Prologue

The Shattering of the Mask

June 2010, M Nation scientist Jason. Li Huade announced to the world that in May of that year, M Nation had researched technology capable of suppressing atomic fission.

July 2010, M Nation officially announced its resignation from the position of permanent member of the Security Council, and simultaneously withdrew from the United Nations system.

August 2010, Y Nation announced it had mastered atomic fission suppression technology and produced the first atomic fission suppression bomb, named STOPWAR.

September 2010, R Nation announced it had mastered atomic fission suppression technology.

October 2010, E Nation announced it had mastered atomic fission suppression technology.

November 2010, H Nation announced it had mastered atomic fission suppression technology.

December 2010, Z Nation announced it had mastered atomic fission suppression technology, and formally demanded the return of TW to Z Nation. If not carried out, it reserved the right to "reunify by force."

Christmas 2010, a small newspaper in Z Nation was shut down for publishing an article titled "When the Mask Shatters—On the Ineffectiveness of the Atomic Bomb Today."

January 2011, the TW government, against the will of its people, refused Z Nation's demand for reunification, and simultaneously announced the formal establishment of the nation of TW, thereby seceding from Z Nation's territory.

End of January 2011, Z Nation declared war on TW...

In history, Z Nation's war against TW is referred to as "the rehearsal for World War III..."

Volume One Prelude

The King's Arrival

Chapter One

No Name

I don't know what my name is. The people around me don't have names either. The instructor told us those are unnecessary, things that make us weak. We are the strongest warriors; we don't need things that make us weak. They will get us killed on the battlefield, so we have no names. My number here is NO13, sniper division soldier.

Since I can remember, I've lived here. Back then, there were 875 people around me; now, only 67 remain. Tomorrow is the first "graduation exam" at this school. Maybe I'll die tomorrow. Every "pop quiz" has taken lives. I've gotten used to people who were talking to me today being gone by tomorrow.

I'm not afraid of death; in fact, I look forward to it. When I killed NO27, who slept in the bunk below me, at age seven, he thanked me. I will always remember the look on his face then—no fear, no anger.

For the first time, I saw what those around me called "the smile of longing." I so wish I could see that smile on my own face, but I can't. Because I'm a coward. I both look forward to and fear death. Every single time, I fight with all my might to survive, whether it's raiding a terrorist base or assassinating a national official—I've survived them all.

At 2 a.m., I "clearly" fell asleep. I really look forward to tomorrow's "exam." Honestly, I just want to die...

——Excerpt from "Sniper King Diary," December 20th entry

February 1, 2011, Z Nation officially launched an offensive against TW. After encountering only symbolic resistance, it completely occupied GX City and established a forward operations command center. The people of the nation were full of confidence in reclaiming TW, all looking forward to enjoying the May 1st holiday together with the people of TW.

On the 7th of the same month, in the conference room of the forward operations command center in GX City...

"How can this be! Damn those M Nation bastards, what business is it of theirs if our own country reunifies internally? We've put up with them paying and working, but now they want to bring in their newly developed weapons too. I just don't believe their damn four so-called humanoid armors can withstand our planes and cannons!" David Clark (TW Operations Commander-in-Chief) jumped up from his seat in anger.

"Alright, alright, you're already in your forties or fifties, can't you calm down?" William Harris (Director of the Central Political Department's Confidential Section) said with a smile. "The dignified Commander-in-Chief of TW operations is acting like a child, shouting and jumping around."

"Then what do you think I should do? They're riding on our necks, and you want me to stay calm?" David Clark took out a cigarette and smoked by himself.

"You're exaggerating. This is a military secret. M Nation will only announce this news three days from now. Overall, M Nation's real purpose should be to field-test their new weapon." William Harris waved away the smoke rings from David Clark with one hand.

"Old Zheng," David Clark stopped smoking and asked William Harris, "What the hell is M Nation up to?"

"David Clark, comrade!" William Harris straightened his collar and said seriously, "You're probing for state secrets, you know that?"

"Fine, call it probing for state secrets. Are you going to tell me or not?" David Clark also became serious. "Remember that batch of high-end goldfish you just bought..."

"Sigh, you win." William Harris sighed helplessly.

"Do you know which country invented the first STOPWAR?"

"Y Nation, right? What does that have to do with M Nation?" David Clark was confused.

"Actually, it was M Nation that developed it first, they just didn't announce it. Y Nation only acted as the 'front-runner' for M Nation because of their technical support." William Harris took a sip of tea—his habit before launching into a long explanation. David Clark knew something good was coming and perked up his ears in excitement.