The soldiers at Red Ribbon Army Headquarters were silent as crows, craning their necks at He-El until they did not even feel the soreness anymore. They listened in astonishment as He-El announced, "From now on, I am the supreme commander of the Red Ribbon Army. Your salaries will be tripled. Everyone, go line up in the plaza to collect three months' salary first, then obey my orders with peace of mind."
"This..." Some soldiers stood there dumbfounded. They had thought a massacre was coming.
"Is this real?" The low-paid soldiers suddenly felt as though they were dreaming. Had they just heard that their pay was being raised? What was going on?
"It seems real. Ow, that hurts." One soldier viciously pinched his thigh and discovered that this was not a dream before death. It was real.
"Why don't we surrender?" Some soldiers were fiercely tempted. That was three times the pay. Working for anyone was still working.
"How can we? We're the Red Ribbon Army..." One soldier wavered, intending to use the Red Ribbon Army's ideals to persuade himself.
"Then can you defeat him?" another soldier challenged.
"..." The soldier fell silent. His heart turned cold, but for some reason, the words "three times the pay" rang in his ears, making even his chilled heart seem to warm up.
Many soldiers looked at one another, unsure whether He-El was playing with them or whether it was true. Their heavy hearts stirred, and they revealed hesitant yet eager expressions.
What kind of thing was that to say?
He killed Commander Red and Black, the highest leaders of the Red Ribbon Army, then gave us a raise?
What kind of thing was that to say? Why did it sound so wonderful?
Even the sulfurous smell from the exploding fighter jets and helicopters