Chapter 194: Requiem Part 1 (3 in 1)
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
“Hank, you know I don’t have that much time on my clock, don’t you?” Andrew’s gaze was fixed to his right. Tang Ling was already fighting a member of the Summit Squad.
During the battle, Tang Ling did not hold back at all. Whether or not Tang Ling did it on purpose, the members of the Summit Squad did not even get the chance to concede, every one of them was beaten up terribly.
Tang Ling tried to kill a few of them a few times, but Andrew signaled Hank to concede on behalf of the members in the nick of time since he was the captain of the Summit Squad. After all, the captain of each squad had the right to do so when their member’s life was on the line.
Should he seize the last few moments in his life and be a good person for once? Andrew lit a cigarette and started smoking. As a realist, he never believed in past karma or the afterlife, but now it seemed like the saying had become a type of comfort just so he could feel a little happier in the next life.
Just to serve Andrew’s purpose, the Summit Squad members were dragged into this as his p.a.w.ns. Now, saving their lives from Tang Ling’s wrath was the least he could do as a move to show his goodwill although the best option for him would be to let Tang Ling kill all of them to buy him some time.
“I’ll go next,” Hank said.
If the challenge continued, after the 6th person was defeated, it would be Andrew’s turn.
When Tang Ling started his challenge against the Summit Squad, he declared that he would go all out with each and every one of them because they owed him something: a lock.
No one understood him except for the Summit Squad. The lock that he was referring to was the lock back at garage No. 9 which the Summit Squad had sabotaged.
Tang Ling is really a wonder kid. He knew everything from the start! He feigned a carefree personality and acted like a rascal shamefully just to cover up his true nature.
Dier Gordin spewed a mouthful of blood out as he limped down the corner, waiting for the paramedics take him away.
Five of his ribs were broken, his internal organs were damaged, his arm was broken, and even three of his fingers were crushed. The battle in the ring was a nightmare for him.
Tang Ling’s cold but resolute gaze was similar to the devil’s. When the match started, Dier managed to punch Tang Ling, but before he realized it, revenge was already being dished out on him.
The pain from the injuries was nothing compared to the punches. The blows that landed on his body were unforgettable as every single punch struck his weak spots precisely.
Dier had trained his body based on the Gordin family’s traditional discipline, so every part of his body was as tough as iron nails as they were challenged to their limits as his ultimate life goal.
Even though he was still far away from his ultimate goal, how could Tang Ling have known all his weak spots? Had he exposed himself?
Ptui! Another mouthful of blood was spat out.
Orston, who was also from the Gordin family, did not even sympathize with Dier’s defeat. In shame, Dier knew that given his defeat, he could no longer meet Orston’s gaze. The match with Tang Ling did not just destroy his body but also his spirit.
“After I finish smoking, leave. Leave the safety sector right away and don’t look back,” Andrew rejected Hank’s suggestion with his reply while he studied Dier and another member of the Summit Squad with an emotional gaze for the first time.
“What did you say?” Hank could not accept the suggestion because he was so used to being beside Andrew. They had grown up together and had never been separated, yet Andrew wanted him to leave? How bad was the situation?
Tang Ling was beating up the third member of the Summit Squad in the ring. Although his bloodthirstiness instilled fear in everyone, Andrew would still stand a chance.
“I said go. Save my last strand of hope! Remember, the main enemy isn’t Tang Ling. It’s Aber Agnes. After this, even if you don’t see it with your own eyes, you will receive news that Aber pushed me to my death. Believe me.”
“Andrew…” Hank’s hand was shaking.
“Have you heard of a particular list? This list has another name—the Horror Lullaby. It’s labeled as such because the names listed there will be killed in the cradle. The babies in the cradle listen to the lullaby their mothers sing as they grow. Although they need a quiet and safe environment to grow, they…” Andrew took a deep puff before he looked into the sky and spat a ring of smoke out.
“Those on the list can only hear the death march. They won’t have a future because everyone on the list is a genius! Get it? A list of geniuses!” He turned to Hank with a wry smile.
