This Game Is Too Real
Chapter 721: The Disintegrating Federation

Chapter 721: Chapter 721: The Disintegrating Federation

North Island.

As the capital of the Federation, it was the largest and most prosperous island in the southern sea area.

Although the population living here was just over ninety thousand, it was home to the Federation’s largest heavy industry base and its shipyard.

Including the Glorious Number Destroyer Ship that had sunk into the sea, nine out of the thirteen vessels of the Federation were built here, while the remaining four submarines were respectively at the submarine factories in Anle Island and Coral City.

After the armed forces had taken control of the Presidential Mansion and Navy Headquarters, Charles declared himself as the new president with the support of the Federation Marine Corps and made his inaugural speech through a broadcast.

"...I tell you this with a heavy heart, our president has committed an unforgivable crime of treason."

"At a time when our fleet has gained absolute superiority and is about to achieve the ultimate victory, he actually planned to overturn the crimes committed by our enemies! He attempted to use fabricated evidence to destroy the unity we had finally formed."

"I will never allow such a thing to happen, even if that person was once the most respected by me."

"Hunger, disease, forced labor, suppression of dissent... as long as you wear that Blue Jacket, everything is legal. Go ask your fathers and grandfathers; they will tell you what those hermit crabs used to be like! Go ask them who it was that built the man-made island fifty years into the Wasteland Era!"

"They were just lucky enough to be born in a refuge. The Era of Prosperity became theirs, and everything built with the tools of the Prosperity Epoch became their patent. And we survivors who have endured hardships generation after generation, who have stood up from ruins, have become monkeys that need educating."

"It’s as if we appeared out of nowhere, as if we’re eating theirs, using theirs, living in the settlements they built just because our forefathers weren’t great enough, because our forefathers didn’t live for a second in that Era of Prosperity! Ask the old immortals in your homes if this is the case!"

"What we need to settle accounts with has never been just an ocean current power station, but all of the past century! They think that power station is their achievement, that only they are the descendants of the United Human, that only they deserve to inherit the legacy of the United Human. Our contributions and our opinions are as insignificant as our sweat and blood; we are merely their beasts of burden in rebuilding their Utopia. Let them take their arrogance and roll back underground! That Utopia never had our names in it!"

That impassioned language echoed in the square in front of the Presidential Mansion, in the shipyards, also resonated in the barracks, and in the settlements of North Island...

People stopped their work and gathered in front of the broadcasts, hatred and rage slowly igniting on their silent faces.

Charles had not prepared a speech, and he didn’t need that thing at all; giving a speech seemed to be an innate ability for him.

Moreover, he was one of the few people who drafted the declaration, and it wouldn’t be an overstatement to call him a founding father of the Federation, especially with his strong influence among the military.

President Mongo, though the commander of the Federal Navy, only held that position by virtue of the declaration or, so to say, the constitution, not because the soldiers genuinely supported him for that role.

As a man, the president’s character and way of life were almost to the point of "obsolete" bureaucratism, or so he and the officers thought.

As a member of the Conservative faction, he might have the support of the majority of the survivors and the establishment, but his popularity in the military could not compare to Charles.

And indeed, the man had done something foolish.

But it wasn’t turning a blind eye to the ocean current power station, nor was it appointing himself as the chief of staff; it was his attempt at political speculation to merge two factions that had never reached an agreement.

The Conservative faction and the Radical Faction indeed both needed a Federation, but their motivations were entirely different. The former sought equality of identity and political rights, while the latter sought liberation from the "ghosts" of the Era of Prosperity.

Those sitting on the big ships and artillery never said they needed an orderly president, their ambitions were not limited to just a Federation, let alone being a wall of a Federation.

This issue could have been resolved through negotiations and mutual compromises, but one military and political gamble had put all disputes on hold.

This unjust-born Federation was like a clump of sand held in hand, never truly a stone, nor given enough time to become one.

The moment the holding hand loosened, it would disperse back to its original form.

Of course, Charles admitted that he had also done a foolish thing, that was lying so much that he started to believe his own lies.

