Anu Lili has undergone significant changes compared to the last ti we saw her.
When we last saw her, although she was aware of being a warrior as a mber of the Resistance Organization, she ultimately had not undergone the true test of war. This girl seed slightly naive, carrying a passion founded on precarious grounds: full of self-confidence, energy, and fighting spirit, yet entirely built on the support of belief, lacking a basis in reality. But now, Anu Lili, her appearance unchanged, carries a vaguely revealed steady temperant. This is the transformation from a young impulsive idealist to a seasoned soldier who has truly experienced the battlefield. It’s hard to believe that such a significant change can occur in just one month, but those who haven’t changed in the past month have probably not managed to survive.
Anu Lili had a hint of fatigue on her face, evidently having not rested properly for several days. She was wearing the Resistance Organization’s uniform, making her quite conspicuous among the civilians dressed in ordinary cloth around her: only a dozen or so people wore uniforms like hers, while the majority of those lying on the beds or volunteering to help wore ordinary civilian clothes. After all, no matter how much the Resistance Organization grows, it’s impossible to prepare uniforms for every ard slave.
When we approached, Anu Lili was instructing a Resistance Organization soldier with a bandage on their head about sothing. She didn’t notice us until she finished her task, her face lighting up with surprise: "Ah! It’s you! I saw the spaceship arrive earlier; I didn’t expect you to co personally. It’s good to see everyone is safe... It’s a bit chaotic here..."
"It’s alright, you seem quite busy." I observed the surroundings while casually remarking. Everywhere were the wounded and busy volunteers; so of those volunteers even carried weapons: they have grown used to this. Clothed in civilian tattered clothes, they clumsily strapped weapons to themselves; their guns varied widely, each person’s equipnt was almost unique: by the later stages of battle, the Resistance Organization couldn’t provide standard equipnt to arm these barely trained slaves. Instead, they turned over everything old from the warehouse, accompanied by arms sent from other early liberated combat zones, using whatever was available, cobbling together a chaotic array of resistance fighters. It can only be said, fortunately, they were facing sparse lowa Disciplinary Police; otherwise, such a Resistance Army wouldn’t be able to face space fleet bombings, let alone regular army combat squads.
But no matter what, they still fought to the end and laughed to the end.
"There’s a lot to handle post-war: the wounded, diseases, industrial production, and food..." Anu Lili wore a troubled expression, "Wounded are instead the easiest problem; our dical equipnt is sufficient. Disease issues are more severe than injuries... The enemy conducted an orbital bombardnt; our people had no experience and no capability to respond. Those near the explosion center all died; those in the secondary impact zone outside the center who could have escaped didn’t know how to evacuate or find shelter and were mostly injured or killed. The bombs used by the enemy contained radiation; many in the bombardnt zone contracted radiation sickness, along with vast areas experiencing high-temperature complications... You know we lack knowledge; our people don’t know how to save themselves after being irradiated. Now, with those we managed to rescue... I don’t know how many can be saved."
Anu Lili was under imnse pressure; even as an increasingly mature female warrior, she found it difficult to bear the suffering her people endured. After learning more details from her, I also realized how much these ard slaves had sacrificed to hold off the Disciplinary Police’s attack before the Imperial Army arrived.
They lacked knowledge, tactics, facing enemy guns and bombs, most ard slaves were struck down by confusion and panic. These civilians’ only combat "training" ca when the Resistance Organization handed them weapons and taught them how to shoot and aim, yet a majority didn’t know how to successfully swap out energy cartridges. This resistance army should be the toughest among all combat zones: in other areas, although slaves were similarly equipped with miscellaneous and crude gear, at least they had basic knowledge. They understood modern warfare; lowa people indoctrinated them with so combat skills from a young age to use them as cannon fodder, so resistance armies in other zones can sowhat be called an "army," but here...
This advanced race that once dominated the entire universe has been brainwashed and oppressed to feudal civilization by the lowa people. Ninety-nine percent of their people couldn’t even count. Anu Lili’s Resistance Organization was the only group on this planet to know what guns were. They distributed weapons to their fellow clansn, rely hoping these compatriots could fire a shot when faced with slaughter by the lowa people—an act of doing their best in helplessness.
In all the warzones, the rebel army on this planet suffered the heaviest losses—almost to the point where, if it wasn’t for the Imperial Army’s intervention, they would have been completely wiped out by the lowa people’s planet bombardnt in short order: other warzones’ ard slaves at least had spaceships and space weapons, whereas the slaves on this planet had only ever used pitchforks.
