Act 13: War Machine

[Part 1: The Shattered Sun]

"The security company at Yangjiang Ferry has been investigated."

When Manager Todd arrived at the conference room, he was sweating profusely as he walked and spoke, not even having a chance to sit down. He crouched down next to George Joshua, close to the leader of the White Shark Association, and brought terrible news.

George Joshua, with his chin resting on his hand and head tilted to the side, had to lower his head to hear the butler Todd's soft whispers.

Todd continued.

"Lisa Krausa is dead. The shoe prints at the scene contained anti-static shoes from the Laiyang No. 2 Ironworks, so I deduce it was done by people from Wulong Fortress —they have connections to get their hands on the crusher. The middleman who rented the equipment has been arrested, but he won't talk."

"Saying this," Todd cursed viciously.

"The middleman is a tough nut to crack. That old bastard had already sent his wife and daughter away. After the incident, he tried to escape by boat. We finally caught him. Should we continue questioning him?"

George Joshua: "They've started torture?"

"We've tried waterboarding, electrocution, and castration; all we're missing is burning at the stake." Todd was extremely frustrated; he felt like he had energy but nowhere to use it.

In order to cooperate with the Nameless One's actions, kill Lisa Krausa, and thoroughly investigate the security company at Yangjiang Ferry, Old Master Dongfang Hao went around asking people for favors. The middlemen he found were all former members of the battle group with strong will and tenacity.

The White Shark Association's torture methods couldn't pry open these old men's mouths, nor could they find these warriors' weaknesses. Bribing them with money and corrupting them with power were all ineffective. If it weren't for the anti-static shoe print on the knife factory uniform that exposed his identity, Todd wouldn't even know who killed Lisa Klaus.

The Mister Fantastic's Battle Group, to which Dongfang Hao belonged, had faced the demons and monsters of Fifty-fifth District many times. They had fought against the Madness Butterfly Sect their entire lives. After finally reaching the point of retirement, they experienced the massacre of their entire battle group, witnessing the deaths of all the young and middle-aged men in the group. This hatred could not be erased. Like Dongfang Hao, many veterans' sons, nephews, and grandsons died at the hands of the Madness Butterfly Sect.

Before becoming a VIP, Jason Megan was a regular passenger in Fifty-fifth District when she was twenty-three or twenty-four years old. She honed her escape skills at Lieyang Fort, which shows how treacherous this frontier region is.

"Since you know it's Wulong Fortress Walled City that's behind this," George Joshua said, relaxed as if discussing business, "Go talk to Dongfang Hao. He wants something to do, so we'll give him something to do."

Todd didn't understand his boss's meaning, and even thought he was speaking in riddles, "What is it? What exactly is it? Boss, can you please be more specific? I'm a professional butler, a professional waiter! Don't test my ability to carry out tasks!"

"Giving him tasks means—" George Joshua finally perked up and answered properly, "—then send men to burn down his wooden house, poison the well, kidnap the children, demand ransom from the tenants in the stronghold, and kidnap them a few more times after receiving the ransom, until this rolling Earth Dragon changes his mind."

Todd was very puzzled. "Boss, the Nameless One is in the stronghold. You want the War Gang to go and die?"

George Joshua wagged his finger, analyzing logically, "A henchman's life isn't worth much, and you said before that the Big Sister is in the walled city—that's impossible."

"Given the Big Sister's killing efficiency, the hundred-plus people who have died in the past few days wouldn't even be enough to fill her teeth."

"She has a huge appetite. These few cousins from the Warband, plus Lisa Krauser and Fahan Frodo, definitely won't be enough to satisfy her."

Manager Todd said worriedly, "There are already signs, Chairman! After the incident at the security company at Yangjiang Ferry, it was investigated again by the Warband. Now the entire East Second Ring Waterway is unattended. What will happen to the business?"

"I had someone check," George Joshua replied.

"You had someone investigate?!" Todd found it unbelievable.

George stretched, and there was a strangely charming quality to the giant's movements as he did so.

