Chapter 505 Voting
by SunflowerStarlight City, City Lord’s Mansion.
Su Ming sighed and walked along the corridor. Soon, he reached the office door and saw Feilong guarding outside.
“Old Fei.”
Su Ming stepped forward and greeted Feilong.
Seeing Su Ming return, Feilong quickly asked,
“Su Ming, how did the vote-gathering go?”
“Not smoothly.”
Su Ming shook his head, replying with a helpless tone.
“Alas, that’s normal.”
Feilong reached out and patted Su Ming’s shoulder, comforting him.
“Hmm, where is Lord Long Bai?”
Su Ming asked calmly.
“He’s busy inside,” Feilong whispered to Su Ming.
After hearing Feilong’s words, Su Ming glanced inside through the slightly ajar door.
He saw Dragon White sitting at the desk, writing letters with a solemn expression.
Seeing this, Su Ming did not go in to disturb Dragon White.
At this moment, Feilong saw Su Ming retreat and asked in confusion,
“Aren’t you going in?”
“Never mind. I’ll go somewhere else and try my luck again. I’m off.”
Su Ming turned to Feilong and said, then turned and left.
“Alright!”
Feilong nodded.
Soon after, Su Ming left the City Lord’s Mansion and hailed a hover taxi on the street.
“Brother, where to?”
The driver uncle asked with a smile.
“Royal Court Academy.”
Su Ming said as he sat in the passenger seat.
He planned to go back to his alma mater to see if he could gather some votes. Royal Court Academy also had quite a few votes, and many council members had graduated from the academy.
“Alrighty!”
The driver uncle started the vehicle and drove towards Royal Court Academy.
More than an hour later.
Su Ming appeared at the main entrance of Royal Court Academy, where he saw students full of vigor, chatting and laughing.
For a moment, Su Ming felt a little dazed, as if he had returned to when he first enrolled.
Time really flies. In the blink of an eye, he had become a senior, and it had been over a year since he had returned to school.
“Who is that person? He looks so familiar, and he’s so handsome!”
“I don’t know. Should we go ask for his contact information?”
“You go ask?”
“No, that would be so awkward!”
Several girls said with giggles.
Su Ming chuckled, hands in his pockets, and walked into the academy.
Soon, he arrived at Vice Principal Fuleike’s office door. As he raised his hand to knock.
Creak!
The office door opened, and Vice Principal Fuleike, dressed in a black suit with a neatly tied tie, was about to leave.
“Lord Fuleike.”
Su Ming greeted him with a smile.
“Su Ming, you’re back!”
Fuleike said with great surprise.
“Yes. Where are you going?”
Seeing that Fuleike seemed to be going out, Su Ming asked curiously.
“Nowhere in particular. Lord Long Chen sent someone specifically to invite me to a banquet.”
Fuleike briefly explained to Su Ming.
“Uh…”
Su Ming’s mouth twitched slightly upon hearing Fuleike’s words. Dragon Dust was truly putting in a lot of effort for the election.
“What’s wrong? Are you looking for me for something?”
Fuleike asked with a smile.
“To be honest, I’m here to campaign for Lord Long Bai.”
Su Ming replied somewhat awkwardly.
“So that’s it. Then I won’t go to the banquet. I’ll cast my vote for Dragon White.”
Vice Principal Fuleike replied without hesitation.
“Thank you!”
“What’s there to thank? However, the votes I have are also very limited.”
“Lord Fuleike, can you help me gather votes from others?”
“That won’t work. If you want to secure the votes from Royal Court Academy, you still need to ask the Principal for help.”
“Isn’t the Principal not usually at school?”
“He came back recently. I’ll take you to him.”
“That’s great! I don’t know how to thank you.”
Su Ming replied with a smile.
“What’s there to thank? You’ve helped me so much; I haven’t even thanked you yet. However, that old fellow has a particularly bad temper and is very eccentric, so you need to be especially careful.”
“Then what should I do?”
“Simple. This guy loves alcohol. I’ll take you to buy two bottles of good liquor.”
Fuleike said to Su Ming.
“Okay.”
Su Ming nodded in agreement.
“This way!”
Fuleike then led Su Ming to the Royal Court Academy’s shopping mall.
Soon, Su Ming emerged from the mall with two bottles of white liquor brewed from pure natural grains, accompanied by Fuleike.
“Lord Fuleike, are these two bottles enough? Don’t we need to buy better ones?”
“Enough. He usually drinks worse than this.”
Fuleike said to Su Ming with a smile.
“Alright.”
Su Ming replied awkwardly.
