The Same Joy

Thirty exhausted Guard Team Minions, five Black Panther Vehicles, one captured Frankenstein Tank, no air support, and no guarantee of reinforcements. That was the sum total of their strength to escort three hundred civilians, dragging their families along, through a million-strong Sandfolk army equipped with cannons and fortifications, and then somehow breach the city walls.

If they actually pulled it off, it would be a glorious feat worthy of history and military textbooks, a legend that would be sung for centuries as an epic of civilization.

I mean, what kind of power fantasy protagonist wouldn't want to steal the spotlight? Isn't becoming a hero whose name is etched in history, a sage of civilization, way cooler? So, Yu Lian was tempted… NOT!

He wasn't an idiot!

Yu Lian rolled his eyes, contemplating whether to use his Psionics to turn the person in front of him into a living meatball and feed it to space amoebas. Just then, the few individuals who had come with the councilor, presumably representing public opinion, started making noise.

"Yeah, yeah, it's much safer inside the city."

"Now that the soldiers are here, they can protect us, right?"

"Yes, we're already outside the city, nobody can stand being out in the open anymore!"

"You're a soldier, aren't you? Say something! Isn't it your job to protect us?"

"We want safe housing, clean beds, doctors, and hot food!"

Maybe I should just turn you all into meatballs and feed you to the amoebas? Yu Lian thought with a smile.

Doctor Banks behind him looked extremely awkward. He stepped forward, intending to explain, but was immediately surrounded before he could utter a word. Ina, on the other hand, was visibly growing angry. The soldiers saw this; some were at a loss, while others gathered around. Seeing this, the public representatives finally quieted down a bit.

The councilor glared fiercely at the "public representatives" behind him. "What are you doing? What are you doing? What kind of mob are you? You're all prominent figures in New Jade Gate, can't you have some dignity?"

He must have had some authority, as everyone immediately shut up sullenly. Seizing the opportunity, he grabbed Yu Lian's hand and said with a pleasant smile, "I understand, these matters require careful consideration, and this is hardly the place for a discussion. Please, come with me. I can offer you some hospitality."

Yu Lian really wanted to shake off the man's hand, but this elegant councilor had a surprising grip, and he couldn't resort to force in front of everyone. In that moment of hesitation, he was pulled towards the most luxurious RV in the convoy.

Yu Lian recognized it as a Kodo Beast RV, model 825, produced by the Alliance. Its interior living space was enormous, equipped with all sorts of amenities, and fully stocked with supplies and energy to comfortably house five or six people for two to three weeks. Furthermore, the top-tier models of this vehicle could be outfitted with military-grade armor, liquid metal coating, shields, and nano-repair bots, making them even more resilient than the Frankenstein Tank they had captured. Even after a week or two running through sandstorms or acid rain, they would remain pristine.

Standing before this vehicle, which resembled a mobile villa, Yu Lian felt a sense of awe, if only because of its price.

He knew that it would take all the soldiers at Supply Station 12 ten years of working without pay to afford this thing. Yet, not far from this RV, dozens of dusty, travel-worn buses and trucks were scattered haphazardly. Ordinary citizens, equally dusty and wrapped in drab windproof cloaks, milled around, looking lost and even numb, like a flock of puppets.

They did have some food to sustain themselves, but it was mostly long-stored convenience food, and not much of it.

They dared not light fires, so they huddled together around a few low-power portable heaters. Their bodies shivered within their windproof cloaks, no different from the scavengers and vagrants lurking in the shadows of the metropolis, living day by day.

Yu Lian had seen scenes like this many times in his later life, whether among humans or other intelligent species.

Logically, a galactic society capable of interstellar travel should have long ago entered an era of explosive productivity and endless resources. Yet, the reality was far from it. Whether it was because their technological development had taken a wrong turn, or because the saying "productive forces determine production relations" wasn't absolutely true, Yu Lian wasn't too sure.

He only knew that the powerful always found different, simple, and tedious joys in every era; but the common folk, in every era, shared similar hardships and struggles.

"You see, Second Lieutenant, I haven't deceived you. We lack food, we lack cold-weather supplies, we lack medicine. Everyone is truly at their limit. In a little while longer, we won't even have canned goods or black bread left. So, I hope you can understand everyone's anxiety," the councilor said, his face filled with compassion.

If he hadn't said this while inside the RV, enjoying the simulated natural warm breeze, swirling a glass of Saint Venerable wine, with exquisite pastries on the crystal coffee table before him, Yu Lian might have almost believed him.

