Chapter 72
"I cannot make up for the harm I have caused you." Andoain slowly rose to his feet. "From this point on, I will leave."
He walked step by step to Han Fei, then suddenly reached out and took out the book he always carried with him, handing it to Han Fei and saying, "I don't have anything valuable, but this is a book I used to really like. I always carry it with me and flip through it from time to time. As compensation, I'm giving it to you."
Han Fei casually took the book. To his surprise, the book was worth four small gold coins, exactly the price of a military explosive.
In front of Andoain, Han Fei didn't examine the book closely. He clutched it in his hand and said, "I accept your compensation."
"That's good."
Andoain breathed a sigh of relief, then his gaze swept over Lemuen's complex expression, past Mostima's cold blue eyes, and finally returned to Han Fei's calm face.
"But before I leave," his voice was dry but unusually clear, "Mostima ..."
The fallen angel Mostima slightly raised her eyes, a cold smile even curving her lips, as if to say, "What right do you have to call me by my name?"
Andoain's Adam's apple bobbed, and his heavy "I'm sorry" ultimately seemed pale and powerless. He looked at Han Fei, his eyes filled with unprecedented solemnity:
"Han Fei, the banishment of the Fallen is eternal. The gates of Laterano are completely closed to her. This land is never kind to the rootless."
"She needs shelter."
These words, like a stone thrown into stagnant water, instantly created ripples!
Lemuen clenched her fingers tightly, a look of pain and worry flashing in her eyes.
Texas frowned, her gaze towards Mostima complex and unreadable.
Mostima herself merely chuckled softly, casting her gaze towards the dark corner of the secret room, seemingly indifferent. However, the slight tension in her jawline betrayed the turmoil within her.
"You have no right to decide where I go, Andoain, and I don't need you to worry about me."
Andoain remained silent. He knew he was powerless to bear this heavy responsibility, nor could he make amends. He could only do something for Mostima before he left.
That would make him feel better.
Han Fei scratched his head and said, "Uh, I wouldn't mind protecting Mostima, but this isn't something you or I can decide. We have to respect her own wishes, right?"
The air seemed to freeze as soon as the words were spoken.
Andoain fell silent, his gaze heavy with endless weariness and sorrow. He took one last look at everyone present, his eyes filled with unspeakable guilt and farewell.
Then, he resolutely turned around, dragging his wounded body step by step toward the only exit of the secret room. His figure, in the dim light, appeared extremely lonely and resolute.
Heavy footsteps echoed in the deathly silent chamber, pounding on everyone's hearts.
Everyone's gaze unconsciously shifted from the departing figure to Han Fei, who stood silently.
Han Fei blinked and said, "Why are you all looking at me?"
"I think Andoain's suggestion makes some sense."
Lemuen glanced silently at Mostima beside her, then turned her gaze to Han Fei and said softly, "Although there are still many things about you that we don't know, I trust your character, and I feel at ease letting Mostima follow you."
"Eat?"
Han Fei paused for a moment, thinking to himself, "I don't mind, but would Mostima be willing? I don't want to be the only one getting involved."
Thinking of this, Han Fei's gaze fell on Mostima.
After her fall from grace, Mostima's appearance had returned to what Han Fei was familiar with, but unlike the dashing image he remembered, the blue-haired girl's figure appeared somewhat frail in the dim light.
P. S.: Anyone know about Speaker Mai Xiaowen? Her skin quality is really good. Luna also pretty good. The only downside is that none of the four collaboration skins are for the character I play.
I suddenly realized I don't even have any skin left, that's outrageous, Delta Force!
By the way, nine thousand words today, not bad, right?
Volume 1: Chapter 105 Aftermath
Why are you all looking at me?
Mostima turned her head and looked at Han Fei's frank yet expectant eyes, then at Lemuen's undisguised concern and worry. In the depths of her icy blue eyes, something extremely subtle seemed to melt for a moment.
She exhaled softly, and the corners of her mouth curled back into that signature, slightly languid and aloof smile, as if the previous coldness had never existed.
