President Pabre was very different from his predecessors. For this politician who was born at the bottom, the inherent traditions of the Federation were definitely not an untouchable iron curtain. Of course, as the current leader of the Federation, he was not so stupid as to completely ignore compromise and balance and want to blow a strong wind in the universe. The changes he made were slow and careful. For example, the routine ball at the President's official residence for the Nebula Award winners was canceled. Instead, the President personally attended the award ceremony and gave a passionate speech.
Reverence was because of the power and authority that the President represented. Reverence was because of the Federation's political traditions and the embodiment of the Federation's will. The guests looked at President Pabre on the stage, but it did not stop them from becoming more and more confused. Why did the President make such a sudden and temporary change to the Nebula Award ceremony?
The content of President Pabre's speech showed the real reason. The first half of the speech was like a very common speech, praising the scientists and artists who had made outstanding contributions to the progress of the Federation. However, the second half of the speech began to become more serious.
The guests listened to the speech in disbelief. They could understand the President's criticism of the Empire and his concern for the situation in the West Woods, but they could not understand why the President chose today to attack the dead and well-respected Senator Macklin! Even if they were election opponents, even if they had different political views, Senator Macklin was dead, and he was remembered and respected by many people of the Federation. Why did President Pabre do this? Where did his most basic political IQ go?
The second half of the speech did not mention Macklin's name, but everyone could understand who the President was targeting. Below the stage, the Governor of Jingzhou, Mr. Ross, who was holding the Peace Prize, had an extremely heavy and angry expression on his face. However, President Pabre did not stop talking. He directly pointed out the investigation done by the Capital Daily last year.
The dead were gone. Did President Pabre not know that this was a big taboo?
"The death of a person is not as good as the extinguishing of a lamp. The lamp has light, but the place it cannot illuminate is darkness. If you do something wrong, you have to pay the price." President Pabre looked at the guests who were looking at each other in bewilderment and said coldly, "Perhaps I am not a mature politician, but I am a devoted follower of the Federation's laws … If I die, you can dig up my grave and see what color it is inside. I have the same attitude towards certain dead people. "
The Nebula Award Ceremony ended in this strange atmosphere. President Pabble's speech wouldn't be published in the newspapers, but it would definitely be circulated. As for whether it would cause another upheaval in the Federation, which had just been quiet, this was something that no one could predict. When the guests walked out of the George Carlin Center, the first thing they did was to collect the daily newspapers of the capital special district for the past week.
The Federation seemed to want to do something about the dead Medellin. President Pabre mentioned the investigation of the Capital Special District Daily. Only then did people remember that President Bob and reporter Wood, who had just been discharged from the hospital, seemed to have returned to the newspaper that was famous for exposing the truth …
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The police car cleared the road, and the black presidential motorcade slowly drove into the official residence. As soon as President Pabre got out of the car, he began to talk to the secretaries beside him. His voice was low, but it was exceptionally clear and powerful. Just like him, it was filled with a steady vitality and trustworthy charm.
After taking office for half a year, the change of personnel in the official residence was basically over. Now, the staff and officials closest to the president were some of Mr. Pabre's partners and subordinates when he was a lawyer. The burning dream of the past had become a reality today, and these people were his most loyal subordinates. There were also some officials recommended by various parties, especially those recommended by the madam. However, the officials recommended by the madam were mainly in the various departments and committees, and only one was left in the official residence.
The office manager of the official residence, Brin, came up to the president and whispered a few words in his ear. President Pabre's slightly thick lips curled up in a somewhat honest smile, making no effort to hide the joy in his heart.
President Pabre walked into the oval-shaped office on the west side of the official residence, sat down on a chair, and carefully reviewed the prepared documents on the table. He signed his name, made a data save and authorization confirmation, and only then did he raise his head to look at the young man standing in front of the table. With a slight smile, he said, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Xu Le."
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"It's my honour," Xu Le's throat was a little dry as he stood ramrod straight. Looking at the president of the Federation in front of him, he replied, "It's my honour."
For the matter of the new standards for the MX mecha, he had once come to the president's official residence, but at that time, he had only waited in the lounge for a night. Now, he was actually standing in the legendary oval-shaped office, facing the most powerful man in the Federation.
Fugitive, criminal, then meeting the president of the Federation face-to-face — even with Xu Le's steady and resolute nature, he could not help but feel a sense of epiphany. He looked at the dark-faced President Pabre and knew that it was this president who had insisted on pardoning him. Thinking back to the many subtle connections he had with the presidential election in the past two years, he could not help but develop an extremely sincere and good impression of this middle-aged man.
