Chapter 54: The Whole World in Uproar!

That is truly a shame!

Dozle looked at the tank beneath Macarius, its surface scarred with shell craters and scorched by gunpowder smoke, feeling a whirlwind of emotions in his heart. It was an utter tragedy that such an exceptional talent could not be recruited to his own side.

"So, Garma's operation failed completely?"

"You could say that."

Macarius looked down from his elevated position upon the large crowd before him and slowly said, "We fought a fairly standard ambush. Now, there are probably about twenty-odd people still alive!"

"Only twenty-odd?"

Dozle closed his eyes upon hearing this, his fists clenched tightly. Behind him, some of the younger Zeon cadets wore looks of sheer disbelief, others were consumed by grief, and a few female cadets had already begun to sob softly.

"You murderous fiends! Heaven will not forgive you!"

A tearful female Zeon cadet with braided hair and glasses pointed directly at Macarius and shouted.

"Is that so? Then by your logic, when Garma and his crew pointed their guns at us, we should have just stood there and waited to die, correct? Commandant Dozle, the students you train are certainly masters of double standards!"

"My students, I will teach them myself!"

Dozle glanced behind him at the cadets who had shifted from outrage to utter dejection, knowing that if they stayed here any longer, Macarius would eventually break their mental defenses. He immediately spoke up, "Since you have taken us prisoner now, could you at least allow my cadets to return and wait in the auditorium? Rest assured, I will keep a close eye on them!"

"Of course, no problem!"

Macarius glanced toward the intersection. The previously dispersed Federation forces were now desperately regrouping toward the auditorium. They finally had enough manpower to keep these Zeon cadets under control!

"I leave this place to you!"

Once reinforcements arrived, Macarius handed everything over to the hurriedly approaching Kahn, while he personally led a detachment toward Dozle's official residence.

"What do you think you're doing?"

Dozle watched the direction of Macarius's departure, a sudden sense of unease gripping his heart. However, the other party offered no reply, merely waving a hand with a wicked grin.

Soon, Dozle's unease materialized into reality as he watched Macarius return. The latter was no longer atop a tank, but instead seated in the bed of a small utility truck, surrounded by his personal computer and safe!

"What did you expect us to do? Rest assured, General, I have no interest in your liquor; it's all untouched. But that adult magazine under your pillow? I threw it away for you! At your age, if you're feeling lonely, you should find a partner—that blonde chick over there is quite suitable!"

Dozle was so enraged he could barely express his anger, yet too humiliated to cry. The most critical items in his house were inside that computer, which contained a substantial amount of data on Zeon mobile suits, alongside construction plans for two Zeon fleets. For Macarius to cart these items away was essentially stripping Zeon of its underwear, yet he currently lacked any standing to condemn such behavior.

As for the blonde girl Macarius had referred to, she was naturally Cernamia, who was currently glaring at Macarius with the eyes of a sworn enemy.

"Don't worry, General. Your computer and safe will be returned to their rightful owner eventually. They are merely being temporarily impounded for now; after all, who knows what dangerous weapons might be hidden inside?"

"If anything goes missing by then, you are welcome to come looking for me!"

Sub-lieutenant Recky of the Intelligence Squadron was also smiling brightly. Although Dozle's computer was encrypted, once it was shipped back to the base, cracking it would be a breeze. By then, they could copy every single word and send them straight to the Space Force Intelligence Headquarters.

Though they had yet to discover what lay within the computer, judging by Macarius's immediate determination to seize it, there had to be a goldmine inside!

In times of peace, intelligence units had it the hardest—scant merits and sluggish promotions. But right now, everyone securing a medal was an absolute certainty!

Consequently, the men of the intelligence squadron treated Dozle's computer with the utmost care, guarding it like a pregnant wife as they departed the Zeon Military Academy.

As for the cadets within the academy, the Federation military garrison lacked a prison capable of housing so many people at present. Therefore, following a brief video conference with Commander Eugen, Yodel ordered Macarius to continue detaining these individuals right here within the Zeon Military Academy. Dragging all these fellows off to the garrison base would only mean the added headache of feeding them.

Thus, Macarius and his men found themselves playing the role of prison guards once more. Fortunately, the job was relatively relaxed; with Dozle taking the lead in cooperation, the remaining Zeon cadets were remarkably well-behaved.

"Now, we can finally sit down and have a proper talk!"

