The Igor Medal / The Stakes

The pain and torment at the beginning of this year make this bland honey water taste exceptionally sweet. Under this filter, even the subtle lines of "mistake" seem intentionally made. Rhodes Island has a simple and straightforward nature, without so many twists and turns.

Unbeknownst to many, the audience of this celebration, including the operators, developed a greater sense of identification with Rhodes Island.

Disappointingly, Oute himself found the celebration utterly unremarkable—it was definitely not due to personal grudges.

"Doc Otter! Almost there!" Amiya's eyes sparkled as she handed another cavalry saber to Oute: "Go for it, Doc Otter!"

Generally speaking, even if the intention is to unite people, the "program" for leaders to appear in such celebrations should be speeches and congratulatory remarks.

But this grand finale before the awarding of medals was actually Oute's own entrance.

I hate sports.

I also hate people who force me to exercise—including myself.

Now that things have come to this, it's time to gamble with a month's worth of exercise...

The stage lights went out all at once, and then, in the darkness, the lights focused on a single point. Apart from that intentionally highlighted point, nothing else could be seen.

Liberi, dressed in Rhodes Island uniform, drew his cavalry saber and lifted the curtain. A familiar tune from the Ursus people rang out from below the stage, and Liberi on the stage moved forward and swung his saber in time with the music.

The spotlight followed Liberi's footsteps all the way to the center of the stage, where the slightly curved military knife flew in Liberi's nimble wrist, reflecting a dazzling light. The slashing movements and the agile tricks that loosened his muscles were demonstrated alternately. The sharp blade grazed his own arm, shoulder and waist, but did not touch him even a little bit.

The music grew faster and faster, and Liberi's movements became even more swift.

Suddenly, the gleaming blade detached from his wrist and flew into the sky.

The saber spun and fell downwards.

At this moment, Liberi drew another military knife from his waist and brandished it, while simultaneously reaching out to catch the knife without flinching.

The back of the blade struck his forearm, spun around it once, and Liberi continued to rotate his forearm, simultaneously wielding both blades in the blink of an eye.

"Hurrah!"

Regardless of age or gender, the people of Ursus roared with excitement!

As if in response to the Ursus people, the lively melody quickened even further.

The twin blades danced in Liberi's hands, swirling around his wrists, his back, and his silver hair.

In the end, even Liberi himself started spinning!

The wide hem of his uniform billowed out as Liberi spun faster and faster, and his wild yet elegant blade flashed ever more deadly!

"Whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh!"

Liberi tossed another military knife into the air, held it in one hand, and bowed to the audience.

His other hand, which was behind his back, caught the falling military knife.

After he unleashed a pair of sword flourishes, the spotlight that had been focused on him suddenly went out again!

Where did he go!?

The spotlight swept across the stage, illuminating a clear path that stretched from the center of the stage all the way to directly below it.

At the end of the light, the Shieldguards pieced their large shields together to form a platform, and there stood Liberi, whom the audience had been searching for.

As Oute stepped onto the shield and returned to the stage, Natalia's eyes shone with admiration.

She knew what to do.

Chapter 273 The Igor Medal

The Shieldguards are a legendary unit well-known to the Ursus people—although they are not Ursus's most powerful regular force, they are certainly the most famous.

In the imaginations of different races, the image of "someone being crowned with the support of their generals" varies greatly. But a silver-haired Liberi, stepping on the shield of Shieldguards, ascends high to the center of the stage...

This scene, though not in line with Ursus tradition, is absolutely capable of touching the heart of any Ursus person who has received higher education.

The common people continued to enthusiastically shout "Hurrah!" Meanwhile, the nobles, who had "temporarily fallen from grace," either felt an itch to get back at them, or, like Natalia, began to harbor ulterior motives...

Large shields formed a staircase, Liberi, holding the military knife at his waist, walked step by step to the front of the stage.

Just as the audience's attention was firmly drawn to the Liberi under the lights and the Empire's iconic troops, the workers had already taken the opportunity to change all the props behind the curtain.

Oute waved, and the curtain rose.

The medals and awards that had been prepared beforehand were quietly displayed to the side.

"We have experienced a lot in the past month," he said, gripping his military knife. "Catastrophe and man-made calamities have left indelible scars on us, but compared to the dead, we are still fortunate."

"This is inseparable from the efforts of all the operators."

"Some people overcame numerous obstacles and, with extremely limited intelligence and logistical supplies, forged a new future for Rhodes Island."

This actually refers to the operation to awaken and evacuate Oute, but even he was too embarrassed to say "I am the future of Rhodes Island," so he had to be vague.

That's why it's called the "Awakening Medal".

"Ace, Scout."

The nun, who had quietly returned to Oute's left, presented the medal to him.

Ace and Scout rubbed their hands together, a little nervously. They forced a smile and simultaneously opened their mouths, whispering to each other:

"Although we had rehearsed beforehand, the formality of the event was still a bit overwhelming..."

"If you can't adapt, you can give us your team's medals!"

