Chapter 711 Echo·Wall Collapse
Terra Calendar 1591.2.12.
Weather/Sunny.
New Manhattan Area·Level I Quarantine Zone.
The sun shines through the clear sky in the Level I quarantine area of New Manhattan.
The air was filled with a long-lost tranquility, and a few gentle breezes blew through, carrying the coolness of early spring, which seemed to herald some kind of new beginning.
Lina took a step out of the narrow door, narrowed her eyes slightly, and felt the bright sunshine of New Manhattan shining on her face for the first time in a long time.
This quarantine area was so familiar to her that she could no longer be familiar with it.
Ever since the conflict between the liberation hooves and the Social and Cultural Committee escalated, her father asked her to stay at home and not come out.
Today she finally heard the adults say that the fight seemed to be over and she could finally step out.
The air was mixed with the smell of dust and a hint of tar, and some damaged buildings and streets affected by the battle could still be seen in the distance.
She walked through the crowds on the street. The infected people in the quarantine area seemed a little more tired than usual.
People's faces were full of anxiety and uneasiness, many people hurried in different directions, and some families gathered together and whispered. Lina couldn't hear clearly, but she could feel that everyone was talking about the bloody conflict-the bloody battle between the hooves of liberation and the socio-cultural committee.
She still remembered the noise that kept happening all night long in the past week - explosions, shouts of death, and the roar of helicopters, which made her hug her pillow tightly and unable to sleep every night.
The adults were talking in low voices behind closed doors, but she could only feel the seriousness of the situation from the hurried footsteps of her mother and father.
She didn't see the battle with her own eyes, but the sounds, the chaos, were enough to scare her.
“People who heard the sound of liberation hooves attacked the Cultural Committee’s stronghold,” she once secretly heard her father’s friends discussing in the room, and the rough voice echoed in a low voice in the room, “They said, The Blood Network was caught off guard, and many people died."
"But what happened to the infected?" Another voice interrupted the conversation, with some worry, "Will we also be affected? Get involved? The Hoof of Liberation will not care about the fate of ordinary infected people like us."
Lina didn't quite understand the full meaning of these words at that time.
The adults in quarantine talk about the conflict every day.
Some people praised the courage of Liberation Hooves, saying that they finally dared to stand up against oppression; others said that as the fighting escalated, the situation of the infected would only become more dangerous; still others said that Liberation Hoofs had gone crazy and they were no longer able to Don’t worry about your own methods anymore...
The oppressive environment did not last long.
The struggle is over.
Who is the winner?
The sound of liberation hooves?
Social and cultural committee?
No, neither, it's not the two who are taking over the New Manhattan Quarantine.
But...
Lina squeezed through the crowded crowd near the public sign in front and came to the public sign.
——【★Official Statement★】——
In view of the long-standing violent conflict between the Liberation Hoofbeat and the Social and Cultural Committee, which has caused the New Manhattan area to fall into unprecedented chaos and disaster. The Edici Federation's new era horse racing plan cannot be promoted as scheduled. This unbridled, life-and-death all-out struggle is not only serious It has destroyed the social order in the region and brought immeasurable economic losses and public safety risks to the entire federation.
After the end of this completely out-of-control conflict, both sides left an unmanageable mess in New Manhattan, leaving behind dilapidation, panic and chaos.
In order to maintain the peace and security of the New Manhattan area, the Honkai Authority decided to fully support the area and assist it in establishing a police security department with a high degree of autonomy. The agency will employ local members to ensure that actual security issues in the region are managed and repaired by local residents themselves.
At the same time, the Administration will dispatch a task force and an experienced special operator to assist the Security Department in restoring order in the area.
We believe that the future New Manhattan will gradually regain its vitality under the management and autonomy of native residents, and will once again become an important area for the future prosperity and development of the Federation.
The Authority will continue to provide necessary support to New Manhattan to ensure that this area no longer becomes a hotbed of extremism and violence, but instead moves towards a new chapter of peace and harmony.
We sincerely hope that all parties involved can draw wisdom from this painful lesson and rebuild a future where order and the rule of law coexist under autonomy.
This statement will take effect immediately and is hereby announced.
——{Signature: Hugh Abraham}
——{Seal of the Honkai Administration Bureau/Seal of the Edici Federal Government/Seal of the New Alliance}
——★★★——
Relying on the knowledge she learned from school, Lina reluctantly read through the entire announcement. Looking at the content of the announcement, she felt a little... vaguely understanding.
Finally, she looked at the signature of the director of the Honkai Authority. This was the first time she knew the name of the director of the Honkai Authority.
She deliberately spelled out the name on the signature byte by byte.
“Hugh Abraham…”
When Lina was chanting the name, she inexplicably felt something looking at her - although it was not malicious, it made her hair stand on end.
"Strange..."
