Outside Boulder City, the Melvin family held a simple funeral for their youngest son, Jixiu.
Melvin had not invited many people, let alone made a big spectacle of it. After all, his youngest son had truly been no good, and bringing it up might stir unpleasant memories for some.
Though no one cared about their family's affairs anymore, past experience led him to prudently keep a low profile.
Standing in the snow, Lala bowed her head with a complex expression, her nose buried in her scarf.
Alisa stood beside her, eyes closed in silent communion with the tombstone.
Her parents, eldest brother, sister-in-law, and the rest were all standing before the gravestone as well.
It was not only those chosen by psionics who could share a heart-to-heart with the deceased.
As long as the longing came straight from the heart, one could still convey the words they wished to say... even if neither could see the other.
The few people present could all "see" him, except for one complete outsider.
His name was Meng Jie, formerly Mengqi. He had once served as a researcher at the Alliance Academy of Social Sciences and as president of Mammoth University. Now he taught at Camp 101, and was also a friend of Melvin.
He had not planned to attend the funeral; it was just that he happened to arrive in Boulder City when it took place, so he had come along out of courtesy.
After praying before his youngest son's tombstone for a long time, Melvin lowered his clasped hands, nodded to Meng Jie standing aside, and said sincerely,
"Thank you."
Meng Jie smiled courteously.
"You're quite welcome... I don't recall doing anything worthy of your thanks; I hardly deserve it."
"You are too modest."
Melvin looked ahead at the back of Alisa, his favorite youngest daughter, and said after a brief pause,
"There are things I have always wanted to say to my youngest daughter, but speaking from the position of a failed father, I truly didn't know how to begin. About that research topic... thank you. Some things are indeed best said by an outsider. I hope that hero's story can offer her some inspiration."
He didn't want to pour cold water on her enthusiasm, but after all, this world was not simply black and white.
She still had much to learn—including calmness, prudence... and more.
Meng Jie offered a humble smile and said in a gentle tone,
"You misunderstand. It was purely for the purpose of academic research."
"Is that so?" Melvin smiled noncommittally. "Then let's leave it at that."
He could feel the professor's goodwill, which somewhat softened his impression of the Polos.
The latter were finding it harder and harder to gain sympathy in the Alliance.
Of course, it was the same everywhere else.
In an era where even the Wilante and Bugra could find redemption, it wasn't easy to get oneself covered in mud while wallowing in grievance and righteous indignation.
Curiously, however, when they appeared on their own, they became normal again.
At times, even remarkably exceptional.
Perhaps that was what made that land so unusual.
"Please don't overthink it. Truly, I did it solely for academic purposes... Though, it is indeed true that I saw his shadow in your daughter."
Meng Jie gave a slight nod, looking at the gravestone not far away. After thinking for a long while, he spoke in a conversational tone.
"Perhaps such an occasion isn't the right place to bring this up... but I've studied your history as well as the family tree you gave me, and I discovered a rather peculiar phenomenon."
Melvin lifted an eyebrow slightly.
"Oh? What did you find?"
Meng Jie held up two fingers.
"Based on the source of their power and how they obtain black cards, the nobles of Boulder City can be roughly divided into two categories: one is the new nobility attached to 'chips,' and the other is the old nobility attached to 'black cards.' Your family and Xide's family happen to be classic archetypes, each standing at the apex of their respective pyramids."
Melvin gave a faint smile, as if hearing an amusing joke.
"There has only ever been one pyramid in Boulder City, and only one king—and that was Xide. As for my forebears, they were merely technocrats selected by them, or perhaps their professional stewards."
Though the steward position was hereditary, it wasn't immune to obsolescence.
For instance, the obscure fellow who was replaced by Lister had slipped back into being a commoner.
Even though he had cashed in plenty of chips with his black cards.
"I know. Boulder City indeed had only one king, just as you say. But what I am comparing here isn't the weight of chips versus black cards, but the weight of the 'people.'"
A flicker of interest appeared in Melvin's eyes.
"Oh?"
Meng Jie nodded slightly and continued in an easy tone.
"Strictly from an academic standpoint, your family and Xide's family are actually two very distinct control groups. I mean no offense by my next words... According to the historical documents and records I consulted, your family has never produced a true fool in the real sense; rather, different members merely made different choices when facing various dilemmas. Xide's family, however, is a different story. They had their glorious moments, but the descendants each had their own cowardice, and were foolish in entirely different ways."