“Oh, right, Su Ming, have you considered returning to Royal Court Academy to serve as Vice Principal?”
Fuleike asked with a chuckle.
“Ah? I’m so busy right now that I can’t get away. I really can’t come back. Let’s talk about it when I’m old and retired.”
Su Ming replied, caught between laughter and tears.
“By the time you’re old and retired, who knows how many years that will be. But it’s normal; you’re in your prime now, so why would you come back?”
Fuleike said with a smile.
“Thank you for understanding, Lord Fuleike.”
Su Ming replied with a smile.
Not long after, Fuleike led Su Ming into the inner campus, walking towards a building full of historical charm, constructed entirely of bluestone, with its walls covered in creeping ivy.
As they approached, they saw a middle-aged man dressed in a well-tailored suit, with distinct facial features, deep eyes, and an air of nobility in his demeanor. He was politely speaking to a man standing at the entrance, who had a rugged face, a thick beard, a scar running across his left eye, and muscles like steel, exuding a powerful aura.
“Mr. Tifaken, please let me in. If I don’t see Lord Mirog today, I won’t be able to explain it to my father when I go back.”
“Mr. Long Kan, Lord Mirog said he won’t see anyone, so you don’t need to waste your time here. It’s useless!”
Tifaken replied unceremoniously.
At this moment, Vice Principal Sang Qi rushed over.
Long Kan saw Vice Principal Sang Qi and immediately said with great joy,
“Lord Sang Qi, you’re finally here.”
“Mr. Long Kan, don’t worry, I’ll talk to Tifaken.”
Sang Qi quickly said to Long Kan.
“Okay, much appreciated!”
Long Kan said politely.
Su Ming was also very surprised to see this scene. He didn’t expect the other party to also bring a Vice Principal, and it seemed to be a combat-focused Vice Principal at that.
At this moment, Sang Qi walked up to Tifaken and said,
“Tifaken, this is the eldest young master of Lord Long Chen. You should at least give him some face.”
“Sang Qi, Lord Mirog made it very clear: he won’t see anyone!”
“Oh, come on, just help us out. If not, at least help me pass on a message, alright?”
Vice Principal Sang Qi said to Tifaken.
Tifaken also frowned. No matter what, Sang Qi was also a Vice Principal, so he replied very reluctantly,
“You wait here.”
“Okay!”
Long Kan responded with delight.
Tifaken then turned and walked inside, but came out again shortly after.
“How was it?”
Sang Qi quickly asked.
“You can leave. Lord Mirog said he won’t see you.”
Tifaken drove them away unceremoniously.
“Mr. Tifaken, please help me pass on another message.”
Long Kan still said, unwilling to give up.
“Stop talking nonsense. Lord Mirog made it very clear that he will not participate in the election. No one can change his mind.”
Tifaken refused without giving any face.
Long Kan’s expression changed when he heard the words “not participate,” then he spoke,
“Alright then, sorry to have bothered you!”
“I’m truly sorry, the Principal’s temperament is just like that.”
Vice Principal Sang Qi quickly reassured Long Kan.
“No worries.”
Long Kan and Vice Principal Sang Qi walked into the distance, conversing as they went.
Seeing them walk away, Fuleike led Su Ming over and called out with a chuckle,
“Tifaken!”
“Fuleike? Why are you here too? Wait, you brought someone. Don’t tell me you’re also here to lobby about the election?”
Tifaken asked with a frown.
“Don’t worry about that, just let us in.”
Vice Principal Fuleike said to Tifaken.
“No, Lord Mirog said he won’t see anyone!”
Tifaken gave no quarter.
Fuleike was also a bit annoyed, so he said to Tifaken,
“Are you sure you won’t let us in?”
“No room for discussion!”
Tifaken replied with a very firm attitude.
Seeing Tifaken so unyielding, Su Ming also lost hope.
At this moment, Fuleike suddenly cursed loudly,
“Mirog, you bastard! You’re always neglecting your duties, not caring about anything, dumping the school’s mess on me. No money, no people. I have to go around begging for funds everywhere. Is this something a human does? Get out here right now, or I’m quitting this Vice Principal job!”
Tifaken looked at Fuleike in shock.
Su Ming was also dumbfounded and quickly tried to dissuade Vice Principal Fuleike.
“Lord Fuleike, don’t be like this, it’s not worth it!”
“Su Ming, you don’t need to worry about it. I’ve long wanted to quit this rotten Vice Principal job!”
Fuleike raised his hand, signaling Su Ming not to speak anymore.
At this moment, an old man with a flushed face, a wretched appearance, and shifty eyes, rushed out and shouted at Fuleike,
“Fuleike, don’t! Let’s talk this over!”
