Counterfeit Hero

Looking at the silent Mech Knights from the Four Great Schools, Fatty smiled slightly and said, ”There are plenty of such Mechas in the Fei Alliance! In the future, the regular equipment of the bandit army will be far more advanced than these Mechas! To tell you the truth, the Mars Free Channel is something the Fei Alliance is determined to obtain! Besides the military considerations, the Fei Alliance has its eyes on Mars’ strong productivity! In the future, this will become the most important military factory of the Fei Alliance!”

”What?” Fatty’s words caused a violent commotion.

”Once Mars becomes the production base for the Fei Alliance’s Mechas and ships, do I even need to say what changes will occur here?” Fatty said without blinking an eye: ”After the war, the Free World will become a part of mainstream human society, with no material blockades, no residence restrictions, and no discrimination or exclusion! This place will be an autonomous region, managed mainly by the Mechanical Sects, protected by the Fei Alliance, integrating manufacturing, transportation, and the Mecha industry!”

In the midst of a dead silence, the Four Great Schools’ Mech Knights couldn’t suppress their wild joy.

Everyone knew that war meant destruction, death, poverty, and chaos for some regions. Yet, in every human war, certain places always emerged as the biggest profiteers of the conflict. Some had always been prosperous, while others were barren lands. But because of the war, numerous enterprises, military units, government agencies, schools, and civilians relocated from the frontlines to these areas, creating a wealth concentration effect during wartime!

Mars Free Port certainly wouldn’t be the rear area of some major country, nor would anyone expect it to become a political or cultural center or a logistics industrial base. However, with more refugees arriving, as long as the Fei Alliance allocates a portion of military production orders here while controlling the area, the whole Free World will undergo a series of chemical reactions!

The influx of capital, energy, raw materials, and technology would completely transform Mars Free Port’s industrial system, leading Mars’ economy to rapid development. Along with it, industries dependent on this vast industrial network such as transportation, healthcare, trade, technology, tourism, and entertainment would thrive!

If the Fei Alliance truly wins the war and if this place really becomes an autonomous region integrated into human mainstream society as Fatty said, then the Free World will no longer be the exile’s hell but a paradise forged by war! At that time, the benefits the Sects that join the Fei Alliance camp from the start and have controlled the Free World for over a thousand years would gain are unimaginable.

But, is all this true?

Sade and Bridge Man exchanged glances, seeing the desire in each other’s eyes. Whether all of Fatty’s words come true or not, it’s worth taking the gamble! Surviving in the Free World means facing deceit, the law of the jungle, and it’s this inherent adventurous spirit that these people have in abundance.

Life is only a hundred years at most; given the current situation of the Four Great Schools, if they don’t seize this chance to fight, when will they?

”Alright!” Fatty pointed to the private Mechas of the Tai Sect and Phantom Stream beside him and said to Sade, ”Since it’s a friendly match, there’s no need for military Mechas. You can use your own Mechas, or if you prefer, you may choose any of the private Mechas here. However you want to compete, it’s up to you... But let’s be clear, if I win, what should we say? And if you lose, what should we say?”

”A bet?” The Mech Knights from the Four Great Schools looked at each other in confusion.

”In a few days, it’s time for your private Mechanical Sects’ quadrennial championship!” Fatty said leisurely, ”If I remember correctly?”

Sade and others nodded bitterly; in a few days, it would be June 6th, normally the date of the biggest event in the private Mecha Fighting World—the Sect Federation Championship. For over a thousand years, this had become a tradition in the Free World.

The major Sects displayed their prowess at the championship, while the smaller Sects aimed for instant fame. Various forces re-established their positions and created a new order—but that was before the war broke out! By now, the Sect Federation had completely disbanded, who still had the mind for any championship?

What use is it to train the best disciples, develop the most sophisticated techniques, and own the most advanced Mechas? For now, guns and cannons speak in Mars!

”Although the Sect Federation has dissolved, we still have the Sect Mutual Aid Alliance.” Fatty seemed shameless about this so-called Mutual Aid Alliance formed by two completely unremarkable Sects: ”I always intended to gather the major Sects in Puluo Town, one to exchange skills, and two, to discuss how to restore our traditional status and respond to this war.”

”But since you all are here today,” Fatty looked at Sade and others, ”why don’t we have an early match? Following the tradition of the championship, the winner is the king! Since we are going to compete, naturally there should be stakes. If I lose, I’ll treat everyone to dinner tonight. If you lose, then issue a public announcement declaring your joining of the Sect Mutual Aid Alliance! All Knights under the unified command of the bandit army! I will fulfill every technique I promised!”