Chapter 1906 Ares needs a new leader, and Lufa prepares to participate in the royal selection.
Chapter 1906 Ares needs a new leader, Lufa prepares to participate in the royal selection.
Outside the medical pod, behind a one-way transparent observation window.
Ge stood quietly, his hands naturally folded in front of him, staring intently at the figure inside the medical pod who was slowly opening his eyes.
His face showed no superfluous expression, only an almost stern focus.
A white-haired medical officer in a white medical coat was reporting to him in a low voice:
"Your Excellency, General Lufa's physiological indicators have basically recovered, and 97.3% of his physical damage has been repaired, including multiple comminuted fractures, internal organ ruptures, and severe energy erosion trauma."
"Currently, only some deep-seated cellular activity needs time to recover naturally."
The medical officer paused, glancing at the still somewhat chaotic but no longer violent brainwave pattern on the screen beside him. His tone became even more serious:
"However, the general's mental state and brainwave activity were in a state of extreme disorder and high load for a long time before he woke up, with peak values even exceeding the upper limit of our existing monitoring instruments."
"Although it has now stabilized, this pattern of dramatic fluctuations is not consistent with any known pattern of post-traumatic stress or brain injury."
"Our initial assessment is that the general's mental state may have been affected by some unknown and extremely profound influence."
"It cannot be ruled out that this is a sequela of some kind of psychological attack or information pollution left by the intruder; further in-depth psychological scanning and evaluation are needed."
Ge nodded slightly, indicating that he understood.
His gaze remained fixed on the medical pod.
Until Lufa's eyes seemed to finally focus slightly from that emptiness and confusion, slowly turning as if adapting to the surrounding environment.
Ge reached out and gently pressed a communication button next to the observation window.
His voice, transmitted through the built-in speakers, entered the medical pod:
"General Lufa, it is Ares' good fortune that you have woken up."
“I am the Chief Parliamentary Undersecretary of the Supreme Council, Grenfell.”
"How are you feeling right now? Please let the medical team know if you experience any discomfort."
Inside the medical pod.
Upon hearing the sound, Lufa slowly turned his gaze, his eyes passing through the pale golden nutrient solution and the transparent cabin wall, landing on the blurry figure behind the observation window.
He did not respond immediately.
It simply lay quietly in the solution, as if digesting the sound, digesting the meanings represented by the words "Ares," "Parliament," and "Secretary of State."
A few seconds later, he slowly raised his right hand.
His movements were somewhat sluggish, as if he hadn't adapted yet.
He looked at his hand, which was swaying slightly in the nutrient solution, its skin pale from prolonged immersion. His fingers slowly closed and then slowly opened again.
Then he raised his other hand and placed both hands on a control panel inside the medical pod.
"laugh!"
A slight depressurization sound was heard, and the hatch on top of the medical module slowly slid open to both sides.
The pale golden nutrient solution began to drop rapidly and was drawn away by the recycling system; cool air rushed in and came into contact with his moist skin.
Lufa closed his eyes slightly, seemingly adjusting to the changes in temperature and touch.
He then braced himself against the edge of the medical pod and stood up from the pod, which still contained a small amount of liquid.
Even after such a severe blow and mental shock, he still instinctively maintained the demeanor of a soldier. He did not appear disheveled, but rather exuded an unusual composure.
Lufa spoke.
"I'm fine now."
His voice was hoarse from being unconscious for so long and being soaked in fluids, but his tone was surprisingly calm.
"Deputy Chief."
"How is Ares doing now?"
Behind the observation window, Ge's pupils contracted slightly.
This general, who had just narrowly escaped death and whose mental state appeared to have suffered a severe shock.
The first thing I said after waking up
It was so calm and "normal"?
This in itself seems extremely abnormal.
But he showed no surprise or questioning about Lufa's unusual calmness, as if it were perfectly natural.
Having been caught in the vortex of Ares's highest power for over a thousand years, Ge knows what to ask and what not to ask.
