Section 105: The So-Called Loyalty of X to X

"Ah, you're back." Wang Luo smiled as he watched Charles and Rank being led into the tent by the guards. "Welcome back to the team."

Neither of them responded immediately. After a moment, Charles finally spoke up. "We escaped from the fire earlier and were injured, which is why we couldn't return in time. We are very sorry."

Were they worried about being blamed for desertion? No, under those circumstances, running over to die with them would have been the absurd choice.

"It doesn't matter," Wang Luo smiled. "As long as you're back safely. Go get some rest, a new mission will be issued tomorrow. Would you two like to lead troops?"

Even just to put on a show for the people of Wuzhou, I need to treat them well. But never mind, go ahead and thank me from the bottom of your hearts! Hahahaha!

Chuckling inwardly, Wang Luo maintained a solemn expression.

"If I am given such an opportunity, my performance certainly won't disappoint you."

Charles said this with a fairly calm expression, though a hint of excitement could still be felt.

Fine, whatever, he had led troops with a deployment order before anyway—even though the final result was surrender, he had still commanded them. If this approach gave him the illusion that I hadn't suspected him and now trusted him completely, then that was his own delusion, and it had nothing to do with me.

With this thought in mind, Wang Luo wrote Charles's name onto the new officer roster.

"And you?" He looked toward Rank.

This person's state seemed somewhat abnormal. His gaze was wandering, his lips were twitching, and his body was trembling—was there something he wanted to say?

So Wang Luo waved a hand at Charles. "You can head back first, I have some things to ask Rank."

Before leaving, Charles seemed to glance at Rank, probably sharing some secret between them that he didn't want to disclose to me. Who cares about your trivial little matters...

After Charles left, Rank spoke up. "Did you previously issue an order to my subordinates at the ferry, telling them to assassinate Grue?"

"Assassinate?" Wang Luo expressed surprise at the word. "I would never do such a thing."

"You guarantee it?"

"I guarantee it. The word 'assassination' has never crossed my mind. I can't say that such a method is entirely ineffective, but I would rather choose a more honorable and upright approach."

Rank nodded. "I understand."

His expression became somewhat resolute, as if he had made a certain decision.

"Then, are you willing to command the Revolutionary Army's soldiers in battle?"

"As long as you need me to."

"Good." Wang Luo then wrote Rank's name onto the list of captains. "That settles it then, go get some rest first."

After Rank left, Wang Luo looked at the large blank space on the officer roster and frowned.

Ah, a shortage of personnel. If he had known, he wouldn't have created so many officer positions. The previous officers had either been promoted, shown their true colors, or died in battle... Although there were many soldiers who fought bravely, it was still not enough.

If worst came to worst, he would just leave some positions vacant for the time being, or assign slightly unsuitable people as temporary substitutes. Perhaps he should arrange for Rank to go back to teaching, but unfortunately, most of the female students Rank used to teach had not survived the fire.

Assassination, resolve... Wang Luo thought about it briefly and then cast it to the back of his mind. If he needed my help, he would speak up; right now, I have no time to waste energy on such matters.

After a little while longer, a guard came in to report. "General, the person has been brought in."

This time, Red Electricity entered. Wang Luo appraised the man who was rumored to be a match for the great beauty Lin Feirui.

Slightly short, not too fat, with a steady and even somewhat honest expression, he looked like an ordinary man in his thirties. Despite being named Red Electricity, he was dressed entirely in black.

What this man had done was not excessive. When Lin Feirui made mistakes, he gave her his utmost support and constantly encouraged the team members. Afterward, he was merely pursuing the legitimate interests that he and the other team members deserved. That was how he had earned their support.

Ironically, this very righteousness was what ruined them; if they had followed Lin Feirui's unfair methods instead, they would have had a much better chance of winning.

"Hello, I am Wang Luo." Wang Luo stood up and extended his right hand.

"They call me Red Electricity." Red Electricity seemed somewhat constrained, but still extended his thick, stubby fingers. "Very... very honored to meet you."

He didn't use the word "glad." Indeed, as a prisoner in the enemy's camp meeting the enemy leader, it was hardly anything to be glad about.

"Very well, then I'll be frank. Do you have enough Common Points to buy your freedom?"

".... Sorry, no."

"Then are you willing to join my 'DTPH' team and guarantee absolute obedience for three scenarios?"

"I'm sorry, without the team leader's command, I cannot leave Wuzhou."

"Then have you prepared yourself for death?"

Red Electricity wore a painful expression. "Can't you allow us to defer payment? As long as we return to the spatial domain, we can immediately gather the amount you need."

"Of course not. You can sell things at the quartermaster's as well."

"Their acquisition price is only one-third of the original value! And compared to the auction house, some are not even a tenth. Otherwise..." Red Electricity said in agony. "Can we give you items directly to offset the value? Calculating them at two-thirds of the auction house price would do."

"No," Wang Luo refused. "You should have seen the items that appeared after we took this camp. I need Common Points to buy those goods now. I only accept Common Points."

Red Electricity remained silent for a long time. Wang Luo stood up, poured a cup of tea, and handed it to him.

"Thank you." Red Electricity took the tea, his face filled with anguish, with no intention of drinking it.

"Well then, how about this." Wang Luo felt the timing was right. He put forward a suggestion he had prepared long ago. "I can temporarily accept your surrender, and then you can take on missions—the main content of the missions will be fighting the Yellow Turbans. The contribution points earned through these missions can be used as Common Points to buy your freedom. How does that sound?"

With that, Wang Luo handed Red Electricity a mission sheet. "The contribution points on there are a special discount just for you, only 20% lower than what ordinary people get for completing missions."

"Thank you." Red Electricity took the mission sheet. "I will do my best to persuade the team leader to accept. Even if... I have a few friends, and I believe they will be willing to accept."

Meaning that even if she doesn't agree, you'll still bring some people over? Excellent. "Then I'll have to trouble you. You must understand, my patience is limited. If you don't accept this time, the next deduction in your quota will be 40%."

"Understood. What if we obtain extra contribution points?" Red Electricity asked.

"They can also be used to exchange for various equipment and items. If you agree this time, you can exchange them at the same prices as everyone else. If you refuse, then next time you'll have to pay a price 20% higher than everyone else's."

"Very well. Then... can we serve as officers?"

"Not at first. Afterwards, it will depend on your performance. If you perform exceptionally well, then there will be no problem."