The specific turning point seemed to coincide with when the status of the "black card" was cemented.
Melvin glanced at him and let out a self-deprecating chuckle.
"...For a moment, I can't even tell if you're praising me or taking a jab at me."
Meng Jie shook his head, turned his gaze toward the crude headstone, and said apologetically,
"Neither. This is purely an academic inquiry... Though perhaps I shouldn't be discussing this with you in person."
Melvin didn't mind too much. Lowering his eyes in prayer, he replied offhandedly,
"No matter. If my records could bring you some comfort, then consider it one meaningful thing I managed to do near the end of my life."
"Far more than comfort," Meng Jie said with a smile as he looked at the old man. "At the very least, your research materials have shown us hope of walking out of the long night—"
"Isn't that just comfort?" Melvin retorted casually. "If your hopes for dawn depend on the devil's progeny making irreversible blunders, you'll either wait in the long night forever, or you'll welcome a new demon after the old devil dies."
He had finally realized why this group of clever people became utterly foolish when gathered together.
Meng Jie stared at him blankly, falling silent for a long time.
Suddenly, as if aging years in an instant, his shoulders slumped dejectedly.
"Perhaps... but no one can say for sure what the future holds... What if things take a turn for the better?"
Melvin glanced at him, thought for a long while, and ultimately brought the topic to a gentle close with a noncommittal answer.
At such a mournful moment, there was no need to add meaningless grief.
"Perhaps."
What lay decades down the line was something only future generations would be around to see.
...
Year 1 of the New Era, three days after Birthday, a grand wedding took place in Triumph City.
The groom was Battlefield Atmosphere Group, and the bride was Penny, daughter of Myriad Commander Bannote.
Contrary to Battlefield Guy's expectations, after learning his daughter had been swept off her feet, Bannote had not flown into a rage and challenged him to a duel. Instead, he gave the pair his blessing.
And not just Bannote.
His close friend Korwei, the Praetorian Guard commander Raizer who had served alongside him, and countless others whose names he couldn't recall all offered their heartfelt congratulations.
At the end of the wedding, Bannote took his hand, speaking in an unprecedentedly solemn and dignified tone.
"...You are a true warrior. Your loyalty, courage, mercy, kindness, and generosity are beyond reproach, earning even Marshal Julius's recognition."
"As Penny's father, I ask nothing more of you than to share all those wonderful qualities with my daughter, just as you once selflessly shared them with so many others."
"Dad..." Penny's eyes glistened with emotion.
Battlefield Atmosphere Group gripped his hand tightly.
"I promise you, I will treat her well."
His stern expression softening, a smile broke across Bannote's face, and he gave a slight nod.
"I leave her in your hands."
Though those words bore no trace of regret or reluctance, Battlefield Guy soon discovered that the old man was not about to let him off that easily.
On the night of the wedding, he was dragged into guzzling several kegs of booze, nearly getting sent to the grave right then and there.
According to Bannote, how could a son-in-law of the Wilante not know how to drink?
Yet despite saying that, Bannote himself was a lightweight. After just a few cups, he was sprawled across the table snoozing.
These civil officials really couldn't hold their liquor.
The ones who truly drank Battlefield Guy under the table were his good buddy Korwei and the brothers-in-arms who had faced life and death with him.
Battlefield Guy had assumed they would resent him for hiding the truth, but the reality was the exact opposite.
Especially Korwei, who had been deceived the deepest.
Far from holding a grudge over the concealed identity, the man clutched his shoulders, looking completely loath to part.
"Safe travels... buddy. We'll miss you."
A young Praetorian Guardsman also placed a hand on Battlefield Atmosphere Group's shoulder.
"Come back and visit often."
One myriad commander, evidently having had too much to drink, mumbled,
"Maybe I'll just go to the Alliance and be an officer too. I'll quit after making archon—that would be fair."
Another myriad commander sitting nearby chuckled.
"As if. The Alliance isn't like us. Where would they get an archon from?"
"They don't have one? I heard they were planning to set one up... something about learning from our experience."
"Who cares? Starting from private would work just as well, wouldn't it?"
Watching this boisterous bunch, Battlefield Atmosphere Group was touched, but he still rested a hand on their shoulders.
"Stop daydreaming. Live your lives well. There won't be so many battles to fight ahead."
They all had families and their own lives in Triumph City.
If he actually dragged them all to Dawn City, he wouldn't even know how to settle them in.
