77: Announcement and Grand Competition

In front of the bulletin board

A brand-new announcement was neatly posted on the most prominent bulletin board in the residential area, instantly attracting numerous survivors returning from their day's labor. The crowd gathered quickly, like iron filings drawn to a magnet.

“Everyone, come look! An announcement! A day off in three days!” A sharp-eyed youth pointed at the notice where the ink was barely dry, his voice filled with unbelievable pleasant surprise, as if he had discovered a piece of candy in the bleak apocalypse.

“A military competition? And we can even go to the scene to watch?!” A woman nearby holding a child leaned in for a closer look, a spark of hope instantly igniting in her eyes. “Good heavens, this is truly a first! I’m going to cheer for Major Zhang Lei!” She was so excited her cheeks flushed, as if she had already seen her idol.

A middle-aged man with a full beard and bulging muscles stroked his chin, saying in a thick, muffled voice, “Major Zhang Lei is naturally formidable, but I prefer Captain Chen Hao! Those mechs, the clashing of steel, the roar of every punch hitting home—that is the kind of power a real man should have!” He swung his fist, as if imitating the heavy punch of a mech.

“Hey, look at this, who is this ‘Dual-wielding Valkyrie - Tanya’? She’s ranked so high, even ahead of Captain Chen Hao!” A youth wearing glasses pointed at the list, pushing up his frames in confusion. “I’ve never heard of this person before.”

“Yeah, no impression at all.”

“Could it be a mistake?” The people around them also shook their heads, filled with curiosity about this unfamiliar name.

A teenager squeezed to the front and pointed at the list excitedly: “Howling Heaven! I know him! He’s the leader of the Military Dog squad! A super handsome big dog—no, a giant wolf! That size, that gaze, so majestic, he’s practically stepped out of a myth! And Xiong Da! The Earth War Bear! I saw him once; he’s so tall and huge, wearing specially made armor, just bursting with a sense of power! I really want to pet him!” Pure admiration shone in his eyes.

“Ice-breaking Sniper - Li Ang? And who is this expert?” someone asked. Everyone looked at each other again; this name was equally mysterious.

“Alright, alright, everyone!” A steady voice rang out as Luo Xun, dressed in a neat cadre uniform with a “General Director” badge pinned to his chest, parted the crowd and walked over. With a gentle but unquestionable smile, he clapped his hands. “Those on the list are the pillars of our base; you will naturally get to see them in three days. For now, everyone, focus on the work at hand! Turn your expectations for our heroes into the power to build our home! Dismissed, back to your posts!”

With his unique vision and down-to-earth hard work, Luo Xun had risen from the grassroots to become the General Director of the base’s eight Sub-district Offices, holding considerable prestige among the residents. Hearing his words, although the crowd still wanted more, they all nodded.

“Director Luo is right!”

“Right, right, let’s work first and save up our energy to enjoy the show in three days!”

The crowd gradually dispersed amidst the chatter, but that anticipation was like a stone thrown into a lake, the ripples spreading out in circles.

**Three days later, the Drill Grounds**

Three days passed in a flash amidst the base's efficient operations and the anticipation for the grand event.

During this time, the Red Alert troops had successfully reclaimed the key TV Tower and brought back precious equipment, allowing this grand event to be broadcast via television signals to every corner of the base and even toward areas where survivors across the country might be watching.

At this moment, the entrance to the Military Zone was a cacophony of voices, the atmosphere akin to a festival. Hundreds of Conscripts, like precision gears, efficiently directed the residents holding tickets. Dressed in uniform combat gear with serious expressions and capable movements, they formed an invisible wall of order. Under the army's majesty and guidance, the excited crowd, though thrilled, remained orderly, and no one dared to cause trouble.

The massive Drill Grounds was like a boiling giant bowl. The circular stands were packed with spectators waiting expectantly, a sea of people standing shoulder to shoulder. The deafening cheers, shouts, and whistles converged into a magnificent wave of sound that shot into the sky, as if to dispel the haze above the base. There were as many as twenty thousand spectators on-site! Those residents who couldn't make it to the scene had already crowded into the various public stadiums in the residential areas, sitting around huge temporary screens, holding their breath, afraid to miss a single frame. The passion suppressed for too long in the apocalypse and the worship of the strong were completely ignited at this moment.

The rostrum at the very front of the Drill Grounds offered an excellent view. Officer Jiang Xin and Major Zhang Lei were the first to take their seats side-by-side. Today, Jiang Xin had changed into a crisp, dark Commander's service uniform, his shoulder tabs gleaming brightly; he had less of his usual casualness and more of a steady, imposing aura. Major Zhang Lei wore a red and black special combat uniform, his sharp, hawk-like eyes beneath his fiery red hair radiating a daunting pressure even while sitting still. Beside them sat the steady and capable Adjutant Zhang Long, Mr. and Mrs. Jiang Jun looking gratified yet slightly nervous, the proud Mr. and Mrs. Zhang Yun, and several other senior officers with field grade ranks.

Just as all eyes were focused and the atmosphere reached its peak, a graceful figure, like a swan under a spotlight, stepped lightly to the host's podium at the side of the rostrum.

Jiang Feifei!

