Chapter 1861 - 1860: Frontline City

Click——

The window of the off-road vehicle rolled down, and Anke lifted his head, handing a document to the sentry impatiently, saying, "Hurry up, so I can get in after you look at it."

The sentry looked at him suspiciously before reaching out to take the document. He glanced at the photo on the document and compared it to Anke’s face.

"West Iron and Steel Mercenary Corps?" The sentry glanced down at the document again, then at Anke, "Are you a mercenary?"

He raised his gaze to look inside the off-road vehicle.

Anke slightly turned his body, revealing the neatly arranged weapons inside.

"What? Want some?" He chuckled mischievously, opened the glove compartment, pulled out a pack of cigarettes, and put one in his mouth, "I just came down from the frontline, and if you delay me, these things could be confiscated."

"No, no," the sentry closed the document in his hand, "but we need to verify that your documents are genuine."

"Go ahead." With a cigarette in his mouth, Anke looked around as if searching for a lighter but didn’t find one, so he leaned back against the seat, looking at the sentry.

The sentry cast a doubtful glance at him, walked to the back, and pressed the document onto a nearby identification scanner.

Beep——

With a soft sound, the identification scanner lit up with a green light.

Soon, the sentry returned, handing the document back to Anke, "Sorry for taking up your time."

He raised his hand, looked at the other sentries not far away, "Let him through!"

The sentries in the distance put away the electric barricade, lifted the interception bar, and opened the passage into the city.

Meanwhile, the sentry took out an electronic lighter, handing it to Anke with some curiosity, "I heard things at the frontline aren’t going well, and we just suffered a defeat? They say those soldiers controlled by Christos turn into mad dogs on the battlefield, killing everyone they see."

Anke brought the cigarette to the lighter, lit it, took a puff, and then exhaled a long breath of smoke, "Don’t listen to that nonsense. Only the Nolanka Group’s mercenary corps and Yilan City’s City Defense Army can fight. The rest are just worthless. The other side is human too, not as terrifying as they say."

Holding the cigarette, Anke put away the document, glanced at the opened passage ahead, raised his hand slightly, stepped on the gas, and drove the off-road vehicle into the city.

"Is he from the Mercenary Corps? How come he’s not driving the Mercenary Corps’ military vehicle?" asked another curious sentry who walked over.

"None of our business," the sentry who let him pass put away the lighter, "these West Steel mercenaries are crazy, indiscriminately killing people. Who knows how many forbidden drugs West Steel gave these bastards. As long as their documents are correct, nothing else concerns us."

He raised his hand and waved at the sentry controlling the checkpoint.

The electric barricade that had been lowered rose again.

······

Up ahead, Anke was driving the off-road vehicle through the archway of Jar City, heading into the city.

"Cough, cough, cough——" He extinguished the cigarette in his hand and coughed violently a few times.

"Are you holding a cigarette? Don’t you smoke?" an elderly voice sounded in his ear.

"Yeah, it’s a cigarette, cough, cough——" Anke nodded, coughing violently, "My mom didn’t let me smoke. I only learned when I joined the Mercenary Corps, but I’m not quite used to it."

As he spoke, he looked at the slightly old street ahead, where eight out of ten dim streetlights were out, and he held the steering wheel steady.

"Did you guys smoke back in your day?" He casually threw the cigarette out of the window, curiously asking.

"We smoked," He Ao answered calmly, "We usually used pipes. We dried the harvested tobacco, added some spices, processed it into tobacco shreds, and burned it in the pipe. You also had cigarettes with filters like yours, but only a few cities with ancient relic machinery could produce them, and the output was low. Most people would roll cigars by hand."

"You sound like you know what you’re talking about; you must have smoked a lot before," Anke chuckled, coughing slightly.

"When I was young, my family ran a business selling plenty of cigarettes and strong liquor," He Ao said slowly, "The Northern Kingdom liked to buy strong liquor and liked to brew it too. They have many kinds of strong liquor, but it’s too potent. Many city-states in the South can’t handle it."

