Counterfeit Hero

Chapter 266: Volume 4, Chapter 38, Opportunity

As the political center of Gazalin, the situation in the capital, Tanville, had descended into unimaginable chaos. Soldiers in Army Defense Team uniforms and field uniforms were firing at each other everywhere. The city was paralyzed, and on the crisscrossing roads, people ran in panic, desperately trying to escape the city.

The systems of transportation, communication, and law enforcement had completely collapsed. The police, having changed into civilian clothes, left their posts, with no one willing to engage in this coup d’état. Meanwhile, the street vandals were burning cars, smashing gun shops, and raping women. Everyone lost their restraints, and horrific tragedies were happening on all the streets and corners of the city.

Buildings were set on fire, and flying cars overturned on the streets, some due to chaotic traffic accidents, but the majority displayed the energy and power of the mob. Gunfire echoed throughout the city, with explosions lighting up the night sky. On the snow-laden roadside of the cold winter, innocent pedestrians lost their lives, their bodies stiffened in the severe cold.

No one knew where they came from, where they intended to go, or their names because no one cared.

Panic-stricken people passed by them, fleeing for their lives. Soldiers passed by them, shooting at each other. Vandals passed by them, continuing to create tragedies with reckless laughter.

And they could only lie there silently, waiting for the end of this tragedy.

”Boom!” A mechanical leg of a Mecha stepped on a corpse by the roadside, the immense weight turning the body into a bloody mess mixed in with the snow.

This Empire-designed [Three-headed Dog] medium-sized Mecha was desperately firing. Its energy cannon barrel spun and sprayed, the scarred Mecha body trembling violently under the intense shooting. The dark red energy shield on the night street was as striking and vivid as the blood under its feet.

”Boom” An energy bullet landed beside the Mecha, blasting a large hole in the ground. Shrapnel scattered, clinking against the Mecha’s external armor, creating a rain-like dense sound. The [Three-headed Dog] just executed an evasive maneuver as two more sudden energy shells hit it, erupting with a huge explosion.

The [Three-headed Dog], directly hit, couldn’t withstand the massive shockwave. Its body retreated uncontrollably, and the energy shield could no longer hold, dimming helplessly after flickering twice, revealing its black, scarred external armor.

The misfortune did not end there. Just as the [Three-headed Dog] regained its balance, a missile skimmed the ground, drawing a winding flight path and violently crashing into the Mecha’s chest.

Deprived of its energy shield, the [Three-headed Dog] was immediately torn apart by the missile, collapsing heavily amidst a thunderous explosion.

A period of silence followed.

”Boom!” A pair of mechanical legs landed heavily on the wreckage of the [Three-headed Dog]. A human-shaped Mecha with a spiky design stood on it, its two eyes emitting cold, bloodthirsty red light in the pitch-black night.

”[Mad Dragon] No. 2032 reporting, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Company has broken through the blockade!”

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”Broken through? The blockade and encirclement of two Armored Divisions plus a fully mechanized infantry division with airborne support, yet that logistics troop broke through?” Stephen couldn’t hide his astonishment, his voice echoing the shock felt by everyone present!

Ritter, responsible for the report, remained calm. He nodded and said, ”They left one battalion, disrupting our encirclement through the infiltration of the 62nd Infantry Division. Due to the ground garrison’s obstruction of the 39th Division, they couldn’t timely cooperate with the 108 Armored Division to encircle and close in, allowing two enemy companies to break out through this gap.”

”Are you saying we only encircled one battalion, and they broke through it too?” Stephen was once again shocked: ”What about the other battalion?”

Ritter placed a reconnaissance map in front of Stephen and said slowly, ”We believe they’ve occupied the NDF23 airbase and used the transport ships there. Now...” Ritter’s finger circled a point on the reconnaissance map: ”All the focus is concentrated here.”

Stephen looked at the countless markings representing transport ships and forces surrounding that point on the reconnaissance map, inhaling sharply: ”Abnosk?”

Ritter nodded and said, ”Yes! Aside from our reserves going to support, there are two other unidentified transport ships near the prison’s air defense system warning line. I believe one of them is one of those logistics battalions.”

”And...” Ritter’s voice carried a hint of hesitation.

