Chapter 923: Chapter 923: We Will Fight Side by Side
"...At this point, only Triumph City can decide the fate of the Weilante people."
City of Dawn, Embassy Street, the study in the Legion’s Embassy in the Alliance.
Looking at the bustling crowd of demonstrators outside the window, Centurion Bennott sighed lightly, coincidentally voicing the thoughts of someone else a thousand miles away.
An hour ago, he had learned of the Alliance’s declaration of war on the Southern Legion from the Alliance’s Foreign Minister, Cheng Yan.
Soon after, the war declaration speech by the Alliance Managers was featured in the special edition of Survivor’s Daily and broadcasted on various Alliance TV stations.
The Alliance kickstarted the war machine with terrifying efficiency and cohesion.
Just like when they declared war on the Torch Church.
In contrast, from top to bottom, the Southern Legion was still pinning their hopes on the General Staff’s "miraculous move" to turn the tide.
And when their opponents saw through their tricks, they ended up looking as dumbfounded as a gambler who had lost all their chips, helpless and clueless.
Now, not only the Alliance but even the enterprises on the East Coast couldn’t bear it any longer, turning their weapons on them and completely abandoning any illusion that "peace would fall from heaven on its own."
The only suspense left was Triumph City’s stance.
If Triumph City’s choice was "loyal till the end," then the Southern Legion still stood a chance of survival.
As for the cost, it would mean mobilizing all Weilante people on the planet to engage in a total war with the survivors living in the eastern part of the Central Continent.
If that happened, the gamblers in the Southern Legion could be considered winners of their bet.
As long as all Weilante people unite, even if their ultimate outcome isn’t an overwhelming victory, they’d at least withdraw whole with the stakes pressed on the gambling table.
But if Triumph City’s choice was to "cut off this rebellious child," then the collapse of the Legion would be inevitable.
This isn’t difficult to understand.
If one cannot step forward when "their own child is threatened," even as a purely symbolic banner, Triumph City would lose its only value.
In fact, signs of separatism had already emerged within the Legion.
So far, the only reason it hasn’t exploded is solely sustained by His Excellency the Marshal’s prestige.
At this moment, Bennott also didn’t know what Triumph City’s choice would be; he could only close the door and wait patiently.
In minor matters, he could make decisions that he deemed right on behalf of the Civil Official Group or Triumph City.
But in something of this magnitude, he could merely act as a mouthpiece.
Of course, aside from the distant decisions of Triumph City and His Excellency the Marshal, he faced a more immediate issue.
That would be the rights of the Weilante people living in the Alliance.
As it stands, the survivors in City of Dawn have surrounded Triumph City’s embassy outright.
Though people say that Giant Stone City is the Alliance’s revolutionary old district, in Bennott’s view, it is clearly here.
These people are like fervent believers.
If not for the guards of City of Dawn stopping them, they would probably have thrown rotten eggs inside by now.
Though filled with helplessness, Bennott understood the anger of these young people at this moment.
After all, it was the Southern Legion who first waged a war without a declaration and even detonated a nuclear bomb on land nominally overseen and actually controlled by the Alliance.
And that’s a nuclear bomb...
"We need to find a way to protect the Weilante people living in the Alliance," the secretary Dominique sitting across from Bennott said with a troubled expression.
It was his plan to arm the Legion with the Eastern Legion’s military supplies, a plan involving their "old friend" the West Winds Empire.
The plan seemed to be on the brink of success until the Southern Legion rudely intervened, taking down the entire West Sail Port and even the Empire.
As for the series of chain reactions that followed, they had long gone beyond his... or rather, the entire Civil Official Group’s, and everyone’s control and expectations.
Anush was killed, Absek suddenly rebelled, Poluo Country was established, the Southern Legion joined the war under the guise of a pseudo-emperor...
And now, those fools have gone so mad they want to overturn the entire table.
Thanks to those fools who gamble with the nation’s future on a whim, all efforts to improve the Weilante people’s image have been in vain!
Hearing Dominique’s suggestion, Bennott pinched his brow tiredly, expressing with fatigue.
"Protect them... how? In City of Dawn alone, there are at least tens of thousands of Weilante people. Can we pack them all into the embassy?"
There aren’t enough rooms here; just housing the embassy staff is crowded.
Dominique was momentarily speechless and after a moment, spoke with difficulty.
"How about temporarily relocating them to the Falcon Kingdom? That’s our only stronghold in the Eastern World..."
Hearing this naive suggestion, Bennott couldn’t help but retort before Dominique finished speaking.
