Chapter 332: The New Sun King

Chapter 332: The New Sun King

John Anthony, a native of Tulsa, Oklahoma, in the American Federation, was born in 2195. His family had a long military tradition. Starting with his grandfather, his father, and his uncles, all served in the military or worked closely with the armed forces. John's third uncle, Walter Anthony, achieved the highest rank among them, retiring from the military as a lieutenant colonel and establishing a small arms company.

John himself and his three brothers and cousins all followed in the family's footsteps and joined the military or took up related occupations when they came of age.

A decade ago, at the age of twenty-one, John became an Extraordinary. His profession template was the "Iron Guard."

After joining the military, John Anthony quickly demonstrated exceptional talent. In just five years, he evolved from a novice Extraordinary to an advanced one and was selected to join the elite "Skyfire Assault Team" of the American Federation's military.

Within the Skyfire Assault Team, John Anthony distinguished himself and was decorated multiple times. In just three years, he rose to the rank of major. At the age of twenty-nine, he evolved into a Super Extraordinary.

Such talent placed him among the top ranks globally, and it was expected that he would eventually climb the Global Ladder to fame. However, up until today, John Anthony was only moderately well-known within the American Federation's military circles.

Subsequently, John Anthony requested a transfer from the Skyfire Assault Team, citing the reason for furthering his military education. He enrolled in the "Federal Air Force Academy" and disappeared from public view for two years.

Now, John Anthony has resurfaced as the third-generation Sun King.

"He's from a solid background," thought Ji Xinghu as he finished reading the dossier, a thought that immediately sprang to mind.

As the intelligence had been gathered hastily, it only provided a brief overview, so the amount of information was limited.

"Have you all finished reading?" Ji Daosheng scanned the conference room, then continued, "Let me share my thoughts first."

He paused, his eyes seeming to recall a distant past.

"The last time the Sun King underwent iteration was in 2138. As it was the first time, Henry Tasville's death came as a sudden shock to the American Federation government, and the various consortiums within the Federation scrambled for power, leading to severe internal strife."

"At that time, our country was in a perilous situation. As soon as I received intelligence of the Sun King's death, I immediately decided to counter-attack and expand our gains in the Reversal War."

"You all know what happened after that."

"If not for the death of the Sun King, we would not have been able to drive the enemy out of Asia so quickly and establish our own nation."

Ji Daosheng recounted the events slowly, his tone calm and steady.

Ji Xinghu had learned about this historical event in textbooks, but hearing it firsthand from someone who had lived through it gave him a completely different perspective. The calm and concise narrative carried a weighty sense of history, stirring his emotions.

Several individuals in the conference room had also experienced that tumultuous era.

The Leader's intentions were clear.

The first iteration of the Sun King had presented their country with an opportune moment, and the second time might very well be another such opportunity.

If there was no Sun King, or if the new Sun King underwent a period of weakened strength, they must seize this strategic opportunity.

Yan Wen zhe, the Minister of the Starry Sector, asked, "Leader, what is the reason for the Sun King's power succession?"

"Unknown," Ji Daosheng shook his head and glanced at Li Hui from the Sword Bureau.

Li Hui replied with a guilty expression, "Since its establishment, the Sword Bureau has continuously infiltrated the American Federation, investing countless efforts over the years. However, regarding the secret of the Sun King, we have not obtained any useful information."

Ji Xinghu was surprised.

The Asia-Pacific Community and the American Federation had been engaged in a century-long clandestine struggle, with spies infiltrating each other's territories. Even the most top-secret intelligence tended to leak out to some extent.

Yet, the Sword Bureau had come up empty-handed.

The most likely possibility was what the outside world speculated—only the Sun King himself knew the secret of the power succession.

Ji Daosheng continued, "During the last iteration, there was a six-month gap between the death of the Sun King and the emergence of the new Sun King."

"In the seventh month, I faced off against Kristoff in person."

"At that time, he had already regained the King level, but his power was unstable, and I speculate he was at the first stage of King. Despite this, his strength was still formidable, which is why he dared to appear on the battlefield."

"I had another encounter with him in the ninth month."

"By then, he had reached the second stage of King, and his power had stabilized."

"The next time I met Kristoff was eighteen months later, and his power had fully stabilized at the third stage of King."

