113
The lower zone is so overdeveloped that it is rare to find an area that was formed according to the city plan. Naturally, there is no systematic route like the upper zone’s ring road. Strictly speaking, the lower zone would need an aerial vehicle more than the upper zone.
From the gate entrance, people from the lower districts were waiting for Francesque. They were relatively middle class.
The welcoming crowd at the entrance greeted Francesque with no less enthusiasm than those in the upper floors.
The procession was leaving the main road. The atmosphere of the street was changing. The shabby appearance of the poor could be seen between the buildings that were old and decayed.
Wow!
The drone with faster movement entered first.
Drones flew low over the crowds, as if they were watching them. They pointed their guns at people whose identities were unclear or who were considered dangerous, and chased them away.
“Don’t be so hard on yourself, Iskan.”
Francek spoke briefly. Iskan merely moved his lips as if whispering, sending a message to the mobile situation room. The drones put their guns away and simply reported.
As the road narrowed, the procession became narrower and longer. However, the interest of the crowd only increased, not decreased.
People were sticking their faces into the building, which had an entrance and windows that were all messed up due to illegal construction. Everything was so irregular that it was hard to predict.
“Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Emperor?”
“Long live Your Majesty!”
“You’re the crown prince, you idiot!”
There were also a few swear words heard. There were quite a few people who came out to watch without even knowing whose parade it was.
The parade was quite a sight. It was a sight to behold, with state-of-the-art large drones moving back and forth without any collisions, and the Empire’s propaganda holograms projecting everywhere. Below them, the Royal Guard and elite soldiers walked in a measured manner.
Even Francesque, who has a soft spot for the lower classes, has never ventured this far into the area. In other words, many are seeing the parade for the first time.
-We found a suspicious person. He is not well armed, but… … .
Communications were also busy.
There are many insane people in the lower areas. Those with damaged brains or those on drugs came close despite warnings. There was even someone who blocked the road in front of me and was chased away by an android.
Peach.
I heard a faint, shallow gunshot.
Death occurred in the midst of splendor. Inside a quiet alley, the guards were eliminating the threat. If you don’t follow the control, you die. Whether it was brain damage or temporary drug intoxication, it was none of our business.
‘The most important thing is Francek’s safety.’
Whatever Francis thinks of the lower sector, today’s visit will result in many deaths. The soldiers will have to desperately prevent any mishaps.
Pewpewpew!
Firecrackers were set off to drown out the gunfire. The fireworks exploded widely, stealing the public’s attention. In the meantime, deaths bloomed in every alley. Their deaths were easily erased.
‘Does Francesque know that someone is dying because of him?’
I glanced over and saw that Francesque was busy preparing a speech.
We arrived at one of the planned locations, a plaza. It was one of the large plazas in the lower district. I know the plaza scene in the lower district well.
Homeless people squeezed between benches and decorations stink, and near the restrooms stand those selling colorful liquids with strange smiles. And men and women in clothes that are so shabby that they are almost unpleasant wave their hands with fake smiles as they sell their s*x.
But now, all traces of that daily life have disappeared. The unusually clean square was cleaned by imperial soldiers. There must have been quite a bit of blood shed.
A procession surrounded the square, and at its center stood Francesque and I.
Wheeing!
The floor that Frances and I were standing on gradually rose upward. The public’s gaze followed us and rose upward.
Thud, thud.
My heart was pounding as if I had a fear of heights. My pupils must have dilated as well.
‘Expand your range of perception and senses, Luca.’
I thought as if I was giving orders to my body. Right now, Francek was in a very dangerous state. There are many people in the world with strange abilities. Who would have thought that Rick would use the ability of teleportation?
It wasn’t just me who was nervous. The mood of Iskan and the guards sank like a cold rock. They were also extremely focused.
-Luka, if it comes down to it, you must protect His Highness even if it means sacrificing your body. As long as your brain is safe, we will somehow save you.
Iskan’s message reached my ears.
“It will happen even if you don’t say anything.”
I mumbled just loud enough that the sound wouldn’t escape my helmet.
Wheeing!
A hologram in the shape of Francesque stretched upward from the center of the square. The huge hologram was brightly lighting up the surroundings.
“Wow, woooooooooo!”
“Waaaaaaaaaah-!!”
The cheers grew louder. It seemed as if a giant of light was standing in the square. Some will never forget the sight of today.
“Our Accresia Empire… … .”
Francesque began his speech with a flourish. The upper and lower sections had completely different speeches.
In the upper area, people shouted out their hatred and condemned the atrocities committed by Bellato and Cora.
But in the lower sectors, the hatred towards Bellato and Cora is not working. These are people who are too busy day by day to harbor hatred towards a distant enemy.
Francis spoke about the meritocracy of the Empire.
“… … The road is open. Of course, it may look closed from a distance. If you tell someone to open the door in the darkness where they can’t see even an inch ahead, even if there really is a door, it will be hard to find. Light is far away, darkness is close, and adversity and hardship are always pressing down on us.”
Gradually, more and more people began to listen to Francis’ speeches. Their attention was drawn not to the spectacular spectacle but to the content of the speeches.
