Mercenary I am the king

Chapter 961 Wrist

Chapter 961 Wrist
Seine's national television and radio stations, as well as all official information channels, fully resumed broadcasting the day after the coup.

The newly appointed President Isis Seine sat in his simply furnished office.

He was dressed in a well-fitting dark suit, his hair was neatly combed, and his face carried a moderate seriousness and sorrow.

Behind them, a huge, brand-new flag of the Republic of Seine was hanging on the backdrop wall.

"...Fellow countrymen."

Isis's voice, transmitted clearly through the microphone, reached every corner of Sena: "This is a difficult moment, but also a hopeful new beginning."

His gaze was firm as he looked directly into the camera: "I, Isis, hereby solemnly swear that I am the interim president of the Republic of Seine! My primary mission is to end the bloodshed, restore order to the country, and safeguard the life, safety, and basic dignity of every citizen of Seine!"

The scene shifts appropriately, playing carefully edited footage—

Government soldiers are helping civilians distribute food and drinking water; medical personnel are treating the wounded at makeshift clinics that have been cleared; and construction vehicles are clearing rubble from the capital's streets…

Although small in scale, it sends a signal of "recovery".

Isis's voice rang out again, filled with sorrow and condemnation: "However, the road to peace is not smooth! The remnants of the former regime, Lumar, and the rebel forces he controls, disregard the call of the nation and the will of the people, and remain entrenched in the eastern mountains, stubbornly resisting! They attack civilians, destroy infrastructure, and obstruct humanitarian aid! They are the biggest obstacle to the Sena peace process! They are a malignant tumor on national unity and reconstruction!"

His tone suddenly turned stern: "Hereby, in the name of the interim president of the Republic of Seine, I declare: Lumar and his armed group are traitors! They are enemies of the state! Anyone who continues to follow Lumar, opposes the legitimate government, and endangers national security and the well-being of the people will be severely punished by law!"

The scene shifts again, playing several blurry but impactful videos: footage of what appears to be Lumar's armed soldiers looting a village; destroyed bridges and roads; and the bodies of several civilians lying by the roadside.

Off-camera, Song Heping was watching the screen from behind a monitor.

Now, he is nominally Isis's senior advisor.

Although he does not hold any substantive position in the cabinet, everyone knows that in the current Seine, Song Heping, like the French, has an extremely important influence on the Isis government.

This televised address, the deployment of troops to distribute food and clear streets, and the footage of Lumar's army looting villages are all part of a strategy.

Song Heping was all too familiar with the tactic of winning people's hearts through stark contrasts.

Song Heping was very satisfied with Isis's performance.

"This child is teachable..."

A slight smile appeared on his lips.

"but!"

Isis's voice softened again, carrying a sense of compassion and tolerance.

“I know that many soldiers have been coerced and deceived. Sena needs reconciliation and unity! Therefore, I declare that within 72 hours of the issuance of this statement, all officers and soldiers who are willing to lay down their weapons, leave the rebels, and return to the law and order will be granted amnesty by the government, their personal safety will be guaranteed, and they will be assisted in returning to normal life!”

"As for Lumar himself..."

Isis's eyes sharpened like icicles. "This is your last chance! Pull back from the brink, surrender unconditionally immediately, and accept the judgment of the law! This is the only correct choice you can make for yourself and for the soldiers who follow you! Otherwise, all that awaits you is utter annihilation!"

This concludes the statement.

The image freezes on Isis's resolute face and the brand-new national flag behind her.

The statement was like a boulder thrown into the turbulent waters of the Seine.

In the capital and areas controlled by government forces, crowds gathered in front of radio and television broadcasts on the streets, their faces a mixture of bewilderment, exhaustion, and a faint hope for an end to the chaos.

In the northern mountains, the soldiers' eyes flickered with uncertainty as they heard the word "amnesty."

The statement, transmitted via radio waves from Lumar's fortress, sounded like the most vicious curse and the heaviest death knell.

The old television set that Lumar smashed has been moved away and replaced with a more powerful radio.

At this moment, Isis's clear, stern voice, like that of a final judgment, was pouring out of the loudspeaker, filling the oppressive space.

"...Lumar and his armed group are traitorous organizations! They are enemies of the state!..."

"...Lay down your weapons within seventy-two hours...and receive a pardon..."

