Chapter 961: Chapter 961: The Season of Renewal
[The situation in the Poluo Province is turbulent, and Alliance Foreign Minister Cheng Yan calls on both parties in the conflict to exercise restraint and resolve the issue through peaceful means.
Mayor Otto of the Bugra Free State issued an "anti-monopoly" declaration, stating that he will be with the citizens of the Free State! The Firestone Group refuted Otto’s claims with evidence while releasing evidence of Otto’s bribery, urging citizens not to believe in rumors!
—— Survivor Daily Dawn City Edition]
[The Free State falls into chaos! The "Hounds" special unit and the Company go to war!? Salen entered today’s morning meeting with his left foot, possibly hinting the mastermind behind the scenes is the Alliance’s Radical Faction!?
West Sail Port held a winter swimming competition, with residents lining up to jump into the sea! General McLellan, the commanding officer of the New West Sail Port garrison, expressed dissatisfaction to General Groove via telephone, claiming that calling barbers and prostitutes the Weilante’s attendants and mistresses is a blatant slander and false accusation, as the real attendants and mistresses are on the ship!
Of course, General McLellan also emphasized that he has no mistresses, not even temporary ones.
—— Survivor Daily New West Sail Port Edition
]
[The great Saint Hero Zayed entered his loyal Tiandu! The wise and mighty General Gopal led the holy Grey Wolf to surround the legislative council, and the economic commissioner committed suicide in fear of his crimes! Sava stated that imposing a consumption tax on grains is blatant robbery, evidence of corruption, and the first pillar the Family Meeting intends to completely crush!
—— Survivor Daily Tiandu Edition
]
[Shocking! The Tiandu legislative council was dissolved by the Grey Wolf Army, and over a thousand legislative council members and their families were lynched by Family Meeting members!
The chairman of the Jin Galun Port Family Meeting branch, Mendes, and his vice chairman wife, Shiria, were found drowned in their home bathtub.
The vice chairman, Rajat, refused to be interviewed regarding the matter, but stated that his wife and Mendes had a purely platonic relationship, being comrades in spirit, shoulder to shoulder partners, and not what outsiders imagined.
The cause of death for the two deceased is still under investigation, and for privacy protection, the police have not revealed further details. Previously, Mendes was supported by radicals for his numerous radical statements and was considered a strong competitor for Mayor Yoder, leading to speculation that this might be revenge by Laxi’s remaining forces against the Family Meeting.
—— Survivor Daily Jin Galun Port Edition
]
[Migration surge reappears! The population in the Baiyue Strait is nearing one million! The new immigrants are mainly from the Moon Clan and the Weilante people, originating mostly from areas west of Evernight Harbor and the eastern coastal region of Poluo Province. Experts from the Union Academy of Social Sciences analyze that due to the unique ecological environment of the Baiyue Strait, it is difficult to immediately absorb the surge in immigrants, and the migration might shift towards the Death Coast region!
—— Survivor Daily Potato Harbor Edition
]
[Property prices on Weilante Street hit a new high! With nothing but his own hands, Hank created a wealth miracle in just one year! Not only that, this compassionate and socially responsible tycoon is also planning to erect a statue for a mouse tribe member named Yishel at the core location of Weilante Street! As a common hero of the two peoples!
This plan prompted protests from some Poluo people, who view it as an attack by the Weilante on the Poluo. In their view, Yishel ultimately betrayed the Poluo Country, and whether he can be considered a hero is debatable; if a statue must be erected, let the opportunity be given to the truly wise and mighty Mr. Zayed.
However, unlike in the past, this time, other Poluos at the No.1 Settlement did not stand by; they bravely stood up and fought fiercely with Zayed’s followers.
These people might keep fighting for a while, but the survivors of the No.1 Settlement seem unfazed by such occurrences, whether they are Waste Land Wanderers from Haiye Province or Weilante people.
