The Seventeenth Chapter: Killers Pay with Their Lives; Those Who Injure or Steal Must Make Restitution

Chapter Seventeen: Killers Pay with Their Lives; Those Who Injure or Steal Must Make Restitution

Although Lu Yuanming had said they would go after the MXG Gang for revenge, naturally, they couldn't just charge off with a single word and a snap decision.

They needed a plan, as well as some groundwork: locating the MXG Gang's base, learning the makeup of their group, and finding out who had taken the rifle John lost when he died, along with how many bullets it still had.

And all of this involved another person: Tom.

According to the others, during the eighteen days after Lu Yuanming returned to the Mortal World, John had gone out exploring three more times, each time with someone accompanying him. On his third outing, something went wrong, and Tom had been with him.

Afterward, Tom had made it back alive and brought news that John had been stabbed in the back and his rifle stolen. But beyond that, he hadn't explained why he'd escaped unscathed, or how the people who had betrayed John had found their way to the bank so quickly.

All the Disciples believed Tom had betrayed them again, just as Judas had betrayed Jesus in the myth. The only difference was that this time they'd been on their guard, so Tom could betray Saint John, but not the Messiah.

When Tom returned to the bank, the other Disciples locked him up. No one beat or mistreated him, but no one spoke up in his defense, either. His fate would be decided by Lu Yuanming.

As soon as Lu Yuanming entered the bank, he had Tom brought to him. Seeing how haggard Tom looked, he spoke gently. "I want to know what happened when you went exploring with John. Tell me the truth. If you're innocent, I promise no one will hurt you. If you're guilty, I promise I'll punish you only to the extent of your crime."

Tom immediately burst into tears. Sobbing, he fell to his knees before Lu Yuanming. "Lord, I didn't betray Saint John, and I didn't betray anyone! When Saint John was stabbed in the back, I was terrified, so I ran back to the bank as fast as I could. Lord, I really didn't betray him! Please believe me! Even if I'm that Judas, who already betrayed you once through foolishness and ignorance of the sacred, I would never, ever dare betray you again!"

Lu Yuanming fell silent for a moment, then said to Tom, "Our most important goal now is to find the MXG people, put them on trial, and kill those who are guilty. You must come along for the fight. Afterward, I'll ask the MXG people whether you betrayed us. If you're lying now, I'll punish you according to the extent of your lie. The harshest punishment is death; the next is exile. Do you understand?"

Tom answered at once, his voice trembling with emotion. "I understand, Lord. I'm willing to accept any consequences for what I've said. I didn't betray anyone. I was just too much of a coward, and ran away as soon as Saint John was killed."

Lu Yuanming nodded and gestured for Tom to stand, but the Disciples around them immediately began talking. Most believed Tom was lying. Even those who didn't accuse him of lying thought that running away when John was attacked counted as betrayal.

Lu Yuanming immediately addressed them sternly. "Everyone, as you can see, I'm just a young man who's only recently entered society. I don't have much life experience, I'm no natural judge of schemes or human nature, and I'm certainly no crafty old fox. I'm simply treating all of you with the utmost sincerity. I want to make this clear: I didn't study law, and my understanding of it is very limited. The circumstances we're in also make it impossible to simply copy the laws of the Living World. So we'll judge Tom's guilt and punishment according to the law's simplest, most basic meaning: killers pay with their lives; those who injure or steal must make restitution. This applies not only to Tom, but to our organization and everyone who joins it in the future. We'll hold to this simple principle until our numbers grow, society advances, and productivity increases. Then we can work together to build a more detailed legal system. Is that acceptable?"

Everyone listened closely. Many nodded to themselves, including those who had serious doubts about Lu Yuanming being the Messiah.

Of course, a few were dissatisfied. One person spoke up. "Lord, what if Tom is lying? What if the entire MXG Gang is killed in our fight? Wouldn't his crime be hidden forever?"

The thought of letting evil go unpunished was something many people simply couldn't accept, and some glared angrily at Tom.

Lu Yuanming stepped in front of Tom, his nearly two-meter-tall frame completely shielding him. Raising his voice, he said, "That's exactly why I'm talking about a simple conception of justice! Tom may be guilty, he may have betrayed us, he may be lying, and we may never learn the truth because of our fight with the MXG people. But there's one point that matters most: which of you has proof that he betrayed us, committed a crime, or lied?"

