Chapter 194: The Iron Torrent

“Hmm?” Qiong listened attentively.

“As far as I know, the Falai Dynasty has crossed the Auston Defense Line and will soon reach the Capital. Our nation is just being reborn; we shouldn’t waste precious budget on education now.”

“What? Waste? You think education is a waste?” Qiong’s eyebrows rose.

“No, no, no, what I mean is, education is important, but right now, we shouldn’t spend money here; it should go towards arms procurement. Only by resisting the Falai Dynasty can we start talking about education.” Wilbur was full of passion.

“This is not something you and I can intervene in. If you think it’s a suggestion, you can write a letter to Mr. Ben Keming’s private mailbox through the Internet!” Qiong said seriously.

It could be seen that although the Internet was just being popularized, Qiong, as an organization member, was already well-versed.

“We have already written to Mr. Ben Keming, but it vanished into thin air. Now Mr. Ben Keming must be very busy, he has no time to read our suggestions, that’s why we thought of you, please, this matter is very important.” Wilbur was anxious and quickly said.

“I’m sorry, I can’t help you with this. The issue of education funding will definitely be considered above; I don’t think you need to worry about it.”

With that, Qiong waved to the little brothers of Kyle and walked out.

“Since it’s considered, why leave the frontline alone and instead engage in free education? This is completely contrary to Akide’s thoughts! Some people in the team are too idealistic! Qiong, this matter concerns the success of our great movement, how can you be indifferent?”

Wilbur followed, desperately trying to persuade.

Little Kyle dared not speak, following closely behind, listening intently.

The more he listened, the paler his face became.

He realized that what Wilbur said might be true.

He remembered very clearly that just a few days ago, the newspaper headlines were still about the Auston Defense Line.

It’s only been a few days, and suddenly no one mentions this matter.

Would the Falai Dynasty suddenly retreat?  That’s unlikely, right?

He had heard many gentlemen discussing this topic.

Thus, there’s only one possibility—public opinion has shifted.

Of course, little Kyle didn’t understand what public opinion meant, but he had a rough concept.

Anxiously, under Wilbur’s persuasion, they reached the harbor.

This was a private fishing port.

In Puen City, where people live off the sea, there were many similar fishing ports.

In the sea breeze, fishing boats bobbed up and down.

On the fishy-smelling port, the resting fishermen were organizing their nets and repairing holes.

A few old cats were squatting honestly beside the fishermen, waiting for the small fish that might be plucked from the nets at any moment.

An elderly man with a dark face hurried over: “Miss Qiong, why are you here? The wind is strong by the sea, why didn’t I see your carriage?”

It was clear that the old man was genuinely concerned about Qiong, and such expressed care is hard to fake.

“All the carriages have been requisitioned, I’m fine.” Qiong casually shifted the topic: “By the way, Uncle Shandi, this is the little Kyle I mentioned at noon; I’ll leave him to you, make sure his wages are paid daily!”

Qiong said and pushed little Kyle forward.

“Okay! Rest assured, I guarantee everything will be handled well.” Uncle Shandi nodded repeatedly.

“Little Kyle, just follow Uncle Shandi! I’ve already arranged everything for you; after school, come help tidy up the fishing nets and get paid daily.” Qiong said with a smile.

This job was actually something Qiong managed to find for little Kyle through personal connections.

It’s important to know that although the new Infir had issued the “Notice on the Pilot Implementation of Compulsory Education Bureau”,

In reality, the newly founded state had countless tasks to do, and people above were too busy to arrange such details.

So the “Notice on the Pilot Implementation of Compulsory Education Bureau” was just a framework envisioned long ago.

Regarding work-study programs, it was only a sentence.

—Local compulsory education bureau staff should understand the situation of underprivileged students and provide help within their capability, for example, work-study.

“Thank you, Teacher Qiong!” little Kyle quickly expressed his gratitude.

“No problem, I’ve got something to do, I’m leaving now!”

Qiong waved her hand, a touch of urgency showing in her eyes.

Wilbur’s advice had moved her, and she wanted to avoid the crowd and privately ask her father through the organization’s internal Internet communication channel.

“Teacher, wait!” little Kyle suddenly called Qiong.

“Hmm?” Qiong turned around.

“Teacher, will the Falai Dynasty really come here?” little Kyle asked with trepidation.

