090 Across a Narrow Strip of Water

Even after Li Aoz had been gone for a long time, the Red Squad's tavern remained deathly silent.

Xiajian Jing leaned against the sofa, head bowed in deep thought. She kept tugging at her purplish-gray hair, her colorless eyes reflected in the murky wine, deep and hesitant.

After a long silence, someone finally spoke up, "Boss, that guy has completely gone mad."

"Yeah, yeah," someone next to him chimed in casually, "Going to space is already outrageous enough. Our leader is a former Air Force pilot from Sky Ring, and high-altitude flight is absolutely forbidden. That guy even dared to blow himself up into space with a nuclear bomb—even science fiction wouldn't dare to write something like that, right?"

"Does he think this is a virtual game? He doesn't value his life at all. How tight is the Hojo Family's security? Even the Red Arrow ' regular army couldn't break through it. Fighting the Hojo Family is impossible. Preventing war is our goal, as for defeating the Hojo Family... it's just too far-fetched. Big Sister, don't be foolish."

"You idiot! The boss knows this perfectly well; she definitely won't listen to that crazy man's opinion."

The plan proposed by Li Aoz was so crazy and shocking that it exceeded their comprehension. They couldn't help but laugh and joke with each other to alleviate the shock they were experiencing.

Humans cannot venture into space.

It was not possible in the Old Era, it is impossible now, and it will not be possible in the future.

Maybe there was never such a thing as outer space, and that above the Malefic Calamity there was just an even thicker Malefic Calamity. The sun is just a myth created by charlatans to create a false history that even children today wouldn't believe.

Not to mention, how could a highly educated, pilot-turned-regular-military woman like the "Big Sister" believe such crazy words?

"Prepare the locomotive."

"That's what Xiajian Jing said."

"Uh, boss, where are you going?"

"I'm going to see an old friend, and I'll be back soon."

Xiajian Jing casually stood up, picked up his motorcycle helmet, went outside, stepped on his motorcycle, floored the accelerator, and immediately plunged into the vast mountain forest.

The Artificial Sun cast its cold rays, offering no warmth whatsoever, only a false glow. The modified motorcycle, Xiajian Jing, raced through the country roads, its powerful engine and excellent balance allowing it to easily traverse ridges, enter abandoned highways, and crash straight into a tunnel on the edge of the city.

"... Gretwar Night Song is someone I greatly admire. Despite possessing immense power, he is unwilling to harm anyone, yet when danger arises, he steps forward without hesitation."

Inside the dark tunnel, Li Aoz's words suddenly echoed in Xiajian Jing's ears.

That guy left a strong impression. Even though they had only talked for less than half an hour, Xiajian Jing Li Aoz when he said those words, as if it were a video, deeply imprinted in his mind.

Gretvor...

Outside of Nura, on the north side of the Outland, 14 years ago.

"I plan to go to military school and become a pilot. Sooner or later, I will get out of this damn neighborhood and become a noble person."

Fourteen-year-old Xiajian Jing completed a smuggling deal. With her long, messy hair, a cheap cigarette dangling from her lips, and wearing a tracksuit with a baseball bat at her feet, she rudely poked the boy beside her, who had come from the Outland with her, and teased him:

"Hey—what are you thinking? You're such a weak little chick, you shouldn't be a porter all day. Join the army with me, you can serve your country."

"I?"

Thirteen-year-old Gretwar Night Song was thin and frail. He was holding a calico cat that was just as thin as himself. When asked by his friend, Gretvor just kept his head down, taking care of the injured cat in his arms. He carefully removed the sharp thorns from its body and bandaged its wounds. While stroking the fur on its back, he turned his head and said matter-of-factly, "I want to be a doctor."

"Cool—being a doctor is an elite profession, but being an engineer is good too. You're pretty smart. When we make a lot of money and can go to school, being a doctor is fine too. I'll join the army, and if I get injured, you can treat me."