With everything settled, Macarius, having nothing better to do, briefly considered wandering over to the statue of Gihren Zabi at the school gates to relieve himself or take a heavy dump. Before he could put the thought into action, however, Dozle sent word expressing a desire for a proper chat.

Consequently, Macarius purchased two cans of soda from the vending machine at the auditorium entrance, swaggered inside, and boldly seated himself directly across from Dozle.

"So, what does the General wish to discuss with me?"

"There is far too much I wish to discuss with you!"

Dozle grabbed a can of soda, took a cautious sip, examined the can's exterior, and frowned.

"Do young people these days genuinely prefer this bitter-gourd-flavored soda?"

"Not a clue, mine's pineapple-flavored anyway!"

Dozle's frown deepened instantly. The fellow was clearly doing it on purpose!

"At first, when I witnessed your tactics during the exercise, I was profoundly astonished. Whether flashbangs or smoke grenades, they are exceedingly common equipment, yet none of our people ever imagined they could be utilized in such a manner. I suppose that is simply the limitation of us space-nauts. Back then, I even chatted with Lieutenant General Gen about possibly reinstating the cadet exchange program in the future, allowing these Zeon-born children to witness the vastness of Earth!"

"A lovely thought, but unfortunately lacking the opportunity for execution!"

"Indeed, who could have anticipated this!"

Dozle sighed once more, then took another large gulp of the bitter-gourd soda.

"The riots in Zum City, the academy uprising... It appears I am truly an incompetent commandant!"

"Therefore, you might consider hanging up your armor and quitting the military. Becoming a cowboy in the Texas Colony sounds rather delightful; you could even bring that little blonde miss along! Riding horses and herding cattle—that is the epitome of an authentic Earth lifestyle!"

"Why must you look at me when you speak?!"

Cernamia, standing nearby, was a mixture of mortification and exasperation, itching to march over and slap the man twice. And Commandant Dozle, why on earth were you blushing?

"What you describe actually sounds rather intriguing!"

"Which part? The beginning or the end?"

"Both!"

Dozle cast a glance at Cernamia, who stood nearby with her cheeks puffed out in a pout, and sighed again.

"Yet, regrettably, such a life is entirely impossible for me! Zeon requires my service. The moment a war eventually erupting between the Federation and Zeon..."

"General, are we not already at war right now?"

A flash of bewilderment crossed Dozle's face, but it quickly dissolved into a self-deprecating smile.

"I must admit, your grasp of the situation cuts deeper than mine!"

Dozle had to concede that when it came to analyzing the present reality, he was inferior to Macarius. The man had already accepted the hard truth, recognizing that the Federation and Zeon were already locked in a smokeless war!

"Then, who do you believe will ultimately prevail?"

"The Federation might not necessarily win, but Zeon will certainly lose!"

"Are you so certain?"

"With your glorious Premier at the helm, there is simply no chance!"

"Yet we represent the entirety of the space-nauts!"

Dozle gestured toward the surrounding cadets. Aside from native Zeon citizens, those students hailed from Side 2, Side 4, and Side 6. One could argue that were it not for the constraints of school capacity, the number of students from other colonies would be even greater!

"Is that so? Then, would you care to explain why Zeon's population plummeted from twenty billion in the year 61 to a mere one hundred and fifty million today?"

"That is solely the result of Federation oppression and blockades!"

A disgruntled cadet chimed in from the crowd.

"Really? Then why, during the Daein era, did the Federation enforce blockades as well, yet the population did not drain away?"

"Furthermore, Lieutenant General Dozle, if Zeon so perfectly represents the space-nauts, surely it would never toss citizens who cannot afford the air tax into decompression chambers, nor would it unleash the executioner's blade in brutal purges against political dissidents!"

Macarius's words left Dozle utterly speechless. He had never possessed a silver tongue, and now, contemplating the events the young officer listed, he felt his face burn with shame.

He had intended to throw back some grand rhetoric about the greater good, the kind Gihren constantly preached, to refute Macarius. Yet in the face of the stark facts presented by the Federation officer, those lofty ideals appeared utterly hollow!

"Well, does your Federation not levy taxes on space-nauts as well, and drive us away from Earth?"

"True enough, our Federation is hardly a saintly entity, I readily concede that. But that does not automatically make Zeon an earthly utopia, does it? Young cadet, what is your name?"

"Leos, from Side 4!"