Hank’s eyes stung while the sour feeling that rose in his throat was very uncomfortable.
“Of course, there are many geniuses in this world, but those left behind by that man, the seed, every one of them must be killed. Tang Ling is certainly one of the geniuses on the list. Do you understand?” Andrew paused and habitually stroked Hank’s golden hair. “Let’s go. I’m just fighting for the credit. You must know I never had the chance to show off my talents under the limelight. My mother, a maiden, made a mistake by giving birth to me.”
“So, you decided to give up?” Hank could barely hold back his tears, but Andrew had once told him that he cried like a girl, so if he could just man up, he would be a lot stronger.
“I never gave up. I just don’t have the life to continue.” Andrew’s smile was bleak and he was halfway done with his cigarette. “Tang Ling might be right about this. Maybe with my death, I’ll know what kindness is. Remember, I stepped on his tail first. One day, if you are strong enough, Hank, go take revenge on Aber.”
Another heavily injured member of the Summit Squad flew from the ring with all his limbs broken mercilessly by Tang Ling who was cold-blooded like the devil from h.e.l.l.
“Next.” Tang Ling’s steps were wobbly, but his voice was filled with battle intent as always.
People would remember this scene under the rain and wind. They would surely remember this young man who fought his way from the last place to the top 6. He had created a miracle that no one could surpa.s.s and he was not stopping just yet.
“Go now!” Andrew glanced at Tang Ling in the ring. He added, “If Aber is dead, go to his mother’s family. You know that is my deepest wish.” Then, he flicked the cigarette away.
Hank’s heart was broken. He knew that Andrew’s biggest wish was to go after Aber’s mother because Andrew’s mother, a weak and insignificant maiden, had died because of a single command from the former.
Even though Aber’s mother had never cared about Aber and Andrew’s father and almost never appeared in Safety Sector No. 17, sharing a husband with a maiden was intolerable for a woman her status. As a result of her cruelty, Andrew’s mother died.
When Andrew’s right to use his father’s name was taken away from him, he was deemed as the lowest b.a.s.t.a.r.d of the family. He did not even have the right to call Aber, who was from another mother, his brother. Instead, he had to call Aber his cousin because of his status!
Andrew had been living a pitiful life, and even until the last moment of his life, he did not have the opportunity to take revenge, hence the responsibility was pa.s.sed to Hank.
Hank curled his fists tightly. He knew with Andrew’s death, he would also be cleared out. Since Andrew was always the smartest of the squad, he knew this would happen, he wanted to send Hank away.
Taking revenge was not really necessary, but Andrew afraid that Hank might stay back, hence he threw the responsibility to him.
Hank slowly retreated while Andrew stepped into the ring before he turned around to his friend for one last smile.
Up until the last second, Hank held his emotions back as he did not want to let Andrew see his tear-streaked face. He nodded and turned around, striding towards the cave in the Hope Barrier resolutely and quietly.
It was time to say goodbye.
“Amir,” Tang Ling called Amir’s name out when Andrew stepped into the ring.
Andrew did not say anything and stood opposite Tang Ling in the wind. Despite being half-dead, Amir’s eyes were wide open, and when he saw Andrew in the ring, his eyes flickered with hatred. If he had a choice, he would have taken the faulty tactical movement disk and not given it to Vian.
Orston’s lips were trembling hard. He wanted to cry. Why? For Vian? Or for Amir? Maybe it was because of the time he spent together with both of them in the most precious four months in his life. Time had pa.s.sed too quickly and shattered his reality heavily…
He still could not understand what had happened, but he got a hint from Tang Ling. Amir betrayed them, had he? Orston was utterly confused!
“Amir, tell the truth. It wasn’t you, was it?” Christina clung on the last sliver of hope and asked.
Orston helped Amir up properly.
Tang Ling tossed the loudspeaker out of the ring since he had grabbed it from the observatory just for the confession. As a matter of fact, was the truth that important to everyone? It might not be, but there must have been a reason for Vian’s death. Although the crowd might not want to hear it, they must because Tang Ling wanted justice for her.
