Chapter 642: The Storm of Change

Their eyes locked.

Looking at Chen Kailai, whose lips trembled just like his own, Xiao Hai immediately realized he wasn’t imagining things!

No one could tell what he was feeling inside. Overcome with emotion, he could barely stand upright – he was on the verge of bursting into tears!

“Commander Chen! Yenir is still alive! We haven’t lost! We haven’t lost!”

“We’re turning things around! Everything’s getting better!”

“It’s tough! Too tough!”

The nearly seventy-year-old Chen Kailai nodded emphatically and helped Xiao Hai up, the two of them exchanging tearful looks like comrades in hardship.

Ever since Yenir was forced into the National War, those identified with his ‘faction’ have been relentlessly targeted.

First, Xiao Hai had his command over two Safe Zones near Tianfeng snatched away, and then Chen Kailai was dismissed – stripped of his Deputy Commander status on charges of ‘favoritism and corruption’.

For Chen Kailai, who had devoted his life to his country and upheld his military duty, it was nothing short of a disgrace akin to a death sentence.

In his grief and anger, Old Chen even contemplated proving his innocence with death – but Xiao Hai intercepted him just in time and brought him back to Tianfeng.

The worst hit was President Wang Tian, who was re-detained by the Military, led by Lu Haishan, on charges of embezzling strategic resources; his entire fortune was confiscated, and his fate remains unknown!

It’s no exaggeration to say that the moment Yenir stepped into the National War, chaos erupted in the rear!

Under such a massive blow, even their loyal troops couldn’t help but wonder if following Yenir had been a mistake!

Ever since aligning with Yenir, they have been beset on all sides, with enemies lurking everywhere – and with no aid from the Capital, Xiao Hai and his comrades soon realized that even the Prime Minister and his circle might be barely holding on.

It seemed like hope was nowhere in sight; they could already foresee their own tragic fate.

Although news that Yenir had emerged from the National War just sixteen hours earlier briefly lifted their spirits, the ensuing long silence plunged their hearts into despair.

Worse yet, with rampant speculation that the old guard had won, some even claimed that Li Xuanguo’s forces had been wiped out in that nuclear blast!

In the endless night and amid unbearable torment, even Xiao Hai nearly gave in to despair, contemplating ending it all!

“Listen carefully! Listen carefully!”

“The Prime Minister is about to speak, and it’s bound to contain crucial information! We can’t afford to be careless – maybe he and his associates are sending us a signal right now!”

Overwhelmed by his relatively limited experience, Xiao Hai’s emotions nearly got the better of him.

Chen Kailai fought hard to steady his nerves as he listened intently to the Capital’s address.

The Prime Minister’s effusive praise for the National War victory meant that Yenir had accomplished more than one feat – what honors and rewards would follow was of utmost importance!

If it were merely honorary titles and material rewards, it would suggest that the Military backing the Prime Minister had chosen to downplay the rebellion and remain patient.

But if Yenir was granted actual authority – if his achievements were used as the basis to shape strategic policies – then it would mean…!

This battle was far from over! A massive purge set to sweep across the Huaxia Battle Zone was about to begin!

The Military, led by the Prime Minister and Yenir, was ready to declare war on the old guard – leaving no room for mercy!

Heeding Commander Chen’s warning, Xiao Hai quickly took a deep breath, fully realizing the significance of these words.

Soon after the Prime Minister had consecutively commended the Military members who had joined the National War with Yenir, the speech abruptly halted. After a brief pause, his tone turned intensely somber!

“In recognition of Commissioner Yenir’s outstanding performance and his tremendous contributions to the Huaxia Battle Zone,”

“the Capital Political Department and the Military have unanimously decided – for the long-term stability and development of the Huaxia Battle Zone, to counter the ever-growing challenges from other nations, and to cope with the increasingly harsh post-apocalyptic conditions!”

“We will bestow upon Comrade Yenir the highest honor and appoint him as…”

“the Supreme Commander of the United Four Battle Zones of the Huaxia Battle Zone!”

“the Executive Committee’s Principal Director!”

“the spokesperson for the Political and Foreign Affairs Department!”

“the Highest Commander of the Capital Military District!”

Appointment after appointment was announced, leaving countless survivors throughout the Huaxia Battle Zone dumbfounded by the staggering hierarchy of these titles.

Even the lowest-ranking survivors, with only a vague grasp of the Huaguo system, stood slack-jawed in disbelief, unable to trust their ears.

They had no idea what these positions truly entailed, but just by their names it was clear that the power Yenir now wielded was perhaps the most extravagant in the history of the Huaxia Battle Zone.

And Yenir – he was barely nineteen by the end of this year!

“Holy shit…”

“Holy shit…!?”

“This is insane… Did I mishear? What did the Prime Minister even say?!”

While the lower-ranking survivors were left in bewilderment, Xiao Hai – who had barely managed to stand with Chen Kailai’s help – suddenly felt the world spinning and collapsed onto the ground.

As the head of a Safe Zone, he knew all too well what these titles signified!

“This is outrageous… How can it be so over the top?! This… Isn’t this just too much!”

Inside the meeting, Old Chen couldn’t even spare a thought for Xiao Hai’s labored breathing – after all, the more power Yenir accumulated, the better it was for those following him.

But for a moment, even Chen Kailai felt that the authority granted to Yenir by the Prime Minister was just too enormous!

“Did they just skip the role of Commander?! United Commander… United Commander!!”

“All four Battle Zones – from the east to the west – now fall under Yenir’s control?! How many ranks did he skip?! I recall that this position was only established during the early days of the apocalypse, wasn’t it?!”

Struggling to catch his breath, Xiao Hai awkwardly crawled on the ground, the final words echoing relentlessly in his mind.

“Commissioner, Principal Director, Spokesperson, Supreme Commander!”

“This is crazy! The world must have lost its mind! That kid Yenir… no, Lord Yenir – doesn’t that mean he now holds unlimited power to declare war?!”

“Every internal proposal and every external action is his! And he’s barely even out of his teens!!”

Some people are maddening – even though Xiao Hai had sensed Yenir’s limitless potential from their first meeting, following him was like tempting fate.

But everything was happening too swiftly, too outrageously – Xiao Hai could hardly fathom how, in less than a year, the trainee Yenir who once stood under his command had grown so dramatically!

What terrified him even more was this:

What exactly did Yenir do after his return to compel the Capital Military to spare no expense, to grant him complete authority, so that he could reign supreme over Huaxia!

——-

Meanwhile, in the Capital Conference Hall.

As the speech came to an end, thousands of high-ranking officials and Military commanders regarded the scene with a mix of awe and contemplation.

Li Xuanguo looked steadily towards Yenir.

The two faced each other, their eyes locked as if it were their first meeting.

With a smile, he began to speak.

“Yenir, here’s my answer…”

“Are you satisfied with it?”