Shadow Empire

Chapter 1057 Ending
For the residents of Zhuolan, this past month has been absolutely magical.

They first experienced the rapid collapse of Diego's regime.

Actually, saying it was quick isn't entirely accurate; at least he persisted for over a year, which can be considered a kind of... success.

Given the multiple influences and attacks, the fact that they were able to hold out for so long suggests that Diego, his government, and his army weren't exactly incompetent.

People witnessed the man they once couldn't even look up to die on the execution platform after drinking a glass of iced fruit juice.

For the locals, this marks the end of an era, a time when the Lavira family ruled Lapa, and this moment brought it to a close.

Then, as they began to have a little expectation for the establishment of the new government, the ministers and chiefs of the princely states declared that the new government being formed was an illegal regime and that they would wipe out these anti-government armed groups and restore their glorious rule.

Perhaps the nascent yearning for a new era, for freedom, human rights, and democracy that had just begun to rise in people's hearts was extinguished at this moment.

Just five days later, gunshots rang out again outside the city.

After a city was purged by fleeing soldiers, the people began to carefully hide their possessions, including their own.

The entrance to the concession was crowded with people eager to enter. Beautiful girls and handsome young men displayed themselves around the entrance as if they were objects.

We hope to find residents from within the concession area and bring them in.

Pedro has never had a proper rest since the day he learned that those people were going to attack him.

He may have had some mental issues during this period. When he is alone, he sometimes sees Diego in the mirror whenever he looks in it.

Sometimes it's the normal Diego, sometimes it's Diego holding his own head, he smiles at Pedro, a sinister and frightening smile that often startles him.

He didn't know if this was Diego's curse. He remembered Diego's final curse on him and on them: he would wait for them.

Perhaps the curse has come true.

Pedro knew he shouldn't think that way, but he just did. It's like knowing that applying glue is wrong, but when a certain switch is activated, you close the door, pull out the chair, and sit down.

In fact, everyone knows what is right and what is wrong, but knowing and doing, and not doing, are two different things.

Pedro was somewhat devastated. He wanted to retrace Diego's steps, but not his long reign before the siege; he was only walking the last stretch of Diego's path.

He was unwilling and helpless. He had already called Lance, wanting to have a more sincere talk, but Lance simply wouldn't answer his calls.

This also made him realize that his countdown stopwatch had already been activated.

The hurried footsteps and the loud shoving of the door made him look up at the person walking in. It was Ross.

He was wearing a military uniform, and his face had some oil stains and traces of dust.

"We can't hold on any longer. We're out of supplies and ammunition, and the entire front is about to collapse. We need to think of a way out."

Pedro looked at Ross. He had never really thought much of Ross before, always thinking he was just a guy with ambition but no ability.

Until this moment.

Looking at his face, which showed fatigue but also determination, Pedro suddenly realized that he also had shortcomings compared to Rose.

At least in terms of mental fortitude, he might be a little lacking.

Rose maintains his high fighting spirit regardless of whether the game is going well or not, while I can't.

He's going to run into trouble if he's in a strong headwind.

He tried to pull himself together, but he couldn't at all. "Do we have any other way out?"

Perhaps he was smarter than Ross, so he couldn't see any way out, any hope or possibility, which is why he was so depressed. For the past two days, he's been like a useless piece of trash, not even wanting to think.

Ross glared at him with resentment. "Look at yourself now!"

"We haven't lost yet!"

“We may still have a chance to start over. Doesn’t the Czech Republic want us to come to power?”

"Let's get out of here first, then try to contact them and get them to provide us with weapons and equipment so we can continue fighting them!"

"I believe that one day, we will be able to return here."

Pedro looked at the excited Ross and shook his head slightly. "Let's not even talk about whether the Republic of Geed will support us with these things. Let's talk about how we're going to get out of here."

"The sea has been blocked off, and the surrounding area has been surrounded. Now we are like crabs in a tank. No matter how we run, we can't get out."

Ross slammed his hand on the table and stood up. "Then let's fight them!"

Pedro leaned back in his chair and lit a cigarette. "We're almost out of ammunition, how can we fight?"

"Longsword or bayonet?"

"Or a bow and arrow?"

Ross glared at Pedro. "Are you planning to give up?"

Pedro shook his head. "It's not that I want to give up, but... that's how it was arranged from the beginning."

Have you seen the movie?

"The ending of the film was already decided before filming began. Everyone, every actor, was just performing according to the script."

"To perform in such a rigid way, following the structure of the story: cause, process, and result."

