I became Hokage in Tokyo

Chapters 383 and 384: Joan of Arc

Derna, a city on the Mediterranean coast, is situated in an oasis north of the Sahara Desert and is known as the "Jewel of Cyrenaica." It is an ancient city with a history of over two thousand years.

After Libya and Egypt joined forces, the city of Derna, which had been ravaged by the civil war several times, finally had a precious chance to catch its breath.

But as the saying goes, fortune and misfortune are intertwined, and a natural disaster, more terrible than war, struck this ancient city.

"The floods wiped almost half the city off the map; it's truly tragic!"

On the streets of Derna, after the floods, a young reporter from Le Monde, his face grave as he looked at the devastated ruins, murmured:

"The death toll alone exceeds 5000, and many more are still missing. How could this happen?"

Die Welt is Frankfurt's second-largest national newspaper and its best-selling newspaper overseas, with subscribers in most African countries.

"The torrential rains brought by this Mediterranean hurricane are unprecedented. According to precipitation data, the city of Delna received the equivalent of 10 years' worth of rainfall in just one day."

The accompanying cameraman was a bald Black man with thick lips and sunken eyes, around forty years old, who spoke clearly and meaningfully.

Clearly different from ordinary Black people, they have a high level of education.

"After an unprecedented torrential downpour, the normally nearly dry Delna River overflowed its banks in a short period of time, breaching two upstream dams. Following the dam collapses, even more ferocious floodwaters and mudslides devastated the city of Delna."

Mediterranean hurricanes are a very special type of semi-tropical cyclone storm induced by a cold vortex in the upper atmosphere of the Mediterranean Sea, with an astonishing ability to bring precipitation.

Mediterranean hurricanes usually occur in autumn and winter, when the sea temperature in the Mediterranean drops and the torrential rain is often fleeting.

However, this summer, the Mediterranean sea surface temperature soared to unprecedented highs, the westerly winds fluctuated violently, and a cold vortex fell, resulting in extreme weather.

This was a devastating blow to the city of Delna, which has a population of only 100,000.

"Ahem, Leo, don't be sad yet. Don't forget the task the editor-in-chief assigned us."

Seeing that the sentimental reporter was still in a daze, the Black cameraman coughed a few times and reminded him.

"This time, we absolutely must interview Joan of Arc. You're a fan of Jeanne, aren't you?"

Jeanne is currently in Delna, helping the injured.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Dozens of reporters from the World newspaper would fight tooth and nail for this spot.

If Leo weren't the editor-in-chief's illegitimate son, how could such a cushy job have fallen into the hands of such a naive young man?

The young reporter suddenly snapped out of his daze, his eyes sparkling, and nodded repeatedly, saying:

"I understand, Mr. Pierre."

The duo, now in high spirits, got into a modified pickup truck.

The Black cameraman was either a jack-of-all-trades or highly experienced, driving his pickup truck through the ruins of the streets with ease.

We soon arrived at the city government building in Derna.

At a glance, the open space around the municipal government office building is filled with tents.

The municipal government office building, which was not severely damaged in the flood, is now used to house refugees and the wounded.

And there were even armed soldiers maintaining order.

"Halt! No passage ahead."

As expected, the Le Monde press team was intercepted when they approached.

The Black photographer glanced at the tricolor flag on the soldier's chest and felt reassured.

It is the Frankish peacekeeping force stationed in Africa.

"Je suis Franccedil;ais (We are all Franks)."

The Black cameraman pulled out his badge and, speaking fluent Parisian dialect, struck up a conversation with the Black peacekeeper.

"So you're a reporter. Follow me here."

The peacekeeping soldiers, speaking French, led the Le Monde press team to the entrance of a building.

"Lady Jeanne is still treating the wounded. You reporters should stay here and wait for further instructions."

In the open space outside, nearly a hundred media reporters from all over the world were already standing there.

The sharp-eyed black photographer glanced around and spotted not only Frank's print and television media such as Le Figaro, Le Parisien, and TF1, but also foreign journalists from CNN, BBC, and other outlets.

The casualties from the floods in Derna are certainly among the most severe natural disasters of the 21st century.

