Laying Down the Armor

Triumph City. Beneath the steps of the Court of Honor flickered countless points of fire—torches carried in the hands of Triumph City's residents. From the threat of the Death Agent to the menace of the Celestials, the people of the Wilante Alliance had weathered every crisis. Now, with the Alliance and the other major survivor factions jointly declaring the end of the Wasteland Era, Battlefield Atmosphere Group had finally found the moment to come clean about everything before the citizens of Triumph City. From the battle in Falling Leaves Valley to his solo trek across Sunset Province, to answering the call of duty in West Sail Port and being thrown into prison amidst political intrigue, he recounted everything he had experienced along the way, withholding nothing. He revealed that he was an inhabitant of Shelter 404, that he had originally joined the Legion to gather intelligence, that he was later moved by another side of the Wilante people, and that he had decided to do something to help those around him and everyone trapped by the past... Except for the truth about the game and the players, he laid bare almost everything he could... even though no one would have blamed or questioned him if he had chosen to stay silent. Yet, thinking back on everything that had transpired after Marshal Julius's departure, he weighed his thoughts over and over before ultimately choosing to face those who supported him with complete honesty. Some things could be left to time, but others, if not resolved today, were destined to linger as permanent regrets in history. To Battlefield Atmosphere Group's surprise, the Wilante gathered below the steps of the Court of Honor were far calmer than he had imagined after hearing his confession. That included Korwei. That included Penny, her father Myriarch Bannote, and the other civilian officials who had backed his ascent. Perhaps... Perhaps they had guessed it long ago. Battlefield Guy wasn't certain about the others, but Bannote had likely suspected something for quite some time. Back then, however, Triumph City desperately needed the Alliance's aid, and there was genuinely no one else who could step forward to hold up the banner. So everyone in the know tacitly turned a blind eye, overlooking those trivial details. Politics itself was the art of compromise. At least to the civilian faction representing Triumph City's citizenry, whether the regime in Wilante Province was called the Legion or the Wilante Alliance didn't truly matter. What mattered was whose interests it represented, whose voice it amplified, and whom it protected. The man standing there might not have been an experienced governor, but he truly held the people who supported him in his heart. That was enough. In the shadows of the side hall, Myriarch Bannote watched Pangolin standing upon the steps and sighed softly after a long silence. "...He is an honest young man, but unfortunately not a mature politician." Penny's expression was far more complicated—a tangle of shock, disbelief, sorrow, heartbreak, confusion, and feelings she couldn't quite put into words. Though she had picked up on subtle clues in the past, especially after learning he was from River Valley Province... Every time, she had managed to convince herself otherwise, burying her doubts deep within her heart. Yet she never expected he would lay it all bare on his own initiative... "...Why did he have to lie?" Penny murmured, her eyes brimming with bewilderment, feeling as though the rose-tinted lens in her heart had shattered. Bannote glanced at his daughter and let out a gentle sigh, taking "Pangolin's" side for once. "It may be hard for you to accept hearing this from me, but from where I sit, his actions could already be considered remarkably honest... He merely withheld portions of the truth when necessary." "But why?" Penny looked at her father, unable to comprehend, her eyes full of anguish. "Couldn't he... couldn't he have been honest from the start and made things clear to us?" Bannote remained silent for a moment before replying, "Let me ask you in return: if he had done that, would you still have stood steadfastly at his side back in West Sail Port and Tiandu?" Penny stared blankly at her father, rendered speechless. She wanted to answer "yes" without hesitation, yet she realized she wasn't as unwavering as she believed. Seeing the confusion in Penny's eyes, a trace of warmth and approval surfaced in Bannote's gaze. He reached out and stroked his daughter's hair, acting like a father rather than a high minister for the first time in a long while. "The fact that you hesitate means you have begun examining your own heart... rather than blindly treating the pursuit of progress as a fashion trend like other inexperienced youths." "People always want others to treat them without reservation, yet they are rarely willing to face their own hearts honestly. We all know full well that as mere mortals, we ourselves are far from flawless. Why demand that others become what we cannot be?" "I am not saying his actions were completely glorious. Perhaps, as you said, he had better choices or could have handled things better, but such ideals exist only in our imagination." "At least in terms of outcomes, he never used your trust to do anything that wronged you, nor did he let down the people who supported him, even when burdened by countless difficulties of his own... We judge by actions, not hidden motives. I believe that is more than enough. Even in his position, I could not have done any better." "I imagine... most people in this settlement feel the same way. And on the murals