Counterfeit Hero

The deafening sound was akin to the shrill explosion during an air raid. Waves of sound surged higher and higher, relentlessly roaring through the city.

When Felix asked the question, it was unknown how many people clenched their fists and roared wildly, jumping from sofas and chairs, and how many people raised their hands towards the giant screens on the square streets. Customers in bars slammed thick beer mugs loudly on wooden tables, and passengers in flying cars stretched their bodies out of sunroofs, waving their hands vigorously.

The entire Chuckna was ignited.

People finally understood what this army, which fought fiercely, had done for them while they enjoyed a peaceful life. They finally realized how formidable this army, often underestimated, truly was, and how closely connected they were to their nation.

Although the front-line battle footage lasted no more than ten minutes, those ten minutes had already been firmly etched into everyone’s hearts. Seeing what the bandit army did, an inexpressible gratitude only converged into a common answer at this moment.

Who can act recklessly on this land?

The bandit army!

"I said no one can act recklessly on this land. Even if they fly the flag of the Allies, it is not permissible." The photographer focused the camera on Marshal Li Cunxin. His voice was loud, resolute, "However, the bandit army is not just the Allies; they are the sons of this nation! They are brothers to the Chuckna people! In this country, they can do whatever they want; they can be as wild and reckless as they please, for the Chuckna people support them!"

The citizens, whose emotions had been stirred by the front-line battle footage, clapped fiercely, whistled, and cheered loudly. The Old Marshal was right; they are the sons of this nation, the relatives and brothers of all the people in this country. They have done so much for Chuckna, and no one in this nation will let them suffer even the slightest grievance!

During this wartime, all rationality had plummeted to incredibly low levels.

The people devoted themselves entirely to focusing on the war, on everything related to the future of this nation. They celebrated every victory and were saddened by every defeat. They were sensitive and anxiously uncertain; they struggled to maintain their dignity while fearing the advent of disaster. And at this moment, seeing this army that did not belong to Chuckna but always fought for Chuckna, they felt as though they were seeing their relatives!

They knew that in this world, they were not alone!

Many brave warriors were fighting for their lives, protecting their world.

"Whoever dares to attack them will have to ask me whether I agree." On television, the Old Marshal, with hair and beard standing up, pointed to the more than one hundred warriors standing straight with Level 1 Hero Medals on their chests beside him, declaring powerfully, "Ask them whether they agree, ask all the Chuckna people whether they agree!!!"

As he spoke, Li Cunxin suddenly waved his hand, ordering: "Arrest them all!"

Hundreds of soldiers and military police charged into the crowd and swiftly extracted the targets that had been watched for a long time. Seeing these people being taken out of the crowd, the onlookers realized that those making the loudest noise in the crowd were this group. It was they who kept rousing and inciting, continuously pushing forward.

Several national security advisors and Madhuwan’s expressions changed abruptly.

Nobody expected that public sentiment, once their greatest trump card, had now turned into a shield for their opponents.

Just looking at the crowd around them and the lowered gun barrels of the security force soldiers, they knew that any accusation against the bandit army could no longer be established. Li Cunxin’s words and Felix’s program had molded this army into the heroes in the hearts of all people in this nation, the untouchable Achilles’ heel for the grateful Chuckna people.

"Well, it’s over now," Madhuwan quickly processed the information, then calmly ordered, "General Wei Xin, please immediately disperse the crowd and transfer Admiral Faset to the Allied Command Center. If they are responsible for the attack, the military tribunal will make a fair judgement!"

This was the only solution Madhuwan could think of at this moment.

He did not want to be too deeply mired in this trap, nor did he want to leave any hidden dangers. As long as Faset was out of everyone’s sight, it didn’t matter whether to kill or release him. By then, without evidence, he would still remain the country’s Vice President.

"Major General Wei Xin," Li Cunxin looked at the black-haired commander of the Ministry of Defense security forces and smiled faintly, "If I were you, I’d lead your soldiers back to camp."

The Major General glanced at Madhuwan, then at Li Cunxin. Finally, he stood straight and saluted Li Cunxin, then turned around and shouted: "All units, assemble and return to camp!"

Madhuwan clenched his fists tightly, his face pale. He struggled to shift his gaze to Li Cunxin, striving to maintain his authority: "Marshal Li Cunxin, as a retired honorary military personnel who holds no official position, I think the discipline in your blood should not fade away; you have no right to interfere with my orders. I am the Vice President of this country!"

"Yes, you are still the Vice President, but you no longer have the authority to issue any orders."

A voice declared the end of Madhuwan’s political career.

Amid the crowd, President Hill personally pushed Hastings’ wheelchair and slowly walked in. Beside Hill was an elderly man, over seventy, with a lean build and slightly drooping eyebrows.

