Celebration Ceremony, Two First-Class Merits

Tonight, the Grand Theater in the inner city of Jade Ripples City, Eastern Sea Province, was brilliantly lit.

The entire building had been freshly decorated inside and out. Rows of brand-new red lanterns hung on either side of the entrance, their surfaces painted with celebratory words in gold powder.

The massive water screen above the theater's main entrance continuously projected key scenes from the Thunderclap Archipelago battlefield: landing craft storming the shore, flags being planted on the heights of Ironspine Island, the signing of the joint control agreement. Every frame had been carefully selected, distilling the war's most symbolic moments for every passerby to see.

The atmosphere in the main hall was even more heated than the lights outside. Circular rows of seats stretched from the front of the stage to the rear wall, every one filled, with laughter and greetings blending into a single buzz.

This was the highest-profile celebration ceremony Eastern Sea Province had held in nearly a century.

Xu Yun, director of the Government Affairs Council, sat near the center of the front row. Vice Director Wang Shizhi sat beside him, followed by the chief officials responsible for various bureaus and offices, covering every important department from finance and civil affairs to water conservancy and coastal defense.

The City Defense Bureau was no less imposing. Director Zhao Lingxiao sat in the first seat to the right of the main position, with Deputy Director Shen Wenyuan seated close beside him. Fei Guan, who oversaw the Inspection System, sat below Shen Wenyuan. All three wore white formal uniforms.

Jian Cong of the Prefectural Soldier System sat toward the left of the front row. He had changed into a dark gray ceremonial uniform for generals, with a wartime merit medal pinned at his collar.

This row of people nearly represented