Chapter 129: I Deeply Love This Country

How much do I truly understand about the Republic?

Qin’s expression flickered with surprise, then swiftly settled into calm as he quietly regarded the other man.

“I was among those who met by the Long Lake back then.”

Upon hearing this, everyone present—except for Aimeya—displayed unmistakable astonishment.

Wasn’t the First Sergeant only persuaded to join the revolution late in the war, after the Empire suffered repeated defeats, unreasonable orders from above, and the vanguard troops kept taking casualties? Why had he made contact with those few individuals so early on?

This was clearly different from what they knew. Records bore no mention of the First Sergeant, yet the commander had no reason to lie.

What exactly was going on?

Yan Hua came back to himself and forced a bitter smile. “I was arrogant. I didn’t expect you to be one of the founders. But what I want to say is, this Republic, established seven years ago—do you truly understand what it’s like?”

“It is indeed as beautiful and warm as you once described, gentle as a mother. Yet it is also riddled with filth. Especially after seven years of relative stability, some have long forgotten their original intentions and become the very people you once had to kill.”

Yan Hua then glanced around at those present.

“Commander, I did not betray the Empire on your orders. I genuinely wished for a country where everyone could laugh heartily—a country where my little sister could live her life with joy, marry, bear children, and grow old in peace.”

His fists clenched tightly, an uncontrollable killing intent radiating from him. His exaggerated muscles seemed to tremble.

Seeing Yan Hua’s expression, everyone’s eyes shifted subtly, a sudden ominous feeling creeping over them.

Not all vanguards were orphans; some were sent to training camps because their parents could no longer care for them. Yan Hua had a younger sister, five years his junior.

“Two years ago, I received word of my sister’s death while at the barracks. When I rushed back, all I found was an urn of ashes. She was dead. No one told me how. I reported it to the police station, and the chief handed me ten thousand dollars.”

“Ten thousand dollars,” Yan Hua sneered self-deprecatingly. “My monthly salary at the barracks was only three hundred. My sister was worth ten thousand. In this country where I risk my life and countless brothers lie dead, they actually put a price tag on her.”

Qin Le’s voice was grave. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

Yan Hua shook his head. “I didn’t want to trouble you, didn’t want to disrupt your life…”

Before he could finish, a pair of large hands grabbed his collar and hoisted the two-meter-tall giant up.

Iron Fist seized Yan Hua, his eyes wide as lanterns. “What do you mean you didn’t want to trouble the commander?! After something like this happens, you’re still here being sentimental! Do you even consider us brothers?”

His fist, as big as a sandbag, was raised.

“Yan Hua, tell us who did this. We’ll fight back!”

“I don’t know,” Yan Hua replied bitterly.

“Iron Fist, let him go,” Qin Le ordered.

Though still furious, Iron Fist grudgingly released Yan Hua.

Qin Le asked, “I will handle your sister’s case later, but what does that have to do with your use of chemical weapons?”

“Nothing,” Yan Hua shook his head. “I don’t know how the chemical weapons got in. I just found them by chance in the armory.”

“Did you think using these forbidden weapons would save more brothers, so you used them?” Qin Le inquired.

Yan Hua nodded. “Yes, it was my personal decision.”

There was no conspiracy here; it was simply an officer violating regulations.

At the same time, it revealed the Republic’s internal decay. If they were to thoroughly investigate these chemical weapons, many people would be implicated. Perhaps their intentions were not malicious, but merely precautionary.

Yan Hua sat back down and continued, “I’m not complaining about the Republic. I just want you to know that while the Republic is beautiful, it is not as perfect as imagined.”

“I love this country deeply—the country where my sister smiled—even though she is gone. As for why I didn’t appeal, it was because you said these are the rules; if you’re wrong, you should be punished.”

“If today I escaped punishment with a grand excuse, tomorrow more people would use the same to cover their crimes. So, Commander, I don’t want you to intervene in this matter; it would dirty your hands.”

Knock, knock, knock…

The door was knocked again. A few fully armed soldiers entered.

They saluted Qin Le. “Commander, we are here to escort Second Lieutenant Yan Hua for trial.”

Before Qin Le could respond, Yan Hua stood up and voluntarily placed the handcuffs the soldiers offered on his wrists.

As he was about to leave, Yan Hua glanced back and said, “Commander, stability is like marijuana—it can corrode the heart. High officials are like this, and you are no different.”

“You have become so gentle, so unfamiliarly gentle, without a trace of the ruthless executioner of the Empire you once were. The peace has dulled your edges. Today, we still bleed and die for the Republic, but what happens when our blood runs dry?”

With that, Yan Hua followed the escorting soldiers out, the door closing behind them in silence.

After an unknown length of time, Qin Le exhaled slowly, leaning back on the sofa, staring at the ceiling. “Do you really think I’ve become a stranger now?”

Falcon, Iron Fist, and Fish Head exchanged glances and nodded in unison.

Falcon spoke softly, “You have become gentle, kind, ordinary. You cling to justice, care for civilians, and have grown somewhat indecisive.”

Yan Hua was right. The First Sergeant before them was indeed unfamiliar—like a different man. Gone were the resolution and ruthlessness of old; he seemed truly transformed into an ordinary person.

Beside them, Aimeya blinked, puzzled.

Gentle and kind? How cruel must he have been before?

Fish Head asked, “Commander, what about Yan Hua? Should we get him out?”

The question circled back. How to rescue Yan Hua? Though he said not to bother, they couldn’t just watch him be taken away.

“If he made a mistake, he must be punished. Let him serve a few months. Even without me, Yan Hua won’t wait long; someone will protect him.”

While speaking, Qin Le swatted at a fly on the table.

