Chapter 39: Turning Point

“What do you mean?!”

“Who do you think you are? How dare you order us around?!”

Just as expected, the entire hall erupted.

“Let me explain. It means exactly what you think it means. Since all of you require protection, the safest option is to keep you here. You’re already gathered together, so this arrangement works perfectly.”

I slowly swept my gaze across the room. Every single face was overflowing with emotion.

“Hm? If no one has any objections, I’ll take that as unanimous agreement.”

The moment I finished speaking, a burly man stepped onto the stage. He was a head taller than me, looking down with obvious contempt, which irritated me a little.

“So, what you’re saying is that you intend to restrict our freedom for your own convenience?”

“I believe I’ve already made myself very clear.”

I spread my hands.

“So that’s your answer.”

The man narrowed his eyes.

“And what exactly makes you think you have the ability to keep us here?”

“With what?”

I clapped my hands together.

In the next instant, I drew the pistol from my waist and pressed the muzzle directly against his forehead.

“With this.”

“You… you… you wouldn’t dare—”

Bang!

The gunshot echoed throughout the entire hall.

A thin trail of white smoke rose from the barrel.

The deafening explosion drilled into everyone’s ears, especially the man standing in front of me.

He froze completely before collapsing onto the floor.

Blood slowly trickled from his ears, running down to his chin.

Behind him, a blackened bullet hole had appeared in the wall, standing out sharply among the countless priceless paintings decorating the venue.

“You… how dare you?!”

Nearly ten seconds later, someone in the crowd finally shouted.

Without saying a word, I simply turned the gun toward him.

He immediately shut his mouth.

“I don’t have time to waste arguing with you, and I’m not interested in studying your precious rules and regulations.”

I slowly holstered the pistol.

“I prefer solving problems in the simplest and fastest way possible.”

“A madman…”

Someone muttered quietly.

I smiled.

“That’s right.”

“I’m different from all of you. Don’t try to tie me down with your way of thinking. I only do what I believe is right.”

“If that makes me a madman… then I suppose I am one.”

My eyes slowly swept across the entire audience.

Their expressions were truly entertaining.

“Well then, please enjoy your stay here for the next few days.”

“I’ll be taking my leave.”

I stepped down from the stage.

As I passed by, I caught a glimpse of Grand Duke Laviyeh.

Although I couldn’t see his expression clearly, I had the distinct feeling that he was smiling with approval.

“Commander Walid, you still have troops to command. Come with me.”

“Ah… yes.”

Commander Walid hurried after me.

Just before leaving the hall, I turned back one last time.

“Oh, and one more thing.”

“Please don’t try to escape.”

“If you do… I can guarantee that you won’t die.”

“But I can’t guarantee that I’ll care about your feelings.”

After saying that, I walked out without looking back.

“…Wasn’t that a little too reckless?”

“It was the fastest solution.”

“And we only get one chance.”

Commander Walid let out a long sigh.

“I’ll deal with the aftermath.”

“Please don’t worry.”

“Thank you.”

We were now standing inside his office.

A large map of Bola City lay spread across the desk.

“The current front line is here.”

The commander picked up a red marker and drew a circle around several streets centered on the Defense Department building.

“We’re trying to station soldiers across the entire area, but after the losses we suffered earlier, we simply don’t have enough manpower.”

“Hm…”

I studied the map.

“Then we can’t afford to remain on the defensive.”

“We have to take the initiative.”

Commander Walid nodded.

“That part… I’ll have to leave to you.”

“Understood.”

“But if we all leave and the city center falls, that would be troublesome.”

“I’ll leave two people behind.”

“I’m sorry…”

“Don’t apologize.”

“This is an objective problem. Passion alone doesn’t solve everything.”

“If you insisted on handling it by yourself, that would actually make things more difficult.”

I stretched my back.

“We’ll move out tomorrow morning.”

“There are still a lot of things to prepare tonight.”

“Looks like another sleepless night.”

“I’ll stay and help, Mr. Wu Yin.”

“I was actually hoping for a pretty girl to keep me company.”

“Is this the place?”

I arrived at a quiet corner of the city, where I was meeting the former Saint.

Though they hated that title, so it was probably better not to use it.

“Yes.”

“If you dig straight down from here, you’ll find their hidden entrance.”

“Thank you.”

“I hope you can destroy their plan.”

“I will.”

I waved goodbye.

The Saint Assembly had already destroyed their old home, but fortunately they hadn’t been there at the time.

Otherwise, they would already be dead.

By the time I returned to the Defense Department, it was already two in the morning.

The intelligence gathering was finally complete.

Now all that remained was to get some sleep.

Otherwise, I’d probably end up dozing off during today’s operation.

“How are those people doing?”