“Andrew, you lied to me.” Amir stood up weakly and leaned heavily on Orston.
Clyne finally hung up on the call and told Aber directly, “Arrest Andrew and Tang Ling.”
Aber flashed a grin. So, this is it? Since Grandfather gave the order, then I’ll just go all out. He signaled the two Purple Moon Warriors with a quick glance.
At the same time in Worf’s office, Zorwen was no longer standing beside him. Worf sighed as if he did not have the heart to continue watching. He walked away slowly and sat down behind his desk. In his hand was a very intricate key with a chip installed in it. He tossed it around and lit a cigar, frowning as he pondered upon his thoughts.
******
“That was an accident. As long as the faulty tactical movement disk isn’t in Tang Ling’s hand, it’s fine. I don’t know who would’ve been the unlucky one to get it either,” Andrew spoke loudly on purpose. He even looked at Tang Ling and said, “Can you lend me the loudspeaker?”
Tang Ling did not say anything. He saw two Purple Moon Warriors shuttling through the crowd quietly and heading towards the ring. He did not panic though since it was within his expectations and someone would stop the Purple Moon Warriors, would they not?
“Get to the point Amir.” Tang Ling sighed exasperatedly.
“Andrew wanted to set Tang Ling up. The tactical movement disk was tampered with beforehand so that the last retraction wouldn’t work! Even when I took the disks for the squad, the spot that I stood in was set beforehand.” Amir was panting as he could not last any longer.
As life seeped out of him, he felt like the sun was s.h.i.+ning on him. It felt warm. He felt like he saw Vian stand up beside him, tilting her head and looking at him with a smile. “Let’s go, Amir. I’m not alone anymore.”
“I know. You’re feeling down, aren’t you? Let’s go. You can tell me about it along the way.”
“I don’t know whether I’ll forgive you or not. It all depends on how you apologize.”
Vian… Amir could no longer press the b.u.t.ton on the loudspeaker. Orston took it away and tossed it back to Tang Ling.
Amir had admitted it. He admitted to the betrayal. Orston felt as cold as Amir’s body.
Who could tell him what happened to the Fierce Dragon Squad? Had everything not been just fine? The scene where everyone was drunk around the fire felt just like yesterday whilst their happy days fighting over food felt like it was happening before his eyes…
Alas, what actually happened was someone died and someone betrayed the squad. Tang Ling was even standing in the ring and challenging all of the First Reserved Camp.
“Tang…Ling.” Amir’s consciousness was fading as he felt like he was leaving with Vian.
In the midst of his fading consciousness, he saw Vian with her hands behind her back, smiling and waiting for him. However, he was no in a hurry to go. He had been holding on up until now and it was not just to deliver the truth. He still had something to say.
Tang Ling heard him calling weakly, but he clenched his fists tightly and dared not turn around.
Despite being disappointed, with his last breath, Amir mumbled quickly, “Remember, I never disliked you. I never…I even thought of…following you into battle…always…”
Tang Ling’s nails were embedded into his palms when he heard that. Then, why didn’t you follow me? Why did you betray us? Even if you didn’t follow me into battle, I would’ve stood by you as a friend. Get it!? I am your friend! But I don’t want you to know that anymore. You didn’t just kill Vian. You insulted and tainted our most precious time together. I’ll never forgive you!
“I’m sorry, everyone.” Amir glanced at the rest of the Fierce Dragon Squad.
Orston was petrified, Yu was silent, Andy felt empty, and Christina wept even harder.
All these friends had spent some valuable time with him to warm him up and even encouraged him. He once longed for a loving family, a brother or a sister. In the end, he got all that, but he somehow gave it up due to a mistake.
“I’m sorry, Chris-tina…” Amir lowered his head weakly.
Orston was stunned as tears rolled down his cheers quietly. Andy buried his face into his palms while Yu turned away.
Christina shouted at Amir, “I won’t forgive you. I’ll never forgive you!”