As he spoke, Xiajian Jing took a deep drag on his cigarette, letting the nicotine numb and soothe the pain in his body.

"Jing, did you join the army to kill people?" Gretvor shrank back somewhat cowardly. "We've already killed ten people, let's not kill any more."

"Nobody wants to kill anyone, I just want to live a comfortable life," Xiajian Jing said lazily. "I want a monthly allowance of 4 million baht, beef and vegetables at every meal, and fruit—have you ever eaten fruit? I've heard there's a fruit called durian, but it's extremely expensive, and even big men can't always afford it."

Gretvor placed his large, calloused hand on the cat's head, gently stroking its little head, and casually said:

"I never thought that durian, with the word 'lotus' in its name, would sound like a very pretty fruit, right?"

"I don't know, but when I have money, I will definitely buy durian, share one with you, share one with the teacher, and the rest are all mine. No one is allowed to take them."

Xiajian Jing rubbed his bruised left eye, took another drag of his cigarette, sat down next to the trash can, and suddenly asked, "Doctors don't earn as much as soldiers, do they? Why don't you come to flight school with me?"

"I'd better not mention it."

Gretvor gave a wry smile, "You know, Mirror... if someone asks me for help and I can't help them, it makes me feel very sad. And on the battlefield, there are probably people everywhere asking me for help. So, studying medicine makes me feel better."

"Damn it! You're doing this again."

Xiajian Jing raised his middle finger. "You've always been like this since you were a kid. I'm so pissed off. If it weren't for me, you'd be dead a long time ago."

"Whatever, you'll fight for me," Gretvor shrugged sheepishly.

"I'll fucking slap you. You think I'm lightning? You're crying out, 'Ah, Xiajian Jing, save me!' and then, with a single thought, I'll be teleported right in front of you. Can angels do that? Even angels can't. So if I can, I'm fucking awesome. Why would I hang out with you?"

Xiajian Jing was foul-mouthed, spewing vulgarities and cursing. He kicked the guy, but the kid just smiled sheepishly.

"Even if I say all that, if I'm in danger, you'll still come to my side."

"Fuck you! I'm so pissed off, how did I end up with Holy Mother, idiotic, naive little brat like you? I must have had the worst luck in the world, I'm telling you."

Xiajian Jing gave him a disdainful look, smacked his lips, and muttered, "--Then it's settled: once we've saved enough money, you'll go to military school with me. I'll become a pilot, and you'll become a field medic. That way, even a weakling like you can be protected by me. If I get injured on the battlefield, you'll have to treat me too, understand?"

"... I don't want to fight."

Gretvor's gaze darted around.

The cat settled comfortably in Gretvor's arms, gently touching his palm.

"What kind of talk is that... From ancient times to the present, has there ever been a Heavenly Ring People who didn't fight? The whole world knows that we Heavenly Ring People have always been like this."

"Just because it's always been this way, does that mean it's right?" Gretvor held the cat, his gaze downcast. "We can only go to the cheapest military academy and join the worst-paid Military Department because we're poor. Soldiers in other countries must be in the same situation, right?"

"Huh? What does that mean?"

"Those who command the war are all big bosses and high-ranking officials, but why are we poor paupers fighting each other?"

Gretvor glanced at the mirror and said:

"I don't want to be ordered by the lords to fight against the poor in another country. If we win the war, the honor goes to the lords and the group. Only the poor like us are left with blood and scars. If we lose the war, it's people like us who die. We will be called butchers by the enemy and cowards by the people."

"I don't want you and me to become monsters like that."

"The dumbest kid, yet he sees things more clearly than anyone else; the strongest body, yet he refuses to inflict any violence on others. How foolish, how a pity. Like a Blue Whale, he roams the deep sea, never provoking anyone, living peacefully with the world."

Xiajian Jing couldn't help but mutter to himself:

"Without you, I can't move an inch, partner."