Chapter 997: Chapter 997

The floating warplane flew through the broken open city gate and landed before the huge wreckage that blazed with fierce flames.

Immediately, the cabin door opened, and the elderly man holding a brass staff, bloodied all over, walked down from behind the door.

Corvey and Fiss, who had been waiting below, hurried over.

He Ao looked at Corvey as he came up, gave him a thumbs up, then turned to Fiss with a smile and asked, "This must be Captain Fiss?"

"Hello, Mayor Linen."

Fiss reached out, shook hands with He Ao, then looking at the dried blood on He Ao’s body, asked in a low voice, "Your injuries...?"

"A minor injury, no big deal."

He Ao shook his head, smiling, "You’ve all worked hard today. Any losses and expenses incurred by the Nolanka Mercenary Corps this time will be borne by the Yilan City Government. The Ilan City Defense Army will also plan to order a batch of the most advanced miniature Mecha equipment from the Nolanka Group."

"It’s our duty. Facing these wandering mercenary groups, everyone in the Federation has an obligation to rid the people of harm," said Fiss with a smile. "Defending Yilan City is also protecting ourselves. That’s also what Mr. Wei’an meant."

"The Nolanka Group has a far-sighted vision."

He Ao nodded with a smile.

Then he looked up, glancing at the remains still burning fiercely before him.

The Evis Space System Mercenary Corps brought four Sky Behemoths; one had fallen on the other side of the city gate, and three had crashed down right in front of He Ao.

From up close, the massive mechanical creations were like mountains that obscured the sky, three mountain-like piles of mechanical wreckage stacked together, almost filling He Ao’s field of view with nothing but these burning remains.

In comparison, the soldiers walking in front of these fallen Sky Behemoths appeared as diminutive as ants.

One by one, the workers from the Mayor’s Guard carried equipment past He Ao from behind the floating warplane, and under the leadership of the blond Chief of Staff, they started to set up a temporary platform before the burning wreckage.

"How is the situation with the Evis Space System Mercenary Corps?" asked He Ao in a low voice as he turned to Corvey.

"Their current state is good, very cooperative with the disarmament," said Corvey in a hoarse voice. "They’re all mercenaries, morale isn’t inherently high. They earn their money risking their lives, apart from a few upper officers, the combat will of the lower-ranking soldiers isn’t very strong."

As he said this, he paused briefly, glanced at Fiss next to him with a smile, and added, "However, the soldiers from the Nolanka Group have exceptionally high combat spirit, and their morale is very robust, not at all like that of a typical Consortium Mercenary Corps. If Captain Fiss and Kroswei swapped places, it might be us who would be surrendering."

"Captain Fiss looks very capable," He Ao also turned to Fiss and said with a smile.

"You flatter me," Fiss quickly replied with a laugh, shaking his head. "Our strength comes from the unity and cooperation of our warriors, it has little to do with me personally."

"You’re being modest."

At this time, He Ao had already slowly walked up to the wreckage of the fallen Sky Behemoths.

At the moment, soldiers clad in Exoskeleton Armor were searching nearby, looking for valuables.

Corvey glanced at He Ao’s silhouette and quickly followed, coming to He Ao’s side. He looked at the immense wreckage, then at He Ao’s blood-covered body, "Do you need a doctor?"

"No need, I’ve already asked for a doctor."

He Ao gently shook his head.

Just then, the blond Chief of Staff, who was setting up the platform, came over quickly. Looking at He Ao’s bloodied body, she hesitated briefly, then spoke in a softened voice, "The speech setup will be ready soon, the network has already been pulled in from the city, and the Makeup Artist has arrived. Do you need me to get you a change of clothes?"

He Ao shook his head, "Just have the Makeup Artist help me tidy up my face and hair a bit."

Corvey looked at He Ao with confusion, his gaze sweeping over the simple podium not far away.

"We need to let everyone know,"

He Ao slowly turned around and walked toward the lit podium, "we won."

"Welcome to tonight’s Yilan Evening News. According to frontline reporters, the gunfire from North City was due to the Ilan City Defense Minister’s ’uprising.’

"According to a spokesperson from North City, in the face of Mayor Lin En’s brutal tyranny, General Scott, Minister of City Defense, decided to ’purge the City Government and put Ilan City back on the right track.’"

"At present, the forces in North City that support Lin En are engaged in battle with Scott’s army. Please, citizens near the North City Command Center, evacuate as soon as possible."

"Also, the Evis Space System mercenaries scattered outside South City are engaged in intense combat with the City Defense Army."

"Credible sources indicate that the Evis Space System Mercenary Corps has more advanced equipment than the City Defense Army and has brought with them four of the Federation’s most advanced war weapons to date, the Sky Behemoths."

"It is said that these powerful war weapons, like clouds and mountains, cover the sky. A single shot from them could dry up the Storm Sea and expose the seabed."