Su Ming was also stunned looking at the old man who ran out. Wasn’t this the old man Teacher Mia cursed at while pointing at a statue back then?
“Heh heh, you finally decided to come out. It’s really hard to see you!”
Fuleike said irritably.
“Misunderstanding, let’s talk inside!”
Mirog immediately said with a fawning smile to Vice Principal Fuleike.
Fuleike was quite different from other Vice Principals. He was responsible for all administrative affairs of the entire school, and his authority was actually almost equivalent to that of the Principal.
Mirog was able to be a hands-off manager only because Fuleike was holding things up. If he quit, Principal Mirog truly wouldn’t be able to go anywhere.
“Hmph!”
Fuleike snorted irritably, then led Su Ming inside.
Tifaken watched this scene, shook his head, and muttered to himself,
“Did Fuleike eat the wrong medicine today?”
Soon, Su Ming followed them into the building and arrived at a spacious office.
“Fuleike, calm down. Let’s talk things over. Don’t just bring up resigning at the drop of a hat; it’s bad luck!”
Mirog said, trying to persuade him with a chuckle.
“That’s more like it.”
Fuleike finished speaking and glanced at Su Ming.
Su Ming quickly handed the wine he was holding to Mirog and said,
“Lord Mirog, this is a small token of my appreciation!”
“Oh, good wine! You’re quite thoughtful. Speak, what do you need me for?”
Mirog took the two bottles of wine, smiling so widely his mouth couldn’t close.
“Actually, I’m here about the election.”
Su Ming respectfully said to Mirog.
Upon hearing Su Ming’s words, Mirog’s smile instantly vanished, his face changing completely. He placed the wine on the table and said,
“You can leave. There’s nothing to discuss about this matter.”
“Speak properly! If you’re so perfunctory, I’m quitting!”
Fuleike said irritably.
Mirog, hearing Fuleike’s words, also said with a dark expression,
“Fuleike, don’t be childish. Other matters are fine, but this one is non-negotiable. You know best what an election is. If you choose correctly, fine, but have you considered the consequences if you choose wrong? Royal Court Academy’s situation is already difficult; we absolutely cannot get involved in these matters at this time.”
“Are you determined not to help?”
“I really can’t.”
“Alright, but you probably don’t know who he is, do you?”
Fuleike said, his eyes darting.
Su Ming was also stunned when he heard this. Although his current status was no longer what it used to be, it didn’t seem like he could pressure Principal Mirog, right? He was the Principal of Royal Court Academy, after all; this was no joke.
Mirog, hearing Fuleike’s words, also said irritably,
“Who could he be? Am I supposed to be afraid? To put it bluntly, even if Dragon String, Van Lo, and Dark Star Emperor stood before me, they would still have to respectfully call me ‘teacher’!”
Su Ming looked at Principal Mirog in shock, never expecting that he had taught those three. But thinking about it, it made sense.
“Then what are you afraid of?”
Fuleike retorted irritably.
“That’s easy to say, but I can’t joke around with the entire academy!”
Mirog kept shaking his head in response.
“Alright then, I won’t waste any more time with you. I’ll tell you! Su Ming is Mia’s most prized student, your precious granddaughter.”
Vice Principal Fuleike laid it all out.
“He’s Mia’s student?”
Mirog was also startled.
Su Ming also asked, utterly shocked.
“Lord Fuleike, is Mia Principal Mirog’s granddaughter?”
“Nonsense! If she weren’t Mirog’s granddaughter, would she dare to drink alcohol in school, disregard school rules, and ruin the school’s thousand-year reputation? She would have been expelled eight hundred times already. How could the school tolerate this little troublemaker?”
The more Vice Principal Fuleike spoke, the angrier he got, always cleaning up Mia’s messes.
“Little troublemaker?”
Mirog’s face instantly darkened as he looked at Vice Principal Fuleike.
“A grain of sand!”
Vice Principal Fuleike immediately realized he had misspoken and then coughed, saying.
Upon hearing this, Mirog’s expression softened considerably, and he then said.
“Even if he is Mia’s student, I cannot help him.”
“Think carefully before you speak, I’m telling you! Su Ming and Mia have an incredibly close relationship. If you want to reconcile with Mia in the future, you might even need his help.”
Vice Principal Fuleike reminded Mirog.
Mirog, hearing Vice Principal Fuleike’s words, looked at Su Ming in surprise and asked.
“Are you really that close with Mia?”
“Yes, but Lord Mirog, you are all family, there’s no deep-seated grudge. I’ll try to persuade Mia when I get the chance.”
