The Lost Right Eye

Thus, under Chen Wuming's lead, the group passed through one area after another, avoiding guard after guard. Just when they had finally reached the outskirts of the Tower of Paradise and thought they were about to escape, a sudden mocking voice made them feel as though they had fallen into an icy abyss.

"Clap, clap, clap—" A thin figure, skinny as a reed, suddenly appeared on the road directly ahead of them. He clapped his hands and sneered, "How does it feel to suddenly fall into hell just when you thought you were about to succeed? Feeling hopeless? Hahahaha—" As he spoke, he actually threw back his head and laughed maniacally, as though he thoroughly enjoyed the despair in their eyes.

"Hmph! What a bunch of clueless little brats." An incredibly fat figure appeared beside the thin man. Looking at the group that wanted to escape, the fat wizard said disdainfully, "Did you really think your plan was perfect? Did you really think we knew nothing?! Heh heh heh, if you thought that, then you were dead wrong! We already knew the moment you began preparing to escape. The only reason we didn't drag you out immediately was because we wanted to see exactly how you planned to run away!"

"Ahahaha, suffer! Regret it! Despair! Let me enjoy those helpless looks on your faces a little longer!!! Hahahahaha—"

The thin and fat wizards both burst into laughter.

"Damn it—" Chen Wuming's expression darkened terribly. Although he had known this escape attempt might very well end in their capture, when it truly happened before his eyes, he still could not help but feel despair. He had considered this possibility, yet he had still held onto a sliver of hope before this, thinking, What if I really can escape? He was probably not the only one. Perhaps everyone here who had tried to flee had thought the same way. After all, everyone harbored a little wishful thinking.

But from the words of these fat and thin wizards, it seemed that no matter how they planned or how they tried to escape, they would ultimately be caught! And the reason those two had not shown themselves earlier, only to suddenly appear when they were on the verge of success, was probably because they had been bored and wanted to toy with them, wasn't it? That's right! They had been playing with them like cats playing with mice! The feeling was like having his heart squeezed mercilessly just as it was about to relax completely! Beneath the helplessness lay threads of despair...

"Hmph! If the construction of the R System weren't at such a critical stage, I would have sent every last one of you into that room already!" the fat wizard snorted.

"But to avoid delaying the project, I'll be generous for once today." The thin wizard took over with a wicked grin. "Talk! As long as you reveal who masterminded this escape plan, I'll let the rest of you go and take only that one person away! Heh heh heh, aren't we kind and merciful? You should feel honored."

At those words, Shou immediately began trembling violently all over! There was no other reason—the escape plan had been first proposed by him!

"Enough! Don't waste our time. Tell us who the mastermind is!" Seeing that no one spoke, the fat wizard lost patience first. He slammed his magic staff heavily against the solid ground, producing a heavy bang.

Frightened by the fat wizard, Shou became even less willing to make a sound. He merely buried his head deeply between his arms, not daring to look at the others.

Seeing this, everyone immediately understood what was happening. Shou was afraid. He had backed down. But it was understandable; aside from Millianna, Shou was the youngest among them. Erza thought that this could not continue. If they angered the fat and thin wizards before them, everyone might be in danger! Thinking this, Erza gritted her teeth, raised her head, and resolutely said, "I—"

"It was me!"

"It was me—"

Before Erza could finish, she was interrupted by two firm voices that rang out at the same time. Startled, Erza looked up and froze on the spot. Those two voices had come from two people: Chen Wuming and Gerard!

Not only her—Wally, Simon, Millianna, the fat and thin wizards, and even Chen Wuming and Gerard themselves, the two people who had spoken, were all stunned!

Chen Wuming and Gerard stared at each other in astonishment. Clearly, neither had expected this outcome.

"It wasn't him! I alone was the mastermind and commander of this escape plan!" Chen Wuming reacted a little faster. He immediately shouted with absolute certainty, taking all responsibility upon himself!

As he spoke, he did not forget to glare at Gerard, signaling for him not to speak. Gerard, who had reacted a little too slowly and been beaten to the punch by Chen Wuming, had wanted to say something. But after receiving that glare, he could only part his lips slightly before saying nothing in the end. He knew that there was no point in saying anything now. Brother Nameless had already decided to sacrifice himself to protect everyone else. If Gerard continued to interrupt, he would not only ruin Brother Nameless's plan but also drag everyone else into danger. So he fell silent. He could only remain silent.

But sometimes, no matter how carefully someone planned, there would always be unforeseen variables that completely ruined every original arrangement!

"Oh? I see..." The fat wizard nodded his enormous head as if he had suddenly understood. Just when Chen Wuming was about to sigh in relief, thinking his plan had worked, the fat wizard suddenly pointed at Erza among the group and burst out laughing. "But it looks like it wasn't you! It should have been this girl, right! Hahahaha, two people actually wanted to take the blame for you. It seems you're quite charming. Men, take her away!" At the end, his tone abruptly changed, becoming cold and forceful!

