To be frank, Salen's appearance completely shattered Chu Guang's impression of the Eastern Legion—and entirely overturned his preconceived notions of what a legion commander should look like.
The man didn't resemble an ordinary officer, nor did he look like a typical soldier. Not only was he well-spoken, but his every gesture carried the elegance of an old-money aristocrat. He acted more like a civil official than Bannote ever did.
Chu Guang could not help thinking that if someone placed a bottle of red wine beside the man, he could be framed into an oil painting without looking out of place in the slightest.
His refined, easygoing temperament and cultured aura even bore a passing resemblance to Chu Guang's own.
Of course, it was merely a passing resemblance.
Much like how the Eastern Legion and the Alliance differed on the vast majority of affairs, there were still certain areas where their interests aligned.
Matters concerning the eastern world were one such area.
Compared to the Southern Legion, whose colonial lands were relatively barren, the Eastern Legion controlled vast, fertile territories. Continued eastward expansion was a venture where the investment far outweighed the returns, and its return on investment paled in comparison to developing the lands they already held.
While the Eastern Legion's massive cohort of junior officers possessed a strong, direct drive to win glory on the battlefield, that momentum was nowhere near enough to sway the upper-tier military aristocrats—or rather, the "great landlords" holding massive swathes of territory.
The only commanders who had possessed the stature and hope of leading the expansionists to carve out a new realm—General Klaas and General Griffin—had both perished in the recent eastern campaign. One fell to the Great Rift Valley, and the other died fighting the Alliance.
For these reasons, the expansionist faction in the Eastern Legion, primarily composed of younger officers, had been almost entirely marginalized.
Instead, the entrenched military aristocrats gravitated closer to the civilian faction in Triumph City, "lending" officers and resources back and forth between themselves.
And now, they had an additional trading partner: the Alliance.
Although they looked down on the Alliance's military hardware, they had to admit that its tractors and other agricultural machinery were exceptionally useful.
The Southern Legion, on the other hand, was the exact opposite.
Their homelands were moderately prosperous, but their colonies were concentrated along the edges of the Great Desert. Though rich in mineral resources, those regions desperately lacked arable land.
Because of this, the interests of the Southern Legion's upper and lower echelons aligned perfectly when it came to invading Bolo Province.
Junior officers hungered for promotion through war, while the leadership needed those lands to sustain the prosperity of their domestic settlements.
And that was where things became fascinating.
While the Southern Legion maintained a unified desire for war over Bolo Province, the Eastern Legion held an equally unified yet diametrically opposed position: the great landlords led by Commander Salen adamantly opposed tearing up the ancient treaties.
Two political entities with conflicting interests were wearing the same uniform solely due to historical baggage.
For a long time, Chu Guang had felt that the Legion was quite an awkward, conflicted survivor faction.
Coincidentally, the man standing within the pale-blue holographic beam thought so as well.
With a pleasant smile on his face, Commander Salen of the Eastern Legion spoke smoothly.
"...No emperor lives forever, and naturally, no law remains eternal. Every rule has its day of obsolescence. That was true for the Human Alliance, it was true for the Post-War Reconstruction Committee, and our Legion is certainly no exception."
Chu Guang raised an eyebrow slightly, studying the atypical Wilante with keen interest.
"I didn't expect to hear words like that from the commander of the Eastern Legion."
Salen let out a hearty laugh, looking back at Chu Guang with equal curiosity.
"Well, now you have heard them. In exchange, could you satisfy my curiosity?"
Chu Guang replied casually, "What would you like to know?"
Salen smiled. "I am curious about your perspective."
Did he even need to ask?
Saying such words meant the man was practically ready to split the family.
However, Chu Guang had no desire to meddle in their internal affairs. Besides, a formal split within the Legion might not even be a good thing for the Alliance.
After all, the two factions were currently dragging each other down. If they ever stopped keeping up appearances and openly clashed, the entire wasteland would suffer along with them.
After considering his words for a moment, Chu Guang measured his response.
"I don't hold any particular opinions regarding your internal affairs. But speaking strictly to the point, I believe your words make sense."
Salen continued with a smile, "So, does the esteemed Administrator believe that the Alliance will also have its day of obsolescence?"
"That is obvious," Chu Guang said with a faint smile, his tone completely matter-of-fact. "Even stars burn out one day. What makes a tiny flame flickering upon the earth any different?"
"I did not expect you to be so broad-minded. But if that day truly arrives, wouldn't you feel regret? That would be your life's work—and not yours alone. You and your companions staked everything to create it."
Salen looked at Chu Guang with keen interest, yet his gaze seemed to look past him.
It felt as though his eyes were piercing right through Chu Guang, gazing toward someone else who wasn't there.