The cadet who had just talked back to Macarius declared proudly.

"Then you must be quite eager to have your family relocate to Side 3!"

"I—I'll have my family move the moment I get home for break!"

The poor lad was goaded into a blazing flush and blurted out the reply instantly.

"Splendid! Dozle, look at that—I have made a magnificent contribution to Zeon's population growth!"

"Now, are there any others who wish to relocate? You may speak up now, so Commandant Dozle can fulfill his purpose and help everyone settle down comfortably in Side 3!"

This time, however, no one else volunteered. Deep down, everyone knew whether Zeon was truly a paradise or not!

"It appears there is nothing left to discuss, General!"

Macarius stood up, adjusted his soft training cap, and spoke loudly to the room at large.

"Ladies and gentlemen, you were fortunate enough to salvage your lives today, but that does not mean lightning will strike twice. I trust you will all ponder this carefully in the future. Life is precious, after all—should we cross paths again, I will show no mercy!"

With that, he offered a crisp salute to Dozle and turned on his heel, striding away.

"Commandant Dozle?"

Cernamia cast a worried look toward the giant of a man before her.

"I am quite alright, Cernia. Merely reflecting upon a few matters!"

The news of the Zeon Military Academy's abortive uprising and its subsequent brutal suppression quickly eclipsed the riots in Zum City. After all, the Zum City crackdown involved fully armed Federation troops laying down a heavy hand on poorly armed civilians.

Yet the Guardian district clash represented an armed engagement between two distinct military forces. Escalating the definition slightly, it was the unmistakable drumbeat of impending war!

Naturally, the public interest surrounding it was exceptionally high!

Not to mention the catastrophic defeat suffered by the Zeon faction in this particular confrontation.

Federation media personnel had poured into the Guardian district almost the moment the gunfire ceased. The first sight that greeted them was the fiercely contested dockyard. Although the battle fought there was brief, it was fiercely brutal; the Zeon cadets guarding the docks, lacking orders and reinforcements, had fought to the bitter last man—the sole faction from the day's uprising to be completely wiped out!

The pockmarked dock facilities, the mottled bloodstains on the walls, and the hastily gathered bodies zipped into body bags and laid out in rows in the open space were all faithfully captured by camera lenses.

Following that came the Zeon artillery position where the field battle had raged, and the bombarded Federation garrison base. Once they had secured sufficient footage, a flurry of reports spread like raindrops across the globe.

"Bastards!"

In the heart of Zum City—the sole district untouched by the riots—within the towering, magnificent palace suspended high in the air, despite his advanced age and struggles with high blood pressure, King Degwin erupted in a roar of fury that put a young man to shame, ultimately snapping his royal scepter in a surge of intense emotion.

The target of his explosive wrath was naturally Supreme Premier Gihren, the man who had governed the nation with meticulous order, brought it surging prosperity, and ensured its people lived in peace and contentment.

"What were your guarantees to me?"

The King panted like a broken bellows, his face flushed a furious, wheezing red.

"You assured me nothing would go wrong! And yet look at the current reality: an uprising broke out in the Guardian district and failed, Garma has been captured by Federation forces, and even Dozle has been placed under detention!"

King Degwin grew increasingly incensed, finally snatching up the snapped cane and hurling it directly at Gihren, who remained kneeling on the floor.

Gihren, whose face was equally cast in a dark, iron hue, did not dare dodge, simply taking the blow of the cane squarely. His heart was a furnace of rage—directed at his father, at his younger brothers Dozle and Garma, and at the Federation. For the moment, however, he had no choice but to endure his father's fury first.

At that moment, Gihren felt an overwhelming urge to viciously curse Garma. If you're going to launch an uprising, fine, but what on earth is the meaning of failing and getting captured? Why couldn't you have simply died there? That way, he could have spun the boy into a Zeon martyr, rallying the populace to offer even greater support to his regime. But instead, the fool had been captured, turning into an absolute humiliation!

"Where are your guarantees now? Didn't you boast that you held the grand strategy in hand and had everything under control? Now the Federation fleet has transitioned to combat readiness. What do you expect me to do? Declare war on the Federation outright?"

"Speak, you wretched fool!"

"Garma is unharmed, is he not? Furthermore, the situation is not entirely without a turning point. Your Majesty, there is no need for such panic!"

Gihren slowly rose to his feet, looked toward his father, and spoke with a voice devoid of even a shred of warmth!