Additionally, Su Ka, a local representative from the Poluo Province, initiated a proposal hoping the Alliance authorities will designate the Family Meeting as an xie cult organization, prohibiting its spread within the Alliance. Our reporter would like to say that our radicals, apart from their overflowing misplaceable sympathy, are finally willing to do something meaningful this time.
—— Goblin Observation Report Dawn City Edition
]
...
A few more days passed.
Old White, who was in Dawn City for business, visited the Lavanka Industrial Zone and happened to see Laxi’s standard-issued gun in Fang Chang’s office.
It was a classic model of the Centurion pistol, framed with its holster and displayed on the office’s bookshelf.
In fact, Old White had already learned of Laxi’s death from the news a few days earlier.
However, his friendship with Laxi was not as deep as Fang Chang’s, and apart from lamenting the loss of a promising life, he didn’t feel much sadness.
Only now, seeing this familiar standard-issued gun, did he suddenly realize how many things had happened since they landed at Jin Galun Port.
"You always knew it would end this way."
Fang Chang shook his head.
"It’s not just me, he himself was well aware too."
Long ago, Fang Chang had a premonition that the man who clenched his throat, shouted names, and threw himself forward with a pistol raised high might meet this end.
He assigned Laxi to be the director of the Civil Defense Office, and everyone said it was a veiled stripping of power, a demotion disguised as a promotion, hidden disparagement beneath praise. Yet nobody understood his good intentions... he didn’t have such complex thoughts, he just wanted Laxi to learn a bit of political maneuvering.
Even Laxi himself didn’t understand, spending a long time drowning in alcohol, living like a wastrel.
But later on, he seemed to have realized, not only did he quit drinking but he also started reading and keeping up with the news.
Unfortunately.
By then, Laxi’s heart was focused on saving the nation, determined to resign and head northwards, not realizing that their real enemy wasn’t the easily blown over Empire, but rather a force equally formidable as themselves, growing unseen in the shadows.
If he had waited a little longer, perhaps there would have been a better outcome.
Old White remained silent for a while.
"But he still went."
Fang Chang nodded, his gaze drifting to the busy industrial district outside the window.
"He might have long accepted life or death... ever since he first met us."
"We can plant seeds, but can’t ensure every seed germinates at the opportune time, perhaps it’s not about right or wrong, just that the time hasn’t come yet..."
Not only has Laxi’s time not come, but neither has the time for all Poluos to "end their slumber."
Only when everyone wakes from their nightmares, everyone bears a true hero in their hearts, and all abandon waiting to strive to become that hero, will the nightmare truly end.
It’s not the time yet.
"Are you going to help them?" Old White asked, looking at him.
Fang Chang pondered for a moment and shook his head.
"I don’t think so, I even feel... I might have harmed them. The Manager might be right, if you do everything well, you must prepare for others to mess everything up afterward, or keep supporting the blocks so they don’t fall. I’ve been keeping an eye on the news from the back these days, Zayed might be the most suitable for that rat hole."
They moved into a dungeon they built for themselves, perhaps this outcome was also a choice they made themselves.
Old White looked at him in surprise.
"Didn’t expect you to be so open-minded."
Fang Chang let out a wry smile.
"Things have reached this point, what else can we do if not be open-minded? Turn around and go back?"
Old White grinned.
"Indeed, that’s not very realistic either."
Though he didn’t want to admit it, Zayed indeed accounted for them.
The Poluo Province is the most populous area on the Wasteland, the Alliance couldn’t ignore it, but neither could they stay there forever.
But being outsmarted by a little worm is no big deal.
Kill him?
Of course not.
If he likes cesspools, let him stay till he dies.
Be it Zayed or those who chose him, it’s the same.
When a whole generation passes, their offspring will march into new exams, facing new classrooms and questions.
Their future might be bright, might be dark, or might just repeat in another cycle.
But that’s a different topic.
Fang Chang sighed, saying.
"What is fortunate is that Mammoth State hit the brakes in time and has returned to the military-political track once again."
No matter how poorly they developed, they could still become part of the Free State, and now it seems like the nightmare of the Free State is about to end.
