Dual wielding volcanoes, killing through the west

"Uh... well, Colonel Sisley, about this matter..."

"Shh~~~~"

The elegant man in front of me, dressed in military uniform, had his legs crossed, leaning back in his chair as if he were sunbathing on a beach, stirring his coffee with a silver spoon. He didn't seem to be in a hurry to taste it, but rather enjoying the bitter aroma that wafted out after stirring.

There were no orders, not even words.

There was only a shushing gesture, as if he were dealing with a dog waiting to be trained.

Mayor Mans knew all too well how terrifying the power of silence could be in a negotiation, especially for those in a subordinate position facing those in a superior position. The unpredictable pressure from them made him feel extremely uncomfortable. It was as if even swallowing saliva would make a tremendous noise.

It was already past midnight, but Mans was wide awake, his forehead beaded with cold sweat, and his mind a jumble of chaotic thoughts.

How to explain it?

It seems... from any angle, there's no room for explanation.

Roy Sisley.

This was the second time he had encountered members of the Sisswe family in just one month, and Mans cursed the family name in his mind.

They were the ones who demanded the construction of the fortress, they were the ones who started the war, and they were also the ones whose city was breached at lightning speed and completely annihilated... Under these circumstances, there was probably no other realistic option but to turn south and surrender, right?

That's a monster that can breach eleven fortresses in an hour! Realistically speaking, there's no other choice but to surrender! Is the mayor going to raise the banner of the Northern Federation and fight to the death? He'll definitely have to say some heartfelt things in the literal sense!

He really wanted to shout these words out loud, but in this world, there are many things that are only allowed to be done, not said. In the eyes of the Sishui family, he was undoubtedly a fence-sitter who had betrayed the Federation, and it was to be expected that he would be purged.

Rather, he was surprised that he was still alive.

……

"The verification work is finally complete, Mr. Mayor." After a long while, Roy took the thick stack of documents and reports handed to him by his subordinate, and glanced through them briefly. "As of now, a total of 24 city councilors have submitted impeachment petitions against you. There are a total of 46 points... I won't go into the details, nor is it necessary. I believe you were already mentally prepared when you made your choice..."

He casually tossed the reports aside, a kind smile spreading across his face. “All you need to know is that with these documents, you can be easily sent to a military court.”

"Throughout the North, half of the states and counties have begun to implement wartime laws, and Pennsylvania is no exception. Even if you are the mayor, you will be sentenced to death if you are court-martialed."

“Uh… this…” Mans tried to force a polite smile, but the other party so casually brought up his life and death, making it impossible for him to smile. “I don’t know… I don’t know if I still have a chance to make amends, such as making some more financial contributions to the Federal Army…”

"Is it this trick again?" Roy said with a smile. "As far as I know, when my brother, Bal Siswell, was defending Fort Ford, you also mentioned raising funds for his army, didn't you?"

"We all know the final result. After his army was defeated, you did not hesitate at all and immediately switched sides to the rebels. You directly handed over the use of the train station to those southern rebels. Now that we have wiped out the rebels in the city, you have betrayed us again... Forgive me for speaking frankly, but it is really hard to believe."

Another unbearable silence ensued.

“I see… ah…” Mans’ smile gradually stiffened.

In his view, the worst outcome was nothing more than death.

----

As night fell, Roy led a highly mobile force, launching a surprise attack from the other side of the city. Working in tandem with some councilors, they quickly seized control of the city council. Afterwards, they swiftly split their forces and marched to the train station and temporary camp, annihilating the Confederate troops stationed there.

Although the numbers were not equal, they managed to avenge their previous annihilation by launching a sudden attack.

Mans was awakened by gunfire and explosions, and by the time he realized something was wrong, it was too late. Federal troops kicked open his door, dragged him from his warm bed, and pulled him outside.

The streets were in chaos.

The organization and operational capabilities of this Union army were the most terrifying he had ever seen. They were far superior to the 10,000-strong garrison that Baal had brought to defend the city.

They completely took over the city's policing, arresting people everywhere on the streets. Their methods were all similar: kicking down doors and barging in, showing no regard for law or procedure. This once again demonstrates that in a state of war, procedural justice is nothing more than worthless toilet paper.

The sounds of beatings, shouts, threats, and gunshots filled the streets and alleys, plunging the entire city into a sudden panic.

Mans had considerable political experience and immediately understood the situation—the Great Purge had begun.

As mayor, he was already seeing that he could no longer continue in his post. The sudden power vacuum would cause the remaining people to start killing each other.

In this wartime state, the best course of action is to accuse the other side of being a traitor. And in order to protect themselves, others will have no choice but to accuse others of being traitors... This chain of events will erupt endlessly as panic and despair fill people's hearts.