"In the following years, I had multiple encounters with Kristoff, and each time, his strength had increased from the previous meeting, showing a clear enhancement compared to the previous generation Henry. He had merged with multiple 'Flame Maniac' templates of the Exogene, mastering high-temperature abilities, and his burst power had also improved."

"It wasn't until a decade later that Kristoff's rapid growth period ended, and his power stabilized."

Ji Xinghu's heart skipped a beat as he listened.

Advancing to the King level in six months, reaching the second stage in nine months, and at most, attaining the third stage in eighteen months—such a terrifying speed of strength improvement was unimaginable.

It was no wonder that even the Yuan Emperor felt concerned.

However, the fact that the second-generation Sun King had already reached the third stage of the King level back in the 1950s, and yet, in the past seventy-plus years, he hadn't been able to break through, was indeed surprising.

Or perhaps the difficulty of advancing from the King level to become a Star Shepherd Saint was just that immense?

"Your Excellency, should we take some action during this six-month gap?" Sima Hanzhang, the Minister of Security, asked. "Opportunities like this strategic window only come once in a century, and I believe we shouldn't let it slip by."

Many people agreed with his statement.

The global situation today was vastly different from the last century.

With the increasing number of Extraordinary individuals, their collective strength had also improved significantly, resulting in a growing number of Legends and Kings each year. Externally, the Winged People were waiting like tigers eyeing their prey, and although no large-scale war had broken out, the current peace felt like the calm before the storm.

It was highly unlikely that they would be able to wait for the next iteration of the Sun King.

John Anthony was only 31 years old, and they would have to wait at least 80 years for his natural death.

The worst-case scenario was that with this iteration of the Sun King, John Anthony would directly break through to become a Star Shepherd Saint!

"We must stamp out this threat in its infancy," Champion Marquis Hawke added, "Strike first and gain the advantage."

"I agree," Zhu Xiaorong said, raising her hand.

Several others expressed similar views, emphasizing the need to take decisive action during the Sun King's weakened period.

Ji Xinghu remained silent.

Firstly, he felt his inexperience made it unnecessary for him to rush to express his opinion, and secondly, he believed that this iteration of the Sun King might not be as straightforward as it seemed.

Ji Daosheng looked thoughtful and turned to Wu Huai'an.

"Huai'an, what are your thoughts?"

As the highest representative of the military, Marshal Wu Huai'an offered a different perspective. His speech was neither fast nor slow, and his voice was magnetic as he said, "During the previous iteration of the Sun King, the American Federation was unprepared. This time, it's likely to be different."

Xing Lie also spoke up. "The American Federation only released the obituary today, but that doesn't mean Kristoff died today.

"He made a public appearance just last month," Zhu Xiaorong frowned. "Could it have been someone else impersonating him?"

The people in the conference room felt a chill in their hearts.

If the Sun King who had appeared several times to dispel the rumors of his death was an imposter, then the real Sun King might have died a long time ago.

In that case, the American Federation might have set a trap, waiting for their enemies to walk right into it.

Concealing the Sun King's death for six months wouldn't be difficult.

And during that time, the third-generation Sun King might have already regained his King-level strength or perhaps even surpassed it.

"I've had similar concerns," Ji Daosheng nodded. "With each iteration, the Sun King becomes stronger. This time, the recovery of his strength might be faster, and it might take less time."

He pointed to John Anthony on the screen.

"This John, he was transferred to the Federal Air Force Academy two years ago."

"I speculate that young people like him, with excellent talent, a profession that fits his template, and a distinguished family background, fulfilling all the requirements perfectly, would have been numerous, and they would have competed for this iteration of the Sun King."

"He might have gone through layers of selection and stood out among all the candidates."

"If that's the case..."

Worry crept into Ji Daosheng's face. "Then it's clear that the American Federation has made thorough preparations for this iteration of the Sun King."

"Your Excellency," Li Hui stood up immediately. "This is my failure."

It was indeed inappropriate for the Sword Bureau to have no information about the American Federation's secret selection of candidates for the Sun King. They should have at least known something about whether the Sun King was alive or not.

Ji Daosheng didn't blame him. "In the past year or two, the Sword Bureau has been too preoccupied with the Qian Yuan Society. It's understandable that some things might have been overlooked."

Li Hui sat down, his face filled with shame.

