No matter what, it was the Academy that had lost the research vessel, not the Alliance itself.
No matter how important that research vessel was, Chu Guang, as the Alliance's Administrator, could not possibly spend all day fixated on work meant for a major-crimes detective.
Other than informing Chu Guang, the Academy had been too embarrassed to tell any third-party factions. Aside from searching for clues, it could only swallow this loss for the time being.
In short, although the Enlightenment Society had pulled a few strings behind the scenes, this minor episode did not cast a shadow over the great victory.
On the third day after the Alliance occupied Avent City, troops from the Villant Province also arrived there.
The two sides joined forces in Avent City's eastern suburbs and held a grand military parade in the city center.
Soldiers clad in exoskeletons marched in neat formations past the Avent City Parliament Building.
To demonstrate the importance they placed on their southern compatriots, the Governor of the Villant Alliance, "Pangolin," personally arrived at the front aboard a steel airship and held discussions with Vannus, the Alliance commander, regarding reconstruction in the occupied territories and the establishment of postwar order.
The former was a survivor from River Valley Province, yet represented an alliance of Velanders. The latter was a Velander, yet represented the Alliance of River Valley Province.
Judging by their identities alone, the contrast was rather amusing.
Amusing as it was, however, the two shared the same position on rebuilding the postwar order—
Namely, to bury the ghosts of the old era.
To lead the survivors of Bartoya Province into a new age and lay the final brick upon the grave of the old one!
At the parade.
On the viewing stand outside the conference building, Battlefield Atmosphere Team