Apocalypse Online For All Worlds - Chapter 28

Chapter 28: Televised Speech

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

“It’s fine for me to come out and protect him, but what is this arrangement for?”

The president looked at the message on his screen, and there was a strange expression on his face.

The Impartiality Goddess’ voice came in through the screen, “According to mankind’s history of war and conflict, it is necessary to get someone as powerful and reliable as yourself to protect a young man who has not come of age over a long period of time.”

The president sighed deeply and said, “Then, surely you could tell me why I even have to protect this person?”

“According to our agreement, I cannot tell you. But you can ask him yourself.”

The general standing by the side thought about this for a while and asked, “Then, could you at least tell us his Personal Meritorious Service level?”

The president’s eyes lit up. This was a good way to find out more about the other party without making the Impartiality Goddess go against her agreement.

As expected, the Impartiality Goddess replied, “The president’s classification level is at Supreme Leader, while General Zhang is at Leader, so both are you are privy to this knowledge.”

“Gu Qingshan’s Personal Meritorious Service level has been calculated to be at Supreme Leader.”

The president was taking a sip of his tea while she said this, and he sprayed all the tea out of his mouth.

The Impartiality Goddess continued, “Gu Qingshan’s life is currently in danger. I request for the president to make arrangements immediately.”

“It’s impossible to stop the Bai family by just talking to them.” The president tried his best to calm down and took out a handkerchief to wipe away the tea that was all over himself. “Martial Arts Saint Zhang, you’d have to go over personally to have a look. If we take too long, I’m afraid he might not survive.”

“Since when did the Federation have another president? All right, then. I want to see for myself what sort of person this Gu Qingshan is.”

…

When Gu Qingshan arrived, the Federation’s president’s residence was already very busy.

Within the president’s office, the president stood alone at the window and looked out at the capital covered by the night sky.

From afar, he looked like an ordinary elderly man reminiscing about the good old times.

“Mr. President, I’ve brought him safely back,” reported General Zhang.

The president snapped out of his daze, and the air around him immediately changed. He was now filled with authority and solemnness.

He looked at Gu Qingshan, then smiled and said, “Hello. Should I address you as a student or as a young man?”

“I’ve just been expelled by the school, so you can just call me Mr. Gu now,” replied Gu Qingshan.

“Mr. Gu, I’ve brought you here because that’s what the Impartiality Goddess has asked of me. I hope you don’t mind?” asked the president.

“Not at all. In fact, I’m very grateful that you have saved me,” said Gu Qingshan very sincerely.

His ability was still at a growing stage, so if he would have had to take on a vigorous battle right then, he would not have been able to completely annihilate the other party.

He was all by himself against two aristocratic families.

The other party definitely had more strong fighters that hadn’t joined the fight yet.

He would be able to enter the other world soon, so if the fight went on, he would probably have to hide in the other world first. Then, when he came out to the real world again, one hour in the real world would have passed.

After that, he would have to leave Changning County and leave the Federation.

The president smiled. Then, his expression became stern as he asked, “Mr. Gu Qingshan, I don’t know if this is appropriate, but as the president of the Federation, I have to know why the Impartiality Goddess is so concerned about you. The Goddess has never been so concerned over a 17-year-old citizen, so I have to make sure that you are not a threat to the Federation.”

“That’s easy to settle,” replied Gu Qingshan. “Please connect us to the Impartiality Goddess.”

“I’m here.” A solemn female voice rang out.

All three of them looked down and saw that only Gu Qingshan’s communication device was lit up.

The Impartiality Goddess could automatically connect herself to any communication device she wished, so none of them was surprised.

Gu Qingshan went into deep thought for a while, then said, “Please show our final product to Mr. President and this general here.”

“Citizen Gu Qingshan, please authorize this action.”

“Authorization granted.”

There was no harm in seeing it. This mecha would finish its final testing and be sent to Su Xue’er in a few days’ time anyway.

When that happened, the mecha would be seen by the rest of the world.

So he might as well let the president see it first.

According to historical records, this president was of fairly good character and was a good politician. If Gu Qingshan could be on good terms with this president, he didn’t mind revealing some of these futuristic mecha technologies.

Then, when the time was right, he could rely on the power of the government and make preparations in advance by the time the game started in a year’s time.

That way, much fewer people would die.

A projected image appeared in front of all three of them and displayed the seraph mecha deep inside the Shrine.