By “those people,” I meant the nobles I had locked inside the mansion.

The place was enormous. Keeping them there for a few days shouldn’t be a problem.

“No incidents.”

“They’ve all calmed down.”

“Good.”

“I just hope nobody actually tries to climb out.”

“If Hai Shi catches them, she might accidentally cut them down.”

Commander Walid gave an awkward laugh.

“Let’s hope that doesn’t happen.”

“Anyway, Mr. Wu Yin, you should get some rest.”

“You look exhausted.”

“I’m going.”

I walked down the long corridor.

My room was at the very end.

Before sleeping, though, I wanted to check on my team members.

“Xi Si Te?”

“Asleep?”

“Captain?”

“Come in.”

I opened the door.

Xi Si Te was sitting in front of a mirror, wearing pajamas with a face mask on, quietly taking care of her skin.

“You feeling alright?”

“Of course.”

“This sort of thing is routine for us.”

“You ask every single time, Captain.”

“I worry about my team.”

“What if one day something really does go wrong?”

Xi Si Te smiled softly.

“Then I’ll be grateful for your concern.”

She even winked at me.

A side of her that she rarely showed.

“That’s good to hear.”

“But tomorrow, you’ll stay behind and assist the Defense Army.”

“I’ll follow your orders.”

“But I’ll also accept the kindness behind them.”

“Some things don’t need to be said out loud…”

“Okay~.”

Xi Si Te covered her mouth and laughed.

Meanwhile, I escaped from the room in embarrassment.

“Next… Leng Qiongling.”

Normally, entering a berserk state wasn’t unusual for a Madman.

But according to Le Paxi, Leng Qiongling’s transformation had happened after touching a Madman weapon.

That had never happened before.

I knocked on the door.

No answer.

I knocked again.

Still nothing.

I pressed my ear against the door.

Someone’s definitely inside…

Then why won’t she open it?

Looks like I had no choice.

Time to use the captain’s authority.

I pulled out the ring of spare keys Commander Walid had given me and tried them one by one.

Finally—

Click.

“Hey, Leng Qiongling?”

I pushed the door open.

The first thing I saw was someone lying on top of Leng Qiongling.

Wait…

That was Le Paxi.

What exactly were they doing without even acknowledging their captain?

“Ah… d-don’t… not there…”

“Hm…”

“Then maybe here?”

“I think this spot is the most sensitive.”

“Th-that’s not it!”

“Then… here?”

Every time Le Paxi moved her hand, Leng Qiongling arched her body and trembled violently.

What on earth was happening?

“Oh.”

“Captain.”

“Did you come for this too?”

“No, no, I have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about.”

“And could you get off her first?”

Le Paxi casually climbed down and brushed her hair back into place.

Meanwhile, Leng Qiongling still looked completely overwhelmed.

“So… what exactly were you two doing?”

“It seems that the knife I lent Leng Qiongling has fused with her body.”

“…Huh?”

Wait.

Hold on.

Could you not say something that unbelievable in such a casual tone?

“Fused?”

“What do you mean by fused?”

“Exactly what it sounds like.”

“…Thanks for the detailed explanation.”

I turned toward Leng Qiongling.

She was sitting on the bed with her clothes in disarray, still looking slightly dazed.

“You back to normal?”

“Captain?”

“Good.”

“At least you still recognize me.”

“So what happened?”

“When I was inside the cave…”

“The knife that was stuck to my hand…”

“It slowly felt like it was being… absorbed by my body.”

“Very vivid explanation.”

“So, any side effects?”

“Not really.”

“It just… feels itchy.”

“Oh.”

“So Le Paxi was scratching you.”

“No!”

“Hm.”

Le Paxi walked back over, her eyes carefully examining Leng Qiongling.

Instinctively, Leng Qiongling hugged herself.

“So what do we do now?”

“There’s nothing we can do.”

“In theory, the knife was made from the same material as our weapons.”

“If Leng Qiongling is completely fine, then it simply means her body possesses some unknown characteristic.”

“Then…”

“Go to sleep.”

“We move out soon.”

“Rest while you still can.”

“Understood.”

Le Paxi left first.

I stayed behind for another moment.

“Leng Qiongling.”

“One more thing.”

“That outfit of yours is probably beyond saving.”

“I’ll have someone prepare new clothes later.”

“For now, just wear a military uniform.”

“Or anything else you like.”

“Okay.”

I turned to leave.

Then Leng Qiongling quietly called out to me.

“Captain?”

“What is it?”

“Am I… really different from everyone else?”

I was silent for a moment.

Then I smiled.

“When something that has never changed suddenly becomes different…”

“It means the story has reached a turning point.”

“Then…”

“I believe…”

“You’re going to become our turning point.”