Chapter 1918 - 1917: The Federation Amid Changing Times

Boom——

A gigantic city emerged from the sky, descending into the chasm below.

Brilliant and twisted purple light flashed across the firmament, carving a massive rift into the sky.

The terrifying glow with its warped pressure spilled out from the rift, interweaving with the descending city, slicing off the city’s upper side, the edges of high walls, and the towering skyscrapers, without even a trace of cement dust falling.

Several beams of light surged from all sides, tensely gazing at the torn sky, focusing on the enormous fissure.

Boom——

Accompanied by a fierce roar, the huge city hit the ground, the violent tremor shaking the remaining skyscrapers, swaying like willow branches planted in the earth.

In this intense tremor, the people who were peacefully sleeping gradually awakened, climbing up from the ground, bewilderedly gazing at the surroundings.

The purple radiance had already faded, and the bright sky with its glittering glow once again illuminated the earth.

The gigantic rift torn from the firmament still existed, but it seemed to be restoring at a visibly rapid pace.

Other than the skyscrapers with their tops sliced off, everything seemed as it always was.

Anke climbed up from the street, as bewildered as the others around him, casting a puzzled glance at the surroundings.

"Old man? Old man?"

Everything seemed to return to normal, but his soft call received no reply.

······

Bam——

Purple light slid down from the firmament, landing in the crevices of dirt and rock, revealing the form of a purple butterfly crystal.

Snow-white jade-like bare feet slowly emerged beside the crystal, toes sinking into the soft earth, and a pair of white hands lowered from above, picking up the purple butterfly crystal.

The breeze blew past the girl’s snow-white muslin skirt, as well as the dim sky.

Drifting white snow fell from the firmament, landing between the folds of the white muslin skirt, settling on the girl’s crystalline skin.

The girl raised her head, gazing at the distant toppled city’s towering form.

Various female figures of differing statures appeared behind her, standing beneath the dim sky.

——A few days later——

Ilotan Mayor’s Mansion Conference Room

"Meeting you again, my friend." Eric reached out, giving Anke a big hug, "I’m sorry for what happened in Vissen."

"I might not be able to help you anymore," Anke looked at him, sighed, "My relative has already left."

"I know," Eric shook his head, looking at Anke, "My previous willingness to promise you wasn’t because you had a powerful backing, though I don’t deny the influence of that old gentleman, but more importantly, I think you’re an excellent person worth investing in."

Anke raised his head, looking at him with some surprise, then quietly asked, "Is there anything you need me to do?"

"Of course there is," Eric pulled Anke to the table, unfolding a map, "Remember West Carter? The envoy from Kaye City has arrived at the nearby wilderness. They will provide us necessary support, but I need a negotiation team to go over there and finalize cooperation agreements, and this team lacks a leader."

He looked up, gazing at Anke, "I hope you can go over, and your mother and elder brother can go too, the Nolanka Group has the Federation’s top medical facilities."

"Me?" Anke was slightly taken aback, "But I know nothing about Ilotan, and I haven’t achieved anything."

"But you successfully traversed thousands of kilometers in the wilderness," Eric spoke earnestly, "I’ve heard Geslo tell your story; there’s no one more suitable for this task than you."

Anke glanced at Eric, falling into a brief silence.

Finally, he slowly said, "Actually, I am a deserter."

Eric was slightly stunned, as was Geslo beside him.

"From the northwest of Saint Joen City, the battle between West Steel and the Nolanka Group, right?" Eric suddenly said amid the brief silence.

This time, Anke raised his head in surprise, looking at Eric, "How do you know?"

"In fact, we had your information at the beginning, after all, Vissen is an important recruitment city for West Steel," Eric smiled, raising his hand to point out a document, "Hope you don’t mind us doing some background research."

"You know I’m a deserter," Anke was somewhat surprised, "And you still want me to do this important task?"

"The battle between West Steel and the Nolanka Group ended with West Steel’s defeat," Eric looked at him, "Did you desert at the beginning of the war?"

