This Game Is Too Real
Chapter 451: Lion City Welcomes the King’s Division

Chapter 451: Chapter 451: Lion City Welcomes the King’s Division

The Royal City of Lion Kingdom, Lion City.

Among the square and tidy western-style houses, there were sporadically a few collapsed buildings, and the streets still bore the charred marks of a great fire.

Although the Army and Falcon Kingdom had not fought their way here, one could still see the scars left by war in the unrestored ruins.

Along the main road leading from the north gate to the royal palace, the crowd was bustling, stretching into a dense sea of people as far as the eye could see.

Whether men, women, the elderly, or children; whether farmers, craftsmen, or fruit vendors, they were all on tiptoe, craning their necks looking in the direction of the city gate.

In just a few days, life had visibly improved at an astonishing pace.

The roaring bombers were gone, the piercing air raid sirens had also left the lives of the city’s residents.

People no longer had to wake from their sleep to air raid alarms, nor did they have to cower under their beds with their families, praying that their names weren’t on the casualty list.

Of course, it wasn’t because the enemy had a change of heart.

But because the Alliance had arrived.

Hearing that the Storm Corps, which had pulled back to the rear for repairs, would pass this way, many people arrived early in the morning, just to catch a glimpse of those friendly forces who had rescued them from the brink of disaster.

The kingdom’s elite "St. Beetle" ten thousand troops led by Prince Wenter entered the city first, followed closely by reinforcements from the Alliance.

They did not disappoint the expectations of the residents of Lion City.

A squad of soldiers, resplendent and eye-catching, approached with precise steps.

They carried rifles on their backs and wore uniform exoskeletons, their shiny alloy breastplates bearing the flag of the Alliance and the badge of the Storm Corps.

The great Manager had specifically instructed that the parade ceremony would be recorded for the game’s CG, and if the players didn’t want to be cut from the final edit, they should at least dress like proper human beings.

Although Chu Guang only required proper and decent clothing, when the Spring Water Commander learned that his corps would appear in the game CG, he instantly became as excited as if injected with adrenaline, shouting to his comrades.

"Brothers!"

"This is a great opportunity to show off on the Forum! Give it your best—120% spirit! Rifles on shoulders, chests out, marching steps high, necks turn right!"

"For the Alliance!"

And the players’ response was impressively formidable, each bringing 150% of their spirit and exhibiting astonishing vigor.

"Long live the Alliance!!!"

"For Demacia!!"

"Roar!"

Most players just wanted to show off, or engage in a bit of performance art.

But Spring Water Commander was playing a bigger game, seeing this chance to feature prominently in the official game CG as an opportunity for free recruitment advertising.

Want to become a shield for the Alliance?

Want to offer loyalty to the great Manager?

Want to spread the light of order across the Wasteland?

Then join the Storm Corps!

They would sweep away all chaos like a storm and bring righteous judgment upon barbarism! They would return triumphant amid the cheers of the people!

In just a few seconds, he had even thought of the advertising slogan!

While Spring Water Commander was fantasizing, the residents along the path in Lion City were already fixed intently on these players.

People waved their arms and cheered, whispered to each other, or cast envious glances.

"Is that the Alliance army?"

"I heard they’re called the Storm Corps!"

"Why are there so few of them?"

"That’s a thousand team, right?"

"Few? Are you joking? What’s this ’a thousand team’? Those thousand lads are all Awakeners!"

"1000 Awakeners?! How is that possible! Have you had too much to drink?"

"I’m not bluffing! The blacksmith next door has two sons serving on the front lines, and he says those people are really something, a thousand chasing ten thousand!"

"Ssst..."

The shirtless man and a few neighbors boasted with exaggerated stories about the Alliance, stories they couldn’t possibly know the veracity of.

It was said that the Storm Corps wasn’t even the strongest in the Alliance.

Initially, a Looter Tribe called Chew-bone, with nearly 30,000 members, got battered black and blue by a force of less than five hundred paratroopers.

Not only the neighbors and vendors were interested, but some young girls also cast longing looks at the squad.

"The armor they’re wearing looks so cool..."

"The men do too."

"..."