But this happened in Africa, and even if there are tens of thousands of casualties, it may not be comparable to a disaster in a developed country that kills or injures dozens of people.

The purpose of so many reporters gathering together is obvious: they are all here for the Saint Jeanne.

Oh no, this means it will be very difficult to get an exclusive interview with Jeanne.

The Black photographer's heart sank. He grabbed the naive young reporter and walked forward.

The numerous journalists present were divided into small groups according to their nationalities, exchanging information.

"More than 30 countries have already expressed their willingness to send supplies and humanitarian aid teams to support Derna. Many wealthy individuals and charitable foundations have also generously donated, raising more than $15 billion."

A Frankish journalist, smoking a cigarette, said:

"As expected of the Joan of Arc of the 21st century, Jeanne's appeal is indeed extraordinary."

In addition to the international reputation Jeanne had built up over the past three years, based on her style of doing things, countries and individuals who provided assistance in her volunteer work were more likely to win her favor and receive her treatment package.

The frail and elderly Queen of England lived to see the dawn of an extraordinary era.

In September of the first year of the Extraordinary Era, 2022, Her Majesty the Queen, who had reigned for three-quarters of a century, was on the verge of passing away due to aging and organ failure.

But Jeanne arrived uninvited at Balmoral Castle and miraculously saved Her Majesty from the clutches of death.

To this day, Her Majesty the Queen is still very active and is just one step away from turning 100.

Moreover, judging from Her Majesty's rosy complexion and brisk walking in public after her recovery, her physical condition is even better than that of an average seventy-year-old.

This has made the world's elites and tycoons so envious that their eyes are practically bulging out of their sockets!

Which person in power doesn't want to live a few more years, or even live forever?

With the rapid advancement of modern cutting-edge medical technology, the average lifespan of high-ranking officials and dignitaries who have access to the most advanced medical resources is getting longer and longer. Among the political and business leaders of various countries, centenarians with lifespans approaching 100 years are emerging one after another.

Besides the incurable diseases caused by poverty, there is also the disease caused by old age.

Jeanne not only extends the lifespan of elderly people nearing their end, but also maintains their high quality of life, instead of lying in the ICU with tubes inserted, which makes the hearts of elderly VIPs burn with excitement.

Afterwards, other people won Jeanne's medical gift package, and their chronic illnesses were cured, or they suddenly became ten or twenty years younger.

As a result, generous and righteous high-ranking officials and nobles continued to flock to the scene.

If you don't donate, plenty of others will.

"Any other interesting news?" the Black photographer asked.

"I heard something interesting when I came here: the floods washed away a valley downstream of Delna, revealing a pyramid," a male reporter boasted.

"Pyramids? There are pyramids in Libya too?! Is this fake news?"

"That's what the reporter from Le Monde said incredulously."

"You're wrong. Libya no longer exists. The land we're standing on belongs to Egypt."

The male reporter chuckled and wagged his finger, saying:

"Egypt has pyramids, what's so surprising about that?"

The young reporter was speechless.

The union of Libya and Egypt, mediated by Saint Jeanne, took place last year; prior to that, Libya existed as a single state entity.

The male reporter's statement was actually a fallacy of misrepresentation.

The Black photographer glanced at the reporter who was choking and shook his head.

This old fox is deliberately provoking young people for his own amusement.

The Black photographer stepped forward, offered a few flattering words, and successfully tricked the photographer into revealing the location of the pyramids.

Just then, a commotion broke out in the group of reporters who were joking around.

Two officials and generals, one in military uniform and the other in a black suit, emerged from the building.

"He is the Frankish ambassador to Egypt."

"Also, Colonel Bastian of the peacekeeping force in Africa."

The reporters, with their long ears and sharp eyes, immediately recognized the two men.

"My fellow journalists, after treating hundreds of refugees, Ms. Jeanne is exhausted and resting, and cannot give an interview. Ms. Jeanne asked me to convey her apologies."

The ambassador stepped forward and said:

"I will announce our country's follow-up aid and other measures for the disaster-stricken city of Derna at a press conference. If you are interested, you can come with me."

