Bai Liu subconsciously wanted to push Spades away, but in the corner of his eye, he caught sight of Guy watching with a smile, and Alex was too embarrassed to look away, so he immediately sobered up.
Shy, he lowered his head, turned away from Spades' lips, and rested his head on Spades' collarbone, burying himself in his arms.
Bai Liu's breathing was slightly rapid. He curled his fingers into fists and pursed his lips once more. When he spoke, his voice was calm.
"…Next time, before you do something like that, tell me first."
Spades closed his hands around Bai Liu's shoulders. He hummed softly, and then, as if sensing Bai Liu's emotions, added as an afterthought: "Should I ask you first this time?"
"I'm sorry." He apologized sincerely. "Are you angry?"
Bai Liu suddenly laughed. He looked up at Spades, and the look in his eyes made Spades pause.
There was a heavy heat in his dark eyes — bright and clear yet unreadable. A faint version of someone he missed seemed hidden in those eyes.
Bai Liu pressed his head against Spades' heart, still smelling the lingering blood.
He had just aimed his gun at Spades, emptied two magazines, and ripped out his heart.
The rising emotions slowly fell back.
Bai Liu closed his eyes and exhaled slowly, a loose smile on his face. "You haven't changed at all. Please apologize first for what you did."
When Xie Ta spent time with him, the most common word he said was sorry. This person had an inexplicable desire to survive. Every time he sensed Bai Liu's anger rising, he promptly apologized — then dared to do it again next time.
"Let's forget it this time." Bai Liu moved away from Spades' arms, smiled, and nodded to Guy and Alex. He glanced lightly at Spades and gave a friendly smile. "But I hope there won't be a next time."
Spades: "…"
He felt like he had done something wrong again.
The two followed Guy to the rear base camp, taking a train on the way.
It was a very unusual railway, only a few dozen miles long, connecting the front line and the small towns in the rear.
Sitting in the carriage, Guy reluctantly explained: "It's strange, isn't it? Rare to build a railway like this, but the war has been going on for a year and a half and hasn't advanced. Later, for convenience, they built this line to transport soldiers and supplies."
Bai Liu's eyes retracted from the dense jungle outside the window. Building a railway in such a humid area was no easy task.
Spending so much effort showed that the commander of this battle was an important man.
Bai Liu asked, "Why have you been stuck here for a year and a half?"
Guy sighed deeply. "Because there's a very important strategic location about twenty kilometers ahead — Pluto Lake."
Bai Liu raised an eyebrow. "Pluto, the king of the underworld in Roman mythology? Why this name?"
Guy explained: "This area gets a lot of summer rainfall — tens of thousands of millimeters at its peak. Pluto Lake sits at the lowest point, so the water rises quickly, causing flash floods and drowning nearby residents every year. Hence the name Pluto. Locals call it [The Angry Grim Reaper of Summer]."
Alex added seriously: "Once the water rises, it overflows, filling surrounding canals. It forms a network of intersecting rivers in the dense rainforest, with Pluto at the center."
Guy took a deep breath. "In a rainforest where it's difficult to build roads, rivers are natural highways. Whoever occupies Pluto before the rainy season can use these rivers to transport supplies, weapons, and soldiers, gaining a strategic advantage."
Bai Liu understood. "So whoever holds Pluto before the rainy season is likely to win the war."
"But if that's the case, you've been here a year and a half — through at least two rainy seasons. Why didn't you settle it then?"
Guy smiled bitterly. "We held Pluto the year before last, but rainfall was light, and the rivers formed a narrow transport range. We lost our advantage, and the enemy recaptured Pluto. That's why our side expanded conscription that year."
He looked at Alex with complicated eyes. "…Alex came to the front line then."
Alex nodded gloomily. "Last year's rainy season, the enemy held Pluto, and rainfall was heavy. They kept their advantage into this year. We've been losing ground steadily, just resisting. Every day, more bodies are collected from the battlefield than the day before…"
"The superiors keep increasing recruitment to fill the front lines. We cannot lose; we must win…"
Guy patted Alex's shoulder and sighed. "It's not our jurisdiction to control these things. On the battlefield, the only thing we can do is die."
Alex lowered his head. "Sometimes I feel that if we lose, it's okay, as long as it ends the war…"
Guy's expression froze. He tapped Alex on the head helplessly. "Don't say that on the train. If overheard, you'll be punished."