When signing that declaration, he should have clearly understood that he was just an opportunist, with no chance for a slow approach.

Once the war had ended, Mister President reopened his eyes that had once been shut and resumed the investigation into the sinking of the ocean current power station.

One who had aided the Torch Church to deceive the heavens was sure to be liquidated. And all the officers involved would face the same fate.

The new authorities would surely do so, for only by liquidating the real culprits could those fellows cut ties with the past and then take the hand of the residents of Shelter No.70 into a new era.

As for oneself and one’s supporters, no one would thank them for their contributions to the unity of the Federation. They could only spend the second half of their lives facing prison bars.

But it was also for this reason that those people who were directly or indirectly involved in the sinking of the ocean current power station were natural allies!

They had to choose oneself.

And could only choose oneself!

Only if one won could the correct memory be shaped, and could they avoid becoming fools who lift a stone only to drop it on their own feet!

Looking at the pairs of eyes lit up beneath the speech platform, Charles announced the final outcome with a calm and solemn tone.

"... President Mongo has refused to accept legal judgment, not only resisting stubbornly but also attempting to launch a coup. Now he has been killed by our soldiers."

"Decrees signed by criminals are no longer valid, the new Cabinet will draft a new code of law, and I will now serve as the acting President."

"Until we achieve ultimate victory!"

...

Anle Island.

This picturesque island, inhabited by just over fifty thousand people, houses the largest naval logistics base within the Federation’s territory.

Half of the island’s residents are active service personnel of the Federal Navy and their families, or at the very least, people associated with naval logistics work.

Of course, there are also some refugees from Coral City.

The very first shipyard in the Southern sea area was also situated here, and the first batch of transport ships and seabed mining vessels all set sail from here.

If Ring Island is considered the first man-made island completed by the survivors of the Southern sea area, then this natural island was where the flames of industry were first ignited, even before the gates of Shelter No.70 were opened. It was the parts produced on this island that led to the underwater marvel of Coral City and the later industrial center and large shipyards on North Island.

However, at this moment, the island that had first ignited the fire of industry was covered by another invisible burning flame.

First came the will of Captain Dongwen, followed by the news of the sinking of The Glorious Number Destroyer Ship, and then the inaugural speech full of lies from Chief of Staff Charles.

A series of shocking events connected together, igniting the anger of soldiers and officers within the base.

In fact, until the duty soldiers on the dock received Captain Dongwen’s last words from the Marine Patrol Team, many on the naval base were still supporters of Charles, even excusing his actions with "this is for the unity of the Federation."

But when the unthinkable news of "Glory’s incident due to mutiny on board" came, there were not many people left willing to believe the lies coming out of that guy’s mouth.

Everyone was certain the guy had gone mad; for his own selfish desires, he did not hesitate to have the Federal Fleet slaughter each other.

And those who followed him were mad too, the officers loyal to the constitution immediately took action, throwing Charles’ cronies and partisans into prison.

These people wouldn’t be released from the black house until it was confirmed that they wouldn’t make foolish moves with Charles or deeply reviewed their past statements and actions.

While Charles was giving his inaugural speech, General Li Minghui, who was being pushed forward as the Federal Vice President and Deputy Commander of the Federal Navy as well as the highest commander of the Anle Island Naval Base, was also making a public speech over the military broadcast of Anle Island.

"...Just now, we have all witnessed the darkest, most shameful page in the history of the Federation. In a despicable act of betrayal, we have not only lost the Glory and the two hundred brave young soldiers aboard, lost our President, but also our jointly signed declaration and the little dignity we had managed to maintain for less than four months."

"Charles has tried to lead our Federation into an abyss with lies; this war is no longer a war, but a tool for him to seize power and eliminate dissidents. Now, the ’Laken’ in human skin has finally revealed his greedy appetite and canine teeth as he attempts to drag us into the bottomless pit."

"We will never compromise with the beast, nor will we accept a peace maintained by lies. What we need is true unity!"