President Pabre leaned back in his chair and looked at the young man before him with great interest, his thick palms pressed together.
He had already read too much of Xu Le's files. On one hand, he was shocked by the deeds this young man had done, but on the other hand, he could not help but be a little puzzled. He clearly had a bright future ahead of him — why would this person be willing to violate the laws of the Federation and kill Macklin?
But when he saw Xu Le, he knew that he did not need to ask this question. This was because this young man's eyes were calm and honest, and his normal face naturally showed a look of determination and sincerity. He looked just like himself from many years ago … How many important figures of the Federation would think of their own past when they saw Xu Le? Would they think of their own clean and untainted past?
The door of the office was pushed open, and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Miles, walked in under the guidance of Director Breen. In his hand was a small box wrapped in a sky blue flannel cloth. General Miles looked at Xu Le and smiled, then walked to President Pabre's side and handed the box over.
President Pabre stood up, opened the box, and took out a medal inside. He walked to Xu Le and put it on his left chest. He then patted his shoulder and said lightly, "Before you go out, remember to hide the medal. A hero like you probably won't be able to see the light of day for many years."
Seeing the president himself, Xu Le self-deprecatingly realized that he was still nervous. At this moment, when he discovered that he had been awarded the Purple Star Medal, his pupils couldn't help but shrink, and the hands hanging outside his sleeves subconsciously clenched tightly. Killing Macklin, the Empire's most well-hidden spy, was naturally a great service to the Federation. However, he had never expected that, other than pardoning him, the military would also award him with an incredibly valuable medal.
"The MX mecha was a success. I remember that you also have a medal. You can wear that one." President Pabre noticed Xu Le's reaction and couldn't help but find it somewhat interesting. In a deep voice, he said, "Do well in the military from now on, and resist the Empire's invaders. The Federation needs people like you."
Xu Le glanced at the medal on his chest out of the corner of his eye. Thinking back to his conversation with Li Pifu in the prison that day, he vaguely understood the meaning of this medal. However, looking at the situation, even the president in front of him didn't know about the complicated relationship between himself and the Lees of Philadelphia.
He stood at attention and saluted the president.
President Pabre was the first president to come from Dong Lin. He didn't know that the young man in front of him was a fellow countryman, only thinking that Xu Le had once been a mine maintenance soldier in Dong Lin. Naturally, he couldn't help but feel a sense of closeness. Smiling, he asked, "The military court sentenced you to 732 years in prison, but I never thought that what you did was wrong. The Federation can't give you glory under the sun, and I don't think you'll ask the Federation to compensate you for the hundred days you spent in prison … If you have any thoughts, you can say them now. "
General Miles stood to the side and smiled at Xu Le. He didn't know what kind of request this young man would make to the president.
"The assassination of Macklin wasn't done by me alone." Xu Le didn't hesitate and blurted out, "I also have a partner. His name is Shi Qinghai. He played a very important role in killing Macklin. He should still be imprisoned in Fox Fortress right now. I sincerely ask that Mr. President grant him special amnesty."
As soon as these words were said, the originally relaxed atmosphere in the Oval Office suddenly changed. General Miles frowned and glanced at Xu Le. President Pabre walked back to his desk. After a moment of silence, he said, "If I remember correctly, this person called Shi Qinghai is an intelligence agent for the anti-government forces of Green Dragon Mountain."
"I know, but I saw the news yesterday. I heard that Mr. President is preparing to restart negotiations with Green Dragon Mountain," Xu Le replied with his head lowered.
"The invasion of the Empire is imminent. The Federation needs to be united internally. I do intend to invite the leader of Nanshui to the capital for negotiations."
Two years ago, Mr. Pabre, who was still a member of parliament, had reached an agreement with the anti-government forces of Green Dragon Mountain. Now that he was the president of the Federation, he naturally had to carry out this agreement. Although the government attributed Macklin's death to the fanatical terrorists of Green Dragon Mountain, it didn't affect the overall situation at all.
President Pabre didn't need to explain anything to Xu Le, but for some reason, looking at his resolute eyes, he admitted to this point.
"The winter before last, when you went to S2, as well as the information transfer and negotiations, it was all facilitated by Shi Qinghai." Xu Le added another bargaining chip.
"You insist?" President Pabre looked at him with a heavy expression and asked.
"I insist." Xu Le raised his head and answered very seriously.
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