Rust - Chapter 979



Only Krnovel

RUST -980

The Empire’s maritime cities were much larger than the Holy Kingdom’s floating cities.

It was a floating city built on a scale that surpassed the mega floats used as naval bases or offshore airfields. In other words, it was a floating city built on multiple structures called giga floats.

While the floating cities of the Holy Kingdom could easily accommodate ten million people, the maritime cities of the Empire were even larger.

The park, which was created according to various themes, had a huge green space that did not feel like an artificial island, and even had low hills and small waterfalls.

Ki-sun was amazed while watching a video introducing the maritime city where the memorial service was held.

[Hey- How the hell did you make this?]

It hasn’t even been two years since the Empire began building sea cities. It’s hard to understand how they did it.

The Holy Kingdom had been struggling to keep up with the times, even with the ants, various construction assistant robots, and even artificial intelligence. It was surprising that they were able to build something even bigger in about the same time.

(Wow—-)

(Wow———)

The huge maritime city was shaking. Ki-sun, who was watching the live broadcast, stuck out his tongue at the absurd situation.

[I can’t help but say “Wow”. They’re holding a memorial service for him after he died, but he’s still alive and making an appearance? Isn’t this the worst?]

“It’s dangerous···.”

The reason the two of them watched the memorial service was because the interior of the maritime city appeared here and there. But now, both the memorial service and the maritime city have taken a backseat.

(Leon!)

(Leon!)

(Leon Bonnard!!!)

Ki-soon immediately realized what danger Maru was talking about. The current situation itself was dangerous. The mere fact that the dead hero was alive was enough to make her boil over, but what if something else were to happen?

What if a cinematic revelation like that were to break out, for example, that the hero was killed because someone tried to kill him?

[That would be dangerous. The other way around too.]

“The other side?”

[It’s the situation, but it’s too popular.]

“That would be because there are soldiers and their families who survived thanks to Leon Bonnard. It could also be because of the atmosphere.”

[No. That’s true, but why would you suddenly appear at the most important moment? That’s impossible without power.]

“Ah···. Force.”

Maru nodded at Gisun’s words.

[Even if they are not political powers, it means that they have enough connections to break through the back door. It is dangerous.]

Even if they were to open the sea city, they would have checked who came in. Since millions of people would have flocked to the memorial service at once, they wouldn’t have checked each and every person thoroughly, but they would have screened the entrance.

But the fact that they were able to break through that must have meant that they had some political power or at least some support behind them.

That was a problem, but there was a bigger problem. He came in without informing the higher-ups that Leon Bonnard was alive. If he was alive and well, wouldn’t it be normal to report and return?

But that wasn’t the case.

He came in secretly without following the normal procedures.

He made himself known to the public so that his survival could never be denied.

why?

Why?

They themselves just thought of that, so what will the new president, the political party, the imperial parliament and the military, who are political monsters, think?

(Turn off the camera!)

(Stop the live broadcast!)

(It’s terrorism!)

(That’s not Leon Bonnard!)

(Catch it!)

Some cameras were turned off, but others were still broadcasting the scene. And as their cries appeared on the large screens installed here and there, the crowd began to boo.

(right——)

(right——)

As someone shouted Leon Bonnard’s name through the huge boos, the crowd’s voices grew louder, as if the waves were amplifying.

The scene was broadcast as bodyguards, armed police, and anti-terrorist units tried to get through the cloud-like crowd, but were unable to do so.

[If this continues, someone will pull the trigger and things will really go wrong?]

The moment Ki-sun muttered, a gunshot rang out.

bang-

At the same time, the live broadcast was cut off and the broadcasting station control screen appeared.

“Could it be that words have become seeds?”

[······.]

‧

‧

‧

It was just one gunshot, but it was enough to excite the excited crowd.

‘I shot Leon!’

‘It’s all a lie!’

The main power was cut off to forcefully stop the broadcast, which further excited the crowd.

‘Let’s kill corrupt politicians!’

‘They shot!’

‘They drove our soldiers into a corner!’

‘Catch him!’

Since it was an election within the margin of error, half of the people disliked the new president and administration from the beginning. It was already annoying, but those who witnessed the incident unfolding before their eyes could not stand it.

Because it was a memorial service, there were not only the families of the soldiers who died in the Philadelphia operation, but also the families of the soldiers who died in the New York recapture operation and the Panama operation.

