Chapter 288 : Drown Them in the Toilet

Sangahaji ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍State

It ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍had been nearly twenty years since Sangahaji merged into the Alliance. Backed by the rapidly developing Alliance, it completed integration with the Alliance's rail transportation system, and the massive inflow of supplies gave wings to Sangahaji's rise.

Thanks ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍to its advantageous geographical location, it leaped from a backward region that had once been poor and devoid of resources into an important hub connecting and transferring maritime and inland trade in the Alliance's western region.

With ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍its convenient transportation conditions and the enormous demand from the eastern states, the overwhelming majority of Sangahaji's people became deeply involved in the transportation, production, and sale of goods, greatly improving their standard of living.

In ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍terms of development speed and quality of life, it was already not much worse than the Alliance's inner-ring core states. In fact, because it focused on commerce, had relatively few competing states, and enjoyed convenient trade circulation, its quality of life was even more prosperous than that of several core states.

Yet ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍such prosperity and tranquility only filled certain people with the urge to destroy it.

"Every time I see them, I think of my hometown. Compared to them, my parents, brothers, and sisters were like filthy rats living in the sewers."

The man looked at the bustling city in the distance, took a deep drag from his cigarette, and lowered his binoculars. "Me too. We used to be rats peeking at other people's happiness. But not anymore. At least our children aren't."

The man took out a stack of receipts from his coat and handed them to everyone sitting around the campfire. "The last mission was completed very well. The master was extremely satisfied. The money has already been delivered to your families. These are the transaction receipts from the Chamber of Commerce, along with letters your families wrote to you. Burn them after you've read them."

Everyone immediately broke into smiles as they accepted their own share.

"Thank you, Boss!"

"My child bought new clothes. It's a shame there aren't any photos. She must look adorable wearing them!"

"My mother's health was terrible before, but now she says she's much better. That's wonderful."

The man extinguished his cigarette.

"Money is important! Extremely important! As long as we have money, our families and children can live prosperous lives! Take you for example, Nock. If you didn't have money, then when your daughter grew up, she'd probably become a prostitute—or at least half a prostitute."

"Don't look at me like that. You know I'm right. Think about the women you've known. Which one didn't do that on the side? They even had to sell their own breast milk while their babies cried from hunger, and they still couldn't bear to feed them."

"And you, Sangji. If it weren't for the money you received before this mission, your mother would've already rotted to death in your house. So you must have money!"

"And you, Little Land. If you don't want to stand guard outside your bridal chamber while the estate lord finishes with your bride, then this money is what you'll rely on to change that."

"I'm telling you all this because I want you to understand that you must not show even the slightest mercy during this mission. Besides our lives, which are worth a little money, we have no other way to change our families' lives. Those days were more terrifying than death!"

The dozen or so men nodded with reddened eyes.

"Boss! We caught two people, and one of them is even an Alliance police officer..."

That evening, while eating dinner, Midia received the victory report from Bared Port. A confident smile appeared on her face.

"They've run out of opportunities. Inform the armored forces to accelerate the offensive against Torveta State and Borregate State. No matter what, pin the Allied Nations' main force firmly inside the encirclement!"

Anna had just nodded and was about to get up when the office secretary pushed open the lounge door.

"Y-Your Majesty... an urgent report from the Sangahaji State Government. They ask that you read it immediately and issue instructions."

"Hm? What happened?"

Midia took the document and began reading. The further she read, the colder her expression became.

"Whether they release it or not is up to the state government. Also, pass on my orders. Have the local military district enter the mountains first and recover the bodies, then flatten that entire mountain for me."

After speaking, she looked toward Anna.

"Prepare the aircraft. We need to make a trip to Sangahaji."

Before Midia boarded her aircraft, Sangahaji had already declared martial law. A video preserved through magical recording was broadcast live on the local television news.

In the video, a group of men surrounded two captives. One already lay headless on the ground, while the other knelt with his hands and feet bound behind him.

The leader held up an identification card close to the camera. The police identification was plainly visible, and the photo on the ID belonged to the kneeling man.

"Nurbagan? A police officer, huh?"

The man pressed a bloodstained curved saber against his neck.

"Speak! Tell all the police officers in Sangahaji to resign and join the Organization! Tell the people of Cabancia to awaken, become independent, and free themselves from the rule of the evil Alliance!"

Nurbagan glanced at them calmly.

"I have nothing to say."

"Brothers, keep up the good work."

The remaining portion of the video was not broadcast, but Nurbagan's fate was already obvious.

After the inserted video ended, the news anchor announced the conclusion of today's broadcast and advised residents to return home as quickly as possible after nightfall and not wander outside.

The deep roar of engines outside and the constantly trembling ground spoke the second half of the sentence she had left unsaid.

"Boss... the outside is full of troops. What do we do..."

"Damn... those artillery barrels are thicker than I am..."

Seeing his subordinates' legs trembling uncontrollably, the man suppressed his own uneasiness and barked in a low voice,

"Don't panic! We were extremely careful when we came here. They'll probably search the outer areas first. Staying inside the city is actually the safest option."

After dealing with the two insignificant targets, they slipped into Sangahaji's provincial capital and planned to lie low for a few days before carrying out several bombing attacks according to the plan.

It seemed, however, that they had gone too far.

The Special Police searching the mountain found two headless corpses along with the severed heads they had abandoned beside the campfire. After the helicopters withdrew, the artillery units fired five full fire missions using heavy artillery and Multiple Rocket Launchers at the mountain, then launched dozens of white phosphorus shells to set the mountain ablaze.

Whether the terrorists had died or not was unknown, but the entire mountain had been thoroughly cleansed from top to bottom. It would not recover for decades.

Large numbers of Armed Helicopters from the military and police carefully searched the surrounding area. Every civilian lingering in the wilderness was detained and taken back to police stations for emergency interrogation.

By the time Midia left the airport and arrived at the provincial government offices in her official vehicle, the level of martial law in Sangahaji State had already been raised by another two levels.

Her mere arrival was enough to throw the entire local government into a state of panic.

If the matter remained unresolved before she left, the entire Sangahaji leadership would first be replaced. Anyone appointed there afterward could consider their political career over. The matter would not end until the terrorists were captured.

The next day, Midia met with the families of the fallen police officers in the provincial capital. The meeting was broadcast live.

"He was a true hero, because not everyone, when faced with the threat of death, can hold fast to their beliefs, refuse to yield, and continue believing in their fellow citizens..."

"Only cowards raise their blades against the unarmed. Only real men, true heroes—just like your son—can face death without fear."

Black-and-white Special Operations Bureau vehicles once again spread throughout the city, conducting household-by-household identity checks. Hotels, rental properties, and other locations were thoroughly scanned with specialized detection equipment.

Airships carrying four heavy police mechs painted in black-and-white police colors patrolled the area at low altitude.

"I offer you my deepest respect. We will strike the terrorists with overwhelming force. We will never compromise or accept any demands made by terrorists."

"Wherever they are found, they will be killed on the spot. Forgive my crude language, but what I mean is this—if they're found in a restroom, then drown them in the toilet!"