021. No News in a Small Country (Part 1)
Twenty-six-year-old Barnum Ziegler finished his day's work and took a private car back home.
Although he called it home, it was actually a suite in the Joyful Four Seasons Hotel, Room 409, located at 67 Speyer Avenue, where he lived alone.
As a GTB expatriate operative, he was quite satisfied with the accommodation provided by the Grand Duchy. Opening the window, he could see the Duke's residence and the symbol of power for the entire Grand Duchy of Grant—the "Sulut Palace."
The Frost-Plated Republic favored white and blue, painting the Twin Palaces white, while the Grand Duchy of Grant, which had long revered the volcano that nurtured them, painted their palace in a vibrant crimson.
To be honest, it wasn't that Barnum didn't love his own country, but the red just looked more grand and lively than the white. He enjoyed coming home from work every day, opening the balcony's floor-to-ceiling windows, sitting in a chair, feeling the warmer breeze compared to Frost-Plated Republic, and watching the Duke's guards change shifts.
Across from his window, in an apartment, there lived a kind man with a thick beard and pale skin, evidently of Outer Territory descent. Barnum knew this man also enjoyed watching the guards change shifts, but he could never remember the exact time, so he would take out a camera and binoculars every few hours to observe.
This country, rich in coffee and grains, had been blessed by the planet with golden lands. The abundant geothermal energy allowed him to enjoy luxuries unimaginable in Frost-Plated Republic, such as hot springs, higher-powered artificial suns, and delicious sugarcane.
Despite being on assignment for half a year, all it took was a sugar cube in his coffee and waiting for the hotel staff to deliver cod, pork stew, and salad, and he hardly felt homesick anymore.
The clock's hands sliced through the past like a sword, and as usual, he sat on the balcony chair, ready to watch the Duke's guards change shifts.
But he waited for a long time without seeing the tall, imposing guards appear.
"That's strange," Barnum thought in confusion.
He checked his watch to confirm the time was correct and began browsing his personal terminal for news.
"At the GTB summit, Tianhuan's diplomatic representative once again presented strong evidence, suggesting that the humanitarian violations by Abyss Humanitarian Relief were likely true. A Frost-Plated spokesperson stated: 'We are unaware of this matter'… Whatever, nations slinging mud at each other isn't new."
"Red Arrow Empire raises interest rates again. The exchange rate between the Debi and Gallen currencies falls below 9.8. Inflation continues, and Frost-Plated may implement strict price controls—are they crazy? Freezing prices now will cause factories to shut down."
"Zhengxu raises immigration qualifications again, issuing only 100,000 green cards this year… Ugh, it's getting harder."
As a graduate of a prestigious university, Barnum's ambitions were modest. With his parents deceased and no spouse, he only wanted to earn enough money to leave Frost-Plated, this wretched place, and move to a high-welfare country like Zhengxu.
No one liked Frost-Plated; women found it terrifying, especially if they gave birth to sons who would be discriminated against, and men lived in bitterness with no chance to complain.
On second thought, the Grand Duchy of Grant wasn't bad either, but it was still a colony with unevenly educated people. Barnum wanted his future children to have better educational opportunities, whether they succeeded in life or not, so they could pursue their dreams.
Ideally, he'd immigrate to Zhengxu—peaceful, comfortable, and war-free.
But Barnum realized that the Grand Duchy offered these conditions too…
Was he really going to settle in a colony?
To be honest, Barnum had been here for half a year and had grown quite fond of the warm-hearted people. As a GTB employee, his main task was to provide energy loans.
In a country like the Grand Duchy, which had no shortage of energy, his job was fairly relaxed, and he spent most of his time wandering the streets.
Over time, he developed some affection for this place.
Just as Barnum was lost in thought, his colleague, Zhao Senan, called him.
"Hey, it's me."
"Yo, Barnum, didn't you graduate from Twin Star University?" Zhao Senan asked playfully, curious.
