Chapter 634 - 398: Perfect World
At this moment, Su Mo and Dongdong were returning after buying supplies.
After the outbreak of the Black Tide war, in response to the war demands, the World Government issued more currency. Coupled with the rising production costs and demand exceeding supply, the inflation was extremely severe.
Factory-made synthetic bread that used to cost only a few Moon Coins now sold for dozens, even hundreds.
Strategic materials like sugar and various medicines have already been put under military control and cannot be bought with money alone.
In these times, if you get sick, you either rely on your immunity or think of ways to connect with the military control department to get medicine.
If your body can't take it and you lack connections, you can only wait to die anxiously.
As Su Mo and Dongdong walked, a man in a gray coat hurried past them.
He made his way directly to the busiest part of the crowd, and when the nearby soldiers weren't looking, he suddenly took off the gray coat, revealing a black leather jacket with a wolf-head embroidery inside, and began to shout:
"Companions! Don't remain silent any longer! While we bow our heads in silence, the warriors of the Wolfpack are fighting with their blood for our future!"
"For a hundred years, the giant corporations have been riding on our backs, trampling our dignity at will. As long as those wolves exist for a day, our dignity will cease to exist!"
"Go to battle! Companions! Fight for our loved ones, for future children to live in a freer world, go and fight!!!"
He hadn't managed to shout much before the nearby soldiers rushed over, drew their riot batons, and brutally beat him about the head and body, pinning him down, his face covered in blood.
Even with his hands cuffed and his neck being pressed down, he continued to shout hoarsely:
"Answer the call of the Wolfpack, comrades! Join the fight! Never give up the struggle! Never give up the struggle!!!"
Soon, the man was hooded and taken into a vehicle, while the soldiers scanned the people with hostile eyes, warning them against having unrealistic ideas.
Such incidents have occurred frequently throughout the year, even daily.
There's no doubt that those who dared to stand up were warriors, very brave indeed.
But unfortunately, they were too dispersed, without unified command, and lacked strong power, ending up like now, a fleeting spark extinguished.
With quick military suppression, yet another spark was snuffed out.
The surrounding passersby quickly left with their heads down, not daring to confront the soldiers, but their sideways glances contained even more accumulated anger.
Su Mo and Dongdong were nearby, witnessing the spark ignite and then extinguish.
Dongdong, having turned 18 after the new year, was finally an adult, transforming from the little girl she once was into a blooming young woman.
Whether it was due to early maturation unique to girls or the influence of prosthetic replacements, she hadn't grown taller in recent years, nor had her looks or stature changed, still petite and lovely, just like before.
However, through the grind of time, she had shed the impulsiveness of the past, becoming much more stable.
Had the incident occurred right before her eyes three years ago, even if she stayed silent for the bigger picture, the anger on her face would have been undeniable.
Now, she simply watched as the man was taken away, and through those calm eyes like water, no one could discern what she was thinking.
At this moment, Dongdong felt a gentle hand placed on her shoulder.
Only to see Su Mo looking at her with a soft smile, "It suddenly hit me that after the new year, you'll be an adult. Sorry, with all the chaos nowadays, there's been no chance to organize a proper coming of age ceremony for you."
Dongdong smiled and shook her head, "Being a child is nice, I don't want to grow up yet."
Su Mo teased, "That's not fair. I'm slowly turning into an old uncle, and if you remain young forever, it's not fair to me. You have to grow old with me."
Dongdong chuckled and replied playfully, "No way, if you're getting old, don't drag me into it. I plan to be a beautiful girl forever."
While talking, Su Mo seemed to remember something, crouched down, and tapped his shoulder, "It's been a while since I carried you like before. Come on, let me carry you home today."
Dongdong pushed him playfully, "Oh, aren't you a bit old to be carrying someone around, I'm not a kid."
Su Mo said, "You just said you didn't want to grow up. Come on up~"
Without giving her a chance to protest, he hugged Dongdong's waist and lifted her up like a little pig, causing her to burst into fits of laughter.
Dongdong wrapped her arms around Su Mo's neck, adjusted her posture to lie on his back, resting her little head on his shoulder, feeling the broadness of it.
On the way, Dongdong gazed once again in the direction where the man had been taken away; his figure was no longer visible, leaving only an empty street.
The curve on Dongdong's lips gradually faded, and her gaze deepened.
"Chief, we shouldn't remain silent anymore."
Su Mo carried Dongdong in silence, and after a long time, Dongdong heard him reply,
"I know."
...
When Su Mo and Dongdong returned to Edge Mansion, KK hurriedly found Su Mo and said, "Boss, the conscription order has officially come down."
Su Mo took the document and glanced at it.
As previously mentioned, the World Government Army is struggling in its war with the Wolfpack. To replenish the troops and to make the Wolfpack cautious, conscription has started.
Since Zhou Hanyan's downfall and the Death Scythe Mercenary Corps being ordered to disband, the Edge Mercenary Corps had become the largest mercenary group in the entire New Moon City, even within the entire World Government Territory.