Why should I listen to Andoain's arrangements?
Mostima's voice returned to its usual calm and resonant tone, "I'm not a three-year-old child. Just as he has his path, I have mine. I don't need to follow anyone's instructions."
She paused, the distance in her voice lessening slightly, and smiled at Han Fei, saying, "However, I still want to thank you. Thank you for your kindness; I appreciate it."
"OK."
Han Fei shrugged. Despite his expectations, he didn't really hope to bring Mostima back to the Special Operations Center.
A very practical reason is that he hasn't had much interaction with Mostima along the way.
Aside from necessary communication, the two hardly interacted at all.
This raises a very real question: why should people who don't know you follow you?
"Can you help me up?"
Lemuen's voice rang out behind Han Fei.
Han Fei turned his head and saw Lemuen extending her hand to him. Han Fei immediately helped Lemuen up and asked, "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine, my leg just hurts a little," Lemuen said softly. "Just help me up."
Han Fei grasped Lemuen's hand and pulled her up with a little force; the latter's soft body immediately leaned against Han Fei.
Han Fei reached out and supported Lemuen's waist, saying, "I have a surgical kit here, but I don't know if you can use it."
As he spoke, he casually gave Lemuen a steroid injection.
Han Fei didn't have any romantic thoughts. His gear was very thick, so no matter how soft and sweet a girl was leaning against him, he couldn't feel any softness. He could only faintly smell a faint fragrance on Lemuen's body.
"Shall we try it later?"
Lemuen blinked, then said to Mostima, "I understand your concerns, but he..."
"Lemuen, you don't need to try to persuade me."
Mostima raised her hand to interrupt Lemuen, and whispered, "You know I'm not that fragile."
"Can..."
Lemuen was about to say something when suddenly, the sound of conversation came from the dark corridor outside the secret room.
"Be careful, that car outside looks pretty new, it might be a Laterano vehicle."
"How many people can that car hold? There are so many of us, what are we afraid of? Their Guardian Gun are quite expensive lately, if we steal a few, we can sell them for a good price."
The voices were soft, but the underground palace was so quiet that it was hard for Lemuen and the others not to notice the conversation.
Han Fei, on the other hand, seemed completely oblivious, not understanding why the communication had suddenly stopped.
There was no other way; for safety reasons, he put the headset back Shut-in Helmet, and since he hadn't taken it off, he naturally couldn't hear the conversations outside.
"Looks like someone's coming."
Lemuen wanted to walk away from Han Fei; as a sniper, she couldn't keep charging into battle alongside the Shieldguards.
But after taking only one step, Lemuen's delicate brows furrowed.
The pain spread through her leg, making it difficult for her to move.
Let me help you.
Mostima walked to Lemuen's side and said with feigned ease, "Anyway, I can't use the Guardian Gun now."
Upon hearing this, a hint of sorrow flashed in Lemuen's eyes. She wanted to say something, but Mostima, with her sharp eyes, stopped her in time. "Alright, now is not the time to talk about this. There are still enemies outside."
"It's a small matter, just leave it to us."
Han Fei Han Fei injected Lemuen with a needle, then picked up his large shield, turned to Texas, and said, "Come with me?"
Texas gave Han Fei a look that seemed to say, "Do I even need to ask you that?", silently drew her twin swords, and walked to Han Fei's side.
Han Fei smiled at Texas, raised his left hand, and a Golden Rose immediately appeared in his palm.
"This is what you call prime time!"
Han Fei made his move!
It didn't run, it crashed into something!
That heavy body transformed into a roaring steel chariot, its hydraulic joints emitting a dull, inhuman groan.
Buzz-hiss! Buzz-hiss!
The heavy armor plates collided and rubbed against each other, creating a symphony of death purely composed of force and metal, accompanied by the creaking of hydraulic joints.
Texas remained silent, but her speed was not slow at all; she could even keep up with Han Fei's pace, falling a step behind him.
She didn't follow him; instead, she merged into the shadow of the storm he stirred up.