"Yes, I graduated this year. Why?" Barnum asked, puzzled.
"Was it in the business management department?"
"Obviously." Barnum replied, exasperated. Where else would a finance graduate work but at GTB?
"That makes sense." Zhao Senan said excitedly, "Do you remember a second-year student named Li Huixi?"
"I vaguely remember her. She was pretty, with a slim waist and long legs. At one of our mixers, my friends urged me to ask her to dance, but she turned me down because I came from a poor family." Barnum said casually.
"That's what you call a vague memory? Sounds like you're holding a grudge!" Zhao Senan teased.
"Not at all. I've long since stopped caring. You have to be magnanimous." Barnum replied dismissively, taking a sip of coffee.
"Li Huixi got into trouble and got arrested."
"Serves her right!" Barnum slammed the table, excitedly asking, "What did she do? She's only a second-year student—did she get involved in financial crimes?"
"It's related. Barnum, do you know about the recent 'Li Aozi meme' that's been all over the place?"
"I don't watch those kinds of videos," Barnum said righteously.
"You don't watch them? Then how did you know Li Aozi's speech was posted on the Snake Clean website?" Zhao Senan said disdainfully. "Honestly, a friend from Law IV told me—Li Huixi is Li Aozi's biological sister. That's why they arrested her, to use her to pressure Li Aozi into surrendering."
"Isn't that a bit too despicable…" Barnum frowned. "Taking a criminal's family hostage makes them no better than the criminal."
"Li Aozi is far from just a criminal. He killed over a hundred Abyss Humanitarian Relief employees and is hailed as a hero by the Outer Territories." Zhao Senan said mockingly, "This guy has disgraced the Frost-Plated Republic, selling secrets to other countries. His family deserves to be implicated."
"I'm not saying Frost-Plated is right." Barnum retorted. "Abyss Humanitarian Relief did wrong, but Li Aozi's slaughter of unarmed civilians is also a fact. And the Frost-Plated government's inhumane experiments are against all reason."
"Someone has to take the fall, and it sure as hell won't be us." Zhao Senan chuckled, then said seriously, "If Frost-Plated faces international sanctions, the warriors of Tianhuan might use it as an excuse to attack us. I'm planning to bring my family out of Frost-Plated."
"Bringing them to the Grand Duchy? Not a bad idea—it's pretty safe here."
"Yeah, for ordinary folks like us, it's better to flee to the colonies or countryside. Tianhuan's soldiers show no mercy when they kill."
Zhao Senan said worriedly, "My wife still holds three of my savings cards. Last year, we took out a 3 million Debi loan to buy a school district house in Twin Star City. Little Na finally got into elementary school. If war breaks out and a missile hits our house, where will I go to cry…"
"It won't happen," Barnum reassured him. "The only thing that could breach the capital's defenses is a nuclear missile. On the bright side, if that happens, none of the tens of thousands of households around you will have a school district house, so you won't have to worry about your kid competing."
"What you just said almost sounded human."
At that moment, Barnum suddenly noticed a piece of white cloth about eight feet long falling from the sky above Sulut Palace, fluttering gracefully like a butterfly.
Cloth?
But upon closer inspection, it wasn't just a piece of cloth; many fluttering white strips were floating down, heading straight for the Duke's residence.
"Barnum?"
"Old Zhao," Barnum's forehead broke out in a cold sweat. He wiped it off with his hand and whispered, "You might want to keep your wife at home."
"What?"
The next moment, those strips of white cloth turned into humanoid figures as they neared the ground. Clad in wingsuits, the attackers crashed through the windows, storming into the Duke's mansion.
Bang! Rat-a-tat-tat-tat-tat!
Gunfire erupted. Explosions followed, shattering the tranquility of the city. Soon, police and military armored vehicles were on the streets. Barnum watched as the windows of the apartment across from him opened, and the bearded, kind man he had seen every day hoisted a missile launcher, aimed it at the armored vehicles below, and pulled the trigger.
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