Counterfeit Hero

He has so little to his name, who would want to play this game with him?

Every nation has its own interests at heart, more shrewdly calculated than you realize, clinging to your weak spots, dragging you down with an air of righteousness. A matter that could have been nothing, they insist on accompanying you to the execution ground... how terrifying. Before any decision is made, even before he opens his mouth, it’s wise to discuss some aid with those professional negotiators from the Leray Federation.

The old man went back. Everyone breathed a huge sigh of relief!

The changes in the Southeast Star Domain war situation are known to all.

Even though the Karsdon Star River is ablaze, for the two superpowers, it’s far from a time of close combat. Even if the Feiyang would strengthen their offensive without reservation, even if the Binart Empire lost their minds, with their national strength, the war could drag on for a long time.

During this time, Hastings and Sobel have clearly shifted their focus to the Southeast Star Domain. No one’s an idiot. This is evident to all the nations of the Fei Alliance from the series of actions by the Alliance Command Center.

However, this time, the center of the war is no longer the Leray.

The war has spread, with Chuckna, Suss, Jiepeng, Saleria, the Desic, Leray, even Tatania, and Puditok, all becoming pieces on this war chessboard. As the players, Hastings and Sobel, those once-in-a-century military geniuses, think of the world as their chessboard. No one knows what’s going through their heads. People can only deduce a semblance based on the movements of the respective Allied forces.

Regardless of why the war situation has tilted back to the Southeast Star Domain, one thing is certain.

The already fragmented Leray is not going to have it easy!

Since the coup by Brody and Hansford, the current Leray is no longer a country.

To the east, the Bermuda Star Domain and the Central Leray Star Domain are occupied by the Jiepeng and Suss Allied Army. To the west, controlled by the seven federal states, lies the Atlantis Star Domain composed of the Newton and Galileo Star Systems.

Jiepeng and Suss have never given up the idea of taking the Atlantis Star Domain. The Western Alliance Fleet stationed at the Central Leray Star Domain continuously attacks the jump point of the Newton Star System. Although the intensity of the battles is not as high as in the early Miloke Battle or the Battle of Bermuda, for the Leray, with only two nearly shattered star systems left, the war remains arduous and bitter.

The two major star systems within Atlantis have been engulfed in war since the outbreak of the national defense war. The Newton Star System endured the grueling Miloke Battle, while the Galileo Star System has twice fallen to and been occupied by the Gazalin Empire and the Desic Empire.

The people of the seven immigrant planets within the two major star systems have paid unimaginable prices for the Leray war.

Over sixty percent of towns destroyed, hundreds of millions of civilians dead. The industrial, agricultural, commercial, resource extraction systems, even the basic survival support system, have almost completely collapsed. Every planet in this star domain, from Lucerne, Miloke, to Miloke II, is riddled with scars and wounds. It can be said this is a wasteland, a deathly remnant of war!

Yet, on this desolate death ground, the Leray people continue to resist. From bewilderment, pain, to unyielding strength, the Atlantis Star Domain is like a camel under relentless pressure, each time when people think it’s about to collapse, it stands firmly once more.

Factories destroyed, the Leray people salvage usable machines from the ruins to keep production going. When resources are scarce, they pilot mining ships, tirelessly traveling back and forth from harsh resource planets. With labor shortages, even women and children step up. Apart from basic necessities and food, everything is dedicated to the war effort. This country is extracting every ounce of strength from itself nearly to the point of madness.

The Western Alliance people are astonished by the enduring resilience of the Leray’s resistance. Even after losing nearly four mixed fleets, they still cannot cross the starry graveyard-like airspace at the Newton Star System’s jump point. There, still, stands a group of desperate Leray people, not yielding an inch!

And assisting in the defense is the Fei Alliance Southeastern Expeditionary Fleet. The coordinators and military observers sent by various nations are not only surprised by this star domain’s ability to endure but utterly astounded.

What power is sustaining this broken nation?!

In a Fei Alliance Central Television program about the Western Alliance’s atrocities, a beautiful female host randomly interviewed a school child.

This fifteen-year-old boy with bright eyes only revealed them for a fleeting moment when the host interrupted his note-taking, then quickly lowered his head. He did not evade the host’s questions. People don’t remember what this boy, who lived with his mother, said about the pain the war brought him. They only remember his final words.

”My father is dead, my brother is dead, but I’m still alive, and Leray has not yet been conquered! This is war, and every single one of us knows what we have to do. We are doing it! I’m sorry, this lesson is very important. I can’t waste time reminiscing.”

For the first time, the host found herself at a loss for words in front of the camera. As she stood in a daze, the cameraman zooms out, showing the great empty classroom building. The teacher at the podium is used to the rows of empty desks, still diligently teaching. The teacher’s voice is calm and confident, explaining clearly and vividly, even though only three or five kids are in attendance.

These are a group of resisters, trying to make their country rise from suffering and blood and fire. They are so resolute and devout. They are exhausted yet spirited. They have nerves of steel.

On August 26, 2063, their President returned to them!

This meant that the Southeast war situation, after turning a sharp corner, entangled the Southeast nations, pulled Chuckna, the Feiyang Republic, and the Binart Empire back onto the main stage of war.

Thunderous cheers echoed through the skies. Flavio’s words rang solemn and weighty. At this moment, this nation, overwhelmed with suffering, radiated with renewed life.

At that time, Fiscella stood at the front of the crowd. Behind him were the silent Feiyang and Ryan officers. Among the cheering people, the officers of the Southeast Expeditionary Army seemed out of place.

Welcoming Flavio was merely a formality for Fiscella. As the top Commander of the Southeastern Front Army, he holds the highest military command authority in this star domain. Apart from the Southeast First and Second Expeditionary Armies formed by the Feiyang Republic and the Ryan Republic, the Leray Federation, now the Gazalin Republic, Knevel Four Nations Alliance, and troops from Tatania and Puditok are under his command too.

No matter whether Flavio returns or not, there are no changes or impacts on the military or the battlefield situation.

”We have not been conquered yet!”

Fiscella shook the newspaper in his hand and casually tossed it aside.

Reflecting on the cheering Leray people at the airport the day before, he found it somewhat laughable. He didn’t like the Leray people. This country seemed too arrogant. Flavio’s return wasn’t any kind of great victory. The war situation tilting back towards the Southeast this time didn’t make Leray the leading role anymore.

People focused on the Southeast Main Channel, Chuckna, and Suss, Jiepeng—who would win? The tug-of-war between Desic and Tatania, Puditok—what variables would emerge? How would the indecisive Saleria make their choice? The gamesmanship between the Feiyang Republic and the Binart Empire—what astonishing changes would unfold? What brilliant moves would they play on this chessboard?

As for Leray, it was already insignificant. As their president said, they haven’t been conquered, that’s all.

What more can they do?!

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.Counting on fingers, the next day constitutes 11,000 words.

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