Chapter 412: Pinokangni (91)

In this way, the company will gain the qualifications to sit at the table, and you will be able to free yourself from the endless vortex and obtain the liberation you've long dreamed of.

This isn't the first time… This is what you're best at and also what you most desire. This farce begins with a 【Death】 and will end in a 【Death】.

The shadow suddenly laughed: "…So the 【Diamond】 chose you?"

Shajin said lightly: "All he wants is Pinokangni, regardless of means, regardless of cost… and it has nothing to do with any specific person."

Hehehe… It must be tough, right?

Shajin's gaze sank: "You've suddenly become considerate—has your conscience awakened?"

I am ultimately born from your self, so I know well that retrieving the chips you've thrown out is as hard as climbing to heaven. I cannot stop what you must do, nor can I change where you are headed…

A faint thunder rumbled in the sky; Shajin looked up at the overcast heavens: "Spilt water cannot be gathered. All we can do is seize every opportunity, gaining as many extra seconds as possible."

The shadow nodded with feeling: "Yes. It's a pity that a person can't spend a lifetime making only correct decisions… Although luck always favors you. You will always win, you have never lost—but why you? Why… must it be you?"

If a lucky one's miracle is built entirely on the misfortune of everyone he loves, and even more people… if every rain you bring does not symbolize the mother goddess's forgiveness and grace, but is instead one meaningless death after another…

Then just how many mistakes have we made to be born into this world?

——

Twin Cities War.

"Similar sayings…… I have heard them before." Viktor recalled what he had seen and heard in the Lower City as a child; indeed, some people attributed others' luck to themselves, believing: it was others who had sucked away his luck.

Furthermore, extremists would resort to sorcery, curses, and the like, attempting to interfere with others' lives.

However, Viktor believed that those who thought luck was being sucked away had first drained their own agency over life, projecting their helplessness onto the world.

"Viktor, do you still remember that question the shadow asked Shajin earlier?" Jesse asked.

"What question?"

"If he were allowed to choose again, would he still choose to become the child blessed by the mother goddess?" Jesse looked at his best partner, "If being blessed means that one's fortune is built on the misfortune and death of others in the tribe… then it means Shajin's fortune is piled up from the lives of his fellow tribespeople."

"Although this is merely speculation, impossible to prove, the shadow must dare say this because Shajin himself has likely been tormented by this thought for many years, unable to forget it."

"At that time, Shajin didn't answer the shadow…" Viktor's voice sounded like rusted gears, "But if he were allowed to choose again, he would probably pick a warmer outcome. The problem is, even if his clansmen could survive the massacre, how many of those who lived on as slaves could emerge like Shajin?"

——

"... Perhaps when I reach that endpoint, our confusion will be resolved."

"Hmph… alright. Go on ahead, friend—I'll wait for you up front." Accompanied by a soft laugh from the shadow, his figure gradually faded, but before leaving he still glanced back at Shajin: "In this final moments, say a proper goodbye to this child. Try to make yourself… die without regrets."

The shadow vanished, leaving only Kakawaxia and Shajin present.

After helping him take a commemorative photo, Kakawaxia also left; before departing he curiously asked Shajin why he wasn't leaving, and Shajin smiled and shook his head: "I still have a… performance here."

"Oh… then you're about to go on stage to perform, right? Let's go—I'll take you to the main stage."

"... Mm."

"So you're an actor… no wonder your clothes are so beautiful." Kakawaxia gazed at him curiously.

Shajin shook his head: "Actually I'm a… merchant. But I do indeed have a performance."

"Are you like the black-clad people in the sky? But you're not wearing black clothes."

"Only ordinary employees need to wear those clothes; my position… is far higher than theirs."

Kakawaxia widened his eyes in envy: "Awesome! I hope I can become a splendid adult like you."

"You can." Shajin suddenly smiled, bent down, looked earnestly into Kakawaxia's eyes, and said gently: "You will surely be better and stronger than me."

——

Labyrinth Meal.

"Can he not die…?"

"Zhigengniao and Liuying are gone, even their bodies have vanished; if he leaves, the Aweijin People's bloodline will be completely cut off, and the universe will no longer have such beautiful eyes…"

The campfire in the underground city crackled; Malusil hugged her knees, her large green eyes brimming with tears.

"He's so gentle—how can I bear to lose him?" she sobbed.

"All right, Malusil, maybe things aren't that bad," Qierchake said, chewing on jerky and looking up at the canopy. "Just now Kakawaxia mentioned the 'black-clad people'; combined with Shajin's words, those black-clad people must be from the Star Peace Company. In short, before the conflict between the Aweijin People and the Katika People erupted, the company had already arrived in Cigangniya, intervening in their dispute."

He frowned slightly, carefully examining the big and small scars and bruises on Kakawaxia's body: "Although we can tell that the Katika People later indeed carried out a massacre that destroyed humanity, from the company's standpoint, thinking with the will of 【Preservation】… would the company really just stand by and do nothing?"

"Ah, right!" Leos exclaimed, suddenly sitting upright, "The company believes in 【Preservation】; slaughter, which clearly contradicts 【Preservation】, could never be tolerated, no matter how you think about it."

Although the Katika People are dominant in Cigangniya, before the company they are merely a side dish; if the company wishes to stop them, it can certainly do so.

Qierchake gave his conclusion: "So I suspect the Aweijin People may have been rescued somewhat by the company, and are not, as Shajin thought, wiped out leaving only him."

"But… Mr. Shajin holds a high position in the company; if any clansmen had survived, he would surely have known by now." Malusil wiped the corner of her eyes, "And after all these years, I don't believe Mr. Shajin has never searched for his kin."

Qierchake.

Senxi, who had been silently preparing food by the fire, suddenly spoke up, interjecting: "Malusil is right; you've overlooked a problem."

"Huh? What problem?"

"If the company truly wanted to prevent the Katika People from launching the massacre, then the massacre could never have happened in the first place. But as everyone knows, the result is——"

Senxi looked up at Kakawaxia with a solemn expression: "…This shows that the company never intended to intervene in their tribal conflict from the start; it only wanted to trade with the victor of this slaughter."

——

The two came to the depths of the theater and stopped before the curtain.

"The main stage lies behind this curtain…" Kakawaxia turned to Shajin with a slight smile, "It's almost time to go on stage—are you ready? Wishing you a flawless performance."

"Thank you."

"You still look nervous…" Kakawaxia stretched out his tender little hand, "Let's do a 'high five'—if the mother goddess blesses you, you'll be able to relax."