Wow! The item-dropping rate is really high!-Chapter 797 - 579 forcing the palace_2

In the countless surveillance screens monitoring the entire situation, towering flames raged everywhere. Occasionally, a screen would go blank in static and lose connection.

The frantic sound of gunfire mirrored the chaos in the city's meeting hall, where countless politicians from various factions were relentlessly attacking their political opponents.

"The security forces can't hold anymore! I've said it before, those useless fools can't be relied upon!"

"They're unreliable because you cut their funding! No money, no equipment—where are they supposed to get reinforcements or enhance their combat capabilities? Faced with so many warrior gangs rioting together, I'd like to see if *you* could manage to hold the line!"

"Failing to foresee the intentions of those rioting gangs and not preemptively taking targeted action to break them one by one—this is their negligence! What more justification do you need for such a major failure?!"

"Shut the f*** up! ****! I think you've all gone insane! After destroying the insect hive, with the Imperial Capital's unification imminent, our city has barely gotten to where it is now; do you really want to completely destroy it? All for your pathetic little interests?!"

"Bullshit! It's *you* who've destroyed this city! When the 'Castle' initiative was abolished, I already warned you—if the city doesn't have outlets, it'll end up with filth everywhere! These people, unable to vent their desires, have bottled up their frustrations until today, creating this mess!"

"Laughable! And yet it erupts at such a crucial moment? The city's expansion decree just issued, and the Imperial Capital's unification order hasn't even arrived yet... The timing couldn't be better, huh?"

"What could those ruffian warrior gang members from the Lower City even know? With the support of the expansion decree, once they finish their raid, they'll flee outside the city and never come back—who could even stop them?"

"Bullshit!"

"Bullshit!"

"Stop arguing! The military has already entered the city! Now we just have to see if they can hold the entrance to the Upper City."

Any unrest must not spill into the Upper City—such was the untouchable taboo of Blackwater City.

"How many troops does the military currently have?"

"About ten thousand."

"Good enough. As long as those tanks are stationed at the key passageways, those damned warrior gangs won't be able to reach the Upper City."

"But are we really just going to give up the entire Lower City and Middle City to them?" The speaker widened their eyes in disbelief. "That's madness!"

"What else can be done?! The Lower City and Middle City cover such a vast area—forget ten thousand troops, even twenty thousand thrown in wouldn't stir much of a defensive wave. Unless the soldiers in the military could somehow each be worth a hundred men, how could they possibly capture every rioting gang in one fell swoop? It's a matter of slowly grinding them down over time. Eventually, the negotiation experts will have to take the stage."

Some turned to the surveillance screens with puzzled expressions and said, "Do you see that? Those tall soldiers in dark blue armor in the army—how come we've never seen them before?"

Moments later, someone pointed at the screen with trembling fingers and exclaimed, "…Wait, they're really being deployed?!"

"Where are the Military Department personnel? Who's in charge there? Didn't we agree they'd just defend the Upper City?! Who gave the order for them to deploy outside?!"

"Where's Weslin? Has Weslin arrived yet?!"

Suddenly, the doors to the meeting hall swung wide open. A figure in military uniform strode inside with steady steps. Bai E's expression was calm as he announced to everyone in the room, "The Marshal has ordered to station himself at the military district and commanded me to lead the army into the city to suppress the rebellion."

As the man strode inside, peculiar expressions appeared on the faces of everyone present.

Some looked wary, others had sharp glints in their eyes.

Some were hopeful, others were fearful.

One voiced his objection, "The orders we issued to your Military Department were to defend the Upper City—didn't you hear them? Tell your soldiers to retreat immediately!"

Bai E turned his gaze toward him, his eyes coldly fixed on the man.

The silent stare was oppressive, and in the heavy silence that followed, beads of cold sweat began to trickle down the objector's neck.

Fortunately, before he could completely unravel, Bai E casually spoke again, providing an explanation, "The Marshal's orders to me were to suppress the rebellion as quickly as possible. Simply defending the city wouldn't resolve the unrest!"

Under this unsettling explanation, the objector recalled his near-suffocating panic a moment ago and dared not utter another word. Resentfully, he slumped back into his seat.

During this period of silence, the military had swiftly moved to clear out the rioters in the Lower City and Middle City.

Once the troops moved into action, those warriors clad in dark blue armor, who had been blending with the crowd, could no longer hide their presence.

Of course, they no longer needed to hide.

Suppressing the rebellion as quickly as possible was their unequivocal directive.

"Shhk! Shhk! Shhk! Shhk!"

Blue silhouettes sped like the wind. The moment one appeared in a rioting warrior's field of vision, that warrior found themselves suddenly soaring through the air.

Those who thought their hidden positions were impeccable and were preparing for covert attacks froze in their plots, completely motionless.

Moments later, a thin red line etched across their necks.

Heads slid down the slanted wounds under the weight of gravity, and blood spurted from the severed necks like fountains.

Witnessing the nearly imperceptible blue figures on the screens, every horrified eye turned toward the man who hadn't moved a single inch since entering the room.

Finally, an elder from the Elder Council swallowed nervously and spoke with difficulty, "General Bai… those soldiers in the dark blue armor… What are they?"

Bai E slowly turned his head, his indifferent eyes locking onto the speaker. After a brief pause, he replied softly, "Military District secret. No comment."

"Then you all must know something, right?" The speaker turned toward the representatives of the Scientific Research Institute. "The military's advanced equipment comes from your institute, doesn't it? Don't tell me you're completely in the dark! How could technology of this caliber be handed directly to the Military District for experimental use?!"

Prodded for answers, the bespectacled representative of the Scientific Research Institute also appeared equally bewildered. "I… I don't know either!"

"There's no need to ask." Bai E lowered his indifferent gaze. "I've already told you—it's a Military District secret."

"Hmph! How arrogant!" Suddenly, a commanding voice boomed from the podium. A figure, previously unnoticed, now stood upon it.

Clad in a golden cloak, the City Lord stared coldly at Bai E, who had just entered the room. "General Bai E? Is this how you choose to shirk accountability?!"

Bai E turned his gaze toward him, remaining silent.

The chill in the air spread, and the more perceptive individuals in the room began to discreetly move toward the edges of the hall.

Each person suspected on some level that, on this turbulent night, a storm might engulf Blackwater City, ushering in monumental change.

...

Meanwhile, the dark blue-armored soldiers clearing the Lower and Middle Cities simultaneously received orders through their armor's built-in communication systems: "All soldiers, listen up. Final clearance—one minute remaining. Then proceed to the inner city and execute the ultimate mission objective!"

"Acknowledged!"

"Acknowledged!"

...

Without haste, Bai E watched the scenes unfolding on the surveillance monitors.

The footage displayed here carried a slight delay; many events had, in fact, already occurred.

For instance… the 200 Storm Soldiers had already entered the inner city and completed their pre-determined mission objectives.

The suppression of the Lower and Middle Cities' unrest was something Bai E needed.

Gaining control of the Upper City's aristocratic strongholds was also something Bai E required.

This city—Bai E would allow no one to destroy it, nor would he let anyone take it from him.

Gazing at the City Lord, who still stood high above, Bai E smirked coldly and began walking toward the podium.

The City Lord frowned tightly, his aura erupting with authority. "What are you trying to do?!

"Nothing." Bai E stepped onto the podium, now standing shoulder to shoulder with the City Lord, but maintaining a deliberate distance.

Turning to face the stunned crowd, Bai E sneered and declared loudly, "It's time for you all to make your choice!"