After dinner, Elinore Bonaparte had been sitting in a chair in the city center plaza, eyes closed, resting.
When the sound of artillery fire reached her, she slowly opened her eyes, stood up, stretched, and took the helmet Major Dorset handed her.
Wearing her power armor, she was over two meters tall, looking down at Governor Yamadera who was shrinking to the side, and flashed him a brilliant smile: "Well then, I'm off, Governor."
Governor Yamadera managed to force out a smile: "I wish, I wish you a swift victory and martial prosperity!"
He felt that this sentence had almost exhausted all his strength and patience, and as he watched her stride away, his smile and spirit completely collapsed.
"Bah! I hope you get taken out by those reptiles as soon as you leave the city! No, captured by them, and then this and that and that and this..."
The Governor instantly imagined a terabyte of resources, and only then did his mood improve slightly.
When he returned to the Governor's Office, he learned from his political secretary that a guest was already waiting for him in his office.
"Didn't I say I needed to rest! No one is to be seen? How are you doing your job? Can't you understand human speech?" Governor Yamadera chastised his secretary.
"I think, Your Excellency, it would be best to meet with him."
Although this usually deferential and humble senior bureaucrat was still smiling, the oppressive tone in his words made the Governor shiver involuntarily.
"What if, what if I don't meet him?" Mr. Yamadera felt it necessary to convey the backbone of a high-ranking official.
"I insist, Your Excellency."
The secretary was still smiling, but there seemed to be a hint of threat in his words.
"Meet, meet him then..." The Governor felt a little sad.
The guest was not human, possessing a face covered in brown bristles, which (to humans) looked quite fierce and imposing.
This was a Kaitai merchant, and the Governor remembered him as Chuck Brownthread.
The Kaitai are a humanoid race, with abundant fur, strong bodies, and natural claws and teeth, indeed giving off the impression of large felines that have achieved sentience.
Of course, like large felines, they also possess the physical ability to tear ordinary humans apart with just their claws and teeth, and they are a renowned warrior race in the galaxy.
Additionally, the Kaitai Kingdom is an ally (junior) state of the Empire, and has some territorial disputes with the Commonwealth, so their diplomatic relations are predictable.
Of course, diplomatic relations are one thing; since the two countries aren't at war, it doesn't hinder their business.
The Kaitai truly lived up to their reputation as a warrior race of the civilized galaxy; despite being a trader, he was still powerfully built, as if he could engage in hand-to-hand combat with power armor.
The short, stout Governor was at least a head shorter than the other party, and immediately felt a hint of fear.
He looked behind him, making sure that several security guards were still following him, and only then did he slightly relax.
He then puffed out his chest and adopted the Governor's demeanor, asking with a stern face: "What can I do for you, Mr. Brownthread?"
"Has Commander Miss led all the troops in the city out to attack? There are millions of troops outside! Governor, what should we do next? You must give us a clear answer!"
The other party spoke with a bitter face, adopting a very humble posture, which greatly pleased the Governor, who had been hurt by Elinore.
"In this Tulon Port, there are over two thousand foreign merchants and technical personnel like us!
We fully trusted the Governor's Office's capabilities, which is why we were willing to trade here.
But now that such a thing has happened, as an employee of the Royal Canaan Merchant Guild, I find it necessary to re-evaluate the safety level of this colony, as well as its subsequent trade value."
Wait, this big fat cat is an employee of the Canaan Merchant Guild?
Then, isn't that an imperial royal enterprise?
The Governor's first reaction was that the other party was bluffing, but then he thought about it again and realized that although the Kaitai Kingdom was also a member of the Galactic Council and theoretically an independent state, successive Kaitai Kings referred to the Imperial Emperor as "my father" and "my lord," which was even more submissive than those vassal states.
Therefore, many noble families of the Empire, including the Eight Elector King families, had a considerable number of Kaitai retainers.
So, this guy really could be an employee of a royal enterprise, or even a retainer of an Elector King!
"Yes, you guessed correctly, the two merchant ships I have docked in the commercial port are the property of Taimier King."
It took Governor Yamadera nearly two seconds to react, and he immediately jumped up, shouting: "You, what exactly do you mean? Are you threatening me?"
"No, I'm just considering, since your side has some difficulties in protecting expatriates and the city, why not discuss and request international assistance?" The Kaitai merchant grinned.
On the other side, Elinore, carrying her helmet, had already reached the plaza at the entrance and immediately received the latest news.
"Oh, that big cat really went to the Governor's Office?"
"Yes." Major Sangjia, Commander of the Tulon Garrison, nodded: "So, Commander, should we..."
He made a cutting gesture, which immediately drew a torrent of complaints from Elinore: "What is this cutting gesture supposed to mean? Arrest him and kill him? There are thousands of foreign merchants and visitors in this Tulon, should they all be killed too?"