"Please, don't stand on ceremony. You've just finished fighting, you need to rest," the councilor said warmly, or rather, overly warmly, like a friendly, hospitable neighbor.

He poured Yu Lian a glass of red wine as well. "Second Lieutenant, I heard you're a student at the Central Defense University? Are you doing your graduation internship!"

"...That's right. I'll be graduating next summer."

"That's wonderful. I graduated from Wugang Military Academy with a degree in Civil Engineering, but I never got the chance to join the military. Later, I got another degree from Venice Business School. You see, we have similar backgrounds, so there's a basis for a good conversation."

It took Yu Lian nearly two seconds to understand what the man meant. Because he was a student at the Defense University, part of the so-called "elite bureaucrat group" within the military, he was qualified to have an equal conversation with a distinguished alumnus like the councilor. If the person leading them now wasn't him, but Lieutenant Mondsen, the councilor would never have been so polite.

Well, that made sense. The various hierarchies of disdain formed classes and constituted society. Educational snobbery was certainly a part of that, and a significant part at that.

"We are the elite of society and the nation, and we only occasionally need to bear greater responsibilities. You should understand that, right? Of course, this includes some things that might be misunderstood."

"This, Your Excellency, Councilor... please tell me directly what you need this subordinate to do."

"Excellent, getting straight to the point. That's what we military academy elites should be like," the other man praised.

Yu Lian felt that if he weren't a so-called "Moonfolk," the councilor would probably have thought, "A rude soldier, not worth discussing matters with."

"I understand your concerns, Second Lieutenant. With such a small force, you can't possibly escort everyone into Tulon. The trucks and buses those refugees are riding in can't even withstand the claws of a Raptor."

The councilor's words surprised Yu Lian a little. Seeing his reaction, the councilor chuckled, "Didn't I tell you? I studied at a military academy too, I'm practically your senior. I have basic military knowledge. It's just that, from my position, I really can't keep everyone rational."

Yu Lian swirled his wine glass, watching the man quietly. Whether they were pretending to be allies or pretending to be pitiful, it was the traditional skill of these people. Anyone who took it seriously was a fool.

"However, you've seen my vehicle, haven't you? We can gather three or four of these RVs, equipped with shields and armor, along with your Black Panther Vehicles and war chariots. That should be enough force for a breakthrough."

He had to admit, the councilor made a valid point. Although the convoy didn't have any more monsters like the Kodo Beast 3, which could crush a large Raptor, there were indeed several high-end RVs with better defensive capabilities than the Black Panther Vehicles—after all, this was New Jade Gate, and those who dared to buy property here always valued their lives.

In terms of defense alone, this was already a fairly capable armored assault force. However, Yu Lian still had a question: "...Abandoning those trucks?"

"During a breakout, they would only be a burden. You, as an officer, should know that better than I do."

"There are at least over a thousand people in the convoy. Can these few RVs... fit them all?"

"This is where things might be misunderstood. You're young, Second Lieutenant. You'll learn later that no matter how hard you try, there will always be unsatisfactory outcomes, always unfairness. Perhaps that's just life. But we can't let the pursuit of this illusory fairness delay important matters."

What is this 'important matter' of yours? Your own life?

"The RVs can hold about a hundred people. I'll bring some important figures and their families. Don't worry, Second Lieutenant, they are all social elites with a certain standing, with some reputation in the Tulon council, and even in the Galactic Homeland. When this is over, people will only remember that you saved a hundred lives, including the elderly and children."

But I will remember that I abandoned another thousand people, including the elderly and children.

"Of course, the remaining people are indeed pitiable. You can leave a small contingent to protect them. All they need to do is hold the valley entrance. They should be able to hold on until reinforcements arrive. May the Spirit of the Universe bless them, they will surely persevere."

Yu Lian suppressed the urge to destroy something deep within him, maintaining his smile. Even at this point, he was surprised he could still smile.

"...Why not wait a few more days? Your Excellency, I estimate that the city of Tulon will soon launch a counterattack. Reinforcements from the garrison and the outer fleets should also arrive soon. Why must we risk entering the city?"

"Tsk, haven't you seen it already? Everyone's supplies won't last much longer," the councilor said, taking a sip of wine and popping another small piece of cake into his mouth.

Yes, in another day or two, the commoners struggling with lack of food and supplies might turn on you. Once people get desperate, even the weakest will turn into monsters when they hear their children crying from hunger. That's precisely why you want me to escort you into the city first, isn't it?

So, managing the convoy's supplies collectively and distributing the excess resources of the rich to the poor who lack food and supplies was never an option you considered, was it?