Starting from South America, speeding through the world

Chapter 53 Bitter Tower

Beto sighed helplessly and patted his colleague's desk next to him.

"Hey buddy, my phone might be broken. Is yours still working?"

However, there was no response.

Beto blinked.

He was about to ask again when he realized that the other person's gaze wasn't on him at all, but was staring at the window in terror.

His face was deathly pale, and his lips were trembling.

"Hey buddy, what's up? Don't act like there's a monster out there."

Beto found it a bit funny and casually made a joke.

His response was still silence.

At 3:00 PM Brasilia Standard Time, the tracks of armored personnel carriers rolled over the asphalt road, and eight military green trucks blocked the building.

Under the bright sunshine, the machine gun turrets spun, and the soldiers filed in.

Leerts stood by the window, a strange unease rising within him.

This afternoon was unusually quiet, as if something was lurking beneath the oppressive heat, waiting to erupt.

He turned and walked back to his desk.

The General Staff's report was spread out, its dense text making it difficult to concentrate.

Lytes picked up his coffee cup and took a sip when there was a knock at the door.

"Come in."

He put down his cup and said something casually.

The heavy door was pushed open, and Arturo walked in first.

He was followed by his adjutant and two army staff officers.

“Arturo?” Lyertes looked up and gestured for him to sit down.

"What a coincidence, I was just about to look for you."

"The President has just ordered the Eastern Military District to immediately dispatch an armored brigade into the area—"

"Sir, we must talk."

Arturo didn't sit down, but interrupted him directly.

A flicker of displeasure crossed Lyletus's mind, but he didn't show it, and patiently asked, "What do you want to talk about?"

“The president has lost control of the country,” Arturo said calmly. “We cannot allow the military to become his personal tool.”

"So you're telling me you've decided to disobey orders?" Lytes' voice turned cold.

Arturo nodded without changing his expression, without avoiding his gaze at all:
"Yes, sir, we need the Eastern Military District to operate independently and refuse to carry out any orders from Brasilia."

Laertes tilted his head back, staring intently at Arturo: "So, you've come to persuade me to betray us with you?"

Arturo remained calm: "No, sir, I'm giving you a chance, a choice."

"The Eastern Military District is the most important strategic command unit in the country, and our decision will affect the future of the entire country."

"Being loyal to a corrupt and dictatorial president is by no means the best choice for the people."

Lytes' expression turned completely cold.

He slowly stood up, and said with a sneer, "The army's responsibility is to defend the country, not to become a political pawn. Soldiers are loyal to the Constitution, not to be ambitious scoundrels like Alvaro."

"Do you think you can convince me with just a few words? Dream on! You'll only face a military court."

Arturo sighed: "Sir, I had hoped you could understand the situation and not let us come to this."

As soon as he finished speaking, he clapped his hands lightly, and the adjutant standing behind him immediately turned around and locked the door from the inside.

Click—the sound of the latch closing is crisp and clear.

Lytes' pupils suddenly contracted. He realized that, apart from himself, no one else in the room showed any surprise or opposition.

Unable to maintain his composure any longer, Lartes lunged at the telephone on the table:

"Eastern Military District Command, 5th Armored Regiment, 3rd Artillery Brigade, and Command Center, immediately confirm combat readiness."

"Emergency order, codename Shield—all troops to enter Level 1 alert!"

"Any transfer without the approval of this headquarters is illegal and must be carried out immediately!"

"Command center, repeat the order!"

After a brief period of static on the other end of the phone, there was complete silence.

Immediately afterwards, a system prompt began to play automatically:
"You do not have permission to access this channel."

Laertes, his forehead dripping with cold sweat, trembled as he switched lines and dialed the 12th Mechanized Infantry Brigade:
"This is Laertes! Immediately confirm combat readiness!"

"Did you hear me? Immediately confirm combat readiness!"

This time, after about five seconds, a familiar voice finally came:

"Sir, the command center has not yet approved your order. We are awaiting further instructions."

"Instructions?" Lyertes gripped the microphone tightly. "I'm your fucking superior commander! This is the highest order from the military region, do you dare disobey?"

The person on the phone seemed to hold their breath, then responded in a lower voice, "Sir, we've been ordered to maintain our current deployment. Sorry."

After saying that, he cut off the communication.

Lyertes' chest heaved violently.

He finally understood that the entire command system had been taken over by the rebels in advance.

All officers who remained loyal to the president were either placed under house arrest or purged.

Those who are still hesitating will likely face swift consequences.

As a result, even his most trusted troops chose to stand on the opposite side.

Arturo watched quietly from the sidelines, as if giving Lyertes time to understand everything.

After a dozen seconds, he sighed softly, turned his head and ordered, "Take him down."

Upon receiving the order, the two officers beside him immediately rushed forward, grabbed Lyertes by the shoulder, and slammed him onto the table.

"You are committing treason! Treason!" Lyertes struggled desperately, trying to break free of his control, but the young officer was very strong.

Arturo approached slowly, placed one hand on the corner of the table, and looked down at him: "What a pity, you originally had the opportunity to be on the right side."

"Fuck you, you're right!" Lyletus roared. "If you've got the guts, kill me now! Like a man!"

“No, sir, I won’t kill you.” Arturo smiled and shook his head, then turned to the two officers and said, “Put him under house arrest and don’t let him speak again until everything is settled.”

Lytes wanted to curse again, but before he could speak, a piece of cloth was suddenly covered to cover his mouth.

Immediately afterwards, he was carried out of the office.

Once the sounds outside had completely disappeared, Arturo straightened his collar, picked up the radio, and readjusted the encrypted channel.

"Attention all units of the Eastern Military District, this is Major General Arturo."

"According to the decision of the senior command of the military region, effective immediately, I shall assume the duties of commander of the Eastern Military Region."

"The Eastern Military District has entered a state of first-level combat readiness. All combat units will maintain their existing deployments to ensure the security of the defense zone."

"Any military movement that is not approved by the headquarters is considered illegal and should be intercepted and seized immediately."

"Each combat unit shall immediately report its combat readiness status, and the commander shall repeat the order and confirm its execution."

A few seconds later, a series of synchronized replies rang out in the channel, as if they had been waiting for a long time.

"Copy that, sir."

(End of this chapter)