Chu Guang paid it no mind, answering steadily from his own principles.
"Why would I feel regret? The Alliance is merely a relief organization. We have never sought to become eternal truth, nor do we represent truth. Rather than dictating truth to people, we prefer to impart the courage to explore the future, unwavering confidence, and some of the methods we have tested.
"If, on some future day, a more brilliant light is born across this land, I will only be gratified that our successors did not fail us—that they carried the torch forward, rather than becoming tomb keepers for me or the 'New Era'... In that sense, our burning will have truly possessed meaning. We will not have been the final runner in this relay race. Why should I have any regrets?"
Salen stared unblinkingly at Chu Guang for a long time without speaking, so long that Chu Guang briefly wondered if the holographic link had suffered another network glitch.
After half a minute passed, Salen let out a long sigh and murmured with deep feeling,
"Now I understand why Vannus insisted on staying behind to follow you."
Too similar.
It was simply too similar!
Though the voice and face were entirely different, those were indeed words that great man had once spoken... or at least something very much like them.
Yet most Wilante had long since forgotten them.
Or rather, they remembered only what they chose to remember. They turned loyalty into a sword and honor into a shield, ultimately becoming the very "tomb keepers" this man spoke of—committing sordid acts under righteous banners, corrupting the equality they had once fought for into authoritarianism, and turning from the persecuted into the vermin of the wasteland.
Himself included.
A wave of profound emotion washed over Salen.
As commander of the Eastern Legion, his feelings toward the Marshal were extraordinarily complicated.
On one hand, he revered that man from the bottom of his heart, viewing him as his personal idol. On the other, he had to face reality: he represented more than just himself. He had to make realistic calculations on behalf of the interest group behind him.
If only the Marshal were as active as he had been a century ago, instead of merely dropping a sparse word or two once in a blue moon.
Were that the case, they would not be caught in such fraternal discord today.
Seeing Salen lost in thought, Chu Guang looked at him with mild surprise.
"...Remarkable. I never expected you to remember the name of a mere centurion."
Salen blinked back to reality and chuckled playfully.
"In the past, I indeed hadn't heard of him. But times have changed. As a Wilante, not only did he successfully infiltrate the Alliance's core, but he even rose to become Chief of Staff of the Alliance Army. If I still hadn't heard of such a capable figure, wouldn't that make me utterly ill-informed?"
Chu Guang laughed heartily. "Plenty of Wilante live in the Alliance. We don't judge by status; we care only whether one's capability and sense of responsibility match their post."
Salen smiled. "Is that so? When I have time in the future, I must visit your territory and see whether your deeds sound as sweet as your words."
To Salen's teasing remark, Chu Guang offered a cordial smile.
"...As long as you come with peaceful intentions, you are welcome at any time."
***
The meeting lasted two hours.
Administrator Chu Guang of the Alliance and Commander Salen of the Eastern Legion enjoyed a thoroughly pleasant conversation.
Although the communication signal dropped intermittently, it did not dampen the friendly atmosphere in the slightest.
During the talks, the two sides reached an understanding confirming that the previous agreements signed between the Eastern Legion and the Alliance remained valid.
In addition, based on the original treaty, both sides signed a supplementary agreement.
The general thrust was that hostilities between the Southern Legion and the Alliance would not impact cooperation between the Eastern Legion and the Alliance.
Furthermore, the Eastern Legion and its vassal states would not supply any military materiel to the Southern Legion.
This negotiation effectively signaled that the Eastern Legion had drawn a line between itself and the Southern Legion.
The nobility and royal court of Falcon Kingdom could finally breathe a sigh of relief, no longer fearing that they would be dragged into an unwarranted catastrophe...
***
Meanwhile, outside the city of Tiandu in Bolo Province, an H-1 Dragonfly military transport aircraft descended slowly toward a crude dirt airstrip.
This runway had been dug out shovel by shovel by local survivors mobilized by Absaik. All one could say was that it was better than nothing.
Fortunately, Alliance military equipment was not particularly picky about operating environments. Though the Dragonfly wobbled unsteadily upon touchdown, it completed the landing without incident.
As the aircraft touched down, the survivors gathered outside the airfield's perimeter fences broke into gasps of astonishment, their faces painted with disbelief.
"So that's what a flying machine looks like!"
"How does a huge hunk of iron like that take to the sky?!"
"I'm more interested in how it managed to land!"
"May the Rat God protect us, may the Rat God protect us... keep illness and disaster away, keep illness and disaster away, let all unclean things fly far away..."
Some whispered excitedly, some stood with jaws hanging open, and others pressed their palms together, chanting improvised, unrhymed prayers.