"According to estimates by relevant agencies, even with high walls for protection, the South City Defense Army may not be able to resist the invasion of the Evis Space System Mercenary Corps."

"An Evis Space System spokesperson has claimed that the Evis Space System Mercenary Corps outside the city has lost control and they had no knowledge of this incident."

"However, insiders have disclosed that the arrival of the Evis Space System Mercenary Corps was fully due to Lin En City Government’s perverse actions, overpressuring the legitimate tax-paying and multi-year best employer, Evis Space System, leading to the Consortium Mercenary Corps’ rampage."

"At the same time, there are reports that the Kopace Mining Mercenary Corps has arrived outside the gates of North City, ready to attack at any moment. Judging by the current state of North City, it may not be able to withstand any assault from Kopace Mining."

"An anonymous source revealed that, after their defeat, Mayor Lin En’s government and its supporters are likely to face a severe purge, and Lin En himself boarded a private plane to Dawn City at the start of the battle."

The presenter’s voice echoed under the tranquil night sky, intertwining with the sharp, rising and falling beeps of congested street traffic.

Under the quiet night sky, a cute girl with ash-golden short hair propped herself on her thighs, gasping heavily as she looked ahead at the woman in a red coat with a camera and shouted.

"Liz, you need to exercise!"

Ini stopped, turned around, and looked at her friend with a sigh.

"Do we really need to go near the battlefield?"

Liz slowly stood up, step by step approaching Ini, and couldn’t help saying, "If any stray bullet comes, we’ll be reserving our seats in Heaven."

Ini sighed and said, "If you’re not at the scene first, you’ll miss the big news,"

"I’m starting to regret following you into journalism now."

Liz panted heavily and took large strides to catch up with her friend, "If that taxi had driven us just a bit further, we wouldn’t have to walk this far. It’s not even alive, it’s automated, why be so scared?"

"It’s probably the background program that’s locked,"

Ini looked back at the congested vehicles on the street, which had even filled up the opposite lane, "Besides, even if it did come over, it wouldn’t be able to move, walking is faster for us,"

Then she raised her head to look at the presenter talking on the giant screen overhead, "We need to find the facts and truths as quickly as possible and then publish them."

"Is this Yilan Evening News part of the Yilan Morning Post’s television channel?"

Liz looked up at the screen, then lowered her head to look at Ini with a lowered tone, "Did Mr. Lin En really run away?"

Ini shook her head, then paused and continued with a lowered voice, "I don’t think Mr. Lin En would run away, which is why we need to go to the scene and record the truth."

Liz nodded, standing next to Ini, and at that moment, she suddenly realized something and looked ahead, asking in a low voice, "Ini, has the cannon fire stopped?"

"It seems to have stopped."

Ini also raised her head, looking toward the distant night sky and the majestic high walls.

"Who do you think won?"

Liz turned her head and looked at her friend beside her, then she hesitated for a moment and whispered in a low voice, "If the rebels win, aren’t we just walking into the tiger’s den by going over there? These guys won’t talk about any kind of righteousness or morals, will they?"

"Then all the more reason we should go,"

Ini looked at the majestic high walls, "Whether it’s the Mercenary Corps from South City or the rebel army from North City, these guys are probably all targeting Mr. Lin En, wanting to use force to overturn the Mayor and put an end to all of Mr. Lin En’s reforms and rule."

Her tone paused for a moment, "If they win and take control of the mouthpiece, with the Consortium’s vigorous propaganda, maybe in a decade or two, no one will remember the truth. That’s why we should go and record the truth."

"How come I never realized you were so crazy before?"

Liz turned her head, reaching out to rub her friend’s face.

Ini allowed her friend to rub her cheek, took a slight breath, and slowly spoke.

"It is claimed that some people have photographed Lin En’s plane as it fled Yilan."

In the advertisement screen, the host’s voice was still echoing.

"Let’s do it together,"

Liz withdrew her hand, smiled, and patted her friend’s shoulder. She looked up at the advertisement screen overhead and then back at her friend, "I also believe that Mr. Lin En will never abandon the Yilan people who support him,"

Saying so, she walked along the quiet street, step by step, heading towards the high wall, "If one of us dies, the other can collect the body."

Ini looked at her friend and laughed silently, quickly following her, "What if we both die?"

"Don’t talk such nonsense."

Liz looked at her friend and rolled her eyes.

In the white hospital room, the boy sitting in front of the bed looked up at the television in the ward, "Do you think Mr. Lin En has really left?"

"Do you think he has?"

The pale woman gently took the boy’s hand, looking at the child beside her,

The boy held his mother’s hand, hesitating a moment, "He wouldn’t."

"Trust your own judgment,"

The woman firmly grasped the child’s hand, raising her head to look at the dark window nearby, "There are many people in this world who are very good at lying."

"Yilan evening news? I want to complain about you! What kind of fake news are you broadcasting?!"