But even so, I cannot ignore the fighting spirit of these indigenous people. Even though their knowledge is shallow, one might even call them ignorant, they never gave up on the fight. Perhaps they don’t know how to aim and shoot, nor understand the actual weakness of guns, yet they dare to raise their weapons against the lowa people’s heavy tanks, even if it ans using up their last bit of energy. Sandora once said that when asuring a soldier, what’s more important than the ability to shoot and kill the enemy is the courage to raise a gun in any desperate situation—for this reason, every ard slave qualifies as a soldier.
"They might not understand much, but at least they understand that if they want their descendants to avoid the suffering of this generation, they cannot retreat," said Anu Lili quietly. I watched as Lilina went to help treat the wounded and then brought up future plans, saying, "Do you have any plans? A new life must begin, and so kind of plan should be made now."
"Who knows..." Anu Lili replied with a bitter smile, "We’ve thought countless tis about how a new life would begin, but no one ever imagined this mont would co so quickly. We didn’t even believe our generation would live to see this day, yet it happened so suddenly, leaving us at a loss. Right now, we need to take care of post-war matters first. Too many people fell before dawn, and those of us who survived need to at least send them off. And then... probably focus on solving the problem of getting enough to eat. I know our civilization is much weaker than others; our primitive agricultural production can only satisfy a year’s worth of food. After solving the hunger problem, the Resistance Organization needs to work on restoring knowledge and basic industry, starting everything from scratch... this might take an entire generation. Ninety-nine percent of humans right now can’t count, fundantally unable to learn modern knowledge. Nerve poison and genetic defects have destroyed their brain structure from birth, making this untreatable. This generation is dood to be sacrificed; even though they’ve shed blood for the freedom of the next generation, they won’t see the day of reconstruction: they can only continue their primitive life."
Qianqian suddenly asked, "Including Anuza?"
Anu Lili paused, then nodded, "Yes, including Anuza. This generation is destined to continue this primitive life. They can’t learn knowledge, can’t understand arithtic, can’t adapt to a civilized life. Only the children of this generation—they will receive genetic repairs before birth, allowing them to normally learn knowledge after they are born. We will truly begin the reconstruction of civilization in ten years or so. Until then... it’s all about accumulation. I will find a quiet place for Anuza so he can live the carefree life he desires, only worrying about getting enough to eat. For a few years... or a decade, I think I’ll continue to work for my compatriots, and when the new generation of babies can work, I’ll retire and spend my quiet life with my brother..."
Such words shouldn’t co from a girl under twenty, yet I know this is the result of Anu Lili’s deep contemplation. The fate this race has endured is truly unfair; the lowa people have not only destroyed their civilization but also their ability to develop. Other slave races at least have their own technology; they are oppressed, but at least they are oppressed in the modern world, and within a few years they can restart the production facilities destroyed by war. The natives of this planet, however, must sacrifice an entire generation, waiting for the next generation to grow up to rebuild.
Hence, we cannot just walk away.
"The Imperial Army won’t ignore you; rest assured, I’ve also made arrangents for what’s to co. As for the genetic defect issue... it should not be untreatable. I’ll let the Empire’s research departnt take over this project; they’ll certainly find a cure quickly. It’s not a difficult task for those research enthusiasts," I patted Anu Lili’s sowhat frail shoulder, watching her expression shift from bitterness to surprise, "As for food, materials, anything you’re in urgent need of, just let know—oh, and dical supplies. I noticed your dical equipnt doesn’t seem entirely adequate."
Looking around, the dical conditions were indeed quite poor. A few could receive advanced treatnt; the Resistance brought so seemingly advanced dical devices from the Earth Core Base, equipnt capable of quickly treating common injuries, yet more people only had bandages and dicines at their disposal. So non-lethal injuries relied solely on primitive herbs and clean water to manage. From high-tech to primitive herbal dicines, every stage of treatnt could be seen here, evident of the dire dical conditions. Anu Lili said their treatnt facilities are barely sufficient, aning perhaps that not too many people would die.
"Dingdang, dingdang." I took out a tiny Dou Ding from my pocket. Dingdang was already very tired, having helped throughout every battle by healing, almost forgetting she wasn’t part of the Empire side. Now, this Little Thing was still a bit dazed, crawling around clumsily in my palm when Little Goddess muddledly wriggled about. I felt a little heartache; it seed I could not let her personally intervene further, although now that the war was over, perhaps using the Church power under her na wouldn’t involve any taboos?
"Dingdang is so sleepy, Dingdang wants to sleep..." The Little One closed its eyes and climbed two steps up my arm, then slid back into my palm, simply curling up there and continuing to snore. Seeing this, I had no choice but to call Lilina: "You take Dingdang’s place for now, we need a lot of temple followers here."
"I’ve been prepared for this," Lilina nodded confidently, "Temples everywhere are issuing a mobilization. I knew you’d ask for this—I’ll call the first batch here in a bit."
