Chapter 1919 - 1918: Traitor

Ilotan

The night outside was unexpectedly silent. Eric lowered his head and flipped through the files in his hand.

He lifted his head and glanced at the secretary in front of him, "How long has it been since Anke and the others left?"

"Counting the time, it’s been half a month," the secretary recalled, speaking softly, "They should be almost back."

"How’s the progress?" Eric lowered his head and asked casually.

"Based on the current information we’ve received, the progress is pretty good," the secretary replied slowly, "Mr. Anke knows when to advance and retreat, never speaking out of turn in areas he doesn’t understand, yet taking responsibility when needed."

"It seems we’ve chosen the right person." Eric raised his head and smiled.

He closed the file in front of him and stretched lazily.

"It’s you who can choose people well," the secretary immediately said.

"Alright, stop the flattery," Eric laughed, "Are those consortium alliance troops still outside?"

"They are," the secretary nodded, "But intimidated by Mr. Davis’s threats, they haven’t acted for a long time. However, due to the prolonged siege, the citizens seem somewhat resentful. There have been several protests in the past two days, and it’s unclear if any consortium is fanning the flames behind the scenes."

"It’s something unavoidable; war is like that," Eric took a deep breath, "Some people can’t tell right from wrong and would do anything for a little money from the consortium."

He lifted his head and looked at the secretary, "Is there an issue with the supply of materials in the city?"

Hearing the inquiry, the secretary paused slightly before softly saying, "There are no problems at the moment, but some industrial and daily products have started to run short, and some citizens are quite upset."

"Hmm, having concerns is normal," Eric placed his hand on the table, "Our legislation has been advancing somewhat, and once everything is fully pushed through, they will endure to protect a good life."

"Overall, many citizens still support you, but Mr. Eric," the secretary looked at Eric, hesitated for a moment, and asked slowly, "Does our legislation need to go through so many processes? I feel that, although the city council members openly cooperate with us, they are in fact stalling, leaning more towards the consortium."

"They won’t be able to delay for long," Eric shook his head, "The progress of these bills is already quick. There are many consortium-related businesses and interest groups in the city, and pushing the legislation too aggressively could cause unnecessary resistance and conflict."

He stretched lazily, glanced at the hesitating secretary, and said slowly, "Let’s call it a day, go back and rest early."

The secretary gave him a glance and nodded slightly, "Okay."

As the secretary left, Eric lowered his head and looked at the files in his hand.

Ding ding ding—

At this moment, the telephone beside him rang.

He raised his hand and answered the phone.

"Mr. Eric, the City Defense Army at the West City Gate has rebelled." A slightly panicked voice came through the phone.

"What?" Eric was taken aback, then quickly asked, "What’s Davis doing?"

"General Davis is already gathering troops." The voice on the other end quickly replied.

"Good, good," Eric nodded, "I await his good news."

"Yes, I will relay it to General Davis." The voice on the phone quickly responded.

After putting down the phone, Eric looked at the files in front of him, which were stacks of bills that had yet to be implemented.

The alarm had already sounded outside, and his private guard had also received intelligence, quickly gathering to secure the entire Mayor’s Mansion.

Eric placed his hand on these bills, took a deep breath, and began to continue reviewing them.

······

Thud—

After an unknown period, the office door was suddenly pushed open.

Geslo, dressed in military attire, rushed in and looked at Eric seated at the desk, "Mr. Eric, the Guard has prepared a Floating Warplane. We can leave Ilotan at any time."

"Why should we leave Ilotan?" Eric raised his head, puzzled, and looked at Geslo. He laughed wryly, "It’s just a small rebellion, the consortium has bought off so many City Defense Army members, it was to be expected. Don’t worry, Davis will handle it well."

"But..." Geslo hesitated to speak.

"But what?" Eric looked at him, curious.

"That old gentleman once told me," Geslo raised his head and looked at Eric, "If you don’t want to rapidly implement the bills, have me prepare a Floating Warplane. Once a rebellion starts in the city, take you away."

"You listen to everything," Eric was speechless for a moment, and he looked at Geslo, "Trust me, I have a judgment on the situation. And if you don’t believe me, don’t you trust Davis? He can easily handle the consortium alliance, let alone a little rebellion now."