Whether it was their superb equipment, high morale, or handsome faces, they left a profound impression on the onlooking residents of Lion City.

Even the king’s most elite troops—the "St. Beetle" ten thousand led by Prince Wenter—were outshone by this mere thousand-strong force.

Girls holding baskets of flowers tossed petals into the air.

Basking in applause and cheers, Spring Water Commander, walking amidst the crowd, couldn’t help but smile unconsciously.

For a moment, he could finally understand the pleasure of being a Manager.

"I feel like I’ve become a hero by just passing by."

Walking beside Brother Quanshui, I Max Black touched the back of his head, his face bearing a puzzled expression.

Spring Water Commander rolled his eyes at him.

"What do you mean ’just passing by’! We’ve fought in two battles, alright?"

Ten Punch Superman replied helplessly: "That is true, but it just feels like something is missing without a nuclear explosion."

The Ghost Hunter in the Grave nodded in agreement.

"And without Old Soldier here, we can’t see him show off anymore."

Legless Kevin: "+1"

Spring Water Commander: "..."

These people are so hard to please!

Three days ago.

When the Skeleton Corps had completely taken control of the airport near Lost Valley, the joint forces of the Alliance and Lion Kingdom had also sounded the horn for a counter-offensive.

The first ten thousand of Falcon Kingdom positioned a defense line near Idles Mountain, attempting to block the "St. Beetle" ten thousand from Lion Kingdom from breaking through to the west.

To support the allies in quickly recovering lost territory and conserve forces for the next stage of the battle, the Storm Corps, under the orders of Army Command, parachuted 30 kilometers behind enemy lines and, with the covering fire of the Iron Heart, launched a surprise attack on the artillery positions behind the first ten thousand.

At that time, stationed near the artillery position was the Falcon Kingdom’s second ten thousand, which had been retreating for repairs. As soon as the two forces encountered each other, they immediately erupted into fierce combat over the wheat fields!

Under Brother Quanshui’s command, the Storm Corps turned into decentralized units across a 10-kilometer wide front line, using squads of ten as the basic combat units to infiltrate the enemy lines. Three squads coordinated in a group, maneuvering and encircling. They managed to make a thousand men exert the presence of ten thousand, and the second wave of ten thousand was beaten into a disorganized retreat, losing their gear within less than 24 hours.

The victory can be described as complete and impressive, truly reflecting the spirit of the Alliance.

Of course, the smooth progress of the front line was not only due to Brother Quanshui’s excellent tactical command but also inseparable from the Manager’s strategic judgement.

With the loss of nuclear bombardment capabilities and armored clusters, as well as the interruption of the supply lines from the north, Gregory’s retreat became highly probable.

It was foreseeable that the Allied Forces of the Alliance and the Lion Kingdom at Oasis No. 9 would not encounter too fierce resistance; what they faced were rear-guard troops without reinforcements.

After taking over the Falcon Kingdom’s rear military positions of the ten-thousand-strong unit, the Storm Corps immediately utilized the artillery that the enemy had not had time to destroy, using the enemy’s own firepower to forge a path for their allies.

Facing pressure from both the front and the rear, and with the presence of the Steel Heart above them, the Falcon Kingdom’s elite ten-thousand-strong unit was quickly annihilated en masse.

After 72 hours of pushing westward, the front line of the Alliance had reached the western edge of Oasis No.9.

Apart from sporadic resistance, the Lion Kingdom had essentially recovered all lost territory.

And all this was inseparable from the help of the Alliance.

As the protagonist of the entire celebration ceremony, Chu Guang’s entrance was naturally the most eye-catching.

The towering Steel Heart flew directly above Lion City; the elevator descended from the air and landed firmly at the end of the red carpet that covered the stairs.

Overlooking the flowers and applause below, as well as the Storm Corps marching up to the palace gates, Chu Guang’s lips curved into a faint smile.

The residents of the Lion Kingdom could only see the victory before them, while he had already seen the future granaries of the Alliance, full to the brim!

Weren’t the Awakeners big eaters?

Was the 110,000 square kilometers of the Oasis not enough?

This patch of black earth, irrigated by the embankments, was far more fertile than the tens of thousands of acres to the north of Rhombus Lake!