Alex clenched his fists on his knees, silent.
Guy hugged him firmly, resting his chin on Alex's head. "It's okay. The war will be over after this rainy season."
Alex squeezed Guy's hand silently.
"The war will definitely end after this rainy season. Why do you say that?" Bai Liu asked.
Guy paused. "You'll understand when you reach the recruitment point."
He stared out the window in a daze, holding Alex tighter, eyes reflecting swaying green foliage and the fires of war.
"…There's a proverb in my hometown: the time lovers spend together is more precious than gold," Guy murmured.
He smiled at Bai Liu and Spades. The fire in his eyes had faded, leaving only a damp, moving light, like an old photograph. His smile held envy and proud happiness.
Guy laughed heartily. "Then, when the four of us stay together, aren't we the richest people in the world?"
Bai Liu and the others jumped off the train, seeing the crowded military enlistment point.
Some stood on tables with loudspeakers, shouting angrily; some held up recruitment posters; others lay on the ground filling out forms with dirty ballpoint pens.
The scene was chaotic.
"Seems like quite a few new recruits are reporting today," Guy clicked his tongue. "It won't be easy to get two registration forms in this mess."
"It's time for us to do our best as hosts," Guy said, taking Alex's still-unresponsive hand, whistling pleasantly as he rushed into the crowd. "I'll get the registration forms!"
Ten minutes later, Alex, face squashed and deformed, sat on the ground, panting with dull eyes.
Guy excitedly waved the registration forms to Bai Liu and the others. "I got them!"
He took out two pens, placed the forms before Bai Liu and Spades, and guided them through signing with a smile.
When Bai Liu was handed the registration form, he noticed something unusual — one of the options had already been marked with a cross.
It was obvious who had done it.
Bai Liu looked at Guy and tapped the cross with his pen. "What's this? Can't I choose?"
The smile on Guy's face faded slightly. "Well… this option indicates whether you're willing to join the commando team."
"Commando team?" Alex's confused voice came from behind Guy. "Have there been any organized raids recently? Why didn't I get a notice?"
The man holding a loudspeaker on the table suddenly raised his voice, spitting and waving his arms:
"Everyone! Our general has assembled thousands of heavy artillery and brought them to this town. More will be sent to the front line today!"
He continued passionately: "We all know that if we lose this rainy season, we will be buried at the hands of Pluto, the god of death! The heavy rain over the past two days indicates that the enemy is likely to have a huge advantage!"
The noisy crowd fell silent, all eyes on the man at the table.
He continued angrily: "Are we going to lose this war of glory and give up our free land to shameless, insatiable slaves on the other side of the lake? Didn't we already give them enough rights?!"
"We employ people from poor, backward areas, pay daily wages, and provide three meals a day. And yet they demand ownership of the land, exchanging labor for land, wanting to be superior like us!"
"These people we feed dare to claim that the land, which became rich because of us, originally belonged to them, and they want it back!"
"Shameless!" the man shouted, his face red with rage. "If they had real backbone, why didn't they push us out when we first helped them develop?"
"After we signed agreements, obtained consent to own the land, and made it prosperous, these greedy people now want to drive us out under the guise of ownership!"
Guy whispered to Bai Liu, "This rainforest has abundant wood, minerals, and water, but the residents are very poor. Officials signed an agreement with them: provide jobs, property, and enough food for the next hundred years, in exchange for permanent ownership of the land."
Bai Liu paused subtly.
It was shady enough, but he hadn't expected something even darker — taking land others already owned in exchange for cheap labor.
This wasn't just profit; it was huge profit without capital.
Guy sighed. "At first, the indigenous people didn't realize it. They barely had enough to eat, so they agreed."
"They built factories and became wealthy, but wages dropped, hours lengthened, and the residents were treated worse and worse — trampled, humiliated, mocked. Disputes broke out."
"During one quarrel, a resident killed a factory director. In revenge, the director's friends and relatives imprisoned all the indigenous participants in an abandoned factory and burned them alive."
Guy fell silent. "A week later, the war broke out."
"No one thought it would last so long, but the locals knew the terrain, and international volunteers joined them. They claimed it was a real war of liberation. I wanted to volunteer too, but my family sent me here first."
