Chapter 962: Season of Revival

Chapter 962: The Season of Revival for All Things

[The situation in the Bahr Province region remains turbulent; Union Foreign Minister Cheng Yan calls on both sides of the conflict to exercise restraint and resolve issues through peaceful means.

Bogra Free State Mayor Odo issued an "anti-monopoly" declaration, stating he will stand with the citizens of the Free State! Firestone Group refutes the evidence Odo has presented, while simultaneously releasing evidence of Odo's bribery, urging citizens not to heed rumors!

—"Survivor Daily," Dawn City Edition]

[The Free State descends into chaos! "Hound" Special Forces go to war with the corporation?! Saren entered the morning meeting with his left foot first, perhaps hinting that the mastermind behind the scenes is a radical faction of the Union?!

West Sailport hosts a winter swimming competition, with port residents lining up to jump into the sea! General McCullen, commander of the New West Sailport garrison, calls General Grove to express dissatisfaction, claiming that calling barbers and prostitutes the attendants and mistresses of the Velland people is a blatant slander and fabrication—the real attendants and mistresses are all on the ships!

Of course, General McCullen also emphasized that he has no mistress, not even a temporary one.

—"Survivor Daily," New West Sailport Edition]

[The great Mahatma Zayed enters his loyal Celestial Capital! The wise and mighty General Gopal leads the sacred Gray Wolves to surround the Legislative Assembly; the Economic Commissioner commits suicide out of guilt! Sava declares that imposing a consumption tax on grain is outright robbery, evidence of corruption, and the first pillar the Family Council will smash to pieces!

—"Survivor Daily," Celestial Capital Edition]

[Shocking! The Celestial Capital Legislative Assembly is dissolved by the Gray Wolf Army; over a thousand legislative members and their families are executed by Family Council members through lynching!

Mendes, head of the Family Council branch in Golden Port, and his deputy’s wife, Shriya, are found dead in their own bathtub.

Deputy head Rajat refuses to comment on the matter but states that his wife’s relationship with Mendes was absolutely pure—they were comrades in spirit, partners shoulder to shoulder, not what outsiders might imagine.

The cause of death for the two victims is still under investigation; out of respect for the privacy of the deceased, police have not disclosed further details. Previously, Mendes, supported by radicals for his many inflammatory remarks, was seen as a strong contender for the mayor of Yodu. Outside speculation suggests this may be revenge by remnants of the Rasi forces against the Family Council.

—"Survivor Daily," Golden Port Edition]

[Migration wave reappears! The population of the Baiyue Strait approaches the million mark! New immigrants are primarily Moonfolk and Velland people, mainly from regions west of Eternal Night Port and the eastern coast of Bahr 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 of immigrants, and the migration wave may shift toward the Death Coast area!

—"Survivor Daily," Fries Port Edition]

[Velland Street property prices hit a new high! Self-made man Henk creates a wealth miracle in just one year! Not only that, this wealthy man, full of compassion and social responsibility, plans to erect a statue in the core area of Velland Street for a ratfolk named Isher—a hero common to both peoples!

The plan faces protests from some Bahr people, who see it as an attack by Velland people on Bahr people. In their view, Isher ultimately betrayed the Bahr nation, and whether he can be called a hero is debatable. If a statue must be built, they say, let this opportunity go to the truly wise and mighty Mr. Zayed.

However, unlike before, other Bahr people in Settlement No. 1 did not stand idly by; they bravely stepped forward and came to blows with Zayed’s followers.

These people might keep fighting for a while, but survivors in Settlement No. 1 seem accustomed to this—whether they are wastelanders from Haiya Province or Velland people.

Additionally, Suka, a local representative from Bahr Province, has proposed a motion urging the Union authorities to designate the Family Council as a cult organization and ban its spread within the Union. Our reporter wants to say that, aside from overflowing their misplaced compassion, our radicals have finally decided to do something meaningful this time.

—"Goblin Observer," Dawn City Edition]

...

A few more days passed.

Old Bai, returning to Dawn City on business, stopped by the Ravenca Industrial Zone. In Fang Chang’s office, he happened to see Rasi’s sidearm.

It was a classic Centurion pistol, mounted in a custom frame along with its holster, placed on the bookshelf in the office.

In truth, Old Bai had already learned of Rasi’s death from the news days earlier.

But his bond with Rasi was not as deep as Fang Chang’s; beyond lamenting the twists of fate, he felt little sorrow.

Yet now, seeing that familiar sidearm again, he suddenly realized how much had happened since the day they landed in Golden Port.

“You knew it would end this way.”

Fang Chang shook his head.

“Don’t say that about me—didn’t he himself know it too?”

In fact, long ago he had a premonition that the man whose neck veins bulged as he shouted a name, raising the pistol he had thrown high, might meet such an end.

He had made Rasi the director of the Civil Defense Office. Everyone said it was a move to strip him of military power with a cup of wine—a promotion in name but a demotion in reality, praise masking criticism—yet no one understood his true intent… He hadn’t been that scheming; he just wanted Rasi to learn a bit of political tact.

