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Volume One Chapter 254 The Remaining Banquet

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    Chapter 254 The Remnant Banquet

    Night falls on time as usual.

    In the gloomy darkness, thick fog slowly dispersed like a ghost close to the ground.  The sudden drop in temperature dissipated the remaining heat from the day.  From time to time, rolling thunder came from the dull clouds, and occasionally a few flashes of lightning swept across the surface of the sky, frightening the rot wolves and hyenas that wandered back and forth in the wilderness in search of food.  They raised their heads, opened their ferocious mouths toward the sky, and erupted into bursts of harsh and unpleasant howls as if in demonstration. However, the sound was completely blown away by the raging wind, tearing the terrifying roars into strange and indistinguishable sounds.

    The banquet hall on the second floor of the Bloodstone City official residence was brightly lit.  The closed windows blocked out the violent wind and thunder that raged in the wild. Even the pale and piercing lightning was suppressed by the lights in the hall.  Here, you don't feel the cold at all, and the tempting aroma of food permeates the air, filling the entire hall with a pleasant and cheerful atmosphere.

    The amount of food stored in public warehouses in the city is not large, only enough to sustain the consumption of more than 100,000 slaves for half a month.  However, the warehouses dedicated to citizens and troops were full and rich in variety.  Naturally, the various barbecues, fresh bread and drinks that only the managers of the Luton family were entitled to enjoy were placed on the round wooden tables in the banquet hall, and were freely used by the new occupiers.  delicious.

    The slaves had changed into the gray-green combat uniforms of the Hidden Moon City Guards. They had been cleaning for a whole day, so that the dust and dirt attached to the body surface had been basically removed, revealing the copper-black and slightly yellow skin color.  The shaved scalp shows a faint grayish gray. Although there are a few short mustaches on both sides of the cheeks that have not been completely shaved, they no longer show the frightening savagery like before, but have regained a little bit of humanity.  The special nature it should have.

    Lin Xiang and a group of senior staff were sitting at the main table at the top of the hall. He stood up, raised the goblet in his hand that was red with wine, straightened his chest, and faced everyone in the hall with great interest.  He said loudly: "Congratulations on finally regaining your freedom. You are no longer slaves. You will not be subject to any restrictions in this city or anywhere -"

    No one answered.  The atmosphere in the entire hall seemed strange and indifferent - except for the officials and guards sitting at the main table, all the newly freed slaves, without exception, looked at Lin Xiang silently with cold and dull eyes, holding a goblet in his hand.

    The banquet suddenly fell silent. Lin Xiang was not unaccustomed to being in the public eye and being focused on by all eyes.  However, he has never felt such a weird atmosphere like now - the slaves seem to be full of hatred and fear for themselves, their pupils are a little confused, they seem to be looking for something, and they seem to be re-reading something that has been forgotten.  recall.  Those faces, which were composed of angular and sharp lines, full of coldness and rigidity, seemed to be covered with a thin layer of mist, making it impossible for me to see through their inner world, and I could only feel the sharp stabbing like a knife.  The sharp and pricking pain comes.

    "We are not enemies-"

    Although he didn¡¯t understand why this happened, Lin Xiang still put down the wine glass in his hand, opened his hands, and said in an extremely sincere tone: "We are friends, and we are members of the same race with the same blood¡ª"

    Still no one spoke.  In the horrifyingly silent hall, the only thing that could be heard was the heavy breathing released from countless mouths and noses.

    A sturdy man about thirty years old stood up from his seat.  He was wearing a summer combat uniform issued by the Hidden Moon City Guards. His muscular arms stretched out from both sides of his sleeveless shoulders. The surface was covered with criss-crossing scars. Several of them looked like they might have been caused by shell explosions and bullet grazing.  The old wounds left behind, the uneven skin surface is grayish white.  Other marks were bruised and swollen, with bits of red thread oozing out of the depressions. Judging from the marks and shapes of the wounds, they were obviously marks from shackles, as well as new injuries caused by being hit with whipping sticks.

    "What's your name? I meanyour name?"

    The man's tone of voice was calm and low, but it contained anger and coldness that was obviously forcibly suppressed.

    This question was so rude that it almost instantly angered all the officials and guards sitting at the main table.

    Lin Xiang's thick eyebrows wrinkled imperceptibly. He took a few steps in the direction of the man, stood in the middle of the hall, stared at the eyes that were staring at him, and said lightly:  "My name is Lin Xiang, and I am the new owner of this city¡ª"

    As soon as the words were spoken, the mood of all the slaves in the hall suddenly became anxious and angry.  This ordinary and unremarkable name seems to have a special magic power on them, which can completely drive away the kind and peaceful nature of human beings, turning them into impulsive, cruel and violent monsters that have lost all their beautiful qualities.

      The man looked at Lin Xiang coldly, his eyes filled with unforgettable hatred.  The muscles all over his body suddenly twitched, and the blood vessels coiled around his shoulders and neck swelled instantly, bulging into a network of lines like tree roots, and his fists were suddenly clenched tightly without any gaps.

