Counterfeit Hero

In the oval Congress consultation hall, the House of Representatives and the Senate from all states of the Leray Federation had filled the multiple rows of circular seats to capacity.

The atmosphere was silent and oppressive. In the stillness, everyone directed their gaze to the central podium of the round hall.

Hamilton stood at the podium, looking haggard. His hands, placed on the desk, were bulging with veins from the effort. He was trying hard to stand straight — in this most critical moment for Leray, he would not allow himself to show weakness.

This was an important consultation. As President, he had to inform the Congress about the significance of the proposed bill to Leray. The speech was already halfway through, and despite being exhausted, he had to persist.

”Since we’ve started!” Hamilton raised his head, his voice echoed in the consultation hall: ”We must carry on! This war was forced upon us by the enemy, we have no choice! If we want to maintain our independence, uphold our honor, defend our freedom, and continue to raise the Leray flag every morning, then we must resist to the end!”

”Any!…” Hamilton clenched his fist and swung it fiercely, the muscles of his determined face quivering slightly: ”Any enemy cannot conquer us! Even if one day, the enemy breaks into the Central Leray Star Domain and occupies it, we will not be defeated! By passing the bill before you, we will have the strength to fight them across the universe!”

”We lost the Bermuda Star Domain! Over a million warriors sacrificed themselves there. The Desic Empire’s mobilization is complete, the Suss Empire, is already at Saleria’s doorstep! Jiepeng has Rodbia in its grasp. An endless stream of warships and armored units are flowing into the Bermuda Star System.”

”We must prepare for the worst!” Hamilton scanned the pensive congressmen, his words earnest: ”I know that everyone here fully understands the current situation, we can even foresee that this is a war the Federation cannot win!”

The congressmen remained silent. This was the first time Hamilton spoke such words in front of everyone. Although this was an unofficial consultation, saying such words in this setting was enough to show how dire the situation was.

”We are facing five major enemies of the Western Alliance: Desic, Jiepeng, Suss. And the Binart and Naga United Fleet stationed in Desic. In the past three years, we sacrificed over twenty-seven million soldiers in Galileo, in Newton, in Bermuda!” Hamilton’s voice quivered: ”We have spent over thirteen trillion Leray Yuan on this war.”

”The Federation Government, to be precise, is on the brink of bankruptcy.” Hamilton’s lips trembled.

Becoming the president of this country had once been his proudest achievement. He dreamed of extending the glory and freedom of this nation, making this democracy even more prosperous. But a war shattered his dream.

With his head lowered, staring at the podium for a long time, Hamilton finally controlled his emotions. He loved this country and his career. But now, all of this had become a nightmare.

”Intelligence indicates...” Hamilton raised his head: ”The Desic Empire will launch a large-scale assault within a month on both our Central Star Domain and the Little Pyrenees Star System in Gazalin. Led directly by their royal family, they are going all out this time.”

”The withdrawal of the Saleria Federation has forced Leray to a dead end. Now, the Suss Empire is stationed at the Saleria border, ready to cross it and launch an attack at any moment. They have not gained any benefits from exiting the war; instead, they will swallow this bitter fruit.”

”This is a lesson from the past!” Hamilton’s tone was heavy: ”As the president of the Federation, leading this nation to such a state, I should bear all the responsibility. I don’t want to continue this fight, but Leray, squeezed in, is like a small boat amidst wild wind and giant waves, with no choice! No matter which direction I steer, what awaits us is destruction.”

”Let us pass this bill, let us release a small dinghy before the massive waves arrive.” Hamilton stared ahead: ”The force we form with our last bit of strength will be the seed of the Leray Federation. When our homeland is occupied, when the Western Alliance fleets pour into the Leray Channel, the exiled Leray Federation will have a force that can continue the fight.”

Hamilton’s speech ended. In a dead silence, he quietly left the congressional consultation hall. What needed to be done was done; now, it was time to choose.

None of the Representatives or Senators from the thirty-five states of the Federation spoke. They just silently looked at the bill before them.

It was a massive bill, including a reserve fund and an almost crazed military procurement budget.

It was a final testament!

”Voting begins now!” The presiding speaker lightly tapped the gavel: ”Honorable congressmen, does anyone have anything to say?”

”I want to say...” After a brief silence, a tall middle-aged congressman stood up and pressed the approval button: ”I don’t want to leave our property to the invaders—not a single penny!”

”That’s right...” An elderly congressman with white hair also stood up and firmly pressed the approval button: ”Unfortunately, we can’t leave them the debt. If only we could leave a huge debt, perhaps it would lessen their interest in this land.”