Patriots' Covenant

"Who will deter me?"

Kang De remained calm and composed, as if asking the most ordinary question.

--Who will watch over the Watchmen?

In the hall, Senior Colonel Tian looked directly at Kang De, his expression gradually becoming resolute.

"We racked our brains, but couldn't find a perfect solution. Finally, an old man succinctly revealed the answer, leaving us speechless and then bursting into laughter."

He said, "Things in life rarely go as planned, and starting a business is always fraught with difficulties and battles. Isn't that always the case?"

The soldiers of the Republic stared directly at Kang De.

"At the beginning of our Jianguo, how could we not know that going to war with a powerful hegemon that had just won World War II would have unpredictable consequences? In the 1970s and 80s, how could we not know that America's olive branch was not well-intentioned? From the Jianguo to the present, over the decades, the Republic has faced far too many difficult choices. We have never been omnipotent, our cause remains arduous, and we are not so luxurious as to have a perfect option every time."

"Every choice we made, every gamble we took with our meager resources, was a risky gamble. We were not ruthless gamblers, and that was not our original intention. We wanted to do everything in our power to quickly lead our nation from poverty and ignorance to prosperity and strength. We wanted to put away our weapons and let our horses graze peacefully. We wanted the word 'war' to become a thing of the past—but the world is not so beautiful."

"We knew it from the beginning."

But fate isn't generous enough to let us be fully prepared every time.

"The same goes for this time."

"We have no choice but to grit our teeth, make the decision, wait for the outcome, and bear the consequences."

At this point, Senior Colonel Tian's eyes reddened slightly. This was not a politician's acting, because it didn't require acting; history was already in his mind—those humiliations, resistances, sacrifices, and achievements.

"To entrust such a vital matter of national importance to your personal morality and patriotism is extremely risky, even irresponsible, but we have no better option."

Because time waits for no one.

Senior Colonel Tian said slowly, "In the Battle of Moyani, your appearance changed the world's landscape of superhumans. This was the first time in human history that a superhuman's threat level surpassed that of strategic nuclear weapons."

"To exaggerate a bit, a god has appeared on Earth."

"And he is China."

"This is something that no country can tolerate, especially not Western countries. Your appearance means that superhumans are no longer a controllable group regulated and controlled by governments of various countries. They may also grow into powerful beings who challenge the existing order. More seriously, you are China."

"Your language, your appearance, your skin color, your behavior... you are China."

"They will assume you will readily serve your government, even if you remain completely uninvolved and have no contact or communication with us. They will still tacitly accept this and exaggerate your threat and the resulting international crisis, while pushing hard to unshackle their own superhumans."

"There's only one reason—we're here, China is here."

Senior Colonel Tian glanced at Kang De and, seeing no sign of surprise or doubt, realized that the young man understood the meaning of his words.

He continued, "This is not good news for us, because we cannot rely on you completely, much less trust you completely. On the contrary, because of your appearance, we also need to loosen the shackles restricting the extraordinary—because foreign countries will definitely do so."

"Theoretically speaking, they would do a better job than us."

"It's not just their advantage in scientific research and overall national strength, but also their advantage of low human rights standards."

"Through years of cultivation and accumulation, the governments of our main competitors possess extremely strong social resilience and the ability to control public opinion. This allows them to easily withstand the series of hidden and potential social conflicts and contradictions that arise from the removal of the shackles on the superhumans."

"After all, if a country's population gets used to tens of thousands of people dying from gun violence every year, they should gradually accept that half of them die from superpowers."

"After all, if a country's people are accustomed to viewing Middle East and Africa immigrant communities as crime zones and lawless areas, and ignore the series of heinous crimes bred by immigrant populations, then they should also be indifferent to supernatural crimes, and even regard them as a group that needs care."

"But..."

Senior Colonel Tian looked at Kang De and solemnly said, "They can, but we can't. We are the People's Government, and we must consider the rights of all citizens... It must be so."

"We are open, but we also need to control. We need this new group of extraordinary individuals to relinquish a small portion of their individual rights in exchange for preferential treatment from us, as well as the stability and unity of the entire society and the nation."

