Mission ④: The Fourth Staff

Foreword:

Even the finest crown can't cure a headache.

[Part 1: The Fake Father]

Hasben Madison is being tested--

--There are two ecological parks around the governor's residence. Outside the ecological parks is the bustling city center, which has a high population density and a complex environment. The underground parking garages of large shopping malls have been equipped with three-proof engineering. In the event of a major natural disaster, many citizens will immediately flock to the shelters.

The abundant primordial energy attracted five Flash Butterfly, which roamed the vibrant courtyards and bustling city center of the capital. The animal exhibition area and nature reserve were transformed into wombs of flesh and blood polymers, from which one strong apostle after another was born.

Hasben was alone, and it was almost instinct that drove him to find this place in the first place, relying on his rich combat experience.

He had experienced countless fierce battles. These Madness Butterfly incarnations and derivatives had similar tastes to the calamity beasts. He knew exactly what they liked best. The more ordinary citizens died, the stronger these flesh-and-blood polymers became. The innocent and weak must be protected.

So he came here to assist the Snow Owl Mobilization Troops to evacuate the people.

He entered the underground parking garage of the shopping mall with a gun, but the militiamen immediately stopped the uninvited guest.

The Snowy Owl warriors recognized Galahad's uniform, but Hasben, with his full set of MOLLE equipment and radio lighting, made them hesitate.

So a team leader asked, "Who are you? And why?"

The scene was chaotic, with hundreds of citizens crying and pushing each other as they hurried forward. Hasben no longer had his identification; he no longer belonged to the rapid reaction force and couldn't very well show his anonymous badge.

Before he could answer, a henchman from the Zhan Gang immediately stood up.

"Lawrence! Are you Lord Lawrence?!"

Hasben looked up at the sound and glimpsed a disheveled, dejected soldier in the darkness.

The soldier exclaimed excitedly, "Sir Lawrence Madison?! I knew you weren't dead! How could you possibly have died at the hands of Ming De?! I knew it!"

Hasben hesitated, unsure how to answer.

He didn't wear the crown of the Big Sister, returning the precious diabase to the gunsmith. At this moment, he had neither stone nor club. In the hot and dark environment of the underground passage, he appeared very agitated, indeed much like his biological father.

So he devised a plan to infiltrate Lawrence Madison's ranks and get close to the governor of Eureka Volcano City.

"Hahahahahaha!" Little Canaan chimed in at the perfect moment. "These small fry actually mistook you for that scumbag! Hahahahahahahahaha!"

A flash of lightning appeared in Hasben's eyes as he communicated with the carnivorous Canaan.

"--This is a good thing. If they are also here to help the citizens and can follow my instructions, that would be even better."

The leader of the Zhan Gang immediately followed, shoving aside the Snowy Owl Militia. His rude actions revealed his thuggish and bullying style, and he shouted while showing off the tattoo on his tiger's mouth.

"Lord Lawrence! Please come with me! I will take you to refuge immediately! The Consul is also in the refuge!"

Hasben simply nodded, picked up his gun, and followed the group's hurried steps.

They continued forward, crossing the assembly square through the sewers, and then deeper into the NBC (nuclear, biological, and chemical) defense project, until they came to see a huge, spacious underground cavity.

The place is spacious, and the various underground chambers are dry and clean. In the recesses on both sides of the road, more than four meters above the ground, there are also a lot of waterproof tarpaulins wrapped with dry food and canned goods prepared for disasters.

This shelter can accommodate nearly two thousand people, has groundwater as a source of tidal power, and provides sufficient fertility and light to cultivate food.

Hasben, however, found something increasingly amiss, for the area was heavily fortified with checkpoints and guards.

Upon arriving at the governor's underground residence, we entered through the bunker, walked about fifty meters into the underground palace, and then circled around to the second-floor guard post.

As soon as the door was opened, Hasben covered his nose and backed out.

There was a long table in the pavilion of the outpost, where a feast of wine and meat was laid out.

Consul Tommy Krause, embracing his wives and concubines, engaged in illicit acts on the balcony, seemingly in a final, apocalyptic celebration.

Various vomits, feces, and secretions from human intercourse seeped into the carpet, creating an unbearable stench.

Hasben's Madness Index skyrocketed after just one glance.

Just as he was about to leave, a panicked shout came from inside the door.