They weren’t originally on the same path, so it’s not necessary to follow the Alliance’s route, and the Alliance never asked them to.
In any case, "Sociology+3."
Considering the severe technological regression on that land, no one should be able to create the "new red soil" anymore, right?
Probably.
"Don’t get stuck in a rut. As the saying goes, ’haste makes waste, good intentions may lead to bad outcomes.’ Relax a bit, maybe you can treat it like a game. Who knows, when we look back, things might not be as bad as we imagined, and the places we’ve walked through have turned into a forest."
Old White smiled and patted Fang Chang on the shoulder, then winked at him and said, "Someone insisted on coming along with me, I couldn’t dissuade them, guess who came?"
Fang Chang was stunned for a moment.
Just as he was dazed, a light footstep was heard outside the door, and then a splash of bright green slipped into the room through the open door.
Seeing that familiar pretty face, Fang Chang’s expression suddenly turned to surprise.
"Dolly?! Why are you here?"
"I guess she’s here to check up on you."
Old White raised his hand with a smile, then looked at Dolly and continued in an idle tone.
"I can testify that even though my brother Fang Chang faces a lot of temptations, he’s quite principled when it comes to relationships."
"Well... I can’t fully agree on that, but I still trust this guy a lot."
Dolly raised her eyebrows at Fang Chang with a lively spirit, looking at him with bright eyes, and continued speaking.
"Of course, putting that aside, the Workers’ Association has summarized our failures in the Poluo Province region and decided to send a stronger competitor... heh heh! This time, I’ll be your opponent!"
Poof—!
Fang Chang almost choked on his own saliva.
Seeing her boyfriend coughing, Dolly giggled and jumped to his side, patting his back.
"Alright, alright, just kidding. The representative of the Workers’ Association is someone else. I’m here representing the headquarters of the ’Survivor’s Daily’ to start work here! After all, as you’ve seen, those bizarre ’Survivor’s Dailies’ are almost taking away our market share! Our boss got a good scolding from the Manager, so now we plan to develop businesses along the Great Desert coast and the Bartoya Province region ourselves."
"So they tossed this trouble to you?" Fang Chang rubbed his forehead in amusement and resignation.
Dolly raised an eyebrow, displeased, and said.
"What do you mean trouble? I’m quite capable, okay! I fought for this job myself!"
"Yes, yes, you’re super capable." Not wanting to argue about this, Fang Chang surrendered by raising his hands, "I give up."
Dolly snorted proudly, and her expression softened.
"Of course, the newspaper work is one aspect. Actually, I... just missed you."
Fang Chang gazed at her affectionately.
"Dolly..."
The atmosphere in the office gradually became sappy.
Although the two lovebirds were unaware, Old White, standing nearby, was practically overfed with PDA, digging his toes into the floor.
"...I have a flight to catch to the front lines, so I’ll leave you two lovebirds alone."
Scratching the back of his head and coughing, he hurriedly made his exit, closing the door behind him as he left.
Only the two of them, gazing tenderly at each other, remained in the office.
As the sound of breathing drew closer, the room’s temperature began to rise.
At this point, as if suddenly realizing something, Dolly blushed and broke free from the embarrassing atmosphere.
"You, you, you... have some self-control, this, this is an office! And there are quite a few people outside, it’s still considered a public place..."
Seeing Dolly’s voice gradually lower and her speech become incoherent, Fang Chang couldn’t help but smile, putting on a look of innocence.
"Did I do anything improper for a public place?"
Perhaps when someone else made that face, it might be believable, but on this old fox, it could only mean "mischief."
"I... I mean if you’re going to say something strange again, of course, I don’t know what you’re going to say..."
"For instance?"
"Just, just..."
Dolly’s face was burning, and her ears seemed ready to emit steam as her explanations only became more muddled, ending up speaking incoherently.
Seeing her adorable state, Fang Chang couldn’t help but laugh. He planned to stop there, but Dolly, suddenly embarrassed and angry, bared her teeth and pounced on him, biting his arm.
