Chapter 950 - This Game Is Too Realistic

Chapter 950: The Moment to Decide the Fate of the Wasteland The Great Rift, Origin City. A sleek silver aircraft trailed a pale blue arc of light as it slowly descended onto the expansive tarmac. Compared to the eclectic settlements scattered across the wasteland, this one nestled deep within the valley appeared rather unremarkable. A towering gate stretched across the center of the valley, with rows of houses perched on the rock face behind it, and an endless expanse of glass facade covering the slopes above. The people residing here were like hermits cut off from the world; they moved with haste under their cloaks, their demeanor a mixture of solemn piety or perhaps apathy. Survivors of the Great Rift shared the outlook of their surroundings; most of the time, they remained indifferent to events beyond the sanctified shield. Unless it was time to fulfill an ancient covenant. And now was such a time. Under the escort of a squad of soldiers, the elderly yet dignified king of the Lion Kingdom slowly disembarked onto the tarmac. Beside him was a regal and graceful queen, still exuding charm, followed by a group of youthful maidens in their prime. Thin veils concealed their tender and beautiful faces, clearly marking them as exquisite beauties. These individuals were not only his concubines but also his ornaments. Having reached Charles the Lion's age, finding pleasure was increasingly difficult. His body adorned with an ostentatious array of gold ornaments clinked with his unsteady steps, and the warriors of the Great Rift, clad in high-tech powered armor, seemed oblivious. They ignored everything else, focusing solely on the safety of the attendees. Standing not far away, Absek watched the elderly king, taking an extra glance at the flock of concubines, and remarked with a touch of envy, “This old man sure knows how to enjoy life.” If Duwatta were here, he would have been unable to move his legs. Absek's train of thought was interrupted by a voice nearby. “…I heard that the Lion Kingdom is also facing unrest recently.” “Oh?” Absek raised an intrigued eyebrow and turned around to see a poised man in formal attire smiling at him. Absek recognized the face; this was the mayor of the Free State. Although the Free State was merely a settlement, with a population not even matching Gold Port of the Boro Province, these people had managed to establish themselves amidst the chaos of the Valley Province, earning them a reputation as a formidable power. Casting his gaze towards the distant, aged lion, Odo squinted and said with a smile, “The ministers want to establish the eldest son as the crown prince, while the populace supports Hal. If it weren’t for the alliance stationing a troop locally, they would likely have turned on each other by now.” Hearing these revelations, Absek understood immediately why the old king had brought such a large entourage of his harem. He was, in a way, escaping the heat under the Great Rift's shadow. “Hal… is he the founder of the ‘Survivor's Daily’?” “Indeed.” Mayor Odo smiled slightly, “Few know that the Workers' Association originated from the ‘Survivor's Daily’. Due to the suppression by the inner city nobility, a group of barely literate laborers decided to continue publishing it… If I might offer an inappropriate analogy, a fool stepped on and killed a cockroach, believing it a triumph, unaware that now roaches thrive across the entire wasteland.” In contrast, the Firestone Group was much sharper. They wouldn't suppress progressive voices like those unseen feudal lords; instead, they would actively create avenues for these voices, submerging Free State citizens in a sea of fragmented information. This was also why they looked down on Boulder City. The nobles there were still at the first level, just realizing the truth that “poverty and wealth can coexist”, yet to grasp that “ignorance and enlightenment can coexist”. The stakeholders of the Free State, however, stood at the stratosphere. They not only made resources simultaneously rich and poor but also allowed resources to be both knowledgeable and ascribe value to outrageous rhetoric. How foolish… Yet, Odo’s laughter faded. For this was one reason the Firestone Group could regard someone of his caliber as a mere subordinate. Absek, although curious about why Odo's demeanor shifted, wisely diverted the topic from “Survivor's Daily” back to “Esteemed Charles the Lion”. “But why put Hal under the spotlight? From his perspective, it isn’t the wisest move; not even our Wuto would do so.” “He never did. It was Hal, either deliberately or accidentally, who revealed himself, and then the kingdom’s reformists pushed him to the forefront… It’s a classic case of lifting a rock only to drop it on one’s foot.” Admiring the keen and inquisitive