Chapter 144: Value
Translator: Wuxia Dog Editor: Wuxia Dog
Debris and dilapidated walls were everywhere inside the city. If Zaganide had come back, he would undoubtedly be very distressed to see his city changed beyond recognition.
On the street, Han Jin had to carefully bypass the numerous corpses lying in disorder, and the pools of blood. Upon seeing the bodies of the strange creatures, he had an image of walking in an open slaughterhouse.
Sunier was numb. Obviously, she had been accustomed to this, as she didn’t even frown. However, Keeley was not as calm. She covered her nose with a handkerchief and walked carefully, as if she would faint any time soon.
“Don’t you care about the result, Raphael?” Sunier asked curiously.
“Senior Guevara is here. He will handle this.” Han Jin smiled.
“Humph!” Sunier snorted. “That’s not possible. He is a knight, not a priest.”
Han Jin was upset, but he didn’t know how to persuade her. Fortunately, Guevara didn’t feel antipathetic against Sunier. Otherwise, he would never have allowed her to be so ill-mannered in front of him. After all, why would a Dragon Knight give so much importance to such a little elf?
At the moment, Guevara was removing the curse for the soldiers. It was a tremendous task, as there were many soldiers that had been cursed. Luckily, the process was not that complicated. After the magicians transferred magic powers into the Purifying Crystal, it would emit a pink light. Strangely enough, the light would be congealed without dispersing. Each cursed soldier had to stand in the light for a short while, and the curse would be removed as soon as the Purifying Crystal flashed.
The soldiers didn’t care about being punished anymore under such circumstances. After all, their lives were much more important.
Reg stood there, staring at the long queue which was moving toward the Purifying Crystal.
He was so depressed seeing the soldiers that his brows knitted into a knot. The soldiers were all frightened and didn’t dare look up at him.
There were almost four thousand soldiers who had been cursed, which meant over four thousand soldiers had violated the strict military disciplines of the Riptide Regiment to have sexual relationships with the Abyssal Sirens.
If Reg had not personally seen this, he would never have believed this. The regiment was built by his father. How had it become so corrupted?
The morning had gone, and the soldiers’ curses were finally removed. The magicians were extremely exhausted. Cessacioun also looked worn out after helping them the entire morning. Fortunately, the Purifying Crystal was large enough and had plenty of energy to remove the curse for all of them.
In fact, except for Guevara, they had no idea about the value of the Purifying Crystal, as it was too rare to have been seen by many, and because it could only be found in some deep underground places. Most races of the abyss were good at cursing, and the Purifying Crystals which could remove the curses were under their control. This brought great pressure to the races on the ground. If there was no such profession as priests, the races of the abyss would be able to sweep the whole continent through mere curses.
“Thank you, Senior.” Reg stepped forward to show his gratitude toward Guevara when everything had been completed.
Guevara casually waved his hand. “You’re welcome,” he replied. He then noticed the gloomy expression on Reg’s face. “What happened? You look unhappy.”
“Nothing.” Reg immediately shook his head. He couldn’t help but cast a disappointed glance at the soldiers standing in the distance who had just had their curse removed. He was wondering whether to have their names noted down or not. After all, it was a heavy offense to violate military disciplines.
As a sophisticated old man, Guevara immediately guessed it through Reg’s eyes.
He said after a while, “I have a question for you, kid.”
“What is it?” Reg drew back his sight and respectfully stood beside Guevara.
“Would your father have punished those soldiers if he were still alive?”
Reg was astonished, but still, he gave it a thought and replied, “No, he wouldn’t. To punish four thousand soldiers at the same time would bring adverse consequences.”
Guevara shook his head in disappointment. “You’re only thinking from your own point of view. Why don’t you put yourself in the position of the soldiers?”
Reg was stunned. “You mean…”
“I mean, soldiers have blood and flesh, and physiological needs. So strictly speaking, it can’t be considered a breach of military discipline.”