"Like I need you to tell me!"
The playful chase lasted for half an hour, with knocking sounds echoing endlessly in the office.
Who would have thought a grown-up could still have the chance to play like children?
Looking at the row of teeth marks on his arm, Fang Chang pretended it hurt, grimacing for quite a while.
"...Are you part dog?"
Out of breath, Dolly gave him a resentful glare and turned her head away.
Just then, she noticed the uniquely shaped photo frame on the shelf beside her.
"Is that your sidearm?"
"No, it’s a friend’s."
"Friend?" Dolly tilted her head, curiosity written in her eyes.
"Yeah, his name was Laxi."
Looking at the photo frame that held many memories, Fang Chang, sitting in the office chair, gently stroked Dolly’s green hair and told her the story of that friend.
It was truly a story of ups and downs.
A group of young men, still full of youthful enthusiasm, chose to be people rather than slaves and did what everyone dared to think but not do.
They defeated the Empire, defeated the Weilante people, and nearly defeated themselves.
That legendary experience was like a novel, and she unknowingly became immersed in listening.
When Fang Chang noticed, her eyes were already filled with tears.
She raised her arm to wipe her eyes, gazing intently at Fang Chang, and said seriously.
"I want to write a novel about him... or rather, a biography, to be serialized in the ’Survivor’s Daily’ supplement on the West Coast of the Great Desert."
Long ago, she worked as an editor for Spielberg, and she contributed to the story of ’Awakener Bol.’
Now, once again, she felt a strong desire and eagerly anticipated the story brewing in her mind to be brought into this world!
If no one else was willing to write this story, she would personally do it!
Fang Chang jokingly teased.
"You don’t even have a ’main edition,’ and you’re already planning a ’supplement’?"
Dolly confidently raised her mouth corner.
"What’s wrong with that! In the early years, ’Survivor’s Daily’ in Giant Stone City got its fame by serializing novels in the ’Mercenary Post’ and ’Workers’ Post’! Oh, by the way, I need to consult you on some details. You’ll help Miss Dolly, won’t you? Mr. Fang?"
Fang Chang smiled gently.
"Gladly at your service."
Someone had already written a biography about Laxi at Jinjaron Harbor, but those biographies were mostly fictional, like looking up at a mist-covered mountain from its foot, lacking an understanding of the inside story and details.
The authors often either portrayed him as a power-hungry tyrant or expected too much of him, depicting him as an idealist burning himself.
Actually, none of them.
That guy has always just been himself—
A slave standing under a thousand totem poles, shouting deafening cries and breaking free from chains to straighten his knees.
He has been thinking about writing a biography for Laxi. Since Dolly wants to do it, she can go ahead, and he himself can narrate and supplement some details.
What should this book be called?
The Rise of Laxi?
Or perhaps...
A Decisive Benevolent Leader?
Awakener Bol has influenced countless Poluo people in Jinjaron Harbor and West Sail Harbor, but no one knows what kind of reactions this novel will cause on the land of the Great Desert.
Looking into those shining eyes, Fang Chang suddenly felt even more anticipation in his heart.
...
Mammoth City.
As the great purge progressed, the flames of turmoil eventually reached the campus.
A few days ago, Gale, who had been boasting about his father’s "foresight," was already scared out of his wits and stayed hiding in the dormitory all day, relying entirely on his "No.1 follower" and roommate Nayak to bring him meals.
Putting the lunchbox brought from the cafeteria on the table, Nayak couldn’t help but laugh at Gale, who was curled up on the bed.
"You really don’t need to be this afraid, they wouldn’t dare to make a move on people who haven’t participated in the riots."
Gale said tremblingly.
"...Have you ever heard of Document No. 1500?"
He now regretted bragging about his father being a high-level member of the Family Meeting to Nayak.
If this guy leaks a word outside, he feared he would follow in the footsteps of those lower-tier family members.
"...I’ve heard about it. I also heard that even the judge in court was scared to wet his pants." Looking at Gale, who was scared out of his wits, Nayak just smiled faintly.