Boro leader, Odo continued eloquently, “Back then, the old king deemed his sons too numerous and sent them off to the wasteland on ‘expeditions’ merely to lighten the burden on his eldest… Unexpectedly, his least remarkable son, Hal, returned with a remarkable treasure.” Absek sighed. “An unintended consequence… I’ve heard that in the Old Epoch, the discovery of the New World by navigators originated from a commercial scam involving the Boro Province.” “Indeed, they say so! Although I guess he must have regretted it, he’s old now; the future isn’t his to decide.” Odo jokingly remarked, finally extending his right hand for a formal introduction, “Mayor Odo of the Free State. Pleasure to meet you, Commander of Boro Province, Lord Absek, as charming as the rumors say.” “Ah, a pleasure indeed!” Absek, somewhat overwhelmed, grasped the proffered hand and instinctively lowered his head. This was a purely instinctive reaction. After all, a year ago, he was merely a dockworker in West Sail Port, unlikely to converse with the mayor of the Free State, let alone participate in discussing the future of the wasteland with so many capable individuals. Odo, however, did not leave him embarrassed, lightly nodding and patting his shoulder. “You know, you have an aura reminiscent of someone, although you are entirely different people in character and appearance, with divergent backgrounds and positions.” Grateful, Absek raised his head, regaining his traditionally composed demeanor. “Who?” Lifting his head as well, Odo smiled and said, “Sigma, the CEO and Chairman of Firestone Group, the true master of the Free State.” The true master of the Free State… As Absek pondered this statement, Odo offered no further explanation, merely giving a final shake of the hand before parting with a smile. “Best of luck! I can see it; your future is bright! The war is nearly over, and we’re optimistic about your post-war development, wishing you swift passage through challenges.” In this rare gathering, he couldn’t afford to spend all his time on one person; he had other influential contacts to engage. Like Mongoth, King of the Falcon Kingdom, who was just disembarking from another aircraft. With the East Empire planning new developments in the southwest corner of the Sunset Province, the Falcon Kingdom was likely poised for growth, potentially offering Free State companies several overseas contracts. Watching Odo’s poised departure, Absek couldn’t help but reflect. This, indeed, was what leadership should look like. Clearly, he still had much to learn. However, he wasn’t self-deprecating; circumstances often make the hero, and both time and forces were vital for a capable leader to emerge. Today's Boro needed someone like him; hence, he dispatched Yanush, assuming the role of leader… even if his methods were far from honorable. Perhaps by the end of the post-apocalyptic era, when he became an old man like Charles the Lion, Boro would witness the rise of a “professional leader” no less than Odo. This new leader would surely surpass someone who only knew warfare and manipulation, avoiding a repeat of a Wuto who knew nothing beyond scheming. This individual would guide the Boro people to a brighter future. In a moment of introspection, Absek felt less eager to be emperor, especially after witnessing the “wealthy yet poor” Charles the Lion. There were, indeed, more dignified ways to live. Dreams have a tendency to change. Standing at a pinnacle of his life, Absek grew even more ambitious, contemplating a chat with Lacy. Unfortunately, Lacy was stuck at the front, but his trusted battalion commander, Shawa, was sent in his stead. “If only Lacy were here, it would be such a delight to have a drink with him.” Following Absek, Interior Commissioner Wadia shook his head and remarked in confusion. "I can't understand what Lacy's thinking. How could he miss such a golden opportunity?" "Hey, you can't say it like that. As the saying goes, everyone has their own aspirations," Absek said with a smile. "I remember an alliance novel about the struggle between Chu and Han. Lacy is like the Overlord of Chu—both king and general—so it's natural he can't be spared from the front lines. As for me, I'm like that other fellow, with generals and strategists aplenty under my command. My role is negligible... see, it's easy for me to outmaneuver him." Wadia let out a wry smile at the sheer nonsense coming from their leader. He indeed had read that novel; understanding the chief’s preferences was part of his job as an internal commissioner. However, governing a vast survivor force based on the principles of a "novel" wasn't exactly a sound strategy. After a pause, Wadia asked, "Do you want to divide hegemony with him?" Absek squinted with a grin. "Compromise. They want to manage the flooding of the Tasang River