"Lord Lawrence! Lord Lawrence Madison! Have you come to save us?! Have you come to save us with the [Heaven's Gate]?"

Hasben retreated to the armory of the fortress, and in just ten seconds, he saw Governor Tommy, wearing a fairly clean bathrobe, scrambling to Hasben's feet.

The fat and ugly official had a wide smile on his face, and his eyes and brows revealed his obsequiousness.

"Kang Que has gone mad! Lord Lawrence! You must have come to take over his business! To save Eureka Volcano City?!"

Hasben neither nodded nor shook his head.

He stepped on Governor Tommy's shoulder, sending Tommy tumbling to the ground.

His tone was icy, but his eyes burned with fury.

How many soldiers are left?

Governor Tommy: "Five hundred? Or six hundred?"

"How many of them are following orders?" Hasben emphasized, "Those who dare to fight the Flash Butterfly Transformation, not those who are only willing to hide in the shelter, don't count."

Governor Tommy thought for a moment, "Well, I'm afraid that's not possible."

Hasben cursed, "Useless trash!"

That shout sent a jolt through the governor's DNA, instantly confirming his suspicions—

--No mistake, this is indeed the father from the Madness Butterfly Sect, there's no mistake.

But Tommy asked, looking aggrieved.

"Why should we oppose the Flash Butterfly? We can simply hide here."

Before Tommy could finish speaking, Hasben roared angrily.

"You idiot! What use would I have for a dead city?!"

At that very moment, a strange emotion suddenly arose in the heart of this battle-hardened centurion. When he tried to see the world from the perspective of his biological father, Lawrence Madison, it was as if a part of his personality that had been hidden and suppressed had awakened.

Tommy held his hands in front of his chest like a devout believer, wanting to demand his precious life back from the priest of the Madness Butterfly Sect.

His submissive demeanor seemed genuine, but the shrewdness and cruelty in his eyes were undeniable.

"Lord Lawrence! I want to live! I want to live! Please use the power of [Heaven's Gate] to take me away now! I'm so scared! If you take me away, I will immediately hand over command of the Snow Owl Mobilization Troops to you!"

"Are you trying to negotiate with me?" Hasben glared, drawing and cocking his gun. "Tommy Krause, are you trying to negotiate with me?"

In an instant, the overwhelming spiritual pressure from the Morpho Butterfly almost made Tommy gasp for breath. It was as if an invisible hand had gripped the fat pig by the neck.

Tommy couldn't breathe, and the skin on his face swelled up to the color of a liver.

Hasben looked out from the machine gun firing position in the armory and pointed into the distance.

"As I walked through the shelter's gate, I saw your soldiers, cowards and timid, and those little bastards from the War Gang, secretly selling the right to live in the plaza and the dungeon to the citizens for their own selfish gain. They want young, beautiful women, money, and fresh food before they'll release people."

"I remember that the people living in the Krum District (the bustling area around the Consul's Garden) were the social elite of Eureka. They were architects, chief marine diesel engineers, artists, and your Area 51 councilors—if they were wronged, their families torn apart, how would I rebuild Eureka?"

"What are you thinking? Tommy, tell me, what are you thinking?"

"The Flash Butterfly is invading your streets, killing your citizens, and you, cowardly and afraid of death, dare not unite, nor are you willing to lead the militia out to extinguish the Spirit Calamity —if Ming De blames you, how will you, this white glove, survive? Are you going to rely on my soul power to live your whole life?"

"Your Excellency," Tommy said tremulously, "Your Excellency is right. Your Excellency..."

Hasben: "Your Excellency?!"

Tommy: "My lord! You are right! You are right! You are the incarnation of the Madness Butterfly on earth! You are Eureka's true master!"

Hasben sneered, "Who cares about the Madness Butterfly? Don't take Kang Que Connor's words seriously—if it weren't for the money, who would bother with this stuff? Don't you agree?"

Tommy: "Yes, yes, yes, yes."

Hasben: "Now hand over command of the Snow Owl Mobilization Troops to me. I'm going to deal with the Flash Butterfly in the city."

Tommy breathed a sigh of relief. If he could hand this mess over to Lawrence Madison, he could keep his position as consul and continue to be a puppet emperor in this prosperous port.

As for Kang Que Johnny and Lawrence?

Who cares? Someone will always become a bandit, there always will be.

