Chapter 200: Acknowledging and Recognizing the Greatness of Mr. Akide

Joyce was stunned by the sound. He instinctively turned to see a worker excitedly opening the Internet virtual screen with an exclamation.

At the same time, the sounds of intense gunfire and explosions also emanated from the virtual screen.

Had he not been familiar with the Internet, Joyce might have thought that war had descended upon his city! “Zoom in, let me see!”

“What’s happening? What’s happening?”

The workers were in an uproar. Some opened the Internet, while others quickly pushed forward to watch!

“Our Fleet-01 has taken down the Austin defense line, rescued the captured soldiers, and is currently advancing into the Falai Dynasty’s territory!”

A worker loudly read out the breaking news that suddenly popped up.

Meanwhile, the soldier who first discovered the news quickly enlarged the virtual screen for his colleagues to view.

Countless workers looked up excitedly.

This was a video.

In the video, you could see numerous floating airships with fierce paint schemes bursting through thick clouds, dropping strange steam vehicles onto the trench-covered ground.

As the camera switched, everyone could clearly see the steam tanks crashing onto the earth like divine soldiers, spewing white steam as they roared and charged out.

Plowing through anything in their path, they either smashed open sandbags or crushed trenches.

The rapid-fire cannon barrels continuously spat out blazing tongues of flame. During camera switches, firepower points of Falai soldiers exploded into countless fragments, with limbs flying.

“Boom…”

“Da-da-da…”

Amid the intense sounds of explosions and gunfire, an impassioned voiceover came from the video.

“Yesterday afternoon at 3 o’clock, under Mr. Akide’s command, our Fleet-01 dropped a new tank unit deep into the Austin defense line, not only reclaiming the line and rescuing thousands of captured compatriots, but also launching a full-scale attack on the Falai Dynasty!”

At the end of this short video, groups of Infir soldiers in original imperial uniforms could be seen sitting on tanks, eagerly advancing towards the Falai territories!

The video ended.

There was dead silence in front of the factory! Countless workers stood with mouths agape, staring in shock at the visually impactful war scenes! After a moment, thunderous cheers and whistles rang out in front of the factory.

“We won!”

“Hahaha, Long live Infir!”

Countless workers shouted!

All kinds of curses, roars, and cathartic language blurted out.

Someone shouted “Akide” three times. Suddenly the crowd joined in, and more and more people responded, eventually resounding like a mighty chant.

“Akide! Akide! Akide!”

The fervent cheers spread throughout the factory, the city, and every inch of Infir! The excited shouts even reached the racetrack temporarily acting as a guard center.

“What is that sound?”

“What’s happening?”

In a stench-filled stable, a few royal remnants stood up, faces full of confusion, ears perked, listening to the muffled cheers outside.

“Hmph, what do you think? It’s definitely that damn Akide using the Internet to beguile the people again! I want to see what expression they’ll have when the Falai reach their doorstep.”

The Marquis Marleditz, who had just made the news this morning, was lying weakly and tiredly on a haystack, yet couldn’t help but curse and sneer.

Ever since he was captured last night, he hadn’t slept a wink, undergoing the most brutal interrogation by Infir.

Not only was his vitality drained dry, but special drugs were also injected to prevent him from escaping, leaving him weak and almost paraplegic.

“That’s right! That bullshit Internet only reports victory, not disaster! Austin’s defense line is already lost, not a word in the news, it’s ridiculous to keep reporting this victory or that greatness!”

A tall, handsome young noble, despite his disheveled state, sneered coldly.

Marleditz seized the opportunity to boost morale.

“Gentlemen, remember, the Internet God is an alien heretic! The current Infir Empire has been beguiled by him. Once the great army of the Four Primordial Gods invades the capital and hangs these blasphemous traitors, we will surely reclaim our glory! Do not betray the Empire or the great Four Primordial Gods because of temporary pain!”

“Understood!”

The few nobles in the stable, as if injected with adrenaline, fervently whispered.

Facing the overturned Infir Empire, the imperial remnants naturally refused to relinquish their existing interests.

However, continuous resistance yielded little result.

Even every resistance led to their heavy losses.

Fortunately, they had secretly connected with the Falai people, resulting in a plan of collusion with foreign forces to strike at political enemies coming to fruition.