“So I should just let it go?” Reg was reluctant. He didn’t want to punish the soldiers, and he knew that such temptations were hard to resist. Still, in his heart, the Riptide Regiment was an extension of his father. Ever since the day he had taken over the regiment, he had been determined to make it an incredible army that could live up to his father’s reputation.
However, reality would always be different from the ideal plan. There were so many soldiers who could not resist the seduction of the Abyssal Sirens. Reg was unable to accept this and even felt shameful letting them stay.
“Well.” Guevara sighed. He believed Reg had reached a dead end. “Even if they had violated military disciplines, they risked their lives yesterday to occupy the city for you. Their merits equal the demerits. Is that still not enough?”
Reg paused for a long while and finally muttered, “Since you said so, I… will let it go then.”
On another street, Han Jin suddenly stopped, shook his head, and grumbled in a low voice, “How disappointing.”
“What’s wrong?” Sunier asked with concern.
“I have contributed a great amount to attacking the city, haven’t I?” Han Jin asked.
“Of course you have. All of us know this!”
“But now… they have forgotten us.”
“Why do you think so?”
“Didn’t you see them counting the trophies? The generals were so excited they considered these as their gains.”
“Is that wrong?” Sunier was puzzled.
“Do you think they will share these with us?”
Sunier paused. Han Jin moved on, “If I ask Ronning for some magic crystals, will he give them to me?”
“He will. But if you really ask… he will be embarrassed, and the generals may dislike you,” Sunier replied in a low voice. “Because it does not accord with military regulations.”
“Yes, I know. But what about me? Did I do this in vain?” Han Jin raised his eyebrows.
“It’s not like what you think,” Sunier said in a serious tone. “They have seen your deeds from the Eye of Perspective. They saw you rush into Black Raven City, and all of them admire you!”
“Admire? How much is admiration worth?” Han Jin laughed. “Will they agree to give me all of their magic crystals for their admiration?”
“Reg and Ronning are busy now. When everything is settled, they will reward you. Don’t worry. What’s yours will always be yours!”
“Reward? Do you think I will accept a reward from others?” Han Jin’s tone was sort of icy.
Sunier didn’t know what to say. She realized that she had uttered the wrong words and hurt Han Jin’s feelings, but she didn’t know how to ease the current situation.
“No way? Would Reg and Ronning be so mean?” Behind them, Moxinke’s voice came. He had said this to make the situation less embarassing for Sunier. “Rest assured, Raphael. No need for you to personally go to them. I will talk to them about this!”
“Come back!” Han Jin showed a helpless smile. “Don’t joke around! Otherwise, they will think that I am only worth magic crystals.”
It has to be admitted that a soldier is a very special profession which is exclusive. In the eyes of the generals, Han Jin and Sunier, and even Moxinke, were all friends, and merely friends. They would never become life-and-death brothers and sisters. For Reg and Ronning, it was good to see their subordinates united together. But for Han Jin, he felt himself being excluded. That was why he had left the square, as it would have been too boring for him to stay there.
The generals and soldiers came in and out to report to Reg and Ronning, either to discuss with their fellow officers or to give orders to their subordinates. Whatever they did, it had nothing to do with Han Jin, since Han Jin had no official position in the army; they didn’t need to communicate with him.
Han Jin hated to be isolated, especially in this strange world. He needed friendship more than anything after risking his life to break the defensive line of Black Raven City for them, rather than instantly being forgotten. This made him uncomfortable even though the generals didn’t mean to forget him.
“Raphael, why are you always talking about magic crystals?” Sunier lowered her voice and asked. “Are you… running out of it?”
“Yes, I told you this last time.”
“Last time? When?” Sunier was stunned. “They are consumed so fast! I remember we purchased hundreds of magic crystals when we were in Isolated Cliff City!”
“I need at least ten each day. Those were far from enough,” Han Jin said. “I talked to you about this when we were in Nuremberg. Don’t you remember?”
“Nuremberg?”
“That night when I visited you.”
“The night both of you stayed together?” Moxinke interrupted. “And I bet with Cessacioun…”
“Go away!” Han Jin and Sunier simultaneously shouted.