"Even if the actors are very talented and they incorporate their own understanding of the film and the script into their performances, making some small changes, they are still powerless to change the ending."

"Unless, a higher power emerges, such as greater capital."

"It's a pity that we are just minor characters in Lapa's film, and no one will invest much in us, no matter who it is."

Pedro seemed to have a lot to say at this moment. He looked up at the fairly good sky outside the window and said, "You should actually think about things differently, Ross."

"Even someone like Diego can't escape. He can only wait here for us to arrive, and then we'll kill him in front of everyone. What do you think we can do about it?"

He turned around and said, "Everything we have comes from the support of these Federation people like Lance. When they didn't support us..."

As he was talking, he suddenly couldn't help but laugh twice. He had once read a book that said when a person has worked hard but in the end all they see is despair, they will laugh.

At that time, he didn't understand why someone would laugh when they had worked so hard but achieved nothing.

How could one possibly laugh?

Now he knows.

That's just how he is; he inexplicably wants to laugh out loud.

"The dream is over."

"Ross".

"The dream that Lance wove for us is about to end."

Ross shook his head at the somewhat hysterical Pedro. "I didn't expect you to be such a coward. You're already scared before the end. I've always considered you my biggest rival. It seems I overestimated you."

Pedro seems to have given up entirely, which is also one of the biggest flaws of intelligent people: they think things through too thoroughly and are too inspirational.

It's like... a smart person standing outside a dead end can see the last wall at a glance, so a smart person won't go into the alley.

But the fools think that maybe there are some side paths inside that are not visible from the outside, or maybe there is some way to get over that wall.

Regardless of whether they can climb over or get through the alley, they will go in and take a look first.

Pedro was undoubtedly a smart man; given the predictable outcome of the situation, he had lost all will to struggle. It was Ross, whom he considered somewhat foolish, who, on the contrary, maintained his fighting spirit.

Seeing Pedro's resigned expression, Ross stomped his foot. "If you won't leave, I will."

He turned and strode away, intending to lead his men south to try and break through, where there were fewer people surrounding them and perhaps a chance to escape.

As long as we can break through, the future may still hold possibilities!
If those routed soldiers could break through, there's no reason why they can't!
Watching Ross stride away, Pedro shook his head repeatedly as he looked at his retreating figure. Could Lance not have thought of what they could think of?

Don't forget, all their ideals, pursuits, and even dreams to this day were woven by Lance himself!

He leaned back lazily in his chair, waiting for the finale to arrive.

Ross led his men to withdraw from the main battlefield and then made a rapid advance southward. This move caused the already precarious defensive line to collapse completely.

Pedro and Ross were among the top forces in the entire anti-government armed group, and they both started to flee. How could the others possibly resist the combined forces of the princely states?
There's no such thing as a complete rout here, but the things that happen are the same.

Large numbers of soldiers who had been withdrawn from the front lines began to plunder all available resources, and then followed Ross's main force south.

Some people also acquired boats and tried to sail away, but as soon as their boats left the port, they were attacked by warships.

The entire Zhuolan is like a boiling water vat, with the water already bubbling and the "ingredients" gradually cooking in the churning water, soon to be served on the table.

In just one afternoon, the allied forces of the princely states had entered the city, and the city was filled with the sound of gunfire.

The air was filled with the horrific smell of blood.

Pedro stood at the window of the presidential office, holding binoculars, watching everything that was happening in the city.

Even if their soldiers kneel on the ground and surrender with their hands raised, they will eventually be shot.

Every intersection was an execution ground, where groups of people were gathered together and shot to death, then the next group would be taken.

The ground was stained red with blood. Pedro then understood Lance's intention: they were wasting the blood of these young people who still had passion in their bodies.

They were the spark that ignited resistance against federal rule and the subsequent series of unjust governance!

Only by extinguishing these sparks can the Federation better govern this country!

He was heartbroken because he had also played a dishonorable role. If he hadn't been misled, perhaps Lapa could have preserved these seeds of rebellion and, one day in the future, brought about a truly meaningful change!
Instead of being caught, kneeling on the ground, shot through the body, and dying on the roadside like this.

He put down the binoculars, slowly closed his eyes, and tears were squeezed out from the slits of his eyes.

He was an accomplice, an executioner, and could even be called a traitor!

If it weren't for him, if it weren't for them, things might not be like this!

At that moment, he suddenly realized that although Diego was a bastard, at least under his rule, the Commonwealth dared not interfere in anything here at will.