"No," Anke shook his head, "I deserted after losing, as a prisoner, Nolanka Group’s management of prisoners wasn’t very strict, so I secretly climbed over the fence and ran away."

"You ran during captive time?" Eric looked at him with some surprise, then he withdrew his gaze, smiling, "You didn’t flee during combat, why count it as desertion? You completed your duty as a soldier, and as a mercenary, West Steel didn’t honor your contract by giving your family enough money, you had no reason to sacrifice for them, if you died, they’d just consume your compensation."

Anke looked at him, hesitant to speak.

"Besides, you know," Eric looked at him, smiling, "Nolanka Group’s prisoners basically received some simple training and were released, those willing to stay were selectively added to the army, those unwilling were given certain supplies and travel expenses to return home."

"Ah?" Anke abruptly raised his gaze, "So they weren’t chasing me vigorously? I wondered why it was so easy to escape, management wasn’t strict at all."

"So you actually missed out on a travel allowance." Eric laughed.

"Hiss——" Anke furrowed his brow.

"Well then," Eric looked at him, smiling, "Anyway, I believe you can certainly handle this task."

"My military skills," Anke hesitated to say, "may not be enough to lead them past the besieging armies outside."

"You don’t need to worry about that," Eric laughed, "You’re unaware that the Consortium Alliance army outside has been beaten like dogs by Davis, now they’re cowering outside, reluctant to take initiative. Also, you’ll definitely have a professional guard team; you’re merely a diplomat, not a military officer, though this task certainly bears risks, you might die on the road."

He paused, looking at Anke seriously, "So, are you willing to accept this task?"

Anke looked at Eric, after a brief pause, he took a shallow breath and seriously said, "Okay!"

"That’s the heroic spirit I’ve seen in you!" Eric laughed, patting his shoulder, "Later my secretary will introduce detailed personnel and routes, it’s in your hands."

"I’ll certainly accomplish it!" Anke looked at Eric, nodding earnestly.

Then he turned to leave, and at that moment, he suddenly thought of something, turned around, and looked at Eric, "Mr. Eric, those ’policies’ I talked to you about earlier."

"Accelerating the preferential treatment for civilians, forcibly implementing reform policies in the short term," Eric laughed, "I remember, it’s been studied, and it will be implemented soon."

Anke looked at Eric and said softly, "These policies are not my opinion; they are the opinion of my elder. He is a very wise and good person; he won’t harm you."

"I know," Eric nodded, gazing at Anke, and smiled, "I have seriously considered those words."

"Good," Anke nodded, "Then I’ll be going."

After speaking, he headed towards the office door.

Eric watched him leave.

"Mr. Eric," at this moment, Geslo, behind Eric, suddenly spoke, "That elder also gave me some ’advice.’

"What advice?" Eric turned somewhat puzzled, looking at Geslo.

"He said he hopes you implement the policies soon to gain support from the lower class. That way, even if there are issues within Ilotan, you can quickly rely on the support of the people to maintain the situation. The current situation is very dangerous; the sooner, the safer," Geslo quickly said.

"The situation is fine now, Geslo," Eric laughed and shook his head, "The Consortium Alliance Army is weaker than we imagined; Davis can easily defeat them."

He gazed at Geslo and smiled, "The Ilotan people all support me now; the internal structure is also stable. Trust me, I know Ilotan very well, while outsiders find it difficult to understand Ilotan’s situation in a short time."

"But what if the Consortium buys off the army? After all these years, the Consortium has been infiltrating the City Defense Army; we don’t know who might be hoping for the Consortium’s return..." Geslo’s tone was somewhat urgent as he continued.

"Even if there are rebels, can they defeat Davis?" Eric interrupted him.

"But what if General Davis also..." Geslo began to speak softly.

"Geslo," Eric slightly raised his voice, "You are my subordinate. If these words get out, they will be seized by those with ulterior motives and used to sow discord. I trust Davis; you can trust Davis too. Davis and I are close brothers; don’t say these things again."

