Counterfeit Hero

Chapter 158: Volume 3, Chapter 47: No One Bows to Anyone! [Rush for Monthly Tickets #3]

Along the way, watching these unruly men, the Fatty following behind the middle-aged man suddenly showed a lascivious smile. A strange trace of mockery appeared on his honest and submissive fat face.

Many of the Freedom Fighters, who had been laughing and even provocatively looking at the Fatty, stopped their training. They exchanged glances, their faces darkening, and glared fiercely at the Fatty.

The Fatty sighed. He had to admire Russell’s keen perception of people. These Freedom Fighters, who had been locked underground and training desperately for a deadly fight, were highly sensitive and very insecure individuals. They had a conviction of certain death, but their insecurity had twisted their personalities. They would mock any stranger passing by them without restraint, they were united, huddling together for warmth and rejecting any other ethnicity. They allowed themselves to mock others but couldn’t tolerate the slightest bit of others’ ridicule. They tried to place themselves on a moral high ground through fearless sacrifice, but they never realized that this high ground, from which they looked down on others, was no different from how the Vibo people looked down on them.

The rise of one nation usually steps on the fallen bodies of another. These Freedom Fighters only knew their own nation in their minds. They were a different breed of extreme nationalists. Would such a nation become another Vibo Clan in the future?

The Fatty turned his head. He knew that these Freedom Fighters were the most iron-blooded and unafraid of sacrifice, but their iron-bloodedness was based on unbearable insecurity and extreme nationalism. He didn’t know whether it was right or wrong for him to agree to Russell and come here.

Seeing this typical aristocrat-like Fatty avoid their gaze, the Freedom Fighters burst into unrestrained laughter and boos. The middle-aged man clearly noticed this situation and gave the Fatty a complex look, only to find that this pale and chubby Fatty had an indifferent expression, as if he hadn’t heard the mocking laughter at all.

Before a large gate beside the training ground, the middle-aged man stopped. The leaders of the Freedom Front, who had been waiting in the conference room, had already been drawn out by the laughter, so there was no need to take the Fatty inside anymore. The middle-aged man respectfully saluted the three leaders of the Freedom Front and said in a low voice, ”The envoy has arrived.” An elderly leader, nearly seventy years old, dressed like an old farmer, nodded and smiled slightly at the Fatty, saying, ”Welcome, student of Algarfar. I am Songaila, the guide of the First Brigade of the Freedom Front.” He gestured to another elder on the left, who smiled and nodded at the Fatty, ”This is Yaric, the guide of the Fourth Brigade.”

The tall middle-aged man standing on Songaila’s right stepped forward and shook Tian Xingjian’s hand before he could be introduced, saying, ”I am Oberto, the guide of the Third Brigade. We have long awaited your arrival, day and night.” Tian Xingjian was taken aback and then understood that it was because he was a student of Russell.

The elder dressed like a typical businessman, Yaric, also smiled and said, ”We have watched the videos of your classes with Algarfar at the Gallipalan Military Academy. Haha, very gratifying indeed.” Songaila and Oberto also laughed heartily at this.

The Fatty smiled and said, ”I just wanted to join the fun.”

Oberto waved his hand and said, ”Algarfar has told us about your deeds. Not only did you see through his combat plan, but you also saved his life. With you leading the Freedom Front, we are very reassured.”

The Fatty shook his head repeatedly and said, ”I am not here to lead the Freedom Front. My teacher’s instruction is to cooperate.” Oberto, being straightforward and sincerely admiring Russell, laughed heartily, ”Whether it’s leading or cooperating, we’ll follow your lead anyway!” He turned to look at the Freedom Fighters on the training ground, who were huddling together and laughing unabashedly, and scolded affectionately, ”Those little wolves are just like that, don’t mind them. You’ll get used to it!”

Sanjad said to the middle-aged man standing respectfully beside him, ”Brother Lakeman, gather our warriors and tell them Algarfar’s envoy has arrived.” Lakeman followed the order. Sanjad then turned to Tian Xingjian and smiled, ”This is your first time here, say a few words to everyone.”

The assembly of the Freedom Fighters was quick. They gathered not all the warriors, but the grassroots officers above the platoon level. Initially, the Fatty intended to say a few casual words just to get familiar. However, when he stood before these warriors and saw these long-trained elites intentionally acting lazy and mocking, the Fatty was furious. The personalities of these guys were indeed a bit twisted. If you took such people to the battlefield, getting them to fight desperately with the enemy would be easy, but leading them to survive would be harder than reaching the heavens.

