Deposed Crown Prince: After three years of service on the frontier, the entire court knelt and begge

Chapter 1401 Victory! Off we go, moving the Hidden Dragon Armory

On the high platform, Eva stood with her back straight, staring expressionlessly at the bloody and frenzied scene of revenge below.

The cold wind blew through her hair and clothes, her eyes were deep, reflecting the splattered blood and the distorted faces of the crowd, as if she wanted to etch this scene into the depths of her soul.

She fulfilled her promise, delivering a blood debt repayment to this land and the dead, but deep down, she felt no joy, only a heavy, cold weight, as heavy as the frozen earth beneath her feet.

She knew that the physical destruction of Shahar and Rhys was only the beginning; the mess they left behind, and the complex effects of this bloody trial, were only just beginning to unfold.

Meanwhile, Xiao Ce and Han Da, who were hiding in the shadows, followed beside him.

Han Da said to Xiao Ce, "Your Highness, Eva has learned your oratory skills..."

Xiao Ce smiled and then said, "That's right! I'm handing over the Slavic Kingdom to her for management. Do you have any questions?"

Seeing Xiao Ce's serious expression, Han Da shook his head firmly: "No problem! Besides, regarding what Ms. Eva did before..."

Han Da paused halfway through his sentence, then said to Xiao Ce, "From a mother's perspective, he's right..."

Xiao Ce smiled as he looked at Han Da, then turned his gaze back to the arena...

"It seems Eva has taken control of the situation. Have the federal troops arrived yet?"

Han Da nodded: "They've been coming one after another."

Xiao Ce said to Han Da, "Good, that person is one of yours? Trustworthy!"

Han Da nodded: "That's right, Your Highness, I will definitely send the person I trust most... The Slavic country is fortunate to have your presence... otherwise... the consequences would be unimaginable."

Xiao Ce smiled at Han Da, then said, "I was just lucky... Looks like we can leave now..."

After hearing Xiao Ce's words, Han Da asked, "Shall we return to Xiao Kingdom now?"

After hearing Han Da's words, Xiao Ce smiled and said, "Of course not back to Xiao Kingdom... but to the Tsarist ruins. We didn't have time before... now that we have time, we naturally want to go and study how to get those things out..."

Han Da nodded as he listened, his whole body trembling with excitement.

The reason is simple: he has controlled these mechs before, and he's incredibly skilled.

If those firearms had already reshaped his understanding, these mechs were... something beyond his imagination.

Fortunately, having spent so much time with Xiao Ce, they had developed a high tolerance for hardship...

...

After an unknown amount of time, the roars and throwing of objects by the crowd gradually subsided. After the venting of anger, there was a deathly silence, with only heavy breathing and suppressed sobs drifting in the cold wind.

Beneath the wooden stake, only two blurry human figures, almost completely buried by various debris, lay lifeless. Blood stained the surrounding frozen soil, quickly freezing into dark red ice crystals in the bitter cold, exuding a heavy stench of blood and death.

Axe Ox silently stepped forward, accompanied by several soldiers. Using tools, they cleared away the buried debris. After a brief inspection, he addressed Eva on the platform, loudly announcing:

"The traitors Shahar and Riz... have been executed!"

Eva slowly closed her eyes, then slowly opened them again.

She didn't look at the two mangled corpses; instead, her gaze swept past the crowd and landed on the desolate ruins of Don River Fortress in the distance, which appeared even more bleak in the twilight.

The setting sun, like blood, dyed everything in the world with a poignant red.

"Hang the body on the highest wreck of Don Fort and leave it exposed for three days as a warning to others!"

"Three days later, grind his bones to dust and scatter them into the Don River!"

"Collect the remains of all the victims and hold a public memorial service on a selected date!"

"Now..."

Eva, her voice weary, addressed the crowd: "Everyone, if you trust me, I will lead you into a completely new era of development..."

Everyone shouted in unison to express their opinion.

The next day.

Eva stood on the restored terrace of the city gate, looking down at the solemn yet bustling scene below...

The cleanup efforts by the public are still ongoing, but the atmosphere has changed!

Yesterday's bloody trial released pent-up anger and grief, and now the air is filled with a peculiar peace, tinged with sorrow yet brimming with the promise of new life...