Just introduce the Alliance’s advanced seeds, machinery, planting experience, as well as fertilizers and pesticides, and it wouldn’t be hard to double the total food production here!

With more and cheaper food, they could attract more immigrants from other regions and recruit more players.

He didn’t know what surprises the B6 floor would bring him this time, but the number of beta players was bound to increase.

"Xiao Qi, remember to choose a good angle and make me look handsome."

Inside the power armor’s helmet, a pale blue pop-up window appeared.

Xiao Qi: "Ehehe, it’s a bit tricky, Master looks super handsome from any angle!

"Hahaha!"

Chu Guang laughed heartily, raised his index finger, and tapped on the helmet to disengage the face shield.

Once the elevator came to a steady halt, he walked out, followed by Lu Bei and a group of personal guards in exoskeletons.

The shadow of the airship loomed over the palace, shielding the scorching sun above.

King Edward Lion of the Lion Kingdom and a host of ministers were standing on the palace steps, quietly awaiting the arrival of this dominator from River Valley Province.

A tall and thin minister standing beside the King slightly furrowed his brow.

He leaned closer to the King’s ear and whispered,

"...Your Majesty, I believe that bringing the airship directly over the palace is a disrespect to you, and now to step into Your Majesty’s palace in power armor. I fear the Alliance may not have sincere intentions regarding this alliance—"

The King looked down and slightly opened his eyes, giving the minister beside him a glance filled with a warning.

"Shut your mouth."

A shiver ran down the minister’s spine; he immediately closed his mouth and dared not speak further.

The old King restored his benign countenance and looked at the approaching Manager, accompanied by his guards. With a strong and slightly amused voice, he spoke.

"Welcome to Lion City, Manager of the Alliance, sovereign south of Tianshui... I didn’t expect you to come here in person."

He certainly knew that the Alliance was flaunting its military power, but even so, he could only turn a blind eye.

At least...

These people did not seem bad.

After their arrival at Oasis No.9, they hadn’t performed acts of bullying men and women like the Army did, nor had they shown any interest in meddling with the kingdom’s court and domestic affairs, which was already a great joy.

"You’re too kind," Chu Guang said with a slight smile, extending his right hand, "We come for justice and order, to fight our common enemy."

As for the rest, that was secondary.

The elderly king extended his right hand and gently shook hands with the Manager before him.

In front of that imposing and powerful figure, he looked like just an ordinary old man, his golden crown and luxurious cloak adding little to his majesty.

Looking at that young and handsome face, envy couldn’t help but appear in King Edward’s eyes. If only he could be thirty years younger.

If he were in his prime, able to mount a warhorse, to lead troops in battle, the military preparedness of the Lion Kingdom wouldn’t have declined to this state.

He hoped that his children, out gaining experience, would bring back some surprises...

A silver spherical drone flew to the side, capturing this historic moment.

From the moment of that handshake, the Lion Kingdom would cede part of its sovereignty in exchange for support from the Alliance.

And from that moment on, the influence of the Alliance finally extended beyond River Valley Province, incorporating this fertile land irrigated by the relics of a pre-war civilization into its territory.

"...This is not politeness, but a heartfelt gratitude," said Edward with a solemn expression, speaking earnestly to Chu Guang, "If it weren’t for you, this city might have turned to dust... The people of the Lion will not surrender. Rather than become slaves of the Army, we would prefer to die on the land left by our ancestors."

Yard, the Marshal of the Restored Army also invited here, had an unnatural expression, scoffing disdainfully.

He didn’t think the Lion was any braver than the Honey Badger; they were the courageous ones facing threats from the West.

If the Lion Kingdom was as indomitable as the old man claimed, they should have been fighting side by side with them at Oasis No.3 when the Honey Badger Kingdom was invaded by the Falcon Kingdom.

As for these insincere words, they were just for the sake of saving face.

However, his emotional intelligence wasn’t low enough to cause a scene in such a setting.

His attention was fully on the Alliance Manager.

The azure power armor and the long-handled warhammer on his back were undoubtedly those of the legendary figure.

However, unlike the legend, he was neither a 60-year-old man nor had a full chin of beard.