"Everyone, I learned about your country, the USA, while I was in the Living World. And it seems the same is true of the entire world, not just the USA—including my own country. So many things get twisted. People say, 'Just because it didn't happen this time doesn't mean it hasn't happened to someone else,' or, 'There's just no evidence; that doesn't mean they didn't do it,' and so on. Certainly, insisting on proof might let some criminals and villains escape punishment. But remember this: I would rather let ten thousand villains go because of insufficient evidence than ignore the evidence and punish one innocent person!"

At that, Lu Yuanming thought of the religious atmosphere among these people and immediately added, "If you still consider yourselves my Disciples, if you still believe you're following my path, then you must accept this. It must be true now and in the future. If you want to declare someone guilty, you must provide solid evidence of their crime. You must not falsify evidence or make accusations based on rumors. If you won't do that, then you aren't my Disciples, and you aren't my followers!"

To Lu Yuanming, he was simply drawing on their religious beliefs. But to most of those present, his words struck like a bolt from the blue.

Father Edward was the first to kneel. His eyes immediately filled with tears as he said, "If anyone comes to me and does not love me more than his father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple... Lord, we foolish lambs have defiled your boundless love. Please don't abandon us. Lead us onward along your path!"

Everyone around them knelt and prayed aloud. Tom sobbed loudly as he knelt and bowed his head again and again.

Charlie watched it all, his thoughts churning. In the end, he knelt on one knee and said to Lu Yuanming, "Sir, let me follow your way. But I don't believe in God. Please be my godfather, and let me kiss your right hand."

Lu Yuanming hesitated. He didn't understand why Charlie wanted to kiss his right hand.

Was this some kind of religious ritual? Like making the sign of the cross, the way Christians did? I'm so sick of this. Couldn't they just talk normally, like discussing how we'll improve the community and make a five-year plan after we deal with the MXG people?

Although he didn't understand, he figured it was a cultural difference and that he ought to respect European and American religion and culture, seeking common ground while setting differences aside. So he smiled and held out his right hand. Charlie kissed it lightly, then said, "Please give me two handguns and enough ammunition. My men and I will find the MXG people's hideout. We might even be able to bring back one or two stragglers."

A few of the original Disciples looked uncertain, but Lu Yuanming had just spoken so firmly that none of them dared say anything. He, for his part, believed that if you trusted someone, you should trust them fully, so he agreed to Charlie's request.

Even if Charlie ran off with the two handguns, ammunition couldn't be replenished in this afterlife. Only Lu Yuanming could make more. Losing the guns and ammunition would amount to no more than paying a one-time price, and it would also remove an unstable element from their group. It wasn't a bad deal at all. But if Charlie truly intended to serve the organization, then they would gain his loyalty and trust. Who wouldn't want their organization to trust them wholeheartedly?

Charlie and his men received two handguns and all the ammunition for them. He said nothing more, only bowed deeply to Lu Yuanming before heading with his men toward the far end of the block.

Over the next stretch of time, Lu Yuanming first asked each person in the group what their occupation was and how much education they'd received. Then he hurried to the park to check on the potatoes. After that, he returned to the bank to discuss with everyone how to use the remaining twenty Colorless Light Particles.

Just then, a lookout ran back and reported that Charlie and the others had returned, bringing a wounded man with them.

When Charlie entered the bank, covered in blood and carrying a Latino man over his shoulder, the crowd erupted in commotion.

Charlie smiled at Lu Yuanming. "Father, I haven't let you down. This blood is all from our enemies. This man is one of the MXG people we captured. He'll tell us where their base is. We can avenge Saint John now."

Lu Yuanming was overjoyed. He badly needed people like Charlie, who dared to fight and take risks. Most people in the group were mild-mannered and bookish.

He was also puzzled. Ever since he'd learned of John's death, people had referred to him as Saint John again and again. Did Europeans and Americans like adding "Saint" before the names of the dead?

That didn't stop Lu Yuanming from doing what he planned next. He'd long wanted to test whether Colorless Light Particles could do anything besides create weapons, ammunition, food, and fresh water.

Holding one Colorless Light Particle, he walked up to the MXG man, who was barely clinging to life, and said, "If I save you, will you tell me where you're based and every crime you've committed?"

Lu Yuanming didn't wait for the man to answer. The next second, he pressed the Colorless Light Particle against the MXG man's wound.