Bai Liu glanced at the man still shouting at the table. "Is there another version of this story? The recruitment advertisement made the war seem… different."
"Yes," Guy said, admiration in his eyes. "Domestic officials say they helped the residents escape poverty and gain freedom, only to be attacked by greedy, backward locals who even killed a selfless factory director."
Guy exhaled, looking at recruitment posters scattered on the ground. "The tricky part? There's no lie in the ad. The director really was innocent."
"He came from a noble family but wanted to help these people build factories, break free from upper-class control, and spent all his money helping them, despite opposition."
"But some natives mistrusted him, thinking he was exploiting them. During the dispute, one resentful native shot him."
"The country made a big deal of it. Many, including Alex, came here because of him — angry that such a good man died this way."
"Their hearts were good, but naive. They thought they came for an apology. The war was far crueler than expected."
Guy went quiet.
Bai Liu asked softly, "You knew this factory director, right?"
"I can tell you," Guy said, a sad smile flashing across his face, "but it's a secret between us. Don't tell Alex — he'll be jealous. He was my first love."
"I'm lucky — my two boyfriends are great."
The man on the table shouted again, overpowering Guy's voice: "To end this year-and-a-half-long war and punish the greedy enemy before the rainy season, we will launch a raid in two days! The best veterans form an elite assault team to undertake the most dangerous charge after artillery bombardment! Let us applaud the brave soldiers!"
He read names from a long list, and each soldier climbed the platform amid cheers.
Guy watched quietly.
Alex seemed to realize something, staring at Guy in disbelief, then back at the list with a burning gaze.
"Guy Davis!" he cried, grabbing Guy's arm. His eyes reddened, throat dry.
Guy smiled, freeing Alex's hand, whispering softly: "The war will be over soon, baby." Amid deafening screams, he walked through the crowd to the commando platform.
Alex chased him, but the cheering crowd blocked his path.
The people on the table shouted: "Next, let us welcome the general to commend these brave soldiers!"
A middle-aged man in a bright, stand-up-collar uniform walked up, clapping kindly, hanging cheap medals on soldiers about to die.
After awarding them, he turned to the crowd. "Remember these faces. If they die, it's for the most just cause — martyrs worthy of commemoration."
"I ordered this attack. I know it will cause pain, but it punishes the lower-class enemy…"
Alex gritted his teeth. "He did this for military merit."
Bai Liu cast a questioning look.
Alex explained: "This general is from a civilian background. He married into power and consolidated his position through wars. He's better at politics than war."
"The raid ensures enemy casualties before defeat and uses veterans' sacrifices to attract more recruits. They've already fooled many this way."
The general continued: "This commando team undertakes the most important tasks. Only elite soldiers may join."
Someone asked, "Can new recruits enter?"
"No," the general laughed. "But your enthusiasm is commendable. You can join the second or third assault teams. The first team requires high-quality soldiers."
A tall man raised his hand, holding a silver revolver.
Tang Erda, who had just received orders from Bai Liu to join the first assault team, raised his hand as well.
Bai Liu smiled and gestured encouragement.
The general frowned. "War isn't a shooting game for nobles. To join the commando team, you must train extensively and master precision shooting."
He glanced at Tang Erda's revolver with disdain. "Young man, I see your desire for honor, but perhaps you should ride a horse — hitting a fixed target ten centimeters away…"
Tang Erda calmly loaded his gun, lowered his dark goggles, and shot the medal in the general's hand dead-on.
The general froze, trembling as he slowly released the pierced medal. It fell to the ground. Everyone stared in shock at Tang Erda's superb skills.
Tang Erda put away his gun. "Am I qualified for the first commando team now?"
"Of course!" Guy whistled approvingly. "Good lad! Your figure matches your gun skills!"
Tang Erda was momentarily stunned, then calmly said thank you.
The system prompted:
[System prompt: The main plot NPC Guy's favorability towards you has increased.]
[System prompt: The favorability of the main plot NPC Alex towards you has dropped sharply, and you have been excluded from the main mission.]
Tang Erda: "???"
What happened?! Why was he excluded from the main mission?!
Confused, he turned to Bai Liu and pointed at himself, shaking his head.
Bai Liu's eyes slowly moved to Alex, who stared blankly at Tang Erda.
Careless.