Although he had only gone through half a day of compulsory education, he was already fond of the teachers. He feared the Falai Dynasty would come and ruin his good fortune.

“Don’t worry, our soldiers will stop them.” Qiong comforted.

As soon as she finished, a noisy and bustling chant sounded.

The crowd looked towards the source.

They saw a large group of workers escorting a few prison wagons, moving slowly.

At this moment, the crowd was boiling; countless workers were holding banners and shouting slogans.

Those imprisoned in the wagons were the old nobles who refused to surrender!

They were now subjected to the most humiliating punishment—being paraded through the streets.

These people were enduring humiliation, but upon seeing Qiong at the corner, they suddenly became agitated.

“Qiong, it’s you! Where’s the damned White Reed? Stepping over our corpses for power, can you sleep soundly? Huh?”

“Traitors, all of you are traitors! The Four Primordial Gods will punish you!”

“Arrogant scum, don’t be proud! Now you dare to deceive us, in the future, someone will dare to deceive you! Do you think you can enjoy prosperity? Dream on! Don’t forget Akide’s thoughts. They just use you to eliminate us, and when we die, your end is near too!”

“Hahaha, I’ll be waiting for you in heaven! No, you don’t even qualify for heaven.”

They truly were a group of old nobles; even in great anger, they were still clear and logical.

Qiong kept a cold face, as if she hadn’t heard anything.

She didn’t care about these words at all.

Because she had heard too many such things.

In the knowledge spread by Mr. Akide, they were also taught how to divide enemies and win over allies.

These were just leftover tricks.

However, the following insults from the old nobles chilled her heart, causing her growing unease.

“Do you think betraying us means you can continue to enjoy wealth? I’m telling you, you betrayed not just the Royal Family, but also the Four Primordial Gods! The Falai Dynasty’s army will soon crush Infir! By then, the wealth you see is just an illusion! Look at your steam engines, aren’t they all malfunctioning? How many usable weapons do you have left? None!”

“Let me guess, hasn’t the Falai Dynasty’s army already crossed the Auston Defense Line? Your end is near.”

“Not just the Falai Dynasty, the entire world will be against you! The Internet God you believe in is purely an evil deity! No, he’s not even a god, he’s a monster! A monster! A monster!”

The old nobles shouted madly.

Every word pierced the heart, and with their powerful physique, their voices even momentarily drowned out the street slogans.

At this moment, the boiling crowd noticeably quieted down.

Even though some continued shouting slogans, the crowd did not return to its initial excitement.

Many workers exchanged glances.

Wilbur’s face changed dramatically.

Wasn’t he worried about exactly what these old nobles were saying?  Qiong’s face turned icy.

Her brows furrowed, her heart anxious, even instinctively wanting to send a message to her father.

Unexpectedly, at this moment, a cry of surprise suddenly came from the crowd.

“What’s that?”

Qiong looked up, astonished, and glanced around. What she saw in the Ocean made her pupils contract and her scalp tingle.

A giant black hole suddenly appeared on the calm sea.

In the astonished gazes of everyone, floating airships painted with crimson eyes and sharp teeth, like deep-sea evil sharks, flew out from the black hole.

One after another, unending, almost instantly filling the sky.

“Citizens, please do not panic, this is normal military deployment. Please comply with the temporary coastal sea ban regulations!”

Mechanical and repetitive voices echoed along the coastline.

Inside the prison wagons, the madly yelling old nobles were dumbstruck, staring at this magical scene with wide eyes.

All their heart-piercing words were swallowed back in this moment.

The hope they had held that the Falai Dynasty would come and they might be rescued was completely extinguished.

Qiong, little Kyle, Wilbur, and even countless workers participating in the street parade were stunned.

They were staring blankly at the coastline, where the low buildings didn’t block their view.

As far as they could see, countless steam locomotives were coming from the distant seashore.

“Impossible! There’s no such number in the Infir army.”

Wilbur clearly had in-depth study and understanding of Infir, and he was dumbfounded by the Iron Torrent emerging from the Ocean.

If not for the silence of the coastal artillery;

If not for his full understanding of Puen’s maritime strength;

If not for this suddenly arrived force not opening fire.

He would have really suspected that this Iron Torrent was the Empire’s army!

“Akide! It’s Mr. Akide!” Qiong muttered to herself: “No one but him in Infir could create this miracle!”