The middle-aged commander took a drag on his cigarette and stylishly blew out a smoke ring. One, two, three—the rings drifted away and vanished in the air. He sighed wistfully. "If I weren't responsible for all of you, I wouldn't have retreated. But since you've chosen to follow me, I have to keep you safe. No treasure is worth more than your lives."
Dozens of mercenaries were moved.
Whoosh—
The middle-aged commander blew another smoke ring. This time, it formed all sorts of shapes. "People should live for themselves, but I can't do that. If we live, we live together."
"If we die, we die together!" the dozens of mercenaries shouted, gazing at the middle-aged commander with excitement and admiration. This was the man they were willing to follow for the rest of their lives.
The touching atmosphere didn't last long before a sharp shout interrupted it. More than ten people appeared high above, looking down at them. An old man glared at the middle-aged commander. "You came out from inside? What's happening in there?"
Before the middle-aged commander could answer, the young mercenary beside him shouted, "Who do you think you're talking to? That's our great commander! Get down here and pay your respects!"
The middle-aged commander nearly swallowed his cigarette. He shoved the young mercenary aside and smiled ingratiatingly up at the sky. "Ah, so it's the honored people of the Fire Domain. There's a swarm of insects inside, and there are a lot of them. Some people have also been inexplicably scared to death. Other than that, there's nothing much. Safe travels, honored sirs."
The people from the Fire Domain quickly rushed inside.
Below, dozens of mercenaries stared blankly at the middle-aged commander.
The middle-aged commander slowly lit his cigarette and wistfully blew out a smoke ring.