At this moment, Wu Huai'an spoke up. "Your Excellency, I suggest we remain on standby. According to the obituary, the new Sun King will appear at Kristoff's funeral. We can send a delegation to attend the state funeral in St. Louis and, at the same time, assess his capabilities."

"Agreed," Ji Daosheng said.

He then looked at Luo Keding, the Minister of Foreign Affairs. "Keding, you will lead a delegation to represent me at the funeral. Kristoff has been my opponent for many years. Although we weren't friends, his passing deserves my remembrance."

"Yes, Your Excellency," Luo Keding replied loudly.

"We need to prepare for two possibilities," Ji Daosheng continued. "On the one hand, if this John Anthony has already reached the King level, we will remain on standby. On the other hand, if he's all show and no substance, we will strike with lightning speed.

Over the next two days, the internet was abuzz with all sorts of rumors and speculations. The Asia-Pacific Community remained mostly silent, with only the Ministry of Foreign Affairs releasing a statement of condolence and announcing that Luo Keding would lead a delegation to attend the Sun King's state funeral. Despite the lack of official response, many people sensed that something significant was brewing beneath the surface.

The Sun King's state funeral was broadcast globally.

It was daytime in the American Federation and evening in the Asia-Pacific Community.

Ji Xinghu watched the funeral at home with Zhao Manying by his side. It was July, and the first half of the Super League had just concluded, entering a two-month summer break, so Zhao Manying had been spending most of her days with Ji Xinghu.

The solemn funeral ceremony lasted for over two hours.

On the screen, the world-renowned Sun King, Kristoff Holinch, lay in his coffin. His body was still robust, his face calm and peaceful, but devoid of any trace of life.

Towards the end of the funeral, a tall and sturdy young man with meticulously groomed hair and dressed in a black suit stepped up to the podium.

Facing the American Federation's politicians, Titans, social elites, including the President and the Speaker, as well as delegations from various countries, he showed no signs of nervousness. Looking directly into the camera, he said, "Ladies and gentlemen, I am John Anthony, a citizen of the American Federation. Today, as the successor to the Sun King, I mourn the passing of Mr. Kristoff Holinch..."

At that moment, the eyes of billions of people around the globe were fixed on this young man.

John Anthony!

The name instantly spread across the world, becoming a household name.

Ji Xinghu watched the third-generation Sun King on the screen, and his first impression was of a man who exuded sunshine, greatness, and justice. His aura was extraordinary, and despite speaking at a funeral, he didn't convey any sense of gloom. Instead, he seemed to be crowned with a dazzling halo.

His speech was evidently well-rehearsed.

His expressions were spot on—sad when they needed to be, serious when required, and occasionally, he would crack a harmless joke that elicited good-natured laughter, bridging the distance between himself and the audience, both in the room and those watching across the globe.

His stance, gestures, and tone were all impeccable, conveying a full range of emotions.

Everything about him was flawless.

If one had to describe him in a single word, it would be "perfect"!

He perfectly embodied the image people associated with the Sun King, and regardless of whether one was a citizen of the American Federation or not, they would agree that this was what the strongest man on Earth should look like.

Ji Xinghu watched quietly.

Zhao Manying suddenly spoke up, "This man's performance is a bit over the top. He doesn't feel genuine to me."

After merging with the Eye of Truth, not only had her combat abilities increased, but she could also discern many details in daily life that ordinary people couldn't see or sense.

Sometimes, just a glance was enough for her to read a wealth of information.

Ji Xinghu had a similar feeling.

He thought for a moment and said, "Do you mean that he's being fake?"

"Fake isn't quite accurate," Zhao Manying furrowed her beautiful eyebrows, "He's suppressing his true nature, but due to some kind of restraint, he dares not reveal it completely, so he's sticking to the script."

Ji Xinghu understood what she meant.

"Becoming the Sun King and making his first public appearance, he must know that countless people will be analyzing his micro-expressions and judging his character. He might be doing this deliberately to confuse people."

"I can't be sure," Zhao Manying said, uncertain, "After all, we're watching through a screen, and there might be some distortion."

John Anthony's speech was nearing its end.

Just before he finished, the new Sun King suddenly announced, "On July 20th, I will lead a delegation to visit the New Roman Empire and enroll in the Global Marathon Sports Event in Ivangela."

Hearing this, Ji Xinghu was stunned, and a look of surprise appeared on Zhao Manying's face as well.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end