Chapter 22: "Death in Battle"

…

At this moment, Lauren remained unaware of the unfolding events as he walked along the lower depths, guarded by Gray.

"I truly thought my fate was sealed, but to my astonishment, someone managed to consolidate the defenses at various positions. Truly, the Emperor must be watching over us."

"Yes," Gray replied.

"You must have fought valiantly for a long time. Is your power armor an ancient relic unearthed from the depths?"

"Yes."

"You are indeed fortunate."

"Yes."

As Lauren spoke, Gray listened intently, and the two advanced down the path. 

After a considerable distance, Lauren suddenly felt fatigued and turned to Gray, asking, "Why haven't you summoned the transport? At this pace, we might as well walk for a year."

"Yes," Gray nodded again, but this time it provoked Lauren's ire. 

Previously, Lauren could chalk up Gray's responses to inner conflict, dismissing them as trivial. But now, discussing pressing matters, Gray's incessant affirmations became intolerable. 

"Mind your tone, soldier," Lauren admonished. 

"Yes," Gray replied, raising his hand to call for the drone transport. "The transport will arrive shortly."

"Hmph," Lauren thought, relieved by this development.

While waiting for the transport, Gray suddenly remarked, "Did you know? Qin Mo is actually a prisoner, a psychic prisoner."

"Hmm," Lauren initially nodded indifferently, then turned to Gray, eyes wide with astonishment. "What?!"

"Qin Mo isn't even a soldier; he is merely a prisoner assigned to the 44th regiment," Gray stated.

"…" Lauren shook his head in disbelief, unable to fathom that Qin Mo was indeed a convict.

How could a prisoner possibly lead soldiers into battle?

"In truth, this war has nothing to do with Qin Mo," Gray continued. "The reason for his imprisonment was his desire to avoid being hunted. What claim does he have to fight for this planet? Why should we expect him to side with us rather than join the rebels in extinguishing us?"

Lauren listened intently, grasping Gray's underlying message. 

It meant that Qin Mo was unrelated to this war; his willingness to participate stemmed solely from his selflessness and sense of justice.

A chill ran down Lauren's spine; he couldn't comprehend why Gray was divulging such information.

"Qin Mo protects us and leads us into battle."

"Grotto once cursed him for not exerting himself during the construction of the bunkers, yet even after the near-total destruction of the 44th regiment a few days ago, Grotto still received his power armor without facing ostracism or retribution."

"He has provided support across all frontline positions, delivering supplies to those on the brink of exhaustion."

After a lengthy discourse, Gray looked up. 

The drone transport approached, hovering above with its anti-gravity engines. 

Gray leaped up, propelled by his jetpack, landing on the platform of the transport. He removed his helmet, gazing down at Lauren.

As the transport ascended slowly, Gray's eyes glared fiercely at Lauren, winds whipping through his disheveled hair, and he shouted, "Remember my face; remember that it was I who executed you!"

"Wait!" Lauren raised both hands. "Don't act rashly; we can discuss this!"

No sooner had he spoken than a beam erupted from the shoulder-mounted cannon.

Lauren's body was engulfed in the beam, and when the light dissipated, he had completely vanished, leaving behind a deep crater where he once stood.

Gray's cannon continued firing until it cooled down, ensuring Lauren's biological essence was obliterated, leaving no trace for any technological means to discern his demise.

He picked up a gravity hammer and smashed it down on his left arm, shattering it along with the armor.

Gritting his teeth, Gray donned his helmet and issued a return command to the drone.

…

Moments later.

Inside the fortress.

Klein sat in the conference room, observing the medic tend to Gray's wounds while listening to his account.

"I encountered the enemy while on the way with Lauren. I didn't have time to activate my gravity shield. A psychic controlled me while another aberration smashed my armor."

"If I hadn't activated the built-in psychic suppressor, I would have been dead."

"…"

Listening to Gray's narration, Klein scrutinized him thoughtfully, raising an eyebrow as he asked, "Tell me the truth: did you kill Lauren?"

Klein was well aware of the darker aspects of the battlefield.

For instance, in certain exceptionally cohesive regiments, if a new superior were to be assigned, that superior would likely be ostracized to death.

Klein had heard tales of his military school classmates who met their demise, with their soldiers reporting: "The Emperor has taken this person away."

"I could never kill Lauren," Gray replied, commanding his helmet, "Project the footage I captured."

Klein then witnessed the events that transpired in Lauren's room.

From their initial drinking to Gray's voluntary decision to escort Lauren to inspect other positions, the footage of their journey remained unseen.

"You traitor," Klein regarded Gray with disdain. "If Lauren were not dead, would you have sided with him?"

Gray remained silent, his gaze downward.

"Qin Mo is interrogating that female intelligence officer next door," Klein said, rising to leave. "I will reveal everything about you, so prepare to face his wrath."

Gray continued to remain quiet, his head bowed in contemplation.

…

In the adjacent room.

Qin Mo was interrogating Riley.

The pretext was that the presence of personnel from the Department of Justice in the lower depths was highly suspicious, necessitating the elimination of her potential as a rebel spy.

"You know I was once a prisoner, right?" Qin Mo smiled, recalling, "I remember you; you were nearby when I was captured. Your clumsiness and foolishness left quite an impression."

"Is that why you were willing to bring me back with Lauren?" Riley retorted.

"Indeed," Qin Mo replied candidly, then picked up Riley's personal terminal, intending to erase his records from the Department of Justice's database.

Just then, Klein burst in, stepping up to Qin Mo and whispering the details of Gray's earlier comments.

Qin Mo pondered how the psychic suppressor automatically activated in response to psychic attacks, which would also trigger the gravity shield—an intended precaution against sudden ambushes—yet how had Gray been disarmed by the rebels?

But that was a matter of scientific inquiry; Gray's actions lay within another realm entirely.

"I understand," Qin Mo nodded.

"He's a prisoner; don't believe him!" Riley suddenly decided to take a bold risk, betting that everyone but Qin Mo was unaware of his status as a convict, and she shouted at Klein.

"You're a prisoner?" Klein looked at Qin Mo in shock, then chuckled, "I thought she might say you were her biological father."

"In this context, it wouldn't be surprising if she claimed to be the Emperor," Qin Mo replied, smiling helplessly.

"Hahahaha," Klein turned and exited the room, closing the door behind him.