“What is this? A mecha?” Martial Arts Saint Zhang stared at the image, and he couldn’t tear his eyes away.

“From the looks of it, it doesn’t seem quite the same as a normal mecha.”

The president put his glasses on and started to observe the image carefully.

“I authorize you to show its movement and to show the weapons system,” said Gu Qingshan.

“Authorization acknowledged. Display will now begin,” replied the Impartiality Goddess.

Ten minutes later.

The door of the president’s office was already open, and there were people running in and out to set up a live broadcast from the office.

“General, could you pass him to me for a while?” asked a lady who was dressed stylishly.

“Sure. I’ll go out for a walk. Call me when it’s about to start,” replied Zhang Zongyang.

That lady dragged Gu Qingshan over to a dressing table with bright lights and got him to sit down.

The lady studied his face for a while and nodded. “The outline of your features is not bad, but given the occasion, it’s better to look a little more solemn.”

She took some pressed powder and added some shadows on Gu Qingshan’s face. Then, she got an assistant to bring over a few suits and called another assistant to bring over a box filled with different colored ties.

“Come. Let’s pick one that fits you well and make sure that everyone likes you from the first time you appear on camera,” said the female makeup artist very excitedly.

Gu Qingshan sighed helplessly and had no choice but to sit there and let the makeup artist do whatever she wanted.

At the top of a skyscraper outside the president’s residence.

Martial Arts Saint Zhang Zongyang was puffing away at his cigar. It seemed that was the only way for him to calm down.

As the Federation’s Senior General of the Army and a Martial Arts Saint of Guicang Martial Arts, he had seen his fair share of crazy and strange things in his life, but he still couldn’t contain his excitement at this moment.

“With that sort of technology and that sort of mecha, why did that bunch of idiots want to kill him?” said Zhang Zongyang as he shook his head.

A thought suddenly struck his mind. He pulled his communication device out and dialed a number.

“You’re all gathered at home for a party today? Very good. Turn the TV on and watch the president’s speech later.”

“Remember to get into the good books of the person next to the president and make friends with him. That’s right. Try to find a way to get him into the military college.”

After he put down the phone, another person immediately called in.

“Hello? Oh, Sea Emperor, what is it?”

“I don’t know.”

“I’m serious, I’m not pretending. I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

…

Fifteen minutes later, the president of the Federation was going to make a speech, and it was broadcast live throughout the country.

He carefully detailed the history of the Federation, saluted the heroes who died in the war, then suddenly moved the topic to the time he was in the army and also remembered his comrades who had sacrificed their lives in the war. In the end, he finally expressed that he was going to take care of and sponsor an orphan of the war.

Gu Qingshan went onstage at this point.

The Federation took very good care of veteran soldiers and were extremely kind toward the families of those who perished in battle. Everyone in the country respected the military.

That was because everyone knew very well that if they didn’t have the military to stand at the front lines and fight for the country, then the Federation wouldn’t be enjoying the peace and harmony it had at that time.

So when the president came out personally to show his gratefulness and respect, it improved his approval ratings among the people.

The Impartiality Goddess also came out to personally testify that Gu Qingshan was indeed the child of one of the president’s comrades who’d died in battle, so there was no mistake.

“In another twenty days, the Federation will celebrate its 300th year. So I would like to call on everybody to remember all the soldiers who perished in battle. These are the people who had quietly protected our homes, so please do a little something for their families.”

On the projected screen at the bar, the live broadcast ended after the president finished these words.

“This is really crazy. Half an hour ago, he was still a murder suspect. How did he suddenly get the support of the president of the federation?” Von Hord muttered to himself.

Anna replied, “Quite apparently, the Federation has discovered him. If I didn’t guess wrongly, this is a protective measure of the Impartiality Goddess.”

“Why do you say that?”

“His parents passed away when he was very young, but they were both ordinary folks and had never fought in battle before.”

Anna clicked open Gu Qingshan’s profile and saw that all the information inside had been completely changed.

Gu Qingshan’s parents had passed away in a car accident together, but now they had both died in the war.

“The only person who can simply change a citizen’s personal profile is the Impartiality Goddess,” explained Anna.

“So he’s the Impartiality Goddess’ son now?” Von Hord tilted his head and was still quite confused.

Anna slammed the table hard and stood up to walk out.

“Your Highness, where are you going?” asked Von Hord.

“I spotted him first, but now the Federation is snatching him away!”

Anna ran out at high speed.