CHAPTER 898: CHAPTER 898: THE NIGHT WON’T BE TOO LONG

"... Last night, a riot occurred in the northwestern city area. Two armed insurgents occupied the Broadcasting Station Building during shift change, attempting to incite an uprising and overthrow Marshal Julius’s rule..."

"The chaotic situation is now mostly under control, and the insurgents have been killed."

Yarman stayed by the radio all night and didn’t close his eyes until the next day’s Sun rose from outside the window, only to hear such a hasty conclusion.

The garrison at Evernight Harbor first used anti-aircraft guns and rain shells to bring down the clouds in the sky. When they found they still couldn’t control the situation, they immediately transferred command to the frontline combat troops stationed in the port area.

It’s said that this order was personally issued by the Capital Ya Hui, which was also a disgraceful betrayal by the Evernight Harbor authorities against the local residents.

The 40th Mechanized Division and the 60th Armored Division, who were dispatched to reinforce from the port area, immediately launched armed suppression upon arriving at the northwest urban area.

Although the port area command’s radio claimed they only fired warning shots above the heads of the crowd, there were private radios asserting that the streets ran with blood.

It was only ten kilometers away from his home, a 20-minute drive by car.

Yarman’s heart was a mix of emotions, as if a Stone was pressing on his chest, wanting to say something but unable to find the words.

The Sun continued to rise as usual, yet the long night of Evernight Harbor had already descended.

And not just Evernight Harbor.

Things that used to need hiding now no longer needed to be hidden. Those who were angry over their compatriots’ deaths also showed no mercy when pulling the trigger on their compatriots.

The bottom line is being broken through step by step.

Now, looking back at the West Sail Port massacre, he suddenly realized that it no longer seemed like something outrageous.

Even the dusk before nightfall was euphemistic then, not ruthless as it is now.

However, not all of his heart was filled with pessimism.

When everyone was chasing after bread, some still unwaveringly chose Faith.

That man named Comte stood up.

And it wasn’t just him; many people stood up.

Although the Army eventually executed him, tens of thousands more lived on, and he lived on in the hearts of those thousands.

What he could do was to let this Force continue and make it play a role at a crucial moment, rather than expending it in futile uprisings.

The Weilante People would never abandon their heroes, and neither would he forget that name.

In this way, at least their nights would not be longer than those of the Poluo People...

Just then, the study door opened slightly, and a small head peeked from behind the door, looking at the dad sitting by the radio.

The expression on that little face kept changing, sometimes worried, sometimes hopeful.

Little Ruby hesitated for a moment, then softly called out.

"... Dad?"

Hearing the voice from the door, Yarman realized his daughter was standing there, turned off the radio that was playing endless nonsense, and looked at her in surprise.

"Ruby? You’re up early."

Seeing her dad noticed her, Ruby, holding a pillow, freed her little hand to push the door open and squeezed into the study.

With sleepy eyes, Ruby yawned long and climbed onto her dad’s lap skillfully.

"Mom said Dad wanted to talk to Ruby, but Ruby was too sleepy and fell asleep while waiting."

Feeling sorry for his dazed daughter, Yarman gently smoothed the hair that spiked up on her forehead.

"Sorry, dad was going to look for you, but something happened all of a sudden..."

"It’s okay," Ruby lightly pouted her mouth, magnanimously saying, even comforting her dad in return, "Ruby has encountered this too. I hid under the covers with a flashlight reading a favorite novel, and before I knew it, it was dawn..."

Halfway through, seemingly aware of something inappropriate, Ruby shut her mouth as if she realized her mistake.

Unexpectedly, this little rascal had done something like that, Yarman was embarrassed.

"... Don’t do that again in the future. This time I’ll let it go, and I won’t tell mom."

"Hehe." Ruby shyly stuck out her tongue, trying to pass this off as she looked aside.

Looking at his innocent and adorable daughter, Yarman couldn’t help but smile gently, temporarily setting aside those heavy worries in his mind.

However, setting them aside was only temporary.

Human beings cannot live in a vacuum after all, even more reliant on soil, water, air, and nutrients than plants.

"Ruby..."

Seeing her dad’s expression become serious, Ruby tilted her head lightly.

"Mm?"

Yarman pondered for a long time before finally speaking in a serious tone.

"Dad... wants to take you and mom to a very far place."

To Yarman’s surprise, his daughter’s eyes didn’t show the fear and anxiety he was worried about, but rather a curiosity about new things.

She blinked and asked with interest.

"How far away is it?"

Yarman thought about it and tried to speak objectively.