The black figure moved so fast it left afterimages, its twin swords lowered, the tips of which trailed two deadly streaks in the dim light. Its steps were as light as Black Wolf stealthily hunting in the night.
The two figures, one in the light and one in the shadows, one heavy and one light, vanished from Lemuen and Mostima's sight like a destructive tide and the shadow of death.
Immediately afterwards, the suffocating metallic roar and the hissing of hydraulics were instantly drowned out by a truly hellish sound erupting from the depths of the corridor!
"Pfft!"
"Ugh--!"
Clang! Bang!
Desperate screams, incredulous gasps, death throes...
All the sounds collided and overlapped wildly in the narrow corridor!
In the dark corridor, the unfortunate Sarkaz raiders didn't even have time to get a clear look at the steel monster.
All they saw was a massive shadow, accompanied by a deafening roar of death, bearing down on them; all they felt was an overwhelming force that sent them flying and smashing them to pieces like a broken sack!
After that shadow passed, the deadly sword light kissed their throats and severed their tendons with the precision of a venomous snake.
At this moment, Han Fei was their nightmare!
This chaotic symphony lasted for less than a minute.
Then, a scream filled with extreme terror, completely distorted, like a final death knell, pierced through all the noise and crashed back into the secret room:
"It's a monster!"
The sound stopped abruptly, and deathly silence returned.
Only the heavy, rhythmic sound of hydraulic operation, like the deep, satisfied breath of a giant beast, accompanied by the soft scraping of metal plates, slowly returned from afar.
The heavy sounds of hydraulic operation and metallic friction grew louder as they approached, finally stopping at the entrance to the sealed room.
Han Fei reappeared in everyone's sight, the edge of the giant shield stained with a few fresh and dazzling dark red spots.
"It's all cleaned up."
His voice came through the helmet, still deep and rumbling like thunder, but without a trace of fatigue, as if the crushing battle just now was merely a warm-up.
His digitized body had already quietly replenished his stamina bar.
Mostima's gaze swept past the stains on his clothes and landed on the isolated darkness outside the entrance to the secret chamber. "How's the rain outside?"
"I don't know." Han Fei shrugged simply, raised his hand and tapped the side of his heavy helmet, making a dull "bang" sound. "This thing has top-notch protection, but the downside is that when I wear it, I'm deaf."
He didn't hear a single word of the enemy's plot just now.
"The rain has subsided."
Texas's cool voice rang out at the right moment. She had already sheathed her sword and was wiping the hilt with a clean cloth, her movements meticulous, as if the life-reaping sword light she had just witnessed was merely an illusion.
Mostima nodded slightly, turning her gaze to Lemuen, whom she was supporting. Remian's gentle and beautiful face was now showing signs of enduring the throbbing pain in her legs.
"Fiammetta should be back soon." Mostima's voice carried a hint of barely perceptible worry. "Lemuen's leg injury was aggravated by Andoain's rampaging Originium Arts. The situation is unclear. It's best to return to Laterano for a full check-up as soon as possible."
All eyes, including Han Fei's head covered by a metal mask, were focused on Lemuen. Her legs, hidden by her delicate dress, now bore the weight of everyone's worry.
Upon hearing this, Han Fei's gaze involuntarily fell on Lemuen, focusing on her legs hidden by her skirt, and he said, "I do have a surgical kit, how about I try it?"
"There are also emergency medicines in the car," Mostima said, glancing at Han Fei.
"It's okay, Fiammetta hasn't come back yet anyway, and it's still raining outside."
Lemuen reached out to stop Mostima from saying what she was about to say, then looked at Han Fei with a trusting gaze, "Then, I'll leave my leg in your care."
P. S.: Sorry for being late. I was a little sleepy tonight and fell asleep in front of the computer. I woke up to find it was already 12 o'clock.
There will be more later, but it will be late. Don't wait, check it when you wake up tomorrow morning. By the way, this counts as an update for the 25th. Updates will continue as usual on the 26th, and then we'll see if there's a big update.