Chapter 28
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Chapter 28: Ally? No, It’s An Equal Exchange!
Exceeding Our Expectations?
The crowd did not agree with Cheng Youmeng’s words. Although they knew that Gu Ran had transformed from a boy scavenging in the slums into the most authoritarian tyrant in the history of the Human Alliance, he must have exceptional political acumen and skills, but how old is he now?
Moreover, he had not undergone any real experience; he had spent his time in the slums raising children and studying. Even if Gu Ran displayed extraordinary political wisdom, it must have been developed later through extensive training and growth.
Their previous assumption seemed to be the best solution: only by aligning with the Yang family and gaining their protection could Gu Ran, who was currently only an A-grade ability user, live safely in Saint Yor City. Otherwise, he would need to leave Saint Yor City, as the wrath of the Duville family would make it impossible for him to remain there.
In the Screen.
Yang Tian appeared on the video screen in the control room, while the scene inside the control room was also projected onto the other side. Yang Tian frowned as he surveyed the scene, showing a hint of confusion.
A group of military officers and soldiers, a corpse, and a young boy were present. The space over there seemed somewhat unusual, as if trapping a person.
Because Kelly Duville had quickly taken control of the garrison camp, the information had not yet reached Yang Tian. As the highest military commander of District D, Yang Tian was still unaware of what had happened in District D32.
However, Yang Tian was very composed. After scanning the room, he asked sternly, “Blanco, what do you need to report to me?”
Blanco looked at Gu Ran, seeking his approval before speaking, not daring to speak freely due to the recent example.
Gu Ran calmly said, “Speak up. Since you are Kelly Duville’s trusted aide, you should know what he asked you to do. Provide General Yang Tian with all the details you know. If you dare to deceive or conceal anything… the consequences, as you know, will be severe.”
“Yes, yes, I’ll say it now.” Blanco quickly responded.
Blanco then truthfully recounted Kelly Duville’s orders to control the garrison camp, purge the officers loyal to the Yang family, and then move to the city defense cannon control room to prepare to bombard District D32 and flatten it.
However, since Kelly Duville did not mention his command errors and the general with the square face who was killed was aligned with the Yang family and did not get along with him, Blanco was not fully aware of Kelly Duville’s actions on the front lines and could only infer from his limited knowledge.
After Blanco finished speaking, Gu Ran played an audio recording he had made of Kelly Duville. The recording began with the military tent on the front lines, showcasing Kelly Duville’s fatal command errors, the subsequent purge back at the garrison camp, and his words revealing his plan to bombard District D32 to cover up his crimes.
After the playback, the room fell silent.
They had known Kelly Duville wanted to seize power, but they hadn’t expected it to be for this reason. A command error on the front lines leading to total defeat, then returning to the garrison camp to purge Yang family officers, and planning to bombard District D32 to cover his own mistakes.
The people in the control room were not fools; they quickly pieced together Kelly Duville’s entire process.
Kelly Duville, who was “exercising” in the space cage, knew his fate was sealed and that he would no longer have a foothold in the District D army. He desperately wanted to escape the space cage and flee, but the cursed space cage rendered his body entirely under its control. He had no autonomy; even if he wanted to stop, the continuously circulating space portals kept transporting his body over and over again.
“Humph, Yang Tian, that kid must be yours, right? You must have already planned to frame me. Victory or defeat, you can decide my fate. But our Duville family will never let this go.” Kelly Duville said, seemingly defiant.
However, his words were actually full of hidden meanings, as he was still searching for a glimmer of hope.
No matter what, he first tried to shift the blame and then use the Duville family’s influence.
According to the rotation agreement among the major families, the next ruling family of Saint Your City would be the Duville family. Once the Duville family became the ruling family, they would be the most powerful family in Saint Your City.
He could not believe that Yang Tian would not consider this, and even other major families would not dare offend a ruling family. They would avoid confrontation and yield some benefits, and the Yang family, being a secondary family, would be even less of a threat.
Outside the Screen.
“Wait a minute, I remember that the year after this incident was when the Duville family became the ruling family of Saint Your City. If that’s the case, even aligning with the Yang family wouldn’t be secure.”
Someone suddenly recalled.
“Yes, becoming a ruling family versus a non-ruling family means a completely different level of power. If the Duville family had not become the ruling family, although they would still be one of the top families in Saint Yor City, they would merely be one of them. The Yang family, allied with other families, could still challenge them. But if the Duville family became the ruling family, they would undoubtedly be the top family, removing the ‘one of’ from the equation.”
“Other families would no longer fight the Duville family for the Yang family, and the Yang family could not oppose the ruling Duville family. Thus, the Yang family could no longer protect Gu Ran, making Gu Ran’s decision to ally with the Yang family completely wrong!”
“Yeah, even though he has done well, he is still too young and inexperienced, and didn’t realize that next year would be the changeover year for Saint Your City with the Duville family taking power.”
Although initially, everyone stood in opposition to Gu Ran, the boy in the screen had not yet exposed any evil deeds. Adopting a baby, killing the burly man, and rescuing the survivors from the slums were actions in line with current political correctness and the views of most people present.
Unconsciously, the crowd began to consider the situation from Gu Ran’s perspective.
However, what they did not expect was that Gu Ran’s next action would overturn their judgment.
In the Screen.
“General Yang Tian, I’m sure you understand the situation now,” Gu Ran said with a faint smile. “So let’s make a deal.”
“Deal?” Yang Tian was somewhat surprised, then carefully scrutinized Gu Ran. “You’re certainly not an ordinary youth, but what kind of deal do you want to make with me? What do you have to offer?”
Yang Tian’s expression showed no sarcasm, only a hint of curiosity as if he was genuinely interested in the answers to these questions.