"Effective today, Anle Island will no longer recognize the legitimacy of the North Island authorities! We also call on survivors from other islands to unite and fight alongside us! For our future! For all the survivors living in these waters!"

At the end of his speech, he announced the establishment of the Anle Island authorities, assuming the role of the acting President and the commander of the Federal Navy, and declared war on the rebels of North Island in the name of the constitution.

Compared to Charles’s inaugural address, General Li Minghui’s speech was undoubtedly more hurried, and the momentum was somewhat lacking.

Although legally, he was the first in line for the acting presidency, it was unfortunate that Charles had become the actual ruler of North Island.

Although he still bore the title of President, the authority he wielded in his hands had far exceeded the powers granted to him by the code of law. The reason he managed to do this was undoubtedly because he had the support of North Island officers—at least some of them!

Even if he didn’t want to face his former comrades, Li Minghui had to make the most practical choice at the moment—declare the North Island authorities illegal in the name of the code of law and establish a new authority on Anle Island.

He didn’t want to do this.

But he had no other choice.

If he surrendered to Charles, that man would definitely purge him, the deputy president in law, by fabricating some charges against him.

Just like how that man ruthlessly eliminated President Mongo and Captain Dongwen without choosing means...

...

Muda, who had witnessed the entire coup, never expected that the storage card he brought to Anle Island would stir up such a huge storm, to the extent of splitting the entire Federation.

What was even more unexpected was that he himself inexplicably became a member of the military government council of Anle Island that was drafting the new declaration.

In the Federation, he belonged to those close with Shelter No.70 and was marginalized in the Federation authorities.

After all, it was Manager Sun Yuechi who separated the Marine Patrol Team from the Federal Navy and put it under the command of the Ministry of Finance, which belonged to the Cabinet.

This to some extent delayed the onset of the crisis, but it also labeled the Marine Patrol Team with the political tag of the "Shelter faction."

But obviously, the Anle Island authorities had no time to worry about these matters now.

The military pressure from North Island was the most pressing issue they needed to solve.

Even if it was just a few speedboats and minelaying boats, they had to make every effort to win them over...

At the Anle Island Naval Base, in the operations meeting room, a meeting concerning the fate of the Federation’s future was underway in a tense atmosphere.

Muda was called in halfway through the meeting, so when he entered, the seats around the conference table were nearly full.

An intense and oppressive atmosphere hit him in the face.

He took a glance at the people sitting in front of the conference table, sat down at an empty spot, lowered his voice, and quietly asked the logistics director next to him.

"How many people have responded to our broadcast?"

The logistics director’s face looked grim as he whispered back.

"Only four governors."

Muda was stunned, not expecting their call to those on the side of the law to have such weak appeal. He couldn’t help but ask further.

"What about the fleet?"

"We have one cruiser, two destroyers, three submarines... If we don’t consider retrofitting some civilian vessels, that’s all for now."

"...And them?"

"One battleship, one cruiser, three destroyers, and one attack submarine." Seemingly feeling the situation was too disadvantageous, the logistics director tried to save face with an afterthought, "But the submarine manufacturing plant is on our side; we are not completely without advantages."

Hearing the two’s conversation, another officer sitting beside them coughed softly and interjected in a lowered voice.

"Yes, we are not without advantages, but the little advantage we do have is inconsequential compared to our disadvantages. Without the reactor manufacturing plant in Coral City, we can’t produce fusion-powered submarines with better silent running capabilities, and conventional submarines are difficult to use effectively in real combat... Moreover, the Federation’s largest shipyard and ammunition factory are all in Charles’s hands."

Muda involuntarily swallowed.

"...Difficult."

The officer sighed.

"Indeed."

The most significant industrial base and shipyard were in the North, with the Northern Islands having enough people, technology, and the industrial capacity to turn technology into war machines.

The longer time dragged on, the more disadvantageous it was for the Anle Island authorities.

And even if they launched an attack now in haste, relying on Anle Island’s one cruiser, two destroyers, and three submarines to defeat North Island’s fleet led by a battleship flagship, was nearly impossible.

