A Bloody Case Caused by a Few Plates

Under the scorching sun during the afternoon drill, the animals standing on the parade ground had quickly formed into square formations the moment the bell rang, waiting for the instructor's flag signals from the command platform. However, the platform remained empty after the session began. After everyone held their breath for two minutes, a figure finally appeared—not the drill instructor everyone was familiar with, but the most dreaded man in all of Black Flame City: One-Eyed Dragon. His cold, formidable aura made every formation standing below fall into a deathly silence, none daring to understand what was happening. Especially when they saw the black leather whip in One-Eyed Dragon's hand, some of the students' calves began to tremble.

As a school with semi-military management, the penalties for students who violated school rules were extremely severe. Among all punishments, the lightest corporal punishment involved running dozens of laps around the parade ground, while slightly more serious offenses resulted in whipping. Anything worse was handed over directly to the Black Flame City court for trial.

Seeing the leather whip in Captain Colin's hand, everyone knew someone was about to be in trouble—and deep trouble at that. In the years they had been at school, every time One-Eyed Dragon held that whip, it meant some self-righteous fellows were about to meet their doom. This law had never failed.

Zhang Tie stood in a formation near the command platform. Watching the steel-cold expression on One-Eyed Dragon's face, Zhang Tie knew that what was meant to come would finally come.

Do I regret it? Zhang Tie asked himself quietly.

Screw it! That was the answer Zhang Tie gave himself.

"Gelis, Sha Long, Jia Naier, Zu Haier, step forward!" Captain Colin shouted the names of the four-man group that had been riding high in the school. When Gelis's name was called, a wave of uproar broke out among those waiting to watch the show; shock replaced everything else in their hearts. Gelis? Gelis? It was actually Gelis and his crew?

"Now we've got a good show to watch!" The fat kid Barry, standing next to Zhang Tie, became excited and nudged Zhang Tie with his foot.

Yes, a good show indeed. First, the show for these guys, and then it will be my turn! Zhang Tie thought silently to himself...

Under the gaze of everyone, the four named—Gelis and his group—walked out of their formations with pale, terrified faces. The last to emerge from the ranks was Sha Long, the guy who had dumped the tray on Zhang Tie. Sha Long seemed to realize something; as he walked out, he turned his head to search the formations for something, his eyes filled with a dangerous aura.

Zhang Tie just looked at Sha Long coldly. Even at this moment, he did not regret his earlier choice. Such a choice might be difficult or painful for some, but for Zhang Tie, it was simple—what kind of choice would make his mom and dad proud? Zhang Tie had asked himself that one question at the time, and the answer was clear.

As soon as Gelis and his three companions stood in line, several Enforcement Team Members from the school stepped forward without a word and stripped off their training leather armor, exposing their bare upper bodies. At this point, everyone who had been skeptical was now certain: Captain Colin was here to deal with them.

"Captain Colin, I think I have the right to know the reason!" Gelis, his arms twisted by two Enforcement Team Members, roared with veins bulging on his forehead.

"Article 27 of the school rules: every student must wash their tray after lunch and return it to the cafeteria; violators receive two lashes. Article 6: no student shall intentionally damage public property; violators receive four lashes. Gelis, Sha Long, Jia Naier, and Zu Haier did not return clean trays after lunch today, but instead intentionally abandoned them in the Small Woods. You have violated these two rules, so I have decided to punish each of you with six lashes. Does anyone object?" One-Eyed Dragon's sharp, single eye looked at the four of them without a trace of emotion. The four were struck as if by lightning.

Standing in the formation, Zhang Tie had been carefully observing the expressions of Gelis and his group. When Captain Colin finished speaking, Zhang Tie noticed that the three others did not look at Sha Long, but instead turned their eyes toward his formation, whether intentionally or not. Zhang Tie understood instantly: the incident at noon was no coincidence. It was a scheme they had cooked up to humiliate him. They were just so used to being arrogant and domineering at school that they usually found some timid, unlucky kid to wash their trays after lunch, and the school never looked into it. Sha Long, having dumped the tray and walked away, clearly never expected the possibility of being refused, which led to this current scene.

Realizing this, Zhang Tie felt depressed. He couldn't even recall how he had offended these guys, given how low-profile he kept himself at school, always trying to avoid them.

Watching Captain Colin weighing the whip in his palm, the faces of Gelis and his group were no longer just pale—they were green. But Sha Long seemed to want to struggle a bit more. "Captain Colin, I have something to say..."