Instead, he was a—

Quite handsome young man?

Not noticing a certain pair of astonished eyes in the crowd, Chu Guang smiled and gently shook the old king’s hand, speaking in a gentle voice.

"I’ve witnessed your bravery from the bridge, and we have fulfilled our promise."

The underlying message—

Now it was his turn.

"Of course... we too will keep our promise."

A smile played on Edward’s face, but in his heart, he sighed deeply.

The Lion Royal Family once dominated this desert. Falcon and Honey Badger, as well as Golden Lizard and Hump to the south and north, were all tribute-paying countries to them.

Now, however, they had to submit to others; to say there was no bitterness would be impossible.

But even so, he didn’t have the audacity to renege on the deal.

Given the dominance the Alliance had shown on the battlefield, even at the height of its national power, it lacked the confidence to defeat the Alliance in a head-on conflict.

Thinking of this, Edward couldn’t help but comfort himself.

Actually, being a vassal of the Alliance might not necessarily be such a bad thing.

Because of the successful defense of the City of Abundance, his younger brother, Prince Wenter, had reached the peak of his prestige among both the nobility and the common people.

Especially since the guy was also up to something with his intelligence organization...

It might be good to have the Alliance hold him in check.

Besides restraining domestic forces, the Royal Family could also obtain industrial aid from the Alliance, including the East Coast, as well as the safety guarantees personally promised by the Alliance Managers.

On the surface, it looked like they had sacrificed some of their power.

But in reality, they had gained more...

...

The ceremony celebrating the arrival of the Alliance reinforcements continued in a lively and cheerful atmosphere until the end.

Although the Lion Kingdom’s Royal Palace didn’t have a banquet hall that could accommodate a thousand soldiers dining together, the palace’s finance minister granted each soldier 2200 Golden Lion Coins as a reward.

This amount was five times the salary of a soldier in the ten thousand troops of Saint Armor City.

Even though prices had soared in the Lion Kingdom due to the war, it was still a substantial sum.

The Alliance soldiers could spend this money in the market and pubs.

However, before being dismissed, Spring Water Commander repeatedly emphasized that they must act like civilized, quality people, forbade conflicts with the local residents, fights, and disturbances, and strictly prohibited taking equipment out of the barracks.

They were a disciplined army, and moreover, they represented not just themselves but everyone within the Alliance, including players and NPCs.

Looking at the purse in his hand, a player in civilian clothes couldn’t help but feel sentimental.

"Ah, I thought I could experience being a stationed US soldier in Korea, but this isn’t allowed, and that isn’t allowed."

The NPCs of Luo Xia Province and those of River Valley Province had strikingly different styles.

The former had deeper eye sockets and a more delicate nose bridge, giving them an exotic appearance.

While the latter had the more common Southern faces due to the humid air and colder climate, resulting in a relatively lighter complexion.

Although the Lion Kingdom was lacking a bit in "artistic bacteria," it didn’t prevent him from having a pair of eyes good at appreciating and discovering beauty.

Of course, to say these would be too superficial.

Mostly, he wanted to learn the language of United Human.

Seeing right through his intentions, the leading captain couldn’t help but roll his eyes.

"Can’t you have a little ambition?"

Another player standing next to him chimed in.

"Exactly! We’re the Alliance, not the Federation! Come on, let’s help an old lady across the road!"

The player made a defeated face.

"Sorry, I’m just an unambitious person. I really am sorry."

"Get lost, I don’t know you."

"Right, thanks captain, I’ll roll out and come back in a bit!"

After saying this, the player chuckled and walked away with his purse, disappearing somewhere.

"This guy."

As the player’s silhouette vanished into the crowd, the captain shook his head and patted his comrade’s shoulder.

"Never mind him, let’s go drink."

Hearing this, the player who had just been shouting about helping the old lady across the street suddenly blushed.

"Captain, I suddenly feel we can’t just leave that guy alone... what if someone nicked his kidney? I’ll go and talk some sense into him."

Captain: "Get lost!"

Hearing this command, the player’s eyes lit up.

"Right!"

Having said that, the man also dashed off, leaving the captain alone in the disarrayed wind.

