No Compromise

Zane's expression remained unchanged as he listened to Orion, "I must go, Chief of Staff."

Orion seemed to have anticipated this response, showing no surprise. However, Cang Du, with his ponytail, changed color slightly, leaning forward as if to admonish Zane for his obstinacy.

Han Shu, standing nearby, raised his hand and shook his head, silencing the young man with the ponytail before he could speak, leaving Cang Du to swallow his words in frustration.

Orion adjusted his glasses and spoke slowly, "You know what I do for a living. Allow me to project the likely outcome of this situation. If I let you go, you'll face an ambush by eight seasoned prospectors, veterans who wouldn't hesitate to kill for loot. Even if you get past them, you'll encounter a rank 3 Ascender."

"A rank 3 might not be unbeatable, but the prospectors will wear you down, possibly even injure you, and with a two-rank gap between you and the Ascender, the threat to you is significant."

"But the danger doesn't end there. Qin Jie is the head of the Third Security Station. If I were him, I could use my authority to call in the station's forces. The station may lack Ascenders, but they are well-equipped, and a squad of over thirty men could easily take you down when you're at your weakest."

Having laid out the grim scenario, Orion watched the young man across from him, noting his unwavering resolve, and sighed internally.

He continued, "Even if you manage to kill Qin Jie against such odds, what then? You will have openly attacked a Bastion official in the upper district. Even if Qin Jie provoked you first, according to Bastion law, you would still be held accountable. Of course, the Nightwalkers would protect you no matter what. But do you realize the cost we would have to pay, especially now when voices against us are growing louder within the Bastion?"

Orion paused, his voice growing solemn, "Even so, do you still intend to go?"

Zane's gaze fell contemplatively before he began to remove his assault rifle and started to take off his armor, "I must go, but tonight, I am not a member of the Nightwalkers. I am merely an ordinary citizen of the lower district."

"Nonsense!" Orion knew Zane was trying to shoulder the consequences alone, not wanting to drag the Nightwalkers into his personal vendetta. But all his persuasion was not to make Zane sever ties with the Nightwalkers.

"Zane, why must you take it this far! Just give us one more week, no, three days! In just three days, I guarantee that Qin Jie will be behind bars. And he will spend the rest of his life in Black Ore, which for him, will be worse than death."

"So you see, he's not worth your trouble."

Zane halted his actions and looked at Orion, "But for me, I just want him dead. Besides, General Ling, this isn't about worth. It's about something I must do."

"My mother was an ordinary woman. Do you know how hard life is for an ordinary woman in the lower district, especially one with principles?"

"But this woman, she raised me for seventeen years! Seventeen years! Can you comprehend how difficult her life was?"

"She gave me her best—her youth, her time, everything she had. And I couldn't even afford to give her a decent meal. Now, this is the only thing I can do for her."

"So no matter what, I must do this!"

Orion felt a sudden irritation. He had always believed in the value behind every action, that there was an equivalent worth to every move.

But now, the young man before him was challenging everything he believed in.

And he couldn't find a solution.

The others, like Han Shu, were deep in thought, moved by Zane's words.

The young man wasn't concerned with grand principles or weighing benefits and losses like Orion.

He was simply doing something very pure, a purity that seemed almost forgotten in this era.

This is an age of transactions, where nothing is beyond measure or compromise. As long as the profit is substantial enough, even a blood feud can be forgotten.

But this young man, knowing full well that even if he achieved his goal, he would pay a heavy price, did not compromise or retreat.

To many, this approach might seem reckless, even foolish.

But when did we become so calculating in everything we do?

Han Shu and the others were almost lost in this question, unable to find an answer.

Just then, Orion's communicator rang, and a voice with the weight of years said, "Let him go."

With just that one sentence, the communication cut off.

Orion's mind went blank for a few seconds before he shook his head, "Take your armor and the star essence rifle. Otherwise, you're not going to avenge anyone; you're just going to your death."

Zane was surprised, looking at Orion.

Orion had already stepped back, opening the way, "The Ascender hired by Qin Jie is named Qu Gao, a Hunter of rank 3, a master sniper. Don't expect him to engage you in a fair fight; that man has a notorious reputation and will stoop to anything. He will definitely strike from the shadows, either the moment you step into the Qin residence or while you're tangled with the prospectors. If you want to take revenge, don't let him take you down."

Having donned his armor again and removed the eyepatch, Zane mounted his bike.

He nodded heavily at Orion, "Thank you for the warning, General Ling."

Restarting his bike, Zane was about to leave when Han Shu, who had been silent, stepped forward, "Wait a minute."

He then took the excessively long sword from Cang Du's back and tossed it to Zane, "Take this. That piece of junk you have won't kill anyone."

Clearly, he had noticed the knife Zane had strapped to his back.

"Captain, what are you doing? That's my 'Spring Water'!" Cang Du exclaimed, lunging at Zane but was held back by Han Shu's grip on his ponytail.

Zane caught the sword named Spring Water and looked at Han Shu and Cang Du.

Han Shu still held the young man's ponytail firmly, waving him off, "Go on, don't dawdle."

Cang Du seemed to realize the decision was final and could only shout, "White-haired brat, don't damage my sword! Bring it back to me in one piece!"

Zane discarded the knife Cady had given him, tossing it to Cang Du, "Keep it for now; I'll come back for it."

Strapping Spring Water to his back, Zane started the bike and drove past them. Switching to autopilot, he let the electromagnetic bike guide him toward the Qin residence.

Holding Zane's discarded knife, Cang Du made a face of disdain, "Who needs your scrap metal!"