Chapter 663.1: Welcome Back Anytime. We Don't Need Peace Bought With Submission
Outside Dawn City.
Not far from the First Army’s camp, an Orca transport plane descended slowly onto the runway, trailing faint blue plasma exhaust behind it.
Standing outside the landing pad, Yi Chuan, who had just finished a meeting, stepped forward with a bright smile as Wu Changnian emerged from the cabin. He extended his right hand warmly.
“Welcome, Minister Wu!”
“Haha, Little Yi, long time no see!” Wu Changnian gripped Yi Chuan’s hand and patted his shoulder with his left, his eyes twinkling as he looked the young man up and down.
Compared to the brash youngster from a year ago, this one had indeed matured a lot. Just as Wu had predicted, this was a place that tempered people faster than anywhere else.
After giving Yi Chuan’s shoulder another firm pat, he released his hand and gestured to the group behind him. “Let me introduce you. These are staff members newly assigned from the Enterprise Management Group to Dawn City. They’ll be helping with coordination work. This is Qin Juncai, as per the Highest Council’s decision, he’ll be serving as the Enterprise’s official representative to the Mutant Slime Mold Research Committee.”
The young man named Qin Juncai smiled nervously, bowing slightly as he extended his hand toward Yi Chuan. “An honor, Mr. Yi! I’ve been a fan of yours ever since my time in Ideal City! When I heard I’d get to work alongside you, I was thrilled!”
During the confrontation between the Enterprise and the Army the year before, the Enterprise had successfully forced those arrogant brutes back to the negotiating table and thwarted their eastern expedition across the Central Continent.
Among all departments, none had shone brighter than the Enterprise Management Group, particularly the five subsidiary representatives stationed in the New Alliance.
With minimal cost, they had forced the Army’s armies back into the Falcon Kingdom’s borders and further strengthened ties between the Enterprise and the eastern survivor settlements, especially with the New Alliance.
Now, not only in Among Cloud Province but even in the faraway River Valley Province, hope for the end of the Wasteland Era had begun to appear.
Embarrassed by such effusive praise, Yi Chuan chuckled modestly. “Mr. Qin, you flatter me! I hardly deserve that honor, I only stood on the shoulders of the pioneers who came before me.”
Qin Juncai gripped his hand and shook it enthusiastically. “Not flattery at all! I meant every word, and many others share my opinion! I look forward to your guidance.”
Yi Chuan smiled politely. “I’ll do what I can.”
The Mutant Slime Mold Research Committee’s drafting had reached its final phase. The staff who had come with Wu Changnian were all to serve in the Enterprise’s new office, with Qin Juncai as its appointed representative.
Although his rank was technically lower than Yi Chuan’s, both of them reported directly to the highest Council.
Wu Changnian’s visit had two purposes. The first was to represent the Enterprise in formal diplomatic meetings with the New Alliance and to coordinate the next phase of operations for the Enterprise’s embassy in Dawn City.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, the group left the airfield.
Yi Chuan had arranged vehicles for them, but Minister Wu suddenly expressed the desire to walk and see the city with his own eyes. So the group set off on foot toward the northern streets of Dawn City, planning to have dinner before returning to Embassy Row.
As they walked, Wu Changnian examined the streets carefully, comparing them with the images in his memory.
Yi Chuan quietly observed his superior’s expression. Though Wu didn’t show much emotion outwardly, Yi could still sense his surprise, and even awe, beneath the calm façade.
The city’s transformation had clearly exceeded his expectations.
After a moment of silence, Wu Changnian suddenly smiled and asked, “How’s life here in Dawn City lately?”
Yi Chuan blinked, snapped from his thoughts, and laughed. “Lively, very lively!”
“In what way?”
“In every way, really!” Yi Chuan replied cheerfully. “For example, our flights between Ideal City and Dawn City used to run once every two days, now we have two flights a day. And not just us, all the survivor settlements have been sending their own envoys here as well.”
