Starting from the Planetary Governor - Chapter 784

Chapter 784: Chapter 433, Subversive Action_2

The overall plan seems plausible, and the chances of success appear to be quite high, indeed capable of achieving the goals the alliance desires.

In that case, it might as well lend a hand.

If it succeeds, it would save the trouble of exerting more effort later on.

If it fails, the Demon Hunters also have their backup scheme.

…

Two days later.

Arno Chinko, dressed as a waiter, was doing his job in a luxurious hotel.

Clearing tables, serving dishes, carrying plates, pushing trolleys… nothing more than that.

He had been doing this work for two months.

If nothing unexpected happened, this should be his last day.

The luxurious hotel where he worked was also the mission location codenamed ‘hotel.’

At this moment, the hotel was somewhat empty. Today, they only arranged for one group of guests.

Many political dignitaries and representatives of wealthy businessmen were here to host a banquet for Ms. Zelos, the head of the Star Sector.

Such distinguished guests, of course, required separate treatment.

In fact, two days before, ‘hotel’ had already ceased operations to the public, fully preparing for today’s banquet. At the same time, the security detail of the Star Sector head had also been stationed in the ‘hotel’ since then, conducting safety inspections on the hotel and remaining onsite to avoid any potential hazards.

As the head of the Star Sector, Zelos’s security measures were very strong.

And all these were things that Arno and others had anticipated long ago.

He diligently did his job, just as his ‘supervisor’ had repeatedly instructed over the past two days, saying that the guests’ identities were significant, and no mistakes were allowed.

He couldn’t see or hear what was happening outside, but he guessed that the first step of the plan must have already begun.

…

Inside the ‘hotel,’ the banquet had already started. Ms. Zelos, who arrived on time as a VIP, had just mingled with others, engaging in a round of non-critical conversation, when a security personnel came to her side.

“Head of the Sector…”

Hearing the soft call, Zelos, with her perfect smile, gestured to the person she had been talking to and then moved aside, her expression becoming serious as she listened to the report.

The content was brief: Demonstrations had erupted in Shuoguo City.

The protest was mainly demanding the government to release journalists, commentators, and scholars arrested over the past month.

The charges against those people were the preposterous ‘espionage.’

The accusation was laughable!

Was it because the Planetary Government and Star Sector Government didn’t want to join the Seven Horse Covenant, and those media people did some analysis on why the government was reluctant to join?

Was arresting people the answer to contents that displeased the government?

That was far too absurd!

This was a narrative that emerged a few months ago across Baishuo Star, mentioned in newspapers, broadcasts, television shows, magazines… various media outlets. Some experts jumped out, claiming that joining the Seven Horse Covenant was a good idea, as it would bring protection from the alliance and completely resolve security issues. Mutual assistance was also the responsibility of human worlds.

Moreover, despite the broken contact with the Star Domain and being unable to remit the Imperial Tax, the Planetary Government continued to collect it; not only that, but they also imposed an additional war tax on top of the Imperial Tax, without halting ordinary taxation.

The exorbitant taxes were unbearable, and after being incited by various opinions, the call to join the Seven Horse Covenant grew, with the belief that it would be safer and life would be easier.

Additionally, some conspiracy theories suggested that the refusal to join the Seven Horse Covenant was not about freedom, independence, or Baishuo Star people deciding their own fate, but rather about the higher officials’ unwillingness to relinquish power, an entirely selfish act without regard for the big picture.

This theory wasn’t without reason, as quite a number of citizens found it persuasive.

Judging by this alone, it was rash to label the outspoken media people as spies.

Dictatorship! Tyranny!

Moreover, the charge of espionage was ridiculous!

Even if they had taken money from the alliance, how did that make them spies? Wasn’t the alliance separate from the imperial forces? It was said that the Star Domain Government even authorized them to establish the Seven Horse Covenant, so how could they be spies?

Was Baishuo Star not part of the Empire World? Did the government consider itself separate from the imperial forces, thereby deeming the alliance’s representatives as spies?

