Counterfeit Hero

Chapter 1597: Chapter 58: No Evidence

January 7, 2064, is destined to be a day that the people of the Fei Alliance will remember for a lifetime.

Earlier on this day, they were still immersed in the exhilarating victory of Leifeng Star. Victory parades appeared in all member countries of the Fei Alliance. As the most notable highlight of this battle, many young people carried models of the Judger Mecha to the square, then all rushed up to punch and kick, smashing it into pieces.

This signifies that the once formidable Judger has officially stepped down from its pedestal.

However, what people did not expect was that on the evening of this day, news came that President Francis of the Feiyang Republic had been assassinated and killed. Those who were still excited couldn’t believe it was true until the news was officially confirmed.

Thousands of television channels simultaneously displayed the same news footage. As the Vice President was also injured, the Feiyang Congress announced that according to the Republic’s Constitution, Ian Gambier, the Congress Chairman, would temporarily assume the functions of the President. The presidential election, originally scheduled for half a year later, was moved up to January 20th, and the entire nation entered into a state of emergency.

This news plunged the entire Fei Alliance into immense grief and panic. It was not until they saw the flags lowered halfway, saw newspapers and all news media unified with black that in shock, they gradually realized that this unbelievable fact really happened, right before their eyes!

Alongside the shock, all that remained in everyone’s hearts were two poignant questions.....

Who is the killer?

Is the future of the Fei Alliance a glimmer of hope brought by the victory at Leifeng Star, or the bloody darkness brought by the death of Francis?

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”It seems that this scapegoat has been placed on us.” In the luxurious meeting room, voices were bustling, Sobel put the documents in his hand on the table and said indifferently.

”That won’t do. How could we act against such a small figure? The honor of the Binart Military Intelligence Bureau is not to be tarnished like this!” Admiral Binart Boge, sitting in the second seat to Sobel’s left, laughed.

The words of this tall and thin Army Admiral with a strange large eagle-hooked nose drew a round of laughter.

”Am I gloating?” Boge opened his eyes wide innocently, spreading his hands, looking like an innocent vulture.

The meeting room echoed with explosive laughter once again.

Even the usually stern-faced Sobel shook his head with a smile.

”Alright, back to the point,” sitting in the first position to Sobel’s right was a man about thirty years old with a handsome and refined appearance. He waited until the laughter died down, then gently knocked on the elliptical meeting table: ”Ladies and gentlemen, shouldn’t we seize this rare opportunity to create a bit more trouble for our chaotic opponents?”

In terms of age, this man named Jason can only be considered a junior in the meeting room. However, his luxurious attire embroidered with the Binart Empire’s Royal Family emblem and his status as the first heir were enough to make everyone in the meeting room compose themselves and listen seriously to his opinion.

Jason cast his gaze toward Sobel, hesitated for a moment, and said: ”The defeat of the Judgers is a serious matter for the entire Alliance. We need to uphold the Empire’s dignity with victory and inspire confidence in our followers.”

His words made the entire meeting room suddenly go silent.

Sobel narrowed his eyes slightly without speaking, while the previously unrestrained generals all looked down, sitting upright.

The annihilation of 300 Judgers was the most severe defeat the Binart Empire had faced since the outbreak of war. The footage of the Judgers fleeing in panic only to be pursued and massacred by Bandit Army mecha pilots caused an almost panic-like effect throughout the Western Alliance.

Some member nations have slowed their offensive pace, and when dispatching combat troops to the Alliance forces, they appear less enthusiastic.

Everyone present was aware of this, but none except Jason, who as the Crown Prince and Sobel’s cousin, dared to bring it up in front of Sobel.

In the Binart Empire, regarding military affairs, not even the Emperor interferes with Sobel’s decisions. However, the Royal Family needs an explanation from Sobel. Perhaps this request would be more appropriate coming from Jason’s status.

Jason looked around, softened his tone, and said to Sobel: ”Please forgive my presumptuousness. Believe me, this is not the Royal Family questioning the Military Department.”

”I understand, Jason,” Sobel nodded, motioning to Alessandro standing by his side with two fingers, and said expressionlessly: ”Show the documents to His Highness.”

Alessandro, in his sharply tailored uniform, stepped forward quickly and placed two documents in front of Jason.

”The first document is the current implementation progress of the Judger plan,” Sobel’s deep eyes focused on Jason, ”I hope this document can make His Highness Jason feel uplifted.”

In the itchy eyes of the surrounding generals, Jason opened this document that not more than five people in the world could read. Moments later, his face was brimming with an excited smile.

”Unbelievable.....” Jason hadn’t finished his words before Sobel interrupted him decisively.

”The second document requires your authorization, Your Highness.” Sobel stood up, his slender form tall and upright, almost blocking out all light. His long, narrow eyes were like a sharp bayonet, chilling and forceful: ”I will personally lead the army to the Southeast Star Domain! Your Highness....”

