Chapter 328: with translation of chapter title

"How are Kaplan, Marghen, and Hercus?" Sui Bian asked again.

"The basic facilities are still fairly intact, so reconstruction work hasn't run into obstacles for now; the only issue is population replenishment, and according to calculations, at least twelve to fourteen years are needed to return to pre-war conditions." White Empress replied.

Kaplan, Marghen, and Hercus are located on the edge of the Oslo Star Region, and they are also completely fallen planets, with fewer than three hundred million residents managing to escape.

Sui Bian personally oversaw the purification of Kaplan, so he is particularly concerned about the follow-up work on these three planets.

"I understand." Sui Bian nodded lightly, then rose from his fixed office chair, walked toward the hatch, and meanwhile took off the formal coat hanging by the door.

After leaving the cabin, having put on his coat and heading to the hangar, he told the two secretaries following him: "Tell everyone below to get ready, keep an eye on maintaining order at the scene, and also, how are Rus and Magnus doing?"

"The two OriginalBodies have already arrived ahead of time at the square." White Empress responded.

"Really? Then we should hurry up as well."

"Yes (good)."

Soon after.

A flight squadron flew out of the hangar of the Courage Praise, flying into Fenris's atmosphere.

…

The sunlit side of Fenris, the metropolitan area at noon.

Between buildings and streets, workers engaged in construction can be seen everywhere, using engineering exoskeletons, or engineering vehicles, SCVs, and other large equipment to carry out repair work.

Besides equipment operated by people, there are also large numbers of squid-shaped machines resembling sentinels shuttling between construction sites, helping workers speed up the reconstruction of the urban area to its pre-war state.

However, the streets have begun to see many pedestrians moving about, and ground vehicles, aerial trains, and airships within the waterways indicate that the metropolitan area, and indeed all of Fenris, is gradually returning to its former state.

Metropolitan District 01 has gathered countless residents, with sheriffs and UNSC soldiers responsible for maintaining order, while the crowd surrounds the central square.

The maintenance of order and security within the square is entrusted to the Astartes and auxiliary forces of the Space Wild Wolves.

At the same time, the two legions' Honor Guard, the Wolf Guard (Wolf Lord), and the Sekhmet also escort their OriginalBodies as they appear in the square.

Only Rus and Magnus are not wearing powered armor; at this moment, the two OriginalBodies are dressed in custom black military uniforms, and, accompanied by the guard, they have come to stand at the center of the square.

Gazing at the ever-growing crowd.

Magnus, still with his reddish-brown short hair, couldn't help but sigh to his brother: "Rus, do you still remember the Deimos incident? Back then, it was also the two of us handling the demon affair."

"I remember, what's up, bookworm? What's there to feel sentimental about?" Rus wondered, puzzled.

"It's nothing, just thinking back to when we couldn't step into society as OriginalBodies, and human casualties weren't nearly as severe as they are now; I didn't expect that in the blink of an eye almost a century would have passed, sigh." Magnus sounded somewhat wistful.

"What's there to worry about?" Rus raised his hand and patted Magnus's shoulder, saying: "Time can't be turned back, unless you can develop magic to return to the past, hahaha!"

"Actually, time is a concept we humans came up with; if placed in the universe…"

"Stop stop stop!"

Rus hurriedly interrupted Magnus's academic discourse; hearing words like "universe" and "origin" gave him a headache.

"Yeah, that's right, Father is about to arrive." Magnus looked up toward the sky.

One could see the flight squadron maintaining uniform speed as it approached the square; then a large transport craft broke formation, lowered its altitude, and descended straight down not far in front of Rus and Magnus.

The hatch opened.

After Sui Bian, the Red and White Empresses, and the retinue of guards exited the cabin, the transport craft rose again and vanished from sight.

"Father." The two OriginalBodies stepped forward.

"Hmm." Sui Bian gave a slight nod.

Next, the guards stepped between the Wolf Lord and the Sekhmet; the Red and White Empresses used the square's holographic device to generate several large screens, presenting Sui Bian and the two OriginalBodies before the crowd, and also broadcasting the scene online.

On the screen, Sui Bian's expression was solemn as he delivered his speech: "Residents of Fenris, and all compatriots watching behind the screen, I am the Chairman of the UEG Council, Sui Bian.