Seeing this elderly man, Madhuwan knew the noose around his neck had tightened.

"Why?" His voice suddenly became hoarse.

"Because you are suspected of being involved in the attack on General Tian Xingjian," the beautiful Little Poison Snake, who had always stood beside Rashid and Stewart, finally revealed her white fangs at the last moment, "besides Faset, those you contacted also included several officers from our illegal radical youth officer alliance. Although they have left Chuckna, evidently, they haven’t reached Catalonia yet."

Margaret gently stroked the long hair falling over her shoulder, her alluring eyes showing a cold mockery: "Besides, they don’t have as solid a backbone as you imagined."

"Let’s go," Hastings glanced at Madhuwan and Faset and said to Hill, "I’m not here for such petty matters; someone in the hospital is waiting for me."

A group of people walked past Madhuwan and Faset, conversing as they headed towards the hospital entrance. No one spared another glance at these two individuals.

The sunlight has already retreated to the clouds on the horizon, and the night gradually descends. For Madhuwan and Faset, winter nights are especially cold.

If only that initial cannon had been adjusted a few centimeters forward back then...

Faset almost instinctively raised his head to look at the sixth-floor window of the hospital.

By the bright window, two people were quietly watching him.

Faset’s eyes turned red suddenly. He saw the Fatty with a silly grin on his face and a woman he had never dreamed he would see.

This woman was beautiful.

Sometimes, Faset felt she was like the sister next door, pure and lively; sometimes, like a graceful young woman, making people feel warmth and impulsiveness. More often, she was like a fairy, detached from the human world, with a light smile that contained a beauty as gauzy as mist, elusive and ethereal over the mountains and waters. Hard to grasp, hard to touch.

And now, she was like an ordinary happy woman, quietly standing beside Fatty, supporting him. Her delicate and sensual figure was so close to Fatty that her firm, perky breasts pressed tightly against Fatty’s arm, trembling with her breath.

"I’m sorry, Admiral Faset...."

In his memory, on the sunlit leaf-covered path of Hanjing First Military Advisor Academy, Ann Lei, wearing a uniform and a tight skirt that made her legs appear especially long, held a folder against her full chest and seriously said: "I already have a fiancé, please don’t bring up the same topic again, we will only intersect in work."

In his vision, Fatty raised his eyebrows. A surge of blood rushed to Faset’s chest, then to his throat.

He had just issued a suppressed, beast-like roar when suddenly someone punched him to the ground.

A bandit army soldier picked him up and stuffed him into a transport mecha.

"What are you yelling for, you idiot!"

*****************************************************************************

"They’re coming up," Ann Lei didn’t look downstairs; that person named Faset was just someone entirely unrelated to her. Her full attention was focused on Fatty. The weight on her arm showed Fatty’s weakness. The feeling made her have to exert immense control over herself just to not cry out in heartache.

Since their separation at Gallipalan, almost a year had passed in the blink of an eye. During this year, having stepped down from her role at the Intelligence Bureau, Ann Lei became an excellent liaison officer for the Federation stationed at Chuckna.

In the eyes of other Allied officers, this colonel from the Leray Federation was not only beautiful but also extremely capable. People were always easily persuaded by her and always willing to cooperate.

But no one knew that when the night was deep and quiet, this strong girl would always look up at the starry sky and cry like a child.

Since the Bonnan Rose disappeared into the vast universe, Ann Lei lost count of how many times she cried and laughed. From the Blue Rose being lost to Mars Free World. To Fatty acquiring the entirety of Mars Free Port without hurting a fly. From the Suss Fleet repeatedly attacking Mars. Mars in crisis. To the Bandit Army Fleet from the Longbow Star System suddenly emerging, with the Hidden Blade Fleet victorious in joining forces. Every piece of news about Fatty was always watched over and over by her.

When on television, Fatty raised his hands in surrender under the gaze of the masses. Only she knew what this man truly intended.

She didn’t care what others thought; she only cared that Fatty could come to her side as soon as possible. And today, when she stood at the window and heard that earth-shattering voice, her heart was filled with only pride.

Proud of this man to whom she had entrusted her life!

"Looks like I should continue pretending to be unconscious," Fatty, after standing at the window for just a moment, was already sweating all over.

Supporting Fatty, and gently walking towards the bed, Ann Lei softly said: "Marshal Hastings has come personally. Don’t you want to see him?"

"No," Fatty arrogantly waved his hand, "I’ll just lie in bed and win this battle!"

In the corridor, Margaret said to Hastings: "Grandpa, I want to see him first and have a talk."

"Alright," Hastings smiled slightly and said softly, "This is my biggest concession yet, sending the bamboo pole for a beating, and it seems, I have to offer up a granddaughter."

In the corridor, everyone exchanged smiles.

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. Busy in Leshan, updated late.

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