He definitely wouldn’t betray this guy.
After all, he still counted on this guy doing great things.
Gale looked gratefully at his little follower, crawled out from under the blanket, and sat at the table devouring the meal.
After eating and drinking to his satisfaction, he burped and couldn’t help but ask Nayak, who had started reading,
"Why aren’t you afraid..."
"Because I don’t have ghosts in my heart, why should I fear ghosts knocking on my door?" Nayak replied lightly while flipping through his physics book.
Gale looked at him nervously and couldn’t help but say in a low voice.
"Nayak... I..."
Nayak patiently replied.
"I know, I won’t betray you. You just can’t have loose lips, because then no one can save you. If you ask me, you should spend your time thinking about something else; you are someone who will do great things... remember what I told you?"
Gale nodded quickly.
"I know, I’ll take care of your parents... I definitely will..."
"And then?"
"And... and then?"
"When you go back, hide yourself; if you can chicken out, do it. If someone wants to hit you, lie on the ground, and imagine yourself as a soft maggot..."
Gale broke out in a cold sweat, looking guilty at Nayak flipping through his book, and said.
"Can I not go back?"
It’s so bad that dying seems better.
Nayak chuckled.
"Of course you can, as long as you want your father, the respected General Pickle, to become the next Yishel, you indeed don’t have to go back. I’m sure with his indulgence of you, he wouldn’t blame you. So... do you choose this path?"
His father is just a farmer, far away from the power core of Tiandu, and with a farmer’s cunning, at most life would be a bit difficult, but it’s not a matter of life and death.
But Gale’s father is different; he’s a person with one foot inside the power core circle.
After hearing Nayak’s words, Gale was silent for a long time.
He couldn’t bear to part with his father or the power that was within reach.
After a long time, he said.
"...You say I’ll be emperor?"
Nayak turned a page in his book and said in a certain tone.
"It will be your turn, I said."
Gale suddenly laughed freely, sat back on the bed, and wrapped the blanket around his shoulders.
"Then there’s nothing to fear... At worst, I’ll rise to power later and kill off all these people."
Watching this sunny young man speak such bloodthirsty words, Nayak smiled and nodded.
"That’s your business."
In the evening, there was a commotion downstairs in the international students’ dormitory, as soldiers carrying rifles suddenly surrounded the building.
Gale, who had just fallen asleep, was pulled from the bed by a soldier, and his flushed face instantly turned pale.
"It’s not me—"
Nayak, who was being escorted by another soldier, frantically gave him a look, suggesting he keep his mouth shut and bury his head honestly.
Gale immediately stopped pleading, his face turned pale, and let the soldier drag him from the bed.
The two soldiers who came in to arrest them didn’t interrogate them but just took them downstairs in a murderous manner, standing them together with other Poluo students.
A group of teens standing in pajamas, trembling in the cold wind.
Although it’s subtropical here, it’s still a bit chilly when the wind blows in winter.
The leading officer didn’t say anything, just turned to look at Meng Jie standing to the side, and said coldly.
"Students from Poluo Country are all here. You can take whoever you want, and we will send the rest back to where they came from."
The 110,000 team of Yakale had already begun shelling across the Tasang River, and both sides had ceased all official and civil communication.
Including joint schooling.
Noticing Principal Meng standing among the soldiers, a group of kids instantly had red eyes and cried out pitifully.
"Help us, Principal!"
"Principal Meng!"
"Please save us!"
Looking at these young kids, Meng Jie felt a pang of heartache. They were all part of his and Niyan’s hard work.
"All of you come with me. I’ll take you to City of Dawn for your studies... you should stay away from this muddy water!"
Some people ran over.
Seeing that the soldiers didn’t shoot, again, another dozen or so people ran over, but still, about a hundred people remained.
Among them are those pursuing undergraduate and preparatory courses. Some are like Gale, whose fathers are officials in Tiandu and cannot go back, while others are like Nayak, whose parents hope they return to land government jobs, or because they have too many things they cannot let go of over there.
