Wasteland Echoer

January 6, 558 in the New Era.

Cruz Federation, Icefield Province, Novayask City, absolute administrative district.

Wearing a Crusad women's military uniform in the old imperial male style, Novayask Administrator Shaneva came to the "large conference room" on the top of the "white administrative building" with a pile of heavy documents, accompanied by the rhythmic "tapping" sound of her leather boots hitting the ground.

Shaneva is one of the few female members of the Novayask City Council and one of the few female chief executives in the federation. She is a "Nova Citizen" and has no surname, only the name given to her by the former chief executive.

In the Steam Age dominated by openness, civilization, equality and freedom, women had to fight for a century before they were granted the right to enter the federations and imperial parliaments. Even the Puttoa Federation, known for being the "most open", did not allow women to become local chief executives until the beginning of the new era.

In the wasteland era dominated by death, cruelty and blood, women have gradually become almost general equivalents in the cruel reality. In the entire federation, except for the Lost Organization and independent armed forces, there are almost no women who surpass the Hurricane rank and hold important positions.

Shaneva, a woman who looks young but is actually not old at all, is able to rise to the position of chief executive and manage the entire city. I'm afraid what she possesses is more than just physical strength.

The "white administrative building" where Shaneva is located was built based on Shaneva's inner thoughts and the style of the palace of the "Goddess of Hope" built in her dreams.

Its entirety is pure white, made from a combination of "white ore" that carries magical power and a "shell alloy" made from aerospace technology formula left over from the former empire.

No matter what kind of pollution or damage the building's exterior suffers during the day, as long as there is air circulation, the white substance on the wall will produce a strange chemical reaction with it, repairing the missing parts by itself while keeping it white.

Although it has less than ten floors, its bottom part presents the style of the ancient arena of the Central Empire, while the upper floors follow the sci-fi style of the Cruzde Empire, using free and subtle arcs to form precise geometric paintings, combined with the space utopian thought product of the "wind of the future".

It is similar to the "Hongtai" in Kanosk, which is still barely operating and has not yet been captured by the "Chaos Group".

Because the special material of the outer wall of the "White Administrative Building" can absorb sunlight to generate electricity, sufficient energy supply can ensure that all electric lights in the building, including the searchlights on the roof, will never go out.

As soon as Shaneva walked out of the neat, sci-fi-style steel elevator, she met Levri, the military commander of the "City Garrison Group", who was also wearing a military uniform.

"Lady Shaneva." As soon as he saw Shaneva, Lev stepped forward and saluted with a standard Cruz Federation military salute. Then he took out a telegram he had just translated and handed it to Shaneva.

"Is this a letter from Binglin City?" Shaneva was startled at first, and then said with a surprised expression:

"Iceland City hasn't fallen yet? This is not a good thing for us."

"Indeed, Master Shaneva." Levri, an important member of the city's strategic group and about to replace Vladimir Neblik, the city's deputy chief executive appointed by the Federation Council, as the city's second-in-command, described the situation in the west in as much detail as possible.

"It seems that after breaking through the 'Gnady Line', forcing Genadi to death and forcing old Vasily to commit suicide, the group of Lost Ones began to fight among themselves.

"After the enemy leader Ice Blade of the Chaos Group stationed in the Old Mine in the Extreme Cold Zone died suddenly of illness, the so-called 'new human' Yato from Putoya, who was resurrected by the Chaos Group, replaced the leader and became the actual controller.

"Due to different philosophies on the Federal Council, the Chaos Group broke with the leader of the Church of Enlightenment, its high priest, the First Leader. When the Evercold Alliance, with the Spear of Odyssey as its core, besieged the Liotsk Fortress outside Icefall City, they even brought an alien monster with an axe as its horn, which attacked the Lost Camp from behind, giving Icefall City a precious respite."

"You mean, because of the internal fighting among the Lost Ones, the Federal Committee is temporarily safe?" Shaneva's cold face, which was completely white and extremely in line with the aesthetics of the Cruz people, showed a trace of regret:

"Levri, you know that old man Vasily wants to get rid of us all the time. If the 'Evolution Platform Project' had not been successful, I'm afraid a few high-level psychics from the Federal Committee would have wiped you and me out in the darkness under the blood moon.