Having lived here for most of their lives, they had never seen anything so astounding.
While digging the runway, people had explained what it was for and told them to be meticulous when leveling the ground. Yet hearing about it second-hand could never match the visual shock of witnessing it in person, and the crowd burst into noisy clamor.
While the onlookers buzzed with chatter, Zayed, president of the Family Association, stood amidst the crowd.
His eyes narrowed slightly, a genial smile plastered across his face, concealing the duplicity simmering beneath his brow.
*If only that plane had crashed...*
The moment the aircraft appeared in his line of sight, that thought had surfaced uncontrollably in his heart.
Though a crash might fracture the hard-won coalition across Bolo Province, it would save him an immense amount of trouble.
Regrettably, he possessed no ability to kill with a glare, nor had the Serpent God he superstitiously revered answered his "prayers."
Wobbly as its landing had been, the plane ultimately rolled to a steady halt on the runway.
Swallowing a quiet pang of regret, Zayed chuckled softly and took the lead in applauding alongside the other "family members" beside him, speaking in a carrying voice:
"...Resisting the Southern Legion's invasion is currently Bolo Province's foremost priority! Bolo State joining hands with Mammoth State is truly a tremendous blessing for all of Bolo Province!"
Thunderous applause rippled outward. Swept up in the atmosphere, nearby residents who did not belong to the Family Association joined in the clapping.
Applauding along, Sawa stole a glance at Zayed before quietly averting his gaze.
He remembered clearly that this gentleman had said something entirely different the previous night.
Yet only Sawa knew those words.
Upon hearing Zayed's speech, the surrounding family members nodded in fervent agreement, encouraging the people around them to join in.
That included a reporter from the *Survivor Daily*.
The tall, slender young man hailing from Golden Gallon Port was the most deeply moved of all. After clapping, he turned toward Zayed beside him and remarked with heartfelt emotion,
"If only those officers whose minds are filled with nothing but slaughter had your sense of the bigger picture, President Zayed."
His name was Krishi.
Since last year, he had been working at the Golden Gallon Port branch of the *Survivor Daily*. Because of his work, he had watched with his own eyes as the Union deteriorated from a coalition brimming with hope and ideals into something tainted and sour.
They had once pinned great hopes on Laxi, only to discover the man was no saint at all. After seizing a base area, he simply holed up there, focusing entirely on accumulating wealth through exporting labor, refusing to dispatch troops until the Heavenly King Army stirred up chaos, allowing him to opportunistically snap up the three northern states.
The Bolo State Union was no different. Under the banner of "aligning with the Alliance," it continued to flirt behind closed doors with the Legion.
Absaik, the Grand Chancellor, was an outright hypocrite. On the surface, he affected an open-minded posture, yet he clung fiercely to power without loosening his grip. He imitated the Alliance by gathering industry representatives, only to treat those men of vision like monkeys, leaving them stranded on the sidelines and ignoring them.
He was even worse than Laxi. At least Laxi made no pretense, acting directly upon his words, cleanly and unapologetically ruthless.
Looking around now, only Zayed was a compassionate, righteous man—an idealist willing to humble himself and get real work done.
His capabilities might be limited, but he was at least willing to share everything he had with the family members beside him.
What was more, he hadn't hidden away in safety. Instead, he had risked his life going to West Sail Port, organizing the laborers coerced by the Legion, earning himself wanted notices and slander from the Legion in the process.
Looking at the indignant youth, Zayed offered a gentle, kindly smile and consoled him:
"Now, now, you shouldn't speak of those officers that way! If they lacked vision, they wouldn't have stepped forward back then!"
Krishi let out a sigh. "I know. I just wish... they could put aside their personal interests entirely. If they did, we wouldn't need the Alliance to mediate; we could unite on our own."
And they could unite far more thoroughly than they had.
Not like this—feigning solidarity while constantly watching their backs against each other.
Looking at the naive young man, Zayed offered a placid smile.
"We cannot demand perfection from others; doing our own part well is enough. Besides, having the Alliance mediate isn't a bad thing. Internal or external, strength is strength. Our relationship with the Alliance is like brothers in the same household: the second brother's efforts are certainly crucial, but the eldest brother's assistance is just as indispensable!"
Krishi rubbed the back of his neck, smiling sheepishly.
"I know. I hold no grievances against the Alliance... I just feel Absaik isn't a good person."
Zayed shook his head, cutting him off.
"You must never say such a thing. Chancellor Absaik is a true warrior and an idol of mine. Unlike our small-scale scuffles, he and his men fought the Wilante with real steel and lead."
At this point, he let out a sorrowful sigh.
