"The true strong ones?"
After hearing the burned man's words, the middle-aged man naturally thought of the Aquarius Director from the morning, then nodded to acknowledge, "There was indeed someone, but he's gone now. It's unlikely he'll return anytime soon, and he won't join us."
Hearing such an uninteresting answer, the burned man couldn't help but click his tongue in disappointment, then turned to leave, but was stopped by the middle-aged man.
"Teague, how's the situation at Louther Arcade?"
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"Of course, how's the arson going?"
Seeing the burned man showing a somewhat dismissive attitude and not paying much attention to him, the middle-aged man couldn't help but frown, and asked sternly, "Didn't I instruct you to start a fire at Louther Arcade to pressure the wealthy district to force the Secret Investigation Bureau to patrol there? How did that go?"
"Oh, that, it's done, it's done!"
The burned man replied somewhat impatiently, "I went out at night and burned some trash bins and traffic posts, watched over some big merchants and nobles' houses, burned down their gardens and carriage houses, and sneaked into a few small noble homes without guards to set some fires. That should be enough."
"Not just enough, it must be certain!"
Seeing that this subordinate was becoming increasingly difficult to control recently, the middle-aged man frowned, "After Barton's death, we no longer have anyone at the top of the Secret Investigation Bureau. Now we are in the dark about the secret police's actions, so we must be extra careful. We need to draw the secret police away as much as possible before we act! You're ..."
"Got it, got it, then I'll go set more fires!"
Responding impatiently, the burned man, who had failed to find the "tiger," couldn't be bothered with the middle-aged man, who reeked of weakness, and turned away disappointed.
The middle-aged man sighed, then looked up towards the northwest of the valley, gazing at the towering, cloud-piercing "7"-shaped steel tower. He shook his head slightly, suppressing the anger in his eyes.
Forget it, it wasn't necessary.
After losing three people in succession, manpower was urgently needed, and it wasn't the time to argue with such a fool. After all, if this operation failed again, there wouldn't be much time left for him and Kingdom...
(It hurts! It really hurts!)
(@#￥% profanity in dog language)
"Woof woo? Woof woof woo? Woof woof woof!"
(What are you doing? Suddenly pulling out so much hair from my butt? It really hurts!)
Seeing Young Ha's pitiful eyes barking at him reflected off the lamppost lamps, puddles on the ground, and shop windows along the road, Leon could only give it a genuinely apologetic glance.
I'm sorry, I'm so sorry.
Mainly, I didn't know what was up with that watch of his, worried that giving him my hair could expose me, or there could be some ability like tracking or control.
And since the Mirror World was an illusionary reflection and could avoid these things, and in a rush, I couldn't get anyone else's hair, I could only pull out dog hair of the same color from your butt.
I'm really, truly sorry, I just had no choice, I won't do it next time, and once we get through this period, I will definitely make it up to you!
(You better keep your word...)
I will! I definitely will!
Waiting for a while without hearing Leon speak, not knowing that he was, in reality, apologizing to the dog over some butt hair, the plump uncle sighed softly and comforted, "Don't be too disappointed. Not having such mystical abilities isn't that big of a deal.
Back then, old Baskin didn't have any abilities either, yet he braved more than three hundred nail gun shots to carry me out of a trench full of corpses.
So rest assured! Even without such magical powers, as long as we are brave enough and lucky enough, we can still achieve many things!"
So... the reason you take care of "me" so much is because old Baskin once saved your life?
Hearing the plump uncle's words, Leon, walking behind him, had an epiphany flash in his eyes.
Glancing at the two rather haunting scars below his collar, Leon calculated for a moment, wanting to gather more intelligence, then said softly, "Uncle Owen... tell me about the past."
You used to hate listening to this, so why now...
Hearing a request he had never received before, the plump uncle was startled, turning back to glance at Leon with some surprise, sensing that something seemed different about the child.
But looking at the somewhat despondent "Little Baskin," recalling the scene from hope crashing to deep disappointment, he couldn't help but sigh, dispelling the strange feeling in his heart.
Yes, possessing such Talent yet missing another life path by a hair's breadth, it would be strange if this child showed no change...
"Alright, I'll tell you!"
With a kind smile at Leon, recalling the years he and old Baskin fought for their country, the plump uncle couldn't help but stir with emotion, wanting to recount those days in full.
Not only could it comfort the disappointed little Baskin, but it might also help this child, who always hated old Baskin, understand that his father wasn't entirely hopeless; before drowning in alcohol, that old drunk was indeed a brave man!
Looking at Little Baskin's thin body and the bruises left by the cane on his arms, the plump uncle suddenly fell into silence, his gentle round eyes showing a deep sense of bewilderment.
What did his and old Baskin's honorable past mean to this child?
With the household losing its pillar, the military pension perpetually in arrears, this child's mother had to pinch and scrape, working long and hard hours, only for her body to collapse entirely, spending her final year tormented day and night by liver disease.
And old Baskin, due to severe injuries sustained during the war, was left with such severe ailments that without alcohol to numb the pain, it became unbearable; after exhausting their money, he could only watch his wife die of illness, which led to his complete collapse, turning into the man who now abused his son and even robbed Little Baskin of his money to buy alcohol.
He remembered before the war began, how happy old Baskin's family was, with Little Baskin having a reliable father and a gentle mother. His and old Baskin's proud past was the beginning of his fall from Heaven to Hell...
Understanding why Little Baskin was incredibly averse to hearing about the past, the plump uncle's back hunched unconsciously, his expression quickly lowering.
"In reality... it's just some... some past stories, and the past has passed, hmm...
It's not that I'm unwilling to tell you, but there's nothing wrong with not hearing them too. Let's go get your money back quickly, lest old Baskin gets released early. That would be troublesome."
"Uncle Owen, do tell."
"If you really want to hear..."
After a couple of vague responses, the plump uncle with a slightly suppressed tone quickened his pace, saying warmly while walking forward, "Come over to my house for dinner tonight, and then I'll tell you, okay?"