Time seemed to freeze instantaneously.

Everyone in the meeting room widened their eyes, watching Sobel extend his index finger, pointing to the end of the document in Jason’s hand, in an undeniable tone saying: ”You only need to sign here.... The victory the Empire needs, I will retrieve personally!”

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When the battleship docked at the First Airport of Chuckna Star, Fatty refused Margaret’s request to accompany him and took a shuttle alone to Hanjing.

He had six hours.

Six hours later, he, along with Margaret, Ann Lei, Hagrove, and twenty other accompanying War Gods, would transfer to the President Ship specially dispatched by the Chuckna Republic, and fly with Hastings to the Capital Hydefield of the Feiyang Republic.

Bernadotte, whose life was hanging by a thread, was there, and so was the most likely person behind the assassination.

When the shuttle landed, for the first time, Fatty lost interest in secretly glancing at the pretty stewardess beside him.

Without a word, he walked down the steps and got into a luxurious Flying Car waiting at the airport.

The Flying Car moved silently along the bustling streets of Hanjing. Through the car window, one could see crowds gathered around TV screens, watching the news of Francis’s assassination, their faces showing shock and heaviness.

All the screens played the same news.

Some resourceful journalists even managed to obtain recordings of the flaming Feiyang Base 52, and footage of Francis’s body being transported back to Hydefield.

Since the matter didn’t concern their own country, the guests were much bolder in their discussions.

Many people speculated that it was related to the upcoming presidential election of the Feiyang Republic. The biggest beneficiary was the biggest suspect—a simple truth understood by more than one person.

Though no names were mentioned, everyone knew who it was.

It’s just that the other party did it so cleanly, and no one had any evidence.

Watching Fatty looking worried, the boss of Meteor Company, Matt, took a bottle of whiskey from the car’s refrigerator, opened it, poured the golden liquid into a glass with ice, and handed it to Fatty, saying, ”General Tian, I heard that Admiral Bernadotte of your country was also injured in this attack?”

Fatty took the glass, his cheek twitched, an angry expression briefly appeared, but quickly returned to his usual confused face.

”Is there anything I can do for you?” Matt sipped his drink, his chubby face with a big red nose looking even redder.

”Perhaps you can tell me who did it?” Fatty said with a wooden face.

”It’s not even a question; the whole world knows.” Matt shook his head and shrugged: ”The problem is, we have no evidence!”

”You mean Leefer?” Fatty stared into Matt’s eyes.

”It’s his sister.” Matt chuckled: ”Frankly, among Feiyang’s arms enterprises, apart from our Meteor Company, which escaped Barbara’s control due to cooperation with you, all other companies must listen to her. As for intelligence, we might be more informed than most government officials.”

While pouring more drinks for Fatty, Matt continued: ”In terms of ruthlessness, ten Leefers combined are no match for one Barbara. Leefer’s talents lie in the military, while it was Barbara who single-handedly elevated him to his current peak position.”

”Tell me about it.” Fatty swirled his glass.

”Ten years ago, Barbara was just a university professor,” Matt sighed: ”Not many twenty-five-year-old professors around. At that time, there were no signs she’d become the Barbara of today. However, everything changed after her divorce.”

Matt narrated Barbara’s story. From the mysterious death of her ex-husband ten years ago, to how she helped Leefer eliminate political adversaries, consolidate the Feiyang tycoons and super arms enterprises, infiltrate the political, military, and underworld forces, and build a personal cult of Leefer within the army... one event after another, in thorough detail.

”That woman is a genius,” Matt praised sincerely: ”With her support, within a mere ten years, Leefer became the head of the Feiyang Five Tiger Generals, with an army loyal to him capable of shaking the foundation of Feiyang. Even Marshal Hastings dares not act against him lightly. Leefer obeys this sister of his as if she were a treasure.”

”If so many people can see that she’s the one behind it,” Fatty slightly squinted his eyes: ”won’t the people of Feiyang have any doubts about their idol?”

”Of course they will!” Matt frowned: ”I don’t know what she’s planning, but I know that this woman never does stupid things that would backfire. She has ten thousand ways to make the public believe her innocence!”

”Such as...” Fatty’s gaze lingered through the car window on the public TV screen of a building: ”eliminating her own candidate?”

Matt was startled, then quickly turned on the car TV.

”Breaking News: Liberal Democratic Alliance presidential candidate Baolsen of the Feiyang Republic was shot dead by a sniper at 9:30 am today, below his office building. Baolsen, aged 48... announced his candidacy last March... had consistently topped the approval ratings... Current police have not disclosed further information... The time of Baolsen’s assassination is less than twenty hours from President Francis’s assassination... We’ll be following this closely....”

Matt shivered, suddenly feeling a chill.

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.(To be continued, to know what happens next, please log on to www.qidian.com for more Chapters, support the author, support legitimate reading!)