Chapter 1642: Chapter 1642

1642: Chapter 1638: The Withering Cherry Blossoms 1642: Chapter 1638: The Withering Cherry Blossoms “Tsk, New Tokyo, bold statement indeed….”

Stepping off the train and into the city, what I felt was a warmth starkly different from the snow outside.

Of course, it’s not like it’s summer here, but while it might be around minus twenty or thirty degrees outside, here it’s obviously just a few degrees….

The occasional gusts from outside are still bone-chilling.

Looking up, I see the first towering high-rise in the city center, its twinkling lights bringing warmth and precious sunlight amidst the snowy landscape.

Or perhaps earth’s veins?

Unseen technology, or maybe they’ve captured an Extraordinary Firebird…

Lu, you must be tired from your journey!”

Seeing the sycophantically smiling middle-aged man in front of me, Lu Ping’an also smiled….

Well, they did lay out the ceremonial team, red carpet, and even flowers, it’s only right to show some grace.

Accepting the flowers held by the stiff-smiling JK girl, Lu Ping’an didn’t make it difficult for those who came to receive him.

However, Lu Ping’an stroked his chin….

This girl seems to be a somewhat famous idol before, wearing a mini skirt and holding flowers, her face frozen stiff here.

And this greeter seems to be a very famous artist.

Is this based on a change of career for them?

Are those drummers professional drummers as well?

Never mind, the more I think about it, the more it feels off.

Lu Ping’an directly got into the car, somewhat unwilling to delve into the twisted and sad thoughts of these refugees.

The current target was the municipal government meeting hall of New Tokyo.

“…..Did the others arrive?”

“Most of them are here, you are among the later arrivals.”

Lu Ping’an chatted intermittently with the reception personnel, yet he was somewhat interested in this New Tokyo, having heard many rumors, but it was his first time visiting.

This place is in the south of Siberia, theoretically Red Star Republic territory, but in practice they have long given it up, being far too remote…

The Eastern Country paid some money and resources, and established a Development Zone and tourist area here, securing a lease for over a hundred years, essentially gaining control of this area.

For the common people, this isn’t considered a good place because it’s too cold and remote, the only advantage perhaps being that it’s not really inside Eastern Country…

“…Spending extravagantly, yet Eastern Country is also crafty enough.”

There really isn’t nothing here…

The natural gas and minerals of Siberia are among the top in the world.

But now, it’s jointly developed, while planting potatoes…

Sakura Islanders, doing the physical labor personally, only earn wages, while shareholders like Red Star and Eastern Country contribute money, technology, resources, and even land, naturally owning the major shares.

Yet, this ethnic group is still willing to invest, building a city amidst the vast snow, perhaps just for the name “New Tokyo”.

Presently, the city has a population of less than three hundred thousand, and a significant portion of them aren’t distressed Sakura Islanders refugees but rather overseas-returning Sakura Islanders.

In some sense, this is an exiled government, but no one acknowledges it, and they themselves dare not assert it.

At least over ninety percent of the Sakura Islanders population has integrated into the new cities and industrial cities in the northern and western parts of Eastern Country, with the distinguished among them acquiring work visas to the interior of Eastern Country.

Many of them have understood the situation and rationally chosen their future.

However, there are always those who dwell on past glories, even hoping to reclaim Sakura Island and hand it over to Sakura Islanders….

Such thoughts, even the Peninsula People of Leduc Peninsula dare not entertain.

In passing, when the situation looked bad, Peninsula People were very pragmatic, quickly integrating into Eastern Country, causing the population of Korean Ethnic Group hybrids in Eastern Country to surge by manyfold.

“If it really were conquered, it would certainly belong to the Eastern Country.”

This is the future that everyone can see, but some people still pretend to be blind to it.

The Eastern Country didn’t push too hard either, although within its ethnic system the “Sakura Ethnic Group” emerged as a minority, but it still tolerates their initiative of establishing New Tokyo in this icy and snowy region.

Geographically, this place belongs to the Red Star, administratively, it is a joint development of border regions by the Eastern Country, a giant mining area combined with a ranch, but spiritually, this is the Sakura Islanders’ New Tokyo.

It seems like a hidden trouble…..

indeed, but the Eastern Country doesn’t want to press them too hard.

Sakata, long time no see.”

“Heh, I saw your tower from far away, it seems the Quasi-God is not far off.”

Shanwen has been hospitalized again…..

did he go back to his hometown alone?

It’s already good enough if he can return alive.”

Throughout the way, after entering the venue, Lu Ping’an kept interacting with “acquaintances.”

The Sakura Islanders have indeed lost a lot, but some of their irreplaceable yet great resources are well preserved….

these high-level combat powers, these Gold-tier and above Strongmen, are a huge fortune, and simultaneously, they are also unstable factors.

These Big Shots, actually, have no real difference in where they live, but they are still tied here by their own people, by their bloodline.

In Lu Ping’an’s view, the approach that Easterners are now adopting is the most advanced.

On one hand, showing kindness to the low-tier ordinary people, offering the temptations of “integration” and “equal treatment,” letting them make their own choices….

even these Quasi-Gods of Sakura Island can’t deter their own people from pursuing a better life and future, can they?

On the other hand, considering the Foreign Invaders as hypothetical enemies, thus, these advanced combat forces are naturally driven by the Eastern Country…

to be precise, they are begging the Eastern Country to send troops to conquer Sakura Island, even actively participating in the battles of the basic-level Soldiers, just to win favor for the Refugees.

Driving the lower levels with benefits and the upper levels with resentments, simple and direct, and without any traces of proactive intervention.

Whether they are ordinary Refugees or those Top Combat Powers, morally and officially, they must thank the Eastern Country for its shelter and Great Justice.

Lu, I wonder when the Eastern Country is planning to launch the Great Counteroffensive this time.”

“Yes, Your Highness, can we play any role?

If possible, we hope to lead the charge…”

Most here are fervent proponents of declaring war; they might understand better than the Easterners that if unable to return to their homeland in ten years, there really is no hope left for this lifetime.

Lu Ping’an sighed, with your population of just over a million, why still play these games of division, factionalism, defection, and infighting…..

Lu Ping’an knew that the one ear marked “Counterattack Homeland” the most fierce, who even antagonized Lu Ping’an, an outsider from the Eastern Country, had actually defected to Wanjing, and even obtained an identity card from the Easterners.

Now, the Sakura Islanders’ population totals only a little over a million; this site is the largest population concentration and, at the same time, the last stronghold of the hard-liners.

Yet, still, some people cannot stand the environment here, the low wages, and relaxed work conditions, and choose better cities…

Most of the work here relates to resource gathering, necessitating frequent ventures into the snowy plains or even deep into the permafrost, and despite the protective gear, there are often people who freeze to death.

Today, already a modern nation, unlike the autocracy of Outsiders’ Strongmen, the top Strongmen on Earth are just one of many beings, unable to forcibly command their kin to remain trapped in the snowy region.

It is visible to the naked eye, moving forward, the already sparse population of Sakura Islanders will be drawn into being annexed, but they have no strategies to counter it.

In a way, many people view this New Tokyo almost like the demarcation drawn on a child’s study table, shouting, “Don’t come over here, this is my territory,” but it still only provokes glances of sympathetic pity.

Ultimately, the child’s antics end here, and the indulgence in the dreams of the past will eventually awaken, the people here must accept the reality…..

but until then, they could make a small, harmless move.

“Ladies and gentlemen…..

I bring news from Wanjing.” But this time, they can no longer play house here.