Looking at Sha Long, who was nervously swallowing, Captain Colin spat out a single word: "Speak!"

"After eating, I handed the tray to someone else..."

"Where did you hand it over?"

"The Small Woods!"

"How did you hand it over?"

"I... I placed the tray in front of that person!"

"In front? On the ground or in their hands?"

"On... on the ground!"

"Why did you place the tray on the ground in front of that person?"

"I... I... I let him wash the tray for us and send it back!" Perhaps used to being a bully, he seemed somewhat unconfident admitting his usual behavior of picking on classmates in front of Captain Colin.

"What did that person say?"

"Nothing... he didn't say anything!" Knowing Zhang Tie was in the nearby formation and could come forward at any time to confront him and expose his lie, Sha Long didn't dare to tell a single lie in the face of these simple questions; he could only honestly say what happened.

"And then?"

"And then..." Sha Long looked at Captain Colin, somewhat dazed. "Then I walked away..."

"I understand what you are trying to say. You mean that because you dumped several trays in front of someone today, and because that person refused your unreasonable demand and ignored your leftovers, that person should be standing here taking the lashes for you? You feel aggrieved? You think that person's refusal of your insult was an insult to you, and that person must bear all the consequences? If you had dumped your leftovers in front of me today, would you want me to whip myself to absolve you of your crimes?" One-Eyed Dragon's face remained expressionless, but his flat words made Gelis and his group open their mouths, their faces turning even uglier. They couldn't say another word.

"That logic is very powerful, but unfortunately, you aren't powerful enough to turn your bastard logic into the laws and rules of Black Flame City!" A cold sneer appeared on One-Eyed Dragon's face. "Therefore, these six lashes should still be dealt to you!"

Then, all the animals lined up in their formations spent the next while admiring the art of punishment from the most terrifying man in Black Flame City. One-Eyed Dragon's whipping had always been the darkest and most chilling punishment for all the animals at the Seventh National Boys' Middle School. His skill ensured that the whip would cause you excruciating pain without damaging your bones or internal organs. Even more masterful was that, whether it was one lash or ten, One-Eyed Dragon could always land the final strike to knock you out cold at the perfect moment.

Today, all the animals felt as refreshed as if they had just consumed an iced drink, listening to twenty-four screams before watching the four unconscious boys being carried off the parade ground by the Enforcement Team Members.

That was so satisfying! This was the unanimous thought among the many animals in the graduating class who had suffered under Gelis's overwhelming power.

Although his body still ached, Zhang Tie managed to finish the afternoon training by gritting his teeth, having had the benefit of the morning's rest and buffer.

With Gelis's cautionary tale, Gelis's loud shouting was never heard on the training ground that afternoon, and the training of all the animals became even more intense. During breaks, everyone was busy asking who had the guts to put Gelis and his group in such a miserable state. Ever since Gelis had been promoted to a Level 2 Battle Soldier, he had been arrogant and untouchable at school; no one expected him to hit a wall this time.

The guys from the Airplane Brotherhood were also excited, except for Zhang Tie and Big Head. Zhang Tie wasn't excited; he was considering how to face the retaliation from Gelis and his group. The four of them would definitely find a way to pay him back double for the pain of those twenty-four lashes.

It seems I won't have to worry about having enough Iron Fetus Fruit in the future! Zhang Tie thought with self-deprecating resignation.

The fat kid Barry didn't feel much excitement either. Ever since he heard Sha Long's account of the Small Woods, Barry's expression had slowly turned grave.

The Airplane Brotherhood knew he had been in the Small Woods after lunch, and Barry was incredibly skilled at reading people. Perhaps he had already noticed something from Zhang Tie's expression and demeanor that afternoon. Zhang Tie felt that Barry might have already guessed that he was the "guy with guts"...

When school ended, Zhang Tie asked the guys from the Airplane Brotherhood to wait for him in the classroom. Then, in the classroom where only they remained, Zhang Tie calmly announced his decision.

"What... Big Head, you want to quit our Airplane Brotherhood?" Doug looked at Zhang Tie in shock. "Why? What's wrong with our Airplane Brotherhood? Next week we were even going to help you lose your virginity and become a man!"

Sista and Shavin were just as shocked as Doug, while Baghdad was filled with anger, his fists clenched involuntarily.

"Maybe I've just gotten used to being on my own, so please respect my decision..." Zhang Tie didn't say much else; he just smiled, then walked out of the classroom, leaving the bunch from the Airplane Brotherhood staring at each other in confusion.

