Chapter 830 - This Game Is Too Realistic

### Chapter 830: The "Last Emperor" of Xilan Just before the residents of Wilant celebrated their most significant festival of the year, two major events occurred at the port of Jingarun on the eastern coast of the Borro Province. The first event was the headquarters of Jingarun Bank issuing a warning about Xilan currency, restricting financial instruments and currency exchange channels related to it to prevent systemic financial risks. In simple terms, this meant that foreign currency speculation could no longer use leverage, and personal account holders with Xilan currency were advised by their account managers to sell it off as soon as possible. At the same time, the trade management department announced the suspension of all export activities settled using Xilan currency, while imports were unaffected. This caused an uproar in the upper echelons of Jingarun society, particularly for those holding significant amounts of Xilan currency. As for the majority of the working class, they were largely unaffected. After all, the Gallon was pegged to the silver currency, not the Xilan currency, so any fluctuations in that peculiar currency wouldn’t immediately impact the locals' lives. In contrast, the second event captured their attention more— Namely, the interview in the Jingarun edition of the "Survivors' Daily" with the Emperor of Xilan, Wutuo. Unlike the serious tone of the first issue, this second event was purely comical from beginning to end. The meeting took place on a royal merchant ship. Unexpectedly, just before the interview, Wutuo insisted that the "Survivors' Daily" journalists kneel during the interview, citing Xilan law. Of course, the reporters wouldn’t indulge him. Instead, they creatively hired a Wilant actor from the grand theater to play the part. As expected, upon seeing the actor's prominent features, Wutuo beamed with delight, treating him warmly as if he were a close relative and inviting him to sit for a chat. The interview proceeded smoothly. One side recited lines flawlessly as if from a script, while the other improvised extravagantly, their conversations frequently seeming nonsensical, full of comedic moments. After the interview concluded, the Jingarun branch of "Survivors' Daily" promptly printed a special edition reporting on this "dialogue of the century." However, perhaps because of the brief "Kneel!" incident offending the editors, the writer mischievously used the term "Last Emperor" in the headline. Luckily, Wutuo only read the special "supply" versions sent by Duke Galawa, sparing him from seeing the rebellious headline, which might have otherwise caused him a severe reaction and potentially sparked a diplomatic conflict. After the release of the special edition, people's curiosity about this emperor faded rapidly. The man who harshly lorded over the survivors in the Borro Province turned out to be nothing more than a figure of ridicule. Objectively speaking, he might be slightly more capable than the average person, but not by much—certainly not more so than those nouveau riche in Jingarun who profited off demolitions. When discussing military theory, he vividly illustrated rules of an animal chessboard. When it came to international strategy, he compared monkeys and dogs in a zoo, leaving his Wilant interviewer speechless. As for the future of the empire, "Once the South Sea Alliance's battleships are delivered, everything will get better!" he proclaimed. Some matters might collide with others unnoticed but cannot endure the light of day. Those who read the special edition left disappointed, feeling more sympathy for the 4 gallons spent on buying the newspaper. With that money, they might as well have spent it at a teahouse, where the stories would have been more engaging! Yet, due to this 4-gallon special edition, people finally got a clear view of Wutuo's true "face." Never again would any normal person believe the nonsensical tales spun by traditionalists, claiming the Xilan emperor was wise yet naive, deeply complex, possessing secret abilities and grand visions. At this moment, Wutuo remained blissfully unaware of the public's opinion about him, though he was pleased that fewer people gathered for spectacle by the riverside. With fewer onlookers, he felt at ease opening his windows to breathe fresh air, even moving his dining table to the deck to host feasts for the noble elders of Jingarun, trying to win hearts. All nobles ranked baron and above in Jingarun received his invitation, yet the response was lukewarm. Prominent nobles had either relocated or avoided associating with him to steer clear of controversy. Take Sheriff Behari, for example. Not only did he dodge the invitation, but he wished to toss both the invitation and his title down the drain to eradicate all traces of the empire from his life. Eventually, only a few struggling nobles attended. These were mostly individuals cast aside by the wheels of time. Despite potentially having knowledge and insights, they were unwilling to lower themselves to work, or they lacked capability, leading to bankruptcy or mounting debts, living in disarray. It was precisely for these reasons that when they stood on the deck of the royal merchant ship, wearing their most expensive suits from their wardrobes, and saw their emperor, that grand and glorious "Nihak Era" seemed to return. At that moment, almost everyone was moved to tears, feeling an overwhelming