"Hmm! I had someone deliver a letter of complaint. When the higher-ups come to inspect our work, you have to show them some results, otherwise how will they explain it to the governor? How will they explain it to Ming De?"

"Oh," Todd said thoughtfully, then asked, "Boss, you want to separate Guangling Zhixi and the Nameless Ones? Let them clash? Make things chaotic for them?"

"It wasn't me who made things chaotic." George stood up, walked to the window of the conference room, and looked out at the townscape of Lieyang Fort. "They made things chaotic themselves—"

" --Todd, think about it."

"If you're a battle group officer, you're a battle group private."

"I've been holding back for years, but I haven't gotten any significant credit."

"You're almost thirty. Your wife thinks you're useless, your parents want you transferred away quickly, and the regimental commander told you that this month's promotions were unfortunately taken by some nobody, so they need to be given to someone more outstanding."

"At this moment, the soldiers of the battle group probably hate the Nameless Ones more than we, the followers of the Madness Butterfly."

"It's just that they can't cause trouble as long as the gunsmith is still alive, because beggars don't envy the rich; beggars only envy the rich beggars."

"Lieyang Fort originally had no sun; it didn't deserve it, but the gunsmith was too perfect—"

"--He temporarily served as the Phantom Sun beside Ming De."

"As an idol, he has no scandals and lives a simple, secluded life."

"General of Tears occasionally has some strange and scandalous gossip. People attack this reckless and impulsive man, saying that he fights like he's demolishing buildings, that he's not very bright, that he looks stupid, and that he often sheds tears, causing far too much unnecessary damage—but no one ever dares to say that the gunsmith has done anything wrong."

"He is willing to listen to the demands of every ordinary person, visit the masses, and then solve the problems. He simplifies complex matters, eradicates suffering, and brings happiness to people."

"Even War King Glory doesn't have this ability. She's a bloodthirsty fanatic, the embodiment of Ming De, and brutality. People fear and respect her, but they would never love or adore her, much less treat her as a teacher or a friend. They only dare to gossip about her behind her back, and some even want to possess her."

"With the Phantom Sun of the gunsmith shattered, the nameless man has lost his backbone—no matter how fervently General of Tears, without the gunsmith's help, passion alone cannot solve the problem."

"The veterans we captured, these tough guys, personally experienced the era of fire and blood. They know that the Madness Butterfly is the natural enemy of Homo sapiens, but the people of the new era don't know that. Without that experience, without the pain of separation from loved ones, without the hatred of having one's wife taken away and one's children killed, our heads are, in the eyes of Guangling Zhixi today, just tools to exchange for a bright future."

"The nameless man's attempt to compete with Guangling Zhixi for credit is tantamount to cutting off someone's livelihood and killing their parents."

"Todd, it's not that I want to separate them—it's the gunsmith's death that makes them drift apart."

At this point, George Joshua could only sigh. This Immortals had always regarded the Gunsmith as a respectable opponent and had never taken the War King seriously. Even after Glory kicked his head, he still didn't care about that woman.

"Perhaps the methods of knightly combat and master-apprentice inheritance could keep the Nameless One closely following the battle group, turning them into a well-coordinated and intimate whole, but the Gunsmith is dead."

"He was Galahad's teacher and also the savior of soldiers from various local warbands. His knightly combat skills changed the fate of countless young people. He taught formal courses as well as informal online instruction, and went to local areas to teach by example and conduct on-site demonstrations. All these relationships firmly established the gunsmith's teacher-student and friend-like relationship with the people."

"Now that he's gone, the relationship has cooled. Those who received help from the gunsmith owe him many debts of gratitude that he can never repay. After the gunsmith's death, how many of them will continue to fulfill their obligations, Todd?"

The manager pursed his lips, his heart filled with mixed emotions, even a touch of sadness. "Boss, you're right. If someone manages to successfully evade their loan from usurers, we're naturally overjoyed—but if the White Shark Association to disappear one day, there's no such thing as paying back the dead. Those gambling addicts and drug addicts will never acknowledge this debt."