"And then what, once they’re moved? How long can they stay there? This is a migration of over a hundred thousand people; even the Alliance wouldn’t be able to handle such a sudden influx, let alone the Falcon Kingdom, whose total population isn’t even a million... that shrinking oasis simply can’t accommodate that many people."
Dominique awkwardly rubbed his nose.
On further reflection, this indeed wasn’t a good idea.
After all, people aren’t livestock, and they can’t be moved from one place to another with just a movement of the lips.
Just then, the television in the room suddenly interrupted with a live news broadcast.
The street in the camera was filled with an angry crowd, each face painted with indignation.
In response to the reporter’s interview, an emotional protester yelled at the top of his lungs.
"I told you long ago! Those big noses are not to be trusted!"
Before he finished speaking, another head popped in, stealing the camera from in front of him.
"A nuclear bomb! How did they get a nuclear bomb! I don’t believe they did it without an inside traitor!"
"Every Vellante is a potential spy!"
"Send them all to Mantou Harbor! That’s where they belong!"
The crowd in the footage became more agitated, forcing the reporter on site to temporarily switch the live coverage to a drone camera.
Judging from the footage from the overhead camera, the location seemed to be the No.1 Settlement of the Alliance, with at least two to three thousand people gathered in the street!
This place is the largest settlement of Poluo people on the entire Death Coast, and one of the largest settlements for Vellante people as well. Considering that both sides are currently in a state of war, it is easy to imagine how tense the conflicts are.
Bennott felt a sinking feeling in his heart, realizing that his worst fears were becoming reality.
However, at that moment, a limping man appeared at the edge of the camera frame.
His prominent nose already indicated his identity; he was a Vellante.
In this situation where all Vellante instinctively avoided, he proactively stepped in front of the crowd.
The reporter quickly focused the camera on him.
At the same time, many protesting people also turned their gaze toward him.
Facing many pairs of eyes, he took a deep breath and said loudly with a strong voice.
"My name is Kuran. I was once a member of the Southern Legion."
The crowd roared, and almost all the Poluoro present became emotional.
The guards surrounding the crowd tensed up, thinking of pulling this fool away for "provoking" the demonstrators.
Yet Kuran stood on high ground, straightened his back, and without dodging continued to meet those angry gazes with a strong voice, saying.
"There’s nothing to hide. Instead of pretending this has nothing to do with us, I’d rather face you honestly."
One protester forced his way to the front, almost pressing against the guard’s shield, roaring at him.
"Do you think this is something to be proud of? Scum! Look at what you’ve done to my hometown!"
Kuran looked at him and shouted back in a voice and tone that was not inferior.
"Of course not. I never said this was our pride, it is clearly a disgrace!"
That voice stunned some of the people.
They were perhaps not expecting to hear such words from a Vellante.
The guards maintaining order were also surprised looking at him, and the slightly older chief inspector suddenly handed him the loudspeaker.
Instead of persuading the crowd to leave, it was better to let them have a heart-to-heart expression.
Say everything held inside.
Kuran took the loudspeaker from the inspector and said loudly with an even stronger voice.
"This is the disgrace of Vellante!"
"We came here far from home precisely because we are fed up with the lies of these shameless people!"
"...I believe our Marshal did not unite us to oppress the survivors on this Wasteland, but to fight against those who enslaved us!"
"I believe he must want us to break our own shackles, stop the War Construction Committee from turning into a runaway horse, and liberate all the suffering survivors on this Wasteland... so he leads us to rise and rebel!"
"The spirit of resistance, the courage not to submit to fate, and the determination to win... I want to say that damn it, that should be our medal! Our glory! That’s what should be left on this land by us!"
"The problem with Vellante should be solved by Vellante themselves, and we won’t dump all the issues on you, sitting here waiting for you to solve all our troubles!"
"I hereby swear, I, Kuran, declare war on the Southern Legion! And all of us who do not submit to tyranny!"
"We will return to Evernight Harbor to liberate our oppressed and deceived compatriots! As well as other oppressed races... even if it costs our lives!"
"We will fight alongside you!"
That passionate voice was no less intense than the Manager’s speech on television.
And the previously indignant crowd was divided, with some still shouting, while others cheered him, even applauding him sincerely.
The Vellante Expeditionary Army was established at this moment.
Once, an alien saved them, and now it was their turn to unite and return to their homeland to save all oppressed people.
Not just that.
They will also rectify past mistakes!
Watching the impassioned impromptu speech on television, Bennott felt deeply moved.
He never expected such an outstanding young man to exist at the grassroots of the Legion.