Stephen looked up carefully at Ritter and asked, ”And what else?”

”Bruce has lost contact. Since the operation started, we haven’t received any news about Abnosk.” Ritter looked at Stephen seriously and said, ”If we can’t ensure that person disappears, even if we barely grasp the entire Mezrich, we can’t secure Little Pyrenees, not to mention Lucerne!”

”Report!” A communication lieutenant appeared before Stephen, sweating profusely.

”Your Highness, this is an announcement we just received.”

As the nervous lieutenant placed a document in front of him, Stephen raised his head in confusion: ”Announcement?”

”Yes... nationwide announcement.” The lieutenant swallowed hard: ”It’s the Mythical Army... announcing us as the coup rebels, nationwide emergency control, all armed forces under the command of Imperial Admiral Reinhardt.”

Stephen grabbed the document furiously, his face turning ashen at the signatures: ”Issued jointly by the Gazalin Royal Family, Gazalin Military Department, Gazalin Cabinet, and Mythical Army! Reinhardt, you’re nothing but a dog! And you dare to issue an announcement in such a manner!” He suddenly turned to Ritter: ”What about our announcement? The Cabinet? What about Hailig and Gordon?”

”The Imperial Palace is under attack, most are in Abbosnok, and the Minister of Propaganda has pledged allegiance, signing the announcement. Hailig and Gordon... fled.”

”Crash!” A vase shattered on the ground.

”Turn on all the television networks and radio immediately! Do I need to remind you? Create public opinion immediately, Mythical Army launching a coup, now!”

The command center echoed with Stephen’s roar.

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Klatch cautiously drove his soldiers towards Abnosk.

As an officer who had been in a commander position in a third-rate armored division for almost a decade, Klatch had often complained about not getting an opportunity to showcase his abilities.

This time, the opportunity had come.

A coup! A leap to the top or an eternal fall.

Klatch always thought of himself as an opportunist, but this opportunity was a bit too radical.

So, even though Tanville City and Abnosk were embroiled in intense combat, and despite his earnest pledge of allegiance to Stephen and the Howard family, Klatch remained unmoved. To him, that was just a few days ago.

Every day is a new beginning in life, isn’t it?

It wasn’t until he received Stephen’s sternly worded order that Klatch sluggishly gathered his troops and set out for Abnosk, thirty kilometers away.

For the thirty-kilometer journey, it took Klatch’s armored division an hour to cover just ten kilometers.

Rather than marching, it was more like crawling.

Klatch followed the order, but he continued to observe, waiting for the moment to place his bet.

Stephen provided the opportunity, but not all the stakes had to be placed on his side. Opportunities always arise in the clash between two sides, don’t they?

”Commander! We’ve received a signal from SkyNet, His Majesty James and his escort are directly ahead of us.”

”The vanguard will make contact in five minutes! Please advise!”

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Watching a Fatty in prison clothes jump out of the Mecha,

Philip stood there like a fool, allowing the soldiers to tie him up.

Everything happening in front of him had already gone beyond his imagination.

Originally, he had wholeheartedly confirmed his victory and delivered an impassioned speech. It was his decades-long hatred, and he had waited a lifetime for this moment. When he saw James, who always stood high above, with that splendid expression, what he felt was a sensation even more wonderful than ecstasy.

But Reinhardt turned out to be James’s illegitimate child!

This pawn he used to replace the Morton family’s rule over Gazalin was actually also of Morton blood!

Even more infuriating, Reinhardt turned out to be a sleazy Fatty’s impersonation! Philip felt as if a bucket of ice water had been dumped on him in his moment of victory.

Damn it, is there anything more tragic in this world than this?

He even considered ending his life.

Then, Philip heard the Fatty casually command, ”Hmm... tie this guy and James together. They’re quite a match, and they both talk a lot. Face to face, let their spit mingle, and tie them a bit tighter, in a three-point embrace style.”

Philip decided to bite his tongue and end his life.

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This Chapter is an addition to make up for yesterday’s missing part.

Today’s part is still being written, and it might be past midnight. If you can’t wait, check it out tomorrow morning.

(To be continued. To know what happens next, please visit WWW.CMFU.COM for more Chapters, support the author, and support authentic reading!)