All the reporters present were greatly disappointed.

They came all this way just to interview Jeanne.

If you can see Miss Jeanne, why can't we?

But since the ambassador had said so, and there was a group of heavily armed French peacekeeping troops standing nearby, the reporters could only wisely keep their mouths shut.

However, sharp-eyed reporters soon noticed the smugness and barely suppressed joy on the faces of the ambassador and Colonel Bastian, which made them suspicious.

After all, you can tell from her name that Jeanne-Dame de la Rochefoucauld was Frankish and shared the same name as Joan of Arc.

For a long time, the Frankish government has portrayed Jeanne as an extraordinary figure in its domestic and international propaganda.

But everyone knows the truth: if Jeanne really belonged to the Frankish government, how could she be traveling all over the world?

"Your Excellency Ambassador, is your trip to Delna for the purpose of having Miss Na join the Frank Supernatural Department?" a reporter asked impatiently.

"Miss Jeanne is Frankish, and we have always maintained very close ties. It is only natural for Miss Jeanne to come home and visit."

The ambassador spoke noncommittally, but the joy in his eyes was impossible to hide.

The reporters across the way began to whisper and murmur among themselves.

The ambassador's ambiguous attitude makes one wonder if the Frankish government has made some secret agreement with Jeanne, or even if it may have recruited Jeanne into Frankish special departments.

We in Frankenstein, too, must have our own extraordinary achievements!

The Franks present all wore expressions of pride and smugness.

Even Black photographers from the old colonies couldn't help but puff out their chests with pride.

"marvelous!"

The reporter couldn't help but cheer and jump for joy.

Although Jeanne is just a common name for ordinary girls in Frankish countries, many people believe that Jeanne is the incarnation of Joan of Arc because of her healing abilities and good deeds, and under the intentional or unintentional guidance of the Frankish government.

"I hope that one day, under the will of 'the Lord,' the five rings of the Olympics will be transformed into a single ring of flowers."

Jeanne once proclaimed her ideals on a battlefield radio broadcast.

For world peace, to eliminate conflicts between nations and peoples, let's erase every single border on Earth.

Jeanne also put this into practice and worked towards this goal.

Not only the borders of Libya and Egypt, but to this day, Jeanne has become an international war arbitrator who has erased the borders of five countries and ended numerous civil wars.

Such lofty ideals, devout faith, and powerful drive made Jeanne's popularity unparalleled in the Western world.

A CNN reporter in the group of journalists discreetly scanned the ambassador and the black colonel as if they had flowers on their faces.

Frank is known as the military police of Africa.

Having cultivated its influence in Africa for centuries, its sphere of influence and deep roots surpass even those of the world's leading superpower, the United States.

Frank was not only disloyal to the United States' allies, but also very restless, and often contradicted the United States.

If Jeanne really joins the Frankish government, it won't be so easy to get Frankish to hand over the spoils.

"That won't do. The 'Orleans Girl' project must be implemented as soon as possible."

The reporter's eyes darted around.

Under the arrangement of the peacekeeping force, most of the reporters on site followed the ambassador to Egypt to another location, while many others dispersed.

The reporter from Le Monde was about to follow when a black photographer grabbed his wrist.

"Instead of listening to those clichéd platitudes, go see the pyramids that were washed out by the flood; maybe that will inspire a decent news story," the Black photographer said.

"But how could there be pyramids in Libya?" the young reporter asked, looking reluctant.

"That's hard to say."

The Black photographer gave a mysterious smile.

Libya has a very close historical relationship with Egypt.

From the Early Kingdom period of ancient Egypt, pharaohs of successive dynasties conquered and ruled Libya.

The Libyans also launched a counterattack against Egypt, becoming pharaohs and establishing the 22nd and 23rd Dynasties.

The existence of pyramids in Derna is not entirely a fantasy.

If this can be confirmed, it would be big news.

"Okay." The reporter hesitated for a moment, but then agreed.

Since there's no chance to interview Jeanne, it's not a bad idea to try our luck; maybe we can dig up a big story.

From beginning to end, very few people truly cared about the natural disaster in Derna and the lives of its people…

(End of this chapter)