Chapter 856 - 348: Vengeance Is Swift [Third Night·Supplement]
Screams, wails.
Interrupted the concert that had just begun.
Six rapidly expanding plumes of gray smoke quickly engulfed over a dozen floating platforms.
This was destined to be a tragedy, but fortunately, Lyu had fully considered various potential crises beforehand.
Those rented floating platforms were already under her unified command; the moment the gas bomb terrorist attack occurred, she swiftly elevated the platforms where the six terrorists were, while others moved away to the sides.
This is what minimized casualties in an attack that could have resulted in thousands of deaths and injuries.
Daphne, who had to stop her performance, was stunned for a few seconds, then immediately directed the scene:
"Everyone, please don't move around in your seats!"
"Don't panic! The platforms are very high off the ground, please don't crowd!"
"Mr. White Ghost is protecting us!"
In such chaotic moments, brief instructions often yield the best results.
Daphne promptly had the backstage control personnel use pre-prepared panoramic projections, with her figure appearing in front of each platform, soothing the emotions of every audience member.
The platforms affected by the gas attack were not completely abandoned.
Hundreds of Mechanical Guards with flight packs surged forward, beginning to rescue those spectators who were not deeply affected by the gas.
Thousands of pre-prepared firefighting drones swarmed to the location of the toxins, beginning emergency measures.
At this moment, Lyu also spared no effort, mobilizing nearby resources in the shortest possible time.
The gas, being slightly lighter than air, was attempting to spread in all directions.
Yang Ming made a decisive decision. After Mechanical Guards had carried away the distressed spectators and hundreds of bodies, he had the surrounding platforms move to a safe distance, left clear video evidence, and then detonated these platforms with Energy-gathering Bombs.
Two hundred thousand live spectators and tens of millions watching the live broadcast saw the two light spheres rising on the horizon.
The concert couldn't go on; after all, the stage had been blown up.
As the video of these two light spheres spread rapidly on the internet both inside and outside the Empire, the suicide gas attack incident at Princess Daphne's concert quickly became a galactic news hotspot.
Saka Star declared martial law.
Audiences were sent back to their respective resting areas.
Batches of Mechanical Guards took to the streets patrolling, and Princess Daphne was restricted in her movements.
All major forces of the Empire moved in response.
Some great nobles started to gloat, saying this was because the White Ghost had made too many enemies, bringing disaster to the people of his territory.
There were also some harsh voices accusing Saka Star's security shortcomings for breeding such a tragic incident.
But most attention was focused on concern and sympathy.
Empire departments quickly responded positively. The military sent a hospital ship, the Noble Court dispatched a noble consolation group, and Saka Star's higher administrative unit quickly organized a task force to investigate.
No interstellar organization has yet claimed responsibility for the incident.
...
Near the explosion point of the Energy-gathering Bomb, radiation normal zone.
Yang Ming's expression was overcast and as calm as water, quietly watching the dozen or so Empire officers in front of him, contemplating internally how to vent his anger.
He needed to make a fuss to express his strong dissatisfaction, facilitating the various subsequent actions.
These officers were responsible for Princess Daphne's safety, as the command team on that comprehensive Supply Ship.
Yang Ming didn't speak, and these officers could only stand there with their heads bowed, bodies tense, awaiting the arrival of a storm.
026 rushed over in a medical suit: "Boss! The hospital has been arranged, the poisoning components have been analyzed, and symptomatic rescue of over sixty patients is underway."
"How many died?"
"Currently, it's... one thousand two hundred and sixty-two," 026's voice was quite calm, "Now major journalistic ships of the Empire are applying for port entry, should we organize a press conference?"
"Let Godoy handle it," Yang Ming said, "We have an inescapable responsibility for this matter, and the ensuing compensations and follow-up will be funded by us."
"Understood."
026 turned and ran off, leaving the place in silence again.
Just seeing these officers made Yang Ming's blood boil.
They were the ones who blocked his private army from boarding the ship for inspection, and after the incident, some operators opened fire on the concert without authorization, and it was also them who ordered those operators to be shot dead directly.
Now, Yang Ming wished he could extract their brains to see how many of them were rotten!
"So, feeling lucky?"
Yang Ming said coldly:
"The gas bomb exploded, and you think the issue of your controlled ship firing on civilians can be brushed off like this? Is that right?"
"Lieutenant Colonel Hanton, this matter… we take full responsibility."
"Take responsibility, my ass!"
Yang Ming burst into a tirade:
"If you go back to the army, at most it will be a supervisory negligence; would more than a thousand people have died today if not for my foresight that your ship would have issues?"
"That wave of attack, as long as a platform explodes, would cause thousands or tens of thousands of casualties!"
"How much did those great nobles bribe you with? Huh? Look at me! I'm telling you to look at me!"
He suddenly raised his hand, and the neck veins of over a dozen officers suddenly bulged, their bodies slowly floating uncontrollably.
"Lieutenant Colonel Hanton…"
"Mr. Ghost... really... nothing to do with us..."
"Lieutenant Colonel... we were unaware..."
"Earl Hanton!"
A gasping female voice suddenly intruded from the side.
Yang Ming's eyes slightly narrowed, and his gesturing hand fell, causing the dozen or so officers to fall to the ground.