This team was getting harder to manage...

...

As the players freely explored the New Map, a welcome banquet was being held in the Royal Palace’s court.

Chu Guang declined the help of the palace maids to dress and put on his Blue Jacket by himself, zipping it up and heading to the Royal Palace’s banquet hall.

The Kingdom’s senior officials and nobles had been waiting in the hall for quite a while, including King Edward himself, all awaiting his arrival.

It was only when Chu Guang entered the banquet hall that the court orchestra began to play a flowing symphony and the Master of Ceremonies formally announced the start of the banquet.

Other than Chu Guang, his Personal Body Guard, some officers from the airship, and several high-Contribution Point players, including Spring Water from the Storm Corps, were also present at the banquet.

After the previous battles, their Contribution Points had reached the level of "Apprentice Knight."

The visible numbers and the sparkling Medals of Battle were undoubtedly the best proof of loyalty.

Although they were also heroes of the battlefield, the officers from Prince Wenter’s camp were completely overshadowed by the Alliance officers.

Watching the old man with a crown bestowing honors on the Alliance warriors, a Count sitting in the corner of the banquet hall snorted.

"Who really owns the Kingdom?"

It was one thing for the officers of the Storm Corps.

But even the Alliance Managers’ Personal Body Guards were awarded the "Golden Lion Medal" and given precedence over Prince Wenter.

Had these people been on the battlefield?

Even as a gesture to please the ally, this was a bit too much!

The colleague sitting next to him smiled faintly and whispered,

"Of course, it’s our King... but it’s uncertain who his master is."

The Count looked at him in surprise but said nothing, only clinking glasses with him and sipping a bit of the red wine in his glass.

Previously, no one dared to vocalize such rebellious thoughts.

But now the Royal Family’s authority had declined to an all-time low, and the nobles’ reverence had dwindled similarly.

No one cared what the old king thought; everyone was thinking about how to please the new "Emperor."

The term Alliance was too complex to grasp.

Those raised within the Kingdom couldn’t imagine what the concept of a community of fate for all survivors meant, nor did they have any interest in grand blueprints.

Above the Kingdom is the Empire, and they could only, or would only wish to, understand it at this level.

"What are you planning?"

His colleague leaned in close to his ear and whispered,

"I plan to open a distillery. The Alliance intends to invest in the kingdom’s agricultural land and infrastructure; the price of food will definitely drop... but not necessarily wine. I’ve seen that those people have quite the capacity for alcohol."

The earl’s eyes lit up.

"My estate just happens to have 20,000 acres of land!"

The man said with a smile,

"That’s perfect... we could collaborate."

The lesser nobles, distant from the power’s core, were more concerned with the money in their pockets.

While those with their own factions and political ambitions were more focused on the power in their hands and the kingdom’s future.

Normally, those two concerns would clash, but on the issue of the Secret Country, they were not at odds.

Only by securing more benefits from the Secret Country could they ensure that their power wouldn’t diminish too greatly.

In another corner of the banquet hall,

nobles and generals of Prince Wenter’s faction had gathered in a circle.

A recording officer, with a lowered voice and taking advantage of the inattentiveness of others, spoke in hushed tones with the nobles and officers beside him,

"...I’ve heard that the Emperor of the Alliance hasn’t taken a wife yet."

"Are you sure?" a thousands of leaders asked in surprise, his eyes wide and his face full of disbelief.

This was indeed hard to believe.

Generally speaking, even if the emperor had no interest, his ministers would relentlessly present memorials advising him.

After all, not having an heir was a big problem, especially an heirless emperor who roamed around, which was even more unbelievable.

The recording officer continued in a low voice,

"It’s absolutely true, this news comes from Prince Kaliman, and I’ve also heard that the Honey Badger Kingdom is planning to change the ancestral laws, scheming to intermarry with the Alliance..."

Casting a glance at Yard, who was drinking alone at the banquet, a general muttered under his breath,

"The cunning little weasel!"

"We’re shedding blood and sweat on the front lines, and these guys, who couldn’t resist for a week, are playing such tricks!"

"We can’t let them steal the fruits of victory!"