Not to mention, they still had Charles’s supporters within, and while some had been sent to jail, replacing their positions with new people would also take time.

Of course, the situation in North Island was the same; just as there were people who supported Charles, there must also be those who supported the declaration and the elected president.

Both North Island and Anle Island were enduring the throes of chaos at the moment.

Whoever first settled their internal turmoil and eliminated their opponents would become the new master of these seas.

"What about Ring Island? Any new messages?" Commander Li Minghui tapped ash off his cigarette into the ashtray and looked toward his adjutant after a moment of thought.

Ring Island was located in the westernmost part of the southern sea area, near Baiyue Strait, and was positioned right behind the four islands under Anle Island’s authority; it was also the most populated island in the Federation.

If that settlement leaned toward Charles, the consequences would be dire.

For that reason, they had to do everything in their power to win it over to Anle Island’s side.

The adjutant shook his head.

"The governor there is an opportunist, or, in other words, a fence-sitter. He indicated in his response that he did not want to pick sides... I even get the feeling that he might want to secede from the Federation and join the Alliance."

The commander furrowed his brows.

"Troublesome."

The adjutant also sighed and nodded slightly.

"Yes."

A silence fell over the conference table.

Just then, suddenly, an officer spoke up.

"Why don’t we draw the Alliance into our team?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the conference table erupted into a commotion, and more than half of those present cast surprised glances at the man.

Including Muda, who had long accepted the Alliance’s money.

The aide sitting next to the commander frowned slightly and couldn’t help asking a question.

"Is this appropriate?"

The land forces of the Alliance were indeed formidable, but they were ultimately too far away, and their naval strength was almost nonexistent.

Even if those people had some small planes, he really didn’t know how to evaluate them; he could only say that they truly were not afraid of dying, daring to ride any oddly shaped vehicle.

And even without considering the strength of this potential ally, the introduction of outside forces into the affairs of the Southern Sea Area was cause for concern.

Facing the skepticism of the crowd, the officer who made the proposal continued earnestly,

"We have no other choice. This is the only way to win, and while we hesitate, the federal traitors have already made use of Torch’s strength. If we continue to waver, we will only sink to the bottom of the sea with our principles in our arms."

Murmurs spread across the conference table.

Indeed.

Most of those seated there knew a little about the inside story of the destruction of the ocean current power station. If it had been speculation before, then the recording left by Captain Dongwen had almost proven the collusion between the Charles authority and the Torch Church.

It was the fleet stationed in North Island’s tacit approval that allowed the mutants to pass through the northern patrol zones of the Federation and penetrate its heartland.

At this time, a destroyer captain said slowly,

"Actually, it’s not entirely unfeasible. The Alliance’s reputation in Silver Moon Bay seems quite good. They have previously supported the countries of Luo Xia Province in their wars against the Army and its Servant Countries, and after that, they did not take the opportunity to annex those kingdoms."

Another submarine captain objected,

"What about Jinjaron Harbor?"

The destroyer captain continued,

"They established a new authority there made up of local survivors. Although this is unacceptable from the perspective of the Imperial Royal Family, the Empire struck first... Moreover, I always feel that their appearance in Baiyue Strait alongside the mutants is not a coincidence."

Another officer not far from him rubbed his chin with his finger, pondered for a moment, then nodded in agreement,

"That makes sense. Those people even allow the feudal kingdoms of Luo Xia Province to continue existing, as long as the local royals abolish slavery and achieve legal equality between people... And on this point, we are far ahead of those feudal lords; they have no reason to meddle in our affairs."

The submarine captain who had raised initial objections hesitated for a moment, yet could not think of any counterarguments, and finally nodded.

"That’s also true..."

As the discussion box opened, everyone began to talk at once, and the heavy atmosphere around the conference table dispersed somewhat.

Seeking help from the Alliance was indeed a potential solution, one more reliable than the madmen from Haiya Province.

Moreover, it was said that the Alliance and Torch were archenemies.

