Preparation for Advancement
Sisron led Bermudes's soldiers into the Surut Palace and broadcast the event live, announcing to the nation and the world that Archduke Gamos and his henchmen had been eliminated, and that the provisional military government formed by Bermudes had now taken over the country.
From then on, the Grant Duchy, which had been enslaved by the Frostplate and Gamos Clan for 527 years, officially became independent and changed its name to the Grant Republic.
The situation is not optimistic. Although the remaining Grand Duke soldiers either fled or surrendered on the spot, the battle left behind a devastated city, causing many people to lose their jobs and work environments. People need to be comforted, but even more important is the Malefic Calamity sky.
This battle may not affect many civilians, but if the barrier generator is not activated soon, everyone will freeze to death.
When Li Aoz flew back to the city to look for Alexia, he found that no one cared about him when he landed. Alexia, on the other hand, was picked up by Bermudes ' soldiers as soon as she landed and taken to Battlefield Hospital for treatment.
"That's right." Li Aoz didn't feel upset at all; instead, he nodded.
His charm is extraordinary, equivalent to 'love at first sight' for humans. Even someone like Nethermark Professor, who hates him to the core, wouldn't dislike Li Aoz so much if faced with his current 100 points of charisma.
The Grantian had no time for flattery or self-gratification. Defeating the Grand Duke and dealing with the aftermath of the war shattered their psychological shackles and gave them a sense of independence.
Li Aoz glanced at the mission: [Settlement Conditions]: A. "Children of the Volcano" - Overthrow the comprador group in Gurant, help the Grantian regain power, and rebuild the republic.
B. Buried in Ultramarine – The greatest obstacle for the rebels is the rulers of the Old World. They kill Grand Duke Gamos Luvenchi Grant of the Grant Duchy (Completed).
After completing "Buried in Ultramarine," he still needs to help the Grantian regain power in order to complete the entire task of "Roar of Freedom."
Defeating the Grand Duke will grant a large amount of experience, as well as a random reward issued under settlement condition B, Li Aoz is not in a hurry to activate.
On one hand, he is currently stuck on the final mutation requirement and will need another four or five hours to advance to the Beta-rank. He has accumulated experience but cannot use it for the time being, and he cannot find the skills he needs to upgrade.
On the other hand, Li Aoz felt that his character was very much in accordance with the law of conservation.
Based on past experiences, if he gets a good reward now, then the Aoneng and mutation options he awakens next generally won't be very good.
I really wish Mouldy Crotch could take away my bad luck, but unfortunately, he doesn't have any special skills.
As for settlement condition A, "Children of the Volcano," that's not difficult either.
According to the mission description, the Grantian regained power and laid the foundation for rebuilding the republic— Alexia had already done the groundwork for them. All they needed to do was eliminate some obstacles, clear out the remaining troops, and gain international recognition of the Grant Republic regime.
Li Aoz's previous socialite activities have already given Red Arrow, Zhengxu, and Sky Ring a voice. Now, international issues are not difficult; clearing away domestic obstacles will allow the newly established republic to gain a foothold.
This is where his ability to win over Barnum came in handy.
When Li Aoz found Barnum, he was standing in front of a car hood, directing and mobilizing people using a computer and map.
For these ordinary soldiers from Bermudes, whose average level of education is only driving school, managing a city is a very confusing thing.
Barnum, this poor college graduate, went from being an expatriate salesman to one of the most highly educated figures in the entire republic's regime. As the King of Frostplate Scrolls, he can effectively assist in government affairs with his excellent learning ability, and he also happens to know some human resource management techniques.
"Hehehe, come here, come here." Li Aoz beckoned to Barnum: "I have something to tell you, Barnum, do you know about the Frostplate- plated Colonial Party?"
Barnum put down the documents in his hand and nodded:
"I've heard of that."
Half an hour later.
Bermudes's soldiers, fully armed, entered the underground shelter on Speria Avenue. They had barely stepped onto the steps of the civil defense structure when they heard a woman's hysterical roar erupt from within:
"I don't care about the rise of a great power; I only care about the dignity and happiness of a petty person!"