Although there are few things he can't ask given his current position, General Lufa is clearly one of them.
He bowed slightly and began to answer in a steady tone that was both respectful and maintained an appropriate distance:
“General Lufa, Ares’ current situation can be described as ‘stable but fragile’.”
"During your coma, the Supreme Council has temporarily taken over supreme command of all government and military forces in accordance with the Emergency Law."
"The planetary defense system has been fully activated and is now on the highest alert level."
"The Internal Troops and the remaining regular troops are working to maintain order in major star systems and space stations to prevent panic and unrest from spreading."
"The investigation and intelligence gathering on the attack on the Royal Court are also being carried out in secret."
He spoke at a steady pace, but his tone became more deliberate in the following words:
“But General, you should know that this ‘state of emergency’ can only be temporary.”
"Ares's power cannot remain in a vacuum for long."
He paused slightly, his gaze passing through the observation window as if observing Lu Fa's reaction, but Lu Fa simply stood there quietly, his gaze meeting his calms without the slightest ripple.
Then he continued speaking:
"His Majesty Peel's tragic death, and the immense loss and shock caused by this attack, have left many people uneasy."
“Different voices have begun to emerge within Parliament, as well as among some traditional noble families and even certain factions within the military.”
"Some people argue that a new heir to the throne should be elected as soon as possible to stabilize public sentiment and continue the legitimacy of Ares."
"Others believe that it would be unwise to hastily establish a new king before ascertaining the truth of the attack and thoroughly assessing the long-term impact of the incident on Ares."
“They prefer that the Supreme Parliament take the lead in forming a temporary ‘regency or ruling committee’ to collectively exercise supreme power until the situation becomes fully clear.”
At this point, Ge bowed slightly again, his tone becoming more formal and solemn:
"General Lufa, you are not only the God of War of Ares and the symbol of the army, but also a hero who fought bravely in this disaster and almost paid the price with his life."
"Your opinions and attitudes carry crucial weight at this moment, and could even be considered decisive."
"Whether it's about the choice of a new king or the future direction of Ares."
"Many people are watching you and waiting for your voice."
His words were tactful, but the meaning was very clear.
The power pie has been overturned, and a new distribution is about to begin.
General Lufa is undoubtedly a variable that no one can ignore in this reshuffling, and may even be the most important one.
Lufa listened quietly, his face remaining expressionless.
Only those eyes furrowed slightly when they heard "the new king's choice."
He was silent.
Ge waited quietly, observing Lu Fa discreetly, trying to glean even the slightest information from Lu Fa's expressionless face.
He was trying to figure out what the general, who had just experienced a dramatic change, was thinking at this moment.
Is it sadness? Anger? Confusion? Or some kind of calculation regarding the power vacuum?
Time passes minute by minute.
Finally, he spoke:
"Ares needs a new leader."
A slight tremor ran through Ge's heart, but his face remained as calm as ever.
He nodded slightly, waiting for Lufa to continue.
He thought that Lufa would next propose a candidate from a distant branch of the royal family, or support a parliamentary regency plan.
However, Lufa's next words were like a silent thunderclap, exploding in the air!
"Therefore, I will participate in this 'election'."
"I will personally compete for that position."
"The throne of Ares needs someone stronger, more clear-headed, and more capable of leading it out of its predicament."
"And I believe I am the most suitable candidate."
"boom!!!"
In that instant, it was as if an invisible lightning bolt had struck his brain, and for the first time, a clear tremor appeared on his face.
Participate in the election? Compete for the throne personally?!
How can this be? !
In Ge's imagination, after Lu Fa wakes up, he may be heartbroken, he may be angry and seek revenge, he may be disheartened, and he may even become a target for a certain faction to win over or support him, based on his prestige in the army and his tragic image of "saving the emperor".
But he never imagined that Lufa would actually say that he would personally take part in the fight for the throne!
Although he secretly hoped that Lufa would do so, the likelihood of Lufa doing so was extremely low.