It made no sense!

Therefore, such a protest occurred.

Knowing about the protest, Zelos of course wasn’t in the best of spirits.

She had at least three concerns.

First was the annoyance from the troublemakers.

Second, the dissatisfaction with the Governor of Baishuo.

Such a protest involving tens of thousands of people could only be described as widespread public outrage. The heavy-handed and unwise way the Governor of Baishuo dealt with the media people was the direct cause.

And the fundamental reason behind it all lay in the corruption of the Planetary Government.

For many years, Baishuo Star had faced several problems: excessive taxation, failure to solve the high unemployment rate, and the long-term stagnation of the people’s standard of living.

These accumulating issues, recently compounded by the Green Skins problem resulting in increased taxes and journalists being arrested, showed signs of erupting.

It was because the Governor of Baishuo had done such a terrible job that all these problems had arisen!

The third concern was her vigilance.

Despite the boiling public discontent and the presence of a spark that could ignite further unrest, the situation had escalated so suddenly and fiercely that she couldn’t help but suspect the involvement of some hostile forces stirring trouble.

Could public dissent really have reached such depths?

It seemed unlikely.

However, even if it had, Zelos still believed it was no big deal.

It was just a demonstration, after all.

The police had already been dispatched, and the Planetary Defense Forces had received orders and begun to take up defensive positions. Should any signs of the situation worsening or spiraling out of control appear, the Defense Forces would be deployed.

In fact, it was highly unlikely that things would escalate to that point, as the Capital Police Department should be able to resolve the issue.

But the news that followed made her feel more and more uneasy.

Firstly, there was a shootout in the streets between the mob and the police, and surprisingly, the mob had quite a few weapons!

This almost confirmed to Zelos that there had to be someone pulling the strings behind the scenes!

What was their purpose?

Who could it be, and what was their goal? To overthrow the current government?

She had lost all interest in the current banquet, found a room, asked not to be disturbed, and then placed a call to the Governor of Baishuo, ordering him to mobilize the Defense Army immediately to suppress the situation.

The Governor of Baishuo, sweating profusely and stuttering, said it probably wouldn’t come to that, that police reinforcements had already been called in.

Zelos flew into a rage and scolded, “Things are never that simple! Deploy the Defense Army immediately! Whatever those shadowy figures behind the scenes have planned must be quashed quickly. We can’t allow any more time for the situation to ferment, do you understand?!”

“Yes… I understand!”

After hanging up the phone, Zelos felt a bit more at ease.

But shortly after, she heard some noisy commotion.

“What’s going on?”

Her personal security guard spoke into the intercom for a moment and then replied, “Some civilians affected by the riot are seeking refuge, trying to enter the hotel for safety. The hotel security and our men have stopped them.”

Upon hearing this, Zelos was about to speak when she heard the sounds of explosions and gunfire, and they were close!

“Someone from among the civilians is charging the hotel!”

“They are strong!”

“Ah!!!”

Screams were heard through the communication.

Now, Zelos truly became anxious!

Were they coming for me?

She suddenly looked towards her personal bodyguard.

He quickly said, “Leader, please follow me, we need to leave this place. Rest assured, in our security team we have Spiritual Energy masters and elite squads, we will ensure your safety!”

“Alright.”

Zelos knew this was not the time to panic.

And the situation hadn’t reached a point of no return.

Attempting to assassinate her in this way was simply naïve.

Her security team included three accomplished Spiritual Energy users, and among the bodyguards, there were thirty elites clad in Feedback-Type Power Armor.

Breaking through their protection to threaten her would not be easy.

Furthermore, if they could just stall for a bit, the army would arrive. She could also actively seek to meet with the military, accompanied by her security team.

The matter of her safety was assured, for the time being.

At this moment, Zelos was filled with rage!

She vowed to make the puppet masters behind all this pay a heavy price!

No matter who the mastermind was!

In fact, she already had some suspicions about who it might be…