"Sounds like it was quite lively back then," Anke reflected slightly, "Quite different from what I imagined the Era of the Great Cataclysm to be."

"What did you imagine the Era of the Great Cataclysm to be?" He Ao laughed, "Fighting beasts with stone weapons, living primitively in caves?"

"Haha, hahaha," Anke laughed awkwardly, "You know my history isn’t great."

"In the beginning, it might have been similar," He Ao said slowly, "but by our time, there were established structures in place. There were kingdoms and city-states, and walls that could somewhat withstand exotic beasts."

As he spoke, the dark little coffin spun slightly, as if looking at the towering skyscrapers around, "But cities and buildings weren’t as tall as yours now."

"This is modern civilization," Anke looked at the buildings around, excitedly exclaiming, "Isn’t it impressive!"

"Indeed, it’s quite impressive; we absolutely didn’t expect times to evolve like this," He Ao also remarked with a hint of nostalgia, "Was that a city wall we just passed?"

"Yes," Anke nodded slightly, driving, "that’s a high wall, every city has one."

"For repelling exotic beasts?" He Ao asked immediately.

"I suppose?" Anke pondered, "Anyway, there are no exotic beasts inside the city, and we use airships to travel between cities. Some people might spend their whole lives in the city, never seeing what the wilderness is like."

"That’s good then," He Ao said with emotion, "The wilderness isn’t a safe place. Back then, our city walls were just twenty to thirty meters, and many times, exotic beasts would breach them, or large birds would even snatch children off the streets."

"That sounds terrifying," Anke seemed to imagine the scene He Ao described, then remarked, "We don’t need to worry about such problems now."

"By the way," He Ao asked in a low voice, "What is the ’airship’ you’re talking about?"

"It’s a big balloon that can carry people and fly," Anke said casually, "You know what balloons are, right?"

"A flying big balloon?" He Ao was a bit surprised, "Won’t the airborne exotic beasts puncture it?"

"Those airships are equipped with armor that ordinary flying exotic beasts can’t pierce, and generally they also have anti-air weapons and other armaments. It seems like there’s something related to the flight path as well, though I’m not too sure about it," Anke pondered, "Anyway, airship accidents are pretty rare."

"Interesting new era." He Ao’s aged voice carried a tinge of prolonged sentimentality.

"Times are always progressing," Anke seemed quite pleased with He Ao’s astonishment at everything, he chuckled, "Old man, after all these years, isn’t the world bound to change a bit?"

"The airship you mentioned, can it go to Kovotra?" He Ao asked quietly.

"In the past, if the Federation really had a city called Kovotra, it should have been possible," Anke seemed to feel some sentiment upon hearing this.

"It was possible before, but not now?" He Ao asked softly.

"Before, the Federation was peaceful; you could buy airship tickets anytime," Anke placed his hand on the steering wheel and glanced at the giant television screen hanging over the shopping mall not far away, "Now it’s wartime; West Carter is near the front lines, and airports have been requisitioned by conglomerates and the city government for military use. Ordinary people can’t easily leave the city without a permit."

He placed his hand on the steering wheel, gently swaying it, seemingly lost in memory, "Unless you have some special status, you can’t leave the city."

"War?" He Ao asked with interest, "Didn’t you say the entire continent is now under that ’Federation’? How could there be war?"

"Who knows what those bigwigs are thinking?" Anke wiped his face, "They just decided to go to war. They say it’s because Christos and his allies from Dawn City oppose the Federation, so the Federation needs to subjugate them. But there’s also news saying the Federation attacked Dawn City first, forcing Christos and his allies to resist, and so the war started."

He sighed, "Anyway, there are all sorts of explanations, and us ordinary folks can’t tell which is true; in any case, the fighting has begun."

While speaking, the off-road vehicle drove past the bottom of the giant screen.

"Currently, the Federation Army has achieved significant victories in the siege against Christos’ rebel forces, winning consecutive battles and reclaiming several cities near Dawn City, stabilizing the overall war situation."