“Now, do you know how unforgivable you are?” Tang Ling told Andrew loudly word for word.
He raised the loudspeaker and declared vehemently to the crowd, “Did everyone hear that? Why did a New Moon Warrior of the Hope Barrier, a 15-year-old girl, my friend, die?”
“This is even more insulting than dying for real on the battlefield. Andrew, tell the truth!” Tang Ling tossed the loudspeaker to Andrew.
Andrew would have certainly revealed the truth, he would! He now had two options. Firstly, he could take it all it for the sake of the Agnes family, but if he planned to do that, he would not have tried to steal Aber’s credits.
Secondly, he could reveal the truth and die a rightful death.
There was no third option for him.
“Yes, I will, but this is it. I am not as capable as you to protect your friends to the very end. Let me shamelessly request to end this here and now with me,” Andrew said calmly.
Hank should have gone away by now.
“Tang Ling, you are arrested for stealing the precious cell regeneration drug.”
The two Purple Moon Warriors already arrived beside the ring.
“Andrew, you are also arrested. Your crimes have been heard by all. Breaking the iron rule of the Hope Barrier by killing a comrade-in-arms is a heavy crime.”
Hmph! Both Tang Ling and Andrew chuckled coldly.
It’s finally here, huh? Tang Ling knew he would be charged in the end, but stealing a cell regeneration drug? Since when? Stealing would be a heavy crime since the cell regeneration drug was one of the most precious resources of Safety Sector No. 17. Therefore, it was considered a very serious offense.
As for Andrew, he was determined to take the blame on behalf of the Agnes family.
“Do you have a way out of this?” Andrew ignored the two Purple Moon Warriors and looked at Tang Ling.
“Just wait.” Tang Ling did not provide an answer because there might be a sudden turn of events and this was not the focus of his plan.
If he was really arrested now, he would have to calculate how long he had to wait before he could kill Andrew himself. Nevertheless, there had better be a sudden turn of events because killing Andrew righteously and offering his head to Vian was what he really wanted.
Andrew was a little disappointed by Tang Ling’s answer. He looked at the two Purple Moon Warriors. “Do you know the challenging ring is holy and shouldn’t be violated? Even if you were to arrest me, shouldn’t you wait for the challenge to be over?”
“No, you don’t have the right to accept the challenge under the Agnes family’s name.” Aber’s voice came from further away. Infuriated, he added righteously, “Turn yourself in. The Agnes family won’t tolerate garbage who killed an ally. Do you hear me? I suggest you turn yourself in right away and if you don’t have the courage to do so, walk out of the ring and get arrested.”
Again, Tang Ling and Andrew scoffed. They both expected this to happen.
After almost a hundred challenges, Tang Ling had been waiting for this moment. A person as fake and vain as Aber would never allow others to taint his achievements, so he would threaten Andrew to shut up.
As expected, the threats had arrived while he told Andrew to shut up and how he should die.
Andrew would never turn himself in without a fight, and if he revealed anything, the Purple Moon Warriors would kill him instantly.
It was Tang Ling who made a move before he even ended his chuckle. To everyone’s surprise, he walked from the other side of the ring to Andrew.
“Just tell me what you have to say,” said Tang Ling.
The moment his voice subsided, the two Purple Moon Warriors moved.
Andrew raised the loudspeaker and announced loudly, “Yes, I told Amir to join me and to distribute the faulty tactical movement disk.”
Right after that, Tang Ling exchanged a punch with one of the Purple Moon Warriors. Upon impact, he felt like his bones were going to break while the Purple Moon Warrior did not even flinch. The other Purple Moon Warrior grabbed Andrew right away.
If this can’t work, then let’s transform!
Tang Ling planned to change, but a figure suddenly jumped into the ring.
Bang! Bang!
Two powerful thumps later, the two Purple Moon Warriors were sent flying out of the ring.
Tang Ling turned around and saw an unfamiliar man in front of him. Andrew, on the other hand, knew the man. “General Zorwen?”
