Munitions Empire Chapter 2023 - 1885: An Accidental Gate

Stunning beauty, unparalleled allure, can sometimes stir hesitation, even igniting a savage urge to shatter it completely. Just like a fragile porcelain vase, its perfection instills dread of touch, terror of disrupting its tranquil grace.

Imagine a gorgeous woman whose beauty ascends to unreachable heights, making any intimate acts between lovers feel like outright blasphemy.

Picture a breathtaking blossom in full bloom; though many nurture wicked impulses to seize it, you can't help but nod to the timeless proverb: cherish it from a distance, never profane it with crude hands.

Right now, Chang’an City embodies this perfectly—teeming with splendor and wealth, alive with song and dance, streets packed with revelers, joyous shouts echoing without end, lanterns aglow, banners waving, bursting with exuberant life.

The Empire’s Dragon Banner dances on the breeze, embodying the might and majesty of the realm, igniting fervor in the chest of every Great Tang subject.

Observing the throngs lining Chang’an’s avenues, eyeing the streetlamps and barriers draped in the Empire’s Dragon Banner, beholding structures blanketed in enormous national flags, a wave of national pride swells in every Great Tang Empire inhabitant.

However, to Sofia, this spectacle appears as a fleeting illusion, deceptive and mocking. Peering through the vehicle’s glass, she takes in the lively panorama beyond, yet a profound bitterness wells up inside her. The splendor of this age was meant for her, stolen away by a robber who claimed all that rightfully belonged to her! She remains aloof, a detached spectator, gazing coldly at the lavish festivity, her spirit filled with ridicule and hopelessness.

Her eyes stare blankly and confusedly outward. To her, the jubilant masses are nothing but oblivious sheep, ignorant of the looming catastrophe. She perceives the peril lurking beneath the opulent surface, the sham and rot concealed behind the lavish facade. This sensation chokes her, as if plunging into an endless void.

An unseen fist seems to clench her heart, robbing her of breath. An overwhelming wave of grief and agony floods her core, eating away at her essence like venom. Memories of happier times surface, along with faces that once stirred her soul, now all faded into oblivion.

Her mind turns to him. In mere hours, he would command the platform, captivating all gazes, basking in the audience's cheers and well-wishes. And she, unless she acted this day, would lurk in shadowy nooks, witnessing it all in mute anguish, akin to a forsaken plaything.

Such torment resembled beholding one's cherished doll tossed about in strangers' grasp; or seeing one's love adorned in finery, slipping into another's arms... The agony nearly smothers her. Her fingers whitened as she gripped the bomb detonator fiercely.

She could no longer bear this torment; instinctively, her clenched fist began caressing the altered bomb remote, savoring its icy metal surface, her sole source of comfort.

This only hardened her resolve—she yearned to raze it all, to dismantle this counterfeit boom, rendering this epoch as transient as her losses, a tribute to what was taken.

Ruin! Let everything crumble to dust! If this time refuses to be hers, then let it perish utterly! Only in total annihilation can her tormented spirit finally rest.

"Here we are, sir, ma’am." The driver halted at the identity checkpoint amid the flow of vehicles and glanced back to alert the pair, both deep in reverie. As the man snapped alert, a reception attendant had already swung open the door from outside.

Sofia’s appearance from the car left onlookers stunned. Her beauty was so striking that perhaps only Ying Yue Iryn could rival it.

Furthermore, Sofia’s aura stood apart from Tang Mo’s Imperial Concubines.

Alice and Yulin, seasoned in lofty roles, radiate natural command; Iryn and Ying Yue have honed regal poise amid the Great Tang Palace; Yue’er, ever the free spirit, carries an innocent, upbeat charm reminiscent of the wholesome neighbor girl.

Sofia possessed a fierce, untamed allure; she favored women, or rather, had yet to encounter a man worthy of her heart, rendering her akin to a warrior, a feral creature, defiant and keen-edged like a sword.

As she stepped out with her fiery red locks, the gazes of nearby aristocrats lit up. Though escorted by their ladies, a quick glance revealed their companions paled in comparison.

For the sake of securing His Majesty The Emperor’s coronation at the Observation Platform, rigorous inspections commenced at least 1500 meters away.

