Chapter 1965 - 1964: Forced Entry into the City

The brilliance of Dawn cascaded from the edge of the Firmament, illuminating He Ao’s cheeks.

He Ao reached out to touch the wound on his face—last night’s sanguinary wound now reduced to crimson scabs. He tore off the scabs on his body, lifted his head, and looked ahead.

Under that bright splendor, a magnificent city loomed indistinctly.

"Mr. Bod, you’re awake," Roger, piloting the spaceship, raised his head to glance at He Ao, "We’ve arrived; up ahead is Trollon."

He seemed pleased, "We crossed the Great Gobi Desert yesterday without encountering any flying exotic beast attacks, truly rare. Could we have discovered a new flight path?"

He Ao’s gaze rested on the city ahead, whose architectural structure was not much different from other Federation cities—except for the slightly yellow sand covering its high walls.

He Ao lifted his gaze, looking beyond the city towards the rear.

The boundless yellow desert instantly filled his field of view.

The desert was so grand and vast, extending to the sky’s horizon and merging seamlessly with the azure, clean Firmament.

That was the Nisk Desert, the largest desert in the Federation.

Trollon is situated on a narrow oasis strip between the Gobi Desert and the Nisk Desert, also the only city nearby.

Caravans from the Southwest to the East sometimes choose Trollon as their route, making Trollon a prosperous commercial hub.

However, departing from Keskein, regardless of destination, there’s seemingly no need to especially pass through Trollon.

Because traveling from Keskein to Trollon involves bypassing the Great Gobi Desert, and leaving Trollon requires detours around the great desert unless heading East is feasible.

No matter the direction, Keskein offers better trade routes; geographically, Keskein is actually more advantageous than Trollon.

"Mr. Bod, should we send an entry application to Trollon’s aviation authority?" As He Ao gazed into the distance, Roger paused, softly asking, "We’re not on a regular flight path and haven’t applied to Trollon’s aviation authority, which could lead to interception or even attacks from the City Defense Army."

"However, submitting an entry application now would entail numerous procedures, along with inquiries from the managing authority."

He hesitated for a moment, then uttered softly, "Or should we park the aircraft outside the city and enter through customary protocols, though it would be time-consuming."

"ZzZzz—"

Just then, the airplane’s radio emitted a broadcast sound, "This is Trollon’s air defense control. Unidentified aircraft, please report your identity, origin, and target. It is wartime, and any aggressive acts shall be met with unrelenting Counterattack."

Roger raised his head to look at He Ao, seemingly prepared to inquire how He Ao wanted to respond.

Yet before he could speak, He Ao raised his hand and activated the internal camera of the warplane, "I am Vice President Bod. An emergency situation requires my immediate entry into the city."

After speaking, he turned to Roger straightforwardly, "Fly directly forward, over the high wall."

Roger blinked his eyes slightly wide, as if thinking He Ao was joking, incredulously watching him, "Really?"

"Really." He Ao nodded affirmatively.

"What if the City Defense Army attacks us?" Roger hesitated a moment, speaking softly.

"They won’t attack us," He Ao shook his head, "It’s the fastest way into the city."

"But the Secret Service Bureau already..." Roger paused again, hesitantly speaking.

The Secret Service Bureau represents the President’s stance; he meant the President might be ready to kill ’Bod,’ questioning the utility of the Vice President’s title.

He Ao gazed at Roger, shaking his head and smiling, "Only the Federal Assembly can elect and impeach a Vice President. As long as the Assembly’s impeachment case is not passed, I remain the Federation’s Vice President."

As his voice fell, a video communication request arrived, from the City Defense Army.

He Ao raised his hand and connected the communication.

Opposite the communication was a man appearing to be an officer; when connected, he raised his head to look at He Ao. After a brief pause, seemingly verifying He Ao’s identity, he spoke puzzledly, "Vice President, we didn’t receive orders regarding your passage."

"I’m tracking a group of cultist criminals," He Ao stated directly, "They attempted to assassinate me last night and kidnapped my daughter."

"We weren’t aware of this," the officer quickly said, "Trollon surely wasn’t involved in any assassination attempts against the Vice President."

"I understand your ignorance," He Ao replied directly, "But they very likely entered the city, and I must enter too."

"To enter, you must adhere to protocols," the officer hesitated, "Apply for aviation management approval, then we can permit entry. It’s wartime; to avoid unnecessary risks, we must first verify your identity with Gray Stone Palace,"

He quickly looked at He Ao, "But don’t worry, we’ll expedite the process; by this afternoon, you’ll surely have clearance."

"Uhm," Roger couldn’t help speaking, "Bod’s daughter is currently captured; the perpetrators are likely in the city. Delaying poses more danger."

"We certainly understand the Vice President’s emotions, but I must reiterate Trollon City is not associated with any cultists attacking the Vice President," the officer looked at He Ao with difficulties, "But you know, everything must go through procedures..."

He Ao glanced at him, abruptly interrupting, "Then just open fire on me."

Saying so, he turned to Roger, "Can you find Trollon’s airport? Fly directly there."

At the same time, he reached out to terminate the communication.

"I can locate the airport; I once followed the previous President here for campaigning," Roger looked nervously at He Ao, "But we’re really flying directly in?"

"Fly directly in," He Ao nodded, speaking calmly, "They won’t attack us."

Roger looked at He Ao, noticing sweat slowly seeping from his forehead; however, he realized He Ao’s decision was firm and unchangeable.

Finally, gritting his teeth, Roger pulled the engine lever, "Alright!"

"I’m going to change clothes." He Ao nodded, turning to head toward the changing room in the rear cabin.

The massive warplane soared across the sky, flying straight towards the city ahead.

