Chapter 87 - Coming out on Top
Translated by Eve
Edited by Serefina, Kitty
4. Coming out on Top
Lance got up from the bed and leisurely got dressed. He told Xie He, “We should head out.”
The two of them left the room. Outside, Lance’s retainers had already rushed over and began to report in a loud voice, “Your Highness! We’re under attack! Please board the ship immediately!”
The Federation had clearly mobilized a huge force for the ambush this time! They had also come very abruptly! However, it was unfortunate for them that the reason Lance had stayed here was in anticipation for this day.... The Empire that looked relaxed had actually always been on guard! They were waiting for the Federation to walk right into their trap!
At this moment, the Empire immediately launched their counter-attack! The Federation’s troops that thought that they had the advantage of an ambush were caught unprepared by their attack. There had already been a huge gap between the two sides’ military might, and with the Empire’s preparations, it became a one-sided massacre!
Lance brought Xie He back to the mothership. Xie He watched the one-sided slaughter helplessly. He was so anxious that his eyes turned red.
It was at this moment that General Arnold appeared and said, “Your Highness, they are currently congregated together, attacking the mothership. We have already activated the shield.”
Lance’s golden eyes flashed. Before he could speak, there was a huge, loud explosion. Everything began to shake. Xie He, who had been waiting for this moment, turned around and knocked down the soldiers next to him. He suddenly escaped!
Arnold was startled by his sudden actions. He then immediately said, “I will dispatch people to capture him!”
Lance raised a hand and said insipidly, “No need.”
Arnold looked at him, surprised.
The corner of Lance’s thin lips raised, his golden eyes glittering as if everything was in his hands. There was a smile in his voice, “He has nowhere to go.”
....................................
Xie He felt that he was really a good, dedicated actor. He actually didn’t want to leave Lance, that little vixen, at all. However, so as to conform to his character settings, he had to go seek abuse. Only... it just happened to also be a good way to increase the Favourability Value. Little did Lance know that while he was scheming against Xie He, Xie He was also scheming against him.
They had both been waiting for the Federation’s forces to arrive... also, they had both been scheming. Then they would see just who it was that would come out on top.
【Xie He：Have the Federation’s people entered, Baby?】
【444：A small squad burst in prior to the activation of the shield!】
【Xie He：Which direction?】
【444：Ahead of you on the right. Turn twice and you’ll meet up with them! ~\(≧▽≦)/~】
【Xie He：Very good. 🙂 】
Xie He suddenly took a turn. He didn’t decrease his speed at all as he dashed towards the right side. This body was very strong. It had explosive strength and endurance. It was worthy of belonging to an Evolved Human. Xie He knocked out a few Empire soldiers on the way, stealing their weapons before continuing onwards!
After taking the last turn, he finally saw soldiers wearing the familiar uniform of the Federation. Immediately, an expression of pleasant surprise bloomed on his face.
At the same moment, the other party noticed him. However, their expressions were all of anger. Without any hesitation, they raised their guns and pointed them at him. Xie He was caught unprepared and just barely managed to dodge. However, a laser beam still managed to rip a hole in his shoulder!
He watched as the other party continued to shoot at him. He grit his teeth and turned, running away. Although he was baffled as to why his people were attacking him, he never returned fire!
The Federation’s forces had received the order to kill the traitor, Xie He, on sight. They immediately picked up pursuit. Along the way, they encountered several of the Empire’s soldiers. The Empire’s soldiers were stupefied at the scene. They didn’t understand why the Federation’s people were trying to kill Xie He. Wasn’t he their great hero? Didn’t they come to save him?
The Empire’s soldiers had originally planned on re-capturing the escaped Xie He. They hesitated for a moment before firing at the Federation’s soldiers. Regardless... Xie He was the person His Highness doted on every night. He absolutely could not die! Furthermore, the Federation’s soldiers were invaders! The Empire’s soldiers didn’t dare to act against Xie He. At this moment, there was no hesitation. They definitely had to protect Xie He and help him escape!
For a moment, there was a strange scene within the starship. The Federation’s soldiers were chasing after their great hero with intentions of killing him while the Empire’s soldiers were protecting him!
There had still been skepticism in the Federation’s soldiers’ hearts, so they hadn’t been very serious in trying to kill Xie He. However, when they saw how the Empire’s soldiers protected Xie He without hesitation, the remaining skepticism in their hearts vanished. All that was left was endless fury! Xie He had definitely betrayed them! Otherwise, why would the Empire’s soldiers protect him?
Today, they had to kill him!