"It’s on the east side of the Central Continent, along the southern coast of Haiye Province. There’s a place called No.1 Settlement... Of course, that’s just a temporary name. The Alliance’s Manager said that they hope the local residents will name their own place."

Actually, the name wasn’t a big deal, but for some reason, it became the deepest impression that place left in him, apart from the mountains of containers.

After listening to her father, Ruby’s eyes lit up with excitement.

"Then after we get there... can Ruby name it too?"

Yarman didn’t expect his daughter’s focus to be so odd. After being stunned for a moment, he couldn’t help but smile tenderly, tousling her messy hair.

"Of course you can... but others will have their ideas too, so whose opinion gets adopted will probably be decided by a vote."

Ruby’s eyes shimmered brightly as she said,

"Wow... that sounds fun! So... can we campaign for votes?"

"You can, but others will campaign too, so don’t get your hopes up."

Yarman coughed lightly, trying to steer the conversation back on course.

"That’s not the point. The point is that although the development there isn’t bad, the conditions certainly won’t match here... You’re part of this family, and dad worries about you the most, so dad wants to hear your opinion."

"Don’t worry about Ruby; Ruby thinks those are no big deal," Ruby shook her little head vigorously, her bright eyes sparkling with excitement and anticipation. "Wasn’t it the same when we first arrived at West Sail Port? Later on, there were many beautiful houses... Everything will come."

In a child’s world view, houses seem to grow out of the ground.

Yarman couldn’t help but feel amused and helpless, but coincidentally, he happened to know another innocently naive person like that.

That wine merchant who started with fake vodka made his first pot of gold on the Western Legion’s "Golden Route," the unlucky guy who lost it all.

It’s been several months, yet he wondered if that plan had gotten on track.

When her father hadn’t spoken for a long time, Ruby asked in an expectant voice,

"When are we leaving?"

Looking at his supportive daughter, Yarman displayed a relieved smile and said with a smile,

"Probably in the next few days."

The captain probably had enough rest, whether he moved together or left his family here to earn money, that guy should’ve made a decision by now.

...

In the northwest urban area, roadblocks were placed on the main roads near the central area.

Two wheeled armored vehicles were parked by the roadside, the thick barrels laid flat, gleaming with cold light in the morning sun.

Soldiers armed to the teeth stood around the checkpoint, on high alert, watching the approaching crowd.

Comte was shot dead at two in the morning yesterday.

As for who fired the shot, no one knew; in any case, when he was dragged out from the Broadcasting Station, he was already a corpse, piled with other bodies in the street.

Unfortunately, the Awakener who clashed with the garrison’s hundred-man team wasn’t caught.

Three people assisted him, and after one was shot dead, that guy escaped into Blackwater Alley during the chaos.

According to the information provided by the Guards, that guy’s name was Talan, suspected to be an Alliance spy.

Interestingly, after the Guards cleared Talan of suspicion through the Wasp Plan, they re-identified him as a spy based on military needs.

Actually, the Guards might be right, given that guy’s impressive skills.

But that doesn’t matter anymore.

Now Evernight Harbor’s authorities and the Southern Legion are facing bigger problems.

The bodies lying in the streets far exceed the twenty they claimed were accidentally injured in the broadcast.

Even if they have urgently cut off communication channels between Evernight Harbor and the outside world, it’s hard to completely suppress this matter.

Currently, the entire northwestern urban area has been temporarily controlled, and the two streets near the Broadcasting Station are completely sealed off.

All those entering or leaving the city must show proof of address and workplace.

Besides the necessary registration, entrants must also sign a pledge not to enter the sealed area and go through a security check, surrendering weapons, cameras, and everything that could record the truth.

Meanwhile, the 40th Mechanized Division dispatched logistic vehicles to transfer residents within the blocked zone and clear bodies scattered in the streets.

The team responsible for enforcing the lockdown of Block 12 is the 607th Thousand Team of the 60th Armored Division.

Seeing the eyes of dissatisfaction and even hatred from his fellow countrymen, Caffer, holding a rifle, felt a wave of heat at his back, wishing he could pull up his collar to hide his face.

While passing the security checkpoint, an old man finished filling out his form and suddenly looked up at him.

"Why did you fire on them? They were speaking for you. Or do you think you can fight forever, without ever growing old and retiring?"

Facing that hateful gaze, Caffer’s breath momentarily froze.

The suffocating air seemed stuck in his throat, rendering him speechless.

"I, it wasn’t me... who fired the gun."

He tried to reluctantly explain that although he indeed did not point a gun at anyone that night, he was drunk at the port area, only woken up by his teammates to go do some work in the middle of the night.