While this gave him some comfort, it also left him feeling frustrated.
Why such excellent young men remained unnoticed on the land of the Legion, only to shine brightly upon arriving on the land of the Alliance.
Aside from the interests of the civil official group, this guy indeed said something that struck a chord with him.
Perhaps his honorable Marshal originally thought that way...
In the end, they let him down.
"Draw a clear line... that seems to be the only way," Bennott sighed lightly in his heart.
Although the outcome of fratricide is heartbreaking, there was indeed no better way from that guy’s perspective.
Dominie didn’t speak, but his face showed a look of guilt. No one knew what he was thinking in his heart.
At this moment, a representative stepped to the front of the crowd and shouted at those arguing endlessly.
"If you are done making noise, listen to me for a moment. If your hatred for the Army is bone-deep, then enlist! If you simply wish to use a righteous cause as an excuse to slaughter your neighbors, then go back to your hometowns and lock yourselves up for fun."
"Additionally, I will propose a new plan to the assembly! Those who enlist to protect the Alliance and fight for our ideals will be given priority to receive the Alliance’s citizenship card!"
"This is the fairest way!"
The live broadcast of the protest continued, but the following parts seemed to have little to do with the Weilante people.
Bennott picked up the remote control and changed the channel.
Just then, his adjutant Kuike walked in from outside the door.
Seeing the guy’s expressionless face, Bennott instinctively sat upright, showing a wary expression.
The guy was from the Imperial Guard and the only one Bennott feared in the entire embassy.
In Triumph City, the Imperial Guard typically played the role of the Marshal’s spokesperson.
Outside Triumph City, they, who controlled special communication channels, were more like embodiments of the Marshal.
Most of the time, they would not interfere with the decisions of those below them.
When they did step in, it was usually because they thought the time was critical.
Dominie wisely left his seat, drawing the curtains for the two of them, then left the study.
Looking at Kuike sitting opposite him, Bennott hurriedly asked before he could speak.
"Does our Marshal have any instructions?"
Kuike shook his head.
"No."
Bennott’s face showed a hint of disappointment as he leaned his shoulder against the sofa.
"Then what are you here for?"
Kuike looked calmly at Bennott and suddenly said something unexpected to him.
"Recently, some incidents have occurred in Triumph City."
Bennott was slightly stunned.
"What incidents?"
There were incidents happening in Triumph City every day, and he couldn’t possibly know every detail about each one.
Especially recently, affairs concerning the Sticky Community and the Southern Legion were causing him headaches, leaving him no time to attend to what was happening at the rear.
Kuike glanced at the clock on the wall and continued in a casual tone.
"A while ago... probably when this War started, the Southern Legion sent what they deemed a traitor to Triumph City."
"Pangolin, right? I know that young man..." Bennott nodded, but looked at Kuike with more confusion, "But I thought this matter had already ended, right?"
Forcing Pangolin to secretly meet Absek, persuading him to eliminate Anush and sever ties with the Heavenly Kingdom Army and the Southern Legion was precisely his idea, and it was also a counteraction to the Southern Legion’s conspiracy to seize West Sail Port.
This plan directly led to the birth of the Poluo Country.
As for the Southern Legion’s furious retaliation with a puppet invasion, that was another matter entirely.
Bennott remembered that at the time, Guryang had locked Pangolin in prison and brought a court from Evernight Harbor intending to label the guy as a traitor and execute him.
To get Pangolin out, he utilized many connections within the Civil Official Group.
However, ultimately, the young man held firm and was able to move the entire courtroom with an impassioned speech.
Later, the presiding judge of the case announced the transfer of the trial to Triumph City.
And once in Triumph City, the so-called trial was mostly just for show.
That place was considered the territory of the Civil Official Group; the Southern Legion’s influence couldn’t reach there.
For a small figure like Pangolin—escaping this ordeal thus meant he had landed safely ashore.
Seeing Bennott’s puzzled expression, Kuike nodded and continued in a steady tone.
"The case did indeed end, the trial judge announced his acquittal in court, and granted him Triumph City’s citizenship as compensation for his wrongful persecution."
Bennott grew even more puzzled and asked in confusion.
"Then why bring him up?"
Kuike continued.
"Because after that, many things happened; he did not settle down but kept working for those West Sail Harbor survivors who had supported him, investigating the truth behind the tragic incident."
Bennott’s expression became visibly moved.
The tragedy at West Sail Harbor was always a lingering shadow within his heart.
Although he was not the one responsible for creating such a tragedy, the three thousand-plus Weilante people who died were indeed tangled up with him.