and hence want to borrow half of Bird State and Sheep State. Whether or not that's a pretext, offering him half of the three northern states isn’t untenable. Then let the Boros use their feet to vote. Northward or southward, it’s better than starting a scene and becoming a laughingstock." The match between the hypocrite and the true villain was about to commence. Predictably, he, the man promoting peace, would likely play the "hypocrite." Call it hypocrisy or cowardice, let future generations judge. He honestly no longer desired warfare. Diplomatic solutions where possible. They had lost enough already... The average age in Tiandou had dropped by ten years, and they had reached a level where child soldiers were sent to the front lines. If conflict continued, it wouldn't be the "Struggle Between Chu and Han" he referenced but much later tales like the "Sixteen Kingdoms of the Jin Dynasty." Though often criticized by Commissioner Kabaha as "ignorant," Absek did read. He also considered himself somewhat of an "alliance buff," having procured quite a number of books from Dawn City. Even if many of them were novels. Hearing their leader's decision, Wadia had mixed feelings. If it came to a fight, defeating Lacy shouldn’t be difficult. No matter how strong, he's only one man. Moreover, within the Mammoth Kingdom were Moon Clan resistance veterans—an opposition that had clashed with Lacy since the Wuto era. These individuals also constituted a political force. Though currently suppressed by Lacy and his strike team and subdued due to the Southern Legion's invasion, if external aggression transitioned to internal conflict, whether Lacy could hold them back was uncertain. Leaning on the alliance was no absolute advantage. After skirmishing with the Southern Legion for so long, who didn’t boast some alliance backing? In terms of seniority, when Moon Clan had aligned with the alliance, Lacy was still under the whip of a slavemaster in Gold Port! Besides, owing to the Mammoth Kingdom’s stance on labor issues and its proximity with conservative alliance factions, Lacy never quite sat well with the alliance insurgents. In contrast, Vadia reckoned there was more sympathy for Boro from all alliance factions, be they radical or conservative. Thus, their chances were solid. However, he understood Absek’s reasoning—Boro needed time to recuperate, and the Boros deserved a period of stability. Vadia smiled, adding, "That's true... Once we build all of Boro as prosperous as Gold Port, the survivors north of the Tasang River will likely flock to us for work, and not even ten Lacies could stop them!" "Haha!" Absek laughed at the amusing thought. "Then we'll station artillery along the shore; if those bastards dare fire upon the Boros, we'd then be justified in retaliating!" As they conversed, another roar echoed across the tarmac. This time, it wasn’t a Great Rift aircraft but a vertical takeoff airplane from the Alliance. They seemed to have upgraded the "Overlord" transport aircraft, turning fixed wings into adjustable ones like the "Orca" with added wings and engines, resulting in a leap in payload and range! The Alliance called it the "Kunpeng"! Absek happened to know the story behind the word, but what thrilled him more was the figure descending from the plane. Chu Guang! The administrator of the Alliance! Adorned in exoskeletons, guards flanked him, rumored to be all Awakeners! It was said Chu Guang himself also wielded Awakener power, capable of donning power armor relying solely on his physique. Seeing the man, even younger than Absek anticipated, he involuntarily held his breath, eyes gleaming with eager anticipation. For a long time, he had wanted to meet this legendary wasteland figure; now his wish was finally fulfilled! … At that moment, Chu Guang wasn’t aware of the little admirer standing among the crowd, given the multitude of focused gazes upon him. There were the old king of the Lion Kingdom, Afnir's brother Ayr from the Honey Badger Kingdom, the king of the Falcon Kingdom Mongoth, the mayor of Free State Odo, the president of Trash City… and many others either recognized from coalition meetings or entirely unfamiliar. These individuals or forces had, to varying extents, felt his influence. For better or worse. Although the reception wasn’t extravagant, the Great Rift gave substantial face for wasteland survivor forces, inviting all deemed necessary. And each survivor faction reciprocated, even those leaders typically avoiding public exposure sent trusted representatives or appeared themselves. With the Great Rift and Shenguard as backers, security concerns were moot for them. Also, Origin City was among the earliest survivor settlements post-war. As headquarters of the reconstruction committee, visiting was a noteworthy honor. Fostering good relations