"We need to establish rules and laws within this group, therefore we need to form a coercive apparatus, but we also need to ensure that this special coercive apparatus does not become corrupt. We reward them with honor and material rewards, strengthen them with beliefs and ideas, and unite them with common goals and common interests."

"But we also need an ultimate deterrent to keep them in check, to ensure that this superhuman force with its special powers and mission will not change, will not become corrupt, will not fall into depravity, and will always prioritize the interests of the people, never betraying them or harming them."

"You, Kang De, our decision is to invite you to maintain this deterrent."

Upon hearing this, Qin Mengjin's breathing quickened, and she paused mid-sentence as she frantically took notes.

This is an unprecedented honor, a heavy responsibility, and a burden that has never been heard of before.

At this moment, a person's destiny and the course of history become one.

But as the bearer of this supreme honor and responsibility, Kang De remained calm and unmoved.

This magnanimity and breadth of mind were enough to impress Senior Colonel Tian, who had seen countless people and frequented the highest institutions of state power. "The truly courageous are those who remain calm in the face of sudden adversity and do not become angry when wronged without cause. This is because they possess great strength and have lofty ambitions." This must be a description of someone like Kang De.

However, he still didn't understand why Kang De was so calm.

--I've long been chosen as the Fire Thief! The double-chosen one by Brother Tu and Sister La, blessed with the perfect Paradox, the God of the Star Palace, the greatest enemy of Civilization, the calamity of the Mortal World —have you heard of these? I chat and laugh with them.

Compared to the annihilation crisis facing the Mortal World, the Star Palace's next well-prepared military operation, the Sound of Doomsday of countless eras, and the responsibilities borne by the Fire Thief —what are these?

Kang De nodded calmly in response to Senior Colonel Tian's words and suggestions.

"But you still haven't said..." He pointed to himself, "Who will deter me? Who will deal with my degeneration, my corruption, my depravity?"

I've already explained it to you.

Senior Colonel Tian calmly said, "In the decades Jianguo, we have been forced to go to war time and time again, and at one point we were even hostile to two superpowers at the same time. In order to defend our territory and protect our national dignity and sovereignty, we did not hesitate to face long-term blockades, hostility, and even the threat of war. Did we rely on complacency and brilliant strategies for every decision we made at that time?"

Kang De seemed to understand something, and he fell silent.

"... Actually, yes."

--Um?

Kang De looked up in astonishment.

He met Senior Colonel Tian's gaze.

The other person pointed at him. "Our reliance is you."

He then pointed to Qin Mengjin: "It's her."

Pointing to himself again. "It's me."

His hand pointed towards the area outside the meeting hall, where dozens of people were anxiously awaiting the results. Outside Building 18, thousands of people were moving about in the state guesthouse. Beyond that, on the streets, in the districts, throughout the city, and across the entire country. "... it's them."

"The power of the people... may sound like an old-fashioned, empty phrase to you young people, but in that painful yet inspiring red era, when the Chinese nation was facing its most difficult time, when that generation made less-than-perfect decisions, what they could rely on was not the support of the so-called Big Brother, nor the aid of the free world; they could only rely on the people."

"Have faith in this country, have faith in this nation, have faith in our people."

"I believe that even if we suffer terrible defeats in the most dangerous environments, this nation will not sink again, but will rise up even more fiercely, because we have painful national memories, and we have also experienced rise and glory. Our painful past and our fighting hope will be passed down from generation to generation, because we have seen the sunshine, so we will no longer endure the darkness. Even if we encounter temporary setbacks, there will be a day when we will make a comeback... This is our greatest reliance."

Therefore, we choose to believe.

"I believe in the people, and I believe in you."

"Because of Kang De, you are also one of the people."

He gazed silently at Kang De.

"We are willing to believe, we can only believe, and we are confident in our belief that you, who have received the education system of the People's Republic of China and witnessed the country's rise and prosperity in the new century, will have the greatest goodwill, recognition, and patience towards our imperfect government."