Even for their own strategic needs, those people indeed had a reason to get involved in the situation in the Southern Sea Area.

"They differ from the residents of Shelter No. 70; at least they dared to settle in Baiyue Province where the hermit crabs of Shelter No. 70 feared to tread, and those guys had just emerged from underwater and were already thinking of occupying others’ nests."

"I agree; this war is no longer just our war; Torch has been involved from the start! If Captain Dongwen’s last words are accurate, then the real culprit behind the destruction of the ocean current power station is undoubtedly Torch!"

"I agree too. The situation at the ocean current power station still needs investigation, but the presence of mutant corpses on the north side of Ring Island is irrefutable!"

"cough... I suggest not using the term ’hermit crab’; we should try to win over the residents of Shelter No. 70 who are victims as well."

"What does it matter? The Blue Jackets from Potato Harbor even call themselves Blue Ground Squirrels, I remember that’s a nickname given by the Weilante people."

"You said it yourself, they are residents from different shelters; they think differently... It’s still better to be cautious."

The conference table was abuzz with discussion, but Muda, who was sitting in a corner of the conference table, realized that he couldn’t get a word in.

The Federal Patrol Team only had a dozen or so ultra-long-range speedboats at most, and the best they could do was help lay mines.

It was then that something dawned on him; he looked at the logistics director sitting alongside him and nudged his elbow.

"May I ask a question?"

The man nodded.

"Of course."

After a pause, he voiced the question that had been weighing on his mind for quite a while.

"... Does this count as a civil war?"

The logistics director was slightly stunned and looked at the captain intriguingly as if wondering why he would ask such a question.

Especially in such a place.

Looking around at his comrades who were fervently discussing around the conference table, he turned back to the patrol team captain.

"Is there another term for it?"

Having received an affirmative response, Muda nodded and said no more; the weight in his heart finally settled.

He wasn’t surprised that things had come to this and even had an inkling two months ago that if things continued as they were, something big was bound to happen.

Yet, when the moment truly arrived, he couldn’t help but feel a surge of melancholy.

Civil war...

He didn’t expect that in just four short months, the once incredibly unified group would shatter into three...

...

Dark clouds massed above North Island and Anle Island, while the open sea below basked in the calm of the setting sun.

In the rest area of the Dolphin Nuclear Submarine.

Watching Captain Chen Jianhong approaching, Dongwen, now changed into a fresh set of clothes, wore a look that was half gratitude and half shame.

Thankfulness need not be mentioned, as this nuclear-powered cargo submarine saved two hundred sailors from the destroyer, including himself.

As for shame, this was the first time he had come face-to-face with their "enemy" in the four months since the war began...

His lips moved for a moment, and he nodded slightly as he said,

"Thank you."

"You’re welcome. Would you like a cup?"

Holding a mug in each hand, Chen Jianhong didn’t wait for a reply and thrust one cup into his hands before sitting down on the bench beside him.

"Champion brand coffee beans. I personally like to add a little sugar and milk. I don’t know if it suits your taste, but give it a try."

A faint scent of milk entered his nostrils, mixed with a hint of the bitterness of the coffee beans.

The warmth that came through the cup walls dispelled the cold brought by the seawater. Captain Dongwen sat silently beside Captain Chen and absentmindedly uttered,

"Good stuff... where did you get this?"

Chen Jianhong grinned and took a sip before speaking slowly,

"I didn’t get it, my new employer did."

"The Alliance?"

"Yeah, they found a Black Box in Shelter No. 79 and synthesized this treasure, then took it to the Camel Hump Kingdom and commissioned local plantations to grow it... It seems that these coffee beans need to be cultivated in a high-altitude environment, and the altitude of the Zobar Mountains is just right."

"They sure know how to enjoy themselves." Captain Dongwen also took a slow sip, but the bitterness made him unconsciously tighten his cheek muscles and eyebrows.

Seeing his unaccustomed look, Chen Jianhong laughed and said,

"That’s right, I’ve picked up some of their habits. But I believe that isn’t a bad thing."

