CHAPTER 830: CHAPTER 830: THE FAITHFUL DO NOT DIE SO EASILY

[...Respected Manager, I have mediated the events happening locally as you instructed. The army commander agreed to distinguish between the innocent and the rioters, adopting a public trial method... I know this is not a good idea, but on my conscience, do I have a better method? Forgive my limited ability; this is already the limit of what I could achieve through persuasion.]

[Additionally, regarding the arsonist matter you asked me to investigate, I regretfully have not found any clues yet. I inspected the warehouse, visited and questioned nearby Residents. Some said they saw Silver Moon Sect believers at the warehouse’s edge, while others mentioned seeing someone sneaking over the Wall... Their testimonies contradict each other, and they are unwilling to discuss that day further. As for the Weilante People, they found hundreds of ’arsonists,’ but I feel each one seems wrongfully accused.]

[The guy who first shot and killed the Guard captain was indeed found by me. Or to be more precise, someone else exposed him. That young Mouse Tribe man seems like an ordinary person, not someone acting under orders. I even doubt whether the bullet he fired hit its target. Although I want to question him further, the Weilante People seem indifferent about who fired the gun. After the dusk bell rang, he, together with others, was pushed to the execution ground.]

[My feelings are extremely complex, my companions sympathize with the Weilante People, and others sympathize with the dead laborers; they’ve argued more than once. Mr. Yarman’s experience certainly evokes my sympathy, but I cannot help wonder whether all this is the Slave Owners’ own doing... Yet looking at Ruby’s tender eyes, I wish I could avenge her.]

[But later, a girl about her age puzzledly asked me, what did her father do wrong, shouldn’t they resist, should they kneel and surrender when facing power... I must admit, I was a bit defensive at that time. But the Alliance is not a wishing machine, we do not have the power to change all the world’s laws; nobody does, this I know clearly.]

[I admire immensely the players involved in the Giant Stone City event, how did they achieve that perfectly resolved ending? Should I have planted a goblin rocket on Yarman’s ship? But we were a week late; even looking back, I couldn’t think of a better idea... Or perhaps, a perfect ending never existed on this Land from the start?]

[The torment finally ended today, the Army ceased Slaughter and started planning future affairs. After statistics, 80 thousand died. General Mclen said he lost a bet with General Ross, initially expecting 100 thousand deaths, falling short by 20 thousand, yet I cannot feel happy at all.]

[Moreover, the Army doesn’t plan to stop, massive resources are being transported from Evernight Harbor to West Sail Port. I found out Evernight Harbor is seemingly the Southern Legion’s territory... the one that gifted us a 902mm cannon.]

[In truth, I’m quite muddled about their real intentions, wasn’t it agreed they won’t expand eastwards? Yet more and more Soldiers are landing... I’m not sure, but they don’t seem to plan a short-term withdrawal.]

[Currently, the intelligence I have on West Sail Port is just this. There are more rumors, supposedly the Heaven’s Army encircled Tiandu, claiming the battle between both sides is extremely fierce. Additionally, the Lion, Wolf, and Ox states have fallen into Heaven’s Army’s hands; along the way, countless liberated Slaves and serfs have joined, probably swelling this force’s size to over two million...]

[Lastly, how about forming a peacekeeping force within the Sticky Community? I feel that the situation is beyond our control, pulling more Survivor Forces into the fray might be a good idea, especially the corporations and the Academy.]

The Far-sighted eagle felt it a bit unrealistic when typing these words on the keyboard.

The Wasteland is not reality, nor is the Sticky Community the United Nations where a peacekeeping force could be formed.

Those who are active have already joined the Regular Army, and only those who can’t have gone to negotiate.

But after thinking, he didn’t delete a word and pressed the Enter key.

[Sent successfully.]

"MMP! Finally got it done!"

The Eagle leaned back in his chair with a sigh of relief, picked up the helmet on the desk, and wore it like escaping reality.

In the blink of an eye, the ceiling above had changed.

This was the storage room of the Silver Moon Sect Church, a space of less than 15 square meters with four beds.

As the port area was bombarded to ruins by the 380 heavy artillery, there were no hotels to stay at nearby, so they had been lodging in small compartments within the church. Yarman and his daughter lived next to them.

The Old Dog and the Old Manager were still asleep in bed, while the Old Wolf had gone outside, probably to visit the populace and gather clues.

But to be honest, the Eagle felt he was wasting his efforts.

