Chapter 255 The Weight of a Single Vote

The circular curtain slowly rose, and the soft light of the auditorium fell from above every audience member. This landmark building, constructed a century ago, has a long history, predating the peaceful unification of the Five Continents.

The Great Capital District has weathered many wars.

The naming of Freedom Auditorium was a result of the end of the last war. A leader granted the Great Capital District complete liberation, and "freedom." Over the past century, the auditorium has withstood the ravages of time. Its exterior stone walls have been renovated numerous times, but its spiritual core has never changed.

Freedom.

"I can understand your speech at the candidate councilor ceremony..."

"And I can also understand your choice to refuse to meet me in Lion Alley..."

The old man sitting next to Lu Nanzhi was wearing a simple suit today. Due to his advanced age, he did not appear to be in good spirits, resembling a flickering, faint flame that could be extinguished at any moment.

The old man's gaze turned to the center of the circular stage. His voice was unhurried and calm: "I can understand everything you do, just as I understand the meaning of this auditorium's existence. Countless people in the Great Capital once fought valiantly for freedom. Now you choose to stand up, also for freedom."

Lu Nanzhi did not refute. She simply listened quietly.

Over the years, her relationship with Zhao Xilai has been very simple: teacher and student, one teaching, one listening. This kind of conversation was not the first time, but... a conversation in Freedom Auditorium was a first.

"I am very pleased that you did not continue to hide behind the wooden door in Lion Alley, but chose to attend the ball, chose to talk to me again..." The old man said softly, "Child, you have always had freedom. The Flower Banner will not become your shackle, but will become your wings, allowing you to fly higher. This is the foundation and support that so many people dream of. Why destroy it with your own hands?"

"Opposing the bill... does not mean destroying the Flower Banner."

Lu Nanzhi shook her head.

"Do you know... what the situation is in East洲 (Zhou) now?" The old man smiled. He looked at Lu Nanzhi. Over the years, the "Madam's" reputation in the Great Capital District has spread far and wide, but in fact, he has silently devoted a great deal of effort behind the scenes.

Every time he saw this woman grow, he felt both gratified and helpless... because a premonition told him that Lu Nanzhi would one day stand on the opposite side of him.

The more powerful the student is taught.

The more troublesome the day of the falling out will be.

"The Five Continents are not in harmony because there is a split in the opinions among the highest seats..."

"The awakening speed of the Black Spots is getting faster and faster. If we just let them spread unchecked... it's only a matter of time before the five continents are swallowed up by disorder. Perhaps I won't see that day, but what about the people who come after? How much time do they have left?"

The old man said slowly and sadly, "Therefore... those who hold the Fire Seed have decided to follow the 'Deep Sea's' suggestion and tentatively promote the Awakening Bill in a certain area."

Lu Nanzhi's pupils constricted.

What?

"They are gods who hold the Fire Seed and control unparalleled 'Supreme Power'." Zhao Xilai's voice was very soft, "And the only man East洲 (Zhou) can rely on... has fallen into a long sleep. We are lambs to the slaughter. We have no choice in this matter."

"Treating East洲 (Zhou) as a chessboard... how can we agree to such a decision..." Lu Nanzhi said coldly, "We should oppose it even more!"

But when she saw Zhao Xilai's expressionless face, devoid of joy or sorrow, and only filled with numbness, all the anger slowly ebbed away...

This was a feeling of powerlessness.

No wonder, no wonder Nagano City chose to remain silent on this matter... They should have refused, but with Gu Changzhi asleep, who in Nagano City could bear the cost of refusal?

"If the number of votes against is in the majority, according to the rules, the bill will be rejected... but what will happen next, no one knows." Zhao Xilai said slowly, "The Awakening Bill is just a test. More than whether the bill can be implemented, those in the highest seats, as well as the other councilors of the Five Continents, want to see if the man in Nagano City is really dead."

"The Flower Banner has found two allies, Light City of West洲 (Zhou), and the 'Lin Family' of the Northern Fortress. These two have given some guarantees after the bill is implemented." Zhao Xilai said slowly, "If the Awakening Bill can indeed absorb transcendent source matter and alleviate the emergence of Black Spots... then East洲 (Zhou) will also become the biggest beneficiary. In the absence of a sitting authority, we can only choose to gamble. And that one in Light City, as well as the Lin Family, are willing to take charge for East洲 (Zhou) and ensure fairness."

"Fairness..."

Lu Nanzhi couldn't help but laugh.

What she saw was East洲 (Zhou) being treated as a chessboard by the highest seats. Where was there any fairness to speak of?

"So... back to the original question, you said earlier that opposing the bill does not mean destroying the Flower Banner..."

"You're wrong."