"Indeed, Novayask, Nebsk, Nashidgrad, and Kasdagrad, we humans who are in the position of administrative chiefs have always known only the Federation and not Vasily. For decades, the Federation Council has been thinking about either stripping us of our power or erasing our existence, either overtly or covertly.

"But in reality, just like the 'Ice Knights' founded by Ivan I of the old empire, we guard the border of the Federation's actual control area. We do not need the Federation to supply resources, but also bear the responsibility of defending against 'careless people', transporting materials and handing over important resources. If we, the city administrators, were not human, would Vasily and his secretary Kuka be able to sit safely on the ice throne of the 'Ape Domain Main Hall'?"

"Of course not." Levli pointed at the telegram in Shaneva's hand and said:

"However, the new chief executive, Kuka, still put himself in Vasily's ridiculous and stupid position, and regarded himself as the absolute ruler of the Federation. He not only reprimanded us for not sending troops westward to support the front line and accepting a large number of soldiers fleeing from the west, but also asked us to supply guns, artillery, bullets and aerospace fighters to relieve the plight of Binglin City.

"Since, Lord Shaneva, you intend to strive for the highest authority, why not use this opportunity to ask Kuka to resign, or give you a higher authority to handle federal affairs. In this way, you can use the materials and manpower that Novayask has accumulated over the years to appear in front of those suffering people in the West as the savior of human civilization."

"You want me to be the Virgin Mary of the bishop? I can't do it. Besides, the Lord only has believers, not stupid 'lovers'." Shaneva refuted:

"Whether it's the Lost One organizations in the west, the Spear of Odyssey, the Chaos Group, the Church of Enlightenment, or even the independent armed forces like the Wilderness Tourist Group that are a mixture of humans and Lost Ones, they all have considerable strength and resources.

"As long as the common enemy, the Federal Council, exists, their conflict will only be a temporary disagreement. I bet you that within a week, Liotsk Castle will fall, and within half a month, Icefall City will also be destroyed."

"I'm willing to make this bet with you. I think Kuka is not as stupid as Vasily. With the strength of Binglin City, it can last at least four weeks." Levri responded by holding up four fingers.

Shaneva looked up at Levli's confident expression and sneered:

"This was given to me by our 'singer' friend, Hoshino Shouta. It is said that the emperor of the Central Empire composed it, and when the crown prince of the Hinet people, Ivante, played it on the piano, he entered an alternate dimension where gods communicate with upper-class professionals."

"Okay, I'm looking forward to getting this music score. But then again, our 'Mind Control Plan' cannot be separated from the 'Singer'. And... the 'Evil God' and the Dragon Clan staying in his room." Shaneva's face suddenly became gloomy. She moved closer to Levli and lowered her voice:

"Can the 'Evil God Echo' who got a blue result in the 'Blood Adjustment' really become the medium for us to activate the 'Shrine' and enter the Hall of God? And that dragon, how confident are you that he will willingly become our 'material'?"

"30%, Commander Shaneva." Levri gave a strange smile and replied:

"However, now that I have Dark Tillis who knows the inside story of the Federation, I can raise my chances to 65%. It just so happens that the Nebrius in the east are lost in the Outer Nebuya Mountains, which are rich in 'decaying lithium ore'. We can take advantage of their eagerness to make money and separate them through the Adventurer's Guild and defeat them one by one.

"It just so happens that these unruly Lost One organizations entrenched in the east need to be punished. Whether it is the 'Night Guards' infected by the Khitanris culture or the 'Devotion Group' deeply influenced by the Central Culture, they are courting their own destruction by kidnapping the Chief Executive."

Hearing this, Shaneva actually laughed uncontrollably. She stole a glance at the bright and dazzling sun outside the "White Administrative Building" and said with her back to Levri:

"Vassili is dead, and the Federation Council will perish. Now, a 'different monster' can threaten the Lost Ones' organization, and a young dragon is enough to communicate with the gods. And we can stand behind the curtain and become the new manipulators and puppeteers."

After Shaneva finished speaking, she walked into the "large conference room" holding the documents.

She didn't know that an electric lamp behind her, with dragon and god patterns carved on its shell, flickered a few times and then suddenly went out in a seemingly eternal white light.