“General Zorwen? I want to know why you’re here to stop the Agnes family from cleaning up our garbage and arresting a thief. Is this the castellan’s wish?” There were obvious threats in Aber’s words. Worf’s stand in all this was very important. Was he shaken at such a critical moment?
Clyne returned to Aber’s side quietly and said, “We shouldn’t trouble the castellan with petty matters like this. I’ll deal with the situation with the utmost consideration. An important emissary is arriving tomorrow. I suppose the Lord Castellan should be prepared to welcome the emissary to Safety Sector No. 17.”
“The castellan will welcome the emissary himself.” Zorwen calmly glanced over at the old fox, Clyne. Pressuring us now, eh?
“Besides, the castellan will never interrupt any arrest.” Despite saying so, Zorwen still stood in front of the two Purple Moon Warriors, blocking their way to the ring.
“However, I personally don’t like people interrupting a challenge. In my opinion, they shouldn’t be interrupted. Andrew is already in the right, so let’s deal with the situation after the match is over.” Zorwen had the slightest intention to step away.
Clyne cleared his throat because he knew he could not turn the tide now. All he could do was cover all this up with the public’s opinion after the match.
Aber became a little pale as he knew what he had to face next.
“Stand down!” Zorwen ordered the two Purple Moon Warriors. Because Aber did not say anything, they stepped aside.
Zorwen then turned around to Tang Ling and Andrew. “Now, both of you can continue. Please give us a good fight and…tell us everything!”
Hmph? Everything?
Andrew tipped his head forward to show a sense of grat.i.tude. He raised the loudspeaker and announced, “Yes, I am the one who incited Amir to do it, but I, Andrew Agnes, the b.a.s.t.a.r.d of a maiden, have no right to tamper with the important and precious tactical movement disk.
“I may be from the Agnes family, but I’m from the lowest of ranks. Although I really don’t want to, all I can do is follow orders. Am I right, my dear cousin Aber?”
Andrew looked at Aber, directing the public’s gaze on him. Aber really wanted to shrink from their sight, but he had to refute, “Why is it so hard for you to face your own mistake? Are you trying to drag the whole Agnes family down?”
“The whole Agnes family? No, my dear cousin, you cannot represent the whole family yet! All you wanted was to capture or kill Tang Ling yourself and get the credits for the kill. Our leader of the family isn’t as stupid as you. If he was the one behind this, Tang Ling would never have been able to stand here challenging all of the First Reserved Camp.
“That’s right. This is what the Agnes family is really like! Benefits over everything. After all, it’s a dog-eat-dog situation within the family, and I’ve been watching this game for over a decade. I myself was involved in many of those games too. Cousin Aber, no matter whether you admit it or not today, you can’t change the fact that you’re a dog. Humans would never bite each other.”
Aber’s face instantly twisted into an ugly expression. He felt like the whole the Hope Barrier was laughing and looking down on him. He should have been the glorious hero that led the troops into the enemy’s heart. How did it turn out like this?
“After that, whether you admit it or not, I won’t argue with you anymore because I’ll be a dead man soon. As for all of you, it is your choice to believe a dead man or someone alive. It’s your choice, people. Since Safety Safety No. 17 will soon belong to the Agnes…”
“That’s enough!” Clyne was the one who interrupted Andrew this time. He glared at Zorwen angrily. “If you’d like to watch a challenge that much, why don’t we start now? If this b.a.s.t.a.r.d of the family continues blabbering in the ring, I won’t hesitate to take him out myself. I cannot allow him to taint the family’s reputation.”
Zorwen shrugged helplessly.
Then, Andrew lowered the loudspeaker regretfully. “It’s not as fun, but you should be able to give me a good time. It’s a shame I won’t see it anymore.”
Tang Ling remained quiet.
“I’ve returned half of what I owed. Now, Tang Ling, let’s fight! Come on!” Andrew threw the loudspeaker away.
Tang Ling glanced at Vian’s body behind him before he wiped the rain off his face and charged towards Andrew without a word.