Beeps—

Piercing alarms incessantly sounded inside the warplane, signaling missile lock warnings.

"Warning, you’ve intruded into Trollon City’s defense area; we can attack anytime—"

"Warning, you’ve intruded into Trollon City’s defense area—"

The broadcast warnings repeatedly sounded; perhaps it’s an illusion, as Roger felt the announcer’s voice was slightly trembling too.

Grinding his teeth, he reached out to turn off the broadcast, enduring the piercing warplane’s alarms as he surged towards the looming high wall.

The wall grew closer; the warplane’s monitor displayed the peeling wall skin and the numerous activated missile launch ports on the wall.

He could faintly perceive City Defense Army soldiers urgently assembling on the wall’s top.

Swallowing hard, Roger redirected his gaze from the monitor, tightly gripping the control stick, elevating the warplane into the Firmament.

Boom——

With a howling sound, the speeding warplane flew over the high wall.

But nothing happened.

No combat, no flames, the bustling city appeared in Mark’s field of view.

At this moment, He Ao had already changed into a silk formal suit and walked out.

"Really, they really didn’t attack us." Mark tightly gripped the control stick, beads of sweat forming at his temples, and even his palms were filled with sweat.

Although he had served as an air force pilot for many years, it didn’t mean he wasn’t afraid of such a life-or-death situation.

Fighting exotic beasts, at least there’s a chance to kill them.

This kind of action, directly charging over the high wall, would result in nothing but being washed by missiles and turned to dust in the flames.

Moreover, it was still wartime, and those City Defense Army soldiers opening fire would be completely justified.

He truly didn’t expect that they really wouldn’t fire even a single shot.

"I told you, they wouldn’t fire." He Ao shook his head and reached out to answer the communication request on the console.

The communication request had been ringing for a while, but Mark, a bit nervous, hadn’t noticed.

The officer’s figure reappeared on the screen, looking at He Ao, he spoke with some nervousness and anger, "Vice President, do you know what you’re doing is very dangerous? It could lead to Trollon starting a war. You’re threatening the safety of the entire city. You——"

"Let your Senators go to the Federal Assembly to impeach me," He Ao glanced at him and said casually, "Now, help me contact your Mayor, I am about to land at Troll Airport, I need to check your airport’s entry and exit records."

"You——" The officer’s words got caught in his throat, his brain seemed to short-circuit, unable to come up with new lines.

He Ao reached out and directly cut off the communication.

"Mr. Bod, is this really okay?" Mark nervously looked up at He Ao.

"They will cooperate with me, we just want to enter the city," He Ao shook his head, "No matter what, I am still the Vice President, and now with things being so sensitive at the Gray Stone Palace, if they really attacked me, they would inevitably be suspected of having collusions with Dawn City. They would have a hard time explaining then."

"Is that so?" Mark seemed half-understanding, "But they seemed a bit angry just now."

"Normally, entering the city should follow procedures," He Ao looked up at the prosperous city ahead, "But if you want to bypass the procedures, someone has to take the blame. They certainly can’t take the blame, so it has to be me, the ’initiator,’ to be that unreasonable person. Their ’anger’ is just a ’normal’ ’reaction.’ They might not really be angry, it’s just that they need to ’act angry’ at this moment."

"But, what if they really go to the Assembly to impeach you?" Mark said nervously.

If the impeachment is successful, the Vice President truly would be dismissed.

"Then let them impeach," He Ao shook his head and looked at Mark, "Don’t worry, let’s go to the airport first."

"Okay." Mark nodded.

The massive warplane skimmed through the sky and quickly reached the airport.

As soon as they arrived near the airport, Mark received a message from the tower, guiding them for landing.

"They really are cooperating with us." Mark said with some surprise.

He Ao gazed at the wide airport with a deep gaze.

——

In the spacious villa hall, a figure slowly sat up from the soft large sofa.

He raised his wristband and glanced at the content on it, his eyes narrowing slightly.

——

Troll Airport · Control Room

"Vice President, these are the entry and exit records from yesterday to today," the middle-aged officer looked at He Ao, somewhat fawningly pointed at the computer mainframe in front, and said with a smile, "You can browse freely."

"Thank you." He Ao nodded slightly, then turned his head to Mark, "Aren’t you going to catch some sleep on the plane?"

"I already slept yesterday evening," Mark smiled, "And you know, I am also a recipient of D-level Secret Medicine in the military. If you encounter any danger, I can still protect you,"

Then he seemed to recall last night’s battle, pausing awkwardly, "Though it doesn’t seem very significant."

"As long as you’re not tired." He Ao nodded and went to the master computer containing the data, raised his wristband, and connected the computer’s data cable to it.

Eve started the search immediately.

At that moment, a new message popped up.

It was Roger’s reply.

He Ao quickly skimmed through the message.

Roger’s reply stated that the Life Church couldn’t possibly perform such kidnappings, at least he hadn’t heard of such things. The Life Church’s presence in the Western Region is currently very small, unable to form any organization, and the Church itself also lacks a strong hierarchical structure.

He suggested that someone might be impersonating the Life Church’s name.

The reply was mostly as He Ao had anticipated.

However, He Ao did not stop there, he directly asked another question: Are there any reclusive big figures of Life Church in Trollon?

The other side didn’t reply immediately, seemingly busy.

Meanwhile, Eve’s search results also came out.

She found that floating warplane, which was still parked at the airport.

——

Limen City

Roger came out of his office, his wristband lit up.

[You have received an anonymous message]

He naturally knew who sent this message, only one kind of ’existence’ would contact him this way.

’K’

He opened the message and was slightly taken aback, "Is there any reclusive big figure of the Church in Trollon? What’s this question?"

He looked up and glanced around, his gaze finally stopping at the Dean’s office.