Lina murmured in a low voice, but what she didn't know was that she was not the only one who had the same feeling.
The serious lack of basic knowledge of thaumaturgy makes many infected people unaware of the meaning behind calling the name "Hugh Abraham".
*
*
Isolation Zone I·Wall of Isolation.
The sky is clear and blue, with a few white clouds floating slowly, but the bottom of the separation wall below is full of tension and expectation.
The morning fog gradually dissipated under the sunshine, and the air was filled with a touch of moisture, revealing the breath of new life.
The separation wall is majestic and cold, about six meters high. The wall is made of dark gray concrete. The surface is covered with traces of time and erosion by wind and rain, making it look mottled.
The top of the wall is wrapped with old barbed wire, piercing the tranquility of the sky and becoming a barrier between the infected and the outside world.
This wall not only separates two groups of people, but also separates hope and fear into two distinct sides.
The sun shines through the thin morning mist and shines on this once unshakable isolation wall, casting mottled light and shadow, as if it has given this wall a bit of its former majesty for the last time.
The shadow of the wall shrouds the land underfoot, giving a vague feeling of depression.
That is the fear and powerlessness that countless infected people have accumulated while living behind this wall in the past few decades. It is solidified on this building and is difficult to dispel.
Hart McDowell, leader of the Infected Workers Union, Lena's father, and one of countless infected people.
Like other people, he stood on a high mound outside the separation wall, staring closely at the bulldozers and excavators in front of him. His mood was so complicated that it was difficult to express.
The high mound was crowded with people, their eyes full of expectation and uneasiness, as if...the collapse of this wall was not only a physical change, but also a turning point in fate.
Hart could feel the breathing of the people around him becoming heavier, and from time to time someone was whispering to each other, discussing future changes in a low voice.
"Is this wall really going to be demolished? After so many years, I never thought that this day would come." A middle-aged man's voice was filled with uncontrollable excitement.
"So what if we tear it down? Will the outside world really accept us?" Another voice, slightly skeptical, was an older woman, her tone full of worry and uncertainty.
"At least this means a change, right? The administration is better than those people. At least they won't exploit us like the previous officials." A young man said softly, with a hint of hope in his tone. "Don't be too happy too early. Although the Administration looks better than those in the Cultural Committee, can they really guarantee our lives? I heard that there are not many job opportunities outside. Can we infected people find jobs? ” Another older voice was filled with worry.
“Are you still worried about this? There is no choice now. We have been trapped here for so long, and the wall fell down. No matter how difficult life is, at least we have a chance to see what’s outside. The world." A woman took over, her tone full of expectation.
“Yes, at least it can allow the children to live a better life. I heard that the Administration will also provide educational opportunities for infected people, including basic thaumaturgy...the kind of Knowledge like magic." A young mother said, looking at the child in her arms with a little hope in her eyes.
"Education? What kind of life have we been living these years? Who dares to expect that our children can have a good education?" An old man sneered, with a hint of indifference in his eyes, "I just hope they don't treat us like they did before. Just treat them like inferiors."
"I heard that the administration's policies are fairly fair. At least they don't bully us in transactions, which is already rare," the middle-aged man interjected, his voice rising. with some cautious optimism.
“But I’m still worried, what if their leaders change and their policies also change? Will we be abandoned again by then?” The older woman’s voice was full of deep emotion. Deep uneasiness.
"You mean that Hugh..."
The old man wanted to mention that name, but suddenly stopped.
"Hell, every time I mention that person's name, I feel a creepy feeling. It's like... just like the trembling feeling I had when I was young when I faced an out-of-control tiger in the circus. No, it's much stronger than that. More than that, I just mentioned the name."
"I feel that way too, it's strange." The older woman also took over the words with fear, "We still don't mention that... That one... Let’s go back to what happened after the separation wall was pushed down.”
“Why do you care so much? The wall has been demolished, and you have to continue living. It’s better than being locked up here. Strong. At least there is a chance of survival, which is better than waiting for death." The young man said with a desire for the future.
Hart stood on the high mound and continued to listen to the discussions of the people around him. This time, the topic was no longer about the wall, but turned to the changes triggered by the recent bloody war, especially the hoofbeats of liberation. matter.
The discussion in the crowd seemed more complex and full of emotions.
"Is Liberation Hoofbeat considered heroes? Are they really doing it for us infected people?"
"Heroes? Don't be naive! They don't care about us ordinary infected people at all. Look at the battles in the past few months. , How many infected people died because of their actions? We are just pawns in their struggle for power."
"But they did expose a lot of the darkness of the Cultural Committee, which is also a kind of evil for us. Victory, right?" Another young man retorted with a hopeful tone.
"Victory? The family next door to my house was affected by the riots here a few weeks ago due to the sound of liberation hooves, and the whole family died. Is this called victory?" a woman said angrily, her voice With resentment, “Their victory was in exchange for our lives.”