Several Bermudes soldiers exchanged glances, confirming with each other: they hadn't come to the wrong place; the intelligence was correct.
Instead of opening the door immediately, they used a recorder on their terminal to capture the sound, and then they heard the speaker inside say with great distress:
"Fellow countrymen, the suffering you are enduring and the property you have lost are all due to the shamelessness and cruelty of those rebels. They destroyed your houses and shops. If it weren't for their extreme hatred of the Frostplate Citizen, we should have been citizens of one of the Four Nations. They have taken away our peace."
Someone quietly pushed open the door a crack and pointed the camera at the crowd. He immediately focused on the man standing on the high platform, speaking eloquently, wearing Frostplate suit, with slicked-back hair and a powdered face—yes, the speaker who spoke in a voice similar to a woman's was a man.
He looked at the people with compassion, and an expression that said, "I'm doing this for your own good," appeared on his face, which was clearly stained with estrogen.
"We oppose war and we want peace. The Frostplate Citizen came with peace and goodwill; they built schools, factories, and gas stations for us. But the 'manly men' of our country only dream of proving their bravery through fighting and killing. How vulgar, how utterly vulgar!"
Bermudes's soldiers stealthily blended into the crowd, slowly approaching the man on the platform, while two others went to block the exit. An officer, comparing the screenshot on his terminal to the 'man' on the platform, nodded.
"That's right, it's him, Chen Muci, the spokesperson for the Colonial Party."
The man, referred to as Chen Muci, excitedly said:
"In Frostplate, I can see that boys can also be beautiful, and women can also become high-ranking officials and business owners, instead of being required to give birth to sons. No, in Frostplate, girls are the treasures. Think about it, what's the point of those extreme nationalists?"
"We should accept the rule of the Frostplate Citizen completely, wearing Frostplate clothes, and remaining true to our original intentions. The Frostplate Citizen are civilized and respectable. During the hundreds of years of Frostplate rule, our cars have fuel, and our children can speak Four Nations Language, thus abandoning the primitive and backward native language of the Grantian."
"Go and see Frostplate, my fellow countrymen. The air there is clear, and people live with dignity. Every Frostplate Citizen, even if they wash dishes, can live in a villa and enjoy free Medical Insurance. We deserve to be baptized by advanced civilization, instead of living a wretched life under the rule of the evil Guland Nationalist regime. The beasts of Bermudes only instill in us the education and ideas of hatred. Little do they know that without Frostplate, we can't even drive a car now."
"Good! Well said!"
Bermudes's soldiers applauded, and only then did people notice that armed men carrying rifles were walking over. Chen Muci on the stage remained expressionless. He held his head high, and even as Bermudes's soldiers approached, he walked forward arrogantly, puffed out his chest, and shouted at Bermudes's soldiers like a martyr going to his death, "What are you doing here?"
"The city has been taken over by our Bermudes armed forces. I'm here to inform everyone to go home and avoid gatherings." The leading soldier said casually, "Mr. Chen, have you received your Frostplate Green Card? Do you need us to take you home, or to the Frostplate Embassy? You won't be unable to get in, will you?"
Chen Muci had Green Card or not was unknown, but his face did turn green and darken:
"I'm giving a speech; this is my job."
"Okay, then you're unemployed." The soldier gestured with his chin. "Take this gentleman away."
Chen Muci hand, feigning anger, and said:
"What are you doing! Are you trying to arrest progressives? This is discrimination! Persecution! Do you even have an arrest warrant to dare to act like this!"
"Sorry, this is a period of martial law, and the military has the final say. If you don't cooperate, you are obstructing our official duties and are suspected of disturbing public order and illegal assembly."
Chen Muci was trembling with anger and cold sweat poured down his face, but when faced with the dark muzzle of a gun, the confidence he had shown during his speech immediately vanished. He pretended to be calm, straightened his clothes, and even waved to the audience in salute.
"Don't worry about me. If my accident can awaken the conscience of more people, then I am willing to sacrifice myself for it."