Roy Sisley, despite sharing the same surname, was a general whose style was completely different from the relatively mild-mannered Bal Sisley.

He was the typical industrial-age general, willing to use any means to achieve his goals. He and his army, ironically, fostered this culture of mutual accusations.

In just one night, almost all the merchants who had traded with the Southern army over the past two weeks became traitors. Their property was confiscated and became spoils of war for the army.

The family fortune is definitely not going to be saved.

As the mayor, even if he were the most eloquent speaker, he probably couldn't escape death. Thinking of this, he calmed down.

----

“You seem less nervous now.” Roy squinted, picked up his cup, and took a sip of hot coffee. “Thinking of something good?”

“I’m already a dead man.” Mans sighed wearily, no longer wanting to pretend, and slumped back against the sofa. “So, every extra second I can breathe is a bonus for me… It’s a bit ridiculous, but that’s really how I feel right now.”

"Hahaha, Mr. Mayor, congratulations, that's the right attitude." Roy laughed with satisfaction. "In your current state, you don't really have much leverage to negotiate with us."

"However, being kind-hearted, I'm still willing to offer an opportunity..."

"Would you like to breathe a little longer?"

“…” Mans was silent for a moment, “What do you want to know?”

"According to the intelligence we received, after the Red Scourge left here, it should be one of his sons who stayed in Pennsylvania, right? He should have met with you a few times in the past few days."

“I need to know everything about him,” Roy said in a deep voice. “Everything.”

Chapter 109: It's All Worth It

"call……"

After exhaling a puff of smoke, Roy wearily rubbed the bridge of his nose, tilted his head back, and watched it rise little by little.

Hurried footsteps echoed between the empty walls and doors. Roy glanced in that direction, silently counting in his mind. When he reached five, a tall, imposing officer who moved with the speed of the wind and seemed completely tireless in the dead of night appeared in his field of vision.

"Captain Rudy," Roy asked casually, "how is the situation?"

"The results are very encouraging. After investigation, 16 prime suspects have been identified, all of whom had direct contact with the Southern rebels. As per your request, they have all been dealt with and are ready to begin patrolling the streets at any time."

"However, during the interrogation, we still haven't gotten any leads on the rebel leader stationed here. Their testimonies are completely contradictory. Colonel, I'm wondering if our direction might be..."

“Don’t jump to conclusions so quickly. Think about it again, Captain.” Roy lit another cigarette, puffed out smoke, and said in a deep voice, “After storming the council, we strictly sealed off entry and exit to control the possibility of information leaks. However, since there are councilors willing to support us, there must also be people willing to risk everything to surrender to the Southern Army… like that cunning mayor.”

"At this critical moment, the rebels' highest commander and adjutant are both absent from the camp. Do you think this is a coincidence?"

“You mean…” Rudy continued, following his train of thought, “our operation still wasn’t completely secret. A traitor informed the rebel leader stationed here, and they escaped first through some unknown means?”

"If the rebels achieve final victory afterward, these traitors who informed on us will surely receive a rich reward that they can enjoy for the rest of their lives."

Roy, holding onto the back of his chair, slowly rose and looked at the city gripped by fear with a cold gaze.

"That's how people are. Even if the probability is small, as long as it's not zero, and there's a huge potential return, there will always be people willing to gamble everything on it. If they win, they'll rise to prominence and live the life they've always dreamed of. If they lose... at most they'll lose everything, there's nothing to be afraid of."

"We must not allow this dangerous spark to spread in the northern cities."

He slowly turned his head, staring intently at his subordinate, making sure he could accurately read his meaning from his eyes.

"We must let everyone in this city clearly see what happens to those who are opportunistic and fickle."

"Rest assured, Colonel." A hint of excitement appeared on Rudy's face. "I will make sure everyone in this city has a night they'll never forget."

----

The wooden door was slowly pushed open.

Caught between life and death, Mayor Mans' body twitched instinctively. He had been torn between fear and despair all night and was utterly exhausted. But the instinct to survive still drove his body to react.

After seeing who it was, Mans' expression relaxed slightly, revealing a bitter smile that was perhaps self-deprecating.

"Good evening, Congressman Kevin. Did you come here specifically to see me in this pathetic state of defeat?" Since things had come to this point, there was no need to maintain any political decorum. Mans directly mocked, "This is really quite undignified."

“…I had no such intention.” Kevin said in a deep voice, seemingly oblivious to his sarcasm. “It was Colonel Roy’s order to invite you to observe the upcoming parade.”

"An invitation."

Although it was called an invitation, Mans knew very well that he had no right to refuse.

"I understand. Is there anything else?"

"He also told me to tell you that if you know the location of the rebel leader or any related intelligence, you should speak up now, and he will let bygones be bygones and will not take any action against you for concealing your information."