Su Ming replied awkwardly.
“Not bad, you’re quite sensible, young man.”
Mirog nodded and said.
“Then why aren’t you helping? How can you be so shameless?”
Vice Principal Fuleike seized the opportunity to say to Mirog.
“Let me consider this matter, alright? After all, it’s of great importance!”
Mirog’s expression changed several times, but he finally relented.
“Thank you, Lord Mirog.”
Su Ming replied with much gratitude.
“Alright, no more formalities. If there’s nothing else, you two may leave.”
Mirog said to Su Ming and Vice Principal Fuleike.
“Then we shall take our leave.”
Su Ming bowed, then left with Vice Principal Fuleike.
Mirog looked at Su Ming’s departing back, then at the wine on the table, and ultimately did not make Su Ming and the others take the wine, only sighing helplessly.
“Sigh!”
Soon after, Su Ming and Vice Principal Fuleike walked out.
At this moment, Su Ming politely said to Vice Principal Fuleike.
“Lord Fuleike, I am truly grateful for your help this time!”
“Don’t say that. You are the pride of Royal Court Academy, and I believe your judgment will not be wrong. Moreover, Royal Court Academy cannot continue to decline; it’s time for a change.”
Vice Principal Fuleike reached out and patted Su Ming’s shoulder, saying with great emotion.
“Understood, I’ll be going then.”
“Good, come back to the school often if you have the chance.”
“Certainly.”
Su Ming bowed to Vice Principal Fuleike, then turned and left.
—
A month later.
Bang bang~
Countless brilliant fireworks bloomed above Starlight City.
Large numbers of soldiers in exoskeleton armor surrounded the entire Federal Government area, with guards every ten steps.
Hecacus, the captain of the guard, piloted the V Generation Mecha, Black Scorching Apostle, leading many mechas to guard the main entrance of the Federal Government Building, responsible for the security of this election.
At this moment, countless citizens gathered in the outer area of the Federal Government, many holding up support signs and shouting for their favored candidates.
“Lord Faraon will win!”
“Support Lord Long Chen.”
At this time, reporters who could not enter stood at the main entrance, broadcasting live.
“Dear sirs and madams, I am currently at the main entrance of the Federal Government. Today is the Federal election day, and we can see various senators and representatives entering one after another. Since my clearance level is not high enough, I can only broadcast to you from outside, but our hearts are all the same at this moment, which is to look forward to the birth of a new acting Council Speaker who will lead us out of our predicament.”
At this moment, a black hovercar drove to the main entrance of the Federal Government and stopped.
Immediately after, the car door opened.
Su Ming, dressed in a general’s uniform, stepped out of the car with a solemn expression.
Click!
Instantly, countless flashlights lit up.
“Everyone, look, General Su Ming has arrived at the Federal Government.”
“General Su Ming is the youngest general in the history of the Federation, and also the most promising candidate to reach the rank of Grand General. He demonstrated unparalleled strength in the recent defense battle of Starlight City.”
“General Su Ming!”
Many onlookers excitedly waved and shouted.
Su Ming also turned and raised his hand, waving to the cheering crowd.
Instantly, the scene became even more fervent.
Under everyone’s gaze, Su Ming walked through the main entrance of the Federal Government, then followed the red carpet laid on the ground, heading towards the Administrative Building.
Along the way, some senators who saw Su Ming smiled and greeted him.
“General Su Ming, you’re here.”
“Mm.”
Su Ming nodded slightly in response.
Soon, Su Ming arrived at Dawn Hall. The entire Dawn Hall was very lively, with everyone chatting and laughing.
About half of Dawn Hall was already seated. However, apart from City Lord Faraon and City Lord Alicia, other major figures had not yet arrived.
At this moment, many senators noticed Su Ming entering and whispered among themselves.
“General Su Ming is here.”
“So young. When I was his age, I was still running errands in my department.”
“A favored son of heaven, not someone we can compare to!”
At this time, Vice City Lord Okens, sitting in the front row, raised his hand and waved when he saw Su Ming enter.
Su Ming saw him and walked straight towards Vice City Lord Okens, sitting down beside him.
“You’re finally here.”
Vice City Lord Okens said to Su Ming.
“Mm, have Lord Long Bai and the others not arrived yet?”
Su Ming asked in a low voice.
“They’ll be a bit late.”
Vice City Lord Okens explained to Su Ming.
“Mm!”
Su Ming nodded.
At this moment, a refined, bespectacled, middle-aged man in senatorial robes, with a steady demeanor, walked in with a group of people.
