Chapter 213: This Is the Emperor’s Mercy
Matthew had artificially orchestrated a miracle.
Yes—with the Grey Knights, Needy's Heal-Heal Fruit, and his own magical prowess combined, he had brought down a literal miracle across the entirety of Sokovia.
It was a performance.
But it was also one that bestowed blessings upon every Sokovian.
Under Karla's careful arrangement, the entire spectacle was filmed and broadcast live, allowing every Sokovian with a television to witness it in real time.
The dandelions Needy had gathered day and night had been stored away.
There were millions upon millions of them.
After all, with the strong and sturdy Astartes collecting them, there was no shortage.
All of them were used for this day, for this moment.
The Sokovians would not think about how it was done, nor did they care to.
They only needed to know one thing.
No matter who they were, no matter their status, no matter whether they were old people, women, or children, everyone had been healed by those golden dandelions—of cold, sickness, and hunger.
Even across great distances, even in the other three cities, they had received that grace.
They had personally witnessed this miracle descend upon themselves, their families, and their friends.
That was enough.
Clearly, at this moment, every single one of them understood one thing.
Their suffering had ended because of the Emperor, and because of the soldiers under the Emperor's command.
This was something all Sokovians had long awaited.
At this moment, the hearts of the people completely belonged to Matthew.
That was exactly the result Matthew, Karla, Reacher, and the rest of the higher-ups wanted to see.
They had occupied Sokovia because they wanted to develop it, and use it as the foundation for future growth.
What they needed was for all their people to share one heart—not distrust, vigilance, and rejection.
Whether it was Matthew, Karla, Reacher, or the others, they came from different countries and different races. Most of them were neither Eastern European nor Sokovian.
Under a conventional strategy of restoring people's livelihoods step by step, the response would almost certainly have been rejection.
After all, even rural villages are often wary of outsiders.
Let alone Sokovia—a nation whose people had suffered for more than a century at the hands of powers pursuing their own interests, including America.
Matthew, Karla, and the others knew very well that without winning the people's hearts, any future development would inevitably be met with distrust, rejection, and resistance.
That was why Karla, Reacher, and the rest of the leadership believed Sokovia needed this "performance." It needed this miracle.
It was not only they who needed it. The Sokovians needed it as well.
Only this way could they win the hearts and faith of two million Sokovians in the shortest possible time. Only then could future development race forward at full speed.
And judging by the result, Matthew and the others had succeeded.
The miracle ended, and Matthew left without showing himself. This was partly to maintain the Emperor's majesty and mystery, and partly because he himself did not want to be exposed to the public eye so soon.
It was troublesome.
What remained were the blazing cheers of all Sokovians, and the joy of people rushing to tell one another.
Many ran home like mad, rushing back to see their fathers, mothers, wives, or children who had been tormented by illness because they had no money and no access to proper medical care.
And when they saw their families' rosy faces, their healthy and lively appearances, and those confused, bewildered expressions, these Sokovians burst into tears.
They cried from joy.
They hugged their families and, through choked voices, told them about the miracle that had just happened.
In a short time, large crowds poured into the streets, the central square, and every corner of the city. Ignoring the wind and snow, they shared their joy, excitement, and hope for the future.
"Praise the Emperor! My daughter had been seriously ill for days, but now she's suddenly fine!"
"Yes! My wife had a terrible fever because we had no fuel for winter, and now she's recovered too. Praise the Emperor!"
"This is wonderful. Sokovia is saved. We won't have war anymore."
"That's right. We have the Emperor now, and we have a powerful legion of soldiers. No one can bully us anymore."
"Didn't you notice? Those Astartes—I saw them on television. They were the ones who fought those monsters during the Manhattan incident. They're too powerful. My child even said he wants to join them when he grows up."
"How do you know those soldiers are called Astartes?"
"Hehe, I mustered up the courage to ask one of the ordinary soldiers. They were good people and very patient, though they didn't seem to speak much Sokovian. Luckily, I know English. He told me the ones in power armor are the Astartes, those beautiful and powerful female soldiers are the Raven, and the ones in fitted black armor and hooded robes are the Grey Knights."
"Yes, I asked too. They said these are the three strongest warbands under the Emperor's command. Each one has the power to easily destroy a city. They are warriors who fight demons."
"Demons? Are those monsters really demons?"
"I don't know. That's what they said anyway. It doesn't matter. As long as the Emperor is here, as long as the three warbands are here, we're safe. No one can invade us."
"That's right. Praise the Emperor. Praise the Astartes. Praise the Raven. Praise the Grey Knights."
"Praise the Emperor."
The people no longer carried their old oppression and resentment. Their faces were flushed with excitement and fervor as they chattered with one another. Many had brought their children and families with them.
There was light in everyone's eyes now.
The light of hope.
"By the way, don't forget—we can still receive food, water, and clothing for free, especially the poorest families."
"I remember. But I'm not in a hurry. My family still has some of those things. We should let the poorer families receive the Emperor's grace first."
"That's right. I think so too."
"We must not bring trouble to the Emperor."
"Haha, but what is the Emperor's name? Terra? I think I heard Terra?"
"No, no, no. Terra should be the name of our empire. The Emperor's true name cannot be asked casually."
"Yes, yes, exactly. We can't ask casually. The Emperor is great and sacred—we cannot call him by name."
Amid the wind and snow, the people overflowed with joy. The gloom was gone, and so was the pain. The light of human kindness was slowly beginning to shine again.
…
While the Sokovian people were immersed in absolute joy, multiple global powers had also taken notice of the miracle that had unfolded within the country's borders.
"So... am I watching a movie right now?"
Inside the President's Office at the White House, which was packed with senior government officials, the President of the United States looked at the frozen image on the projection screen ahead.
Beneath a sky like a golden ocean of ripples stood a majestic figure shrouded in gold.
Countless golden dandelions drifted down in dense, radiant waves.
Below, in the central square of Sokovia's capital, the three warbands knelt on one knee in vast numbers, while the Sokovian people raised their heads with fervor on their faces.
It looked like a world-famous painting.
The visual impact was overwhelming.
But the President simply spread his hands, wearing an expression that practically said, Are you fucking kidding me?
...
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