"The city government advises all citizens not to leave their homes unnecessarily, avoid turning on lights at night to save power. If you wish to support the Federation, you can donate to the Federation Army. Visit the Gray Stone Palace website, click the donation button on the homepage to start donating..."

"Donate, donate, donate, a bunch of greedy bastards." Amidst the loud advertisement sound, Anke closed the car window and turned on the car’s radio station.

"You don’t seem to like these donation advertisements." He Ao asked leisurely.

"It’s not about liking or disliking," Anke sighed, "You don’t know what I saw before. While we’re out in the field, eating in the wind and sleeping in the rain, these bigwigs are living extravagantly in their luxurious villas."

He shrugged, "Everyone knows about the Federation; these donations are just a way to add a fancy crystal goblet to the bigwigs’ collection; the folks on the front lines won’t see a single penny."

He muttered, "These guys are shameless."

"So, have people donated?" He Ao asked casually.

"Yes," Anke reached out to adjust the radio, "Those large conglomerates like Noder Finance, Rockville Energy Group, West Steel; they’ve donated quite a bit. Gray Stone Palace’s website displays their gratitude continuously."

"In our time," He Ao spoke casually, "Typically, these city-state nobles would be rewarded for war donations, either through the distribution of war spoils or tax deductions."

"I don’t know, they say there’s some tax exemption or something," speaking of which, Anke tuned the radio.

A passionate male voice chimed in.

"The Federation has newly issued a batch of war bonds with interest rates up to 5%. Call Noder Finance Wealth Management Company to subscribe to bonds and share war dividends. Now pick up your bracelet and dial 212—"

Click—

Anke switched the radio channel.

"West City Government notice: According to Federation investigations, the belief in the Evil God ’K’ may assist Christos’ rebels and allies, allowing them to exercise more sinister magic or abilities."

"Now, West City Government is carrying out a witch hunt against all Evil God ’K’ believers. If your family, neighbors, or colleagues show signs of believing in the Evil God, please immediately call the police to report it to the city government; this is for your protection and the protection of your family and friends."

"The city government will take care of everything; you need not worry. All believers who have gone astray will be properly arranged, and once the war ends or the city government confirms they are harmless, they will be released."

"Dial the police hotline or the ’Specialized Handling Group for Evil God Belief’ hotline to report, or you can directly visit the handling group’s office to report."

"Office Address: West Carter 72 Street 97."

Upon hearing this, Anke glanced at the radio screen.

"Have you heard of this address?" He Ao asked softly.

"That place seems to be the West Iron and Steel Mercenary Corps’ office within the city," Anke shook his head and reached to turn off the radio, "Having the mercenary corps handle this matter, then I’m afraid those K believers won’t be able to come back."

"So, this Christos rebel force, they believe in the Evil God?" He Ao asked with some ’curiosity.’

"I don’t know," Anke shrugged.

"Anyway, the Federation has been suppressing the K belief all along. Some say it’s the Evil God, others say He came to save the world. There are many stories about Him and Christos lately."

"For instance, Dawn City’s army supposedly consists of ogres who eat children; Christos allegedly uses his evil magic to control the entire population of Dawn City, brainwashing everyone. They reportedly capture dissenters in Dawn City and subject them to brutal oppression and blood sacrifices."

Speaking of which, Anke seemed to recall something, "Anyway, there are all sorts of rumors."

"What do you think?" He Ao asked.

"I think," Anke paused, recalling something, "I think everything is quite normal; the opposing side also seems like a regular army. Apart from Nolanka Group Mercenary Corps’ people who seem fearless in battle, the other Christos rebel soldiers I’ve encountered seem quite normal, not as terrifying."

He commented, "However, these Federation media are born to lie, coming up with any story wouldn’t surprise me."

He parked the off-road vehicle on a slightly worn-out street, looking at the dim buildings ahead, "We’ve arrived."

"What is this place? Does it have something to do with that ’network’ you mentioned?" He Ao asked softly.

"Sort of," Anke nodded, looking at the buildings ahead, "This is the underground market. We sell what’s in the car and then buy a bracelet, that way we can connect to the network."