Chapter 81: Demanding Answers from the Grand Xia
Traversing a millennium, returning once more to the Great Xia!
Old Jin could even sense that, although the Phoenix Cloak of the Empress appeared as light as a feather, it bore a weight as heavy as a thousand catties. Upon it rested a strand of the nation’s very fate.
“Rest well,” Old Jin turned to Lin Fan with a word of comfort, then immediately dashed out of the medical bay, shouting, “Signal corpsman, connect me to the National Seat—I must speak with the National Seat!”
Not long after.
Old Jin, holding a satellite phone, his face radiating pride, declared, “That boy Lin Fan… has not let Great Xia down!”
“The nation’s treasure, the Empress’s Phoenix Cloak, has returned to its homeland!”
“Yes, this must be widely publicized! This is a great boon to our nation’s prestige!”
“Hmm…” Old Jin, having finished, seemed to hear some news and was suddenly stunned: “What? Chen Yan’s research team has made progress… they’ve prepared to communicate with the deities ahead of time… Good, have Chen Yan explain this to that boy himself—it’s a task that suits him best.”
He hung up the phone.
Old Jin rubbed his face, his gaze complex: “Communicating with the gods about to invade us… Heh, things are getting interesting.”
Elsewhere.
Lying on his hospital bed, Lin Fan suddenly opened his eyes as if recalling something.
“Heal the foundation!”
“I’ve figured it out. That thing can restore one’s foundation—and even help ordinary soldiers awaken strength-based powers!”
“This time, upon returning, the target—Tianshan!”
On the other side.
While Lin Fan and the First Squad of the Godslayer Army were recuperating aboard the returning carrier fleet, a press conference spanning the oceans was underway.
The Free Nation, White Palace.
The press conference venue was already prepared, journalists raising their cameras like an array of spears and cannons.
The theme displayed upon the podium read in bold: “Accountability Regarding Great Xia Dispatching Assassins into Free Nation Territory for Murder and Plunder, and Sending a Carrier Fleet to Extract Them!”
This press event would be broadcast live to the entire world!
At this moment, all eyes around the globe were fixed on the event. After all, words like “Great Xia,” “assassin,” and “carrier” were simply too explosive.
What drew even more attention was the format of the conference.
The Free Nation would directly question Great Xia via live video connection!
The air was thick with the scent of gunpowder.
Ordinarily, even if two nations faced conflict, each would hold its own press conference—one questioning, the other responding—each taking pains to maintain decorum and avoid escalation.
This was the first time the representatives of two countries would confront each other directly, live, over a single incident.
This time, all pretenses were dropped.
One could even say, if Great Xia failed to handle this matter well, it could be the prologue to war.
At this moment, the entire internet watched with bated breath.
The live broadcast began.
“Thank you all for waiting.” Appearing on the Free Nation’s side was a tall, dignified white man, wearing a refined and gentle smile as he greeted the viewers.
But in the next instant, his smile turned into fury.
“I’m sure by now, you’re all aware.”
“Great Xia, without cause, dispatched agents to invade our Free Nation, illegally crossing our borders to commit murder on our soil—and even stole our national treasure!”
“They even sent a carrier fleet in support, and fired upon our soldiers!”
The spokesman’s statement was clearly well rehearsed.
From the outset, he cast himself as the victim, omitting all context and details.
As expected.
The moment he finished, the global audience erupted.
“Omg! I can’t believe how brazen Great Xia is!”
“This is outrageous—those cunning people!”
“They just invaded us out of nowhere, slaughtered our innocent citizens—and fired the carrier’s guns! Damn it!”
“Great Xia, give us an explanation!”
The world was instantly incensed.
The Free Nation’s spokesman adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, and, feeling he’d set the mood, announced, “We have arranged to question the Great Xia representative directly!”
“Please connect them—give us an answer!”
On the screen appeared a figure.
It was Shang Weitian, who had not appeared publicly for some time.
“Great Xia is present,” Shang Weitian said expressionlessly, “What is it you require of us?”
“First, why did you invade our Free Nation without cause and kill our citizens?” the spokesman demanded, pounding the desk in anger.
Yet.
Shang Weitian’s expression did not change. He replied, “Great Xia urges the Free Nation’s spokesman to mind his position and refrain from fabricating the facts. We strongly condemn your baseless accusations…”
Strongly condemn?
These words left everyone watching the live broadcast dumbfounded.
You’re condemning them…?
“Wait, is Great Xia saying the Free Nation is framing them?”
“Something this serious—how could it be a fabrication?”
The Free Nation’s representative grew furious, glaring at the impassive Shang Weitian. “Our Free Nation is not fabricating anything—the facts are clear…”
“Where is your evidence?” Shang Weitian replied, face still unreadable.
For a moment, the Free Nation’s representative was at a loss for words.
Evidence…
“You acted so swiftly you left no trace, but we know…” The Free Nation’s representative gritted his teeth.
Shang Weitian frowned. “At the very least, you should have surveillance footage, yes?”
“Of course we do!” The Free Nation’s representative picked up a hard disk. “The surveillance is right here, inside…”
“Then play it. Let us see your evidence.” Shang Weitian nodded. “So long as any footage shows our people committing a crime, Great Xia will bear full responsibility.”
The Free Nation’s representative suddenly fell silent.
For a moment.
Even the audience grew impatient, flooding the live-stream with comments: “Play it already!”
“Yeah, you said you have the footage, right?”
“Great Xia is pressing you—show us!”
“Let’s see it. If you’re in the right, what’s there to fear?”
At the press conference.
A staff member hurried to the spokesman’s side, whispering, “Play it—the whole world is watching…”
The spokesman’s face darkened.
He truly did not want to play it.
But now…
“Very well—watch closely!” The spokesman plugged in the hard disk, and instantly, a street surveillance feed appeared on the broadcast.
It was a deserted street.
Silent.
The moonless night, wind howling.
Everyone held their breath.
Suddenly.
A bird flew in, blocking the camera. The screen went black.
The video sped up.
Darkness.
It sped up further.
Still darkness.
Two hours later, several deafening explosions sounded. The bird flew away, the camera once again showing an empty street, but now a two-story house was collapsing in flames!
“This is your evidence of Great Xia’s incursion!” The Free Nation’s representative pointed at the footage and declared loudly.