At this point, the Fatty finally understood why Russell insisted on sending him here. These men, who cared nothing about life and death, were either extremely insecure or arrogant, and couldn’t tolerate any unpleasing person in their eyes. It was a kind of narrow extreme nationalism, a desperate bravery.

”You...” Oberto saw the behavior of these warriors and was about to scold them in embarrassment and anger, but was stopped by a wave from the Fatty.

”Since this is our first meeting, let me introduce myself. My name is Tian Xingjian, and I am a student of General Russell.” The Fatty smiled slightly and spoke to the impatient Freedom Fighters in front of him.

Ignoring their deliberately exaggerated expressions, the Fatty continued, ”You are all battle-hardened warriors and pioneers of your nation. I took a look, and it’s very impressive!” Even these Freedom Fighters, after hearing praise, showed some signs of softening in their expressions.

The Fatty smiled and said, ”Very impressive indeed—a taste of utter nonsense.”

This remark sparked an uproar. The assembled Freedom Fighters immediately erupted. Despite the furious stares from several guides beside them, these warriors began to jeer, and scattered curses and angry mockery turned into a wildfire in an instant.

Some warriors jeered, ”Fatty, it’s you who are utter nonsense, right?” A thin warrior in the front row pointed at the Fatty with a smile, drawing an exaggerated arc across his own belly with his hands. The jest immediately caused a burst of loud laughter.

The three guides stood silently to the side, both awkward and worried. They knew very well what kind of people these warriors were. They usually had to be handled delicately, and they didn’t expect that the arrival of a student from Algarfar would immediately put him in opposition to the warriors. How would he lead this group in the future?

Fatty looked down at his own belly, chuckled, and patted it, saying, ”You see my belly, right? What’s inside here...” His face turned stern, and he said loudly, ”I’m telling you, inside here is knowledge! It’s tactics! It’s discipline!”

Tian Xingjian’s voice was cold and severe, filled with murderous intent. This imposing aura, naturally formed amidst gunfire and bullets, couldn’t completely suppress these warriors who had also survived countless battles, but it resonated with them, silencing the scene instantly.

Seeing that the warriors’ faces were filled with defiance, their eyes hidden with suspicion and ridicule, Fatty angrily said, ”Don’t think you’re some elite. In my eyes, you’re just a bunch of disrespectful fools! An unorganized and undisciplined rabble. With cowards like you, you think you can become heroes, pioneers for your clan?”

”Pah!” Fatty spat on the ground fiercely.

The Freedom Fighters, who had been restraining themselves out of respect for Russell’s students, couldn’t hold back any longer. A platoon leader stepped out of the ranks and angrily said, ”Who do you think you are? What right do you have to criticize us?”

The crowd erupted, shouting, ”Fatty, he’s just a fatty.”

”Fatty, Fatty!”

”Look at his belly, it must be filled with straw.”

Tian Xingjian looked around with a sneer and said coldly, ”Hit a sore spot, didn’t I? Feeling unconvinced? Good. At least you still have some manliness. Don’t underestimate Fatty. Even if I gained another circle of fat, dealing with you so-called elites would still be easy.”

The platoon leader who had stepped out was about to speak, but Fatty glared and said, ”Get back. Don’t you know what discipline is? Who told you to step out?”

The platoon leader was embarrassed but then stiffened his neck and said, ”Don’t bully us just because you have authority. You’ll see no one showing off after you beat me!”

Fatty sneered, ”You think you can stop me from showing off? Don’t talk crap. You’re not worthy!” He then turned and pointed at the assembled Freedom Fighters and said, ”Pick your fights yourself! One-on-ten, one-on-twenty, I’ll take you all on! Don’t bother coming out one by one. I don’t have the energy for that.”

In an instant, not only did the Freedom Fighters in the center of the playground make a commotion, but even those standing by the side and in the corridors joined in. This Fatty was too arrogant.

Almost simultaneously, all the Freedom Fighters took a step forward, looking to step out and challenge. Fatty crossed his arms and sneered, ”Got guts, huh? Why not call out a few more people?”

The Freedom Fighters exchanged angry glances. These long-time comrades knew exactly who was strong, and the weaker warriors quietly stepped back. With the formation dissipating, at least thirty warriors remained in the field, none willing to give up their chance to challenge.

The crowd around them became silent once again, including the three guides. Everyone was staring at Fatty, waiting to see how he would choose his opponents. In their view, it didn’t matter if there were thirty or just one; this white and fat fellow was going to be beaten to a pulp.

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Vote, vote, crazily calling for votes!! The final crucial sprint, third place!

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