Order in the area was impeccably upheld, with ticketed VIPs lining up neatly, moving through a pair of peculiar door frames two by two, then heading down the pointed corridor to their assigned Observation Platforms. Reception staff lined the path, indicating that security measures were exceedingly rigorous.

With elegant strides, Sofia approached the security checkpoint, her high heels clicking sharply against the floor. She kept her chin raised high, striving to seem indifferent, but the inner strain caused sweat to bead on her palms.

She felt confident there would be no pat-down searches today. These were nobles, after all—how could they allow just anyone to lay hands on their wives? Especially since the weapon and bomb detonator she concealed were right near her intimate areas; any such inspection would have canceled the entire event!

Yet she had underestimated the technological advancements of the Great Tang Empire; she never imagined metal detectors would be deployed for security screening. Those cursed metal arches, harnessing cutting-edge tech, neatly sidestepped all the tricky dilemmas...

This marked the debut of metal detection tech on a grand scale for security purposes, though it had seen limited use in mine clearance before, serving a wholly distinct role. While akin devices had long guarded the Forbidden City as covert defenses embedded in passageway walls, few were privy to their existence.

Thus, as Sofia stepped through the metal detector arch, a shrill alarm blared abruptly, shattering the calm ambiance—and startling her in the process. Concealed under her skirt lay a compact pistol, plus the remote detonator she'd gripped anxiously the entire journey.

That abrupt, ear-piercing wail clenched her heart like an unseen fist around her throat. Unfamiliar with this novel security gadget, her carefully laid scheme crumbled instantly.

"Ma’am, are you carrying any prohibited items? If so, please hand them over immediately... to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings." The female security officer before Sofia prompted her.

Sofia had never dreamed this bizarre, sophisticated security method would appear at His Majesty The Emperor’s coronation. She hadn't even neared the Observation Platform when the perimeter scan halted her.

From this range, she doubted the detonator could reliably set off the explosive planted under Tang Mo’s coronation main platform. Over 1500 meters still yawned between her and the target.

Yet options had vanished—surrender the pistol now or later, she was barred from advancing to the Observation Platform for Tang Mo’s ceremony... She'd be flagged as suspicious, seized, and grilled relentlessly...

How could she endure scrutiny? Her identity was fabricated; her hands dripped with guilt... Isolate her sham husband for merely 12 hours, and his cravings would force a full confession!

"Invent an excuse! Whip up a story fast!" This frantic ploy raced through Sofia’s thoughts. Claim she hid something odd in delicate spots... Blame her husband’s peculiar tastes... Such private scandals ought to deter these guards from pushing too hard... Her mind whirled; reaching this point proved her sharp instincts.

As her deliberations dragged on, seconds slipped by. Noting her hesitant response, the blocking female officer's gaze sharpened further.

The pressure proved too much in the following instant—Sofia’s sham husband cracked utterly. Dragged along against his will, his frame already ravaged by Black Crow, he buckled under the psychological torment. As Sofia schemed her response, he clutched his head, bolted into the rear crowd, and bellowed, "It’s all her! She forced me! I’m innocent! I don’t want to die!"

Sofia silently damned the fool, scrambling for rebuttals or deals, but her worthless partner had wrecked everything!

His breakdown spurred the nearby guards into action, encircling her with expert precision, eyes locked on Sofia warily, batons gleaming ominously.

The ring constricted, mounting the strain. Sofia realized escape was impossible. Drawing a steadying breath, determination ignited in her eyes. Dropping the facade, she yanked the pistol from under her skirt, its dark muzzle trained on the closest guard.

Alarmed, the guards snapped up their own arms in reply, the air thick with suspense.

Just as someone drew their weapon, set to let this boldly stunning woman experience Great Tang’s thunder, Sofia hoisted the detonator high overhead. Her fingers turned white from the strain as she cried out in a quivering voice, "I have a bomb here! Don’t come any closer!"

Her declaration froze all movements; the guards poised to charge forward halted abruptly. Taking down this madwoman would be straightforward, but failing to track down the deadly bomb she mentioned spelled massive trouble.

"Calm down! Relax! This lady..." The female security officer standing close to Sofia tried to soothe her, "Don’t be rash! This is very dangerous!"

"I know!" Sofia swung the gun’s aim toward the female officer who had spoken, "Shut up!"