Sangjia quickly smiled and shook his head: "No, no, no, how could this subordinate dare? I mean, should we detain him first?"
"Forget it, I'm actually quite curious to see what those hungry big cats are planning." Elinore sneered, then strode towards the soldiers already assembled in the plaza.
500 assault troops, 2,500 soldiers, and tens of thousands of militiamen, excluding a small number who had to remain at their posts, were all assembled here.
Nearly a million citizens were either at home or silently gathered around the plaza, quietly watching the young woman in power armor, holding her helmet, walk among them.
"Citizens of Tulon, citizens of the Commonwealth, I am Elinore Bonaparte, acting Commander of the New Yumen Star Defense Force.
Now, I will speak to you."
"As everyone knows, the Past week has been the most difficult time for our colony.
The Sand People, whom we thought we had completely subdued, have gathered a million-strong army and besieged our Tulon, the first city established by the Commonwealth on a New World in the star sea.
Someone always tells me that they are merely uncivilized natives who have not yet been bathed in the light of civilization, and even a million-strong army is nothing more than a million pigs.
Hmm, the battle the day before yesterday seems to have proven this point."
"But what I want to tell you is that all those who resist unyieldingly deserve our respect!
We did bring them civilization, and we certainly have the right to despise their ingratitude, and of course, we have the power to kill every one of them, but please remember, those who are willing to take up arms to fight for their right to speak are heroes worthy of our respect!
This is the truth taught to us by Marshal Li, the great father of the Commonwealth!
We once built our great nation with this very belief!
Should we not show at least basic respect to those who share our same resolve?"
"Yes, the Sand People gathered outside are not beasts, not barbarians, not rioters, but heroes!"
Elinore's words inexplicably ignited a large portion of the people, but a considerable number also exchanged bewildered glances, not quite understanding why they should elevate their enemies.
"What nonsense! Just for this nonsense, I'm going to report her to the Defense Committee! Yes, report her!" The Governor was in his office, raging in impotence.
He had just felt humiliated by the foreign dignitary, and now he naturally felt even more humiliated by Elinore's words.
The Kaitai merchant, who had just walked out of the Governor's Office, also heard Elinore's speech.
He stopped to listen, feeling that something was amiss, and fell into deep thought.
His face gradually darkened, and he felt as if lollipops were congealed on his fluffy beard.
"But we still have to fight! We have to defeat them! We have to kill them!
If they are found below the city, blast them to death with cannons!
If they appear in sight, shoot them to death with guns!
If they appear next to you, hack them to death with power axes and swords!
If they appear in the toilet, drown them in the urinal!
Only heroes can conquer heroes!
To make the Sand People thoroughly understand the great righteousness and ideals of the Commonwealth, and willingly become a part of us, first, we must fight, we must kill them!
Killing the Sand People heroes outside, this is the most perfect interpretation of our love for the Commonwealth!"
Wait, can words be twisted like that? How did this get tied to national righteousness?
The Governor was dumbfounded.
Equally dumbfounded was the Kaitai merchant, Chuck Brownthread.
He looked at the ordinary citizens and militiamen around him, who were already showing signs of fanaticism, and knew that these people had been successfully brainwashed.
What incredible Incitement... Wait, in this way, even if she leads people to kill all the millions of Sand People outside, it can be forcefully explained as "an unavoidable struggle between heroes" and "the inevitable growing pains of civilization and racial integration"!
Considering that most of those reptilian Sand People who have achieved sentience are one-track minded, they might actually fall for this.
After the war, they won't bear much hatred towards humans.
This, this woman is truly terrifying! She must not be allowed to remain!
Regardless of the Kaitai merchant's thoughts, Elinore's speech continued on the other side.
"Citizens, militia warriors, hold your positions!
As long as you are responsible, you are fighting!
Soldiers, follow me!
Haven't you always been disparagingly called 'garrison Miscellaneous fish'?
But what does that matter?
Hahahaha, I tell you, I am a woman!
My alma mater, the Central Defense University, only began accepting female students 8 years ago, and I was among the very first batch of seniors.
I've experienced countless prejudices and discriminations before!
But so what?
I still graduated first and swore an oath under the national flag on behalf of everyone.
Do you see? Examples, achievements, results—these are the only ways to prove yourselves!
All other so-called struggles are merely inferior bluster."
"Follow us to conquer the enemy, and you will conquer the slander and insults against you!
Follow me to conquer heroes, and you too will become heroes!
And then, lay the foundation for history!"
With that, Elinore put on her helmet, snatched the military flag from Major Sangjia's hand, activated the power armor's rollers, and charged out of the city, leading the way!