“I heard that Mikhail, the leader of the Liberation Hooves, really wanted to help us infected people at the beginning. Yes, but it became more and more extreme later on." The middle-aged man sighed with helplessness in his tone.
"Help us? Do you believe it? They are fighting to the death with the Cultural Committee, and the lives of the infected are even more difficult. Do you think they care about us? They just want to overthrow the old forces and rise to power themselves." The woman said disdainfully, with a look in her eyes. Out of disgust.
“However, if there is no action to liberate Hoofsheng, those people in the Cultural Committee will continue to exploit us. Will we continue to be oppressed?” The young man questioned again.
“The hooves of liberation are a double-edged sword. Their violent methods did severely damage the Cultural Committee, but we ordinary infected people were also unlucky. In the end, we are just tools to be used. "The old man said in a low voice, with deep exhaustion in his eyes.
“But now that the Cultural Committee has collapsed and the Administration has moved in, there is finally a new beginning, right? No matter what the purpose of the hooves of liberation is, at least they have broken the original oppression.”
< br>Boom——————
Boom——————
Boom——————
The roar of the bulldozer was deafening. The huge steel arm slowly lifted up, then fell heavily and hit the wall. Bringing up a cloud of dust.
The huge impact made the crowd tremble slightly. They looked ahead with shocked faces, seeing that the indelible wall remaining in their hearts was so easily knocked down.
The barrier in their hearts... seems to be gradually disintegrating with the vibration of the wall.
Hart stood on the mound, staring intently at the scene. The wall began to crack under the repeated impacts of the bulldozers. The concrete on the wall began to collapse, and debris rained down, making a dull crashing sound.
The bulldozer pushed forward slowly, and the huge mechanical tires rolled over the soil, leaving deep ruts.
One by one, the giant steel arms are waving, like ruthless warriors, unswervingly executing orders.
The cracks in the wall became bigger and bigger, and finally there was a loud noise. The entire wall collapsed, dust flew up, and a burst of low cheers broke out from the crowd. Some people clenched their fists, and some quietly Wipe the tears from your eyes.
Hart's mood was as heavy and relieved as the collapsed wall.
He clenched his fists and took a deep breath. The boulder pressing on his chest was finally removed.
He turned to look at the infected people around him. Many people were watching the bulldozers with excitement and uneasiness. They were isolated in the shadow of society by this wall. Today, the collapse of this wall means that they I can finally step out of this shadow and welcome a new life.
On the other side of the mechanical operations, Hart saw the administration officers wearing black special service uniforms.
They wear red epaulettes on their shoulders, marking their status and responsibilities.
The operators were tall and stern, holding bolt guns in their hands and ready to fight.
Unlike those oppressors in the past, these operators did not show a superior attitude, but instead communicated with the surrounding people from time to time.
"The Authority...is different from what I imagined." Hart muttered to himself.
A tall girl with rabbit ears stood next to the bulldozer, directing workers to evacuate the collapsed wall.
Her ears twitched slightly with the movement, revealing a trace of nervousness and concentration. A mechanical ball with the same rabbit ears hovered above her.
The operator turned around from time to time to talk to the people next to him, with a kind smile on his face. He seemed not to feel any barrier at all because of his different status.
The other operator is a man with a ponytail. He is standing next to the machine, with a long gun hanging on his waist and a map in his hand. He is discussing the safe range of the operation with the local infected.
His expression is calm and firm, with a capable temperament, and the fluttering ponytail adds a touch of softness to him.
Hart also noticed a cat-ear dryer. The man's ears were pointed and turned vigilantly. Although his task was to maintain order at the scene, he also stopped from time to time to interact with some curious people. The children communicated, making the children laugh, with innocent smiles on their faces.
He has never seen such a friendly army. After these management officers entered the infected area, they strictly followed the orders of their superiors, acted in a unified and coordinated manner, and did not embezzle or plunder the property of the infected at all. behavior.
What surprised him even more was that every communication they had with the infected was full of respect and patience, without any threats or rude words.
The agents of the administration not only helped the infected people evacuate safely, but also discussed with them specific plans for rebuilding the isolation area. Even when trading with the infected people, they strictly followed the market price and conducted fair transactions, without taking advantage of their power at all. Squeeze or force buying and selling.
"Sofia may have made the right bet. This may be...a brand new era."
The roaring sound seemed to announce the end of an old era.
Hart's eyes searching among the crowd stopped on a familiar figure - Sophia Williams.
She was still carrying the familiar gun case, with steady steps and firm eyes. Different from her past image in the struggle, Sophia is now wearing a neat black operator special service uniform, and the red administration shoulder insignia is the same as other operators, but it still makes her look different.
As he watched, Sophia slowly walked towards the crowd from a distance and looked at himself.
Hart knew that the other party wanted to say something to him, so he stepped forward.