With that in mind, Tommy handed over all the radio stations of the various groups, militia, and war gangs to Hasben.

He was just waiting for Lawrence to bring him good news, his legs went weak, and he wanted to return to his Tender Paradise to continue enjoying delicious food, eating Eureka's specialty dishes, and experiencing repeated bliss after his stomach bloated and he vomited.

He wanted to find the TV station's leading lady, to have that beautiful girl change her face and appearance several times over; he hadn't had enough, he hadn't had his fill of pleasure.

Hasben quietly followed behind Tommy. He found a few veterans from the Snowy Owl squad and asked them to stay with the governor and continue watching.

The pavilion gate opened, and the group of men crossed their arms. Militiamen were not usually allowed to speak to the governor; they were the instrument of violence and did all the dirty work.

As the consul returned to his filthy yet fragrant living quarters, Hasben drew his gun and shot the fat pig to death, taking fifteen shots to the back.

The artificially beautiful woman, who had undergone countless surgeries on both sides, screamed. Due to her exaggerated expression, her jawbone dislocated, tearing open the skin on her cheeks. The next second, Hasben shot her in the head.

The soldier's heart gradually became like his teacher's.

It's like a piece of steel, hard and cold.

[Part ② The Real Son]

The militia leaders were shocked. They only knew that Mr. Lawrence might kill this useless governor, but they didn't expect him to kill even women. Tommy's six companions present were all shot multiple times, their bodies lying in the filth.

Hasben glanced at the leader of the Snowy Owl Militia behind him.

He said quietly, "Fight your way out with me. There are even prettier, all-natural beauties out there."

The militia captain dared not speak; it was something they had never imagined, nor dared to imagine.

You'd have to go to the zoo to find a girl in Eureka who hasn't had plastic surgery.

"Have you ever thought about this?" Hasben carried an M2 bottle of Lao Gan Ma chili sauce into the armory and told the men to catch it, "One day, we can be the masters of our own destiny, without having to depend on others."

In Eureka's armed organization, the most basic family unit has been shattered by cruel social rules.

The Snowy Owl Militia receive a substantial salary, but are not allowed to start families because of a strict order issued by the Mercy of Eros.

Soldiers may visit brothels and keep mistresses, but they must never form families in the traditional sense, and they must never use public vehicles for private purposes.

These machines of violence are like isolated atoms, scattered, controlled, and managed at minimal cost.

They have no kinship ties, no close friends, only relationships based on money.

For Kang Que Concord, money is the absolute minimum cost.

Now Lawrence Madison appeared before these soldiers and suddenly brought up this matter.

The Snowy Owl militia even felt as if they had met God —in a true sense, having heard God's call amidst the torment of Cupid.

"Eureka raised you, my brothers."

Hasben Madison said so.

"But it was completely rotten, from top to bottom, inside and out, rotten to the core."

"I want to revitalize this land and start anew. I promise you, the Blessed Holy Blood will give you a new life."

"The next generation in this city will raise new children."

"Perhaps these children will become your wives, your adopted children, and you will have a family, not just a wad of cash—you know what cash is for, right? You've always known."

"It will become wine, sexual experiences, gambling chips, bullets, food that you can never get enough to eat, and be given to pretty girls on TV, but it can never become your wife, your house, or that thing you've been pondering but can't figure out what you really want."

Hasben Madison's hands were trembling. He was very nervous. Perhaps a ghost had come to him, a ghost named Lawrence Madison, possessing him and making him speak fluently and clearly.

"Now an opportunity is before you, brothers."

Hasben led the group out, casually taking the governor's scepter, the staff Tommy had used as a passenger. It was a religious ceremonial staff, blessed by the Blue Stone People, now a unified staff and stone, with a gleaming amber inlaid at its top.

"We have forty heavy machine guns, over a hundred high-explosive grenades, and seventy thousand rounds of ammunition of various calibers. I've roughly calculated that there are also over five hundred and seventy rifles in the armory. This stuff is definitely enough to kill the Flash Butterfly outside."

Suddenly, the guard post at the shelter fell silent.

Hasben to a common soldier, but he ended up among the followers of the Madness Butterfly Sect.

The soldier was still trying to strip a girl from a wealthy neighborhood of her clothes, ready to have some fun, when Hasben grabbed him by the scruff of his neck and threw him into the arms of his unit's captain.