Xie He had just turned a corner when a hand suddenly reached out and pulled at his arm. He turned, alert, ready to attack. However, just as he was about to land a hit, he stopped. This was Walker, his second-in-command who had been with him for five years and whom he trusted the most!
Walker immediately raised both hands and spoke anxiously, “Captain! Let’s talk over there!”
Xie He finally sighed in relief. In a low voice, he said, “Come with me.”
He had lived on this warship for several days, so he was very familiar with this place. Very soon, he led Walker to an unremarkable dressing room. He vigilantly glanced around before shutting the door carefully.
Walker looked at Xie He, visibly emotional. Without any hesitation, he said, “Captain, I believe that you haven’t betrayed us!”
Xie He’s expression changed. He said, “They think that I betrayed the Federation, so they want to silence me?”
Walker lowered his head, looking unwell, “Yes... this was the decision of Representative Kent and the rest. Cecil daren couldn’t stop them... he’s always believed in you. I also believe in you. He was very worried about your safety, so he had me infiltrate the ambush squad. I’m here to tell you that the Federation has decided to execute you as a condemned criminal. For now, don’t come back. Cecil daren said that he will restore your reputation as soon as possible! You should know that many people support you and believe in you!”
Xie He fell silent for a while. He said, “I’ve been captured for so long. It’s understandable why they doubt me.”
When he said this, he looked extremely calm as if he didn’t mind this at all. But there was a flash of dimness in his deep blue eyes. He’d been abandoned.
The majority of the people didn’t trust him. Otherwise, they would not have decided to exterminate him.
He had persisted so long under the torture and torment, believing that one day, he would kill Lance, escape from here, and return home.... However, in the end, the Federation was no longer his home. Even if he understood why the other side felt the way they did, he still felt hurt and sad. Because he was still human.
“Captain...” Walker was indignant and sad. When he thought of those people, he was filled with inexhaustible anger! Those people didn’t understand a thing! They stayed at the base, living their lives of luxury, ordering others around. They didn’t understand how difficult it was for soldiers to risk life and limb fighting against the Empire’s army on the front lines. As soon as there was the slightest sign of danger, they would sacrifice the soldiers and abandon them. Walker couldn’t help but feel aggrieved for Xie He, who had been in the same situation as him.
“I’m fine.” Xie He smiled. His smile was relaxed, like sunshine. His voice was steady and brought people a baffling calmness. “I just can’t return for the time being, that’s all. I believe that Cecil will not abandon me. There will be one day when they will all understand.”
Walker nodded, tears in his eyes. “Yes!”
“So, they ambushed this place because they were worried that I would reveal the location of the Federation. They were prepared to strike first and gain the advantage, yes?” Xie He asked.
“Yes,” Walker said.
Xie He pursed his lips. From the start, everything Lance did was for the sake of making the Federation believe that he had betrayed them. It was nothing but a trap, but those with fear in their hearts would still believe in it regardless. Everything was a part of Lance’s plan. However, Xie He couldn’t abandon them. Each and every person in the Federation was his comrade-in-arms. Each warship lost would be no small loss. He muttered to himself for a while before saying, “Have them leave immediately!”
Walker looked like he found this difficult to do. “When they began fighting back, we wanted to retreat. However, we can’t even break the shield of the Empire’s ships. They’ve been keeping us under control with their firepower this whole time. If we were to suddenly retreat now, we’ll leave our backs open. We’ll be easily captured in one fell swoop.” If they didn’t leave, they would die. If they left, they would die. This attack was a mistake! Those stupid policymakers, did they think that they could casually use the soldiers as cannon fodder sacrifices?
Xie He smiled, eyes bright and determined. “Go. I’ll buy you all enough time. When you hear the explosion, leave immediately!”
Walker looked at him questioningly. “But how will you buy time all by yourself?”
Xie He said, “Believe in me.”
After saying that, he turned and left!
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Xie He did not bother to stop the bleeding in his shoulder. He let the blood dye half of his body red. Actually, for an Evolved Human like him, this degree of injury was nothing. It was just that he looked a little wretched. If you didn’t take a close look, you’d mistakenly think that he was severely injured.
Xie He walked down the corridor. He watched the Empire’s soldiers head directly towards him. At once, he pretended that he was heavily injured and staggered away! Although those soldiers hadn’t received any orders regarding Xie He, it was obvious that under these circumstances, they had to seize him! Xie He couldn’t run very fast. He pretended to take a tumble. Those soldiers very quickly dragged Xie He back to the control room.