District Chief Lin Aojun of District One, with a beaming smile, stepped forward and exchanged pleasantries with him.
Su Ming also looked on with considerable curiosity.
At this time, Vice City Lord Okens introduced him to Su Ming.
“That is City Lord Orusali of Cuilan Star, he is Gakels’s man.”
“Oh, what about the other planets?”
“The others! Uh, excluding Third Planet, among them, Tianlan Star and Nether Moon Star are Long Shadow and Dragon Lan respectively. City Lord Rosa Gaia of Black Flame Star, one of the three major defense lines, is from Sky Dome City. City Lord Abeni of Nether Moon Star is Alicia’s person. Cuilan Star goes without saying.”
“And the other four?”
“City Lord Ronak of Mist Frost Star, City Lord Kevia of light iris star, City Lord Cavanu of Di Yan Star, and City Lord Temkain of Steel Rock Star. These four are neutral.”
“Understood. What about the sixteen districts?”
Su Ming nodded.
“1, 2, 7, 11, 13, 15, 16 are pro-Gakels. 4, 8, 12, 14 are pro-Alicia. 3, 5, 6, 9, 10 are pro-Sky Dome City.”
Vice City Lord Okens further explained.
The assembly hall suddenly became lively. Su Ming and Vice City Lord Okens turned their heads to look, only to see Dragon Dust and two others leading many people in.
Beside Dragon Dust was a pot-bellied, luxuriously robed middle-aged man with a small mustache, smiling and flattering him.
“Lord Long Chen, you will definitely win this time.”
“May your words bring good fortune.”
Dragon Dust replied with a smile.
“This is bad!”
Vice City Lord Okens frowned as he watched this scene.
“What’s wrong?”
Su Ming asked in a low voice.
“That guy next to Dragon Dust is City Lord Kevia of light iris star, which means one of the four neutral stars has clearly sided with him.”
Vice City Lord Okens replied, his head hurting.
“Normal.”
Su Ming replied calmly.
At this moment, Dragon Dust and the others took their seats in the first row, and City Lord Kevia sat directly beside Dragon Dust.
Many senators now stepped forward to greet Dragon Dust warmly.
“Lord Long Chen, you’re finally here! We will absolutely support you in this election!”
“Haha, thank you so much! I’ll remember your friendship.”
Dragon Dust replied very amiably.
Many senators present, seeing someone going up to curry favor, quickly stepped forward to say a few flattering words and show their presence, lest they exert effort for no reward.
In an instant, Dragon Dust was surrounded by senators.
Su Ming looked at so many people surrounding Dragon Dust and said to Vice City Lord Okens, his head hurting.
“With so many people supporting Dragon Dust, can we win?”
“It’s alright, we also have many supporters in the military.”
Vice City Lord Okens said, sounding a bit nervous.
“How many in the military support Lord Long Bai?”
Su Ming asked in a low voice.
“First Legion, Second Legion, Seventh Army, Tenth Legion, Thirteenth Corps.”
Vice City Lord Okens said.
“That’s not many.”
Su Ming replied, quite troubled.
Just then, the usher at the door suddenly shouted loudly.
“Representative of Cosmic Military Headquarters, General Tai Tate, arrives! Representative of Abyss of Fallen, Lieutenant General Su Yao, arrives!”
Su Ming heard the usher’s words and turned his head in surprise to look.
He saw General Tai Tate, Su Yao, and others, dressed in military uniforms, walk in with a stern aura.
Many senators present were also startled and discussed among themselves.
“What’s going on?”
“Why have Cosmic Military Headquarters and the Forbidden Zone Defense Force both sent representatives back? Isn’t there a war going on outside?”
Okins saw this scene and said to Su Ming, very pleased.
“Excellent! Commander Alec De and the others have all sent representatives back. Our chances of winning have increased again.”
“Mm.”
Su Ming raised his hand and waved to Su Yao.
Su Yao saw Su Ming, her cold expression subtly changed, and she then walked towards the seat directly behind Su Ming.
At this moment, Long Shadow also said to Dragon Dust.
“I didn’t expect Commander Alec De and the others to send people back. This is clearly to fully support Dragon White.”
“No matter, each to their own abilities.”
Dragon Dust said calmly.
“Actually, there’s nothing to worry about. Based on the votes we’ve tallied so far, we’re basically ninety percent certain to win!”
Dragon Lan replied indifferently.
“Indeed.”
Long Shadow smiled and replied.
At this moment, Su Yao walked to the seat behind Su Ming and sat down. Su Ming turned his head and asked with a smile.
“Su Yao, did Abyss of Fallen send you back as a representative?”
