death of hope

Chapter 1014 "Psionic Storm" (88) High Ground
Dimitri used a forged key to activate the segmented engineering staircase, changing elevators several times and taking a long time to reach the rooftop.

The sight before them made the phrase "towering into the clouds" truly tangible, eliciting gasps of amazement from the crowd.

"Wow...that's so high! The advertising airships are right below them..."

"The wind is blowing so hard, even I, who don't have a fear of heights, am scared..."

"I'm starting to understand why the investment company behind this building went bankrupt; it was a money-devouring monster..."

Bankruptcy? They deserve it!
Those Japanese zaibatsu (financial conglomerates) love to compete and show off. They recklessly pour money into their "tallest building in New Sapporo," even to the point of bankruptcy, yet they won't give a single penny to the children in the slums.

"True Dude~ Who can argue with that~"

“We’re lucky to have such good weather,” Nikolai said to Paul.

"Shin-Sapporo is always cloudy and rainy, and it's rare for it to clear up. This level of visibility is perfect for observation and site scouting."

"Hopefully the weather will be good on the day of the operation,"

As he spoke, Paul stepped onto the asphalt waterproofing layer and walked straight to the edge of the rooftop, looking down without any fear, just as he had in the bungalow.
His toes were dangling in the air, his weight on his heels, and the hem of his coat fluttered in the strong wind high above.

·
“Pavlusha (Paul's nickname)...Watch out!”

Donya mustered her courage and went over, grabbing Paul's arm. Her already fair face turned even paler with fright.

"Danger! Don't stand so close to the edge!"

"Tch~" The bearded Sergei spat; "Showing off your courage in front of women, how childish~"

“What…” Paul glared at the bearded man; “I just wanted a better view.”

"Pah, who would believe that?" Sergei looked at Tonya and Takiya: "You, you just want to show off in front of beautiful women~ you womanizer!"

"Ugh! You're so cheesy, old man~" Takiya Rimi stuck her tongue out at the bearded man: "No wonder you're still single at your age~"

"Who needs women? As long as I have wine, that's enough!" With that, Sergei unscrewed the bottle and continued to chug it down.

Paul ignored the bearded man and focused his attention downstairs. Nikolai remained silent, frowning as he watched Paul's retreating figure. He felt there was absolutely no need to risk standing on the edge of the cliff, where there was no railing and he could fall at any moment.

In Paul, he sensed a familiar impulse, an impulse called 'self-destruction', 'a desire to die'.

Back then, Nikolai's base was brutally wiped out by the company's armed forces, and almost all of his family and comrades perished. In the years that followed, he always charged to the front lines in every battle, longing to reunite with everyone as soon as possible.

What truly unsettled Nikolai was that Pavel Korchagin was too young, young enough to be his son, yet beneath his bright, clear eyes lay a weariness and vicissitude that did not belong to his age.
(Paul Korchagin, a child born in the base area, was only the age of a college freshman, yet he was already a legendary figure who had repeatedly performed outstanding feats and had become a sought-after leader among the organization's top brass.)
This kid is barely grown up, yet he has an extremely high seniority, and is respectfully called 'senior' by the veterans in the base area...

It is said that he became a guerrilla fighter before he was ten years old, was promoted to corporal at fourteen, and had his chest covered with medals before he even reached adulthood.
At an age when they should be in college dating and enjoying life, they are instead commanding elite forces to carry out high-risk missions.

I'm starting to understand, and I see the weariness in his eyes...

This child has experienced just as much carnage and heartbreak as we old folks have…
·
Paul didn't notice Nikolai's gaze. He was forcibly pulled back to a safe place by Tonya. It didn't matter; as long as it didn't delay his continued observation.
(From here, one can overlook the truth of New Sapporo, the truth of the Terra Federation.)
With the river as the boundary, Shin-Sapporo is divided into two worlds;
The Upper East Side is vibrant and full of life, clearly designed and planned by professionals. It boasts convenient infrastructure, a CBD with futuristic-looking skyscrapers, lush green communities for the middle class, and numerous luxury homes and golf courses scattered throughout the most affluent bay area.

Across the river, the Lower City is basically a lifeless landscape of black, white, and gray. Narrow streets and alleys are barren and filthy, with makeshift slums and shacks leaning precariously. Giant, square-shaped low-rent apartment buildings stand side by side, their windows densely packed like pigeon coops, making it feel suffocating to look at. Greenery is a luxury; weeds and withered trees are considered green belts.

(It's hard to imagine that in this age of interstellar colonization with abundant resources, there are still people suffering from hunger and cold. I am very fortunate to have been born on the base planet and raised under the H flag... I fight for fairness and justice in this world...)
Paul only sighed for a moment before quickly getting back to work, saying to Nikolai:

"Brother, you made the right choice. This unfinished building has an excellent view and is a strategically important high point. If the mission is to succeed, we must control this place."

“Don’t worry, it’s all arranged,” Nikolai nodded. “Throughout history, military treatises have consistently emphasized the importance of high ground, for example: ‘Do not face high ground, do not go against the flow of hills.’ (Sun Tzu’s Art of War)”

"Oh ho! Trying to show off your culture by quoting classical texts, huh?" Sergei said, gripping the bottle. "To put it bluntly, it's just: high-stakes, low-stakes, and rip-offs!"

"Old Xie, stop fooling around, we're talking serious stuff."

Paul rolled his eyes at the bearded man, then turned back to continue his conversation with Nikolai:

"The top floor is too high, beyond the range of a sniper rifle. If we need to find a shooting position, the height in the middle of this building is sufficient."

“That’s right,” Nikolai said, pointing downwards:

"Fortunately, this is an unfinished building. Most of the exterior walls are not sealed, and there are still a lot of protruding construction scaffolding that has not been dismantled. There are many sniping positions in the middle floors."