of the Court of Honor, there will surely be a wall reserved for him." When everyone longs for a flawless saint, what they ultimately receive is bound to be an eloquent deceiver. Because only a deceiver can satisfy every wish in people's hearts... no matter how contradictory, twisted, or unreasonable those wishes might be. In truth, Tyr had been such a figure. He painted a picture of an era where the Wilante were omnipotent, promising his followers that as long as they marched behind him, that era would surely arrive. In the end, he led them all into hell. So much so that at the very close, with his dreams shattered, he unreservedly revealed his twisted, hideous soul. He sought not only to annihilate everything the Southern Legion had built, but also to wipe the Wilante people themselves from the face of the earth. It was hard to say whether that was merely the Celestials' manipulation. After all, that obsession had not belonged to just one or two individuals—it had consumed everyone in the Southern Legion. Penny lowered her head with a conflicted expression, a tempest of emotions swirling within her. She stood speechless, seemingly hesitating over something. Bannote said no more, simply turning his gaze toward the steps in the distance. He suddenly realized his daughter had grown up. She was no longer that naive girl who understood nothing. She ought to live her own life. Silently, he resolved that whatever decision she made, he would respect her choice... *** The speech was drawing to an end. Just as Pangolin had stated at the beginning, this would be his final address. "...My mission is complete. The road ahead belongs to you to walk, and you alone can walk it." "Hold tight to the reins in your hands. Never yield them to anyone else—keep them firmly in your own grasp. Be true to yourselves, be true to your families and friends, and be true to the people you love... Before you do anything, ask yourselves whether your actions do right by them. That is the highest form of loyalty." "As for me—" "I shall return to where my journey began." Battlefield Guy gave a deep bow, stepped down from the high platform, and melted into the torch-bearing crowd. From this day forward, he would no longer be the Governor of the Wilante Alliance, but an ordinary resident of Shelter 404. He had already made thorough arrangements beforehand, spending the better part of the past six months preparing for this very transition. Once he stepped down, the civilian faction would initiate a new selection process to choose the next governor, one subject to public oversight, who would lead the survivors of this province forward into the New Era... The crowd parted of their own accord to make a path, nodding to him, shaking his hand, and even saluting. In response to their respect, Battlefield Atmosphere Group smiled and greeted them warmly. The curtain had finally fallen on this grand play, ending at the most fitting moment with a proper beginning and conclusion. When it came down to it, he was no professional politician, nor did he possess the Administrator's vast management experience. Continuing as governor would only lead to a mess sooner or later. It was far better to hand the reins over to genuinely capable experts now that the Wasteland Era had ended. With the aid of the Guards and the civilian faction, he had perfected the selection mechanisms, jurisdictional boundaries, and accountability frameworks for the office of Governor that he had created, institutionalized the existing political factions, and turned what was once a black box into a relatively transparent system... That was the last service he could offer. As for the rest, he would leave it to history to judge. In the end, he had betrayed no one, and after confessing everything, he could finally be himself once more. He felt an unprecedented lightness in his chest. The day he had looked forward to for so long had finally arrived! Rising from a low-level mole all the way to the top boss, and finally walking away unscathed amid widespread praise— If the Administrator didn't award him the title of "Greatest Undercover Agent in Alliance History," it would be impossible to justify. The people standing below the steps of the Court of Honor watched him depart. With reluctant gazes, they watched him step into the black sedan parked by the roadside, lingering long after the taillights vanished at the end of the street... Tonight was destined to be a sleepless night. For everyone in the city... *** Back at his quarters in the palace. Battlefield Guy packed his luggage, planning to set off back to the Alliance the following morning. His duties here were done, and he had earned high praise from the Administrator. Word had it that a new version would launch after the open beta began, featuring brand-new maps and main storyline content. To avoid falling behind the other players, he needed to spend some time leveling up and catching up on the progress he had missed. "This power armor... I might as well leave it for the locals." Looking at the gold-painted suit of power armor, Battlefield Guy felt a pang of reluctance, but he ultimately decided to leave it behind. Though Julius had gifted it to him, it carried the deep sentiments of countless Wilante. It had long ceased to be the private property of any single individual. Perhaps he had immersed himself too deeply in the role, for he truly could not bring himself to view the people here as mere NPCs. In his heart, they had long become his comrades-in-arms, brothers, and family bound by something thicker than blood... "...Oh well. My quest reward was already in the bag anyway." Looking at