    Not only him, the looks cast from the eyes of all slaves were full of naked resentment and hostility without exception.

    "The Republican Army's strength is indeed developing at an alarming rate. In less than two years, its control tentacles have passed through heavy radiation areas and deserts, and have been extended to places like this Maybe you didn't come here specifically for us, the purpose is just  Want this city. However, the reality is so cruel. You captured Bloodstone City and we became prisoners of the Republican Army. The political commissar and internal affairs inspector will not believe the so-called testimony in court. Considering that we are all soldiers  For your sake I beg you seriously - don't hand us over to the commissars. Give us a bullet, or kill us in a quick way Please -"

    Lin Xiang stood quietly, staring at the sad man, whose face was full of determination and indifference.  Those cold eyes released a look of despair that was extremely rigid and did not alleviate the possibility at all.

    "Your name?"

    Lin Xiang asked simply and clearly, suppressing the chaotic and complicated thoughts in his brain.

    The man hesitated for a moment and said, "Li Jiajun, captain of the 11th Infantry Division of the Red Republic Army, 29th Battle Group, rank, major."

    Nodding lightly, Lin Xiang turned his attention to the other slaves sitting at several tables nearby: "What about you? Can you tell me your actual identity?"

    There was silence in the hall, and everyone's eyes were focused on Lin Xiang.  In addition to hatred and anger, the content also added a bit of incomprehensible strangeness and confusion.  Nearly five minutes later, a man who was over 1.90 meters tall but extremely thin in build slowly stood up from the table and said in a cold tone without any emotion: "Hao Jianhua, the eighth member of the Red Republic Army"  Mechanized infantry division, 72nd Combat Squadron, commander of the 4th Squadron. Military rank, second lieutenant."

    Next to him, a short and stocky man with an actual height of only about 1.7 meters and several shockingly huge scars on his right cheek and forehead stood up immediately and said, "Chang Kun, 80-year-old soldier of the 11th Infantry Division."  Eighth Combat Squadron, Corporal.¡±

    "Zhang Mugen, artillery loader of the 21st Armored Regiment, private."

    "Li Zhenshan, commander of the 36th Armored Combat Team of the 7th Infantry Infantry, military rank, warrant officer."

    "Andy Lau, affiliated to the 47th Combat Squadron of the 6th Infantry Division, military rank, sergeant"

    With the first person as a guide, the others no longer remain silent as before.  They stood up from their chairs one after another and arranged their identities and names in linear order according to their respective positions.

    Lin Xiang slowly approached a dining table, his eyes directly ignoring the countless slaves standing around, their faces full of hatred and anger, and landed on a thin man who looked like he had been malnourished for a long time.

    "your name is Andy Lau?"

    Lin Xiang spoke in a casual tone, with a hint of curiosity.

    The man looked at him coldly. Long-term hunger and intense labor made his shoulders, neck, and head seem like bones covered with a thin layer of skin.  Due to the lack of fat and muscle filling, the protrusion of the cheekbones on both sides of the cheeks is much more severe than that of ordinary people. The lips are very thin. Through the cover of wrinkles and mouth skin, you can even see that they are covered underneath, looking like large corn kernels.  Aligned tooth outline.  His eye sockets were severely sunken, and his canthus muscles, which had already shown obvious symptoms of atrophy, could only barely maintain the opening and closing of his eyelids.  At first glance, it looks like a humanoid skeleton wearing clothes and capable of talking and thinking.

    "My father said that in the old days, he was a very famous man. Whether male or female, many people liked him and admired him. Although I have not seen that guy in person, I like his name very much. Core  The war destroyed an entire era. Many people had the same name at that time, and now is no exception. But no matter what, my name is Andy Lau¡ª"

    Very arrogant tone, very arrogant answer.

    Although the man in front of him did not match the familiar celebrity face in his memory, Lin Xiang had to admit that he was right - names are not exclusive to one person.  He is very thin, not handsome in appearance, cannot sing or act, and his voice is so hoarse that he needs to roar loudly to be heard clearly, but he is indeed Andy Lau.

    The atmosphere in the hall was still dull, and the slave's eyes were as sharp as knives, staring coldly at Lin Xiang, without any intention of relaxing.  They did not reach out to take it from the table?Any food seemed to be piled in front of him, and the fragrant bread and barbecue were basically rotten and disgusting rotten rice and smelly meat with added poison.

    Lin Xiang clenched his fists with a gloomy expression, turned around and strode towards where Li Jiajun was.  Sensing what he was looking at, four guards with parasite strength came from the opposite direction at the same time. With this man as the core, they surrounded the entire table into an irregular square.

    Among all the slaves, he is the only one with the rank of school.  Judging from his position and status, he obviously knows much more than others.

