70: Chapter 70 News Broadcast

Under the cover of night, in the restaurant of the Seventh Safe Zone, Jiang Ruoxue, Shen Xin, and Qin Chuan were sitting around a large table piled high with various food and drinks.

The bountiful harvest from their successful Dungeon run allowed them to temporarily forget the dangers of the outside world and indulge in a rare moment of relaxation.

Qin Chuan raised his glass.

"We made a killing this time."

"Hahaha, the Boss is going to be shocked when he gets back."

Shen Xin nodded while biting into some roasted meat.

"I want to pilot the mecha in the next Dungeon. It felt so good!"

Jiang Ruoxue rubbed her forehead helplessly and raised her glass, "Let's celebrate our achievements today first."

Shen Xin nodded, her eyes shining with excitement: "The Dungeon rewards were just too good, we must eat well for this meal!"

The three of them had just started eating casually when, suddenly, the news broadcast on the holographic projection caught their attention.

The holographic projection screen suddenly switched, and familiar, solemn music began to play.

The originally noisy restaurant gradually quieted down, and countless people instinctively looked up at the holographic projection. The sporadic chatter that had filled the restaurant was instantly swallowed up.

The news anchor sat in the center of the studio, looking serious and solemn.

He spoke slowly.

[Good evening, viewers.]

[Today is September 28, 100th year of the Federal Calendar. Welcome to the Federal News Broadcast.]

[First, a piece of important news.]

The anchor paused for a moment, and the entire studio seemed to become solemn.

[At 10:23 this morning, deployed by the Federal Strategic Committee, two S-rank Strategic Awakened—Lord Morei Feng and Lord Xia Ying—led a joint task force and successfully completed the final strategy mission for the fixed 9-star Dungeon 'Doomsday Abyss'.]

The screen switched, and a vast, desolate ruin appeared before everyone.

Amidst the smoke and dust filling the sky, the Federal flag rose slowly, fluttering in the wind.

The anchor's voice continued.

[Confirmed by the Federal Supreme Council.]

[This operation marks that human civilization has, for the first time, completely cleared a 9-star fixed Dungeon; for the first time, permanently cleared a Dungeon-polluted area; for the first time, established a permanent stronghold outside the Safe Zone; for the first time, completed the recovery of lost territory.]

[It is of great historical significance.]

The entire restaurant was so quiet that a pin drop could be heard; no one spoke, and even their breathing was instinctively softened.

The anchor continued the broadcast.

[Approved by the Federal Supreme Council.]

[It has been decided to build the first city of lost territory revival in human history at the site of the Doomsday Abyss ruins.]

[The city name is officially determined as—]

The anchor's voice paused slightly, then said slowly.

[City of Hope.]

The next moment, the camera switched again.

Countless large transport ships swept across the sky, construction troops were assembling in an orderly fashion, thousands of engineering personnel began to enter the Dungeon ruins, and steel frameworks were rising from the ground.

The anchor's voice was steady and powerful.

[The construction of the City of Hope is an important part of the Federation's Lost Territory Revival Plan.]

[It is also an important step for human civilization to move toward a new era.]

[Currently, multiple departments including the Federal Construction Department, the Federal Defense Force, and the Federal Academy of Sciences have completed the initial personnel deployment.]

[The main framework of the city is expected to be completed by the end of this year.]

In the picture, a huge Federal flag fluttered in the wind. The camera slowly pulled up, overlooking the entire land under construction.

The anchor continued:

[For one hundred years, humanity has always guarded the spark of civilization.]

[Today! We have not only defended our home, but also taken the first step in recovering our lost territory!]

Speaking of this, even the announcer's voice had a hint of imperceptible fluctuation, but it still maintained absolute professionalism.

[The Federal Supreme Council stated that the establishment of the City of Hope not only means the return of land, but also the return of hope, meaning that human civilization has a new starting point for the future!]

The screen finally froze, with the Federal flag and the nascent city framework appearing in the center of the shot simultaneously.

The anchor's voice slowly fell.

[This is the Federal News Broadcast.]

[Let us witness history together.]

[Together, let us welcome the new era that belongs to humanity.]

In an instant, the entire Safe Zone fell into ecstasy. On the streets, people stopped, looking up at the distant holographic images and big screens. The sound of shop bells mixed with screams, children jumped and ran, hugging strangers to celebrate with each other, and some even knelt on the ground, tears streaming down their cheeks, as long-suppressed emotions finally found an outlet.

The residents of the Safe Zone were completely immersed in ecstasy and tears of joy. The elderly clutched their canes or their grandchildren's hands, tears streaming down their faces; the young hugged friends and family, screaming and shouting, sweeping through the street like a flood. In the shops, shopkeepers waved their arms, shouting "Humanity has won!" Colorful flags and banners fluttered in the wind.

An old man with white hair stood in the corner of the restaurant, his eyes fixed on the news broadcast, trembling and muttering to himself: "I... in my life, I never thought I would see humanity recover lost territory again... My grandfather died in the first monster tide, my father died in the battle to recover lost territory, I... I thought I would never see humanity win once in my life..."

The cheers, cries, and laughter of the crowd intertwined to form an unprecedented torrent of emotion. Everyone seemed to be venting their long-suppressed fear and helplessness, and the light of hope instantly ignited everyone's passion for survival.

In the restaurant, Jiang Ruoxue, Shen Xin, and Qin Chuan were also completely infected by this joy. Shen Xin clenched her fists, the corners of her eyes slightly red: "We... we really saw hope for humanity to win."

Qin Chuan almost jumped out of his chair, nearly shouting: "Humanity... can really take back lost territory!? We were told since we were kids that the outside was death, a forbidden zone, I didn't expect... that one day, we could really see hope."

Jiang Ruoxue laughed softly, her eyes full of complex emotions. She looked at the two S-rank Awakened on the screen, a sense of awe rising in her heart, while at the same time thinking of Lin Yan: "Perhaps... he will be stronger than them."

On the streets, the residents of the Safe Zone almost simultaneously put down their work and rushed to the squares and rooftops, their eyes fixed on the holographic screens. The broadcast continued to roll footage of the construction team: giant cranes moved slowly, steel beams shone with cold light in the sun, and the guard team stood ready, the entire ruin depicted as an outpost of a rising new civilization.

In the sky, children threw colorful smoke bombs, instantly dyeing the night sky into a kaleidoscope of colors. The elderly held their grandchildren's hands tightly, tears shining in their eyes; the young high-fived each other, shouting the long-lost slogan: "For humanity! For civilization!" The entire Safe Zone was like a boiling ocean, with waves of joy constantly washing over everyone's hearts.

The broadcast continued to scroll:

[The construction of the City of Hope not only symbolizes the first time humanity has recovered lost territory, but is also a declaration of humanity's faith in the future. The Federation will fully support the construction and dispatch elite teams to guard it. It is expected that after construction is completed, the City of Hope will become a core stronghold of humanity's outer front line, and will be able to accommodate residents and scientific research forces for a long time, consolidating the defense system outside the Safe Zone.]

In the restaurant, the sound of the broadcast outside and the cheers of the people intertwined into an ocean, as if the whole world was cheering for hope.

Meanwhile, far away in the secret base, Lin Yan had already finished sealing the files and quietly walked out of the room. At this moment, he did not know about the ecstasy outside, nor was he aware of the historic event the Federation had just broadcast, but he had already become an S-rank Awakened under key protection, like Morei Feng and Xia Ying, shouldering the hope of humanity's future.