“Mm, we came back specifically to support Lord Long Bai.”
Su Yao replied softly.
“That’s wonderful.”
Su Ming nodded in response.
At this moment, the usher at the door shouted again.
“Royal Court Academy, Vice Principal Fuleike, arrives!”
Su Ming and the others all turned to look, only to see Vice Principal Fuleike leading a group of people in.
Vice City Lord Okens looked at Vice Principal Fuleike and the others, saying regretfully.
“Royal Court Academy has quite a few votes, but unfortunately, they probably won’t vote for us.”
“Hehe, not necessarily!”
Su Ming laughed, feeling a bit awkward.
“Don’t even think about it.”
Vice City Lord Okens had no hope at all.
At this time, more and more people entered, and the entire assembly hall was almost completely filled.
Although not every Legion Commander from the thirteen Federal Legions came in person, they all sent trusted representatives.
At this moment, the usher shouted loudly.
“Lord Long Bai, City Lord Gakels, arrive!”
The previously noisy scene suddenly fell silent, and everyone turned their heads to look.
They saw Dragon White and Gakels walking in with many senators.
“Finally here, everyone’s present!”
“It’s about to begin.”
Soon, Dragon White and Gakels walked to the first row of seats and sat in front of Su Ming.
At this moment, Felicia stood up from his seat in the assembly, walked directly to the center of the assembly platform, coughed, and said.
“Silence!”
The previously noisy scene gradually quieted down.
“Hello everyone, I am Felicia, the Minister of the Federal Department of Honor. I am responsible for presiding over the Federal election this time, and I will uphold the will of the Federation, ensuring absolute fairness and impartiality!”
Clap clap!
Warm applause immediately erupted in the hall.
“Very good, I now officially announce the start of the election. Please welcome the first candidate, City Lord Gakels, to the stage.”
Felicia said with fervor.
Clap clap!
Gakels stood up and walked towards the assembly platform amidst applause. He arrived at the platform and bowed to everyone.
“Thank you all for your support, but I am very sorry. Due to my advanced age, I feel a bit out of my depth, so I hereby announce my withdrawal from the election.”
The crowd at the scene wasn’t too surprised to hear that Gakels was withdrawing, but there was some whispering.
At this moment, Felician said with regret,
“It’s truly a pity, but health comes first, which is understandable. Now, please welcome the next candidate, City Lord Alicia.”
City Lord Alicia slowly stood up and gracefully walked onto the stage. She smiled and said to everyone,
“Excuse me, everyone, but I feel my abilities are limited and it would be truly difficult for me to shoulder the burden of the entire Federation, so I am also withdrawing from the election.”
As soon as she said this, many people in the audience started discussing.
“I didn’t mishear, did I? City Lord Alicia withdrew?”
“That’s truly unexpected!”
Felician was also stunned for a moment, then coughed and said,
“Silence. Although it’s extremely regrettable that City Lord Alicia has withdrawn, we still respect her choice. Now, please welcome the third candidate, City Lord Faraon.”
Faraon stood up and walked to the council platform.
The crowd at the scene whispered,
“Surely he won’t withdraw too?”
“How could that be! City Lord Faraon has long wanted to be Council Speaker, and it’s not easy to get this opportunity.”
However, a scene that surprised everyone appeared. Faraon said irritably,
“I withdraw!”
Instantly, the entire council erupted, and many council members said in disbelief,
“Holy cow, I didn’t mishear, did I?”
“No way, all three City Lords withdrew. Then who will run for Council Speaker?”
“Could it be that no one wants to take this position and lead the Federation?”
“Has the situation become this bad?”
Su Ming looked at this scene, and his heart immediately sank to the bottom.
City Lord Alicia and Faraon both withdrew. Could it be that they were all persuaded by Lord Long Chen?
If that’s the case, then it’s over.
“Silence!”
Felician said with a dark expression.
The noisy sounds in the venue gradually subsided.
“Now, please welcome candidate Long Shadow and candidate Dragon Lan to the stage.”
Long Shadow and Dragon Lan stood up and walked onto the council platform. They bowed to everyone and said apologetically,
“Sorry, we are also withdrawing!”
“No way, is there really no one left to choose?”
The crowd at the scene discussed amongst themselves.
Su Ming frowned immediately as he watched the two of them withdraw. This was not a good sign.
“Alright, then now, please welcome the last two candidates, Lord Long Chen and Lord Long Bai, to the stage.”
Felician took a deep breath and said.
Lord Long Chen and Lord Long Bai heard Felician’s words, stood up simultaneously, and walked onto the council platform under everyone’s gaze. They bowed to the crowd and did not announce their withdrawal.