The opposition party was already raising suspicions, but what is this? Leon Bonnard, who was supposedly dead, is back alive. Is there such a problem that you have to call a living person dead?

Could it be that our son, husband, brother and younger brother died because of that?

The idea that this place was created to cover it up began to spread. The bereaved family members also joined the angry crowd.

[Suppress the rioters.]

[Permission to fire live ammunition has been granted.]

[Prevent them from approaching.]

An order given to the anti-terrorist unit and police who were preparing for an emergency.

[Prevent the mob from approaching the stage!]

[Shoot!]

[······.]

[······.]

[A mob?]

[There are my family.]

The families of the counter-terrorism unit members also attended the memorial service. So did the families of the police officers who maintained order. And they asked me to shoot?

The soldiers controlling the scene held their guns upside down.

And the same was true for the maritime city defense units.

“Please say that again.”

“A mob attacked the President at the memorial service. Our troops are moving in to subdue the mob.”

Another officer, not the one who had first questioned, said the same thing.

“Please say that again.”

“···Are you disobeying orders now?”

If you are going to be faithful in protecting the maritime city, shouldn’t you have family and relatives living there?

So the families of the soldiers were in the maritime city. And most of those families were participating in the memorial service.

Even though we were watching the memorial service live just a little while ago, we all know what’s going on, so you’re going to suppress it by labeling us a mob?

They say it’s suppression, but deploying the defense forces meant they wanted to suppress it even if it meant shooting.

“Are you crazy? Your wife could be over there.”

“It’s an order. And if Leon Bonnard was alive, why would he come out now?”

There was a clash between officers who opposed it and those who insisted that it was a riot and that it had to be suppressed regardless of the reason or circumstances.

‧

The new president was walking briskly toward the emergency escape route with his bodyguards.

“This way.”

“Are you okay?”

“Lean over to me. I’ll help you up.”

“It’s okay.”

Considering the age of previous presidents, who were all over 80, he was still in his mid-70s, but he was out of breath, perhaps because he had moved so quickly.

“Hoo-ha-ji.”

He took a deep breath and started walking again.

“Okay, I understand. If you have any difficulties, please let me know.”

Even with his heavy steps, the president’s mind was in turmoil. The situation was so terrible that the crowd’s shouts for Leon Bonnard were heard as hallucinations.

‘Who fired the gun? No… Which way did they shoot it?’

With just one gunshot, the crowd that had been chanting for Leon Bonnard started to run wild, claiming that the government was trying to kill Leon.

The Chief of Staff and the Presidential Guard were ordered to suppress the mob, believing they were trying to assassinate the President.

It was a single kick that made both sides jump.

Could this really be a coincidence? Even if it is, how could it be this shitty?

‘······.’

When everything was in disarray, the way to find the culprit was simple: just think about who would benefit the most.

‘What kind of guy is it? What kind of guy is laughing the most?’

Even if the person who benefited the most is not the culprit, the problem can only be solved by catching that person.

There were not one, but two people who immediately came to the President’s mind.

Opposition leader David White, who keeps nagging at the election results, and former President Dan Brown.

Even if Leon Bonnard dies, the opposition will cheer, and even if he lives, if they have some kind of relationship with Leon Bonnard, they will try to overthrow the government together with him.

On the contrary, even if the president himself dies, it would be the same. With Leon Bonnard at the forefront, he would impeach the current government and call for a new election, and David White’s election was considered certain.

It was difficult for Dan Brown to avoid suspicion either.

A former president who was impeached and forced to step down. He may have stepped down from his position without much thought, but where is there anyone who doesn’t have a desire for power?

The first thing he did after being elected was to replace all the high-ranking generals who were thought to have been influenced by Dan Brown.

However, for practical reasons, it was impossible to strip all the mid-level officers of their clothes at once. The waist was obviously important for the military to function normally.

What if the mid-level officers who still had contact with Dan Brown had relayed to him the Panama operation, the failure of the New York operation, and the refusal to support Philadelphia?

Would Dan Brown, who is crazy about the past glory of the succession and revival of the United States, remain silent? What if he thought that the Imperial Army had been sacrificed to politics that would not have been done if it had been the former Federal Army of the United States?

If he had judged that this was because he had meekly given up power, he would have needed a huge slab to regain power.

Same as now.

So, both of them were sufficiently suspected. Maybe they were conspiring.

‘These damn things.’

My blood pressure suddenly rose and I felt short of breath.

Huh- Huh-

“Your Majesty, are you okay?”