Wu Changnian nodded in approval. “It’s a good sign that they’re taking the Mutant Slime Mold issue seriously. The only worry would be if the new generation forgot how the Wasteland Era began.”
Yi Chuan’s eyes flickered. “Then... does that mean the Highest Council has agreed to let the Army join the committee?”
Wu Changnian smiled faintly. “Since we can shake hands with the Academy, there’s no reason to exclude the Army. Besides, if even the New Alliance, who fought those big-noses, has no objection, it would seem petty for us to refuse.”
A glimmer of relief appeared in Yi Chuan’s smile. If the Highest Council’s stance was this open, the coming negotiations would go much smoother.
After a pause, Wu Changnian added, “By the way, what about the Great Rift Valley? Have they made any moves?”
Yi Chuan blinked in surprise at the unexpected name. After a brief hesitation, he said, “No direct moves, but according to our sources, they instructed the Bugra Free State to make a diplomatic visit to the New Alliance, and the stated purpose was also related to the committee.”
Wu Changnian thought for a few seconds, then nodded slowly. “That aligns with the Highest Council’s expectations.”
Yi Chuan frowned slightly. “I don’t really understand. What’s the Great Rift Valley thinking?”
Wu Changnian smiled faintly. “It’s not so hard to guess. The old man who governs it once made a grave mistake, one he still can’t forgive himself for. Now he’s terrified of repeating it, so he interferes as little as possible in world affairs. His excessive restraint has become passivity.”
The survivors of Bugra Free State might have a different opinion, but Wu Changnian was certain of his judgment.
No settlement in the Among Cloud Province had dared to stab the Enterprise in the back during the war with the Army. The Bugra Free State, on the other hand, had profited off that chaos through its dealings with the Army’s Expansionist faction, triggering a province-wide humanitarian disaster.
Had that old man intervened more decisively, the chaos in the Sunset Province might never have gone so far. Then again, without that war, without the Bonechewer Clan, the survivors of the River Valley Province might never have united so completely.
Yi Chuan still looked puzzled. “But it’s been so many years... shouldn’t they have moved on?”
“For us, yes,” Wu Changnian said with a sigh. “But for him? A century ago might as well have been yesterday. His sense of time has dulled. Don’t bother worrying about him.” He paused, then added, “Let’s get to business. We need to bring the Bugra Free State into the fold.”
Yi Chuan looked surprised. “Why?”
Wu Changnian lowered his voice. “Without the Great Rift Valley’s participation, many initiatives can’t move forward. There are still plenty of survivor settlements that respect their authority, especially those that once received aid from the Post-War Reconstruction Committee. Bringing the Great Rift Valley itself in is unrealistic, but bringing in their son can connect us indirectly. And with the Army’s Expansionists losing power, Bugra Free State is no longer under their sphere of influence. The Highest Council believes those fence-sitters are worth winning over.”
Yi Chuan hesitated. “And if their son causes trouble?”
Wu Changnian smiled faintly. “They won’t cause much of a stir, and buying them off isn’t difficult. What matters most is how our friend, the New Alliance, sees it. You should probe Chu Guang’s opinion quietly. The Highest Council hopes to offer the Bugra Free State an opportunity, to join as a secondary or cooperative member of the Mutant Slime Mold Research Committee.”
Yi Chuan nodded earnestly. “Understood.”
As the group passed down a street, they suddenly noticed a large crowd gathered ahead.
Wu Changnian stopped instinctively, curiosity flickering in his eyes. The others also halted. “What’s that?”
Yi glanced ahead. “Looks like the Wislander camp.”
“Oh...” Wu Changnian nodded, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. “So it’s the barbarians.”
Qin Juncai took a few steps forward, frowned, and said, “It looks like they’re having a dispute with the locals.”
Yi Chuan turned to Wu Changnian. “Should I go ask what’s going on?”
Wu Changnian was about to nod when his gaze caught sight of a group turning the corner, and the smirk on his face took on a trace of amusement.
“No need,” he said softly. “Let’s just watch.”
...