“Big trees attract bugs. The moon waxes and wanes; how can a man be perfect? But I suppose I have grown too comfortable.”

…

Bang!

The crisp sound echoed in the solemn military courtroom as the judge, holding the verdict, read with gravity.

“Defendant Yan Hua, for use of prohibited weapon—photon gas—is sentenced to three years imprisonment. Considering the confession and no civilian casualties, the sentence is reduced to one year and three months.”

Harsh investigation, lenient punishment; sternly raised, gently lowered.

Use of chemical weapons should have meant dismissal from the military, yet he was sentenced to only one year, with no parole restrictions.

“Does the defendant have any objection?”

“No.”

After all procedures, Yan Hua, under escort by two soldiers, left the temporary courtroom.

Under the blazing sun, a large group of soldiers stood outside. Seeing Yan Hua in handcuffs, they straightened and saluted.

“Commander!”

They were all special forces from that operation; some still bandaged or limping.

Yan Hua was stunned, unsure what was happening.

Led by Zhang Sheng, the special forces stepped forward and bowed deeply to the veteran soldier of the old era.

“Thank you for your guidance.”

The two soldiers escorting Yan Hua removed his handcuffs and stepped back. Then all the soldiers surged forward, lifting Yan Hua high.

Cheers erupted for Yan Hua.

Tears welled in his eyes, but a smile lingered on his lips.

The corrupt were only a few; countless still fought and sacrificed for this country.

Behind them, the political commissar who oversaw the investigation emerged, watching the scene with a faint smile, then turned away as if seeing nothing.

Procedural justice and order are paramount, but once justice is served, there must remain a trace of humanity.

…

Daina City.

In the castle’s drawing room, the Daina family sat silently around the long table.

Lady Daina and her son and daughter sat tensely, eyes filled with panic—guilt plainly etched on their faces.

Count Daina, dressed simply yet neatly in black, sat at the head of the table. Beside his right hand lay a thick stack of papers; the top sheet bore the words: “Daina Territory Development Plan.”

Compared to his family, he was unlike a noble. No ornate clothing, no precious jewels adorned him; no trace of noble arrogance, only calmness and humility.

This was the attire he wore long ago, when he was still a monster hunter—a vigorous, ambitious youth.

“How was the game?” Count Daina asked with a smile.

The question made the other three tremble; the youngest daughter began to shiver under the pressure.

Through tears, she pleaded, “Father, I was wrong. I’m sorry. Please forgive me.”

“Where did you go wrong?” The count asked gently, his voice more comforting than reproachful.

“I... I shouldn’t have... with Count Le...” Her voice faltered, tears streaming down her face, makeup smeared.

Her breakdown shattered the son and wife’s composure.

The son rose and knelt before Count Le. “Father, I was wrong too! I beg your forgiveness!”

“Where did you err?”

“I shouldn’t have, for the sake of face, given the family’s extraordinary knowledge to Miss Flora!”

Such a waste.

Count Le’s gaze turned cold as he stared at his son, doubting whether this fool was truly his child.

He withdrew his gaze and looked to his wife seated on his left, wearing her usual gentle smile, softly asking, “Dear, did you err as well?”

“I…” Lady Daina’s anger made her tremble slightly, her lowered face full of fear, shadows cast across it.

She could not speak, dared not speak.

Seeing no answer, Count Daina asked again, “Did you also sleep with Count Le?”

“…” Lady Daina struggled for a long time, finally nodding with difficulty.

“Sorry, my dear…”

Count Daina sighed deeply, looking at his family with a tinge of desolation.

“I was born a common freeman; my father was a craftsman. I should have inherited his trade and lived an honest life as a craftsman. But I was unwilling to settle for that, so despite opposition, I became a monster hunter.”

“After countless trials and life-or-death struggles, I succeeded. I became a third-rank grand knight. Through war, I was made a count—the first commoner-born count in nearly a century in the Dawn Kingdom.”

The count looked at his hands, as if recalling distant memories.

“I thought my life was glorious, but now I see I am a failure—a complete failure.”

A cold blade slid along its sheath, and the room seemed to chill by over ten degrees.

The lady could no longer bear it and dropped to her knees, begging incessantly.

“My dear, I was wrong, truly wrong. I will never do it again. Please give me another chance.”

The wife, daughter, and son—all three knelt before him, the lightest trembling with fear as they begged.

How ironic.

“Filthy,” Count Daina murmured, his fingers lightly tracing the blade’s edge as he looked down at the three kneeling before him.

“Your true fault was not listening to me—leaking intelligence to Count Le, betraying the Eastern Duke’s secrets.”

Before they could plead again, a gleam flashed, and three heads rolled to the floor.

The ever-silent butler closed his eyes momentarily.

Count Daina bent down and closed the eyes of the three severed heads. “Butler, bury them for me.”

“Yes, master.”

…

Next to Count Le’s ridge lay the Barret Territory, Barret Count City.

In a luxuriously decorated Dawn noble’s chamber, gilded copper accents adorned the room, and flawed stained glass windows distorted the sunlight.

Count Barret sat on a sofa, holding a glass of red wine in his right hand, staring blankly at the letters on the table.

He did not swirl the wine gracefully as before; instead, his hand trembled unnaturally, spilling drops onto his splendid garment.

He paid no mind—had no mood to care.

“The Le Territory has fallen to the Eastern Duke. Count Le is dead…”

He read and reread the message sent by the Returning Bird, scrutinizing every word, repeatedly squeezing his thigh, unable to accept the truth.

Impossible! The Le Territory was heavily fortified; how could it fall so easily? And in less than five days, the entire territory was lost.

Did Count Le not resist at all?

And how did the Eastern Duke’s army reach Le Territory? Was Count Daina also wiped out?