"Dawn City without Waldo is like a lamb ready for slaughter, nothing to fear. Even though they still have decent power, internally they are divided. We just need to employ some tactics to make them fearful, scared, and frantic," Hadwin whispered.

Upon hearing this, the others nodded in agreement.

Right now, Dawn City is restless. The slightest disturbance could lead to panic, and afterward, chaos will inevitably ensue.

At that point, Dawn City will fall apart on its own. Even if it doesn’t escalate to that point, the situation is still grim. When external forces threaten them, they will retaliate.

"Spread the word discreetly that if the Lord of the City is dead, all the major cities worldwide will besiege Dawn City. Everyone in Dawn City will die. If you leave Dawn City now, you can spare your lives."

"Alternatively, before the coalition forces reach Dawn City, provide intelligence secretly. When the coalition attacks Dawn City, those who assist the coalition will not only be spared but will also be rewarded. Remember, get this message out, but be careful not to reveal your hand!" Hadwin cautioned with a sly smile on his face.

He could already envision Dawn City’s future. If external forces were the only threat, they might never capture Dawn City. However, with his inside assistance, everything would be much simpler.

Soon, the people dispersed, and rumors began to spread rapidly in Dawn City.

"Did you hear? A coalition of many western cities is forming to attack Dawn City. We’re done for!"

"Not only that, cities in the Southern and Northern regions will also join the coalition. We’re in big trouble!"

"Our only way to spare our lives might be to leave as soon as possible."

"We can also refrain from fighting when the coalition arrives. In the past, Waldo protected us, but now that he’s gone, we don’t owe Dawn City anything, and it’s not considered betrayal."

Soon, such discussions were spreading rapidly throughout Dawn City.

During this process, a secret force that was following leads quickly captured those spreading such rumors. Through interrogation, it wasn’t long before they apprehended Hadwin, a prominent figure in Dawn City who commanded ten thousand troops.

On the imposing city walls of Dawn City, in front of a gathered audience, Calvert, with an expressionless face, addressed all the survivors: "This person is a spy for external forces who has leaked Dawn City’s secrets multiple times and is an enemy of Dawn City! This time, he spread false information and attempted to sow discord among us to induce fear!"

With that command, Calvert fired a shot, killing Hadwin. He then stared coldly at all the survivors and proclaimed, "Now, Dawn City is facing a crisis, and we need unity to confront our enemies! We have the largest arsenal, the most robust defense, and the world is our enemy. There’s nothing to worry about. From now on, those who spread false information and sow discord will be executed, regardless of their identity or who’s backing them!"

This statement caused a commotion below. They had never expected Hadwin to be a traitor, or more accurately, a spy planted by external forces. Upon reflection, they realized that they had been unduly influenced by Hadwin’s words in the beginning, causing inner turmoil.

However, in reality, there was nothing to fear. Dawn City had laser weapons, various types of ammunition, tanks, artillery, and the largest number of helicopters. Combined with the towering city walls, capturing Dawn City would be incredibly difficult.

As long as they stayed within the city walls and didn’t underestimate their enemies, they wouldn’t be easily defeated.

"What a despicable Hadwin! Good riddance!" someone in the crowd clapped and cheered.

Shortly after, in the Lord’s Mansion of Dawn City, Alanna, Helen, Calvert, Silva, Stanley, and others gathered together. They were the core of Dawn City!

The external situation had changed drastically, and with Waldo’s sudden passing, they had no choice but to come together to discuss the future of Dawn City. Where should Dawn City go from here?

"We need to strengthen the training of our soldiers. Every healthy survivor should be enlisted in the army and undergo rigorous training to enhance our strength," Calvert suggested. "However, our situation isn’t entirely grim. At least, for now, we are in an invulnerable position."

Silva added, "Recently, many people have contacted us, expressing their willingness to help. I’ve already talked to them, and they’ve agreed to conduct surprise attacks on the coalition forces when the time comes."

Then, everyone began to share their opinions. However, when it came to Alanna and Helen, the two women remained silent. This made the others in the room look at them with confusion.

For some reason, it seemed as if the two women were acting strangely. Waldo’s death had left everyone deeply saddened, and the people present were severely affected. However, they couldn’t help but notice that Alanna and Helen didn’t seem to share in their grief.

The room was filled with puzzlement and uncertainty. As the others looked at Alanna and Helen with confused expressions, Alanna spoke briefly, "He’s not dead. Everything is under his control."

Instantly, everyone’s eyes widened in disbelief. It was as if they were asking her to repeat what she had just said. Helen nodded in agreement, confirming, "Waldo is alive and well; he’s already returned."

A thunderous shock reverberated through the room, and everyone’s spirits were immediately lifted. Laughter filled the air.

"Haha, I knew it! The Lord couldn’t possibly be in trouble!"

The Oceanic Deity may be powerful, but they definitely can’t stop the Lord! I should have known this all along! With the Lord’s strength, how could anything go wrong? This is fantastic!

The emotions of the people were instantly ignited, and the previous sadness was completely swept away.

Alanna reminded them, "I kept it from you before mainly to prevent leaks and to identify the spy. Now that the spy is eliminated, we can share the news about Waldo. However, it remains highly classified and must be kept confidential."

Upon hearing this, the people nodded in agreement. They knew that Waldo had something significant planned, and when he reappeared, he would surely leave everyone in awe.

At this point, someone asked, "How did the Lord remove his name from the power ranking list?"

"That’s a privilege!" Alanna explained.

Upon hearing this, the people were once again astonished. A privilege? That privilege is enormous!

So, where does the Lord plan to go now?

"To the West," Alanna answered. "The influence of the factions in the West, especially Thunder City, is too significant. Many there oppose us. The forces in the West need to be cleansed."