"Hahahaha!" George Joshua laughed loudly. "That's not the case! We're doing something bad anyway; loan sharking is immoral. People always despise things that are inherently immoral, so naturally they won't follow unethical rules, even if they themselves are dishonest and immoral. Naturally, they'll think it's only right not to pay back debts."

Todd: "You actually think we're doing something wrong? You actually have a conscience?"

"Knowing it's a bad thing and still doing it, that's what makes a bad guy!" George Joshua poured tea for the steward, who was flattered.

[Part ② - The Man Who Got Down]

The leader of the White Shark Association went on to say that.

"People always slowly, gradually become the kind of person they hate most; that's the most powerful thing about time."

"Today we thank the gunsmith and are indebted to him. But when we go to bed at night, we are filled with anxiety, feeling that we must pay back the debt, otherwise we will be criticized and condemned by those around us. Thus, gratitude turns into hatred."

"Tomorrow we'll have to thank the gunsmith with our noses in our mouths. The Nameless One is always protecting us. But we're not so nervous sleeping at night anymore. It seems like once you've accumulated enough debt, you get used to it."

"The day after tomorrow we will hate the gunsmith, because he's gone, gone to another place."

"Until one day, the gunsmith died, and we finally felt relieved. So many people owed him, and if I hadn't paid off this debt, it didn't seem like such a big deal. People are always selfish, and they will always find a suitable excuse. This is a survival mechanism that nature has given to Homo sapiens, a huge inertia of thought."

"And just like that, slowly, slowly, the sun went out."

"The same goes for Ming De. It gives away Universal Elixir to people as if these healing and life-saving wonders have become readily available natural resources, cheap goods to be picked at will—from then on, it must maintain its halo, otherwise it will not even be able to sit on its throne."

Todd quickly replied, "Your wisdom as an immortal always enlightens and enlightens me."

George didn't answer, but looked with interest at the efficient and sycophantic steward.

"You know perfectly well I don't like it. You know perfectly well that I really dislike this kind of deliberate, ingratiating, and pretentious approach. You want to choose a bullet too?"

Todd quickly replied, "No, no, no! That's not what I meant. If you've finished speaking, Chief, I have something to report."

George: "Go ahead and speak."

Todd pulled a notebook out of his pocket.

"--Not only Yangjiang Ferry, but also the enclave wharf, the fireworks alley in Maocheng District 3, and two of White Lady's processing workshops—all these places have been investigated. Could it be that..."

"I had someone do it all." George Joshua's methods for ruining his own business were quite shrewd, and the speed at which he cut ties was astounding. "Give all this money and credit to Guangling Zhixi. If that nobody wants to cause trouble again, it'll be all bark and no bite."

Todd suddenly realized, "Oh! This is called 'shedding one's skin like a cicada's!' or 'being reborn from the dead'?!"

"We can turn our Fifty-fifth District governor's rice paddy into a place where farmers can come and boost their sales every quarter." George Joshua shrugged, nonchalant and confident. "When Guangling Zhixi and the militia go home, they'll have something to report. Even if War King Glory comes in person, she'll have to get past her comrades first. Without the gunsmith as a fulcrum, there's no way the local assault teams can cooperate."

"I have the advantage of timing, location, and popular support. What can she use to fight me? Can she really Gate of Death me again? I'm afraid this time we won't even have a chance to meet."

"This is the benefit of the company, Todd. This is the benefit of being legitimate. The White Shark Association always operates within the local regulations of the governor—it's not me who breaks the law, it's my countless incarnations and countless henchmen."

George Joshua said with a chuckle.

"Remember, women can act on their emotions, but men can't."

"I consider the gunsmith a worthy rival because we cannot defeat him—"

"--Starting with Kang Que Johnny, and ending with Pellegrini Touan."

"Even though the gunsmith is dead, he wasn't killed by time, nor by his thoughts. This man was killed by a despicable weapon."

"He didn't rot in the soil, but turned into fireworks, dying in the sky. He should have been like us, Eagle Falcon in the sky, a god that ordinary people should look up to and respect!"

"But he just ended up among the crowd, willingly working like a slave. I understand him; I once wanted to be like him."

Todd looked at his regular customer in surprise.

