We Are All Heroes, and We Have the Courage to Rise

Post-War Reconstruction: A Rising Era of Hope and Industry

The aftermath of war was not particularly complex—everything proceeded methodically, step by step.

Or rather, to be precise, in the wake of the fierce battle at the Dantu front, the most critical task for the Jinling Group was not battlefield cleanup or pacification. Instead, their top priority remained the core mission of disaster relief and reconstruction.

Under the latest directives from the Central Command, the disaster relief strategy had undergone a significant transformation over the past month.

Jinling was no longer merely striving to help people survive—now, they aimed to help them live better. To live with dignity.

Mike had not abandoned his ideals or his promises. Under his leadership, the Jinling Command continued to govern each city with a clear and unified vision.

Day 2 After the War: A Connected Network

On the second day following the battle, the Jinling Regional Network officially integrated Dantu and Guangling, extending its reach into urban management, military coordination, civilian life, and entertainment.

The Research Institute announced plans to deploy communication signal towers across key areas, with at least 30 new towers set to be erected within a week. These would stabilize and strengthen intercity communications, a critical step in long-term stability.

A bold move—one reminiscent of past large-scale infrastructure projects.

Day 5 After the War: The Dawn of Industry

Jinling's first technology base was established in the southern suburbs, officially launching operations.

This urban-scale industrial base, powered by the Heart of Technology, marked a significant step toward full industrial restoration. While it had yet to reach its maximum potential, the foundation was set.

Initially, the Heart of Technology housed fewer than 50 production lines, but thanks to around-the-clock research efforts, the number skyrocketed to 300.

Among these:

50 lines were allocated for civilian use across the four cities. 100 lines were dedicated to military armament production and upgrades. The remaining 150 lines were wholly committed to the construction of a new technology base.

The next target? Xinchang City. A second technology base was already in the works, expected to reach operational capacity within ten days—a critical expansion that would further solidify the alliance's industrial backbone.

Day 10 After the War: A New Order Emerges

The Four-City Alliance was officially established, spearheaded by Jinling.

With this came the most profound restructuring yet:

The traditional centralized governance model—where Jinling Command controlled everything—was abolished. Leadership was restructured, redistributing responsibilities among the four cities. The Huaxia Post-Apocalyptic Disaster Relief Headquarters was formed, replacing Jinling's sole authority with a cooperative regional administration.

The name alone carried weight.

No longer bound to Jinling or even the Jiangnan region, the title signaled a nationwide vision, an ambition that extended far beyond local survival.

The people heard the announcement and celebrated. But those who looked deeper into the political undercurrents saw something more—Mike was laying the groundwork for a greater plan.

Yet, regardless of speculation, no one opposed the structural reforms. After all, from any angle, these changes only benefited the majority.

This was a plan that gave the ordinary survivors a fighting chance in a cruel world.

The only potential downside? Perhaps some might later criticize Mike for consolidating too much power. But even if that happened, such criticism would be directed at him alone—not the people.

And if Mike himself didn't care about the backlash?

Then there was no real loss.

A New Era of Cooperation

Within these ten days of intense post-war management, the recovery efforts across all four cities surpassed expectations.

To the average citizen, it felt as though the apocalypse was retreating, as if the nightmare was fading away.

The sense of security returned. Industrial production rapidly resumed, stabilizing supply chains. Material and psychological needs were both addressed.

For the first time in years, life felt normal again.

The true strength of the Four-City Alliance was becoming evident.

Resource shortages? Dantu's survivors filled the gaps with surplus supplies. Leadership deficiencies? Jinling provided experienced administrative talents. Military defense? Xinchang's powerful gifted warriors formed security forces.

A single city could never hope to survive every challenge in the apocalypse.

But four cities together?

That changed everything.

The most unexpected effect, however, came from Guangling. Despite its turbulent past, its people enthusiastically embraced the new order.

They volunteered for the industrial workforce. They joined the research teams. They signed up for city defense and law enforcement.

It turned out Guangling's population—while small—was incredibly diverse and skilled.

Many survivors had both unique abilities and pre-apocalypse expertise, making them invaluable assets to the alliance.

And ironically, they owed this to the very warlord who had once ruled them.

His brutal policies had driven out the weak while hoarding the strong. Though he failed to control them, his actions had—unintentionally—left Guangling with an elite survivor base.

Now, those very people were integrating into the alliance, further strengthening its foundation.

The Rise of a Leader

But there was another, more subtle shift happening.

Something Mike had not anticipated.

It started on Day 3 after the war.

When a leader emerges victorious, it's common for people to celebrate their achievements.

Mike had never encouraged this. He wasn't one for empty praise—he valued action over words.

Yet, somewhere within the four-city network, discussions about him began to take shape.

With the regional networks fully connected, the four cities could now engage in seamless communication.

And naturally, the citizens of Jinling and Xinchang—who had lived under Mike's rule the longest—felt a sense of pride.

They didn't openly boast. That would be distasteful.

Instead…

They simply told stories.

How Mike saved Jinling from chaos. How he tamed the infamous White Bear. How he crushed the city-center slave traders. How he liberated Xinchang from its warlord factions.

At first, it was casual conversation.

But as the discussions deepened, an undeniable realization emerged:

Mike wasn't just a survivor.

He was a leader who had grown stronger with every challenge.

Unlike the rulers of the old world, who were born into power, he had built his influence from nothing.

And despite the brutal world he lived in, his values had never wavered.

His strength did not come from selfishness.

His authority did not come from fear.

He was simply a man who refused to abandon his people.

The more they analyzed his past, the more the people saw him as someone worth believing in.

And that belief soon turned into action.

A Collective Offering

The real shock came when the Four-City Command received an urgent report:

"Commander! Something unprecedented is happening!"

"The citizens of Dantu and Guangling are demanding the right to donate resources in exchange for work points—just like Jinling and Xinchang!"

"...They're demanding it?"

Mike was speechless.

Normally, survivors clung to their resources with their lives.

Yet here, an entire population was voluntarily giving up valuable supplies—materials that could be used for their own survival—to strengthen their leader instead.

Their reasoning?

"If Mike grows stronger, we all grow stronger."

It was logical.

It was efficient.

And more than anything…

It was absolute trust.

Mike didn't even get a chance to respond before the senior officers stepped in.

The old commander laughed, slamming his fist on the table.

"This is what unity looks like! Let them donate—take everything they offer!"

"And send it all to Jinling immediately. No exceptions."