Gakels and the others then walked down from the council platform, yielding the stage to the two.
At this moment, the people in the council seats began to discuss.
“It looks like the selection for the acting Council Speaker will be decided between Lord Long Bai and Lord Long Chen?”
“Yes!”
“Both are legitimate descendants of the Long Family, and both seem quite good.”
“Although Lord Long Bai rarely appears, she served as Council Speaker Long Xian’s secretary, and she resolved the crises in the Donao Star Sea and the Tidal Star Sea. Her talent is also excellent, the only drawback being that she is too young. As for Lord Long Chen, there’s no need to mention him; his qualifications and experience are evident, and he can even manage the Longwen Group to flourish, which shows his talent is also very outstanding.”
“That’s right, in that case, it’s stable. Just close your eyes and pick!”
“Everyone, please quiet down. Now, Lord Long Chen will deliver his campaign speech.”
Felician said to the crowd.
Upon hearing this, everyone in the audience focused their attention on Lord Long Chen.
Lord Long Chen took a deep breath and said with a serious expression,
“Hello everyone! I am candidate Dragon Dust, and I am honored to stand here to deliver my campaign speech. Although I am not a person of extraordinary talent, I deeply understand that diligence can compensate for lack of aptitude. Therefore, I have been studying by Council Speaker Long Xian’s side since childhood. Over these years, I have diligently managed the Longwen Group for the Federation. Now that the Federation is in need, as the eldest descendant of the Long Family, I should stand up and shoulder the responsibility for the Federation. I promise here that as long as I can serve as the acting Council Speaker of the Federation, I will lead the Federation out of its predicament!”
Clap! Clap!
Following Lord Long Chen’s concluding speech, enthusiastic applause erupted throughout the venue.
Su Ming also nodded slightly. As expected of the Long Family descendants, none of them were pushovers.
From his speech, Su Ming could tell that this Lord Long Chen was very stable, and if he were to serve as acting Council Speaker, he wouldn’t be too bad.
However, the Federation’s current situation was very bad, and it would probably be difficult for a regular Council Speaker to turn it around.
At this moment, Lord Long Chen bowed to the crowd, took a step back, and left the council platform to Lord Long Bai.
Lord Long Bai took a step forward, her cool gaze sweeping over everyone present.
The entire conference hall instantly quieted down.
“Hello everyone, I am candidate Dragon White, and I am honored to deliver my campaign speech here. The Federation is currently in a time of crisis, with constant internal conflicts and strong external enemies surrounding us. If I am elected, I will do my utmost to lead the Federation to defeat its enemies and restore its former glory!”
Lord Long Bai declared with a powerful aura.
Upon hearing this, Su Ming led the applause!
Clap! Clap!
The crowd at the scene also followed with applause.
“Thank you for the speeches, Lord Long Chen and Lord Long Bai. The election is about to begin.”
Felician took a deep breath and said in a deep voice.
Whoosh!
Behind the council platform, a huge holographic projection interface appeared. The left side displayed Lord Long Chen’s portrait and vote count, and the right side displayed Lord Long Bai’s portrait and vote count.
“The entire council chamber has a total of 12,000 seats. Each seat has a voting button. You can choose the candidate you support and cast your valuable vote. Now, I declare the voting open!”
Felician said to the crowd.
At this moment, Long Shadow was the first to stand up. He said to everyone,
“Everyone, I am Long Shadow, also the fifth son of Council Speaker Long Xian. Logically speaking, I should participate in the election, but I have not, because I deeply know that my talent is insufficient. The Federation urgently needs a strong leader now. And I believe that Lord Long Chen is the best candidate. For the future of the Federation, I will unreservedly support Lord Long Chen!”
As Long Shadow took the lead in casting a vote for Lord Long Chen.
Swish! Swish!
Sinrad and the others all cast their votes for Lord Long Chen.
Lord Long Chen’s votes immediately soared.
“I also support Lord Long Chen!”
At this moment, Dragon Lan also stood up and cast her vote for Lord Long Chen.
Immediately, Dragon Lan and Lord Long Chen’s subordinates also followed suit and cast their votes.
In an instant, Lord Long Chen’s vote count directly soared to 2587 votes, while Lord Long Bai’s vote count was still 0.
At this moment, Gakels also slowly stood up from his seat and said in a deep voice,
“Everyone, I am City Lord Gakels. In recent years, who has stood up to turn the tide and resolve the Federation’s crisis? It is Lord Long Bai. I believe only she can lead the Federation towards a bright future, so I cast my vote for her!”