urge to prostrate themselves. "Your Majesty! You remembered us!" "We missed you, Your Majesty!" "Come back to us!" "The alliance is horrible! Wooo, you wouldn’t believe how they treated us!" "We’ve suffered so much!" "Please, rise," Wutuo said with a sympathetic expression, walking forward and reaching out as if to lift them. Though he wore a compassionate face as he looked at the weeping nobles, inwardly, he was overjoyed. Even if proving that the alliance was a piece of garbage didn’t make the empire's garbage any more fragrant, he enjoyed hearing it nonetheless. The more grievously they cried, the deeper they lamented, the more justified his perceptions seemed. After rounds of tearful complaints, Wutuo invited them to take their seats at the table. As for himself, he sat at the head of the banquet and nodded to the chef hired from the Plaza Hotel, signaling the start of the meal. Shortly, a line of dishes was wheeled onto the deck, each platter laden with delectable food. The noble elders' mouths watered, their eyes fixed longingly on the serving staff, eager enough to jump up and grab food with their bare hands. Wutuo ate contentedly, feeling he had finally compensated for the grievances endured throughout his journey. After several rounds of drinks, the gathered nobles grew somewhat inebriated, with some even slumping over the table snoring. Noticing the meal was about over, Wutuo suddenly rose, using the wine as an excuse to propose a toast, saying with heartfelt emotion, "Hearing your grievances deeply pains me, and I blame Arician for failing to defend us, bringing such distress upon you all!" Pausing briefly, he continued, "Here’s the plan! Once the situation calms down, would you all be willing to return to the capital with me? I assure everyone, bygones will be bygones, and you remain my most loyal subjects!" His words were met with complete silence on the deck, even the snores faded away. Those who had been wailing and cursing the alliance moments ago now silently bowed their heads, suddenly mute. Sensing the chilly atmosphere, Prince Dilip stepped forward to ease the tension, awkwardly laughing as he said, "Everyone, eat up! Eat up! Food was scarce before, so today, courtesy of His Majesty, don’t hold back, eat to your fill!" With his words, those who had been silent suddenly found their voices again, showering praise. "His Majesty is generous!" "The alliance is stingy! They demolished my house with such meager compensation, unlike His Majesty’s generosity!" "Ah... I miss Grand Duke Nihak so dearly! I wonder how he fares in the Southern Barbarian Seas!" "…Please come back, Your Majesty! We miss you so much!" The atmosphere seemed to warm back up. The downtrodden nobles resumed their lamentations, shedding tears again. As for the matter of returning to the capital, not a word was spoken. They seemed drunk yet remained astutely clear-headed, each turning into shrewd masters of their own fates. Displeased, Wutuo sipped his wine silently, feeling a surge of indignation but unsure where to vent. Surrounded by praises and flattery, whom was he to scold? Unable to stand the hypocrisy, weary of the warm-and-cold siding faces, Wutuo snorted, rose, and left the gathering, his sleeves sweeping the air. The continuous sobbing echoed amidst the clinking glasses, resembling laughter intertwined with tears. The maddening laughter somehow managed to be more jarring, more unpleasant than the crying... Noticing the departure of their emperor, the drunken Prince Dilip wiped his mouth and made a toast around the table. "His Majesty cannot handle his liquor, so enjoy yourselves, everyone! Drink to your heart's content!" The nobles, bellies full and greasy with satisfaction, paid little heed, seemingly forgetting that the person they missed had already departed, belching in consensus, "Praise His Majesty!" "Heh heh!" "Your Majesty is wise!" ... While Wutuo held grand banquets on the Eternal Flow River, the empire he lost as an emperor was in complete turmoil. It wasn't because the Heavenly Army had breached the gates of Tiandu, but because no one predicted that Wutuo would pull such a deceptive maneuver of "making a feint to the east while striking in the west." He was a ruler of a nation! How could he treat his subjects like a bunch of fools? With the publication of the interview and the special edition of the "Survivors' Daily," news quickly spread that Wutuo was in Jingarun Port. The northern three provinces, busy preparing to welcome the emperor, were the first to be bewildered, especially when they saw that it was the Crown Prince who showed up. The ceremonial receptionists, following imperial protocol, were at a loss. The warlords of Tiger Province and Leopard Province near Jingarun Port were equally shocked, realizing they had been fooled by their own emperor! To be fair, they might not have any plans to rebel. At least, they certainly had no such thoughts at the moment. Given the empire's current state, whoever became emperor would be on a burning throne. Being a local overlord with unchecked power seemed much better. However, even though they had no rebellious intentions, they couldn't ignore the possibility that a neighboring warlord might exploit the situation by using the emperor. With the emperor slipping quietly past their territories, both warlords grew uneasy. It was clear the emperor no longer trusted them. With Tiandu surrounded, they could no longer expect military funding. While