“Okay- gasp- gasp-.”

As the bodyguard supporting the president raised his hand to signal, the formation stopped with a warning.

“The barrier has come down. I’ll take a short break and then go.”

“Huh- Huh- I see.”

The president, who was sweating profusely, was barely able to catch his breath when the chief of staff, whose expression had changed to a serious one as if he had heard some kind of communication, reported in a low voice.

“Your Majesty, the commander of the city defense force has been imprisoned by his officers.”

“Huh- what-.”

“The city defenses are out of control.”

“······.”

The chief of staff continued his report to the flustered president, his expression seeming to tell him to brace himself.

“And. the administration and the imperial council were taken over by the mob.”

“Haa- Hak- The members are safe···.”

“There appear to be no casualties. I have declared an emergency extraordinary session of the National Assembly, led by David White. I have proposed a motion to impeach the President.”

He was using the same method he used to get rid of Dan Brown on himself.

What was even more wicked was that there was an angry crowd outside.

Does this make sense?

Is this how things turn out?

In terms of time, less than an hour had passed since the incident occurred.

“That guy. Those guys. Huh- Keuuuuuuk-”

The president lost consciousness before he could finish his speech.

“Your Majesty! Your Majesty!”

‧

David White and the opposition MPs were grim-faced, suppressing their joy because the live cameras were rolling.

“We must impeach him.”

“Yes. 300,000 soldiers died in the Panama campaign. Look at the number of soldiers killed and missing in the New York campaign, which has not yet been announced.”

“Refusing the assistance requested by General Leon Bonnard was tantamount to attempting to kill his soldiers.”

“Yes. To refuse the supply and support of the Imperial Army for political reasons? That is impossible.”

The Imperial Household could not help but feel nervous, for an angry mob had surrounded the House of Representatives.

“Let’s check with the parties directly about this incident.”

Lawmakers agreed with David White’s motion to call General Leon Bonnard as a witness.

“Leon!”

“Leon!”

Every step Leon Bonnard took as he entered the Imperial Council was met with cheers from the crowd. The voice of Leon Bonnard taking the oath as a witness created an atmosphere of silence.

“I swear before God and the Empire that I will tell only the truth.”

And David White’s face hardened at what Leon Bonnard did.

“I will upload video footage to reveal the truth.”

It was Leon Bonnard who said he would reveal the recording device that the field commander had, a kind of black box.

“Wasn’t there a sound like that?”

“Be quiet.”

It was David White who answered without looking back at the congressman whispering next to him.

The video began with the rear hatch being torn open and light pouring in. Someone beyond the bright light began to speak in a smiling voice.

[You’re alive? I thought you were dead.]

A mechanical sound of unknown gender rang out.

[You know, have you ever heard that?]

[It’s about being a hero when you die and being a villain when you live.]

[What does that mean?]

[You know but you’re pretending not to?]

[We were managing the spiders here.]

[You guys? You were controlling the spider?]

[Not all, but if you want to think that way, fine. But does it matter?]

[······.]

[Why did you ignore my request for supplies? You have ears, so you know. It’s a burden to you.]

[······.]

[Why did the Imperial Council oust Chancellor Dan Brown? What do you think would happen if you became famous and gained the support of the people? And what do you think the government and the military are doing now?]

The voice that was directed at the silent Leon Bonnard was tempting.

[Join us. The Empire will not last long. Even without us. Even without spiders and ant-mutated monsters. The Empire will self-destruct. Just like it is now.]

[Our new species wants someone capable like you.]

After continued temptation, the voice spoke.

[And it’s not just the current politicians who are trying to use you to kill them.]

[Some people want to make sure you’re remembered as a hero before you cause trouble.]

And then there’s the scene where a tactical nuclear weapon explodes in the distance.

[Am I right?]

[So, you know. What do you think?]

[It’s about being a hero when you die and being a villain when you live.]

The Imperial Council fell silent. The crowd surrounding the Council erupted.

And Leon Bonnard began to speak to them.

The Imperial Diet was dissolved, politicians were dragged out by angry mobs, and the military was fragging at the generals who had been promoted by the current regime.

“Leon!”

“Leon!”

“Leon Bonnard!”

“Savior of the Empire!”

“One who does not succumb to the vampire’s temptation!”

A genius commander who recaptured New York and even sacrificed himself in the retreat to Philadelphia.

And now the hero who saved the empire.

Make him emperor.