Their teammates were so excited they couldn't speak, following closely behind.

Amiya received a set of twelve medals from the nun, in two grades: First Class and Second Class.

The base of the First Class Medal is a hexagonal steel frame covered with a large amount of Pure Gold. Twelve Originium Prime, encased in artificial diamonds, are set on the six sides of the medal.

The scarlet synthetic jade is carved into a radial pattern, forming a rhombus symbol. Above this rhombus, D32 Steel forms an artistic letter "R" and "W", representing "Rhodes Island" and "Awakening" respectively.

At the top of the "RW" lettering, a dazzling white, dense Originium shell forms an emblem that resembles both an "Iron Crown" and an "Arc Light".

It's like the tormented virtue of the ancestor after drinking his fill of blood-infused wine and discovering the "truth."

The main material of the second-class medal must be of the next lower grade, and Oute's personal emblem must be changed to Arc Light. The emblem of the third-class medal is simply Iron Crown.

Aside from the dense crystal shell handcrafted by Oute, all the main materials for the medals were taken from the Core City.

"Ace, you and your squad are awarded the First and Second Class Awakening Award for your irreplaceable contributions to the evacuation of Chernobog."

Amiya solemnly took the First Class Medal from the nun's hand, while Ace, mindful of Amiya's height, knelt on one knee. Following suit, the team members also knelt on one knee, bowing their heads to the tiny "Chief Executive Officer."

"Scout, you and your squad..."

Besides these two generals, Nearl, Dobermann, and the various action groups were also awarded second and third class medals. To be frank, in this timeline, awarding first class medals specifically to these two generals is somewhat influenced by the ending of the original timeline.

"There are also those who, in the face of Catastrophe -made calamities, have unhesitatingly upheld Rhodes Island's consistent principles: 'Defend the faith, alleviate suffering.'"

"They devoted themselves wholeheartedly, their bodies connecting the wilderness between the Chernobog Ruins, Number Fourteen Facility, and Lungmen. They worked tirelessly, day and night, their actions embodying the spirit of 'saving lives and healing the wounded.'"

Therefore, this medal is called the "Rhodes Island Medal".

With a sour face, Kal'tsit led Warfarin, Folinic, Gavial... the all-star Medical Department team, forward slowly.

From the Rhodes Island Regent, the one who bestows medals upon others, the cat successfully made herself the one receiving the medal.

Congratulations!

Apart from the Medical Department, field staff members, including Nearl, who were deeply involved in the refugee rescue work, were thrust into the spotlight again before they could even settle in.

The medal features the same gold, silver, and bronze-clad steel frame and the same Arc Light Iron Crown motif, but the main design has been changed to the triangular castle of Rhodes Island. At the bottom of the medal, the inscription "Defend the Faith, Relieve Suffering" is also engraved.

"Kal'tsit, you and your department..."

"Nearl, you and your squad..."

"Dobermann..."

"There are also those who have devoted tremendous effort and energy to our future from behind the scenes; their brilliant minds have laid the foundation for Rhodes Island's success."

This medal is called the "Malta Foundation Medal" and was awarded to the vast majority of people, including Closure, who participated in the design of the Malta.

Unlike the Awakening Medal, which to some extent signifies military achievements, the Rhodes Island Medal and the Malta Medal, both first-class medals, do not require much consideration of trivial political factors and are awarded relatively generously.

Unfortunately, "foreign operators" and "cooperative operators" like Mel could only receive second- or third-level medals because they couldn't participate from beginning to end.

Following medals are awards. Unlike medals, awards are of a lower level of recognition, and are awarded to a wider range of people.

Of course, strictly speaking, a "private company" like Rhodes Island has no right to award medals.

"To all those who participated in refugee relief efforts, we sincerely thank you for your hard work. The world is a better place because of your efforts. For this, we are awarding you the Medal of Unity and Cooperation."

"And those Chernobog who, having faced all the bloodshed, all the calamities and injustices, still held their heads high..."

Below the stage, Hellagur felt a throbbing sensation on his forehead.

This is not just a medal for refugees... nor is it just a medal for those infected.

With his silver hair Liberi gripped his military knife, his gaze resolute as he stared into the void.

Whether they were present at the scene or behind the curtain, every Ursus citizen held their breath, feeling as if he were staring directly at them as he spoke, "I award you... the Igor Medal!"

"Because you lived bravely, you resisted a weak and incompetent tyranny!"

Chapter 274 The Bet

"You stinky otter, can you even walk by yourself?"

As soon as Oute arrived backstage, the Sarkaz girl asked him expectantly.

"No," Oute said bluntly. "When the thought thread is attached to you, it can also remotely control the main body."

"But when I tried putting the main thread back, my whole body ached."

W sneered, "What's wrong with you, you soft-shelled animal? Why do you have to go up there and show off?"

"You're clearly so out of shape!" Without even glancing at Specter and Amiya, she immediately started touching and rubbing Oute, beginning to loosen his muscles. "I really don't understand why you went up there!"

Actually, I can start Fate Reconstruction now...