the empire currently had no time to deal with them, they couldn’t predict what might happen once the empire's hands were free. So, should they rebel or not? Originally focused on quietly amassing wealth, the Fierce Tiger Army and the Black Panther Army now faced this very dilemma. As the entire empire stumbled over Wutuo's antics, far away in Dawn City, the scene was much more pleasant. The first Wasteland Survival Equipment Expo officially concluded, receiving accolades from wasteland dwellers and generating sales of 1 billion silver coins! Any survivor factions accredited by the Alliance and adhering to basic conventions could purchase military equipment according to their diplomatic rank, intended for defense against raiders and mutant factions. The Alliance's military factories even offered personalized services based on customers' locations and specific needs, such as installing fixed turrets on walls or deploying patrol drones near production facilities. Previously, with the purchasing power of the survivors around the Alliance, buying such high-value goods was virtually impossible. Even if the Alliance's banks loaned them money, their financial situations would not allow repayment. Over the past year, with the support of technical personnel drawn to Dawn City by the Alliance, industries continuously upgraded. During this process, the Alliance also "transferred" many relatively outdated production facilities to reliable, though undeveloped, partners. Jingarun Port was a prime example. Initially impoverished, Jingarun Port received significant investment thanks to Baiyue Company's support, quickly establishing new production lines that the Alliance was moving to Silvermoon Bay. These included sugar, alcohol, textile, clothing, agricultural machinery, bicycles, and even exoskeleton components. Although these industries were not highly lucrative, they were perfect for Jingarun Port, where the labor force was abundant but undereducated. Naturally, Jingarun Port, having prospered under the Alliance, couldn't only export goods without importing them. The Alliance's rules didn't allow it. Besides repaying installment loans and purchasing silver bonds from the Alliance Bank for interest gains, a significant portion of these funds was spent on imported goods. Among these high-value products, military goods occupied a considerable share. Apart from Jingarun Port, other settlements, including Luoxia Province, the Southern Seas, and Eastern Provinces, engaged in similar financial and goods exchange cycles. These survivor settlements, enriched thanks to the Alliance, naturally didn’t mind spending a little to upgrade their security measures, ensuring that raiders wouldn't target them. Aside from group orders, there were also individual buyers. After all, compared to the hard-to-maintain high-tech products, the simple and user-friendly weapons crafted by the Alliance were highly popular among wastelanders. Still, corporate groups also managed to sell many high-quality products at the expo. For instance, Endpoint Group's wearable smart devices, Changge Group's military exoskeletons and prosthetics, and Kangmao Group's androids. These products were primarily purchased by Alliance players, accounting for 30% of the total expo sales. As a special guest, Chu Guang attended the expo, but he didn’t buy anything. He had no need for new equipment, and the Alliance had more professional channels for acquiring gear, eliminating the need for browsing there. Moreover, truly valuable items weren’t casually sold. For example, the P-2 "Lightning" attack aircraft and the L-10 "Thunder" fighter jet, which showcased remarkable prowess during the Northern Island campaign. After chatting with old corporate friends at the expo, Chu Guang was about to check out what new projects Brother Mosquito had concocted when he suddenly received a video call request from Cheng Yan, the Alliance's foreign minister. He decided to head to the lounge next to the convention center. "Xiao Qi, keep an eye on the door." "Got it." Responding energetically to Chu Guang's request, Xiao Qi immediately tapped into the convention center's surveillance system to ensure no eavesdropping. Meanwhile, Chu Guang skillfully retrieved a holo-computer pen from his pocket, placing it on the coffee table to activate the pale blue holographic screen. The convention center was bustling, so it was better to be cautious. Moreover, this was a significant matter. Though the video call hadn’t connected yet, Chu Guang already had a good sense of what his foreign minister needed to report… And he wasn't wrong. As soon as the call connected, Cheng Yan urgently spoke. "Based on intelligence obtained through our diplomatic channels, the empire has formally requested aid from the Legion! A ten-thousand strong unit is currently setting off from Triumph City to Xifan Port aboard an airship, though it's unclear which unit this is or from which legion it originates." "Although their mobilization was within our expectations, I worry the Legion might escalate the war as a pretext, or seize the chance to annex the entirety of Borro Province… The Southern Legion differs from the Eastern Legion. The former controls Evernight Port, not too far from Xifan Port, and they have long possessed ambitions of conquest in the East, alongside the conditions to dominate Xifan Port and all of Borro Province!" "Currently, they face two obstacles: one is internal opposition from