Counterfeit Hero

”This stealth technology still has its flaws. When in stealth mode, the windows of the ship must remain closed to avoid revealing internal light sources and being detected. Ion thrusters cannot be used either, only the old-style jet propellers, for slow movements or making ship attitude adjustments. Also, energy shields cannot be activated simultaneously during stealth. In short, any active light source will interfere with the stealth field, causing a disruption in light guidance, thus leading to stealth failure...”

In the central control room of the battleship’s bridge, Shi Chengling, short and thin yet with a crab-like face, was rambling on to the similarly featured Big Head Karl, seemingly still unsatisfied with the stealth technology. However, his glowing eyes and somewhat rapid breathing betrayed his pride at that moment.

He couldn’t help but feel proud. Just looking at Big Head Karl’s keen eyes fixed on the optical deflection device’s controller, feeling the chaotic breathing rhythm of all the Bandit Army Fleet officers, including Fang Xiang, anyone would feel proud of their achievement. Without any praise or compliments, just from the faces of these battle-hardened, knowledgeable ship captains, one could see the shock and surprise this invention had brought them.

”This thing, it was born for us bandit armies!” Chekov cautiously caressed the black panel of the controller, mesmerized, as if stroking the skin of a peerless beauty: ”With this guy, our combat power can rise a notch! It’s simply a must-have for killing and looting, surprise ambushes, and fleeing and hiding!”

”More than just that...” A Saleria officer stared straight at the optical deflection device’s controller, shaking his head: ”If fitting this stealth device on our cruisers and battleships serves for surprise ambushes, it could immediately seize the dominant momentum, forming the first wave of destructive strikes. Then, fitting it on our aircraft carriers, the combat power rise would be more than just a level! God, I can’t even imagine such a battle scene… when our aircraft appear en masse from the void at close range, the enemy would instantly collapse, not only their formation but also their spirit...”

”What a pity, what a pity!” Fatty smacked his lips at the side.

”Pity for what?” Fang Xiang asked curiously.

”Pity this thing hasn’t been miniaturized yet.” Fatty gritted his teeth passionately: ”If miniaturization succeeded, I’d damn well sneak into the Binart!”

”You’re crazy!” Fang Xiang exclaimed in shock: ”Even if miniaturization succeeded, using it for combat is alright, but as for your plan to go to the Binart Empire, you’d better abandon it early, war won’t end that easily.”

”I was just saying.” Fatty looked at Fang Xiang strangely: ”Why are you so serious?”

Fang Xiang was torn between laughter and tears, turned away, and ignored this scoundrel.

”Well, once you’ve got all the other technologies...” Fatty grinned: ”Are you still leaving?”

”In your dreams!” Fang Xiang retorted without looking at Fatty, with hatred: ”Who knows what other treasures you’re hiding. Don’t expect me to leave before squeezing you dry!”

Fang Xiang didn’t realize the ambiguity in his words, while Fatty felt both secretly happy and troubled, caught in a dilemma.

Squeezed dry... this is definitely sexual harassment, blatant sexual harassment!

Oh! Sister!

Should I bravely accept my fate or remain unyielding even unto death?

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Ludelit Street No.1 is a military management zone.

This street, adjacent to Freedom Square, apart from being vaguely reminiscent of its earlier prosperity from the decorations of those buildings, has now become unusually desolate, dark, and dilapidated.

The National Defense Budget Committee building, the Federal Security Bureau 5th District Building, Federation Military Zone Representative Office, Foreign Ministry Building... and a few financial towers, business buildings, at this moment, all have been abandoned. Both sides of the street are closed off with isolation nets, with strongholds composed of sandbags and armored bulletproof walls densely occupying the entire neighborhood.

Rows of patrolling soldiers and Mecha crisscrossed. The checkpoint at the street entrance, with energy machine guns set up and Mecha activated in combat mode, appeared particularly menacing.

The street’s center houses a six-story building, with a gray-white exterior, featuring a dozen huge relief columns, the only place with active work on this street. The flying cars parked by the roadside, with various license plates, proved this point.

The outer wall of the small building hung with a huge flag of the Progressive Society.

This flag, white with black edges, with a wind chime flower in the center, lay quietly against the outer wall, unmoving. Sunlight, through the building across the street, spilled on the flag, creating two distinctly defined bands of light and shadow. The wind chime flower, in the light and shadow, appeared eerie and cold.

Inside the building, officers and soldiers in brown uniforms, completely different from ordinary troops, walked back and forth in corridors and stairs, in a hurry. The noisy sound of footsteps, the buzzing of conversations, the crisp chorus of phones, rose and fell. Amidst the extremely serious expressions and the cold and sharp gazes in the building, it was bustling yet chilly.

This is the Special Guard of the Progressive Society, currently the absolute power institution in Leray. The officers here, although with low military ranks, in Leray, even an ordinary member of the Special Guard, wielded the power of life and death. From ordinary civilians to tycoons, senators, or Generals, all kept a respectful distance from these cold-faced individuals in brown uniforms.

In troubled times, strict measures are needed. In this era, where human life is as cheap as grass, a party that rose to power through a coup, once it has gained authority, requires not law, but purging!