"Seven point two billion people…" He paused a bit, then continued: "Today we have tallied the final casualty figure: 7,232,241,414 people, the vast majority of whom were honest, ordinary folk who simply wished to enjoy a good life.

"Among these seven point two billion compatriots who have forever left the world of the living, there are 360 million who were peacekeeping sheriffs, retired soldiers who have returned to family and society, UNSC and legion soldiers and Astartes, and of course the silent, taciturn Kriegers whom everyone mistook for biochemical monsters.

"These people, these warriors fought to the very last moment, willing to sacrifice their own lives so that unarmed civilians could be safely evacuated.

"Even though Kaplan, Marghen, and Hercus fell, not a single warrior abandoned his post, shirked duty, and fled alone! Not one! They now rest eternally, but I believe their heroic spirits will watch over us, safeguarding our future.

"Once, my sons asked me, what exactly is humanity as a species?

"What kind?

"To be honest, even now I cannot explain it to them, but I know that humanity possesses a unique trait, and also the greatest one: that when humanity confronts fear…

"…facing those who falsely claim divinity, the scum and riffraff, with pride and contempt! Therefore, we cannot forget the sacrifice, the fallen warriors and compatriots!

"Next, we will release the full list of the deceased, also announce the latest policies, and…

"On Harvest Star, Fenris, and also sixty years ago, the identity of the Spiritual User who helped Arcadia resolve its crisis—I think this is also something all compatriots are curious about…

"…"

———————

…

Three days later.

Evening.

Earth, the Balkan (Greek) peninsula, Athens.

The overall appearance of this ancient city is just as it was before humanity entered the space age, with hardly any change, and no massive structures over a hundred meters high or wide.

Moreover, Athens still retains many ruins built by the ancients, including the Parthenon temple dedicated to Pallas Athena, and the Temple of Zeus, which suffered war damage and severe weathering.

However, these attractions hardly draw any visitors nowadays; if it were the past, they would already be packed to capacity.

This may be related to the war having just ended, but the real key point is that people have come to understand that the war was instigated by a group of ancient Greek deities.

After all, the decisive battle on Fenris made the world aware of Zeus, Poseidon, and the other fallen gods.

This is already an undeniable fact.

Furthermore, Sui Bian had no intention of concealing this; he even disclosed many details, categorizing fallen gods, demigods, divine servitors, giants, serpent monsters, and other demons as "abnormal organisms," and explaining the relationship between Spiritual Energy and them, thereby giving humanity a better understanding.

If there were no "vaccine," no Spiritual Energy protection from Sui Bian, once ordinary people learned of the otherworld, they would sooner or later hear whispers in their ears and inevitably fall into chaos. But now, human territory has almost completely shielded the otherworld, so Sui Bian is taking advantage of this war to let society learn more details.

After all, Sui Bian needs a progressive, independent and perfected human society, not to be him but to be imprisoned by Umbrella inside a 'gilded metal birdcage'.

Although a century ago it required concealment, erasure and deception, but today, a century later, humanity has gradually become 'mature', and it is no longer surprising to encounter alien forces, abnormal phenomena and other dark aspects.

At the same time, Sui Bian also disclosed part of his information.

Southeast of Athens City.

Near the ruins of the Zeus Temple…

"I still can't convince myself to believe that Chairman Sui Bian is the 'father' of the OriginalBodies."

"Yeah… but thinking that the chairman is the strongest Spiritual User among us humans, I feel relieved."

"Hmm, indeed."

A group of pedestrians who just got off work were walking and discussing matters concerning Chairman Sui Bian.

Along the street, the holographic screens of various shops had a host reporting news about the Oslo Star Region, as well as a rebroadcast of Sui Bian's speech given three days earlier at Fenris Central Plaza.

Since that day, Umbrella and the UEG have announced the fact that Sui Bian is the father of the OriginalBodies, and acknowledged that those who released Spiritual Energy on planets such as Arcadia and Fenris, as well as the 'Guardians' discussed online, are in fact the incumbent chairman, Sui Bian.

Just then, the crowd passed by the entrance to the temple ruins.

"If it weren't for the government blocking us, I'd really want to burn these temples!" Seeing the word 'Zeus' marked at the entrance, a passerby immediately cursed.

