Chapter 383 - 281: Summon (Part 2)

Never mind ordinary citizens. Could even the local elites and politicians escape?

Not long ago, a rumor spread that the Jili Envoy hosted a banquet. Many socialites were invited to attend. Shortly after the banquet began, the main hall was sealed. It’s said that someone heard women screaming from inside. When the banquet finally ended, not a single one of the high-society women left the hall with their clothes intact. Yet their fathers and husbands—the local elites and politicians—didn’t dare say a word.

With their territory lost and sovereignty trampled, when the nest is overturned, how can any egg remain unbroken?

In the outskirts of Jinling, at the Ward Company, the underground levels were far busier than the world above.

This was the Jinling branch of the International Peace Alliance’s Divine Continent District. Due to the shifting situation in the Divine Land, Jinling had become the center of attention. For this reason, Matt, the head of the National Union Divine Continent District, had secretly rushed to Jinling to oversee matters.

In a room within the underground complex, the key senior members of the National Union Divine Continent District were also in a meeting, discussing how to respond to the establishment of the Pseudo-Government.

"Our top priority is to find out the exact agenda for the Divine Land’s Pseudo-United Government establishment ceremony, the details of the Six Nations’ secret talks, and the complete list of attendees. Only then can we formulate a proper response."

"Also, after the Pseudo-Government is established, the Six Nations will undoubtedly take military action. We must do everything possible to get our hands on their specific military plans. We’re running out of time. We must be quick! Quick!"

A Caucasian man sat at the head of the conference table, lightly tapping its surface as he addressed the others in the room.

He appeared to be around forty, with a head of golden hair and deep-set features typical of people from the Western Continent. His azure eyes were filled with solemnity.

This was Matt. He hailed from the Jili Empire, his ancestors a line of fallen nobles. He was a descendant of "Angel’s Horn," one of the legendary Four Knights of the Jili Empire, and had inherited their Fighting Techniques. He was a rare individual from the Western Continent who, without relying on Secret Medicine, had managed to raise his Physical Ability to the limiter level.

He was also one of the founders of the anti-Secret Medicine movement on the Western Continent.

The more he advanced in his training, the more he understood that nothing in this world comes easily. Power obtained without effort wasn’t a gift, but a curse.

"Our agents have acquired some photographs from inside Research Base 731. The experiments and scenes depicted are inhumane and utterly infuriating. I’ve already arranged for them to be disseminated through secret propaganda channels in the Divine Land and other nations. We’ll take this opportunity to release them and cause our enemies some trouble."

"The resistance organizations in various nations are ready. They will be actively organizing disruptive activities in the coming days, hoping to delay the formation of the Pseudo-Government and slow the advance of the Six Nations."

"..."

The International Alliance’s senior members in the conference room spoke one after another.

"To be honest, what we can do is quite limited. It’s mostly peripheral and auxiliary work. At best, we can cause our enemies minor trouble. We’ll be lucky if we can even delay them. We can’t play a decisive role. In the end, it’s our allies in the Divine Land who will decide the outcome."

"But forgive me for being blunt—in the current situation, I see no hope of our allies turning the tables."

someone said, a note of pessimism in his voice.

A brief silence fell over the room. No one refuted him, because it was the truth. Although the International Alliance and various national resistance groups had many experts in the Divine Land, and even had some troops committed to the battlefield, they were only a small part of the bigger picture. After all, they themselves were under immense pressure from the high-handed rule of their own military governments.

Intelligence and public opinion were merely supportive measures. What truly decided everything was the main front.

But now, the disparity in strength on the main front couldn’t even be described as a ’crushing defeat’.

It was more like the sky was falling.

"Gentlemen, we all know our cause is fraught with peril—it will be a long, arduous, and winding path. We are a light in the darkness, watching over the future of the entire world. We must face any and all difficulties. I also have faith in my allies. They will not give up hope so easily. I believe that as long as we stand united, we can overcome the challenges before us."

"There’s an old saying in the Divine Land: ’Do your best, and leave the rest to fate.’ We just need to do our part without hesitation. The rest we can leave to God."

Matt said in a low voice.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!

Just then, a soft knock came from the door of the underground conference room.

Matt frowned slightly, but he knew no one would interrupt the meeting unless it was for urgent intelligence. "Come in," he said softly.

A Caucasian man entered the conference room. He gave a slight, apologetic bow to the group before quickly walking to Matt’s side. He leaned in to whisper in his ear, placing a file on the table beside him.

Matt’s brow furrowed as he listened to the man’s whisper. He waved a hand, dismissing him from the room, then picked up the file and scanned it. About half a minute later, he gently set it down.

"Mr. Matt, what happened? Are you at liberty to say?"

Seeing Matt’s expression, someone in the room couldn’t help but ask.

"It’s a message from the Divine Land’s Anti-Alliance. In a telegram, they’ve invited the leaders of all resistance organizations within the Divine Land, including our International Alliance, to meet at their rear base. They say there are important matters to discuss," Matt said.

"Why would the Divine Land’s Anti-Alliance suddenly summon everyone? Didn’t we always communicate by radio?" someone asked, puzzled.

"Perhaps their plan this time requires much closer coordination to deal with the current situation. That would explain why they need to summon all the leaders for a personal meeting—to better mobilize everyone," another person suggested.

"Did the Divine Land’s Anti-Alliance not give a specific reason?" someone asked, looking at Matt.

"The telegram only mentioned it cryptically," Matt said. "It seems to be related to that Divine General of the Divine Land."

"The Divine General? Could it be that he’s woken up? Has the Divine Land’s Anti-Alliance still not given up on that faint hope? For two whole years, they’ve poured so many resources into someone who might be dead for all we know. It’s been a crippling investment. I really can’t understand it."

"Even if he really has woken up, I doubt he could reverse the current situation. If we’re just comparing individual combat strength, the terrifying power of the Four Marshals has already reached a similar level, perhaps even a step beyond. And that’s not even mentioning the host of other experts under their command."

"I’ve always believed it’s unwise to pin the fate of this land on one or two individuals. In terms of powerful experts, we are at an absolute disadvantage. This will inevitably be a long war. What we need are more seeds. We need an ideological awakening among the people. The collective will of millions is the only thing that can shatter steel and change an era."

At this, a man who had been silent for the entire meeting suddenly spoke up.

He was tall and powerfully built, with a messy mane of blond hair like a lion’s. However, one half of his once-handsome face was withered and wrinkled, a horrifying sight.

From his seat not far from Matt, it was clear he was one of the top figures in the National Union Divine Continent District.

"In any case, if the Divine Land’s champion has truly awakened, it’s undeniably good news for us right now. It’s certainly worth going to see for ourselves," Matt said after a moment’s thought.

"It is necessary. If the Qilin Divine General they’ve pinned their hopes on has really woken up, I’m worried the Divine Land’s Anti-Alliance might concoct some radical plan that leads to a complete collapse of the situation. The Four Marshals have yet to truly make a move in the Divine Land. Our allies have only heard of their reputation; they don’t understand the terrifying heights their power has reached. It would be easy for them to make a fatal miscalculation."

"Those men... they’re beyond what any human can fight."

The man who had just spoken nodded and continued.

"In that case, Bard, you’ll come with me. Among all of us, you’re the only one who truly understands the strength of the Four Marshals," Matt said to the man beside him, whose name was Bard.