Today, Stede-Karl was still as peaceful and harmonious as ever.
The radiation clouds in the sky were still so dark, occasionally even sending down a sheet of pitch-black dust, coating this “beautiful” land in a layer of “black gauze.” Ah~ look at that clear river water, colorful and vibrant!
The giant fish in the river were opening their two great mouths, enjoying today’s “rations.” People walked through the streets with firearms hidden inside their protective suits.
Their relationships with one another were “friendly” to the extreme.
Every day was a “cordial” exchange between metal and gunpowder.
What a kind and virtuous land this was, with everyone treating one another honestly, baring their hearts and lungs.
In an underground casino somewhere on Stede-Karl, a black-robed man holding a Bone Card was giving an impassioned speech atop an “arena” fitted with bulletproof glass.
He was the boss here, the manipulator behind the scenes, and also the “God of Gamblers” in the hearts of the gamblers.
Amid Stede-Karl’s long nights, he was like a dazzling star, successfully reducing the local crime record by ten percentage points through a gambling house that turned decay into wonder!
After all, those who died because of gambling were “voluntary contributors,” and their “sacrifice” had instead made a contribution to Stede-Karl!
And today, this legendary figure of Stede-Karl had actually appeared before them, and was grandly announcing a joyous piece of news!
“Everyone, through the IPC’s internal information, I have obtained a piece of news extremely important to Stede-Karl!” That “Legend” spun the Bone Card in his hand and opened his arms to the audience below the stage.
“The Interastral Peace Corporation is pushing forward a [Remote Planet Development] project to expand their interstellar tourism industry, and within this project, Stede-Karl is currently at the forefront of The Plan!” “What does this represent, my friends?” “This represents…” That “Legend’s” voice suddenly became excited.
The Bone Card flowed and fluttered between his fingers, as though expressing the excitement within its holder’s heart.
“From now on, we will no longer need to see the radiation clouds in the sky!
Our Stede-Karl will once again possess a blue sky.
Clear river water will flow through our rivers.
Deadly dust will no longer float through the air, and you…” He stretched out his fingertip, sweeping it across the people below the stage through the bulletproof glass.
“Will no longer need to wear this bloated protective suit again.
You will welcome your own liberation!” “!!!” The moment these words came out, it was instantly as though a bomb comparable to a planet-grade weapon had been ignited inside the casino!
The audience below the stage seemed unmoved, but the faces behind their masks had already begun to flush, and excited bloodshot veins gradually emerged in their eyes.
They clenched their fists and screamed wildly, but under the obstruction of layer upon layer of filtration systems and protective masks, their voices sounded especially muffled, like a herd of excited manatees making mating calls during mating season.
That “Legend” looked at the audience’s reaction below the stage and nodded in extreme satisfaction.
Then, he once again threw out another heavyweight piece of news to the people.
“To welcome the rebirth of our Stede-Karl in advance, I have decided…
to launch [Sidekar Rebirth Service]!
As long as you purchase this service, you can move ahead of time to those places purified by the Interastral Peace Corporation, one step faster than everyone else.
At the same time, you can also shed this burden earlier.
This service is limited in quantity, first come, first served.
Everyone who wants to witness Stede-Karl’s rebirth ahead of time can already hurry up!” After saying this, amid that wave of muffled cheers, this “Legend” left through the lifting device in the center of the stage…
…
“Boss!
Our [The Plan] succeeded!
Those idiots really believed the IPC would remodel this rotten planet.
Now, in order to take off that thick layer of skin, they’ve already started fighting to buy our service!” Backstage at the casino, an employee wearing an IPC uniform was looking at the “Legend” before him with eyes full of longing.
“Hmph, it wasn’t a waste of all my talking.
How are the arrangements for the ship?” That Legend casually tossed the Bone Card in his hand aside.
Immediately after, he took off the luxurious clothes draped over him, revealing the same “Interastral Peace Corporation” employee uniform underneath.
“Don’t worry!
The ship was arranged long ago.
We can leave this lousy place at any time!” That employee patted his chest, then led the “Legend” all the way to the private boarding platform inside the casino.
A vessel belonging to the Interastral Peace Corporation had already finished warming up.
It was docked on the boarding platform, ready to rise from the ground.
Seeing this, the corners of that “Legend’s” mouth suddenly rose exaggeratedly.
“Good thing we had foresight and came up with this plan the moment the IPC issued the [crisis notice].
Otherwise, there really wouldn’t have been any way to make up for the coming losses…” “Let’s go.
Let’s leave this rotten planet.
With that [Incineration Avatar] here, this planet is already finished!” After that, the two of them quickly boarded that Interastral Peace Corporation vessel.
Inside the vessel, most of the seats were already filled.
The people wore Interastral Peace Corporation uniforms, but if any Stede-Karl locals were present, they would have been shocked to discover…
most of the faces inside this spacecraft were “rich people” with status and reputation in Stede-Karl.
And they were actually all members of the Interastral Peace Corporation!
The IPC vessel slowly rose, and when passing through the waste gas clouds, it did not forget to unfold an energy shield capable of isolating them.
Above Stede-Karl’s cloud layer, densely packed interstellar vessels had already begun forming long queues, all scrambling to leave this damned place.
Anyone from those vessels could casually be picked out and would be capable of stirring up a wave in Stede-Karl, but now…
they only wanted to leave this place.
All because of the descent of that “Incineration Avatar”…
…
At the Interastral Peace Galaxy branch, Wen Jin looked at the long line before him, his brows slightly furrowed.
Even if his senses had never been strengthened, he could still hear the discussions in the line ahead right now.
These people who had specially ridden airships here to “line up” kept repeating one term, and that was [Sidekar Rebirth Service].
This was also the reason they had come here to line up and withdraw money: to purchase this service.
“Rebirth…” Wen Jin chewed on this word, looked at the people before him dressed in luxurious clothes, and shook his head slightly.
It seemed that so-called “telecom fraud” existed on Stede-Karl as well.
Although the IPC did possess the ability to remodel planets, the cycle required to remodel a planet was not something that could be achieved in ten days or half a month.
Moreover…
The time left for this planet was already running out.
Because he had already arrived.
However, there was one point that was not wrong.
He was indeed here to bring “rebirth” to Stede-Karl.
If one wished to make it seem reborn…
then it had to be made to encounter [Destruction]!
★ ★ ★ T/N: If you spot mistranslation, do tell me.
★ ★ ★ Shilling time!