Chapter 1904: Chapter 1897: Inaugural Address

On the day of the inauguration speech, flags fluttered and crowds surged inside and outside Lipei City. Dignitaries from all countries and sectors, as well as people from villages and towns surrounding Lipei, gathered at the outer city square, eager to see the demeanor of the new leader of Lipei.

To ensure security, all of Lipei’s military forces were mobilized to guard strictly against any surprises.

Numerous mercenaries, vetted stringently, were recruited en masse, quickly trained in weaponry, then armed and deployed into the security system, responsible for the outermost guard duties.

The largest square in the outer city of Lipei, capable of holding up to fifty thousand people for a gathering, became the main venue for Luo’er’s inauguration speech.

A high platform was erected on the square, as workers hurried about assembling metal frameworks and laying a red carpet. What made them uneasy were the fully armed soldiers patrolling nearby.

Several Skylark Fighters, purchased from Ronisca, patrolled the skies at low speed to ensure the speech went smoothly. Elite rapid response teams stood by at the airport, ready to board Transport Planes and reach the incident site within five minutes if anything occurred.

In the office of the Commander’s Office in the inner city, Luo’er, dressed in a crisp military uniform, adjusted his collar and slightly straightened the broad-brimmed military cap on his head. At the center of the cap shone brightly the emblem of Lipei’s defense forces.

Considering his features were too feminine, Luo’er had thought of growing a beard to appear more imposing. But while the idea was pleasant, reality was harsh.

A full beard paired with his delicate face felt mismatched. The most troubling part was that his beard was difficult to grow; even after months, there was only stubble.

So he had to give it up, deciding to seek ways to increase his aura aside from appearance.

The color of Lipei’s military uniforms was predominantly black, a shade Luo’er favored. In this respect, the headquarters showed substantial respect for Luo’er’s preferences.

Lipei’s defense forces comprised only two branches: the army uniform was primarily black, integrating the navy into the air force mainly in white; a complementary contrast of black and white.

Luo’er’s uniform was tailored to fit perfectly, emphasizing his physique while making adjustments in certain areas to give a more imposing appearance.

A full-length mirror was temporarily brought into the office, where Luo’er straightened himself while preparing his opening remarks. He repeatedly practiced gestures, trying out different openings.

Although he was accustomed to speaking in front of large crowds, the scale and significance of this event far surpassed his previous experiences, so he dared not slack off.

A holster was fastened at his waist; even as a General shooting remained his forte. Though he couldn’t throw assassins off rooftops, defending himself was surely not a problem.

Looking at himself in the mirror, Luo’er was filled with emotions.

How long does it take to go from a new recruit to a General?

Luo’er’s answer was ten years.

Ten years ago, they were the Advance Team from headquarters, tasked with missions in the Otherworld.

Ten years later, even though the Advance Team had disbanded, Luo’er had become the supreme commander of Lipei.

Such a meteoric rise could be likened to riding a rocket, yet frankly, in terms of qualifications or accomplishments, hardly anyone at headquarters could match Luo’er, so receiving the rank of Major General and becoming Lipei’s supreme commander appeared as expected.

“Fula, you must protect me today.” Luo’er murmured to the mirror.

“Don’t worry, as long as I’m here, no one can harm you.” Suddenly, Fulajie’er appeared in the mirror, sitting on Luo’er’s shoulder.

She gazed at Luo’er adoringly, her little mouth slightly moving, finally unable to help but speak: “Luo’er, you really look dashing today.”

“Really dashing?” Luo’er asked instinctively.

It wasn’t out of narcissism, but rather he needed Fulajie’er’s response as a reference to avoid appearing overly delicate.

“Of course, I’m not joking; you truly look dashing today,” Fulajie’er affirmed seriously with a nod.

“Great,” Luo’er smiled with satisfaction, adjusted his hat once more, then turned decisively, walking while saying, “Let’s go, let’s embrace our new century!”

He opened the office door to find the hallway already laid with red carpet; every few meters stood two armed soldiers across from each other. Whenever Luo’er passed a squad, the soldiers saluted with their rifles.

Luo’er calmly walked through the corridor, arriving at the headquarters’ entrance where the steam car designated for transport had been ready for some time.

The tall Hu Daoke, dressed in camouflage fatigues and wearing a dark beret, stood upright by the car door waiting.

Upon Luo’er’s arrival, he saluted formally, then bent to open the door for Luo’er. Luo’er patted his shoulder and bent to get into the car.

Behind the steam car was a squad of twenty cavalrymen, arranged in two columns and waiting at attention.

Cavalry had always been the main mobility force of Lipei’s military, so these soldiers were not ceremonial guards but genuine cavalrymen drawn specifically from the cavalry unit.

The convoy set off slowly; the cavalry followed in measured steps, advancing toward the outer city with the vehicle.

The road had been cleared, enclosed with barriers. Every ten meters stood two fully armed soldiers standing guard.

Outside the barriers swarmed residents of the inner city, their curious eyes peering into the car windows, eager to catch a glimpse of Lipei’s highest commander.

The crowd cheered, waved small flags, creating a festive atmosphere. Occasionally, petals or colorful confetti were thrown at the vehicle, leaving the concrete pavement dotted with colorful specks.

The convoy passed through the cheering inner city, onto a large bridge. On the bridge’s sides stood vigilant soldiers, but as the convoy had barely entered the bridge, three jets streaked over at low altitude, trailing long colorful streams, guiding toward the outer city square.

Crossing the bridge, the convoy reached the broader streets of the outer city. Both sides of the road likewise hosted cheering crowds, waving small flags incessantly.

As it neared the square, the convoy finally met the waiting military formations, primarily composed of subtypes, who extended salutes and gazes toward Luo’er. As the convoy approached, they all saluted respectfully.

The convoy finally arrived at the venue, where Hu Daoke swiftly ran to open the door for Luo’er, who set foot on the red carpet to a burst of applause and cheers.

He smiled slightly, raised a hand to greet the onlookers, fueling even louder cheers and applause.

Luo’er walked along the long red carpet toward the center of the venue, surrounded by enthusiastic cheers and applause welcoming the highest commander of Lipei for his inauguration speech.

Climbing the long stairs, Luo’er reached the prepared speech podium. Gazing at the dense crowd ahead, he took a deep breath, feeling inevitably tense.

He strolled to the podium, taking out his speech from his pocket and laying it flat on the podium, scanning the dense crowd before looking toward Nina below.

As the Princess of Ilanadale, Nina sat in a designated front row seat with a heartfelt smile watching her son appear on stage.

Beside her was the elegantly-presented Luoya, neither an officer nor an administrator, thus unrestricted by rules, naturally mingling within the Ilanadale delegation area.

Seeing his mother present, for some reason, Luo’er’s initially tense heart settled into calmness. He adjusted his expression slightly, smiled confidently, prompting a mini wave of cheers.

Then, Luo’er raised his hand, signaling to the sides. Wherever he extended his arm, cheers and applause intensified, surging the event’s atmosphere instantly.

Seeing how easily he could stir the crowd’s momentum, Luo’er found his last bit of confidence finally replenished. His smile broadened, filled with self-assurance.