"That bastard, I should have punched him in the nose again!" Baghdad slammed his fist against the classroom wall, causing a patch of plaster to fall off...

"And we treated him like a good brother, pfft..." Doug spat toward the doorway where Zhang Tie had disappeared. "He never wanted to be our brother in the first place!"

"What's going on?" Shavin looked from one to the other, somewhat bewildered.

"How could such a stupid guy quit before enjoying our Airplane Brotherhood's initiation ceremony?" Sista was deep in thought, struggling to understand.

Light rolled his eyes, watching Barry in silence. Barry kept his head down, saying nothing, and soon everyone noticed his silence and fell quiet themselves. Only when he saw that everyone had stopped talking did Barry lift his head and look at them.

"I had this suspicion this afternoon at the training grounds, and Big Head's actions just now confirmed my judgment. You all misunderstood him; Big Head chose to quit our Brotherhood so he wouldn't bring trouble upon everyone!"

"Trouble? You mean..." Shavin seemed to catch on.

"Big Head is that gutsy guy. The one who didn't wash dishes for Gelis and his crew today, the one who made them look so pathetic—that was him!" Barry dropped the bombshell. Everyone gasped, their mouths hanging open in shock. "Gelis and his crew will definitely retaliate against him later. He didn't want to drag us into his feud with them, so he chose to leave!"

Barry looked at each of them earnestly. "It is foreseeable that the retaliation from Gelis and his crew will be fierce. If Big Head were still a member of the Airplane Brotherhood, we would have to endure it with him. This concerns the personal interests and safety of every one of us. On this matter, no one can make a decision for anyone else. I didn't ask Big Head to stay just now because I wanted to clarify the situation and let everyone make their own choice. If we choose to let Big Head stay, we face Gelis's revenge together. If we let him leave, everyone is safe. Think about it carefully; you have five minutes. After five minutes, we will vote by a show of hands!"

In the classroom, every member of the Airplane Brotherhood fell into deep thought...

Five minutes later, Barry looked at everyone solemnly. "Those who agree to let Big Head stay and are willing to face Gelis's retaliation with him, please raise your hand!"

Everyone looked at each other, but no one spoke first.

"Fine, since everyone is keeping quiet, I'll cast my vote first. Even though that guy Big Head broke my nose and gave me that disgusting nickname, Slime Monster, I think he's a stand-up guy. So..." Doug twisted his nose. "I want him to stay..."

Doug raised his hand...

"Gelis, a Level 2 Battle Soldier, is he really that amazing? I'll surpass him sooner or later!" Baghdad said coolly, raising his hand as well...

"If we're going to abandon our brother just because of a little trouble today, then when we face even harder times later, shouldn't we just announce that we're disbanding? What's the point of having a Brotherhood at all!" Sista said, raising his hand.

"I think that guy is always capable of doing the unexpected. Besides, I feel that if a guy who can turn and run without hesitation when encountering Red Scarf Bandits is in the Brotherhood, he won't lead everyone into a fire pit. Just like today, maybe Big Head has a backup plan. I feel very secure being brothers with a guy like that!" Light shrugged and raised his hand.

"Since everyone has decided to go for it, I have no reason to back down. Besides, don't you all feel like today was satisfying?" The slightly shy Shavin smiled and raised his hand.

Seeing everyone's eyes fixed on him, the fat guy Barry finally let a brilliant smile bloom on his solemn face and raised his hand. "If our Airplane Brotherhood wants to gain a foothold in Black Flame City, then Gelis and his crew are our first whetstone. Are they even brothers if we don't go through hardships together? Are they even brothers if we don't face tests together? Come to think of it, we should thank Big Head. I've always been waiting for an opportunity to test our Airplane Brotherhood, and I didn't expect it to actually come!"

The guys in the Brotherhood looked at each other, their eyes slowly brightening. Having gone through this turmoil and faced their own hearts, they felt their bonds growing closer. A silent warmth flowed through their chests—a warmth filled with courage and trust...

"What is the slogan of our Airplane Brotherhood?" Seeing the fighting spirit in everyone's eyes rising, Barry shouted.

"No cavities!" Doug yelled, but seeing everyone looking at him with unfriendly expressions, he realized the joke didn't land and shrank back.

"Once more, what is the slogan of our Airplane Brotherhood!" Barry shouted again.

"Whoever dares to mess with our brother, we all mess with him!" The animals let out a howl of rage...