Chapter 121: The Ceremony
Chapter 121: The Ceremony
As Chen Chuan stepped outside, he noticed Luo Kaiyuan also emerging from the dormitory. For this event, they had selected students from the two rows of dormitories in the first district of the seventh floor, and both Chen Chuan and Luo Kaiyuan were among them.
Speaking of abilities, Feng Xiaoqi was no slouch either. He was always enthusiastic and eager to participate in such activities. However, there seemed to be an additional criterion for these external affairs activities, which was likely based on appearance. Feng Xiaoqi had a rather ordinary appearance and might have been slightly shorter, so he was left out this time.
At that moment, Zhuang Zhi and Feng Sheng, from the dormitory across the hall, also made their way out. However, they showed no intention of interacting with each other, and after entering the elevator, they remained silent, maintaining a certain distance from one another.
Upon exiting the elevator and leaving the dormitory building, they found that many students had already gathered downstairs.
As time passed, students from the other dormitory areas arrived one after another, and when they all gathered, there were just over twenty in total. Most of them were freshmen, with a few senior students among them. Generally, they all had decent looks and physiques, with no extreme outliers.
This time, there were also female students joining the group.
Among the female students, Chen Chuan spotted Guan Xinyin, someone he knew. She noticed him too and waved, to which he nodded in response.
The Makaran exchange students, led by Teacher Duoma, were also making their way out of the dormitory building.
Chen Chuan had been away for a few days, so he hadn't interacted much with these students. This was his first time seeing them all together.
When it came to judging an individual's abilities, a fighter could often form a basic impression based on their physique and gait. Chen Chuan quickly scanned most of the Makaran students, only pausing briefly on Nali and Shani before moving on.
Chen Chuan thought to himself that these students were slightly inferior to those at Wu Yi Academy. Considering that these were elite students from within Makara, it was evident that the country's fighting standards were not particularly high.
Only Teacher Duoma, being a teacher, kept her true abilities hidden. However, it was certain that she had surpassed the first limit.
After waiting a little longer, the female Makaran students arrived, led by a female teacher from Wu Yi Academy.
The number of female students matched that of the male students. They wore vibrant Makaran cloaks that resembled half-length capes, reaching down to just above their knees. Only a section of their muscular, slender calves was exposed.
All the students were led by several teachers from the Executive Department, with the leader being Teacher Han. In his fifties, Teacher Han had a square face and a serious demeanor, rarely cracking a smile.
As the students gathered, Teacher Han checked off names from a roster, and those called responded. When the roll call was complete, two transport vehicles arrived and stopped in front of the dormitory building.
Teacher Han briefly outlined the rules to be followed and then instructed everyone to board the vehicles.
The Makaran students and teachers boarded one vehicle, while the Wu Yi students took the other. As the vehicles drove off, the leading teachers once again patiently reminded them of the rules to be observed.
The Foreign Affairs Bureau was located in the southernmost part of the government complex, quite far from the administrative building in the city center. This was because it rarely handled affairs throughout the year, and its location reflected this. Even the drive between the two places took over ten minutes.
The Bureau was also adjacent to an old-era museum, which had a large plaza in front of it. This plaza was usually closed to the public, only opening for a few days during holidays. Chen Chuan, a local, had only visited it a handful of times.
Around 8:30 a.m., the two vehicles came to a stop in the open space in front of the museum's plaza. It was evident that staff from the Foreign Affairs Bureau had already arrived and set up the venue using barrier tape. Symbolically, some carpets had been laid on the ground, and balloons and streamers adorned the surroundings.
A band was also waiting there, playing traditional Makaran instruments like hide drums, whistles, flutes, and mouth harps.
Security personnel from the Foreign Affairs Bureau stood around the perimeter, all armed with pistols and batons. They appeared relaxed, as they were accustomed to receiving Makaran exchange personnel every year.
In addition to the officials from the Foreign Affairs Bureau, it was said that a member of the Consultative Council would also be present. The two countries had a long-standing tradition of friendly exchanges, and this was an opportunity to maintain that relationship without any real danger involved.
After the students disembarked, the Makaran students were directed to wait on either side, with the security personnel standing behind them.
The Wu Yi Academy students were positioned at the front, forming two rows facing the podium.
Chen Chuan found himself on the far right, quite close to the Makaran students. Coincidence, the student standing across from him was the same one who had claimed to be Qiu Chengzu the last time. They exchanged nods, but Chen Chuan noticed a hint of tension in the other student's eyes.
Chen Chuan didn't think much of it, assuming the other student was still adjusting to the environment.
He looked up and noticed the bright sunlight, which was a bit glaring. According to the schedule, the ceremony was set to begin at 10 a.m., so there was still some time to go.
Teacher Duoma and all the Makaran students waited silently, maintaining a somewhat solemn atmosphere despite the friendly exchange.
Although the atmosphere felt a bit stifling, no one seemed to find it amiss. They understood that most of these students were visiting Great Shun for the first time and were likely feeling out of place in an unfamiliar environment.