"The Flower Banner has no way out. Once the bill fails to pass, Light City and the Lin Family will no longer fulfill their auxiliary responsibility of supervising fairness. And what East洲 (Zhou) will face at that time is an unprecedented storm." The old man's voice gradually softened, and finally he said, "Do you understand the weight of this final vote?"

Lu Nanzhi fell into a long silence.

"If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, who would believe that 'god'-like beings exist in this world?" Zhao Xilai smiled softly, "If I hadn't seen them in my life, I should have become more brilliant."

The Fire Seed Project... is one of the highest-level secrets of mankind.

And those who have been recognized by the Fire Seed and have fully developed its power have surpassed the scope of what transcendence can understand.

From a material point of view, perfect beings, saints... or gods, it is more appropriate to use such words to describe them.

"The social order that believes in materialism is destined to be broken by transcendence, and the logical bottom line of scientists' understanding of the laws of the material world is also destined to be shattered by the Fire Seed... As the balance of the Five Continents slowly changes, we must accept it and adapt to it."

Zhao Xilai said slowly, "Now, the new generation of leaders who have inherited the Fire Seed are not as great and selfless as they were at the beginning. They will certainly go to the fortresses to eliminate 'Black Spots', but more than going out, they are slowly shifting their gaze to the mainland."

"East洲 (Zhou) is being targeted?" Lu Nanzhi said coldly, "We oppose the bill, do they even want to carry out 'righteous execution' across continents?"

What was frightening was that Zhao Xilai did not speak.

He sat quietly, and that seemed to be an answer.

After a long time, he revealed another piece of information:

"A certain Fire Seed wielder in Central洲 (Zhou) took the lead in doing such a thing... He gave out a wisp of his spiritual power to help a transcendent who was absolutely loyal and believed in him to improve his strength, and granted him the ability to eliminate 'Black Spots'. Thus, the person who received the gift became the 'Apostle of God'."

"From a rules perspective, this is absolutely not allowed."

"But... now that there are more Black Spots, the appearance of apostles is a good thing for humanity."

"But the problem is, only gods can defeat gods—"

"And the apostle who has inherited a wisp of the god's spiritual power... even if this wisp of spiritual power is very weak for the god, it is by no means something that a normal person can bear and defeat."

"So... the other Fire Seed wielders, in order to maintain this balance, have all chosen their own apostles. When the rules are broken, everyone must adapt to the new rules, but East洲 (Zhou) has nothing."

Zhao Xilai said, "In the most recent call, Light City told me that a Central洲 (Zhou) apostle will be coming to East洲 (Zhou) soon... We don't know when he will arrive. In this incident, he may just be an observer, or he may become an executor."

Lu Nanzhi felt her hair stand on end.

"You see... there is no need to play so many conspiracies and tricks. All power struggles are futile in the face of absolute power. The apostle only needs to visit them one by one and pass on the 'God's' will. Then there are a total of twenty seats in East洲 (Zhou). There will always be people who fear and retreat. After all, the seats are dead, and people are alive."

Zhao Xilai's body sank into the chair. He persuaded her wearily, "That's why I wanted to have an in-depth talk with you... Give up this battle, you can't win."

Lu Nanzhi opened her mouth.

She had nothing to say.

"Zhao Qi asked me to bring you something... you should have seen it. After I die, the Flower Banner is yours. These are not compensation, but what you deserve." The old man let out a long sigh of pent-up energy, "Or, you can see it as a compromise in this war. If we fight, there will be no winner. You will lose, I will lose, and East洲 (Zhou) will also lose."

"Besides accepting... is there no better way?"

"There is."

Zhao Xilai suddenly smiled, smiling a little happily, like a child, "If that man wakes up, I will be the first to raise both hands and feet to vote against it, and then use a megaphone to tell those bastards in the highest seats to get away and never have any crooked ideas about East洲 (Zhou)."

"But..."

"He's still sleeping, isn't he?"

The old man's voice suddenly became like autumn leaves, "So we must accept reality... and prepare for the worst."

Lu Nanzhi said slowly, "If... I still refuse?"

"..."

The old man fell into contemplation.

"I... don't know."

Zhao Xilai shook his head, he said seriously, "Under the general trend, there is no retreat. I cannot accept the failure of the Awakening Bill's implementation. I have never really fought a losing battle in my life, so if you refuse, there is most likely only one possibility."

"You will become ashes crushed by the wheels of history..."

That thin, withered old man, lacking energy, at this moment, his aura was restrained, like a thin blade.

Those turbid eyes instantly cleared, and a sharp cold light bloomed.

He slowly opened his mouth, "There will no longer be a so-called 'Madam' in the Great Capital."

Lu Nanzhi's expression was peaceful, and she met Zhao Xilai's gaze. She seemed to be looking into the other person's eyes, as if looking directly at the scorching sun.

But she did not retreat.

……

……

(Just one chapter today, tomorrow will be the climax. There will be extra updates as compensation.)