has passed away..." Looking at the dumbfounded secretary, Bennott said with slight irritation, "It’s not just our Marshal, our army might also cease to exist... I don’t fully understand the details either, ask Kuike if you have any questions, and get the rest from the news."
...
Grand Canyon.
In the somber eting hall, the elderly man sitting at the obsidian long table let out a long sigh.
"...That young man has indeed died."
Passed at the age of 79.
That is far too young...
Perhaps because life is too long, so things that happened a long ti ago still feel like they happened just yesterday.
He still rembers that day and the deafening questions that young man directed at him—
Since the Post-War Reconstruction Committee claims to end the Wasteland Era as its mission, why are so people more equal than others?
Today, the Defense Departnt plans to reverse history using the legacy of Prosperous Epoch technology, what do they plan to do tomorrow?
He rembered his answer back then, telling Julius "you’ll understand."
And what happened later was indeed as he expected.
After ending the War Construction Committee’s era, the army under Julius’s leadership did not take a path drastically different from the War Construction Committee, even their ultimate fate was similar... forced into a dead end by internal contradictions.
History will probably repeat itself once more.
However, he didn’t see this as aningless.
The War Construction Committee paid a price for its mistakes, and its collapse did not just result in the birth of the army.
Including enterprises, academies, even Giant Stone City, Free State, and many other survivor forces, they are all possibilities that evolved after that incident.
Whether the outco like the army should be deed a complete mistake, there is room for discussion in the unique environnt of the Wasteland Era.
The sa goes for the War Construction Committee.
They abandoned so people, sacrificed so, and spiraled into madness in despair.
But undeniably, they also saved so people and left embers for future generations.
A whale falls, all things grow...
Perhaps this is the ultimate fate of all great things.
"...You old immortal, calling others young n, isn’t that rather thick-skinned of you."
Guessing that the old man was probably moved by his self-reflection again, a tall man sitting at the obsidian long table glanced at him with displeasure.
The old man looked at him, not caring much, just gave a faint smile and said,
"Your tongue is still as sharp as ever."
"I just don’t want to waste precious ti on aningless things."
The Conclusion Doctor chuckled and continued leisurely.
"Tell , how many invitations have you prepared this ti?"
The old man spoke in a calm tone.
"Not many, one for you, one for the enterprises, one for the Alliance, and also for the Free State, the South Sea Union, and the Poluo Province..."
At this point, he suddenly fell into silence, as if lost in thought.
Suspended in the light blue holographic image, Conclusion sighed, crossed his arms, and said concisely.
"Prepare five more."
"Sorry, I was thinking about sothing else just now... getting old, everything’s failing."
The old man, as if coming back to his senses, looked at Conclusion with an apologetic smile and continued.
"Then let’s go with your suggestion and prepare five more."
...
On the other side, the No. 10 Settlent Point of the Alliance.
Having just t the envoy from Ideal City, Chu Guang unexpectedly received a ssage from the Grand Canyon.
[... Esteed Manager, I am the Recording Officer of the Grand Canyon, allow to extend our highest respect on behalf of the Chief and the survivors in the Grand Canyon.]
[We are shocked and regretful about the disaster in the Haiya Province...]
[To prevent the out-of-control Prosperous Epoch Technology from continuing to ravage our shared world, and to preserve the spark of civilization for a smooth transition into a new era, we invite leaders of the major Survivor Forces in the Wasteland to Origin City for a eting to discuss crisis response plans...]
[We look forward to your arrival.]
Chu Guang glanced over the letter briefly, and in short, it was an invitation.
To be honest, the Alliance and the Grand Canyon didn’t have much intersection, so suddenly inviting him over seed a bit abrupt.
However, considering that the Grand Canyon’s predecessor was the Post-War Reconstruction Committee, their "reserve" is sowhat understandable.
Chu Guang planned to discuss it later with the enterprises and the Academy.
If the two partners intended to attend the eting, he would join in the fun too, and take the opportunity to socialize.
While Chu Guang was contemplating, Xiao Qi, perched on his shoulder, muttered.
"These geckos sitting on glass... talking as if that nuclear bomb had nothing to do with them, huh, maybe it fell out of their own pockets!"
Geckos, indeed...
Chu Guang couldn’t help but smile, yet he found the comparison quite apt.
These guys hiding under the Holy Shield observing everywhere but doing nothing are just like geckos, aren’t they?
"Where did you hear that nickna?" He wondered who thought it up.
Xiao Qi bragged with flair.
"Mosquito!"
"..."
Alright.
It’s that guy for sure.
Upon hearing that familiar ID, Chu Guang was not surprised at all.
As Chu Guang turned off the holographic window, Xiao Qi whispered to him.
"Master... are you planning to go?"
"Go, why not?"
Stashing the letter, Chu Guang replied in a half-joking tone.
"Who knows, I might even et Marshal Julius of the Army there. I’ve always wanted to have a chat with him."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Qi was about to speak when she suddenly seed to encounter an unexpected situation, "ah" followed by hastily whispering.
"I’m afraid that’s no longer possible... the players at Triumph City just sent news that Marshal Julius is already dead."
Already dead?
Upon hearing this, Chu Guang was slightly stunned and quickly continued.
"... What happened? Is it the [Battlefield Atmosphere Group]? Forward the report they submitted to !"
"Got it!"
At the mont Xiao Qi finished speaking, the recently closed holographic screen opened again in front of Chu Guang.
A new mail appeared in the unread mail section.
[Esteed Manager, as per your instructions, I have successfully fulfilled my mission and liberated the Weilante people from the longstanding lies...]
[Perhaps, with your prophetic insight, you’ve already deduced everything. Indeed, Julius has been dead for a century. With the help of the Imperial Guard, I and the survivors of Triumph City have completed the final trial and decided to move towards the new era together.]
[That’s the situation, everything went smoothly... However, I encountered a small problem at the end.]
[Shortly after the ceremony concluded, several ministers from the Civil Official Group found , hoping that since I started things, I would take full responsibility. The Imperial Guard feels the sa, and so insist that since the Marshal passed his armor to , it signifies I inherit his responsibilities as well...]
[The Legion Leader nad Rezer saw through my identity, but surprisingly, doesn’t see it as a problem?! Besides the Civil Official Group and the Imperial Guard, the other survivors in the city feel the sa. They want to assu the role of so sort of Leader, but they can’t even articulate what the Leader does exactly or how it differs from the Marshal’s previous duties... it’s giving a headache.]
[In short, it’s a complex situation that can’t be fully explained with a few words, but if I don’t co clean soon... my undercover work might as well have end up as the head of the Army.]
...
(Thanks to "Chilly Skylight" for the lord’s reward!!!)
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