Counterfeit Hero

Chapter 130: Volume 3 Chapter 34: The Taciturn Old Man

When Tian Xingjian woke up with a splitting headache from his hangover, he found himself lying in a small room of about five square meters. ”Damn it, who put me in the confinement room?” Fatty shouted at the top of his lungs. Apart from a sliver of light coming from under the door crack, the confinement room had no lamps or windows.

He sat on the ground, trying hard to recall what happened yesterday. Drinking, and before the drinking? He paused for a moment and shook his head. The meeting between Ann Lei and Milan inevitably surfaced in his mind again. Fatty now genuinely wished that this was just a dream or that time could rewind.

After being lost in thought for a while, Tian Xingjian suddenly felt a sense of clarity post-hangover. Living a lifetime, everyone has the right to pursue their happiness; Ann Lei has it, Milan has it, and he also has it. People can live without each other; the situation couldn’t be reversed. His indecision ruined him. Even if time could go back, he still wouldn’t be able to refuse Ann Lei after meeting Milan. He would still go through the same ordeal. He slowly lay down on the ground, trying hard to cheer himself up—no need to worry anymore, he got his release. A somewhat bittersweet release, but ultimately, it felt like a burden lifted.

He didn’t know how much time had passed when the confinement room door suddenly opened, and a Constitutional Soldier Major walked in, saying to Tian Xingjian, ”Get up, follow me!” Fatty scrambled up and asked, ”Why did you lock me up? I just drank a bit, I’m not even a soldier in a combat-ready unit.”

The Constitutional Soldier Major couldn’t help but laugh; apparently, this foolish Fatty couldn’t remember anything. He shoved Fatty out of the confinement room, shouting, ”You think it’s just about drinking a bit? You severely violated military regulations by fighting, causing varying degrees of injuries to thirty-two people, including twelve policemen and nine special forces officers. More egregiously, you even spat publicly at Admiral Mihailovich. You tell me why you’re locked up!”

Fatty incredulously pointed at his nose and said, ”Are you sure? Are you talking about me? I must tell you, I’m naturally timid, I can’t handle scares!” The Constitutional Soldier Major was amused yet annoyed by this statement. Such a daring rogue calmly claiming to be timid! He didn’t bother arguing with such a person and ordered, ”Go quickly! The Enforcement Officer is waiting for you!”

Fatty, startled by the words ”Enforcement Officer,” stubbornly pursued, ”Are you sure I did all that? It can’t be. I’ve always been honest and kind, nicknamed ’Honest Cute Little Gentleman,’ never engaging in fights. You must be mistaken... I spat at the General?”

The Constitutional Soldier Major really wanted to throw this Fatty back into the confinement room—Honest Cute Little Gentleman, my ass, is there such a fat little gentleman?

Fatty grumbled all the way with the Constitutional Soldier Major to another room, where several Enforcement Officers from the military court and a Colonel from the Political Department were already waiting. As soon as Fatty entered, his identity was confirmed through a set procedure. Without paying the terrified and pitiful-looking Fatty any attention, the officers pulled out a document and read it out flatly for a while, then took Fatty’s hand to press his fingerprint on the electronic document.

Fatty spent a long time processing before realizing, in essence, eight words: merits and demerits offset, dishonorable discharge. Once he snapped back to reality, he almost wanted to kiss these Enforcement Officers! How did such a good thing happen to him? As for the behind-enemy-lines task, it was all over!

Walking out of the Constitutional Soldier Department’s gate, Fatty stared at the bright sun, feeling dazed and unsure of where to go. The research lab, he had been expelled already. The experimental station, how to face Milan. Home, how to face Ann Lei. Suddenly, he thought, if the Military Department indeed sent Ann Lei behind enemy lines, what should he do? Fatty felt a sudden panic, unsure and clueless about what to do. He stood blankly under the sun, squinting at it until he saw an aura before him, completely bewildered.

Fatty walked slowly down the steps, but he saw Boswell and Russell waving to him under the tree shade of the front square garden. How did these two unrelated people come together? Fatty curiously walked over. Boswell looked at the messy and blood-stained disciple and sighed, ”Come on, General Russell informed me about your situation. You’re part of the lab, so help out at the academy for now. Later, General Russell will make specific arrangements.”