Whoosh!
As Gakels cast his vote for Lord Long Bai.
Okins, Su Ming, Dr. Blackes of the Xiguang Laboratory, and others all began to vote.
Lord Long Bai’s vote count began to soar.
1000, 1500, 2000!
Su Ming’s heart also tightened as he watched the rising vote count.
However, just at this moment, an unexpected change occurred: Lord Long Bai’s vote count suddenly stopped at 2011 votes.
Gakels’s brows immediately furrowed; this vote count was incorrect.
As a result, Lord Long Chen’s vote count began to rise: 3200, 3300, finally settling at 3450 votes.
Okins looked at Gakels in horror.
“Lord Gakels, our votes?”
“Bastard.”
Gakels immediately looked at the voters and found that District 2, District 13, and City Lord Orusalie of Cuilan Star had all cast their votes for Lord Long Chen, and his entire face instantly turned as black as charcoal.
Su Ming’s heart also sank. It was one thing for District 2 and District 13 to betray them, but he hadn’t expected City Lord Orusalie of Cuilan Star to also betray them. This was the most fatal blow.
He was the City Lord of the three major defense lines, Gakels’s most trusted person, and they even had a family relationship.
At this moment, after City Lord Orusalie finished voting, his gaze remained on Lord Long Chen, not meeting Gakels’s eyes.
Gakels took a deep breath, suppressing the anger in his heart, his hands trembling.
At this moment, Patriarch Komete of Ke Fan Group stood up and said with a smile,
“Both candidates are excellent, but I am more optimistic about Lord Long Chen, so I vote for him!”
“Me too!”
Patriarch Pruitt of Kaput Interstellar Heavy Industry Group and Velia of Azure Group also stood up and cast their votes for Lord Long Chen.
Suddenly, among the remaining six of the seven major arms dealers, three voted for Lord Long Chen, causing Faraon and Alicia to frown immediately.
Ke Fan Group and Azure Group actually voted right away. They knew that these two companies were supported by them, but neither of them said anything.
At this moment, Su Mulong stood up and said,
“I vote for Lord Long Bai!”
Berudo and Farsad were also stunned, looking angrily at Su Mulong and asking,
“Mulong, what are you doing? Didn’t we agree with Lord Long Chen? Why did you vote for Lord Long Bai?”
“Alas, I’m sorry.”
“We’re not blaming you for voting for Lord Long Bai, it’s just, why didn’t you tell us?”
“It’s because I didn’t want to drag you down.”
Su Mulong said in a deep voice.
From the current situation, Lord Long Bai’s chances of winning are indeed not high.
“Cut it out, we think you want to hog it all to yourself!”
“Exactly, we won’t give you that chance!”
Berudo and Farsad both stated their positions simultaneously.
“Thank you.”
Su Mulong was also very moved to hear them say that.
“We vote for Lord Long Bai!”
Berudo and the other two immediately stood up and declared their stance.
Lord Long Chen didn’t care when he saw Su Mulong and the other two vote for Lord Long Bai.
Ultimately, the final vote counts were set: Lord Long Chen’s votes reached 3690, while Lord Long Bai’s votes were only 2191, a very large difference.
“It’s hopeless, Lord Long Chen is definitely going to win.”
“I feel the same way.”
Everyone said one after another.
At this moment, Su Yao and the others stood up and said,
“We support Lord Long Bai.”
The military personnel all voted for Lord Long Bai, and soon Lord Long Bai’s vote count soared to 3011. However, Lord Long Chen’s vote count also reached 4106, and the gap was still particularly large.
“It’s over!”
Okins saw this result, rubbing his forehead as he said to Su Ming.
Su Ming also gave a wry smile. His own votes were already fewer than the opponent’s, and at the critical moment, he was also ambushed by the opponent. The difference back and forth was not just a little bit.
However, just at this moment, Fleck suddenly stood up and said,
“Cough cough, I support Lord Long Bai.”
Instantly, everyone in the entire hall looked at Fleck, discussing in shock,
“I didn’t mishear, did I? Royal Court Academy voted?”
Lord Long Chen also frowned slightly at this scene.
Instantly, Lord Long Bai’s vote count rapidly rose to 3362, while Lord Long Chen’s vote count only rose to 4156.
Lord Long Bai and Gakels were also very surprised; the votes from Royal Court Academy were not within their calculations.
Okins looked at this scene in astonishment, then immediately reacted and looked at Su Ming.
“Su Ming, you pulled this off?”
“Yes.”
Su Ming nodded slightly in response.
“Well done.”
Okins said happily.
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