"Not like us... spilling blood in vain without achieving results... I have truly failed our family in West Sail Port."
Seeing that dejected look, the softest spot in Krishi's heart was struck, and he couldn't help speaking up in Zayed's defense:
"You shouldn't say that about yourself! We've all seen your struggle—how could that blood have been spilled in vain?"
"And please don't blame yourself. What revolution doesn't spill blood? You were facing the Legion's soldiers, while Absaik and his men were dealing with unarmed civilians. If even you should feel ashamed, shouldn't Absaik bury himself in the dirt to atone?!"
"Ah, Chancellor Absaik has his own difficulties. It isn't right of you to speak of him like that..." Zayed shook his head. Though quite pleased with his own cleverness, his words remained flawlessly humble and discreet.
Krishi shook his head, assuming this man of insight was merely blinded, unable to see through Absaik's hypocritical nature because he was caught up in the midst of it all.
Yet this only fueled his journalistic zeal.
If the enlightened figures of Bolo Province were fooled by that facade, then even if they ultimately won this war, what awaited them would be an abyss of darkness.
Hot blood surged through Krishi's veins. His eyes shone with determination, already drafting the outline of his next article in his head.
Zayed, meanwhile, offered a quiet smile and turned his gaze toward the stationary aircraft.
From here on, he needed to do nothing except wait quietly.
Waiting was what he did best.
Like a viper coiled beneath the snow...
***
In the distance, flanked by a cohort of soldiers, General Laxi, Commander-in-Chief of Mammoth State, stepped out of the cabin hatch.
Walking up to Absaik, who was waiting beside the runway, he crisply extended his right hand.
"A pleasure to meet you, Chancellor Absaik of Bolo State."
Though both had military backgrounds, their bearing differed noticeably.
Back when Laxi was locked in fierce combat with Alaiyang, Absaik had been nothing more than a minor soldier under Alaiyang's command.
Even though he now sat upon a throne above ten thousand men, he had yet to wash away his rustic, grassroots origins, looking like a peasant cloaked in imperial robes.
Even so, Absaik showed no sign of intimidation. He merely cast an instinctive glance at the sidearm on Laxi's hip before smiling and taking the extended hand.
"The pleasure is all mine... I have long admired your great name, General Laxi!"
Laxi chuckled loudly.
"I dare not claim a great name. It is you, Chancellor, whose fame resounds far and wide. Even sitting in Mammoth City, I heard that your forces had swept across all of Bolo Province."
Absaik laughed in return. "Haha! Sweeping all of Bolo Province is an exaggeration—most of it, perhaps! But you know the caliber of those city defense forces; beating them is hardly an achievement! You, on the other hand, General, shot to fame in a single campaign! Even the 'God of War' Alaiyang fell by your hand!"
"A coincidence, pure coincidence. I never expected him to meet such an end," Laxi said with a sigh, feigning regret. "I must apologize to you for that matter; I hope you won't take offense."
Absaik paused for a moment before bursting into hearty laughter.
"Why would I take offense? If you ask me, he deserved to die! A cur who saw only his master and forgot his brothers, sacrificing tens of millions to line his own pockets with wealth and glory—my only regret is that I couldn't shoot him myself to rid the Bolo people of a scourge!"
Laxi was about to reply when Far-sighted Eagle, who was standing nearby, ran out of patience. He cleared his throat and cut in:
"Drop the mutual flattery, you two. The Legion gave us an ultimatum, and we have barely sixty hours left. We need to hammer out our battle plan immediately."
The warlord representatives from Tiger State and Leopard State had already arrived and were waiting in the command center.
Although their leaders hadn't flown over personally like Laxi, they had sent figures essentially at the second-in-command level.
Hearing the Alliance representative's urging, Absaik snapped to attention and straightened his expression.
"Mr. Eagle is right! Gentlemen, please follow me to the operational command post—"
Before his words could finish, an officer jogged over with a grave expression. Without even pausing to salute, he leaned close to Absaik's ear and whispered urgently.
Upon hearing the whisper, Absaik froze, his expression warping dramatically.
The same thing happened to Laxi. The easy smile on his face vanished when a phone call suddenly came through to the guard beside him.
When he took the phone, his composed expression instantly twisted.
In the end, Far-sighted Eagle was the only one left in the dark, wondering what was happening while standing there in-game.
Fortunately, his three good buddies had gone to the front lines and didn't leave him waiting long. A notification buzzed onto his VM screen:
*The Legion! The Big Noses opened fire!*
Staring at the flashing text on his VM screen, Eagle held his breath.
*Holy crap!*
*Didn't they say the expansion wouldn't drop for another seventy-two hours? This trash dev is launching a sneak attack?!*
Chapter 849