"Forget it, all we can do is donate some funds to the Oslo side; let's go, let's have a drink."

"I also took leave today with my wife to go together."

"Well, okay then."

With the voices urging him to stop, that person finally sighed, went with coworkers to a nearby bar, and used alcohol to vent anger and repressed feelings.

After all, they don't know the evil gods of other dimensions like corruption and lust; they only know Zeus as the obvious culprit.

The official policy retains relics related to the Olympian gods and does not erase mythological records; the reason is to remember history, remember mistakes, rather than deliberately conceal them outright.

Moreover, this is also a masterpiece of ancient art and imagination.

At this moment, inside the ruined temple, only a few security guards and cleaners waiting to get off work remain.

There is, however, one person, and the sole 'visitor', standing before the Zeus statue that has long been reduced to rubble and fragments.

This 'visitor' wears slim-fit jeans and a white hoodie, and she also pulls the hood over her head, covering her hairstyle and most of her face.

Viewed from the front, this 'visitor' is none other than Artemis, coming to the temple in an ordinary human guise.

Her expression is bland, yet her eyes reveal a sense of loss and longing.

In fact, since she awoke, after learning more about other dimensions from Sui Bian, she had already guessed that Zeus would fall, so Artemis also knew early on that her father would be slain by Sui Bian.

Sad?

Yes, that is certain, but more so, the worry in her heart has finally been put to rest, relieved that her father has finally been freed.

If Zeus did not die, then even more innocent beings would suffer slaughter and torture.

As for her being able to come to this side of Athens, her main purpose is to fulfill Sui Bian's commission: to hand over the trident to Hephestus for 'reforging'.

After the Fenris battle, the divine weapons left without users naturally became Sui Bian's spoils of war.

As a reward, Sui Bian let Rus, who faced Zeus and Poseidon alone, pick his preferred weapon first.

Rus chose the sole polearm, the trident, yet this OriginalBody added: 'Father, I want a long weapon, but the trident's shape always feels a bit odd; if possible, could the divine craftsman help reforge it?'

Although the son's request seems a bit 'overreaching', Sui Bian did not intend to reprimand Rus, but instead entrusted Artemis with the 'transport', also effectively giving her a short break to adjust her mood.

Among the remaining weapons, Sui Bian awarded them to other OriginalBodies and outstanding Astate based on merit; for example, Magnus chose the 'sun bow' for Spiritual Energy research.

However, Zeus's lightning is temporarily placed in the 'armory' of the Valor Anthem.

Thus Artemis handed the trident to Hephestus, who still resides on Xila Island; she then disguised herself, blended into the crowd, toured Mount Olympus, went to the former Round Moon Lake and her dwelling, and finally arrived at her father's temple.

"Ma'am, we're closing here."

"?"

Hearing the security guard's reminder from behind, Artemis came to, gave a slight smile and said 'Thanks for the reminder', then left the temple and walked to the outside plaza.

Gazing at the afterglow of the setting sun, she couldn't help but murmur softly: 'Father, the era of the gods has ended.'

She said.

Artemis had already left the plaza, exited the ruins area, and blended into the street crowd.

——————

…

"'Rou~!' The fist wind echoed."

"'Boom!!' The fist face struck the 'ground'."

"'Boom!!' Its force even caused the entire 'area' to tremble."

"Jason! Take it easy, don't really hurt our little sister!"

"Hahaha!! Exactly, otherwise our battalion commander would have you torn apart!"

"Sarah! Beat him up! Beat him! Make that jerk Jason remember this!"

At the same time, several people with unusually loud voices were jeering while watching.

One sees that this 'area' is a large cabin, and moreover a fitness cabin providing weight training for combat personnel.

However, the fitness equipment and barbell plates far exceed normal human specifications, since even the lightest, smallest barbell plate is labeled '50kg'.

At this moment, the combat zone of the cabin is filled with many wearing oversized training uniforms, average height reaching 2.5 meters, the 'giant' Astate.

The reason these Astate are gathered and cheering is because a red-haired girl who appears 'frail', only about 1.7 meters tall, is challenging an Astate.

This 'feat' naturally drew cheers from the onlooking brothers.

(End of chapter)