the Legion itself, namely from the civil sector. According to Banote's commentary, Xifan Port and Borro Province are technically within the civil sphere of Triumph City… However, this voice seems to have been suppressed." Chu Guang nodded slightly. "Understandable, given the loss of so many lives." "Indeed…" Cheng Yan gave a wry smile, continuing. "The Southern Legion's second obstacle is the ancient pact. I needn’t elaborate with you; you’re no doubt familiar with it. Long ago, the Legion and corporate entities, guided by the Grand Rift and the Academy, delineated spheres of influence, especially restricting expansion—the Legion vowed never to directly control territories east of the Great Desert." "However, as you know, the Legion’s promises are like toilet paper; they constantly tread the line. The Falcon Kingdom, for instance, is controlled by the Eastern Legion in a vassal capacity. In Xifan Port, while the Legion has no official military presence, some personnel are, in fact, stationed there, albeit not in significant numbers." After hearing Cheng Yan’s insights, Chu Guang pondered briefly, then spoke. "Actually, I've been reviewing the entire situation these days. Is it possible that this is all an elaborate farce orchestrated by the Wilant people themselves?" "You've hit the nail on the head!" Cheng Yan raised a thumb in agreement but promptly toned down his unwarranted levity, speaking cautiously. "In fact, you’re not the only one who thinks so... Banote also suggested the same. The civil faction lacks direct military control, and people have long eyed their holdings. He feels something more complex might be at play—possibly someone pulling strings." This possibility couldn’t be dismissed. And it's not insignificant. The civil faction was considerably weak, making their "cake" an easy target for others. Meanwhile, the Legion was at a frustrating crossroad—a colossal entity designed for war, yet long starved of territorial expansion. For a nation grounded in militarism, such a prospect seemed almost inconceivable. If the Heavenly Army was the avalanche that swept across Borro Province, then they were the avalanche destined to consume the entire wasteland, a force that knew no stopping point once set in motion. Expansionist factions were not solely confined to the Eastern Legion. The Southern Legion undoubtedly housed similar factions, and the existence of Evernight Port along the central axis of the Great Desert served as the clearest testament to this. That settlement was situated right along the "ancient pact" boundary, with a whole ten-thousand troop division stationed there long-term. The settlement was like a bone of contention for the Wilantans, fundamentally rejecting the War Construction Committee’s decisions and the treaties under its influence. Still, this was all mere conjecture on Chu Guang's part. After all, it concerned three thousand lives… Without tangible proof, he couldn't rashly attribute it all to some grand conspiracy, especially considering Banote had motives for potentially excusing his own incompetence. "What's your recommendation?" Seeing Chu Guang suddenly directing the question at him, Cheng Yan paused briefly before proposing his thoughts. "I suggest we reinforce our military presence in Jingarun Port! We must maintain at least two brigades in the area! Regardless of whether the events in Xifan Port are a result of Legion faction politics, we must guard against anyone crossing the red line opportunistically." Chu Guang nodded in approval after hearing the proposal. "And what does Jingarun Port think of this?" Cheng Yan chuckled. "They're eager for us to protect them, even offering to fully cover the costs of our stationed military forces." In truth, the expense of a military presence wasn't the main issue. Keeping the Legion in check was more crucial. After a moment of thought, Chu Guang agreed. "Alright, I'll dispatch two brigades." Hearing his decision, Cheng Yan exhaled a sigh of relief. "By the way, there's another matter. Wutuo suddenly appeared in Jingarun Port, and it seems to have stirred quite a commotion in Borro Province. The authorities there are unsure how to handle it and seek our advice..." This issue was fundamentally an internal matter of the Xilan Empire, and the Alliance neither had any reason to intervene nor the interest to do so. An emperor who had lost control of his empire was at best a puppet. While such a figure might hold some value to the Legion, the Alliance was not the Legion, nor did it conduct itself like the Wilantans. Although Cheng Yan seemed to suggest using this individual somehow, Chu Guang didn’t place much importance on him. "Let Jingarun Port decide for themselves. The Legion has already been invited over by that man; is there any point in forcing a change of stance? The Wilantans aren't like hailing a taxi, stopping at a wave and leaving at another." By this stage, whether they invited them or not made little difference. The Legion had never been known for strictly adhering to rules; they would probably find their way over even without the Empire's plea for aid. Legal pretexts? Had the Wilantans cared so much, they wouldn’t have violated agreements time and again. "That's true, but I still think it’s a pity not to seize this doorstep opportunity," Cheng Yan remarked wistfully. Chu Guang smiled faintly. "There's nothing to regret." "From the moment he left Tiandu, his era had already ended." To be continued...