Since the plaza was right next to a major road, there was a constant flow of vehicles and pedestrians outside. The gathering of so many people naturally attracted a crowd of onlookers.
As time passed, more officials arrived, including the member of the Consultative Council. The crowd around them continued to grow, forming several layers, but the barrier tape and security personnel kept them at a distance. However, the more they were held back, the more people seemed to gather.
(End of Chapter 121)
At around 9:30 PM, three black sedans and an armored vehicle arrived in the plaza one after the other. Several security personnel descended from the armored vehicle, surveying the surroundings before approaching and opening the door of the middle car.
Director Liu of the Foreign Affairs Bureau, a man in his fifties with a portly figure, stepped out. Despite his age, he exuded a scholarly air with his straight nose and square jaw.
Escorted by the security team, Director Liu first greeted the Makar officials who had come for the exchange, engaging in a warm conversation. He then shook hands with the Consultative Council member and the government officials from the Government Hall who were present for the ceremony. After that, he ascended the central podium and delivered a speech, praising the friendship and cultural exchange between the two nations.
His voice was loud and clear, and the citizens watching from the sides could hear every word. The staff of the Foreign Affairs Bureau on both sides led the crowd in applause at various intervals.
Director Liu's speech lasted for about twenty minutes, and he seemed reluctant to end it.
And then, the main event of the day began.
The museum's doors swung open, and the director himself, accompanied by several emcees, brought out the gift that the Makara people had presented to the Great Shun Republic and was kept in the museum for preservation.
The Wu Yi Academy students also felt a surge of excitement. With the ceremony now over, the day's activities were almost at an end.
Despite the pleasant weather, standing there as mere spectators, all they could see were officials giving speeches, and even whispering among themselves was prohibited. No one could find any enjoyment in this.
Chen Chuan glanced at the box in the director's hands. He had learned from Cheng Zitong that inside was the "Evergreen Oak Leaf."
It had been a gift from the Makara people to the Great Shun Republic, symbolizing the friendship between the two nations. This leaf was said to have the power to heal the body and uplift the spirit, but it could only be activated with the use of Makaran spices and a special ceremony.
Chapter 69 Book 9
Every time the Wu Yi Academy officials attended an event in Wu Yi City, they could sense that this object indeed held some power, though they couldn't quite explain it. But after the ceremony, they would feel at least a little more energized than usual. That's why many people came to witness the ceremony, hoping to benefit from it. At this moment, the citizens on the outskirts of the crowd stretched their necks, trying to get a better view of the object.
The director handed the box to a female emcee and then took out a key to unlock it. Slowly, he removed the lid, revealing to the crowd a leaf of bluish-green color with distinct veins. As the lid was lifted, a natural and refreshing aura seemed to emanate from it.
Chen Chuan took a glance at the leaf, which was only about ten centimeters in size and had an unusual color, but otherwise didn't seem extraordinary. However, the fact that it had been gifted to the Great Shun Republic over fifty years ago and had been preserved for so long indicated that it held some special power.
Teacher Duma's gaze was fixed on the oak leaf, and he clenched his fists, trying to control his excitement. But his students couldn't contain themselves; they inched forward, eager to get a closer look. Their mission in the Great Shun Republic was to retrieve this very leaf, and they were prepared to risk everything for it.
Their reaction might have been a bit excessive, but it was understandable since the leaf was a gift from the Makara people, holding a special significance for them.
Director Liu, noticing the Makara people's reaction, was surprised but generously gestured for the female emcee to show the sacred artifact to the crowd. He then stepped back and offered his place to the Makaran official, making an inviting gesture.
The Makaran official returned a traditional greeting from his country and then carefully took the sacred object into his hands.
Next came the Makaran ritual. The Makaran official signaled for Teacher Duma and the selected students to come forward.
Surprisingly, Teacher Duma became calm as he walked up, took the oak leaf from the Makaran official, turned around, and raised it high. In that moment, he seemed to embody a heightened emotion, as if he had transcended, while the Makaran students' eyes shone with excitement.
Teacher Duma stared determinedly ahead and began to walk forward, his throat emitting a long, sustained note. At the same moment, the Makaran students joined in harmony, their eyes fixed and filled with emotion as if embarking on a sacred and significant mission.
Even the onlookers were captivated by their fervor, focusing intently.
But just then, amidst the drumming, a barely noticeable gunshot rang out. Director Liu's body jerked, and the security personnel beside him reacted swiftly, rushing to shield him. A second shot followed swiftly, hitting one of the security guards.
Nearby, the Consultative Council member was pulled aside by his security detail, stumbling to the side, while a bullet hole appeared on the ground where he had been standing.
Almost simultaneously, several cylindrical objects were thrown into the center of the plaza, emitting thick black smoke.
Teacher Duma, seeing Director Liu shot, focused intently. Although the local resistance force had promised to create an opportunity, they hadn't mentioned assassinating government officials. But now, amidst the chaos, he closed the box and sprinted out.
The Makaran students beside him also rushed forward, and at that moment, regardless of gender, they all surged ahead as if responding to a call, charging towards the Wu Yi students blocking their path.
...
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Chapter end
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