The old man didn’t let him go, just kept staring into his eyes and his high nose bridge.

"I was once a soldier too, served in the 37th ten thousand troops, guarding the border for the Marshal... I can’t believe I protected such a bunch of vermin, I’m truly ashamed of you."

The old man hadn’t finished speaking when a soldier nearby with a cigarette in his mouth pulled him away.

"Alright, you old fellow, say a bit less, fill out the form and get in, if there’s any problem, complain to the guys in the 40th ten thousand troops, don’t push me to detain you."

"You think I’m afraid? I don’t even fear Mutants, why would I be afraid of cowards like you who lay hands on civilians? You can’t even take a broadcasting station with a hundred people, and you don’t dare with the Bo Public Hall."

Being forcefully dragged aside, the old man sneered at the words, lifted his pant leg, revealing a scar where a piece of his calf was missing, "See this? Rookie. They sliced this piece of meat off me, roasted it in front of my eyes, and I didn’t even flinch."

The soldier’s eyebrows twitched along with his stomach, but he didn’t stoop to argue with this old guy, using the opportunity when others hadn’t noticed the commotion here, he rudely pushed him out of the checkpoint.

There were too many people here.

Also, there were residents living in the northwest city area who needed to work in the main city, and those returning home from night shifts in the port area.

Not counting the troops garrisoned locally, Evernight Harbor also harbors about hundreds of thousands of people.

Whether in the Southern Legion or the Wasteland, this number is not a small figure.

The soldier with a cigarette was the commander of his vehicle, but their transport hadn’t entered the settlement.

Looking at his officer, Caffer couldn’t help but ask.

"...Doesn’t Evernight Harbor have its own garrison? Why do they need us combat troops to carry out this lousy task?"

He joined the service to expand territories for the Southern Legion, not to become the enemy of his compatriots.

"You can’t even figure this out?"

Looking at Caffer with that "stupid" look, his vehicle commander grinned and said.

"Because you’re about to head to the front line, if I were the officer, I’d also toss this dirty work to you. One, you won’t talk nonsense, and two, soon you’ll be so enraged at the front lines that even if you survive and return, you won’t think it’s a big deal, just the posturing of a bunch of old soldiers and small citizens. Maybe you’ll fall in love with Sharun, fall in love with snake oil... from another perspective, it’s indeed a sedative that can relieve your real-life troubles."

The gunner, who hadn’t spoken all along, said softly.

"...Do you think Comte’s actions were right?"

"Of course not, it’s too extreme," the commander shook his head on the vehicle, curling his lips, "but honestly, faced with his situation, I can’t think of any milder approach."

The gunner retorted.

"How could there not be? Wait till you rise to Ten Thousand Leader—"

The commander said offhandedly.

"And then turn into that jerk Weilobi, right? That guy who lies through his teeth on the radio. I bet when he was a Centurion before, his thoughts weren’t much different from yours, first go along with them, then be unsullied by it... Use your head to think, how could such a thing be possible."

The gunner fell into silence, though he didn’t agree, he couldn’t think of anything to rebut.

So was Caffer, who took a deep breath and pulled his collar up.

The morning passed too slowly.

He had been standing here for so long, yet the Sun had only risen a little.

Although he always felt that staying in the rear was such a torment, the anguish in his heart had never been as intense and painful as at this moment...

...

Evernight Harbor had just passed morning, but the sky in West Sail Port was already approaching noon.

A few hours ago, an urgent telegram from Evernight Harbor was delivered to the Poluo Province War Zone Command.

At this moment, Captain Dickens, the head of the General Affairs Department, stood nervously at the door of General Giulion’s office, waiting for approximately half an hour.

Finally, the door opened.

As the war zone staff officer and the head of the guards walked out from inside, a trickle of sweat unwittingly dripped from Dickens’s forehead.

Although the War Zone General Affairs Department, responsible for logistics, wasn’t controlled by the War Zone Command and was directly loyal to the Headquarters, he himself wasn’t directly under Giulion. But as the highest commander of the war zone, and with such a big problem in logistics, Giulion also had the right to hold him accountable.

He had already explained to the Headquarters, but as for Giulion, he wasn’t sure what to do.

While Dickens was feeling uneasy, the office secretary who followed out looked at him and said.

"Captain Dickens, General Giulion invites you inside."

Hearing that gentle tone, Dickens understood the signal Giulion was giving, and he slowly exhaled, following the secretary into the office.

Sitting behind the desk, General Giulion was carefully reviewing the documents in hand.

Hearing the footsteps coming from the entrance, he looked up and met Dickens’s gaze.

"Please have a seat, Captain Dickens."

