Chapter 603 - 7: Departure (Part 3)
The scene wavered and twisted like a bubble about to burst. Then, the humanoid figure at the center of the blots grew increasingly blurred, as if it were completely merging into the scenery.
The suffocating transformation persisted for a few seconds, and the colorful "bubble" suddenly shattered, disappearing entirely—
Nothing remained on the sandy ground, only the moist gravel.
...
It took a few minutes for everyone’s minds to recover from the impact of the information flood.
Gazing at the empty beach, even those who had mentally prepared themselves were still wide-eyed with shock at witnessing this scene firsthand.
Some covered their faces and cried, yet an inexplicable joy bubbled up from within—
Not everyone liked having someone constantly over their head. With Chen Zhou gone, he felt a sense of relief.
Some people’s legs went weak, collapsing to the ground powerlessly, staring silently at the center of the sandy beach.
Others rushed around frantically, converging on the spot where the Leader disappeared, digging into the gravel with their hands, as if they could uncover clues about the Leader’s whereabouts.
Even Saturday, who was usually steadfast, staggered slightly, staring at the sandy ground, lost in thought.
Only Sunday remained unmoved, like a reef that stood still amid the crashing waves and blowing winds.
He coldly watched his colleagues behave in various ways, engraving every action into his mind, pursing his lips, clenching his teeth, yet two lines of tears slid down from the corners of his eyes.
He didn’t speak or wail loudly, but the sadness within his heart far exceeded that of anyone present.
He silently said his farewell in his heart—
"Goodbye, Father, goodbye!
I will surely live up to your expectations. As long as I am alive, the island will continue indefinitely, even if it demands my life!"
...
As Chen Zhou had not made a public appearance on the island for some years, his departure did not cause any upheaval.
Just like the way common people don’t care who the emperor is, the islanders each have their own lives, and aside from occasionally treating upper echelons as gossip fodder during mealtimes, they hardly discuss anyone’s appointment or removal.
Anyway, the island has not changed to match the words in the poem—
"In prosperity, the people suffer; in decline, the people suffer."
Life is still relatively prosperous, with enough food and clothing, children, and savings, and all the islanders are very content.
Especially those islanders who have lived through the "cannibalistic" era, who know how hard the good days now have come.
Yet beneath their seemingly tranquil, still-water lives, a blood-soaked brutal storm was quietly breaking out—
Sunday, controlling the military power single-handedly, disregarded Saturday’s dissuasions and stubbornly began his massive purge.
The mixed-race officials managing the ports and the middle-to-high-level islander officials with close ties to them were forcibly sent to the military. Iron-clad evidence was laid before them, leaving no room for denial.
Issues previously solvable with money were now charged with severe offenses like "treason" and "espionage," and every gunshot from the military camp signified the loss of an official’s life, with countless others executed secretly.
The number of people worried and afraid because of this incident, even going as far as joining other officials to impeach Sunday, was innumerable.
Faced with pressure from middle and high-level officials, Saturday, as the top figure in politics, resolutely withstood the pressure, plainly siding with Sunday.
The months-long purge caused significant turmoil on the island, leading many merchants who disagreed with Sunday’s measures to announce the cessation of trade with the island.
But "Paradise Island" did not respond directly to the protests from these people, only issuing a statement completely unrelated to the matter—
"From January 1, 1688, the island will be formally named ’Cheng Gong Island,’ severing all ties with Paradise Island, the lost Atlantis, and Eden Island."