It was not Diego or anyone else who caused the Federalists' power and rule to expand here, but precisely these insurgents who were thinking about change and wanting to change Lapa!
They are the sinners of this country, while Diego, whom they condemned, is actually the hero!

The gunfire continued until noon the next day before gradually subsiding. When they found Pedro, he was sitting on the steps outside the presidential palace.

He felt ashamed of his past behavior, and he had wanted to sit in Diego's chair at the last moment, but he gave up.

Only after he realized he was a sinner did he realize that he had no right to sit in that chair.

He watched as large numbers of princely soldiers surrounded him from all directions, his face expressionless, for he knew this was the end of the "movie."

At that moment, several cars sped by, and the drivers dragged a person out of the cars and threw him down the steps.

Pedro looked at the person, his expression changing slightly; it was Ross.

Ross lay on the steps, looking at the sky. He had two bullet holes in his forehead, and the back of his head was almost completely ruptured. His brain matter was nowhere to be seen.

He already had a hunch that Ross was very likely not going to escape, and given Lance's abilities, he wouldn't allow any threat to exist.

It's even possible that the fleeing soldiers were deliberately showing off to them as they headed south.

Then more rebel leaders were brought over, some as corpses, others in a sorry state.

They looked at Pedro sitting on the steps, each with a different expression.

Those corpses were all those who refused to surrender even in death. Since they were unwilling to surrender, then kill them.

Lance never asked them to be left alive. A bunch of rebels, just kill them. Their role was over, they were no longer of any value.

Those who survived were only captured alive if they knelt on the ground and begged to live at the last moment.

Several officers walked up the steps, and one of them stood in front of Pedro, looking down at him. "You're Pedro?"

He seemed a little incredulous that a seemingly harmless and unassuming high school teacher could become one of the most important actors in the climax of the film.

Pedro pushed up his glasses. "There shouldn't be another person named Pedro here, so you must be looking for me."

The officer nodded, seemingly quite satisfied with Pedro's cooperation. After all, capturing such a "big boss" alive would certainly be more rewarding than killing a corpse.

He waved his hand, "Arrest him..."

Several soldiers pounced on him menacingly, and Pedro was tied up with ropes without any resistance.

The officers then led the soldiers to clear out the entire presidential palace.

Subsequently, a large number of representatives or leaders of the princely states, as well as former ministers of the Rapa government, also appeared at the presidential palace.

And that man.

After a large number of federal agents in trench coats took over key areas of the presidential palace, a convoy of armored vehicles arrived at the foot of the presidential palace steps, next to the main gate of the presidential palace, watching Lance walk up.

Behind him were the ministers, the leaders of the princely states, the chiefs, and their representatives.

At that moment, a feeling of being overwhelmed by a monstrous wave arose spontaneously!

For the first time, Pedro truly felt the embodiment of "power." The things that Lance exuded were on a completely different level from what he had previously displayed.

Just one glance is enough to give you a feeling of suffocation.

Lance's pace was neither fast nor slow, and he soon arrived at the gates of the presidential palace. He glanced at Pedro and gave him his signature smile.

It was very calm and composed, almost like an expression of emotion rather than a smile.

He didn't speak, but simply nodded slightly before walking past him into the Presidential Palace.

At 10:00 AM, the Rapa Central Broadcasting announced to the entire country and the whole Alam region that the government forces, composed of the United Maharajas, had fully recaptured Cholan and the surrounding areas today.

The bandit leader Ross was killed while on the run, while another leader, Pedro, was captured alive outside the presidential palace.

Apart from the few princely states that were destroyed, the twenty-one princely states will form a provisional government, and a new government will be re-established after these matters are dealt with.

The news caused an uproar throughout Asia. Ordinary people might just think that they had suppressed the bandits too quickly.

Only those politicians knew that the Federation had finally taken the first step of its invasion in Alan!
Countless officials and politicians began making frequent calls, making this perhaps the busiest time in the history of the AsiaBlue telephone network!
Many people will find that at this time, telephone service in almost all cities is down because the limited telephone resources are all occupied by high-level officials from various countries.

In addition to explaining these matters, Rapa Central Broadcasting also mentioned that a public trial would be held for these rebels, their key cadres and leaders.

Interestingly, the place where they were publicly tried was the same place as the place where Diego was publicly tried, and even the time was the same.

Helam strode into the president's office, went behind the president's desk, leaned down beside Lance, and whispered, "Pedro wants to see you."

Lance looked up at him, considered for a moment, and said, "Bring him here."

(End of this chapter)