Nayak seemed to have anticipated this day, showing no surprise, merely hugging Gale beside him and patting this "good brother" on the shoulder.
"Don’t be too nervous, Principal Meng should be bringing the Alliance people to pick us up this time. Shava will definitely ensure your safe departure, you can trust me on this."
Gale couldn’t help but shiver,
"Take care of yourself... come back anytime if you feel homesick."
Nayak smiled and nodded.
"You too, take care!"
Bidding farewell to the reluctant Gale, Nayak hurriedly said goodbye to other familiar classmates and then strode briskly toward Principal Meng Jie.
He felt no hesitation in his heart, having already seen the outcomes for most of them—
This was likely the last time they’d see each other, with no opportunity to meet again in the future.
...
[The Age of Waste 215, January 2, the first Human Conference concluded, and Absek returned to Poluo Province, staying at the Poluo Country Embassy in Jinjaron Harbor, remaining indoors.]
[On the evening of January 4, Gopal led the Gray Wolf Army to support Commissioner Sharuk’s entry into Tiandu, with "Butcher" Pickley leading the welcoming by Tiandu soldiers and civilians on both sides of the road!]
[On the morning of January 8, Zayed entered Tiandu and gave a victory speech on the Southern Legion counteroffensive. On the same day, the Gray Wolf Army surrounded the legislative council, with Sava, the second figure of the Family Meeting, speaking at the meeting, declaring the abolition of the grain consumption tax, issuing a cat prohibition order, urging families to act and hunt all domestic and wild cats in the city.]
[At noon on January 10, the committee formally announced the resolution to remove Absek, with Sharuk delivering an inaugural speech, assuming the position of Supreme Commissioner and Leader.]
[At noon on January 11, Gray Wolf Army Chief Commander Gopal was appointed by Sharuk as the first Marshal of Poluo Country!]
[On January 13, a sudden change occurred at the medal ceremony! Gopal pushed Sharuk’s hand away and put on the medal himself!]
[On the morning of January 17, Poluo Country Leader and Supreme Commissioner Sharuk was arrested by Tiandu Guards! It is rumored to be due to his alleged collusion with the Southern Legion while in Snake State, and involvement in snakegrass trafficking!]
[On January 18, the committee issued the latest research report, once again affirming that the grain consumption tax is an unfair exploitation but should not be overcorrected. On the contrary, it may be extended to other non-essential areas such as fabrics, livestock, spices, and fuels, thus a virtuous act of "turning the rich’s head grease into the poor’s pot oil."]
[On January 20, Leader Sharuk confessed guilt! Admitting collaboration with the Southern Legion! Sava, the second figure of the Family Meeting, once again held a meeting, reaffirming that the Family Meeting is only a disaster relief organization, representing families to supervise the Tiandu United Federation, and inviting Absek to return to Tiandu to preside over the overall situation!]
Jinjaron Harbor, Poluo Country Embassy.
Looking at the newspaper clipping collection he made by hand, Absek’s face was full of emotion.
"Time truly changes... it’s only been a few days, and they already want to invite me back to preside over the overall situation."
With nothing to do during these days, he sat in this study room daily, drinking tea and reading newspapers, unable to find anything to do. So he asked for a notebook, cutting out the headlines from the day’s newspapers to paste onto it, intending to organize them into a memoir for publication when he’s older.
Opposite him, Anwo seemed amused.
"So why don’t you go?"
Absek laughed and cursed.
"I’m not smart, but not a fool either. And you, this slippery one, I thought I wouldn’t see you again, yet now I have to live under your roof."
Anwo smiled faintly and said,
"The Leader jokes... if I had truly carried out your orders back then and cleaned up that church, could you still be sitting here chatting with me?"
Absek fell silent, gazing out the window, muttering a few words.
