Counterfeit Hero

”Since ancient times, the Five Great Free Ports have been known as places abandoned by the Heavenly God.” A young staff officer with glasses smiled and echoed, ”Back in the days when the Earth Federation had just dissolved, these planets had already been mined empty. If it weren’t for their geographical locations, making them supply and transit points for the fringe routes, they would have been abandoned long ago.”

”I heard that when the Human Supreme Joint Council was first established, there was a discussion about what to do with the Five Great Free Ports. Back then, someone proposed forcibly relocating the inhabitants of these major planets and destroying them directly to prevent pirates and smugglers from exploiting them and allowing filth to accumulate.” Another staff officer walked up to Chuck and interjected, ”However, this proposal was too extreme, involving many impractical and inhumane aspects. In the end, the Human Supreme Joint Council decided to impose a comprehensive blockade on the Free World.”

”Hmph, not humane?” Chuck looked into the distance with his hands behind his back and snorted coldly, ”These are just exiles! For people like this, who cares about humanity? Not to mention forced relocation, even collective annihilation wouldn’t be a loss. I really don’t understand whether the General sent us here to fight these scum as a reward or as a punishment! I would rather not have these accumulated military merits!”

”The Colonel, having experienced countless battles as the Empire’s most outstanding elite, naturally looks down upon such military merits.” The bespectacled staff officer respectfully said, ”However, since Admiral Ulianov specifically assigned the Colonel here, it is obvious that he highly values the strategic importance of this place. Otherwise, why use a sledgehammer to crack a nut?”

”If it weren’t for knowing the strategic importance of this place, how could I have agreed so readily...” Chuck lightly waved his hand, unsure whether the staff officer’s flattery was modest or proud, and continued with a smile, ”From the sudden counterattack launched by Chuckna in the Resk Star System, the intention to threaten the Southeast Main Channel is very clear. Moreover, Feiyang has also started a large-scale offensive against the Binart Empire at the same time. All of this was unexpected by the Alliance Headquarters. Even Commander Mikami Yuto, the top general of Jiepeng and our Western Alliance’s Southeast Combat Department commander, is said to have been locked in the combat room for two whole days. If he, the top general of Jiepeng, can’t understand what Hastings is scheming, how would anyone else dare to be careless? This time, Admiral Ulianov specifically allocated military supplies to the Northern Commerce Alliance and assigned us here, likely to quickly control the fringe route and prevent any threats to the main channel.”

”Admiral Ulianov is too cautious.” Another staff officer laughed, ”With these rabble at Mars Free Port, what threat can they pose to the main channel? If those few groups we defeated a few days ago can be called armored groups, then we could immediately form hundreds of thousands of such groups just by collecting the Empire’s private Mechas! Using private Mechas without energy shields and with structures and armor entirely unsuitable for combat, the so-called Mechanical Sects must be out of their minds! I heard that the armored unit we broke through with a single charge a few days ago used to be the overlord of this planet, always trying to rule this planet with their ridiculous Mechas!”

”Don’t underestimate them.” Chuck smiled, ”The Free World has been under blockade for thousands of years and has completely embarked on a different path from the mainstream world. Any tactics and equipment they have are a result of their historical environment. Moreover, from the close-combat capabilities of their Mechas, these sects do have some interesting aspects. Their gap with us is only because they don’t understand what real modern warfare is, nor do they understand that sports like boxing matches cannot be compared to war. A hundred Boxing Kings versus a hundred battle-hardened warriors, the outcome, evidently, wouldn’t be pretty.”

”It’s not just the bumpkins of the Free World who don’t understand this, even that Fatty from Leray doesn’t seem to get it.” A Major officer curled his lips and said, ”That guy rampages around here with over a hundred Eighth Generation Mechas. I don’t know if he’s gone mad, but now he’s rallying those even weaker Mechanical Sects, trying to use these people as a base to gain control of Mars. I really don’t understand how this idiot, who started as a mechanic soldier, became a Leray Hero!”

”Don’t underestimate this person.” Chuck reservedly smiled, ”If any of the feats Leray Federation boasts about are true, then this person is not simple.”

”Goodness!” A staff officer exaggeratedly covered his forehead and exclaimed, ”I’d like to believe those are all true too, but the premise would be that he is the almighty God. In a country like Leray, apart from despicable politicians and spineless weaklings, what’s left are braggarts. It’s really hard for them to continuously create a hero image for boosting morale throughout the war. Unfortunately, they went too far. This has already become a joke in our Western Alliance.”

The staff officer’s exclamation elicited a burst of laughter. Amid the laughter, another staff officer chimed in, ”Half a year ago, while on vacation in the Empire, I saw a program about this so-called hero. The sharp-tongued folks at the Imperial Storm Platform didn’t hold back, laying all of Leray’s business on the table and ridiculing to their heart’s content. I laughed so hard my stomach hurt for a day. Those guys’ mouths are just too vicious.”