Geslo raised his head, glanced at Eric, and finally lowered his head, whispering, "Yes."

The entire meeting room fell silent.

Eric raised his head, glanced at Geslo, and sighed lightly, "Geslo, I know you mean well for me, but trust me and Davis; everything will be fine."

"Yes." Geslo nodded.

——

Ilotan City Defense Command

Knock, knock, knock—

A gentle knocking sound was heard in the office, followed by the door being pushed open by an officer with glasses who looked at the figure in the office, "General, that guest has come again."

Davis put down the documents in his hand, looked up at the officer with glasses, "Let him in."

——

Yilan City

"The Consortium Alliance Army retreated?" Lante looked at the report in his hand and smiled at Corvey, "Without those Undead Army, they’re scared?"

"To be precise, it’s not a retreat," Corvey shook his head slightly and said slowly, "They’ve just stopped advancing, surrounding the outskirts, trying to cut off our trade and supply lines. The Nolanka Group’s Mercenary Corps is currently outside the city; they get no advantage from attacking now."

"Surrounding without attacking," Lante put down the report in his hand, "The Nolanka Group previously built several food synthesis plants in the city. As long as they don’t use Extraordinary Power and combine it with the food we have stored, we should be able to hold out for a few months."

He leaned back in his chair, pondering, "On the contrary, their supply lines have been cut off by Eric; they won’t last long."

"Maybe they’re waiting for something." Corvey picked up the documents on the table, lowered his head, seemingly thinking about something.

"If Linen were here, it would be great." Lante sighed, leaning back in his chair, "Being the Mayor is harder than I imagined."

Knock, knock, knock—

At this moment, a knock on the door was heard outside.

"Come in." Lante raised his head, looking at the office door.

"Mayor Lante," the young secretary raised his head, looked at Lante, and quickly said, "The Nolanka Group has sent an emissary; it seems there’s something important."

"What matter? The Nolanka Group has always been slow, why suddenly something urgent?" Lante was taken aback and stood up from his chair, "Let him wait in the reception room; I’ll be right over."

He turned around and looked at Corvey nearby.

Corvey nodded, "You take care of your matters."

He immediately drew his gaze back, picked up the coat draped over the table, put it on, and walked out of the office.

——

Dawn City

"Wint City was recaptured?" Christos looked at the report in his hand, somewhat surprised, and looked up at Sett in front of him, "How was it recaptured? Wasn’t it said the city was broken before?"

"The reinforcement troops from Rock City arrived in Wint City a few days earlier than expected under the protection of the Queen of the North," Sett quickly replied, "Together with the remnants of the Wint City Defense Army, they expelled the newly entered Rockville Energy Group’s Mercenary Corps from the city. Both sides are currently in a stalemate; this intelligence was sent from Rock City."

"The situation there is starting to look grim," Christos sighed lightly, "How about the situation in Yilan City?"

"The news from Yilan City says that after the Undead Army was defeated, the Nolanka Group’s Mercenary Corps arrived near Yilan City. Those Consortium Alliance Army heading to Yilan City stopped their attack and surrounded Yilan City on the outside," Sett said in a low voice.

"The Consortium Alliance Army is going to surround Yilan City," Christos was slightly stunned, "Do they have enough supplies?"

"I don’t know," Sett shook his head, "Based on our informants from various cities, it seems the Consortium and Gray Stone Palace are forcibly conscripting supplies and soldiers in eastern cities."

"It seems Eric has indeed choked them," Christos sighed deeply and mused, "The situation isn’t favorable for us."

"Mr. Christos," at this moment, a secretary entered the office, looked up at Christos, "The Nolanka Group’s emissary has arrived."

"Alright, I’m heading there now." Christos stood up, glanced at Sett in front of him, "Time to leave; indeed, some changes need to be made."

"Alright." Sett nodded slightly and stood up.