Chapter 88: Then You Stay
The disheveled Old Norris had completely lost his former grace.
He planned to surrender to the Governor.
In his view, although the resistance formed by the Alliance Council Members had been dismantled, the city’s future was already destined to be under the Governor’s control.
However, for the Governor to implement his rule, he certainly couldn’t rely on himself alone; he would inevitably need a certain class or group of people to carry out his will and enforce his policies.
He, Norris, did indeed lose before, but he accepted his defeat honorably.
He was willing to pay the price and help the Governor rule this city, and in the process of this rule, regain the part that rightfully belonged to him.
In his view, this was only natural, and the Governor would certainly agree.
The only consideration was how much authority the Governor would be willing to leave him.
It was precisely because of this consideration that he gathered and armed the workers.
This was a measure to increase the weight of his surrender.
He was using this method to announce to others how strong his control over the important industrial entities of Revival City was, so he could gain more attention from the Governor.
However, after the Governor entered the city, the envoys he sent out did not manage to see the Governor at all, let alone discuss any conditions.
Shortly afterward, Lambert surrounded his fortress-like factory with his army, demanding his unconditional surrender.
At this point, he felt that things were starting to go wrong.
Having Lambert and his men be responsible for besieging his factory was a strong signal in itself.
Lambert was his blood enemy! If the Governor intended to accept his surrender, he logically shouldn’t send Lambert, as that would only intensify the conflict, right?
But he still held onto a glimmer of hope and attempted to negotiate, yet Lambert was completely unyielding and issued an ultimatum.
When he heard the ultimatum, Norris still couldn’t believe it: The Governor really doesn’t want me? I’m the biggest industrial tycoon in Revival City! The entire city’s resumption of work and production hinges on me; countless workers’ livelihoods depend on me! And you dare to want me dead?
Then, the time for the ultimatum arrived, and ten heavy cannons opened fire on the factory.
A round of shells fell, and black smoke rose from various parts of the factory.
The 155mm caliber cannons were enough to penetrate the factory buildings and cause terrible damage inside.
The entire factory was filled with wails.
Among them, Norris’s office on the top floor of the main factory building also took a hit. If his bodyguard hadn’t pulled him into the basement when the ultimatum was issued, he would probably be dead by now.
He was completely at a loss, his mind entirely filled with fear.
And he wasn’t the only one deeply terrified.
After a round of shelling, the poorly prepared armed workers suffered significant casualties.
If it weren’t for a group of people in dark blue robes shouting and maintaining order, the morale inside would have completely collapsed after a few more rounds of shelling.
They called on the armed workers to hide inside the sturdy factory buildings, constructing defensive structures out of various debris, building materials, and scrapped machines that could withstand shrapnel and shockwaves from the shells, or to hide in the basements, ready to endure the shelling. Then, when the Governor’s lackeys attacked, they would give them a taste of their own medicine.
Under the encouragement of the blue-robed individuals, the morale of the armed workers was somewhat stabilized.
In the basement, watching the blue-robed individuals constantly moving in and out, busy with their tasks, Norris’s expression suddenly showed some life.
“Yes, yes… I’m not finished yet… You! Stop!”
Norris grabbed one of the blue-robed individuals.
“I am your most important collaborator, you must protect me! I need to get out of here, I need to…”
Before he could finish his sentence, he was pushed away by a gust of air.
The blue-robed individual stared at him and said, “Coward, if you want to run, do it yourself. We will stay here and fight.” His eyes were filled with fanaticism.
Norris shouted, “You will die!”
The blue-robed individual looked at him with even more contempt, “True believers of the God Emperor do not fear death. We will give those Governor’s lackeys a profound lesson!”
“You’re crazy!”
The blue-robed individual ignored him and ran upstairs.
In the bustling factory, where resistance was being prepared to the end, the desperate Norris looked like an abandoned old dog.
…
In another basement of the factory, the Original High Priest Trico was also present.
He was accompanied by two men dressed in gray-white robes. Their attire was very similar to that of the Howling Wind Emissary whom Gu Hang had encountered in the Alien Forest.
They were indeed two other emissaries of the Original Owl Beast Sect, of the same status as the Howling Wind Emissary who died at the hands of Gu Hang, being two of the twelve emissaries.
The Shadow Wind Emissary was a corpulent woman, her obese body barely concealed by her oversized robe; the Fierce Wind Emissary was a very burly man.
“Have the blessings of the storm been planted?” Trico asked.
Both emissaries bowed together: “As per the teachings, they have all been planted.”
Trico’s expression was filled with compassion: “The people of God will return to the divine kingdom, and we must also leave. Greater plans await our dedication.”
The faces of the two emissaries showed signs of excitement.
The Shadow Wind Emissary’s voice even trembled with excessive intoxication: “I can’t wait to see the storm arrive.”
The Fierce Wind Emissary beside her was much calmer: “We cannot be reckless. The plan had to be launched prematurely because of the Governor, and we are not fully prepared.”
“You’re too cautious!” The Shadow Wind Emissary, interrupted in her excitement, seemed very dissatisfied, her sharp voice ringing out: “We could have dedicated this city to the storm long ago, but because of…”
At this point, she abruptly stopped speaking. She noticed Trico’s gaze on her.
“This is the will of the storm,” Trico said with a smile on his lips, “Shadow Wind, you still don’t fully understand the will of the Lord. You will stay here.”
Shadow Wind’s eyes, buried in her fat, suddenly widened: “No, no! I didn’t mean any disrespect.”
“This is not a punishment,” Trico’s smile became even more benevolent, “This is a test for you. Those harlots of the false Emperor from beyond the skies will affect the Lord’s work. This time, not only do we need to create chaos in the city and distract the Governor’s attention, but we also need to eliminate as many of those harlots of the false Emperor as possible. Unfortunately, only seven of them came this time. However, you still need to do your best, understand?”
The Shadow Wind Emissary wanted to refuse, but ultimately, she could only lower her head in submission.
Trico nodded in satisfaction and said: “Then I leave this place to you, Shadow Wind. I hope to hear good news from you afterward.”