Recuperation

Everyone gathered around Shadao, as if they still needed to verify whether the news was true. When Shadao nodded heavily again, his people finally believed Avila's father. The King of Dirt Clod Star from a hundred years ago had met a miserable end. The scene of his corpse being torn apart seemed to appear before everyone's eyes, and those who remained could not help confirming it again and again.

Shadao pulled Shaz forward and asked Avila's father, "How should we deal with this invader?"

When everyone saw that Shadao had actually captured an invader, they furiously shouted, "Kill him! Kill him!"

Shaz was so terrified that he immediately dropped to his knees, weeping bitterly. "I only just arrived on Dirt Clod Star. I never killed any of your people. Please spare me!" He repeated those two sentences over and over, kowtowing to everyone in utter panic.

Suddenly, a middle-aged man stepped forward. His face was filled with deep hatred as he looked at Shaz and said, "Invaders are all scum. They are evil to the core. Kill him!"

This middle-aged man had lived through the brutal suppression a hundred years ago. Too many of his people had been slaughtered. Invaders could not be spared.

The old man stepped forward, patted the man's shoulder, and slowly said, "Child, do not let hatred blind you. Invaders truly cannot be forgiven, but those were the invaders from a hundred years ago. This alien before us is, at most, an accomplice. His crime does not warrant death." The old man let out a heavy sigh after speaking.

After hearing the old man's words, the middle-aged man seemed lost. He crouched on the ground, clutching his head as he wept. With nowhere to place that hatred, everyone felt helpless.

Avila looked at the kneeling Shaz and said pityingly, "Since he never killed any of our people, can we not kill him?" Her gentle voice immediately calmed the restless crowd.

Everyone looked at Shaz without saying a word. One mother pulled her child closer and turned her head away.

The silence was frightening. Only the sound of everyone's choked sobs could be heard.

Shadao stepped forward at the right moment and said, "Lord Krillin is here. Let Lord Krillin decide!"

Krillin glanced at Shadao. Damn it, they finally remembered that I am a Galactic Patrol officer! It would have been best for the people of Dirt Clod Star to settle their internal affairs themselves, but everyone's gaze had shifted to Krillin. He had no choice but to step forward.

Krillin slowly walked over to Shaz.

Shaz became even more frightened when he saw Krillin. Krillin had captured him, and his life was now in Krillin's hands.

Krillin actually knew that Shaz had not lied. The evil Ki around Shaz was far weaker than that of the other aliens. Otherwise, Krillin would have finished him on the battlefield earlier. Since Shaz was not utterly evil, he would give him a chance to redeem himself through service.

Everyone waited expectantly for Krillin to speak. How would he judge this invader?

After pondering for a long while with a hint of amusement, Krillin said to Shaz, "You have committed a pardonable offense under the Galactic Justice Law: the crime of being an accomplice. In my capacity as Galactic Sheriff Krillin, I hereby pass judgment on your crimes."

When the Mudball Star Aliens heard Krillin reciting such lofty words, they could not help feeling immensely envious. "So this is how the Galactic Patrol enforces the law!"

When Shaz heard Krillin classify his crime as that of an accomplice, he immediately felt relieved. Before passing out, he thought, Now I do not have to die.

After determining Shaz's crime, Krillin immediately explained to everyone, "What Shaz said earlier was not false. He never killed any of Dirt Clod Star's people."

Here, Krillin was the best law there was. His authority now carried even more weight than the King of Dirt Clod Star's. Dirt Clod Star was still waiting for Krillin to save it, so everyone trusted his words completely.

Avila's father stepped forward and cautiously asked, "Lord Krillin, what should we do next?"

Krillin looked at the starving people before him. The living conditions here were simply too harsh. Dirt Clod Star's terrain was largely barren wasteland and mud marshes, though there were still oases in the wasteland. If Krillin was not mistaken, the central oasis should have been their former home. But everyone was in far too poor a condition to make a long-distance migration.

Krillin swept his gaze around and said, "Light fires and cook. Let everyone rest properly. Move into those aliens' base for now!"

Upon hearing Krillin's words, Avila's father immediately organized his people and led them toward the aliens' base. But there were too many of them for everyone to rest inside, so only the elderly, children, and seriously ill were allowed into the base first. The remaining people gradually spread out around it, forming a circular formation.

Everyone had long been unable to endure any longer. Most collapsed onto the ground and fell peacefully asleep.

Avila's father organized people to cook. In a gathering place of several thousand people, there was only one large pot, filled with some unknown black food.

"Time to eat, Avila!" Avila's father called out to her.

"I am coming, Father!" Avila obediently skipped over.

Avila's father ladled out two large bowls of the black food and handed them to Avila, his eyes full of affection. "Take these to Lord Krillin and Brother Shadao first."

"Okay, Father." Avila quickly took the large bowls and ran outside.

Seeing this, Avila's father could not help reminding her, "Slow down, do not spill it!" Every mouthful was life-saving food. All of his people had been enslaved, so naturally no one had been able to produce anything. He had not eaten black food like that in the pot for ten years, had he? Avila's father looked at the rations in the pot with sorrow.

Carrying the two large bowls, Avila ran toward the huge stone pillar. Krillin and Shadao had not moved into the aliens' base. Krillin had chosen the tallest stone pillar as their resting place so Shadao could better watch over his people.

Shadao looked down at his people, unable to afford even a meal, with starving corpses scattered everywhere. His anger grew fiercer, his eyes turning red. He kicked Shaz, who was tied to the ground, and cursed, "You damned invaders!"

Shaz cried out in fear, "I know I was wrong! Stop hitting me! Boohoo..."

"Brother Shadao! Father asked me to bring you food!" Avila jogged over to Shadao.

When Shadao saw Avila arrive, he quickly put away his rough manner and smiled at her awkwardly.

Shadao looked at Avila's flushed little face as she panted heavily. Feeling tender toward her, he unconsciously took the corner of his clothes and wiped her forehead.

When Avila saw Shadao wiping her sweat, her face turned even redder. She opened her eyes wide and looked at him.

As he wiped her sweat, Shadao said, "Did I not give you a communicator? You could have just called us when it was time to eat. Why did you run all this way to get us? You must be tired." His eyes were full of affection as he wiped her sweat.

"I am not tired, not tired at all!" Avila hurriedly said.

Shadao wanted to say more, but Krillin unconsciously coughed a few times and cursed inwardly, You brat! I do not even have a wife, yet you are showing off your affection right in front of me!

Ever since meeting Shadao, Avila had felt close to him. The scene of Shadao protecting her had truly shaken her. After all, Avila had gone far too long without knowing what a sense of security felt like.

Hearing Krillin cough, Shadao could not help feeling embarrassed. He quickly took the bowl from Avila and handed it to Krillin respectfully. "Lord Krillin, please eat first!"

Krillin gave a faint grunt, took the bowl, and brought it to his mouth. Like drinking porridge in his previous life, he slurped it down with a slurp! But then his brow furrowed, and a pained expression appeared on his face.

Seeing Krillin's pained expression, Shadao thought something had happened and nervously asked, "What is wrong? What is wrong, Lord Krillin?"

Krillin forcibly swallowed the food in his mouth, then waved at the anxious Shadao. "It is nothing. Hurry up and eat."

Thanks to Greed, Contentment Brings Happiness, Silent Lamb, Nine Heavens Frost Ginkgo, the AK-47 Family, and all you great readers for your recommendation votes.