In front of the quiet cash register, the woman raised her bracelet, her brow furrowed and her voice raised, "Mr. Lin En hasn’t run away at all; he’s right here in Yilan City. I saw him not long ago, right here in my shop, where he even bought clothes, right in North City!

"What do you mean I’m harassing you?! It’s you who are broadcasting fake news!!! What I’m saying is the truth. You must correct this news right away!!

"You want proof? There’s plenty! Aren’t there cameras at the entrance of my shop?! Hmm?!"

The woman released her hand, looking at the bracelet which had returned to the dialing interface, "Hung up?"

She dialed out again, but the call displayed as busy and could not be connected.

"I told you your call would be useless."

The little girl beside her stood on a stool, leaning on the cash register and giggling at her.

"Alright, alright, you know everything,"

The woman put down the phone somewhat angrily, then rubbed her daughter’s head and continued to look with unresolved anger at the tablet playing the news on the cash register, "How can these people be so shameless."

"They’re professional news broadcasters, and they’re big; their messages must be more informed than ours. They must have released it on purpose."

The little girl straightened up and stood on the stool, hands on hips, "That’s why if you call, they definitely won’t care."

The woman glanced back at her daughter, let out a soft sigh, "Then what do you suggest we do?"

"There’s nothing we can do,"

The little girl scratched her head, and then, as she saw her mother’s eyes beginning to roll, she continued, "But that old man definitely has a way, you can tell just by looking at him. After all, he noticed right away how smart I am, he must be smart too."

The woman had been nodding slightly at the girl’s earlier words, but her expression turned strange upon hearing the latter, then she looked at the little girl, "You’re so confident, you must have finished today’s homework?"

The little girl’s face stiffened, and then she quickly picked up the tablet from the table, fiddled with it, opened a page, and handed it to the woman, "Look, look."

The woman took the tablet with suspicion, her gaze drifting downward, to find that this was indeed the homepage of the city government.

At this moment, there’s a live broadcast hanging on the homepage.

A backdrop of raging fire almost filled the entire screen, and in front of this backdrop stood a podium adorned with the White Jasmine Emblem.

A bloodied elderly man emerged from off-screen, standing behind the podium, looking into the camera,

"Good evening, citizens of Ilan City, I am Lin En."

On the empty streets, Ini and Liz slowed to a halt, gazing at an advertisement board in front of them that seemed to have been recently installed, bearing the White Jasmine Emblem.

Watching the screen of the billboard, where a metal backdrop blazed with flames and the elderly man, covered in blood and as if he had just walked out from a hellish battlefield, stood behind the podium.

The elderly man’s gaze shot out from the screen as if making eye contact with every person watching, his aged but powerful voice echoing in the quiet night breeze,

"I am currently standing outside the gates of South City,"

"This broadcast tonight is to announce a piece of news to everyone."

"Several hours ago, our enemies stood on the very land where I am now, launching an attack on our city,

"They possessed weapons half a generation, even a generation more advanced than ours, and their numbers were several times ours."

"For eight hundred years, Ilan City has stood on this ancient land. Our city has stood here, and we have been peaceful, friendly, warmly welcoming everyone who comes to Ilan City."

"For eight hundred years, we have never initiated any wars or turmoil, and the heroic Yilan people have an excellent reputation throughout the Federation."

"And now, our enemies have come. They brought their armies to our city gates, ignoring any of our warnings, crushing our dignity with tanks and warplanes."

"They brought aircraft and cannons, brought Sky Behemoths that blot out the sun."

"They used the most advanced troops to attack the South Gate, they surrounded the North Gate with a heavy force, then instigated our own soldiers of Yilan to turn on each other, to slaughter amongst ourselves."

"They thought they could easily defeat us, then completely turn the free Yilan people into their slaves,"

"But we can dig out proof from the countless old papers of the Era of the Great Cataclysm—there’s no such thing as an invincible army in this world."

"They overestimated themselves and underestimated us. The heroic Yilan people repelled these savage thugs with their blood and with their blood made them realize their own sin and folly."

"The Evis Space System Mercenary Corps has been completely defeated, the Kopace Mining Mercenary Corps has left North City, and the generals who were incited to rebel have been executed."

"A few days ago, under the same lens, I said that united, victory would ultimately be ours."

"And now, we have achieved our first major victory in this crisis."

"Our enemies will not let this rest, but we are also prepared to face this crisis."

"I firmly believe that the faith that unites the people will never be shattered!"

Behind the podium, the elderly man picked up his brass cane, looking past the screen as if addressing every person watching this screen,

"Although a bit turbulent, fortunately, we can still have a good sleep tonight."

"People of Yilan, good night."

The bloodied elderly man turned and walked away from the podium.

The floating camera slowly rose and pulled back, revealing the true nature of the huge metallic background ablaze with flame on the screen.

The massive wreckage of a giant war machine, burning like mountain ranges, came into everyone’s field of view.

It was as monumental as the most astonishing feats of humankind, other than great walls, and it was likewise destroyed by human hands.