Within the Safe Zone, beneath the darkened sky, a deeply somber funeral was underway.
Every screen broadcast the memorial ceremony inside Martyrs' Park.
More headstones had been added to Martyrs' Park.
Among the pines and cypresses of Martyrs' Park stood another row of brand-new stone markers.
Xia Qiuyu, Qiu Human, Norman, and the other soldiers who had fallen in War Readiness Zone 931 had all become immortal inscriptions here, forever remembered by this Safe Zone.
Two new headstones had been erected on either side of Gu Weiyang's grave.
All the Safe Zone's decision-makers and high-ranking fighters had changed into plain, dark clothes and stood solemnly before the graves.
One bore Qian Wendao's name, the other Qin Siyang's.
Qin Siyang's name should not have stood alongside those of two Secretaries-General, but everyone believed his contributions to the Safe Zone already equaled those of both men.
Li Tianming and Zhao Longfei stood shoulder to shoulder before Qin Siyang's headstone.
These two elders, usually pillars of strength, now looked haggard, as though they had aged ten years overnight.
They stared at the name on the stone, their thoughts unknown, neither saying a word.
Standing behind them, Li Pengfei finally lost control at the sight of that cold slab of stone and burst into loud, wailing sobs.
A child's emotions were the most unfiltered, and his cries struck deepest.
Hearing him cry, Fu Wanli felt his eyes burn. The grief pent up in his chest surged beyond his control, and he too crouched on the ground and wept aloud.
Once he began crying, Zhao Sifang beside him turned his head away, his shoulders shaking as tears spilled down his face.
Chu Baxing, Hu Chan, and Gu Yunpeng all wore desolate expressions, their eyes red.
The reason they had been able to come together, forge