"It’s a sin, a sin... those weren’t my orders, lost souls don’t come to me. Besides, this matter can’t be blamed on me; it was all Anush’s orders. I had you handle it because I believed your smooth handling would surely resolve it properly—"
"Even if you talk a lot of nonsense, the living can’t lift the coffin lid and run out." Glancing at this mysterious guy, Anwo said blandly, "It’s all well and good for you to just leave, but others still have to stay and suffer."
Listening to those pointed words, Absek was also distressed, struggling for a long time before sighing heavily.
"As for Yishel... I’m very sorry. That guy was a good person, I felt as upset hearing the news of his death as you did. But you should have seen it too, he was determined to seek death, what could you and I do?"
Anwo also fell silent.
That guy could have left if he wanted to.
But on the other hand, if he really just walked away, he wouldn’t be who he was.
Absek also remained silent.
This was almost a dead end.
Even if he hadn’t given Zayed that appointment back then, the final results wouldn’t have been any different.
Sharuk wouldn’t abandon his backstabbing just because he lacked Zayed’s support; the Eastern Empire would still step in, and the end would merely be him fighting Sharuk or fighting others, seeing how long he could cling to his convictions.
The head of the Grand Canyon awakened him with just a word, allowing him to completely let go of everything he couldn’t formerly let go of, and crawl out of the dry well that once trapped him.
He ended his historical mission by having Poluo people withstand the Southern Legion’s invasion.
No one can accompany them to the end of history.
When matters are resolved, leaving everything behind and hiding himself is what he should do.
"...However, I certainly didn’t expect Sharuk with all his calculations to be taken down so easily."
Looking at the unsettled Absek, Anwo drank a sip of black tea and said.
"Nothing unexpected; didn’t Anush also get shot dead on the throne by a nobody like me? Ignoring the maneuvers behind it, saying this alone, hardly anyone will believe it."
"Indeed," Absek sighed lightly, "but that guy was also too clever for his own good, still fantasizing about being my second coming, mistaking me for a dying Anush, yet never considering from start to end that our seemingly discordant group of rats was all on the same boat. None of us could leave or kill the others."
They together were Anush.
But now, they are nothing.
The snake entered Tiandu, and the cage has fallen; the greedy rats cannot escape.
Looking at the photos clipped from the newspaper, and those few old friends who looked battered, Absek was very emotional.
He didn’t feel sorry for Sharuk, that slick fellow. No matter how he dies, it’s deserved, preferably something harsher.
He only felt sorry for Sir Cabaha.
This guy almost got knifed by Anush; he barely saved the old man from the knife’s edge.
Though that guy cursed him fiercely, didn’t deal with matters smoothly, handled everything too equally, everyone could see from his heart that he deeply loved this land.
Now Anush has returned. Who knows how the madman will torture him.
Looking at Absek, who was still immersed in memories, Anwo gently coughed.
"...Stop living in the past. Since you can’t go back to Tiandu, what are your plans for the future?"
He heard that the Jinjarlon Harbor Federation wanted to recruit this guy, taking Tiandu back from the Family Meeting.
If Absek intended to take this path and continue in politics, he wouldn’t have to worry about future matters.
He would just follow this guy.
Absek pondered for a moment and then said something that surprised him.
"At the Human Conference, I met many people; if it comes to intelligence... not to boast, but they’re not better than you or me."
Before Anwo could react, Absek continued,
"Poluo Province no longer lacks smart people, indeed it needs some foolish idiots. I’m not wading into these muddy waters, let the younger generation finish this unfinished endgame."
"You’re just letting go like that?" Anwo looked at him incredulously, looking at this former leader.
But Absek laughed openly.
"It doesn’t matter! By the way, I also agreed with the South Sea Union’s representative Si Wen, to go over and have a couple of drinks at their place sometime."
Additionally, he overheard during meetings from those big figures that in the new era, aerospace will quickly become a popular industry.
The new track is an open secret; having participated in the Human Conference, he was fortunate enough to glimpse the "heavenly secret."
Perhaps he could start a company, doing something more meaningful with the smart people of Poluo Province.
As for the company’s name, let’s just call it "Ah Bu Aerospace!"