Despite being captured, they held onto hope! ——That is, the Falai had already breached Austin’s defense line and would reach the capital in just two days.

At that time, to better rule Infir, the Falai people would inevitably rely on their power and influence.

Then, they would naturally find a way to survive.

At worst, they could cede some territory to the Falai or become a Falai vassal state.

Regardless of the outcome, they would remain nobles, and after years of patience and hibernation, it wasn’t impossible to reclaim their territories.

“Clip-clop…”

After an unknown amount of time, footsteps approached.

Marleditz and the others trembled, exchanging glances, each seeing a trace of fear in the other’s eyes.

They realized another one of them might be taken for interrogation.

At the thought of the demonic interrogation methods, these pampered nobles couldn’t help but shiver.

“Click!”

The footsteps stopped in front of the stable door.

The nobles looked up and were stunned.

The visitor was an old man in a black tailcoat, wearing a gentleman’s hat, holding a gold-tipped cane.

Such attire was almost impossible among rebels advocating workers’ control.

In fact, what shocked everyone was not the old man’s attire, but his identity.

——He was none other than Prince Lindbergh! “Prince Lindbergh? How are you here?” Marquis Marleditz forced his sore body to stand, full of amazement.

He was surprised to see Prince Lindbergh here.

Even more surprised that he was unharmed, even impeccably dressed! “Marquis Marleditz, have your people surrender! I’ve made a deal with Mr. Ben Keming. They will retain your noble titles and acknowledge all your private property except the factories.”

Prince Lindbergh removed his gentleman’s hat, revealing his full white hair, with a trace of bitterness.

“W-what? Your Highness, you…”

Marleditz was dumbfounded, looking incredulous.

After all, Prince Lindbergh was an authentic member of the Infir royal family, a noble existence with royal blood.

The one most at odds with the newly established Infir Commonwealth was precisely the royal lineage he represented.

In the resistance forces, he had the most vocal support.

Now he suddenly stood out to surrender, how could he believe it? He even suspected the person before him was a flesh magic substitute! “You’re not Prince Lindbergh. He would never betray the royal family!”

Before Marleditz could speak, the young noble beside him suddenly shouted!

“Ayrlin, do you still have the single-barreled rifle I gave you during your coming-of-age ceremony? You are an excellent shooter and shouldn’t perish in Infir’s internal strife. You have a bright future.”

As soon as Prince Lindbergh spoke, the young noble was completely dumbfounded.

Prince Lindbergh sighed, a virtual screen quietly appeared before him: “Don’t count on the Falai. Their main forces have been stopped at Clifford Lake, and it’s only a matter of time before they’re wiped out.”

“The Infir Com… Commonwealth has retaken Austin’s defense line. The army is now deep inside Falai, even capturing the city of Salley. The fall of the Falai Dynasty is only a matter of time. Infir Empire… didn’t lose unfairly.”

“What are you saying?” The young noble Ayrlin looked incredulous.

Marleditz looked at Prince Lindbergh as if looking at an insane old man.

“I’m not senile, this is the frontline report. See for yourself.”

Prince Lindbergh sighed deeply, turned the virtual screen towards Marleditz and the others.

The virtual screen played scenes of the Tank-04 corps battling Falai’s main forces and Fleet-01 dropping steam tanks, slaughtering Falai on Austin’s defense line.

The video was long.

Compared to the news version with edited highlights.

This video was slower-paced but more direct and realistic.

When the video ended, Marleditz collapsed to the ground like a lifeless object.

His face was pale, completely devoid of spirit.

“This can’t be, this can’t be… The steam divine runes have failed, they can’t drive steam vehicles.”

The young noble Ayrlin still refused to accept the reality, muttering, trying to convince himself.

“Nothing is impossible! The steam divine runes have failed, but did the factories in the capital stop? Did their weapons fail?”

“Accept reality, kid. We must acknowledge and recognize Mr. Akide’s greatness, accepting this fate! You’re still young, you have a great future! Stop resisting pointlessly. We are ultimately people of Infir, aren’t we?”

Prince Lindbergh’s words completely broke Ayrlin’s psychological defenses.

He finally understood the faint cheers outside!

In that moment, the name Akide was like a giant wave overwhelming his courage and resolve!