"That’s right, we can’t let them get ahead!"

A thousands of leaders clenched his fist.

"I must suggest it to the prince, we must persuade His Majesty the King at all costs!"

Chu Guang wasn’t paying too much attention to what the people in the banquet hall were discussing.

How to develop the market of the Lion Kingdom?

How to earn more profit from trade?

How to grow more potatoes and corn per acre?

These minor details were naturally the concern of the lifestyle players.

As the Manager of the Alliance, his current duty was to consolidate the fruits of victory for the residents of the Alliance.

The banquet had been going on for half an hour.

After finishing the necessary formalities, Chu Guang only tasted a few delicacies on the table before reminding the king about the treaty signing.

Although it was odd for the Alliance’s Manager to be in such a hurry, King Edward still graciously led him and a few representatives of the Alliance to a conference room on the side.

The specifics of the agreement had already been drafted before the deployment of the Alliance’s troops.

It included "Free Trade," "Military Passage Rights," "Joint Defense Treaty," "Anti-Looter Act," "Immigration Treaty," "Extradition Treaty," "Pre-war Civilization Relic Investigation Rights," and so forth, basically all the agreements that could be signed without touching sovereignty or territory were here.

He skimmed them briefly.

After confirming that the agreements were consistent with what had been discussed earlier, Chu Guang took the pen from Lu Bei and signed his name on the document, also stamping the Alliance’s seal.

According to these agreements, Alliance merchants holding certificates issued by the Alliance could freely enter and exit all cities of the Lion Kingdom and gain unrestricted access to the local markets, holding and operating both fixed and non-fixed assets.

Furthermore, to ensure the safety of Alliance residents and merchants, as well as the safety of the Lion Kingdom, the Alliance would construct no more than five military bases, outposts, and no more than seven large military communication facilities in Oasis No. 3.

For a kingdom of 110,000 square kilometers, these facilities were sufficient.

Any more, and the Alliance couldn’t spare the manpower.

And as part of the exchange for these treaties, Chu Guang also made pledges: the Alliance would not interfere with the internal affairs of the Lion Kingdom.

At the same time, after the war, the Alliance would provide a 500 million silver coins aid loan to the Lion Kingdom for post-war reconstruction and the expansion of agricultural facilities.

In this way, it would be possible to increase the orders for the Alliance’s industrial zone, and secondly, the food produced would eventually be sold to the Alliance.

It was a win-win situation for both parties!

Putting down his pen, King Edward glanced at his own copy of the agreement, then looked over at Chu Guang.

"May I ask what your plans are next?"

Chu Guang, returning the pen to Lu Bei, who was standing by, glanced at the time and lowered his leg which had been resting on his knee.

"I plan on returning to City of Dawn."

King Edward was momentarily taken aback.

"Would you not consider staying a few more days? I have prepared a resting palace for you—"

"That won’t be necessary; I have a more pressing matter to attend to."

Seeing the old king’s troubled expression, Chu Guang suddenly understood and smiled as he said,

"Don’t worry, I will leave the Storm Corps and Goblin Corps here, and the armored units of the Skeleton Corps are also en route."

"They are the elite of the Alliance; they will ensure your safety."

"Once the Iron Heart has completed its resupply, it will immediately return to the front to offer support."

Although the Army had withdrawn from Oasis No. 3, it had not lost its ability to attack.

The old king’s only concern was that the Army, taking advantage of the Iron Heart’s departure, might turn the guns around and come back.

While the likelihood of such a scenario was slim, if one put oneself in the shoes of an old man who had been sleeping in an underground bunker for over two months, how far could his foresight really extend?

Chu Guang was not surprised by his thoughts at this moment.

Sure enough, upon hearing this promise, Edward finally breathed a sigh of relief.

His relaxed shoulders leaned back against the chair, and his face showed a smile of ease and relief.

"I really appreciate it... you have considered so much for us."

Chu Guang smiled faintly and stood up, extending his right hand.

"Not at all; here’s to our friendship being as reliable as the unbreakable Alliance."

The king, just having relaxed, quickly stood up to reciprocate, grasping the extended hand of the Manager with a shake.

"You’ve said it right!"

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