"...Lumar himself...has his last chance...to surrender unconditionally...otherwise...to be utterly annihilated..."

Every word was like a cold steel needle, piercing Lumar's eardrums and penetrating his heart.

He stood frozen like a petrified statue in front of the huge map table, his back to the staff officers.

His body was taut, as if it were about to explode at any moment.

Only his hands, still trembling slightly as he braced himself on the edge of the table, betrayed the turbulent emotions churning within him.

shame!

This is an unprecedented and utterly humiliating disgrace! That puppet supported by mercenaries dared to declare him, a meritorious general of the Republic of Seine, a "traitor" and an "enemy" on the radio, in front of the entire nation and even the world! And demanded his "unconditional surrender"?!

"You bastard!! You son of a bitch!!!"

A suppressed growl, like that of a wounded lone wolf, finally erupted from deep within Lumar's throat.

He whirled around, his eyes bloodshot and spiderweb-like, a monstrous killing intent emanating from them. The staff officers, forced back a step by this terrifying aura, turned deathly pale.

"General! General!"

The intelligence officer practically tumbled in, clutching a newly translated telegram, his voice shrill and distorted with extreme fear, "AU...AU headquarters...official statement!"

Lumar's bloodshot eyes suddenly turned to him, his gaze like a poisoned dagger.

The intelligence officer shuddered, stammering, "The African Union Peace and Security Council...after emergency consultations...considered the current situation in Senegal to be complex...the transitional government has demonstrated efforts to restore order...calls all parties to exercise maximum restraint...avoid escalation of violence...emphasizes...resolving differences through peaceful dialogue...the African Union...the African Union currently...does not...plans...to intervene with peacekeeping forces..."

"No plans...to intervene?"

Lumar murmured these words repeatedly, the rage and murderous intent on his face freezing instantly, then disappearing as quickly as the tide receded, leaving only an extreme, empty pallor.

The pillar that sustained his last glimmer of hope and madness collapsed with a crash.

British…

What about their promises?

What about their diplomatic pressure?!
The African Union… even the African Union abandoned him?!

He was completely and ruthlessly betrayed!
The whole world is on his side!
I am now truly all alone!
They became like fish waiting to be slaughtered on a chopping board!
A tremendous wave of dizziness suddenly washed over me.

Lumar felt as if the ground beneath his feet was spinning and collapsing.

His vision blurred, his body swayed uncontrollably, he staggered backward, and slammed heavily against the cold, rough rock wall.

The heavy impact sound was unusually clear in the deathly silent mine.

He slowly slid down the rock face and sat down on the ground, his expensive camouflage combat uniform covered in grayish-white stone dust.

Only his violently heaving chest and his fists clenched so tightly that his nails dug into his palms and bled, revealed the turmoil and utter collapse he was experiencing inside.

It’s over.

It's all over.

Hopes for international intervention have been completely dashed.

The African Union has closed the door to sending troops.

Isis and Song Heping occupied the absolute moral and legal high ground, and even offered the bait of "amnesty" to undermine his army's morale!
As for Lumar, all that remained were a few brigades trapped on a remote mountain, out of ammunition and supplies, and the shameful label of "traitor."

Despair, a chilling, bone-deep despair, like the eternal ice deep within the mine, instantly swallowed and froze him.

Just then, the only red telephone in the corner of the command post that could connect to the external secure line suddenly emitted a sharp, urgent, and death knell-like ringing!
buzzing-

The ringing of the phone broke the silence of the mine. All the staff officers' eyes, as if drawn by a magnet, instantly focused on the satellite phone on the table, and then turned in horror to Lumar, who was slumped against the rock wall.

The ringing continued, each ring louder than the last, carrying a cold, unavoidable penetrating force.

Lumar's body trembled violently.

He raised his head with difficulty.

That once arrogant face now only showed despair and hopelessness, its muscles contorted.

He stared intently at the constantly vibrating satellite phone.

It was as if it weren't a communication tool, but a summons from hell.

His intuition told him where the call was coming from.

The staff officers stood frozen in place, holding their breath. Only the death knell and Lumar's heavy breathing filled the mine.

Lumar stood up very slowly and reached for the scarlet telephone.

Every movement felt like it took a tremendous amount of effort.

"Hello... This is Lumar."

He took a deep breath and spoke first.