The entire settlement was in terror; everyone sees everyone else as a murderer. Apart from some naive Kids willing to tell them the truth, others, even if they knew something, dared not say more, especially when the topic of that night was brought up, they would evade it.

The Eagle estimated the arson case might have already reached its limits, and even if it’s uncovered, it probably wouldn’t mean much.

The urgent task now is to clarify the Army’s plans.

Three thousand teams have landed in West Sail Port, which according to the Alliance standard is three regiments.

Throughout the Lion State, the Heaven’s Army doesn’t fight bandits but troubles honest people at West Sail Port, which is somewhat unreasonable.

Thousands against hundreds of thousands indeed isn’t a good fight, but when the Heaven’s Army and Empire’s Regular Army fight, shouldn’t they at least manage to sneak some hits?

What they’re doing now seems like letting the avalanche engulf the Empire...

They’re supposed to be ’allies.’

At least, it is written so in the setting collection.

Perhaps it was just an illusion, but he felt things weren’t that simple.

Especially when he suddenly recalled McCullin reading the newspaper in the church; that guy seemed completely different inside the church and at the port.

At times calm like discussing a business deal, negotiating terms and interests leisurely; at other times like a devil ablaze with anger, eager to Slaughter all survivors at West Sail Port.

He didn’t seem like a general.

Rather like a politician cloaked as a general.

If he remembered correctly, before entering the Game, this guy wasn’t like this.

Though change is normal for people, McCullin’s transformation seemed excessively drastic.

What exactly stimulated him?

Directly asking McCullin wouldn’t yield anything, let alone he hadn’t seen the guy at the port for some days.

As for those Weilante Soldiers, they weren’t worth considering, their relationship wasn’t great to start with.

Considering these factors, the Eagle decided to switch angles for a new approach, starting with NPCs they still had a good rapport with.

For instance, Yarman.

This guy, although not military, earned sympathy from stationed grassroots Soldiers and officers for his plight.

Additionally, with a decent local network, he might open the mouths of some locals, perhaps uncovering intel beyond their own investigation...

Having prepared today’s plans on VM, seeing the two hadn’t logged on, the Eagle decided not to wait and went out, intending to wash up by the well in the backyard.

Coincidentally, as he was pushing the door open, Yarman also came out from the next-door room, face-to-face with him.

In merely a week, this once high-spirited man had visibly thinned out, with unkempt beard covering his chin. The series of mishaps had stripped his spine; presently, he looked like a defeated drunkard.

Fortunately, he hadn’t lost everything, at least his Ruby remained.

That heart-wrenching face hidden behind him, a tender, small hand gently clutching his clothing.

The Eagle smiled warmly at the young girl, then greeted his partner ahead.

"Feeling any better?"

Yarman hesitated, slowly nodded, then walked past him with his head lowered.

"Hmm..."

Seeing the two also heading to the backyard well, the Eagle followed alongside them.

"What are your plans next? Going back to Triumph City? Or staying here to continue... uh, our previous business."

The Eagle certainly hoped Yarman picked the latter, for both the current task and future business.

But after such a painful event, he could not demand it, leaving the choice to his partner.

Yarman fell into silence, speaking nothing for quite a while, as if absent-minded.

"It’s okay, no need to rush a decision immediately, if you haven’t adjusted yet, I can wait for you—" Realizing his question might seem harsh, the Eagle immediately smiled attempting to shift the topic.

Unexpectedly, at this moment, Yarman, who had been silent, suddenly spoke up and interrupted him.

"These past few days... I’ve actually been thinking about something."

His Adam’s apple moved slightly, and he continued speaking with a complex tone.

"I... have we been too harsh on the local survivors."

This time it was the Eagle who fell silent.

After about half a minute, he eventually chose to stand on the side of conscience and shrugged lightly.

"Buddy... if you want me to tell the truth, you guys were indeed a bit too much."

Objectively speaking, it seems that the Army brought freedom to the survivors of West Sail Port.

However, considering the actual local situation, this illusory freedom is more like a beautiful soap bubble, bursting at a touch and dissipating with a blow.

All the resources and rules of the entire West Sail Port were tightly controlled by the Weilante People and the local nobles.

At least the survivors of Bugra had the hope of repaying their debts and turning their fortunes, while the survivors of West Sail Port had no choice but to wait for reincarnation.

Clearly, fairness is not just writing the words on a piece of paper and calling it fairness.

He once thought that the Army turning the local people from livestock into goods was somewhat good, but after arriving here, he realized he was too naive. Livestock remains livestock, only stamped with an ’inspection passed’ seal, and the slaughter tools and process were automated.