Kevin raised his voice slightly, "But what if, afterwards, it's discovered that you knew about it but didn't report it, or that you were wavering between the two sides..."

"Ha! Hahahahahahaha—!!"

Mans, who had been suppressing his emotions all night, suddenly burst into laughter. This somewhat manic behavior alerted Councilor Kevin, who quickly retreated, increasing the distance between them. After all, anyone could see that this guy was now practically halfway off the cliff. He could easily, in a fit of rage, choose to take everyone down with him.

"Guard! Guard!"

Kevin shouted loudly, and the soldiers standing outside the door immediately rushed in.

Mans was not surprised at all and continued to laugh. Perhaps only he could let out such a hearty laugh on this despairing night.

“I see, I understand now… Just now, I was wondering why we were focusing on Zhang Wusheng and asking so many questions, but now I understand everything.”

"Such an elite unit, and those two armored vehicles—although they weren't in specific uniforms, I can roughly guess the true identity of this unit. Morocco is indeed a transportation hub, but it's only 'one of' it, not irreplaceable. I don't think this city is valuable for carrying out special operations."

"In that case, their target is very clear—Zhang Wusheng! This attack was launched to capture the rebel garrison commander, Zhang Wusheng, alive, right?"

"The true leader of the rebels, Zhang Renfeng, is his biological father. They want to capture this son who has no fighting ability as a hostage to force the rebels to retreat... Ha, what a brilliant plan. For this, they even went so far as to deploy the federal army and the latest weapons."

"What the army's operational plans are like is none of my concern," Kevin said expressionlessly.

“Don’t you care?” Mans’s voice turned cold. “You can take my power, but to be honest, I do care… Now that things have come to this, I’ve lost to you, and there’s nothing I can do about it.”

"but……"

"As the next mayor of this city, can't you hear the screams of the citizens outside?"

Having set aside all calculations and considerations of gain and loss, Mans' tone began to fill with anger.

"You keep calling Zhang Renfeng a traitor, but when they breached the fortress and captured the city, did they launch a purge of this scale? You should know that just over half a month ago, the entire city of Morocco was full of loyal supporters of the federal army."

"No."

“Apart from the train station, he made no demands and did not disrupt the city’s production or daily life. But what about now?”

"Go and see for yourself, this city has been turned into a living hell where they betray each other!"

----

……

“You’ve misunderstood.” Congressman Kevin’s pupils narrowed slightly as he suppressed his emotions behind a facade of rationality. “Whether I can become your successor is something that will require a series of tests and is not up to you to decide.”

"As for the military's actions..."

He said expressionlessly, "If this action can end the war a day sooner, then it's worth it."

Chapter 1020: Hell

The place where it's 100% certain that a telegraph machine could be obtained is the city government office. In a prosperous northern city like Morocco, the city government's budget is relatively well-funded, and it's highly likely that they have more than one machine, capable of sending telegrams to distant cities to discuss matters.

Zhang Wusheng also set his sights on the City Hall—he had been there once before, knew the way, and had the best chance of success there. His plan was to sneak into the City Hall undetected, with Yin Shuang, the most skilled fighter there, leading him inside. The rest of the team would provide cover fire from outside.

He knew that his presence would inevitably be a burden to the infiltration, but there was no other way. Currently, only Zhang Wusheng could operate the telegraph machine. This wasn't something that could be learned immediately with just a few words of instruction.

Therefore, he must personally handle the operation in order to have any hope of successfully sending out information about the changes in Morocco before dawn.

As for what to do next after sending it out... to be honest, Zhang Wusheng had no idea.

Now that the federal army has arrived in the city, they will inevitably block all exits, making escape virtually impossible. My parents and brothers each have their own main attack directions; I can't expect them to turn back halfway. The only hope is that Igor, upon receiving the telegram, will urgently mobilize troops from the nearest southern state to attack this area. This would once again severely dampen the federal army's morale and bring control of Morocco back under the control of the southern forces.

In the course of war, a key stronghold often becomes the target of a protracted struggle between the two sides. Its true control may change hands several times before it is finally decided.

Zhang Wusheng had witnessed similar scenes in the history of war, but at the time he thought they were commonplace, glancing at them casually and letting them pass by. After all, compared to those grand events, such as the final victory or defeat, treaties, or generals who were skilled in battle, the change of ownership of a small city several times was simply unimportant.

Only those who have experienced it firsthand can truly understand how agonizing it is to be torn apart by two enormous creatures.

----

"No—! No, no… He's not a traitor! You've got it wrong! He just sold them a few pieces of beef jerky, how could he…"

"dad---!"

"Ughh ...

……

Zhang Wusheng had intended to finish the matter quietly under the cover of night, but the actual situation he encountered was completely different from what he had imagined.

Everywhere you look, there are screams and wails.