Winds of Freedom

Chapter 25: Lunch at the City Hall Before the Grand Departure

Chapter 25: Lunch at the City Hall Before the Grand Departure

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City of Shang Mu - Noon Hours

The city of Shang Mu... was recovering, its streets filled with a mix of relief and sorrow. Workers tirelessly cleared debris left by the assault, sweeping up the broken remnants of what once were bustling market stalls, buildings, and homes. Ambulances sped through the streets, transporting the injured to the hospital, while soldiers patrolled the city, scanning for any remaining robots. Despite the sun shining brightly overhead, the city bore deep scars from the attack.

Amid the many moving figures, a female bat with brown and white fur stood ready with a microphone in her hand. Her wings, covered in membrane, folded neatly at her sides. She wore a sleek black sleeveless dress, paired with white pants, sunglasses, and a headband adorned with small accessories that added to her professional appearance. She glanced at the camera operator standing beside her.

"Are we on?" she asked, her expression serious. After a quick nod from the cameraman, she took a deep breath and began her report.

"Hello Avalice. This is Maria Notte, reporting live," she said, her voice carrying the weight of recent events. Maria recounted the catastrophic events that had unfolded, from Robotnik's betrayal to Shuigang's surprise attack on the city. She spoke of the theft of the City's Ruby and the Kingdom Stone, both priceless artifacts now in the hands of their enemies. "It was a scene of utter devastation," she continued, her tone somber. "As you can see behind me, the city is left in shambles. Brave civilians, along with guards and a small group of heroes, fought valiantly against the relentless hordes of robots, but the city will take time to heal from this."

The camera panned to show various shots of Shang Mu's citizens, each of them sharing their harrowing experiences. First, the lens focused on a blue-furred cheetah, her eyes filled with bitterness as she spoke about the betrayal she witnessed.

"It was horrible," the cheetah said, shaking her head. "I was at the event, and then out of nowhere... the sky battalion of Shuigang appeared. And those blasted robots, those... things that were supposed to help us, they turned on us! They attacked everyone. It was ..."

Next, the camera zoomed in on an elderly panda, his face etched with anger. "Those blasted robots! They came into my house, destroyed my kitchen and my living room! They turned my whole place upside down!" he growled, shaking his cane at the wreckage in frustration.

The camera cut to a Shang Mu soldier, her eyes blazing with fury. "Shuigang and Robotnik... they'll pay for this! I swear it!" Her words became more volatile before the feed was quickly cut, leaving her threats unheard.

Then came Leslie, the goat receptionist from the hotel. She stood teary-eyed but grateful, her voice steady despite the obvious fear she had felt during the attack. "I was terrified, but... I can't thank the guards enough. And the heroes-those kids-they gave us hope. They fought for us. I don't know how we would have survived without them." As Leslie spoke, others around her nodded, adding their voices in gratitude.

Maria Notte gave a solemn nod as the camera returned to her. "There are many stories like Leslie's, stories of survival, of unexpected heroes." She paused, her expression softening as she noted, "And then there's the blue streak, the hero that many citizens have mentioned. He saved countless lives, and though his identity remains something of a mystery to many, the city of Shang Mu owes them a debt of gratitude."

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Shang Mu City - Hospital

Inside the bustling Zao Hospital, the aftermath of Shuigang's assault was still evident. Doctors and nurses rushed from room to room. Most of the citizens had managed to survive the chaos, though the tension in the air remained thick. The hospital buzzed with controlled urgency and the shuffle of hurried footsteps filling the halls.