When being a slave is more comfortable than being a free man, what kind of progress is that?

Knowing his words weren’t pleasant, the Eagle thought this guy would stare at him angrily or even argue with him, but he didn’t expect him to remain silent for a while, and ultimately force a bitter smile.

"So it’s true..."

Yarman scratched his messy hair, looking at the well outside the corridor window, and continued with a complex mood.

"Actually, I had some awareness in my heart... This won’t end well. Rebellions have occurred in the Army’s colonies more than once, and I shouldn’t comfort myself that West Sail Port is an exception just because the survivors of the Poluo Province seem docile. Especially since this place is different from others, with no structured garrison, if chaos breaks out, no one could survive."

He paused for a moment, his eyes filled with a growing sense of regret, yet tinged with a bit of unwillingness.

"But there’s nothing I can do, not a thing, I’m just a small figure, my will and views mean nothing to those truly powerful figures."

He remembered it clearly.

When he entered the room, General McCullen just tilted his head slightly without even glancing at him, as if he were nothing more than dust drifting under the eaves.

At this point, Yarman became gradually more agitated.

He took a deep breath, buried his nose between his palms, and controlled the trembling in his voice.

"You are right... I actually feel the same in my heart."

"If I hadn’t pushed Nagi so hard, perhaps the worker named Orisa wouldn’t have died, maybe there wouldn’t have been a strike afterwards, and perhaps the warehouse wouldn’t have caught fire, or even if it did, it wouldn’t have gotten so out of control."

No one expected that this fire would grow larger and larger, not only destroying West Sail Port but also engulfing Lion State...

Even setting the entire Empire ablaze.

And what pained him the most was not just the burning Empire and countless dead compatriots in the flames, but the shocking realization that his own wife had been indirectly killed by his actions...

Reluctant to see him spiral down into despair, the Eagle sighed, walked forward, and patted him on the shoulder.

"Alright... don’t be too hard on yourself, it’s not just one person’s fault, blaming you is less sensible than blaming the ammunition stored at the port warehouse. Damn it... thank goodness our Manager is wise, just knew these big-noses were no good, directly intercepted and took back that batch of ammunition midway."

After speaking, the Eagle suddenly felt something amiss, realizing he inadvertently included the two in front of him in his critique, so he hastily coughed to remedy it.

"Ah, of course, when I say big-noses, I don’t mean you and Little Ruby—"

Yarman shook his head.

"You were right, these big-noses are indeed no good, including the old me... Of course, Ruby is still young, this has nothing to do with her, it’s the responsibility of our generation."

Pausing momentarily, his originally gloomy gaze gradually became firm.

"Undoubtedly, it is those cannibalistic rules and endless greed that deserve condemnation. Without correcting these errors, the price of those mistakes will be paid over and over again... and the unresolved karma will eventually fall on our children’s heads."

While speaking, he placed his hand on Ruby’s head, gently stroking it.

The latter tilted her head in confusion, gazing cluelessly at her exhausted yet kindly looking father, obviously not understanding his words.

Which is apparent.

For her age, the topic of responsibility and obligations was a bit early.

Yet the Eagle across the room comprehended his meaning and couldn’t help but give him a thumbs-up.

The perspective, brother!

The Alliance did have Weilante People, and in significant numbers, Vanus being one of them.

They obviously held similar beliefs, standing on the opposite side of the Army for the Weilante People’s sake.

After all, unless the Army is overthrown, Weilante People will never become a normal race.

Their descendants will continue to bleed for the sake of revenge, repeatedly sacrificing in endless battles, never achieving the equality, dignity, and recognition they truly desire.

Not that he intended to dampen spirits.

It seems like a merchant of his status can hardly change anything.

However, just as he thought this, a shaky voice suddenly came from beside him.

"Mr. Melgio is actually still alive... Devout believers don’t perish so easily."

"Including the brave ones."

The three of them simultaneously glanced towards the side of the corridor, seeing the old nun from the church standing at the door.

She wore her usual plain robe, her gaunt index finger touching the Silver Moon pendant on her chest, her lips moving as though uttering something.

That voice was like a prayer.

And like a confession.

"Mr. Yarman, please forgive me for withholding some facts from you, but also please believe it was not out of malice."

"I promised that lady... her child cannot be without a mother."

-

(The physical book is out, folks! Anyone interested in collecting can consider purchasing it; details of the building tower lottery event can be found in the book circle and book friends group, I’ve heard there are quite a few peripheral items to unlock ~)