Chapter 758 - 475: The Reveal (2)

Chapter 758: Chapter 475: The Reveal (2)

With all the spectating chieftain leaders making Feng Shan’s scalp prickle.

Left with no other choice, he forced a smile and tried to change the subject to ease the awkward atmosphere.

"Now is not the time to discuss this. We’re here for a meeting, aren’t we? Let’s not get sidetracked. We can discuss other matters in private."

Seeing Feng Shan start to compromise,

a barely perceptible flash of triumph flickered in Chief Welta’s eyes.

He subtly shot a quick look at the Inuit chiefs.

That glance was like a silent command. The Inuit chiefs understood immediately and fell silent.

Although they no longer spoke, their faces still bore indignant expressions, as if their dissatisfaction could erupt again at any moment.

Jeff, who was standing to the side, saw the whole thing unfold clearly.

A mix of emotions churned inside him, along with a torrent of sarcastic remarks that boiled down to a single thought.

’So underhanded!’

’Fack, the acting on these chieftain leaders is incredible. They should all win Oscars. I really thought things were about to get out of hand and they were going to start a brawl. Turns out it was all an act, and Feng Shan was the only one who didn’t know.’

However, Jeff only dared to grumble internally.

If he said any of this out loud, this bunch of old foxes would probably have him fed to a brown bear.

So, Jeff could only silently bury these thoughts

and put on a nonchalant expression.

Governor Walker watched the entire argument unfold.

His face flushed with an excited glow, and his heart pounded in his chest.

When he looked at Feng Shan again,

his eyes no longer held the previous admiration, which had been akin to a first crush.

In its place was the fervent gaze one reserves for a treasure. Feng Shan was, for all intents and purposes, his new kingmaker.

With just one sentence, he could make both the Indians and the Inuit shut up instantly.

Such powerful influence made him a walking vote bank for the Indigenous People.

Governor Walker knew clearly.

As long as he could get Feng Shan’s support, securing the governorship this year would be a sure thing.

Similarly, the state government staff who were watching the show stared intently at Feng Shan, their gazes burning.

This was especially true for Lady Erica of the Independent Party, whose eyes glittered with a brilliant light.

’Out of everyone here,’ she thought, ’I was the first to meet Feng Shan.’

’Plus, we have Frank, one of our own in the Independent Party.’

’With Feng Shan as the Spiritual Guide for the Indians and the Inuit...’

’if he would just campaign for the Independent Party...’

’...the party might have a real shot at the governor’s seat this year.’

At this thought,

Lady Erica was about to step out from the crowd.

Unfortunately, Governor Walker wasn’t about to give her that chance. As if sensing her intentions, he deliberately stepped forward to block her path, then gave a slight bow.

With an amiable expression, he stood at the entrance to the conference room and gestured for him to enter.

"Master Khilla, the meeting is about to begin. After you."

"..."

Hearing the governor’s form of address, Feng Shan was momentarily speechless, cursing inwardly.

’Looking at this situation, if I don’t go in, these two groups will probably start fighting again in the next second.’

Left with no choice, he sighed quietly and stepped through the door.

After entering, he found himself in a spacious and bright semi-circular hall.

In the center of the room was a half-meter-high lectern, flanked by the flags of the United States and the state of Alaska.

To the side of the lectern was a row of seats occupied by seven or eight elderly men.

They wore military uniforms, their faces deeply lined by the passage of time, their white hair a testament to their long, hard lives.

However, the gleaming medals on their chests were particularly eye-catching, as if silently speaking of past glory and splendor.

Behind the lectern hung a giant banner, on which a line of conspicuous large letters was printed.

Free Alaska Territorial Guard

’Free Alaska Territorial Guard?’

Feng Shan stared at the words on the banner, deciphering their surface meaning in his mind.

’However, I can’t figure out the meaning behind this phrase.’

’What does it have to do with today’s meeting?’

’Besides, I’ve been in Alaska for quite some time now.’

’I’ve never heard of Alaska having such a guard unit.’

’I am, however, quite familiar with the AST.’

’AST stands for Alaska State Troopers.’

’They’re a renowned specialized police force in the state of Alaska,’

’responsible for maintaining public safety and order throughout Alaska.’

While Feng Shan was lost in thought,

Governor Walker quickly walked to his side, his face plastered with an obsequious smile.

He extended a hand, pointing to a spot directly in front of the lectern—the most prominent "center stage" position in the entire room—and said,

"Master Khilla, your seat is here."

"Thank you!" Feng Shan didn’t overthink it, responding politely before walking toward the seat.

Following him, Chief Welta and the chieftain leaders of other influential tribes also took their seats beside him.

"Master Khilla, if there’s anything you don’t understand, you can ask Jeff. He’ll explain it to you in detail," Chief Welta said, leaning over and whispering in Feng Shan’s ear.

The words had barely left his mouth

when a head suddenly popped up from the row behind and leaned in close to Feng Shan’s face.

The sudden appearance of the head gave Feng Shan a real fright.

He almost slapped it away on instinct.

Once he recovered, Feng Shan snapped, "Can’t you make a sound before you stick your head out? You scared me!"

"I was worried you were getting anxious."

Jeff gave an awkward, sheepish smile,

completely ignoring Feng Shan’s irritation.

He launched into an explanation of the meeting’s purpose.

The story begins during World War II.

At that time, the Sakura Army invaded the Aleutian Islands, occupying Atu Island and Kiska Island.

After the US Military drove out the Sakura Army, the military leadership recognized the need to patrol the 6,640 miles of vast and treacherous coastline in northwestern Alaska during the war.

So they turned to the native communities for help.

They quickly found volunteers among the Indigenous People in the local villages.

These Indigenous volunteers then joined the newly formed Alaska Territorial Guard (ATG), also known as the Eskimo Scouts.

Aside from some Americans of European descent,

these new recruits came mainly from the Tlingit, Aleut, Tsimshian, Haida, and Athabasca communities.

As it turned out,

this Indigenous guard unit played a crucial role in protecting the areas around the transport routes.

The United States used this route to deliver aircraft to its wartime ally, Russia.

The Alaska Territorial Guard used dog sleds to move between military installations, securing the routes.

Later, the Territorial Guard’s duties expanded to include transporting equipment and supplies, constructing ATG buildings and facilities, and developing airstrips and support facilities for other military agencies.

They even blazed thousands of miles of wilderness trails, set up hundreds of emergency shelters, and distributed emergency food and ammunition containers for the US Navy.

In the course of their duties,

ATG members learned land and sea rescue as well as how to fight the enemy.

Even as the main actions of World War II were concentrated in Europe and the South Pacific, the members of the Alaska Territorial Guard remained vigilant.

In the final months of the war, the Sakura Army launched a last-ditch effort

to intimidate the Americans by sending 9,000 incendiary balloon bombs to the mainland.

This plan was discovered by members of the Alaska Territorial Guard, who then assisted the US Military in shooting them down.

After the war,

according to statistics, over 6,300 Indigenous men and women, aged 12 to 80, had joined the Alaska Territorial Guard.

These Territorial Guard veterans petitioned the American Government and successfully passed Alaska’s first anti-discrimination law, which aimed to end racial segregation against Indigenous People.

It wasn’t until 2010 that President George W. Bush signed a bill,

ordering the Secretary of Defense to grant honorable discharges to these members of the Alaska Territorial Guard.

The American Government finally recognized the service of these veterans

and granted these Indigenous People official veteran status.

In 2012, a group of veterans in Bethel, Alaska, used some of their funds to build a memorial park dedicated to the Indigenous veterans of the Alaska Territorial Guard.

...