The gazes directed at the city walls held less of the previous alienation and fear, and more of a tentative trust and anticipation. They saw a leader who dared to confront the past, who used ruthless methods to purge the filth, and who promised to lead them in rebuilding their homes...

Furthermore, following the killing of Shahar and Ries yesterday, some compensatory and benevolent policies were introduced.

As the saying goes, ducks are the first to know when the river warms in spring...

Whether the new empress is good or not can be seen from the policies she has implemented...

Although the road ahead is fraught with thorns, the flame of hope has stubbornly burned beneath the scorched earth of the ruins...

Han Da and Wei Wuji stood behind her, quietly reporting on the arrival of the Federal reinforcements and the details of the initial reconstruction plan. They wanted to give her everything they could, after all, they were about to leave...

Axe-Bull, accompanied by his engineering mechs, rumbled and cleared the main road leading to the capital, paving the way for the transport of supplies and personnel. Everything was running smoothly.

Footsteps came from behind, with a steady and familiar rhythm.

Eva's heart skipped a beat. Without turning around, she already knew who it was.

Xiao Ce walked to her side and stood beside her, looking together at this land that was struggling to recover.

He changed into a dark combat uniform that would allow for easier movement!

The outline of the exoskeleton armor was faintly visible beneath his clothing. Although the Dragon Abyss mech was severely damaged and unable to be deployed, the invisible, sharp aura of a battlefield commander emanating from him remained undiminished...

Of course, he was still wearing a protective blast-resistant inner armor set...

"Well done."

After Xiao Ce walked to Eva's side, his voice was calm, without much emotional fluctuation, but it was like a heavy foundation stone settling in Eva's heart.

"The people's hearts are beginning to settle, and order is gradually being restored. With Shahar and Ries executed, the cancer of the old era has been completely eradicated. The Federation's army and resources will fully support you, and Handa and Wei Wuji will leave behind some elite troops to assist you in stabilizing the situation until the Federation's administrative system takes over completely."

These simple words are the greatest affirmation of all her hard work and dedication during this period, even at the cost of bearing the stigma of patricide and fratricide.

Eva felt a slight sting at the tip of her nose, and suppressing her surging emotions, she nodded slightly: "Thank you, Your Highness. I...I will do my utmost to live up to your expectations, for the Slavs, and for...to atone for our sins."

She swallowed the words "looking into the distance," knowing she was not worthy to use her son to claim credit.

Xiao Ce did not respond to her words of atonement, but instead cast his gaze toward the distant northern horizon, where the polar regions lay and the ruins of the Tsar were located.

"I'm leaving this to you."

Eva turned sharply to look at him, and instinctively asked, "You...are you leaving?"

Her tone carried an undisguised reluctance and a hint of wanting her to stay that she herself was unaware of.

She looked at his profile; his features were as cold and hard as ever, but the weariness in his eyes could not hide the bloody battles of the past few days.

"Ah."

Xiao Ce's answer was concise and to the point.

"Is it... going back to Xiao Kingdom?"

Eva's voice was a little tense, with a cautious probing tone.

Deep down, she might still harbor a faint illusion.

Xiao Ce slowly shook his head, his sharp gaze piercing through the cold air, as if he could already see the ancient ruins covered in ice and snow.

"Go to the Tsar's ruins."

Tsarist Ruins!

Eva was startled.

As a former member of the Slavic royal family, she naturally knew about this place, which held an important place in the legends of the empire, yet was shrouded in secrecy.

Of course, she had also heard that Xiao Ce's super weapons all came from there.

This time, Xiao Dingshan's target was also there. Ordinary people didn't know, but they were very clear about it.

The real prize of this battle was actually the Hidden Dragon Arsenal...

Her lips moved slightly, as if she wanted to ask what was there?

Is it dangerous? What do we need her to do?

But in the end, all the questions were reduced to a single, concise response!

"I understand."

She didn't ask any further questions, nor did she dare to.

She could sense that the ruins were of vital importance to Xiao Ce, concerning a grand vision that extended far beyond the small corner of Slavic territory.

Given her current status and position, it is neither appropriate nor justifiable to delve into her background.

She solemnly promised, "Your Highness, rest assured, I will guard this place well. I will make good use of the Federation's army."

She knew this was the only thing she could do, and the last way to prove her worth.

