Chapter 198: 197 Glory and Pain

A True Strongman?

Upon hearing the words of the scarred man, the middle-aged man naturally thought of the Water Bottle Director from the morning, then nodded and admitted:

"He was indeed here, but he has already left. I estimate he won't be back for a short while, and he won't be joining us either."

"Tsk..."

After hearing this uninteresting answer, the scarred man couldn't help but click his tongue in disappointment. He turned to leave, but was called back by the middle-aged man.

"Taige, how is the situation at the Laus Arcade?"

"Huh? What do you mean, how is it?"

"Of course, I mean how the fire-setting is going!"

Looking at the scarred man, whose attitude was quite perfunctory and who seemed indifferent to him, the middle-aged man couldn't help but frown. He asked in a serious tone:

"Didn't I tell you to set fires in the Laus Arcade to pressure the wealthy district and force the Secret Police to patrol there? How are you doing with that?"

"That? I did it, I did it!"

The scarred man said with some impatience:

"I went out at night and burned some trash stations and traffic posts. I also kept an eye on the houses of some big merchants and nobles, burning their gardens and carriage sheds. I even snuck into the homes of a few minor nobles who had no guards and set fires there. That should be about enough."

"Not 'about enough', it must be certain!"

Looking at this subordinate who had become increasingly difficult to control lately, the middle-aged man frowned and said:

"After Barton died, we no longer have our people in the upper echelons of the Secret Investigation Bureau. We have no way of knowing the movements of those Secret Police now, so we must be doubly careful. We can only act once we've drawn the Secret Police away as much as possible! You doing it like this..."

"Got it, got it! I'll go set more fires then!"

After responding impatiently, the scarred man, having failed to find the "Tiger," couldn't be bothered to deal with the middle-aged man who reeked of the weak. He turned and left in deep disappointment.

The middle-aged man sighed, then looked up toward the northwest of the valley, gazing at the towering "7"-shaped steel giant tower. He shook his head slightly, restraining the anger in his eyes.

Forget it, there's no need.

After losing three people in a row, he was short on manpower. Now was not the time to bicker with such a stubborn fool. After all, if this operation failed again, there wouldn't be much time left for him and the Wang Guo...

"Woof! Woof woof!"

(It hurts! It hurts so much!)

"Woof woof woof!"

(@#￥% dog profanity)

"Woof woo? Woof woof woo? Woof woof woof!"

(What are you doing? Why did you suddenly pluck so much fur from my butt? It hurts!)

Watching the young husky, who kept appearing on the lamp walls, puddles on the ground, and the glass of roadside shops, barking at him with eyes full of grievance, Li Ang could only give it a heartfelt look of apology.

Sorry, sorry.

It's mainly because I don't know what's up with that wristwatch of his. I'm worried that giving him my hair might reveal my identity, or that it might have tracking or mind-control abilities.

Since the Mirror World is an illusory reflection, it can avoid these things. Plus, since I couldn't get anyone else's hair in such a rush, I had no choice but to pluck some dog fur of the same color from your butt.

Sorry, I'm truly sorry. I really had no other choice. I won't do it again next time, and once this passes, I will definitely compensate you well!

"Woof woof woo..."

(You'd better mean it...)

I mean it! I definitely mean it!

"Little Bajinsi..."

After waiting for a long time without hearing Li Ang speak, the fat uncle, unaware that he was apologizing to a dog for plucking its butt fur, sighed and comforted him gently:

"Don't be too disappointed. Not having that kind of magical ability really isn't a big deal.

Back then, Old Bajinsi didn't have any abilities either, but didn't he still carry me out of a trench full of dead bodies while braving the fire of over three hundred nail guns?

So don't worry! Even without that kind of magical power,

as long as we are brave enough and lucky enough, we can still accomplish many things!"

So... the reason you take such good care of "me" is because Old Bajinsi saved your life?

Hearing the fat uncle's words, Li Ang, walking behind him, felt a flash of realization.

After glancing at the two rather gruesome scars under the collar of his neck, Li Ang pondered for a moment. Wanting to gather more intelligence, he said softly:

"Uncle Owen... tell me about the past!"?!

Didn't you hate hearing about this before? Why now...

Hearing this request, which had never happened before, the fat uncle was startled. He turned his head in surprise, feeling that this child seemed different somehow.

But looking at the dejected "Little Bajinsi" and thinking of the scene where hope had instantly turned into extreme disappointment, he couldn't help but sigh, letting go of that strange feeling in his heart.

That's right. Having talent but missing out on a different life by just a tiny bit—it would be strange if this child didn't change at all...

"Alright, I'll tell you!"

Smiling kindly at Li Ang, the fat uncle recalled the years he and Old Bajinsi fought for the country. His heart stirred, and he wanted to tell it all.

It could comfort the dejected Little Bajinsi, and also let this child, who had always hated Old Bajinsi, understand that his father wasn't actually so hopeless. Before that drunkard rotted in a wine vat, he had once been a tough hero!

But...

Looking at Little Bajinsi's thin body and the bruises on his arms left by a stick, the fat uncle fell silent again, a deep sense of confusion appearing in his kind, round eyes.

What did his and Old Bajinsi's glorious past mean to this child?

The family lost its breadwinner, the military's allowance was constantly in arrears, and the child's mother had to scrimp and save, working hard from dawn till dusk, until her body completely collapsed. In the year before she passed away, she was tormented by liver disease, screaming in agony day and night.

Old Bajinsi also suffered severe health issues from his war injuries; without alcohol, he couldn't even sleep from the pain. After spending all their money, he could only watch his wife die of illness, which caused him to completely break down, turning into the wretch who now abused his son and even stole Little Bajinsi's money to buy alcohol.

He remembered that before the war started, Old Bajinsi's family was so happy. Little Bajinsi had a reliable father and a gentle mother. The past he and Old Bajinsi were proud of was, to this poor child, the beginning of his fall from heaven into hell...

"..."

Realizing why Little Bajinsi hated hearing about the past, the fat uncle's spine slumped involuntarily, and his expression quickly turned dejected.

"Actually... it's just some... some things from the past. The past is the past, hmm...

It's not that I don't want to tell you, but there's no need to listen to these. Let's hurry and get your money back. It'll be troublesome if Old Bajinsi gets released early."

"Uncle Owen, tell me anyway."

"If you insist on listening..."

After vaguely brushing it off, the fat uncle, his voice somewhat strained, quickened his pace and said gently while walking forward:

"Come to my house for dinner tonight. I'll tell you then, okay?" ===== CHAPTER 199 =====