Fatty opened his mouth wide in stupor, looking at Russell smiling beside him, thinking, ”More arrangements? Don’t they plan to let me go?” Russell seemed to understand his thoughts, smiling faintly, ”You caused a public disturbance, which the Military Department cannot cover up. Military discipline is military discipline; you need to be punished. We are rearranging your identity during this time. You already know what your subsequent tasks are; what needs to be done by you still needs to be done. This is your responsibility!”

”Responsibility!” Fatty shouted in anger, ”There are millions of people in this world; does it just lack me? Do I look like a hero, like a savior?” Russell shook his head, ”No!” Fatty was startled and asked, ”Then why choose me? Am I trustworthy?” Russell said, ”You’ve heard the phrase ’The times make the man,’ haven’t you? Think about it, how many choices do you have in life anew? It’s not I who chooses you; it’s the times!”

Fatty waved his hand, ”Don’t give me those grand theories; I only know I’m naturally not cut out to be a hero. I’m just a coward! I’m afraid of death, I don’t want war; I hate it. I know just my responsibility is to survive in troubled times, protect my loved ones! I can only handle such a big responsibility. Being a hero for the country and people is not me!”

Russell shook his head, ”The world doesn’t lack heroes like you. I already said, it’s not me choosing you; you appeared at this position at this time, so the responsibility is yours. You aren’t as weak as you imagine yourself to be. In dire circumstances, the power you burst out with far surpasses others. Fear is stronger than bravery! Do you know the code name Gazalin Military Department gave you?”

Tian Xingjian oddly asked, ”What code name?”

”The Variable,” Russell earnestly stared at him, thoughtfully said, ”Everyone is a variable at heart. And you, during a period before, played the biggest role. With your deduction ability, you should understand the place of variables, chance events in the war. Without your involvement, I would still be an Imperial Admiral in the Gazalin Empire, and the Federation would have already lost all of the Atlantis Star Domain. Your friends, your family, might have already perished in the war. Haven’t you noticed your role at all?”

Seeing Tian Xingjian’s dazed expression, Russell said, ”You helped me determine my decision for moving from Gazalin to Leray. Now you’re shrugging off your duties, thinking I’ll agree? In this world, in this war, everyone has their place. If I can come to the Federation, why can’t you go behind enemy lines? I know you, you can’t be a strategic mastermind General, perhaps more cowardly than average soldiers, but you possess a power we lack. You live more authentically, knowing what you want, your capabilities, your weaknesses. At the very least, you will always prioritize safety. That’s why I let you go to the Freedom Front!”

Seeing Fatty silent, Russell sighed, ”I’m not forcing you; you have plenty of time to think. You don’t need to be a general, just a little soldier, becoming a variable in this chaotic world!”

Russell turned to leave, Boswell patted the silent Tian Xingjian on the shoulder with a smile, ”The General is correct; everyone has a place. You just need to recognize yours. Let’s return to the academy first; the dormitory has been reassigned to you as an assistant professor.”

”Dormitory?” Fatty asked nervously, ”You’re not putting me in the experimental station, right?” Boswell, expressionless, said, ”Of course not, I placed you in the dormitory building, right opposite Milan’s room.”

Fatty jumped in surprise, hurriedly said, ”But...” Boswell waved his hand, ”No buts, it’s set. Considering the matters between you, Milan, and Major Ann Lei—I know. You should be carefree; in this world, as long as you have skills, having an extra wife is no big deal, provided everyone’s willing. If you can meet their needs, a satisfied woman and another satisfied woman essentially have no conflict. Although, it depends on the woman’s desires...” Boswell smiled, ”I never seek women insatiable in their wants; women with strong possessiveness don’t suit me!”

Fatty stared at Boswell in shock, unable to express his immense amazement. This was the old hardheaded researcher? Boswell, seeing his odd expression, whispered, ”You aren’t unable to satisfy two women, are you?” Angrily, Fatty said, ”Of course not!” Boswell faintly smiled, ”If you indeed feel embarrassed, I have secretly developed medicines in the lab, should you need some?”

Fatty finally surrendered, chuckling bitterly, ”Teacher, must you make me lose face to be satisfied?”

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Leave note: Flying to Moscow tomorrow morning, updates will be affected, please understand.

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