    Walking up to him, Lin Xiang took a deep breath, with a charming smile on his face as usual, but his voice was as cold as ice. He said, "I don't understand what you meant by what you said before? No.  Yes, I have heard the name Red Republican Army. But I have no contact with them or any contact. Tell me - what are commissars and ombudsmen? Why do you hate me so much? I have never met you.  , don¡¯t even know your names. Why would you rather starve than eat? Why do you want me to kill everyone here? Why? I need answers¡ªnow¡ª"

    "It seems that you should be a new copy. It's really strange that they didn't instill those dirty and evil thinking concepts into you-"

    Li Jiajun did not give the expected answer. He mocked sarcastically: "There is no difference between the new person and the old person. Your appearance and appearance will never change. Of course, maybe you are doing it out of good intentions or because of human instinct."  Give us special treatment. But how long can this situation last? Twenty-four hours? A week? Or a month? Hahahaha! Don't waste your efforts. Even you can't fight against the political commissar and the internal affairs inspector. They will  Pry open your brain and take away all the purest and kindest things in human nature. Then, stuff in a lot of disgusting despicable, treacherous, cruel, cold-blooded, disgusting, and full of filthy and rotten stench.  BloodthirstyOf course, there will also be the so-called loyalty to the country and the party that is shiny on the surface but actually empty at all¡ª"

    After saying these words in one breath, Li Jiajun's facial skin, filled with excitement and anger, was quickly covered with a layer of red as thick as blood.  He tried to breathe evenly and let his violently heaving chest gradually calm down.

    From his eyes, Lin Xiang could clearly see a hint of melancholy and sadness, as well as other unknown things that were completely covered up by various complex emotions, making it impossible to explore the secrets.

    After a moment of silence, Li Jiajun suddenly said something groundbreaking that shocked all the officials and guards.

    "Thank you for the dinner, and thank you for restoring us slaves to free people. But that's not what we need. If you really want to do something to help us, then let us go back to the mines and continue as before.  Life. In additionit is best to erase the names of everyone here from the relevant archives and records. This is our only request and wish¡ª"

    ¡­¡­

    The lights in the banquet hall are still bright and bright, and the aroma of food floating in the air still exudes a strong temptation.  However, except for Lin Xiang and Wang Mansion sitting at the main table, there were no more unnecessary figures in this large and empty room.

    The slaves have left.  No one ate from the food on the table.  Even if it's just a small piece of bread, a bit of grilled meat, or a sip of a drink.  They still maintain their original appearance, as if they are just decorations that have the same appearance as the real thing and can be viewed and admired, but cannot actually be eaten.

    "They seem to be scaredbut their behavior is very strange-"

    Wang Mansion looked at Lin Xiang, who was sitting next to him with a frown on his face. He turned his attention to the mountains of food scattered on the table and said, "It can be seen that these people are very hungry. I have checked the relevant material supply data -  As Sosbia mobilized a large number of fleets to trade with northern forces, the amount of food transported from Gargasoni Castle and cities in the northeast was also greatly reduced. Starting from the day before yesterday, the slaves' rations had dropped to four per capita per day.  One hundred grams. It¡¯s really unreasonable to face such a rich banquet and not use any of it.¡±

    Lin Xiang was leaning on the large high-backed leather chair, looking at the piece of wheat bread in the rattan basket on the table in front of him that was roasted to brown and smeared with light red beet juice and thin butter. He didn't say anything for a long time.

    Suddenly, he sighed quietly, shook his head inexplicably, reached out and opened the breast pocket of his jacket, took out half a pack of unfinished "Marlboro" cigarettes, took one out and held it between his lips, and took out a lighter with his right hand to light the cigarette.  At the same time, his left hand also handed the entire pack of cigarettes to Wang Mansion.

    "In their eyes am I really that scary?" Lin Xiang asked to himself.

    ? ???Mansion stretched out his fingers and groped in the empty cigarette case, and said without raising his head: "I feelit's not you they are afraid of, but another person who has the same appearance as you."

    "You meanthe clone?"

    Lin Xiang asked thoughtfully.  He kept the strange term mentioned in Li Jiajun's words firmly in his mind.

    "The nuclear war did not completely destroy the world. Humanity's ability to survive is much stronger than imagined. Even people like me can survive from the old era to the present due to accidents. Those in power who hold the secrets and power of the old era,  They will definitely not be willing to die. They probably have a lot of resources left over from China in the old days. If nothing else, just listening to the identities and troop formations of those slaves, it is easy to estimate how powerful they were.  , a huge army. As for replication technology, it is not actually a profound and mysterious technology. The army needs heroes as objects of worship. I have seen countless promotional materials about your personal achievements a century ago. Use cells to create several  This method is simple, effective, and low-cost to create clones that look similar in appearance but actually have no common thinking."

    Lin Xiang¡¯s heart suddenly tightened.

    It¡¯s not that his thinking ability is not as good as Wang Mansion¡¯s, but that he really doesn¡¯t want to associate himself with replicants.  That means - there will be two or more selves in the world.  No matter what these guys with the same appearance have done, people will only blame themselves.
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