Lance stood in front of the control board. He gave Xie He a faint smile. There was a vicious light in his eyes, and questioned, “How did you get injured?”
There was an ashen expression in Xie He’s eyes, as if he’d suffered a psychological attack. He tightly pursed his pale lips.
“Bring him over here,” Lance ordered.
The two soldiers immediately supported Xie He over to the control board.
Lance tilted Xie He’s chin up and gave him a mocking smile. “Who injured you?”
Clearly, he knew the answer and yet still asked the question. The reason he treated Xie He the way he did all this time was to give off the fake image that he really doted on Xie He, thereby confusing the Federation’s spies that were still hidden within the Empire. Moreover, the Empire’s soldiers would also mistakenly believe that he really cared for Xie He. That meant they would never dare hurt him for real. Just by looking at Xie He’s expression... he could see that the other had been attacked by his own people.
It definitely wouldn’t feel good to have your trusted comrade-in-arms point their swords at you, ba.
Xie He’s eyelashes trembled. For the first time, one could see perplexity in his deep blue eyes that had always been bright and resolute. He pressed his lips together tightly, not saying a word.
Lance lowered his head, lips to the other’s ears. His tone was low and loving, as if he sympathized with him. “Tell me who hurt you, my great hero.”
These words seemed to be the last straw, causing Xie He to be unable to endure it any longer. He glared at Lance angrily, tone hoarse and full of suffering, “This is your goal, isn’t it...?”
“It seems like you aren’t stupid. You caught on so quickly.... Do you understand now? The ones that you are protecting are just a group of despicable cowards.”
There was a nasty grin pasted on Lance’s lips, “Tell me, is this the ‘hope’ that you wanted to protect?”
Xie He gazed at him, unwavering. Suddenly... he smiled.
Those eyes were bright like daylight. The loss and pain seemed to have been an illusion! He was just as he was at the very start, a beauty that could enchant you with but an offhanded glimpse! He was dazzling!
Lance immediately realized that something wasn’t right. However, he was a step too slow. He watched as Xie He threw the bomb he had prepared onto the control panel! In a split second, an immense explosion gave out an intense heat wave, blowing both him and Xie He away!
The entire control panel had exploded into smithereens! There was a flash of electricity, and then the mothership’s shield lost effect! Their weapons began to malfunction—some of them ceased to work while others lost control and began to shoot at its own people!
The situation was instantly reversed!
The explosion’s might had been too great. The soldiers near the control panel had died from the explosion! The only ones that survived were the formidable Evolved Humans, Lance and Xie He.
Lance’s always unruffled and handsome appearance now looked extremely beaten. His shoulders and arms dripped with blood. Because his reaction had been quick and he had stood behind Xie He, who had taken most of the blast, his injuries weren’t that bad.... However, Xie He was not the same.
In order to make Lance drop his guard enough to successfully blow up the important control panel, he had hidden the bomb at his chest. Only at the last moment did he throw it out! There was no way he could have dodged! This action of his was none other than a suicide!
Half of his body was blown off. All that left was an arm, a leg, and half a face that revealed eerie white bones and teeth. The reason why he hadn’t died immediately was because he was a formidable Evolved Human... however, if he didn’t receive treatment at once, this injury would cause even an Evolved Human to die!
Lance stood up and walked to Xie He. His gold eyes were cold as frost!
He peered down on the man on the ground. The man’s only remaining eye could still move. His body had been utterly broken, but there was still no fear or pain in his eyes. There was only a calm smile.
This faint smile was like a slap to Lance’s face, mocking him.
Even if he had been abandoned by his comrades, even if they wanted to kill him because of a misunderstanding, none of this could rock the perseverance in this person’s heart.
No matter what difficult situations he faced, he was willing to pay with his life at any moment because of this perseverance. So long that his death was for a worthy cause, he would not hesitate!
He, who did not yield and commit suicide despite this torture, would give his everything to those so-called compatriots who had abandoned him. No... he did it for the ideal he held in his heart. For that, he would never give up or surrender.
Suddenly, Lance wanted to try even harder, to see if those eyes really would never be stained by fear or darken with filth.
He chuckled, but the smile did not reach his eyes. With a cold voice, he said, “You made me a little angry.” Lance looked down. “Very few people are capable of angering me. You should feel honoured.”
【Ding, the target Lance’s Favourability Value +10. The current Favourability Value is 50.】
The author has something to say:
The little vixen’s proficiency in courting death is boundless. Heeheehee...muah muah all of you my darlings~~
sere: there were many exclamation points in the making of this chapter
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