“But true imperial citizens are born in harsh environments. Our ancestors, driven from Earth, colonized a harsh planet that was little more than a wasteland, and we began in the wilderness of the planet Novas and built a grand city. Our strength came not from abundance, but from want. So… … .”
Francesque suddenly looked at me. The hologram’s input device moved accordingly and projected me onto the output lens.
Wheeeeeeeeing!
My full body hologram appeared next to Francek in the same proportions.
“Take off your helmet, Luca.”
Francesca said, turning off the microphone.
“You were planning to make things difficult for me.”
I grimaced behind my helmet. I knew what he meant.
“No way, I’m thinking of making you a hero.”
I cannot refuse Francis’s order. The public’s attention is focused on this. If I ignore Francis, it will ruin the royal family’s reputation.
Right now, we have to go along with Francesque’s plan, no matter how unpleasant it may be.
——————
faqwiki.us
Join our Discord for new chapter updates!
https://discord.com/invite/xr7SxG5T6V
——————
Cheek!
The pressure was released at the point where the helmet and chest protector connected. The outside air was sucked into the back of my neck.
Ssuk.
I took off my helmet and stared blankly at the crowd. My history appeared on the giant hologram.
‘Sickness… … ‘
I wanted to grab Francis by the scruff of his neck and throw him to the ground right then and there. If I did that, I would be executed on the spot.
Francesca revealed my personal and personal information to the public in detail.
“Here is a boy who is the epitome of an imperial citizen. He is more imperial than anyone else… … an imperial among imperial citizens!”
My resume, displayed in holographic letters, flowed from the bottom up. It included major missions, medals of honor, battles I participated in, dealing with the Ramones family, and even killing the terrorist Rick.
Above all… … I even killed a noble in the torture facility. To be exact, it was Iskan who did it. Now, it seems like they have no intention of hiding it.
“Did you kill a nobleman? That kid is from the same lower class as us!”
“What are you talking about? You’re a noble.”
“It says he was adopted because his abilities were recognized, you idiot. He originally came from an orphanage.”
It was stated that I had killed not one or two, but dozens of nobles, including the Ramones family. It was a lie amidst the truth, but the proportion of the lie was too great.
Francesque grabbed one of my arms and lifted me up.
“Waaa …
The square shook just from the crowd’s shouts.
I, a person from the lower classes, was able to justly judge and kill the nobles. So the public was very excited. They seemed to find it very satisfying.
The soldiers’ expressions also changed in the heat. The atmosphere was on the verge of overheating.
My resume is finished. If you can read, you’ll know that I’m no ordinary person. And Francesque makes even the smallest missions and battles seem like something big.
“If we spread the fact that a person of lower class killed a nobleman for propaganda purposes, the negative effects will be greater.”
I whispered so that my voice wouldn’t reach the microphone. Francesque answered with a refreshing smile.
“I think the positive influence will be greater.”
The people in the lower class were shouting out Frances and my name in turns. This made me feel like Frances was on the side of the lower class.
‘Francesque’s sudden action.’
Iskan was also surprised. And the nobles and officials who followed the procession were busy reporting the current situation to their respective families and higher organizations.
“Is this also your younger brother’s idea?”
In response to my question, Francis simply shrugged his shoulders. He noticed that the cheers from the crowd were dying down and continued his speech.
“Lucaus Custoria, or rather Luca, is the correct name. This boy has proven his abilities and stands beside me now. I believe that Luca is the symbol of the Empire. To this hero, the harsh environment was not an obstacle, but rather a background that proved his abilities and excellence. Just like our ancestors!”
Francesque placed her hands on my shoulders and nodded vigorously.
“My job is security, so I’ll put my helmet back on.”
As I said that, I pushed down my helmet. It was already too late. My name and information would be spread throughout Akbaran.
By tomorrow, there will be no one who doesn’t know me. Gabriel, Gilda, and Grace will all know exactly who I am…
Ugh.
As soon as I put on my helmet, I bit my lip hard. Then, unable to control my anger, I chewed it. The taste of blood lingered in my mouth.
“Luka! Luca! Lucaaaa-!!”
Now I was a propaganda tool of the Empire. The masses were chanting my name, but… … they were not looking at me. They were cheering for the fictional Luca created by Francesque.
“A true imperial citizen is born from below, not from above. Incompetence should be condemned for what it is, and ability should be recognized wherever it is!”
Francis pointed his finger up and down alternately and made a dangerous remark. It was not anti-imperial, but anti-aristocratic. It could have sounded as if the current aristocracy was incompetent. Well, that was true to some extent.
Francek’s speech ended. The giant hologram projecting his image also went off. But the public’s outcry remained.
“I’m sorry if I offended you, Lucius Custoria. But I hope you can give me strength. There are revolutions in this world that start from above, not below.”
… … But before you can even start the revolution, you die, at the hands of your father and brothers.
The words were stuck in my throat. Francis, perhaps taking my silence for anger, continued speaking, rubbing his neck awkwardly.
“You are too good to be a shadow. Become the symbol and idol of my ruling ideology. You can do it.”
My throat was sore. It seemed to me that the dead were already speaking. Francesque’s face looked like bones.
“… … I may not be able to do it, but I will do my best.”
That was all I could say.
Francesque reached out with both hands, took my hands, and smiled brightly.