"Don’t you find this rebellion a bit suspicious?" Geslo couldn’t help but say, "The City Defense Army has been united under General Davis’s command; how could such an unprecedented rebellion suddenly occur?"

"Enough." Eric said coldly, "I know Davis, he’ll handle everything well. Besides, I have my prestige within the City Defense Army. Now, go outside and stand guard at my door. Say no more."

Geslo looked at him, unable to speak, but eventually turned around and walked to the doorway to stand there.

The lights outside shone brightly as Eric lowered his head, meticulously reviewing the bills and documents in his hands, making annotations on the unreasonable aspects within them.

Time ticked by, and the lights outside swayed gently.

······

Outside, there seemed to be faint explosions and gunfire.

Ding ding ding—

The telephone broke the silence.

"This is Eric." Eric answered the phone.

"Mr. Eric," the voice on the phone quickly said, "The rebels have been essentially subdued, but a few scattered rebels have entered the city, and General Davis is in pursuit."

"Good." Eric laughed, "I knew Davis could handle it, I await his good news."

With that, he hung up the phone.

Meanwhile, Geslo burst through the door, looking at Eric, "Mr. Eric, I’ve received news that Davis is leading the army across the city, heading towards the Mayor’s Mansion. We must leave immediately, General Davis is surely executing a meticulous operation. If we wait any longer, we won’t be able to leave."

"They’re just clearing out the scattering rebels," Eric looked at Geslo and shook his head, "Don’t worry, it’ll be over soon."

"We’re running out of time," Geslo said hoarsely, "You can come with me now. Once things calm down, if everything’s fine, you can return."

"Have you considered," Eric looked at Geslo, smiling wryly, "If I just leave, how would the army and the City Government view me? Terrified and scrambling at a minor rebellion? How would Davis view me? As someone who doesn’t trust him?"

"But what if General Davis truly rebels?" Geslo couldn’t help but say loudly, "Everyone knows he uses any means to climb up."

Hearing this, Eric was slightly taken aback.

He raised his head, looked at Geslo, and sighed, "Geslo, do you know how many years I’ve worked with Davis? He saved my life, we’ve depended on each other, I know him far better than you do. I admit that old man might indeed be impressive, but how long has he been in Ilotan? One day?"

He gazed at Geslo, "How could his understanding of Ilotan and Davis compare to my decades of observation? I know you’re concerned about me, but stop saying these things."

Geslo was momentarily speechless.

He sighed, turned his head, and once again walked towards the door.

······

Ding ding ding—

Eric picked up the phone and glanced at the source of the call.

The guard room of the Mayor’s Mansion.

"Mr. Eric, General Davis’s troops are surrounding the Mayor’s Mansion." As soon as he connected the call, a voice tinged with panic immediately sounded.

Eric was slightly taken aback, raised his head, and happened to see Geslo standing by the door, gazing at him.

The world was eerily quiet.

"Transmit my order, activate the defense system. Without my permission, no one is allowed to enter the Mayor’s Mansion."

After speaking, Eric immediately hung up the phone and called another number.

"Mr. Eric, is there something going on? We are currently searching for the rebels." The moment the call was connected, the voice on the other end sounded somewhat puzzled.

"Put me through to Davis," Eric said calmly.

"General Davis is currently commanding on the front line," the other side almost immediately refused, "we can have him contact you when he returns, is that okay?"

"You are searching for rebels; have you searched the Mayor’s Mansion?" Eric asked coldly.

"Mr. Eric, you must be joking. We are just in the vicinity and won’t disturb you," the voice on the other end swiftly replied, "soon you will receive the good news from General Davis."

After speaking, they directly hung up the call.

Eric looked at the phone in his hand and listened to the busy signal inside, dazed for a moment.

Geslo walked in from outside, lowered his head, gazing at Eric before him.

He paused and spoke hoarsely, "I’ll go to the entrance and organize the guards to resist Davis; you can still leave now."

Eric seemed to awaken from a dream, raised his head, and looked at Geslo.

Hundreds of words seemed to be on the tip of his tongue, but ultimately not a single word was spoken.