Captain Dickens forced a stiff smile and sat on the sofa in the office.

"...Thank you."

Giulion nodded, looking directly into his eyes, his expression gradually becoming serious.

"You’ve heard about the incident at Evernight Harbor, haven’t you?"

Dickens’ breath hitched, showing an embarrassed expression on his face.

"I’ve heard about it..."

Looking at the District General Affairs Department Minister’s embarrassed face, General Giulion didn’t intend to let him off, pressing on aggressively.

"Aren’t you planning to explain it to me?"

Unexpectedly, this guy suddenly turned serious, making Dickens feel a headache, but he still forced himself to respond.

"...The incident in the community is just like what you saw in the telegram. The Guards at Evernight Harbor had an internal conflict, occupied the radio station, and finally caused those troubles. Fortunately, the garrison responded in a timely manner, and the chaos has been controlled... That’s the situation."

General Giulion let out a cold laugh.

"Did the command center accept your explanation?"

Facing the relentless Giulion, Dickens responded rather angrily.

"They accepted it... I reported it to the command center immediately and mobilized the frontline troops stationed locally after obtaining the documents. Otherwise, how could I have commanded them? Actually, this matter was also a misunderstanding. If not for the Guards acting on their own and concocting some Wasps plan, followed by an intelligence officer getting high, it wouldn’t have turned out like this."

"A misunderstanding?" Giulion looked at him with profound meaning, suddenly letting out a cold laugh, "...Why do I feel it’s self-inflicted?"

Captain Dickens’ expression went stiff.

"Sorry... I don’t understand what you mean."

"Sharon, do I need to say more?"

Giulion stared into his eyes, with an unfathomable look that made Captain Dickens’ briefly relaxed mood tense up again involuntarily.

"...You’re talking about the drug for treating trauma symptoms? Is there a problem with it?"

Giulion squinted and said.

"Is there a problem? Wasn’t the content in the broadcast clear enough? Do I need to play the backup files for you again?"

"I really don’t know about this! The drug development was done by the technical staff below, as for the hallucinogen matter, I wasn’t involved, it was all Peter’s unauthorized actions... I just found out that he got involved with local gang forces. Such a person is simply a disgrace to the Weilante People, if I had known earlier, I would’ve made sure to execute him personally!"

When saying this, Captain Dickens wore an expression full of righteous indignation, as if the gun was really in his hands.

However, sitting opposite him, General Giulion was inwardly sneering.

Just finding out is still acceptable.

He wouldn’t naively believe that this guy was just now hearing about it.

Now attributing all the problems to a dead person is nothing more than a way to cut losses.

However, what made him angry wasn’t entirely because these guys in the logistics department were up to small tricks again, but more because they actually did business with his enemy!

This was something Giulion could not tolerate.

Even though the Snake State military faction was accustomed to maneuvering without attacking, posing no great threat to the Southern Legion’s frontline, that ever-expanding armed force remained a hidden danger.

Every gold coin flowing from the Southern Legion to the Poluo Province would eventually turn into bullets against the Weilante People.

Nonetheless, Giulion was ultimately a person who understood the bigger picture.

Looking at Captain Dickens, who was so pressured that he didn’t dare to breathe, he eventually decided to let this leech off easily.

Firstly, he didn’t have sufficiently strong evidence, and secondly, the frontline troops couldn’t afford the risk of the logistics department messing around, and he himself had to consider this guy’s connections in the command headquarters.

Now was not the time to deal with this guy.

Once this war was completely won, and he wore two more stars on his shoulders as he headed to Triumph City for recognition, he would naturally settle accounts with these parasites who profited while supporting the enemy.

"I have two demands, first, remove from the logistics list any drugs containing snake grass, whether it is Sharon or some other thing."

"Second... I won’t spell it out, you should understand it yourself."

General Giulion gave Captain Dickens a meaningful look.

Dickens knew he was hinting at the dealings with the Snake State military faction and nodded nervously.

"Understood..."

In any case, he had to get through this hurdle first.

With Dickens’ promise, Giulion nodded, picked up the pen on the table again, and waved it lightly.

"That’s all, you may go."

The air force’s bombing plan on Tiandu didn’t go smoothly, only collapsing some useless old buildings.

He needed to draft a new plan and seriously think about how to win the current battle, having no time to waste on these pests.

Dickens breathed a sigh of relief as if a burden had been lifted, unaware that his back was already soaked with cold sweat.

Heading towards the stairs, he cursed in his heart as he went.

Bluffing idiots, trying to scare me with a radio broadcast?

Just wait and see.

I’ll make you pay eventually!