Chapter 759 - 476: Surprise

Chapter 759: Chapter 476: Surprise

The meeting had been called by the Alaska Indigenous Tribe Alliance, in cooperation with the Indigenous dividend foundation and thirteen Indigenous Companies. With the backing of the Alaska State Government, they planned to reactivate the Alaska Territorial Guard—which had been defunct for fifty years—and rename it the Free Alaska Territorial Guard.

Furthermore, the FAGT was planned to incorporate the functions of the VPSO (Village Public Safety Officer) program to supplement Alaska’s inadequate police presence. Its purpose was to protect the safety and territorial integrity of the Indigenous People.

Feng Shan listened quietly to Jeff’s explanation, nodding in silence.

His gaze drifted to the three elderly, white-haired men seated on the stage.

Although the three men were well advanced in years—one was even in a wheelchair—they still sat ramrod straight. In their eyes, you could still see the steadfast resolve and calm that only comes with age.

"And they are?" Feng Shan asked curiously.

"Those three are the last surviving Indigenous warriors from the original Alaska Territorial Guard," Jeff replied, his voice earnest and full of admiration. "As the last of their kind, they were invited to witness the rebirth of the Alaska Territorial Guard."

Feng Shan instantly dropped his languid air.

His expression became exceptionally solemn and serious.

He slowly rose to his feet. Facing the white-haired veterans on the stage, he bowed deeply and formally, his heart filled with profound respect.

It was a bow of utmost respect for the veterans’ past contributions and sacrifices.

After finishing his bow, Feng Shan sat back down. He pondered for a moment before turning to Jeff with a question.

"What does this meeting have to do with the Crown Territory? The Crown Territory isn’t part of the Tribal Alliance, let alone an Indigenous Reserve."

However, before Jeff had a chance to respond, Chief Welta, who had been sitting silently to the side, suddenly spoke up to answer.

"Master Khilla, allow me to explain."

Feng Shan gave a slight nod and gestured for him to continue.

Chief Welta’s expression grew a little solemn. He paused for a moment, seeming to weigh his words, before he slowly began to speak.

"Before I begin, Master Khilla, please forgive my presumption. I took the liberty of looking up the information on your ID card without your consent."

"Don’t worry about it. What could an ID card possibly say?"

Feng Shan shrugged, unconcerned. It wasn’t a big deal.

’After getting his Alaska ID card, his background was a complete blank slate.’

Chief Welta sat up a little straighter and said seriously, "Well, your ID card says you’re an Indian, though it doesn’t specify your tribal affiliation. However, after deliberation and discussion, the Tribal Alliance council has unanimously decided to recognize your status as one of Alaska’s Indigenous People."

The Elder Chief’s words left Feng Shan speechless, a wry expression on his face.

’Looks like it.’

’He was being dragged further and further down this path of being one of the Indigenous People.’

’Why was this status so important?’

’Feng Shan really couldn’t understand why Chief Welta was so insistent.’

’Was it all because he’d given the Wild Bull Tribe a Fire Totem?’

As time passed, more people trickled into the hall, and the once-empty space gradually filled up.

「Before long.」

More than two hundred federally recognized tribal chiefs and leaders had arrived at the venue.

Perhaps because it had been a long time since an Indigenous meeting of this scale had been held, or perhaps simply because many of them hadn’t seen one another in ages.

Upon seeing each other, the arriving chiefs and leaders acted like old friends reuniting after a long absence.

They greeted familiar faces with gusto, their loud conversations filling the air.

Soon, a staff member walked to the front of the hall with a microphone and announced that the meeting was officially beginning.

Governor Walker walked onto the stage, a practiced, professional smile on his face.

However, an official’s speech was always the same old song and dance.

First came the beaming smile and a warm welcome to all the chiefs and leaders. Then came the long-winded address, covering everything from Alaska’s history to its current development, from the contributions of the Indigenous People to the outlook for the future.

Sitting in the audience, Feng Shan was bored to death and couldn’t stop yawning internally.

The dry content of the speech was like a lullaby, making his eyelids grow heavy.

If he hadn’t been sitting in the front row, where his position was so conspicuous, he probably would have dozed off long ago.

A glance around the hall showed that the other chiefs and leaders were just as uninterested in the governor’s speech.

Some were whispering amongst themselves, others were staring down at their phones, and still others were simply letting their gazes wander. In short, everyone was doing their own thing, paying no mind to anyone else.

In truth, this was nothing new to Governor Walker; he was long past being surprised by such a scene.

’If these Indigenous People would just listen and do as he said...’

’Alaska’s crime rate would drop by at least half.’

’And his job as governor would be a whole lot easier.’

It wasn’t until a staff member carefully helped one of the white-haired veterans to the podium that things changed.

The atmosphere in the entire venue shifted.

Only then did the hall fall truly silent, every eye fixed on the veteran.

Feng Shan, who had been listless with boredom, immediately perked up, his focus sharpening.

The chiefs and leaders who had been whispering instantly fell silent, their eyes filled with reverence.

The veteran stood at the center of the stage. His hands trembled slightly as he slowly raised the microphone.

Though his voice was hoarse with age, it carried a strength that seemed to transcend time.

He began to speak of the contributions the Indigenous People of Alaska made during World War II to protect their homeland.