Xiao Ce finally turned his gaze from the distance to Eva's face, his deep eyes seemingly able to see through all her complex thoughts.

He could sense that Eva had matured a lot after going through all of this...

He didn't say much, just nodded again, then turned around and strode down the city wall.

Eva stood there, watching him disappear at the end of the passageway leading to the military camp, her heart filled with mixed emotions.

There was a sense of melancholy at parting, and anxieties about the unknown future, but more than anything, there was a heavy sense of responsibility and a glimmer of recognition.

She gripped the cold stone railing tightly, her nails digging into her palms.

The road to redemption is long, but at least she has taken the first step and gained the right and direction to continue...

Besides, her child is very smart... she feels there's still a chance.

The next day.

Xiao Ce did not have anyone escort him; the place was a few kilometers north of the capital of the Slavic country.

On a vast, temporarily leveled open space, a torrent of steel had already been assembled.

A thousand uniquely designed mechs stood like a cold, steel forest on the snow-covered wasteland.

Most of them bore scars, their armor covered with dents, burn marks, and repaired welds from battles, but each one exuded a chilling killing intent that came from countless battles.

The core is naturally the command-type mecha that Xiao Ce temporarily rode in. Although it is not as unique as Long Yuan's, it still has sharp lines and a dense communication array, making it the brain of this steel legion.

Night Owl's light reconnaissance mech hovered like a ghost at the edge of the formation.

The battered but still ferocious "Mountain-Opening" heavy mech of Axe Bull stood at the very front of the formation, like an insurmountable steel fortress.

Han Da's command assault mech was also among them, responsible for coordinating this elite mech cluster.

Behind and on the flanks of the mech formation were tens of thousands of elite soldiers.

They wore standard exoskeleton powered armor, with sharp edges and a cold, metallic sheen.

These armors provide superhuman strength, speed, and protection, enabling them to fight in extreme environments and carry heavy weapons.

They carried high-energy particle rifles on their backs, and had concussion grenades and energy short blades hanging from their waists. Some squads were also equipped with heavy railguns or miniature missile launchers.

The ranks were perfectly aligned, silent and solemn. Each soldier was like a sculpture forged from steel, with sharp eyes and an iron will.

They were already elite warriors who had fought countless battles, and were the most formidable warriors left after being tempered in the fires of war against the Slavic Empire.

They knew their objective: to venture deep into the Tsarist ruins in the far north to retrieve a legendary, unknown, and powerful weapon that could drive even Xiao Dingshan mad.

They might not be very familiar with those weapons...

But they knew all too well the weapons they were equipped with...

This goal alone was enough to ignite the most fervent fighting spirit in their hearts...

The cold wind whipped up tiny ice crystals, which lashed against the cold armor, producing a dense crackling sound, like the light tapping of war drums.

The engine began to warm up with a deep roar, and white steam spewed from the exhaust pipe, quickly condensing into frost in the frigid air.

A slight hiss emanated from the hydraulic system as the massive robotic arm and weapon platform slowly adjusted their angles, ready for a long journey. An invisible, exhilarating pressure permeated the air.

Xiao Ce appeared at the very front of the line.

Instead of boarding the command mech, he stood in front of a specially designed all-terrain armored command vehicle.

This command vehicle was not taken from the Qianlong Armory, but was designed by the Tianji Academy.

This time, a number of heavy armored vehicles also arrived, but of course, the supplies inside were left for the Slavic countries that were in dire need of reconstruction.

They were driving there to load up all the treasures in the Hidden Dragon Armory!

At this moment, Xiao Ce's gaze swept across the steel torrent with lightning speed. Every mech pilot and every soldier whose gaze fell upon him subconsciously straightened their spines, as if an invisible force was flowing into their bodies.

"Soldiers!"

Xiao Ce's voice, amplified by a loudspeaker, was clearly transmitted to every corner, drowning out the howling wind and snow.

"The complete victory of the Slavic Empire proves your courage and strength! But this is only the beginning!"

Xiao Ce's speeches always carried a penetrating power, echoing clearly across the icy plains!

In fact, these soldiers all enjoyed listening to Xiao Ce speak.

Because of Xiao Ce's words, they always felt that he could give them a powerful force, filling them with confidence and hope...