She wore a well-tailored, pure white formal gown that flowed like moonlight, outlining her graceful figure. Her waterfall of jet-black hair fell softly over her shoulders, contrasting with her snow-white skin. Her face, lightly touched with makeup, was bright and moving under the sun, her eyes holding both the liveliness of a young woman and the capable temperament of someone holding a key position.

She elegantly picked up the microphone, a perfectly sweet smile curling at the corners of her lips. Her voice flowed through the amplification equipment like a clear spring across the entire Drill Grounds, instantly suppressing the boisterous noise of the crowd:

“Hello everyone! I am the base's Logistics General Affairs Officer, Jiang Feifei! It is a great honor and a great pleasure to be here with all of you on this special day!”

Her voice was crisp and pleasant, carrying a power that soothed the heart. Simultaneously, several high-definition drones hovering at low altitudes quickly adjusted their angles, focusing their lenses precisely on her beautiful face and projecting her every smile onto the huge screens around the Drill Grounds and to the screens in thousands of households in real-time.

The crowd below instantly erupted into a wave of sound even more fervent than before:

“Wow—! Officer Jiang! She’s so beautiful!”

“Heavens! She’s practically the white moonlight of the apocalypse! A goddess!”

“Love her, love her! Lady Logistics Officer!”

“Hey, hey, I heard that Officer Jiang and our Officer Jiang...” someone lowered their voice to gossip, immediately drawing curious inquiries from those nearby.

Jiang Feifei's appearance was like dropping water into a pan of boiling oil, instantly igniting the entire venue. She became the absolute center of attention at this moment, like a star pursued by ten thousand people before the apocalypse, attracting all eyes.

“Please be quiet, everyone.” The smile on Jiang Feifei’s face remained unchanged as she elegantly raised both hands and made a gentle downward pressing motion with her palms. This gesture seemed to possess magic; the clamorous waves of sound receded as quickly as a tide, and everyone’s gaze was firmly locked on her, filled with expectation.

“Next,” Jiang Feifei’s voice was clear and gentle, like a spring breeze on the face, “please allow me to solemnly introduce the mainstays of our Lujiang Base. It is precisely because of their fearless dedication and brilliant leadership that we are able to have this piece of peaceful land in the apocalypse and enjoy the joy of gathering here today!”

Her words were sincere and full of infectious emotion, instantly striking a chord of resonance and gratitude deep within everyone present. If not for the Red Alert Legion’s heaven-sent salvation, many of them would have long since become souls under the claws of zombies or withered bones that collapsed in despair from hunger and cold. This gratitude was buried deep in their hearts.

“First,” Jiang Feifei’s gaze turned toward the center of the rostrum, her eyes filled with unhidden reverence and a trace of hard-to-detect tenderness, “I would like to introduce to everyone the Supreme Commander of our Lujiang Base, the leader of the entire Red Alert Legion—Officer Jiang Xin!”

Swish!

All eyes, along with the drone cameras, instantly focused on Jiang Xin!

Jiang Xin rose calmly. His movements were not fast, yet they carried a mountain-like steady aura. The dark military uniform made his figure appear even taller and straighter, his shoulder tabs reflecting the cold, hard light of the sun. He walked to the podium and took the microphone. When he spoke, his deep and magnetic voice traveled through the speakers to every corner of the venue, clearly reaching everyone's ears:

“Hello everyone, I am Jiang Xin.” His gaze calmly swept over the dark mass of people below, his eyes deep and resolute. “Perhaps many of you have never seen me. This is because I spend the vast majority of my time in the Military Zone's combat command center, with Adjutant Zhang Long, with the battalion Commanders, and with our soldiers, planning how to eliminate threats, how to expand our living space, how to make our base stronger, and how to... make your lives more stable.”

His words were devoid of flowery rhetoric, yet every word carried immense weight and went straight to the heart. The audience below became exceptionally quiet, everyone holding their breath to listen.

“What I want to tell you is,” Jiang Xin’s voice suddenly rose, carrying an unquestionable power, “the Red Alert Legion, from the moment of its birth, has had only one mission—and that is to protect our people! Your safety, your interests, and your rights to survive and develop are the highest meaning of the Red Alert Legion's existence! I, Jiang Xin, swear here that I will lead the Red Alert Legion to go all out and clear all threats within Lujiang's borders at the fastest speed, completely taking back the entire territory of Lujiang! For everyone, for all of us, we will reclaim a home that is truly safe, stable, and full of hope!”

As his voice fell, there was a brief silence.

Then!

“Boom—!!!”

It was like a long-accumulated volcano suddenly erupting! Deafening applause, cheers, and shouts swept through the entire Drill Grounds like a tsunami! People in the stands stood up excitedly, clapping forcefully, and many even had tears of excitement shimmering in their eyes. This applause was prolonged and unabated; it was trust in a promise, worship of power, and even more so, infinite expectation for the future!

“Officer Jiang! He’s so handsome!” Below the stage, sharp-eyed young women could no longer contain their excitement.

“Heavens! He looks so young! He feels like he’s only in his twenties!”

“To become such a high-ranking officer at such a young age? That’s incredible!”

“This is a true hero!”

The discussions among the crowd were filled with amazement and admiration.