the golden armor, Battlefield Atmosphere Group muttered to himself, a faint smile curling at the corner of his lips. He believed that if Marshal Julius's spirit was watching from above, he would surely smile upon his choice. Putting things down was always harder than picking them up. The golden armor shimmered softly under the lamplight, as if voicing its quiet approval. Just then, soft footsteps sounded outside the door, followed by a knock. "May I come in?" It was Penny's voice. Though he felt slightly awkward about facing her, Battlefield Atmosphere Group finally said, "Come in." The door creaked open. Penny stood in the doorway. She wore an off-the-shoulder gown, its slit skirt extending down to her knees. Her smooth brown hair cascaded over her shoulders, the tips tracing bold, graceful curves reminiscent of a squirrel's bushy tail brushing against a bough. Unlike her usual crisp, practical appearance, she looked exquisitely dressed, like a princess in a stage play traveling incognito—commanding and resolute, yet poised and elegant. Stared down by those sapphire-like eyes, Battlefield Atmosphere Group didn't know where to look. His gaze suddenly landed on the suitcase in her hand. "...Where are you off to?" He threw out the question just to break the ice, but Penny seemed fully prepared. She glanced at the open suitcase on the floor, the corners of her glossed lips curving upward. "Wherever you go, I go." Perhaps because he had stepped down, Battlefield Atmosphere Group lacked any of the calm composure he had shown on the high platform. He gave a hasty cough and said, "Stop joking around. Your father is a high minister, and starting tomorrow, I won't be the Governor anymore." "Does that matter?" Penny replied nonchalantly. "That's his business, not mine." Seeing her carefree attitude, Battlefield Atmosphere Group couldn't help muttering under his breath, "Sure, it's not your business—he'll just end up killing me." Penny arched a brow and asked playfully, "Are you scared?" For the sake of his pride as a man, Battlefield Atmosphere Group naturally couldn't admit he was scared. Yet out of a sense of responsibility, he ultimately replied, "Seriously, stop messing around." "I'm heading back to the Alliance tomorrow... As for where I'll end up later, I don't even know myself." Penny teased, "You pulled off such an earth-shattering feat that you startled even the Emperor of the Eastern Empire and the President of the New Federation. Is your Administrator really going to make you vanish into thin air?" Battlefield Atmosphere Group shook his head. "Not that, but I might be sent to pioneer a new map—ahem, I mean another planet, outside the solar system." "So what?" Penny said breezily. "I'll just come with you." Battlefield Atmosphere Group stared blankly at the willful woman before him. He felt she had changed, though he couldn't quite tell whether she had grown more mature or more childish. Or perhaps she hadn't changed at all—perhaps it was he who had somehow become indecisive, timid, and overthinking. He never used to be like this. Seeing that Pangolin—or rather, Battlefield Atmosphere Group—remained at a loss for words, Penny continued in a serious tone, "I'm not joking with you. I don't care about some 'shelter codename' or 'real-world name,' and I can't keep track of things that complicated... I only know one thing: you are my Pangolin. So, what's your answer?" "Frankly, that's an extremely tempting proposal. May I take this as a confession of—" She had no interest in listening to any more of his nonsense. She tossed her suitcase into the room, hooked her arm around his neck before his stunned eyes, spun around, and pinned him against the door. The door slammed shut against the frame with a loud thud, the sharp sound echoing down the empty corridor. Perhaps this was the true Wilante tradition— Wait, wasn't their dynamic somehow reversed? Battlefield Atmosphere Group instinctively wanted to resist, but he suddenly realized he didn't mind it all that much. Having gone through so much together, he had long known the answer in his heart... He had only held back from crossing that line out of reservations and a sense of responsibility. And just a few hours ago, following his confession, those reservations had ceased to exist. His head buzzing for a moment, he only managed to squeeze out an inquiring plea. "Wait—I accept your feelings, but can I please change to a better name?" Damn it! There was zero immersion in the name Pangolin! If he had known back then, he never would have listened to those bastards and would have just used his real name! It was his actual name anyway, perfectly fine to use. Regretting it now was far too late, though. Watching this man who had made his own bed, Penny wore a mischievous, impish smile and bit down without mercy. "Not a chance!" *** The rest of the night passed without words. *** The next morning, sparse rays of light filtered through the leaves outside the window, spilling across the disheveled room. The overturned chairs, the askew table, and the battered cabinets looked as though a tornado had swept through. At this moment, Battlefield Atmosphere Group sat at the edge of the bed, thoroughly immersed in post-nut clarity. Recalling the madness of the night before, he couldn't help knocking himself on the head a few times. They had both started out as total novices, armed with far more theory than practical experience. They had agreed to keep things gentle and light, yet both refused to back down. In short, because someone had smugly uttered a line along the lines of "you sure play your hand well," the friendly card game