It was precisely the erroneous decisions by the Civil Official Group that gave the Southern Legion an excuse to exploit, dragging those over three thousand innocent compatriots into political strife, making them innocent sacrifices.
He had thought about investigating the true nature of this affair, but since it had already been over half a year, the truth didn’t seem to be that important, and even if it were discovered, it wouldn’t change anything... at least that’s how he saw it.
What he didn’t expect was that the Pangolin had been investigating this matter all along.
Looking at the visibly moved Centurion Bennott, Kuike suddenly smiled rarely.
"Surprised, aren’t you? The Weilante People have reached the point where they need aliens to save them again."
"No... that’s not what surprises me," Bennott replied with a bitter smile, "I just don’t understand why someone as smart and capable as him would do something so meaningless."
Kuike: "Meaningless?"
Bennott nodded silently.
"Let’s be realistic, uncovering the truth isn’t hard, but even if we figure out the truth, it won’t change anything. You and I are part of the Army, you know what I mean, deceiving ourselves is pointless."
"Yes, but some people don’t think that way," Kuike said, lighting a cigarette, taking a puff by himself, and moving to the ashtray, "He gave a total of 51 speeches, sometimes on the street, sometimes in court, sometimes in the tavern, and also at our landmark building..."
"At first, not many people listened to his speeches, only those who sympathized with him, and the Weilante People who followed him from West Sail Port to Triumph City... But as this work became more skilled, his speeches became more and more heartfelt, and the listeners grew in number, not only the fishermen fishing in the Arctic Circle, but also the Weilante People of the New Continent."
Officers of the Army are not good at speeches.
Civil officials are not good at it either.
In the entire Army’s system, communication is not a skill necessary for those in powerful positions because most of the time information is conveyed in the form of orders.
For this reason, when he spoke up for the Weilante People, there was no one to confront him as an opponent.
And it was difficult to silence him or cover his mouth.
In terms of combat power, his experiences are considered legendary, and there are rumors that he once single-handedly defeated a Mother of Dead Claw... that’s what McCullen said.
Moreover, more and more Weilante People view him as an idol and have rallied around him.
In the Army’s colonies, local guards might still be able to suppress by firing.
However, in a place like Triumph City, throwing a random stone might hit a few Centurions or their fathers, no one dares aim a gun at them.
Furthermore, the rights exercised by these gatherers are acknowledged by Triumph City’s laws.
On this point, the Guard Brigade, adhering to ancient principles, is their ally too.
As long as he’s in Triumph City, no one can stop him.
Bennott rubbed the center of his forehead, spoke wearily.
"What does he want? To lead the people of Triumph City in rebellion?"
Kuike shook his head lightly.
"If that were the case, he couldn’t persuade the survivors of Triumph City to stand with him, you must know that."
Bennott sighed.
"Then what did he say?"
Kuike said.
"He wants to see the Marshal."
Bennott was stunned for a moment, staring at him, pausing for a long time before coming to.
"See... the Marshal?"
Is the Marshal someone you can meet just like that?
That esteemed person hasn’t shown up for a long time.
Is all this commotion just for such a reason...
Wait!
Bennott suddenly recalled a rumor.
It is said that a long, long time ago, when Marshal Julius made his last appearance, he said something—
"...I hope this is the last time I appear before you, you don’t have to ask my opinion on everything, otherwise our war will never end, and sooner or later I will grow old."
"When the sun sets, I intend to rest a while, do not disturb me unless it’s absolutely necessary... like the entire city calling for me."
Later on, Marshal Julius never publicly appeared again, retreating from the bright stage to behind the scenes.
He gave chances to younger people.
And to not betray his expectations, more so not to disappoint him, his loyal subordinates built Triumph City into a vast settlement and conquered extensive territories outside Triumph City.
Today, the Weilante People possess boundless wealth, although Triumph City is not as prosperous as Ideal City, they have far more than just Triumph City as a settlement.
Counting the entire Army’s scale, even ten Ideal Cities’ wealth can’t match the total possessed by the Weilante People, every Weilante citizen is immensely proud of the miracles they created.
The current Weilante People shouldn’t be calling his name like a cared-for child...
Bennott’s Adam’s apple moved, his breathing suddenly paused sharply.
Really not?
Thinking about the survivors from West Sail Port, he suddenly lost that confidence.
For a moment, even he himself had a sense of empathy.
Sitting across from him, Kuike spoke his mind in a very soft voice.
"...The entire city is calling his name."
"This is the major event happening in Triumph City right now."