with key players could secure aid for their factions—invaluable! Most medium and small survivor factions' leaders harbored such thoughts. Hence their gazes toward Chu Guang resembled those of spectators eyeing a moving goldmine! Regardless of the survivors’ reflections, Chu Guang, seasoned in grand scenes, remained composed, barely stirred, merely waving to onlookers before walking calmly toward the tarmac. A soldier in powered armor greeted him with a slight nod. "We’ve prepared your lodging. Your subordinates have inspected the room. Please follow us." Chu Guang nodded, "Lead the way." Representatives from the Corporation and the Institute hadn’t arrived, and former legion commanders, expected or not, hadn’t shown either. Hence his presence at the field wasn’t particularly necessary. Briefly surveying the scene and finding no one of particular interest, Chu Guang instructed Cheng Yan to remain and mingle, while he accompanied the guards to his accommodation. Yet just as he was about to leave, a young man suddenly emerged, brimming with a vibrant smile, approaching him directly. "Honorable Administrator, you’re indeed here, haha, we meet again!" The youthful fervor likened him to a fan gazing at a celebrity or a believer encountering a living deity. Chu Guang regarded him—somewhat familiar, yet somehow different from memory, evoking a momentary lapse. "You are…?" The young man wasn’t bothered, grinning broadly, "I'm Zhou Xianlin! You’ve so many honors and faces to manage. I previously gifted you a cart of gold at the celebration for our victory in Sunset Province!" A cart of gold… did that actually happen? Chu Guang blinked at the young man in astonishment. He did recall the Gold Lizard Kingdom casting him a statue out of smelted dinars, currently displayed in Dawn City Museum. But what Dam City presented eluded him; its importance at coalition meetings was less than Trash City’s. Nonetheless, the young man’s ramblings jogged his memory, recollecting Zhou Xianlin’s name. The young man before Chu Guang was Zhou Changxiao’s son, Zhou Xianlin—a family known for their scholarly names. Dam City was a survivor settlement in the Province of Galloping Horse, housing a population of six to seven hundred thousand. At that victory celebration, this young man had praised Chu Guang profusely, claiming he intended to transform Dam City into a Dam Alliance, uniting the surrounding survivors. At the time, Chu Guang had noticed the fervor in his eyes and advised caution, warning him not to blindly emulate the alliance’s strategies—some aspects were worth referencing, but not to be applied rigidly. Seeing him alive and well now suggested he had heeded that advice. With a smile of mild satisfaction, Chu Guang gestured for the Great Rift soldier attempting to remove the young man to hold off, speaking kindly. “I remember now, it’s been a long time... Are you here on your father’s orders again?” Zhou Xianlin chuckled awkwardly. “Actually, no. I got rid of the old man.” Chu Guang was taken aback. “...?” Seeing Chu Guang’s silence, Zhou continued animatedly. “The old man sent me to the alliance to learn, always scolding me for not doing anything productive, wanting to make my brother the lord. I couldn’t let that happen! So, I followed your lead, gathered the scavengers inside and outside Dam City, united them, and took down every single one of his loyalists, including my useless brother.” “Oh, and the raiders my dad kept on the side scattered once he was gone. Those guys were never a match for us. I heard some fled to the Coastal Province—seems like they’ve given you a bit of trouble.” Chu Guang was momentarily speechless. Even Xiao Qi, silent till now, couldn’t help but whisper a comment in his ear. “That’s some... unfilial behavior.” Pressing his index finger to his brow, Chu Guang asked in disbelief, “And... what about the scavengers? They permit you to remain the lord?” Zhou smiled sheepishly and continued, “Of course, they do! I took care of all the dissenters. They adore me, even call me their savior! I told them it’s nothing, you’re the true sun of the wasteland... So now, I'm the leader of the Dam Alliance. But the problem is, I’m a bit lost on what to do next. Hearing you were coming, I followed the Great Rift folks. You need to guide me.” Faced with this person—whether truly mad or just pretending—Chu Guang sighed. “If you’re willing to take my advice, start by giving your father a proper burial.” Zhou’s smile faltered, sheepishly scratching the back of his head. “Uh, that might be tough... I already scattered his ashes.” Chu Guang was at a loss for words. As he pondered his next move, a deep, resonant voice called out from a short distance away. “Administrator sir, it’s a pleasure to have you here...” “I’ve wanted to meet you for a long time.” To be continued...