"Hahaha! These fellows are just drunk and joking around. If you really asked them to give up their pay and ranks here just to start over as raw recruits, they wouldn't want to either."
Korwei gave a hearty laugh and clapped Battlefield Guy hard on the shoulder.
Battlefield Guy offered a helpless smile, yet he couldn't help feeling that look in Korwei's eyes wasn't entirely a joke.
If he really asked to take him back, Korwei would probably follow him without a second thought.
And not just him.
Many people here would do the same.
"Take care, brother..."
He raised his cup, clinked it against Korwei's, and drained it in a single gulp.
Just as he was about to start the next round, a heavy cough sounded from behind the group.
"How long do you intend to keep the bride waiting? Or are you planning to throw another party?"
Penny stood there in her wedding dress with her arms crossed, smiling faintly as she stared at the back of Battlefield Atmosphere Group's head.
Realizing they were getting in the way of the newlyweds' intimacy, the grown men at the table felt a wave of embarrassment, quickly laughing and making excuses to slip away.
The crowd at the table scattered to other tables in an instant, leaving only Battlefield Atmosphere Group and Penny.
Realizing he had drunk too much, Battlefield Atmosphere Group rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.
"Sorry..."
Hearing that apology, Penny twitched her eyebrows with a faint smile.
"Sorry?"
Battlefield Guy caught her meaning in an instant, understanding that this polite, reserved response was not what she wanted to hear.
Though somewhat embarrassed, faced with that expectant gaze, he could only bite the bullet.
Before the wedding, Penny had told him about the Wilante custom—
After receiving the blessings of the guests, the groom had to carry her in his arms all the way from the banquet hall back to the bridal chamber.
A true warrior would not allow his wife's feet to touch the ground; otherwise, he would be mocked by everyone for a whole year.
Or so the saying went.
Chugging the remaining half-cup of wine, Battlefield Guy's thick skin flushed red. Amid Penny's startled gasp and melodic giggles, he swept her up into his arms and, amidst raucous whistles and applause, vanished from the wedding hall like a tornado.
Just like a real whirlwind, coming fast and leaving just as fast.
Without the slightest hesitation.
"That guy... is truly a warrior," a drunken civil official gestured with his hands. "I thought he had some unspoken trouble, drinking non-stop like that."
Another civil official beside him nodded in sympathy, saying with genuine admiration,
"Indeed. Not like the old man from her family—I recall he slept until daybreak back then."
Customs here were indeed different from other places. These muscle-headed fellows didn't give a damn about sparing face for a former archon and sitting minister when cracking jokes.
Perhaps hearing those bastards whispering in his sleep, Bannote, who had been slumping on the table, suddenly flared with rage. He slammed a fist against the tabletop, straightening his old bones right up.
"Who the hell are you talking about?! Step forward... let's duel!"
Several civil officials clamped their mouths shut, coughing to change the subject and pretending nothing had happened.
Bannote only blustered for a moment before Penny's mother grabbed him by the ear and shoved him back down.
"You old fossil, you have the nerve to duel! Have you no shame?!"
"What do you know...?" Bannote grumbled a few times, but feeling guilty, he ultimately kept quiet.
"Too fast, I didn't even see clearly," a bearded officer muttered, rubbing his bleary, drunken eyes. "Did that guy drive a truck into the hall?"
Would that count as cheating?
That foolish remark quickly earned him a glare. The myriad commander beside him mocked,
"Are you drunk out of your mind? How could a truck drive into the hall? I clearly saw a motorcycle."
"Pfft—!"
"Damn!"
"How could a motorcycle drive in either?! You're the one who's drunk out of your mind!"
The orchestral music echoing in the hall gradually shifted from warm and tender to rousing and spirited.
The newlyweds had departed with everyone's blessings to enjoy their private world; the rest of the time belonged to the guests.
Here they would feast on meat and drink fine wine to their hearts' content, until deep into the night—or even until sunrise.
Long ago, they had earned the rewards due to them, living happy lives with their families, and now the sole remaining regret had finally been made whole.
"A toast to our Pangolin!"
Someone shouted the first line, and soon the same call echoed throughout the banquet hall.
It was a blessing straight from the hearts of comrades who had once fought shoulder-to-shoulder—
"To Pangolin!"
"Cheers!!!"
The roaring passion was like a raging fire in the hearth, stealing the spotlight even from the setting sun hanging on the horizon.
The stories of the night would perhaps be far sweeter and longer-lasting than anyone could ever imagine...
Chapter 1063