Chapter 309, The Governor's Speech
"To all residents of Rage Owl Star:"
"I am your Governor, Gu Hang."
"Two and a half years ago, when I came to this world, I promised the entire planet that I would save this world."
"I promised that I would establish a unified government, that I would unite all the people of this planet and bring security to the entire world; I promised that I would rescue everyone from hunger and panic, that I would enable everyone to enjoy a normal life."
"Thus, the New Alliance Government replaced the Old Alliance and established the Alliance Army. The Rage Owl Star People's own army fought on all fronts, unifying the entire planet. All the people of Rage Owl Star were once again united without any barriers, fighting for a common goal, no longer divided by power, ethnicity, or tribal interests."
"The vast majority of you have never heard that declaration. But that does not matter, for I, and the Alliance I have built, have over the past two and a half years, step by step, turned these 'promises' into reality, into something that is right before everyone's eyes."
...
Listenting to the words coming from the radio, a tavern in Silver Sand City, the capital of the Peninsula Provincial Capital, was filled with cheers and jubilation.
These people were all soldiers of the Alliance.
After the hostilities on the Western Front ended, the main force had withdrawn to the east, but not without leaving some behind in the west.
The fighting had just ceased, and local governance had been transferred to the newly established local governments, ending military control. Nevertheless, it still required the continued presence of the Army brothers to suppress the area.
However, the situation in the three western provinces was somewhat better compared to the eastern provinces at the time of their initial recovery. With Blackbird Heavy Industries finished, this place was a blank slate.
When the Alliance liberated vast tracts of land and cleared them of Blackbird Heavy Industries, rebuilding order was not a difficult task.
As a result, the Alliance soldiers stationed in the west were generally in a stable frame of mind. They hardly encountered any serious incidents, and the troops were even able to allow soldiers to leave their posts and go to the city for a break.
The city was also relatively welcoming to the arrival of the Alliance soldiers.
The discipline of the Alliance soldiers was very strict. When they came out to shop, drink, and dine, they paid what they owed. The stipends in the hands of the soldiers were worth solid Alliance currency and quite reliable. Although the residents of Silver Sand City, who had just become Union Citizens, also had their ranks set, most were only at the E5 level and did not receive much stipend; they were certainly happy to earn a bit more.
The military command had already notified that today there would be a speech by the Governor. Those on duty naturally listened to the radio at the military base. But for those who were on leave and having fun in the city, they had to find a place to listen.
No one wanted to miss it.
They found a tavern and, after calling friends together, more than half the tavern was filled with off-duty Alliance soldiers, a total of sixty or seventy at least. At their request, the tavern owner changed from playing music to the news channel.
To be honest, the proprietor was not too keen on it.
As the Governor began his speech, boasting about how 'I have turned promises into reality,' he just glanced at the soldiers cheering wildly. He didn't dare to speak loudly but muttered under his breath:
"Those high and mighty lords spout nonsense, and you, a bunch of cannon fodder sold out, have been brainwashed into fools, cheering for what?"
Although he spoke very quietly, he was still overheard by a soldier standing nearby.
The man turned around, glaring fiercely at him: "Old man, what did you say?"
The tavern owner was startled, stammering but afraid to speak again.
Getting beaten up was one thing, but what he feared most was his place getting smashed by this troop of soldiers.
Seeing the owner refusing to speak, the soldier became even more irritated: "We followed the Governor's leadership and rescued you from those steel beasts. And you, you talk like this behind our backs? Huh?"
He stood up bristling with the smell of alcohol, closing in on the owner.
Frightened, the owner drew back, feeling doomed, as he knew a beating was inevitable.
At that moment, another tall figure stepped in front of that soldier.
It was a bald strong man with several scars on his face, but his expression was unexpectedly calm.
He first advised his comrade, saying, "Don't get angry, don't get angry..."
"This guy's mouth is asking for a beating! Dimitriou, your old unit was completely wiped out, and now you're getting talked to like this. Don't you want to teach them a lesson? If you won't, I will! I'll take responsibility for any disciplinary issues!"
"It's not a disciplinary issue, it's about not tarnishing the Governor's reputation," Dimitriou said.
"Hmph!" The man was clearly still angry, but after hearing these words, he miraculously held back his temper.
After calming the person down, Dimitriou turned around, faced the bar owner, and said earnestly, "Mr. Owner, I hope you apologize for your remarks just now."
The owner was about to apologize immediately, showing a very quick submission.
But before he could speak, Dimitriou stopped him.
"No need now. I don't want your apology to be out of fear, out of terror. First, listen. After listening to the Governor's speech, then you decide whether or not to apologize. I won't force you."
The owner could only stand anxiously to the side, trying hard to take in the information from the broadcast.
He could no longer afford to regret his loose tongue; he had to listen carefully to see if he could find a way to apologize later without getting a beating.
The broadcast continued:
"... We have resisted the resurgence of the cult, we have nipped the disaster of the Green-Skinned aliens in the bud, and our soldiers have gone into space and thwarted an attack by a Green-Skinned Space Fleet."
"In the Green Valley Region, we carved out a large safe area in the north, essentially eliminating the threat of Aberrant Beasts in the Beiqing Valley Zone; we eradicated the cult in the Green Valley Region, and the Alliance Army chased the demons back to their homeland."
"In the eastern three provinces, we have swept away the stubborn remnants of the old power."
"In the North Territory, we have completely exterminated the threat of the Primordial Rage Owl Sect to the world, allowing Polar Industrial Group to join the Alliance."
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"In the west, we have just completely wiped out Blackbird Heavy Industries. We have ended the fear that 13 million people on the western edge of the continent had to face at all times. They no longer have to worry that they, or their family members, or friends, could be singled out to be sent into Blackbird City, never to be heard from again."
...
Just hearing this much, the heart of the owner of the bar in Silver Sand City was somewhat shaken.
In the past, Blackbird Heavy Industries had absolute control over this land, especially towards the end. They continually forced people to move to Blackbird City, purportedly to lead a better life.
At first, everyone believed it, but as time went on, although people outside did not know what was happening inside, they stopped receiving any news from friends and relatives who had gone in.
Gradually, people began to question this, but anyone who dared to publicly question it would often be taken away very quickly;
The bar owner's son and daughter were taken away like that. He had always been someone who didn't believe in conspiracy theories - maybe because he didn't dare to, still holding onto a sliver of hope.
But the arrival of the Alliance completely shattered his illusions.
He didn't want his illusions to be shattered; he preferred to still believe that his son and daughter were alive; he preferred to believe it was just a war of the rulers biting each other.
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This should have been posted with the next chapter, but I haven't finished writing it, so I'll post this part first.
Another chapter is coming, I'll try to have it by 3 a.m., so you all can read it tomorrow. Don't stay up late!