He hadn't expected George Joshua to have such thoughts.

This leader can now kill a young woman who just joined the company on the spot, simply because he's unhappy, and he's willing to take lives so lightly.

But this utterly wicked person actually said that.

"I once wanted to be like a gunsmith," George Joshua repeated. "To live simply and naturally, to be a vibrant and shining sun—to be a hero, to help others, to respond to their cries for help."

George Joshua's eyes were deep, as he recalled the events of the American Civil War.

"Without sacrifice, no one can end the war; without one-sided slaughter, there is no righteous indignation on the other side; without executioners, no politicians can take the stage to give speeches and place the presidential crown on their heads."

There are far more weak people than strong people in the world.

Therefore, there are far more foolish people than wise people.

"If the fate of all mankind is to be decided by the will of the majority, I feel nihilism and shame; it is utterly anti-intellectual."

"I am far less astute, cunning, and shrewd as Pellegrini Tuan. This wise man also fell victim to the wheels of the new era, to the advancement of science and technology, and to the inadequacy of tactical execution. Rather than saying that Pellegrini was betrayed by Mali Pero, it would be more accurate to say that it was the ideas that the gunsmith imparted to Mali Pero that defeated this clever white eagle, Pellegrini."

"There's only one thing that has kept me alive until now—"

"--There's only one thing."

"Identify idiots, stay away from idiots, ignore idiots, use idiots, harm idiots, slaughter idiots, and never become an idiot yourself. You don't have to be number one, just be better than an idiot."

When George Joshua uttered this theory, a string of idiots made Todd burst out laughing. It seemed the new female assistant's foolish behavior in front of the boss was what led to her death— George Joshua didn't hate enemies, but rather idiots.

"Boss, there's one more thing I need to report to you."

"That is."

At this point, Todd paused, unsure of how to phrase his words.

"Fahan Frodo gave me a photo before; he found a woman who looked nine-tenths like the Big Sister."

He handed over the photo-

George Joshua's breathing quickened, but he quickly regained his composure.

Todd guessed, "Could this be Glory?"

"No, although it looks very similar." George examined the photo carefully, then slowly brought it close to his lips and kissed it. "It looks so much like it!"

"But it wasn't her. I didn't feel any attraction, I didn't experience a near-death experience, I didn't feel that fear—she wasn't the Big Sister."

Todd still found it strange--

"--Boss, you've been burned by the Big Sister before, so why are you still hung up on this woman? I think this is the only shortcut to becoming an idiot for you. If it weren't for your womanizing flaws, I wouldn't even want to bring this up."

"Because its metamorphic configuration is so beautiful," George Joshua said naturally and confidently when discussing XP, without any vulgarity or affectation, as if he were discussing international affairs.

"I can have several strong children, and I don't have to worry about their future. The children I have with Glory will definitely not turn out to be idiots. They are born with strong physiques and broad minds, and have a heroic spirit."

"You need to understand that Homo sapiens are a very peculiar species. Often, the physical body determines the will and personality. A weak body leads to a weak will, and this is the law of nature. It breeds all sorts of idiots."

"And I never said I was going to deal with this shrew right now."

"Without the gunsmith, how long can Glory hold out? Killing won't solve the problem."

"She cannot defeat time. One day she will slow down, weaken, and lose all power, and be defeated by time."

"She is a war machine, a reliable warhorse! But machines and horses also need people to operate them! People to drive them! People to ride them!"

"At the moment she grows old, at the moment she needs help the most, I can make her young again—it is often at such times that women are most helpless and vulnerable."

"They are emotional creatures. Glory will forget what I did before and will gradually accept me."

George Joshua is so ordinary, yet so confident.

"--History is made by 95 percent of men! That's an ironclad rule written in history books! I've never taken that shrew seriously! I'm a complete chauvinist, she's not worthy of being my opponent!"

After listening to this lengthy speech, Todd simply agreed and moved on to the matter of the photos.

"So, if this Jiali isn't the Big Sister?"

"Please board Cruise Ship Number Two immediately!" George Joshua emphasized, "Behave politely!"