"I believe what you're saying—the heritage and national character of our culture that are etched in our blood."

"Study for the rise of China."

Do not do to others what you would not have them do to you.

"Are kings and nobles born with a special destiny?"

"The Great Way prevails, and the world belongs to all."

As Senior Colonel Tian finished speaking, a smile slowly appeared on his face.

He shook his head, sighed, and chuckled, filled with emotion. "I learned these things a very, very long time ago..."

Then, Kang De slowly stood up.

"Is that all?" He pressed his hand on the table, looking at the other person. "Is that all?"

"Yes, that's all," Senior Colonel Tian said frankly. "We invited you to participate in this imperfect deterrence effort because we believe the chances of your mind changing in the short term are slim. Therefore, we choose to trust that during the time you've bought for us, we can find a more perfect deterrence solution."

Kang De looked at the other person and said, "But you still need to prepare appropriate insurance for this imperfect deterrence."

"We do not want your parents and relatives to leave China in the short term, and we hope you can understand. Of course, we are not boasting, but China is the safest place."

Kang De remained unmoved.

"We invite you to guide and train our superhuman forces, and to establish their authority and deterrence. However, we do not wish for you to seek excessive influence within the nation's superhuman law enforcement agencies. You may have ambitions, and you may have secrets, but you must respect the nation and the interests of the people."

The Fire Thief listened quietly.

"We will fully support your operations and plans in West Africa. In exchange, please continue to use the international arena as your stage, whether for business, private armies, or capital. You can even act as an invisible monarch abroad, but please do not seek to control or influence anything domestically... This may seem unfair, but unfortunately, in these critical times, please do not provoke sensitive nerves."

Kang De remained standing in the same spot, his expression neither pleased nor angry.

"At the same time..."

Senior Colonel Tian gritted his teeth. "We will prepare an ultimate secret plan as the final means to deal with your loss of humanity and your twisted corruption, to prevent the country and the people from suffering a catastrophe because of your personal desires and ambitions—we will prepare this plan firmly, secretly, and resolutely, and pray that it will never be needed, and pray that you will become the glory of the nation and the star of Civilization."

Kang De raised an eyebrow. "So candid?"

Senior Colonel Tian said seriously, "Even if we don't say it, you'll understand. That's the charm of being honest with each other. We understand each other without saying a word and just laugh it off, just as we also know that you have a 'final plan' in mind to deal with the worst-case scenario of retaliation and revenge. We all know that it will change the world."

Kang De smiled enigmatically, "Aren't you worried?"

"It's a lie to say we're not worried, and it's true we're wary, but on the other hand, we also have that confidence," Senior Colonel Tian said calmly. "He said, 'Rebellion is justified, revolution is not a crime.' Your wielding of a sword is a deterrent to us. Without this confidence, how can we talk about leading China?"

Kang De didn't speak, but suddenly laughed.

"On this basis, and on the basis of our shared interests as the Chinese nation, the state will respect your secrets and provide you with all the assistance you need."

"Based on mutual trust, mutual benefit, and mutual respect, both sides will conduct friendly consultations and negotiations on the exchange of interests and mutual assistance, and will always maintain open and honest communication, always remembering that we are both part of the Chinese nation, and that the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation includes our share as well as yours."

He extended his hand to Kang De.

On behalf of the Central People's Government, I extend a formal invitation and proposal to you.

"Please be the sword that deters us."

Kang De looked at the hand, but did not grasp it; instead, he seemed rather troubled.

"It sounds like I'm still at a disadvantage," Kang De said, counting on his fingers. "Being a mascot and a top-tier henchman, then my parents can't go abroad, I can't make any big moves in the country, and I have to exile myself to Africa. On top of that, I'm targeted by various countries and guarded against by nations..."

Senior Colonel Tian maintained his outstretched hand gesture, showing no impatience. He smiled and said, "The state will try its best to compensate and help you so that you don't seem to be at a disadvantage. But you can't gain the power to be above the people, to bully men and women, or to stir up trouble. This is a new society. We are the People's Government. We can only try our best to compensate you for your contributions on the basis of legality and fairness."