He slowly put down the phone and looked at Geslo, sighing lightly, "It’s too late."

He looked at the somewhat confused Geslo, "Considering Davis’s personality, if you’ve seen his troops arrive, he’s surely already set up stealth stakes nearby. Now if the floating warplane ascends, it will only be shot down by him."

Outside, intense gunfire seemed to be heard.

Eric slightly got up and looked at Geslo, "I know him very well."

Geslo paused momentarily.

Eric raised his hand, took out a crystal card from his pocket, and handed it to Geslo, "You should head over now, take my wife and kids away, it’s still not too late. You can exit through the East Gate, take my authority card, it should still open the gate. Once you’re out, head south to Kest City and find the Nolanka Group delegation."

"But what about you?" Geslo looked at him anxiously, "I can direct the guards to fend them off for a while."

"As long as I’m still at the Mayor’s Mansion," Eric shook his head, "Davis won’t fire at you all. People must pay the price for their judgments."

He smiled at Geslo, "I’ll command the guards as well, don’t forget, I have also been a soldier for many years."

"But—" Geslo was clearly unable to accept this plan.

"Geslo," Eric looked at him and said coldly, "accept the order!"

Outside, intense artillery fire seemed to sound.

Geslo gazed at the man before him, hesitated slightly, then straightened his body, "Yes!"

Then he raised his hand, handed his walkie-talkie to Eric, and turned to run out.

Watching him leave, Eric opened the drawer and took out the gun inside.

He looked at the gun, fell silent for a moment, and tucked it into his pocket.

He picked up the walkie-talkie, speaking rapidly, "This is Eric, I am now taking command of the entire guard. Squad one and two, take all the grenades from the front hall to the left and right sides of the front garden; guard room, close the front door defense system, let people in."

The battle outside grew increasingly fierce.

Eric walked to the window, gazing out.

Raging flames illuminated the night sky and the garden.

A floating warplane ascended on the rooftop, cutting across the flame-lit night sky.

······

The dim glow of daybreak shone upon the sky, casting light on the dark, heavy heavens.

Burning steel fell into the scattered ruins, overshadowing the daylight.

A middle-aged man in an officer’s uniform stepped forward on the stairway blackened by the fires of war, heading toward the half-collapsed building ahead.

His footsteps passed through the corridor already partially light-filled, treading on the dim glow, toward the office door guarded by two soldiers.

He raised his hand and pushed open the door.

A figure was seated behind the conference table, gazing at the enormous television in the meeting room.

He heard the footsteps but did not turn around, instead saying gently, "You’ve come?"

His voice was calm and natural, like countless times before.

"The Nord Group offered me a billion," Davis slowly entered the meeting room, standing at the other end of the conference table, "you can take this money and be a wealthy man."

"I am still very curious about what they offered you," Eric continued to gaze at the enormous, blank screen, "I don’t think there is anything in this world that could touch you."

"You always thought you knew me well," Davis also gazed at the giant screen, rasping, "Is it because you were born into a noble family, so people have always flattered you, forming such arrogance in you?"

Eric fell silent for a moment, then spoke quietly, "So, you want something that I can’t give you?"

"You’ve never lived in a slum; you don’t understand that even blood brothers could turn against each other for a single can of food there," Davis rasped, "A can is worth far more in one’s own hands than anyone else’s."

"So, you think, I stole your ’can’?" Eric raised his head, gazing at the screen, the reflection of his smile on the pitch-black television screen, "Once, we were brothers, we could go out together and solve enemies, grab ’cans’; now you think I can’t help you grab more ’cans’, so you need to eliminate me?"

Davis remained silent.

Eric did not continue to question but rather chuckled softly, "Would you find peace in knowing I’m alive, or would you imprison me, waiting to clear out my influence after gaining all the power, then give me poison?"

The room fell into silent stillness.

······

BANG——

A crisp gunshot sounded in the conference room.

The guards at the door instinctively looked toward the door.

The tightly shut door was pulled open from the inside, and Davis, dressed in military uniform, emerged with a somber expression, rasping, "The traitor Eric has committed suicide."

——

The New Netherworld

A young man planting flowers raised his head, looking at the figure blurred in the distance.