Chapter 35: Rewards
After a while, Russell returned to the entrance of the secret realm.
Zhao Chang and Old Liu landed behind Russell shortly afterward.
The three of them looked at one another in silence.
None of them had expected a simple reconnaissance mission to end with Zhou Yi and Xiang Yan dying within the secret realm.
Old Liu forced himself to pull it together and said, "I'll speak with the association's person in charge later."
Then he snarled under his breath, "Hah, counterattacking Blue Star? I want those demons to pay for Old Zhou and the others with their lives!"
Russell and Zhao Chang silently nodded. Having uncovered such crucial intelligence, they did not believe the association would fail to act.
After leaving the secret realm, Old Liu immediately set off to find the person in charge of the Black Flag Secret Realm.
Russell and Zhao Chang exchanged a glance and followed him.
Before long, the three arrived at the administrator's office.
Bang!
The sound of the door being pushed open startled the administrator, who had been working.
He looked up, and upon seeing Old Liu and Zhao Chang, asked in confusion, "Didn't you enter only half a day ago? Why are you already back?"
He then glanced behind the three of them. When he did not see anyone else, he blurted out, "Where are Zhou Yi and Xiang Yan? Are they still in the secret realm?"
Hearing that, Old Liu stepped forward with gritted teeth. "The demons in the secret realm are plotting a counterattack!"
"Our cover was blown. Zhou Yi and Xiang Yan stayed behind to cover our retreat."
The administrator froze and slowly rose to his feet upon hearing Old Liu's words.
After a long while, he finally said, "You know the association's current situation. Other than strengthening the base's defenses and reporting this upward, there's nothing I can do."
After the previous demon nest riot, the Card Master Association was short-handed. Most card masters had been transferred to guard the areas around the demon nest.
At once, rage surged through Old Liu's heart. He slammed his palm heavily onto the desk. "So Old Zhou and the others died for nothing?!"
He had never expected Zhou Yi's sacrifice to result in this.
The administrator merely watched him quietly without saying anything.
After a moment of silence, Old Liu said in a low voice, "Sorry. I lost my temper."
Old Liu understood that this was not something the administrator could decide. Aside from helping report it, there was nothing else the man could do. Getting angry here would accomplish nothing.
"However, to thank you for bringing back this intelligence, I can give you some rewards on the association's behalf first," the administrator said after considering the three dejected men for a moment.
As he spoke, the administrator took a booklet from a nearby bookshelf and placed it on the desk.
"No amount of rewards can bring the captain and the others back."
Zhao Chang spoke in a somewhat weary voice. He kept his head lowered, making his expression impossible to see.
If he could, he would rather forgo these rewards in exchange for Zhou Yi and Xiang Yan's return.
Meanwhile, Russell expressionlessly stepped forward and began flipping through the booklet on the desk.
Biological materials: Ghoul King (Gold), Koga Ninja (Gold), Flesh Demon: Speed-Enhanced Model (Gold) Item materials: Universal Rubber (Gold), Nameless Demon Blade (Gold), Type II Biological Exosuit (Gold)
Inside the booklet were pictures of Bronze-grade materials.
Behind Russell, Zhao Chang watched him browse through the booklet as though no one else were present and could not help feeling somewhat disappointed.
Still, Zhao Chang could understand Russell. After all, Russell had only temporarily joined their team for practical training, and in the end, they were the ones who had dragged him into such a dangerous situation.
If Russell did not want to keep getting involved, Zhao Chang had no right to blame him.
Furthermore, if Russell had not killed Moji, given the situation at the time, none of them would likely have made it out alive.
Thus, he held no resentment toward Russell. Instead, he even felt somewhat grateful.
"I want this one. Thank you." Russell's voice interrupted Zhao Chang's thoughts. He pointed at the Universal Rubber (Gold) in the booklet and spoke to the administrator.
"Certainly. Please register it, and the material will be delivered to your residence afterward," the administrator said with a smile.
In his eyes, Russell had set a good example. After all, no one wanted to make things so bitter and grim.
Besides, card masters died in secret realms every day. Even Diamond-grade card masters had died during the demon nest riot years ago. What, was Zhou Yi, a mere Bronze-grade card master, too important to die?
After completing the registration, Russell turned to Zhao Chang and Old Liu. "Then I'll be heading back first. I'm a little tired."
With that, Russell ignored their reactions and walked toward the door.
As he passed them, Zhao Chang's quiet voice reached Russell's ears. "Little Luo, I wish you a bright future. Don't let the captain's sacrifice be in vain."
Those were Zhao Chang's sincere feelings. He could understand why Russell would not avenge Zhou Yi; after all, they had known each other for less than a day.
Russell paused, his calm face giving away none of his emotions, then continued walking toward the door.
At that moment, Old Liu sneered and deliberately raised his voice. "Old Zhou was really blind."
In his view, Russell should at least have made his stance clear.
Yet Russell had simply chosen a reward and was preparing to leave, utterly selfish and self-serving.
But before he could finish speaking, Zhao Chang grabbed him.
Old Liu glanced at Zhao Chang, swallowed the venomous words on the tip of his tongue, and gave a cold snort without speaking again.
Russell stopped beside the door with his back to the two of them. His faint voice drifted from his lips. "I'll avenge Brother Zhou."
Perhaps because he had spoken too softly, Zhao Chang did not hear him clearly. He turned toward Russell's back in confusion. "What?"
"I said, I'll avenge Brother Zhou!"
At last, the two behind Russell heard him clearly and felt the determination in his words.
Zhao Chang was stunned for a moment, but a faint smile eventually appeared on his face.
In his heart, whether Russell would truly avenge Zhou Yi in the end or not, Zhao Chang could at least be certain that Russell was serious at this moment.
After saying that, Russell paid no attention to the reactions of the two behind him and simply strode firmly out the door.
At that moment, Russell felt his spiritual power finally cross the threshold of the Bronze grade.
That meant he could create Bronze-grade cards now.
Revenge had never been an empty promise.
He believed he had the strength to do it.
Outside the base, Russell stared blankly at the sky.
This was the first time he had witnessed the death of someone he knew.
What was more, Zhou Yi had sacrificed himself to cover their retreat.
He would not say that without Zhou Yi, he would never have ended up in that situation.
From the moment he entered the secret realm, he had already prepared himself mentally.
After all, his everyday studies had long taught him that anything could happen in a secret realm. This day was bound to come sooner or later.
Russell just had not expected that day to arrive so quickly.
After sorting through his complicated emotions, Russell summoned Pidgeot and flew home.
He was going home to create his first Bronze-grade card.