Only then did Anu Lili find a chance to speak. She couldn’t help but grab my sleeve: "You guys... thank you, really thank you. I thought you’d go back after defeating the rebels. The ntor said the Empire would not stop at such things, I really didn’t expect you to go this far, I thought..."
"Ha, Tulazo still rembers the affairs of the Old Empire," I chuckled, "Anyway, rest assured, this is a small task for the Empire. Besides... the lowa people defected from the Empire back then, and the trouble they caused, I feel, still needs the Empire’s help to resolve." Watching the light return to Anu Lili’s face, I hesitated, feeling there’s one more thing I should tell her: "There’s one last thing, would you be interested in joining the Imperial Camp?"
Nearby, Lilina was using a twig as a phone, discussing matters with the temple manager, and glanced over, muttering: "Boss is at it again..."
I knew Anu Lili wasn’t a racial leader; though she seed to be a high-level cadre of the Resistance Organization, she definitely wasn’t qualified to speak for the entire race. The natives on this planet might choose soone more esteed to speak, so I was just seeking Anu Lili’s view as an ordinary local. This is my professional habit; since the establishnt of the Servant Army, every ti I arrive at a new place, I feel the urge to develop the locals under the Empire. I tell you, doing this often really becos addictive. Sandora already announced that I have a similar territory-expansion compulsion as she did back in the day...
"Imperial... Camp?" Anu Lili furrowed her brows in confusion, then her expression turned slightly peculiar. "Is it to pledge allegiance to you?"
Having just escaped lowa rule, the locals were already highly sensitive about pledging allegiance to another civilization. Even the Imperial Army that had just rescued them could cause tension if they brought up such a topic rashly.
"No need to be tense, we aren’t lowans," I waved my hand, feeling it might be a bit early to talk about this, "Take your ti to understand the Imperial Family’s system. The brother races already in the Imperial Camp would probably be glad to have more siblings. Besides, all of this is completely voluntary. If you join, naturally you’d need to pledge loyalty to the Empire, but you’d also receive all kinds of aid and support from the Empire. If you’re unwilling to join, that’s alright too. You’d be a mber of the Macro World and would still receive so Empire protection—just not as many benefits. For now... you don’t have to think about it; I guess it’s not up to you to decide anyway. Let’s deal with the current problems first. One more thing, the thirteen universes occupied by the lowa people will definitely be included in the Empire’s territory. We can’t let these worlds float around the Far Border’s White Zone—this won’t affect your normal lives. You should’ve learned from Tulazo that the Empire is the manager of many worlds."
It took a while for Anu Lili to nod. It seed getting this unworldly girl to understand all these chaotic matters was rather difficult, so we shelved the topic for now.
At this mont, Lilina had also completed her arrangents. With a snap of the fingers by this Fake Lolita Great Pope, the sky suddenly showcased aurora-like green curtains stretching into a vast city wall.
Faint music echoed between heaven and earth.
"No need to worry, it’s just to help rescue the wounded," I showed a comforting smile to the startled Anu Lili. anwhile, those busy tending to the wounded soldiers or awaiting treatnt from the Resistance Army also noticed the sky’s change. They had never seen such light—the wealthy "Divine Light" forged by the lowans was completely different from true godly power—and everyone was stunned.
"You know, lowa people always claid to be gods." I said to Anu Lili with a smile.
The aurora in the sky slowly descended. As it neared the ground, the vast light curtain suddenly solidified into figures draped in either green or white church robes, these were the Church Knights and Church Priests from the Great Temple, reaching faster than ordinary believers.
"You should see what the servants of the true gods are like."
Under countless astonished and confused gazes, these devout followers of the Life God Sect stepped out of the aurora. They didn’t proclaim their arrival from the clouds, nor smile kindly and say "God loves all people" before the crowd. The only act related to reverence was their distant bow to Lilina and Dingdang resting in my palm. Then the priests hitched up their robes and the Church Knights rolled up their sleeves. These sacred followers diligently rembered the Goddess’ teachings: if a wounded person sits beside a divine statue, save the person first since the statue won’t dull from missing one offering.
Lilina adeptly began issuing commands: "First Knight Order, handle the severely wounded in the suburbs! Second Knight Order, draw the Guiding Array, the Ascetic Group is in the village, primarily treating those with high fever syndro. mbers ranked Great Priest and above, follow , there’s another rescue point nearby..."
"Yes, Your Holiness the Pope!"
I patted Anu Lili, who was still stunned, on the shoulder: "You see, God loves all people because God truly loves all people—the lowa idiots got it all wrong from the start." (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please visit Qidian (qidian) to vote for recomndations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
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