had accidentally dragged on from the wee hours into the dead of night. Facing the provocations of a naturally gifted Wilante, Battlefield Atmosphere Group had managed to defend the Fourth Disaster's dignity before dropping from sheer exhaustion. Unfortunately, his moral restraint had been thoroughly stripped away in the process... Gazing at the peaceful face bathed in the morning sunlight, a soft smile crept onto Battlefield Atmosphere Group's lips. Come to think of it, this was the first time he had ever seen her like this. Her steady breathing gently fluttered a loose strand of hair resting on the tip of her nose. He reached out to brush it aside, only to find those sapphire eyes staring straight at him, unblinking. "You're awake?" Penny nodded lightly without speaking, simply gazing at him with affectionate fondness. She looked like a well-fed cat, leisurely grooming its paws in the sun. Battlefield Atmosphere Group felt his heart race, mixed with a tender ache. He gently stroked her soft hair. "Can you still get up?" Barely had his words left his mouth when Penny, who had been lying on her side, yawned, sat up, stretched luxuriously, and casually threw a garment over her shoulders. "Are you joking? It's just a little scratch—nothing to me." Battlefield Atmosphere Group put on a helpless expression. "Are you sure? That wasn't what you said yesterday." "That was an exception." Penny narrowed her eyes slightly, the corner of her lips curving up. "I won't lose next time." He felt her competitive streak was directed at very strange things, but Battlefield Guy had no desire to argue. In the future, he would just have to be more of a gentleman and yield whenever he should. After all, she had sacrificed so much for him, and had even decided to accompany him to a place so far from home... As if reading his thoughts, Penny flicked his forehead with her forefinger. "Listen. I don't want you thinking I made some massive sacrifice, or that you owe me some colossal debt, turning this into a transaction." Catching that soft yet remarkably strong hand, Battlefield Atmosphere Group said solemnly, "I swear I never thought that. I was only thinking... about my responsibility." It sounded a bit cheesy, but he truly couldn't find a better way to put it. "You'd better not," Penny said in a languid drawl, her feline eyes narrowing slightly. "As for responsibility, you just worry about your part. I'm not a child—I can take responsibility for myself." At that point, she looked at him with a half-smile, adding in a tone that was anything but a joke, "So if you ever dare to be unfaithful or do anything to wrong me, there won't be any need for my father to step in. I'll take care of you myself." Battlefield Atmosphere Group had zero doubt she would actually do it, even if she stood no chance against him in a real fight. Then again, that would never happen. He would stake his character on it. Both his character in reality and in the game. Looking into those sapphire eyes, he made the most solemn promise of his life. "I promise! If that ever happens, you won't need to lift a finger—I'll finish myself off." Ripples of emotion stirred in those bright eyes. She could feel that this promise contained not a single trace of reservation. It was not an oath sworn in someone else's name, nor was it pledged under a moniker that could be discarded at will. It was a solemn vow made by one soul to another. The two gazed into each other's eyes, the room falling completely silent. At this moment, any further words felt superfluous. Biting her lower lip, Penny held his gaze for a long time, finally confirming that unreserved devotion, before bursting into a giggle. "No way. That's for me to decide." Leaving behind that charmingly playful and mischievous remark, she pounced like a hunting tigress, pressing an unprepared Battlefield Atmosphere Group firmly back into the pillows. Outside the window, snow-laden branches creaked gently in the north wind, while drifting snowflakes blanketed the earth like a wedding veil cast down by the sky. Perhaps... There was no need for him to leave in such a hurry after all. Battlefield Atmosphere Group pondered for a long time. In truth, it wasn't that he hadn't let anyone down—he had nearly let down the person he had the least right to abandon, almost leaving a girl who had walked through life and death with him as an eternal regret. He could afford to wait a few more days before leaving. He had to clear things up with Bannote regarding Penny, and he needed to meet his future mother-in-law. It was rather shameful, honestly. He had spent so much time in Triumph City, but had always been buried in state affairs, never once paying a proper visit to her home. Though the Wilante didn't care much for such formalities, he still had his own cultural traditions and customs to uphold... Tricky business, though. How was he supposed to explain this to his family back home? Marrying an anime waifu? Wouldn't he get shipped straight off to Professor Yang's shock clinic?! His head spinning with a chaotic mess of thoughts, Battlefield Guy thoroughly lost this round. Looking up at her triumphant face, he completely gave up and threw both hands up in surrender. Whatever! He would take it one step at a time and tie the knot before heading back to the Alliance. That was Penny's idea as well. Though she had claimed they were merely giving him a heads-up and would ignore the old man if her father objected, he couldn't act as reckless and headstrong as her, leaving an eternal blemish on this happy ending. Either way, the days leading up to the Birthday holiday were bound to be busy...