(Leave your brains here)
An alternate world-all settings are as established in this book!
November 6, Blue Star year 2965. (PS: The technological setting was equivalent to the 1960s.)
Saturday.
Western Europe.
The Fourth French Republic, Élysée Palace.
"Mr. President, the intelligence service has just received word that a military coup has broken out in the Republic of Burkina. The coup leader is Ahro Sankara!"
"What?!"
North Africa.
The Republic of Burkina, Presidential Palace.
The setting sun hung between two mountains.
An evening breeze blew past, stripping a withered leaf from an old tree. The yellow leaf struggled ceaselessly in the air, but finally fell onto the road.
Vroom-
A military vehicle sped past. Before the withered leaf could react, bloodstained tires crushed it to pieces.
Bang-
The air was thick with the acrid smell of gunpowder and the nauseating stench of blood. The occasional gunshots not only startled a few birds that had just landed back into flight, but also made those smells a little stronger.
"General. The last few diehards have been shot dead!"
A major in desert camouflage fatigues, wearing a black face covering and holding an AK-47, walked up to a man, saluted, and spoke respectfully.
The man was also dressed in desert camouflage, but wore no black face covering, leaving his yellow skin, black eyes, and very young face exposed.
From the officer's form of address and the rank insignia on his collar, it was clear that he was a major general.
This young major general was Ahro Sankara!
"Mm."
Sankara nodded, then turned his gaze ahead.
Less than thirty meters from where he stood was a white, domed villa, stained black by gunsmoke and red by blood.
This was the Republic of Burkina's center of power-
The Presidential Palace!
"So this is the Presidential Palace that cost 1.5 billion North African francs? If that had been spent on food instead, who knows how many people it could have saved!"
Sankara murmured to himself.
Hearing Sankara's words, the eyes of the others around him dimmed as well.
1.5 billion North African francs!
In this country, the average daily income per person was less than 90 North African francs, while 500 grams of rice cost at least 100 North African francs.
Those 1.5 billion North African francs could have bought at least 7,500 metric tons of rice.
In an industrialized country, a person needed to consume about 425 kilograms of food a year. In the Republic of Burkina, they might need only 50 kilograms!
In other words-
The former president had used at least 150,000 living, breathing human lives to build this Presidential Palace solely for his own enjoyment!
"He got off far too lightly!"
Sankara shook his head with some regret.
If I'd known, I shouldn't have shot him dead just now. That kind of death was far too easy for an animal like him!
He should have been sliced to pieces with a thousand cuts!
"Forget it. Saying all this now is just empty talk!"
Sankara shook his head again, then looked at everyone around him. He extended his right hand in what looked like a gesture of invitation and said with a smile:
"Come on!"
"From now on, this will be where we work. Let's hope we can help the people earn those 1.5 billion North African francs back!"
With that, Sankara strode toward the Presidential Palace.
The sun sank in the west.
The sunset's lingering glow fell over him, draping him in a layer of gold while stretching his shadow long, so very long.
The people around him exchanged glances, then hurried after Sankara, taking three steps in the space of two and following close behind, as though afraid of falling out of line and failing to keep up!
[Successfully occupied the Presidential Palace!] [Successfully seized power in the Republic of Burkina!] [Fully activating system functions...] [Activation successful!] [The National GDP Development System is at your service!]
"?!"
"General? General! Are you all right?"
The major's voice roused Sankara, whose eyes had gone blank.
"Phew-"
After exhaling the stale air in his chest, Sankara shook his head. A smile he could barely suppress appeared on his face as he said:
"I'm fine!"
"Better than ever, in fact!"
"???"
The major was somewhat confused. Better than ever?
He did not know why Sankara was so happy. He could only interpret it as excitement over successfully seizing power.
But... that did not quite seem to fit, either!
The major gave it no further thought and continued:
"We've installed and tested the broadcasting equipment. You can address the nation whenever you're ready!"
"Mm."
Sankara nodded, then reached out to pat the major on the shoulder and said:
"Thank... hmm?... you all for your hard work!"
When Sankara looked at the major, he visibly froze for a moment, but quickly recovered.
In a view only Sankara could see.
A blue, translucent virtual panel appeared beside the major-
Name: Thomas Meyev Nationality: Republic of Burkina Age: 25 Position: Commander of the Guard Battalion directly subordinate to Dugagu Brigade Headquarters Rank: Major Loyalty: 91 (Loyalty is not fixed. It changes with time and experience and may rise or fall. Maximum loyalty is 100. Below 60, betrayal is possible; below 50, betrayal can occur at any time.)
Hearing Sankara's praise, Meyev's eyes, as deep as the night sky, instantly lit up, and the corners of his mouth could not help secretly curling upward.
He lowered his head slightly and replied in as level a tone as he could manage:
"We're only doing what we should!"
Sankara took a long look at the value of 91, then shifted his gaze to Meyev. He gave his shoulder another firm pat and said:
"Let's go. Take me to the broadcasting room. Once I've finished addressing the nation, we'll have truly seized power in this country!"
For the people of North Africa, especially those of the Republic of Burkina.
Military coups could hardly have been more frequent.
In the short span of less than twenty years since their country gained independence, thirteen military coups, large and small, had already taken place.
Some had succeeded, and others had failed.
They had long since grown accustomed to them.
To them, it did not matter who became president.
No one would care.
They would starve or freeze to death tomorrow anyway!
So, as long as the leader of a military coup could capture the Presidential Palace and address the nation over the radio, he could become the new president of the Republic of Burkina.
"My fellow citizens of every ethnic group in the Republic of Burkina!"
"My name is Ahro Sankara, and I am the commander of the Dugagu Brigade!"
"...The dark, rotten Republic of Burkina has become a thing of the past. A bright, beautiful Republic of Burkina is about to become reality..."
"I swear to you on my life!"
"I will build a country where everyone has enough to eat, everyone has warm clothes to wear, and everyone has a job!"
"Long live the newborn Republic of Burkina!"
There are so many figures that mistakes are inevitable. If any of you Daniel Wus and Liu Yifeis spot any while reading, please be sure to point them out. I'm on my knees in thanks!