He was all bark and no bite, and as he walked outwards, the sentry posts along the way immediately began to deploy troops and arrange for civilians to move into the underground caves. More soldiers found their group leaders and went back to the surface to deal with the Flash Butterfly.

If Eureka becomes a dead city, these violent machines will lose everything. But they don't want to die, they don't want to become Madness Butterfly. Now it seems that only Lawrence Madison's broad shoulders are worth relying on.

As Hasben walked back to the square, he heard a small group of soldiers from the War Gang chanting the Blood Butterfly Bible.

He never expected that there would actually be people in the battle guild of the Mercy of Eros who believed in this stuff.

They formed a large circle, about forty or fifty people, and to celebrate the ceremony of unification, they drew a perfect circle of truth in blood on the stone platform in the center of the square.

They shouted loudly--

"--Pay homage to the One! Holy Father, Holy Mother!"

" --Vita Imprint! Grant me eternal life!"

"--Pay homage to the One! Holy Father, Holy Mother!"

" --Vita Imprint! Grant me eternal life!"

The leaders of the gangs who were conducting the ceremony stretched their hands toward the dark sky and plunged the ritual knife used for bloodletting into their arms, while new religious art was painted on the circle of truth.

That was a hermaphroditic body painting with a blood butterfly as its face.

To be honest, Hasben felt quite embarrassed when he witnessed this scene.

He happened to be leading over two hundred soldiers along this inevitable path when the eerie spiritual pressure emanating from the evil ritual site infuriated his brothers.

Hasben raised his hand and pointed slightly.

"Anyone who believes in this cult and doesn't want a good life! Beat them all to death!"

The squad leaders of the six machine gun platoons suddenly burst into laughter, unsure of what to say—they immediately deployed their forces and spread out their firing range.

After being doused with bullets, a polymer of flesh and blood crawled out of the corpse.

--That was an apostle born from the Vita Imprint during an evil ritual, due to an excessively high concentration of Spirit Calamity. However, it was too weak and had not yet fully developed before it came to the human world.

It looks like a baby Tyrannosaurus Rex, or a small chicken about 70 centimeters long.

It screamed, its helpless wailing echoing through the shattered pile of corpses.

Hasben: "That's an evil spirit that's preventing us from starting a family! Kill it!"

A flash of gunfire, and the newly born apostle died instantly, reduced to a bloody pulp.

--The soldiers, carrying their equipment, arrived at the entrance of the shelter, about to enter the underground parking lot.

The five Flash Butterfly in the sky rose and fell in the city. They only knew that the primordial energy in this place was abundant, but they could not find any specific targets to harm. They began to get anxious.

A mass of pinkish, fleshy polymer burst forth from Exit B3 of the parking lot. Its shape resembled a wheel, a grotesque form seemingly made from human bones—it was the Apostle!

From a distance of about a hundred meters, the intense mental attack had driven the young people in the group to the brink of madness. That wheel-like freak, like its predecessor, the Apostle Hound, possessed a bizarre aesthetic that mortals could not comprehend.

Its wheel hub structure is made entirely of human organs and skulls, and the psychic shrieks emanating from the throats and tongues of those hundreds of skulls can instantly destroy all the fighting will of an adult.

Screams and wails echoed from the ranks of the Snow Owl Mobilization Troops, but the squad leaders held on. They restrained their brothers who were about to lose their minds and issued accurate firing orders, quickly striking the oncoming flesh and blood monsters!

In the pitch-black underground parking lot, red and green tracer ammunition trails erupted. This human wheel, the Red Butterfly Apostle, was riddled with bullets by the heavy machine gun, then rolled on the ground, unable to even scream. Its body was riddled with heavy metals, and it had been turned into a pile of minced meat by four heavy machine guns and nearly a hundred gun barrels. It had completely crashed into the first firing range and first reaction zone of Hasben's conscripted unit, and was beyond dead.

Hasben Madison breathed a sigh of relief--

He also thought that the mental attacks by these flesh-and-blood monsters would cause unrest and shake the will of these soldiers.

"For a new life!!! For getting married!!! For my future happy and beautiful home!"

The team leader, who had been in a bloodthirsty frenzy, suddenly roared, then nudged Hasben on the shoulder as he regained his composure.

"Mr. Lawrence! My God! Is that what you're saying?"

Hasben nodded repeatedly.

"Ah, yes, yes, yes!"