"What?!" Everyone was stunned. They had never expected the fat wizard to say something like that so suddenly! They were completely caught off guard!

"No! That's wrong! I should be the one who planned this! Can't you see that I'm the leader of this group?! You fat pig!!" Chen Wuming reacted quickly again, immediately pointing at the fat wizard and cursing loudly! His aim was to anger the other man and make him believe that Chen Wuming was the mastermind, not Erza! Chen Wuming felt quite helpless about having to do this, but he had no choice. He could not possibly let a child like Shou trade his own safety for the safety of Chen Wuming and everyone else, could he? At least in terms of the age of his soul, Chen Wuming was an adult. He absolutely could not bear to let a child shoulder all that responsibility! That would be far too shameful...

Especially when he saw that Erza seemed willing to take responsibility in Shou's place, Chen Wuming was utterly shocked! Fine, letting a child bear all the responsibility was already humiliating enough. But if a girl—a girl who had not even grown up yet—got there before him and took the blame for Shou, then as a real man, he might as well stop living! Where would he put his old face then?!

Thinking this, Chen Wuming's typical male chauvinism erupted. Before Erza could act, he threw caution to the wind and took all of Shou's responsibility upon himself! In his own words: Damn it—I'm doing this!!

Of course, he had not expected Gerard to want to take the blame for Shou as well.

But what enraged Chen Wuming most now was the fat wizard's intelligence! It would be one thing if you were stupid, but why the hell do you have to act smart?! You're as dumb as a donkey! So why the hell do you insist on playing smart?! Do you really think you're some unprecedented Ukrainian breeding boar?!

Chen Wuming ground his teeth inwardly. The fat wizard's sudden move had completely thrown his plan into chaos.

"You brat, you're courting death!!!" The fat wizard flew into a rage at once! He raised his magic staff and struck Chen Wuming with lightning magic, blasting him to the ground.

"Enough, let's go! We ought to take good care of her for daring to plan and encourage others to escape!" The thin wizard waved his hand and smiled. He placed particular emphasis on the words "take good care of her," then turned and left.

Seeing this, the fat wizard gave a cold snort and left as well. Gerard and Simon tried to step forward and say something along the way, but they were naturally treated to a vicious round of magic by the still-enraged fat wizard.

Afterward, the other guards escorted the rest of them back to their broken quarters and locked them up again.

But that did not mean the two of them were prepared to sit and wait for death! They exchanged a glance and saw determination in each other's eyes...

The two of them silently knocked out all the guards stationed around the quarters, then quickly ran toward the dreaded so-called "room" where Erza was being held! To save as much time as possible, they did not even bother avoiding the guards they encountered along the way, directly knocking every one of them down! This was a race against time. The longer Erza remained in that place, the greater the danger she faced! If they arrived even a little too late and something had already happened to Erza, the two of them would regret it for the rest of their lives!

When they arrived before the room where Erza had been taken, Chen Wuming and Gerard charged in without a word! They instantly knocked down all the guards stationed at the door!

"Creak—" Chen Wuming stood outside to keep watch while Gerard pushed open the door and entered.

"Erza—" A furious, alarmed cry suddenly came from inside the room. It was Gerard's voice! Thinking Gerard had run into trouble, Chen Wuming no longer cared about anything else. He hurriedly shoved open the door and rushed inside.

"What is it, Gerard?" His eyes swept the room, and he immediately saw Gerard kneeling in the center, half-supporting Erza. Chen Wuming hurried forward and asked anxiously, "Did something happen—" Before he could finish, Chen Wuming suddenly froze. He stared straight at Erza—or rather, at her right eye—

"Erza! Your... your eye—" Deeply shocked, Chen Wuming rushed forward and stared at Erza's right eye. His voice trembled as he asked, "Could it be... could it be that your right eye has already..." His words abruptly stopped. He looked toward Gerard, who was supporting Erza, as if asking what exactly had happened.

"..." Facing Brother Nameless's questioning gaze, Gerard nodded painfully.

"Damn it—" Chen Wuming slammed his fist hard against the ground. Even when his fist began bleeding, he did not notice. It was clear just how furious he was at that moment!

"Don't worry, Erza. I will definitely avenge you!" Chen Wuming said to the extremely weak Erza in a deep voice. His tone was incomparably grim. Clearly, the rage in his heart had already reached its peak!!!

"Now, the only thing we can do is probably—" Gerard stood up again, his eyes fixed seriously on Erza and Chen Wuming.

"Fight!" Chen Wuming hoisted Erza onto his back and finished the sentence with a grim expression.

Then, carrying Erza on his back, he and Gerard strode outside together!

Both of their gazes were filled with unwavering determination—and rage!!!