Even Rasi himself didn’t get it, spending a long time drinking himself into a stupor, living like a wreck.

But later, he seemed to have awakened; he quit drinking and started reading books and newspapers.

What a pity, though.

Back then, Rasi was single-mindedly bent on saving the nation, insisting on resigning and heading north, unaware that their real enemy was not the Empire, which would collapse at a single kick, but an unseen force in the shadows, no less formidable, quietly swelling.

If he had waited a little longer, perhaps there would have been a better ending.

Old Bai was silent for a moment.

“But he still went.”

Fang Chang nodded, his gaze drifting to the bustling industrial zone outside the window.

“He might have long cast life and death aside… from the very first time he met us.”

“We can plant seeds, but we can’t guarantee every seed will sprout at the perfect moment. Maybe it’s not a question of right or wrong—just that the time isn’t ripe…”

Not only had Rasi’s time not come, but the time for all Bahr people to “end their hibernation” had not yet arrived.

Only when everyone awakens from the nightmare, when everyone harbors a true hero in their hearts, and instead of waiting, strives to become that hero—only then will the nightmare truly end.

Now is not the time.

“Are you going to help them?” Old Bai asked, looking at him.

Fang Chang thought for a moment, then shook his head.

“Better not. I even feel… I might have harmed them. The Administrator might be right: if you do everything right, you have to be prepared for those who come after to mess everything up, or else keep propping up the tower of blocks so it doesn’t fall. I’ve been keeping an eye on news from the rear these days. Zayed might be the best man for that rat pit.”

They had moved into the dungeon they built with their own hands—perhaps this ending was one they chose themselves.

Old Bai looked at him in surprise.

“I didn’t expect you to be so magnanimous.”

Fang Chang gave a bitter smile.

“Things have come to this—what else can I do but be magnanimous? Should we turn back?”

Old Bai grinned.

“That’s not realistic either.”

Though unwilling to admit it, Zayed had indeed figured them out.

Bahr Province is the most populous region in the wasteland; the Union couldn’t just ignore it, but neither could it stay there forever.

Still, having his thoughts guessed by a little earthworm wasn’t such a big deal.

Kill him?

Why would they?

Since he likes the septic tank, let him rot in it till he dies.

The same goes for Zayed and all who chose him.

When an entire generation dies, their descendants will head to new examination halls, facing brand-new classrooms and questions.

Their future may be bright, may be dark, or perhaps just a repetition in a new cycle.

But that is another matter entirely.

Fang Chang let out a sigh and said.

“Fortunately, Mammoth State slammed on the brakes in time and returned to the track of military governance.”

No matter how badly they develop, they could still become a free state, and now the nightmare of the free state seems to be ending.

They were never on the same path anyway, so there was no need to force the alliance route; the alliance never demanded that of them.

In short, “Sociology +3.”

Considering the severe technological regression on that land, no one should be able to create a “New Red Earth” again, right?

Probably.

“Don’t get stuck in a dead end. As the saying goes, haste makes waste, and good intentions can lead to bad outcomes. Relax your mind, treat it like a game. Maybe when we look back, we’ll find things aren’t as bad as we imagined, and the places we’ve passed have become a forest.”

Old Bai smiled and patted Fang Chang on the shoulder, then winked at him and said, “Someone insisted on coming with me, and I couldn’t talk them out of it. Guess who’s here?”

Fang Chang was taken aback.

In that moment of his daze, light footsteps sounded from outside the door, and then a flash of emerald green slipped through the open crack.

Seeing that familiar pretty face, Fang Chang’s expression immediately turned to surprise.

“Dolly?! What are you doing here?”

“I’d say she’s here to check up on you.”

Old Bai raised his hand with a laugh, then looked at Dolly and continued in a casual tone.

“I can vouch for him—my brother Fang Chang may face plenty of temptations, but he’s quite principled when it comes to relationships.”

“Well… I wouldn’t go so far as to say principled, but I do trust the guy.”

Dolly raised an eyebrow at Fang Chang with a smug look, her eyes sparkling as she continued.

“Of course, that’s one thing. The Workers’ Association has reviewed its failure in the Bolo Province and decided to send a stronger contender… Hmph! This time, I’ll be your opponent!”

Pfft—!

Fang Chang nearly choked on his own saliva.

Seeing her boyfriend coughing, Dolly giggled, hopped over to him, and patted him on the back.

“Alright, alright, just kidding. The Workers’ Association has a different representative. I’m here on behalf of the Survivor Daily headquarters to start operations! After all, you’ve seen how those weird Survivor Daily knockoffs are stealing our market share! Our boss got chewed out by the management. Anyway, we’re planning to personally develop the business along the Great Desert coast and in the Batoia Province.”

“So they dumped this trouble on you?” Fang Chang pressed his forehead, torn between laughter and tears.

Dolly’s eyebrows shot up, and she said with displeasure.

“What do you mean, trouble? I’m pretty capable, you know! I fought for this job myself!”

“Yes, yes… you’re super capable.” Not wanting to argue, Fang Chang raised his hands in surrender. “I give up.”