"For the part that you simply can't make up for, please use your patriotism and sense of national responsibility to compensate."

Kang De chuckled and said, "That sounds rather absurd."

"We can be shameless when necessary."

Kang De smiled again upon hearing this, and reached out his hand to reach for the other person's outstretched hand.

"It's a five-year term; we'll discuss it again when it expires," Senior Colonel Tian added.

Kang De nodded and said, "Money, equipment, infrastructure, and goods."

The other party replied, "Given China's size, turning Zhuerban into a beacon of light in Africa is no problem."

"It's not just that. I don't really have much interest in helping Black people build their hometowns... Zhuerban is my territory, and I need personnel support—security personnel, military personnel, and research personnel."

"We would be delighted. We will respect your privacy and secrets to the fullest extent."

Kang De nodded in satisfaction. "Then I will teach the superhuman troops some things, and we can also exchange ideas on equipment, tactics, and strategies, including things found in the hidden corners of the world."

The other party's eyes lit up. "Intelligence exchange."

Kang De smiled faintly, "Eugene."

"Ah?"

It means "No problem."

Their palms gradually drew closer.

Can you take full responsibility?

"Absolutely."

"So, it's settled then?"

"Um."

"Is this... a covenant?"

"Yes, you could say that, our oath to you, Kang De."

Senior Colonel Tian looked at Kang De's hand, which was so close to his own, and suppressed the excitement in his voice.

"We hope you will remember this day, and also remember yesterday, remember our nation's humiliation, rise, hope, and sacrifice, and remember what you said today. We hope you will use your strength wisely, not only for your personal moral fulfillment and pursuit of ambition, but also for the Great Road of this nation regaining its glory and splendor... We trust you, and we hope you trust us."

Kang De responded with a gentle smile.

"Yes, and I hope you can remember what I said today. I hope you can keep your mission and oath in mind, to protect the freedom and equality rights of the people, and also to protect those who are extraordinary... In the end, they are not different. We are all China, with the same beliefs and the same love."

Finally, their hands clasped together.

"The ancients said that a swearing oath was made by striking hands, and others said it was made by burning yellow paper or cutting off a chicken's head. In this new era, there's no need for those things, because today, the spirits of countless martyrs are watching us. On behalf of the government and the people, I form an alliance with you."

Senior Colonel Tian looked at this unprecedentedly outstanding person and slowly said, "Comrade."

Kang De grasped the other's hand and said, "America has ruined that name—otherwise, we could call this the Patriots' Covenant."

"Let's call it that then." For Senior Colonel Tian, a soldier, this was no problem at all. "Anyway, we've referenced the America more than once or twice."

Qin Mengjin, who could only serve as a backdrop in this calm yet magnificent negotiation and alliance, took out the camera that was placed aside. The video camera had faithfully recorded everything. Her heart was filled with excitement, and she took a picture of the two people holding hands tightly.

"I hope that one day these photos and videos will be unsealed and made public. I hope that on that day, we will all be in the right place to receive the most appropriate evaluation from history and the people."

Senior Colonel Tian looked at Kang De and said softly, "Thank you, Comrade Kang De, I am honored."

"I'm honored too."

Kang De looked outside, his Phoenix Eyes reflecting several anxious souls. "Does this mean that I can now legally and reasonably perform kind personality correction on these spiritually devoid superhumans?"

Senior Colonel Tian, a rigid and serious soldier, couldn't understand the young man's way of speaking at all, "This..."

"Just kidding, comrade."

Kang De turned to look back into the other man's eyes, his pupils reflecting a spark that could ignite a prairie fire. "Let us together crush all the reactionaries!"

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PS1: Update... By the way, there are about 27,000 blades. According to the bounty, combined with the previously agreed 5,000 words, the total bounty is 95,000 words. I will try my best to finish it in the next two months.

PS2: We are really different from the West. While writing this chapter, I realized this more clearly. This is the most logical possibility that I, as a creator, could deduce under external factors such as censorship—and I am honored to have done so.