In his memory, Lufa was a pure soldier, a loyal general, and a warrior who was not enthusiastic about politics and even somewhat averse to it.
His greatest value lies in his unparalleled military talent and high prestige in the army, not in his political ambitions!
But now, he announced a decision that would shake up the entire political situation in Ares, in such a calm and matter-of-fact tone!
Ge felt his breath catch in his throat.
Was it a spur-of-the-moment act? Was it the ramblings of someone traumatized? Or was it premeditated? Or did the mysterious intruder do something to him?
"General."
"You mean you want to personally compete for the throne?"
Ge's voice had an unusually slight dryness.
He needs to confirm! He absolutely must confirm!
This is astonishing, even insane!
"Yes."
Brief, cold, and unquestionable.
There was no explanation, no inflammatory rhetoric, and not even the slightest promotion of "ambition".
These two simple words carry more weight than any impassioned declaration, as if they were merely stating a predetermined fact that is about to happen.
Ge's breathing faltered once again.
My brain raced in an instant, compressing all the shock, doubt, and deliberation into those few short seconds.
After a moment of silence.
He took a deep breath and then slowly exhaled.
"I understand, General."
His voice returned to normal, even more calm than before; as if he had made a major decision in that short time.
"Since this is your decision, please allow me, and the Supreme Parliament's conservative and pragmatic alliance that I represent, to formally state our position to you."
Ge straightened his back slightly, his tone becoming more formal, even carrying a hint of solemnity, almost like a vow.
"General Lufa, you are the God of War of Ares, the soul of the army, and a hero who fought valiantly and nearly sacrificed your life to protect His Majesty and the Imperial Court in this disaster."
"Your reputation in the military and among the people is already at its zenith, even comparable to that of the late His Majesty Peel."
"No one can deny this."
"Now that His Majesty Peel has tragically passed away, Ares is in a precarious and leaderless state; internally, powerful figures are disaffected and factions are rampant; externally, powerful enemies surround it, and the threat remains unclear."
"At this moment, what Ares needs is a leader like you, with unparalleled prestige, great strength, and unwavering will, to stabilize the situation, unite all parties, lead us out of our predicament, and restore our prestige!"
He was stating a "fact," a "reason," and a "logic" that was enough to convince everyone, including himself.
"Therefore, I personally, and the forces I represent, will unreservedly support your participation in this election for the throne."
"We believe that with your prestige, ability and achievements, it is the will of the people and a matter of course for you to obtain the throne."
"In the coming period, we will use all our resources to clear the way for you and strive for all possible support."
"Whether it's within the parliament, the military, or public opinion, we will do everything in our power to support you and ensure that you can smoothly and legitimately ascend Ares' throne!"
His words were powerful and resonant, as if he could already see the day Lufa would be crowned.
This is an investment, a gamble.
In the shortest possible time, he weighed all the pros and cons and finally concluded that supporting General Lufa was the choice that best served his interests and those of the forces behind him in the current chaotic situation.
It might even be the only option.
Why did Lufa suddenly decide to fight for the throne? What is his mental state? What exactly happened between him and the mysterious intruder?
These problems remain problems, harboring unknown risks.
But faced with absolute power and prestige, and in the face of this once-in-a-lifetime window of opportunity for power transition...
Risk often means opportunity.
After speaking, Ge lowered his eyes slightly, making a gesture of submission and waiting for instructions.
Looking through the observation window, Lu Fa listened to Ge Na's words, which were almost a declaration of loyalty, without the slightest fluctuation in his eyes. All of this was exactly what he had expected.
Ares knew his power structure all too well.
King Peel was able to ascend the throne not only because of the people's prestige, but also largely because of the boost to his prestige from his supporters.
Lufa is one of them.
After King Peel became king, his power became part of the Peel royal power, a power "subject" to the royal power.
But that's in the past.
It was that young version of myself who still harbored unrealistic fantasies about "loyalty," "ideals," and "the bond between ruler and subject."