Looking at the silent Captain Dongwen, Chen Jianhong moved his gaze from the frowning face and looked straight ahead, before slowly opening his mouth to speak,

"Actually, these days, after understanding the situations of other refuges, I’ve seriously thought about what makes us different."

Captain Dongwen lifted his head.

"And have you figured it out?"

"Sort of..." Chen Jianhong shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly, "I’ve realized that maybe you’re right, we really aren’t different."

Captain Dongwen looked at him in surprise. The latter paused for a moment before continuing,

"My great-grandfather lay in a Sleep Cabin for a hundred years, but my great-grandmother was a resident of the island. If my grandfather still carried the imprint of a Blue Jacket, by my father’s generation, there wasn’t much left. Even my education was completed in Coral City, and many of the Federation’s engineers were also there, even using the same textbooks as me."

Captain Dongwen watched him.

"Then where does the problem lie?"

Chen Jianhong considered it and said,

"Perhaps... the problem lies with the Managers."

Surprise crossed Captain Dongwen’s face.

"Are you referring to Mr. Sun Yuechi?"

"Sun Yuechi?" Chen Jianhong was taken aback, then laughed and waved his hand, "You’re mistaken, it’s not that guy’s issue. I used to look down on him, but after chatting with him in the City of Dawn, I found that he’s actually a man full of ideas, and he’s working hard to patch up the coat that’s been worn by us for a century. It’s just that the power of one person is too insignificant in the face of the greater trend."

Captain Dongwen looked puzzled at him.

"Is there someone else then?"

Chen Jianhong shrugged his shoulders.

"It’s just my personal opinion, perhaps... the problem lies in the profession of Managers themselves. To be honest, our Managers were originally just the Managers of Shelter No. 70. It’s fine for us to select our next Manager in our own way, but the key is that after the doors were opened... our Managers needed to manage not only the refuge but also thirteen islands and an underwater settlement."

Captain Dongwen hesitated slightly.

"Is that a problem?"

Chen Jianhong shook his head.

"It’s not a problem, initially there wasn’t any issue at all. For example, Giant Stone City, they did well before the Black Card deteriorated. Singular Point City also did well at first but went a bit off track after losing the help of the War Construction Committee. Even the Empire I passed by not long ago, whether General Lowell and the survivors at the time were serious enough, accepting hundreds of millions of refugees in an area of three hundred square kilometers was indeed not a human task... Of course, we are the same, even up to four months ago we did well, and we can’t deny all the past two centuries just because of these four months of chaos."

Captain Dongwen remained silent, just quietly looking at him, waiting for his next words.

Chen Jianhong paused for a while and sighed before saying,

"Perhaps only the original Manager was enough... If we don’t pass down the tailor’s work generation after generation, once that person departs, we can engrave his name on the door of the same refuge that should have passed away, thanking him and the Era of Prosperity for the blessings bestowed upon us, commemorating his birth and departure, and together hand in hand discussing how we should walk the path of the future."

At this point, he looked at Captain Dongwen and grinned.

"Look, at least this way we at least have one common tradition, no need to keep celebrating the endless holidays of the Era of Prosperity. I never thought about how wonderful the Era of Prosperity was. You all think the Blue Jackets know what that place looks like, but to be honest, I’ve never really looked there, it’s not bad to start everything from the ground beneath our feet."

Resting the back of his head against the wall, Captain Dongwen closed his eyes and exhaled.

"Perhaps."

He found that he didn’t hate those Blue Jackets so much after all.

Perhaps his ancestors were once residents of the refuge, or nearly became one of the lucky few who entered the refuge.

What led them to their current state?

Perhaps he really should give it some thought.

But...

That wasn’t the thing to do right now.

Drinking the last of his coffee in one gulp, he looked at Chen Jianhong and asked,

"What about now? What do you plan to do?"

His question had just fallen when, without waiting for the Dolphin’s captain to answer, a calm and clear voice came from beside them.

"We plan to head straight to Shelter No. 70 while the Federal Fleet is mired in chaos."

"There is no better opportunity than now."