Counterfeit Hero

Hearing the second call of ”Bandit Army requesting passage,” Folman jumped up as if pricked by a needle, and rushed downstairs in big strides. If he still held onto some hope before seeing the Bandit Army Mecha, now, he had completely given up any thoughts of resistance.

A lifetime of cunning and scheming, how could Folman not see the murderous intent of these Mechas? Without saying anything else, just by looking at their stance and formation, he could tell this was a well-trained elite force, absolutely not something his gangsters, who stood like crooked pines and sat like alarm clocks, could withstand.

The defensive line at the intersection had fallen into a dead silence.

The Bandit Army Mecha were silent and restrained, while the armed forces of the Kasi Youth Party trembled silently.

When the third cold call of ”Bandit Army requesting passage” echoed, Folman finally arrived at the frontline, gasping for breath.

”Make way! Make way!” Folman waved his hand frantically.

With a swish, the already unsteady armed members of the Youth Party immediately opened the barricade, dropped their weapons, and stood to the side of the road. A few timid ones even raised their hands high, their eyes filled with innocence, fearful of accidentally provoking the Bandit Army.

”Move out!”

With Fatty’s order, the Sharp Blade Company immediately advanced in units, storming into the Kasi Youth Party’s defense zone. Some continued to push deeper into the defense, while others took control of all the stragglers by the roadside.

Seeing these ferocious steel monsters charge into the defense zone, everyone, including Folman, raised their hands, their eyes filled with desperate innocence, indicating they had no intention of resisting. You don’t hit a smiling face. We made way, so the lords piloting these Mechas should show some honor, right?

”Heng Dao” stopped in front of Folman, the hydraulic arm opening the cockpit cover. Fatty squinted at Folman up and down, his face full of anger.

Folman’s stiff face couldn’t decide between crying or laughing as he cautiously said, ”Officer, I’ve already given the order to let you pass! The Kasi Youth Party has no conflicts with the Bandit Army, from here to Silicon Valley North District, as long as it’s Kasi Youth Party territory, it’s wide open for you.”

Feeling uneasy under Fatty’s gaze, Folman changed the subject, ”But, North Second District isn’t under our control, it’s held by a small mercenary group. I’m afraid those guys won’t be sensible.” He said ingratiatingly, ”Shall I send someone to help?”

Fatty shook his head like a rattle.

”Then...” Folman turned to look at the Mechas that controlled the entire block, feeling anxious. Didn’t they say that once we moved the defenses aside, they wouldn’t linger? Why aren’t they leaving?

”We’ve reached our destination. We’re not going anywhere else,” Fatty’s mischievous voice sounded like a thunderclap in Folman’s ear!

”Here...how can it be here?” Folman felt a chill all over. The naive-looking Fatty now seemed like a devil waving a pitchfork and shaking a triangular tail. He stammered, ”Brother, we have no past grievances or recent grudges, we don’t interfere with each other. This...”

Folman felt deep remorse. If he had known the Bandit Army came to seize his territory, he should have either fled with his men or fought to the death! Who knew he’d be deceived by the Bandit Army’s initial actions, and now his life was in their hands!

Now, not only was resistance hopeless, even dying had to be permitted by them!

”You’re not honorable!” Folman’s eyes welled up with tears of grievance.

”Who says I’m not honorable?” Fatty retorted!

”You said you wanted passage. We cleared the way, and now you don’t leave. We have no grudges, what is this supposed to mean?” Folman shouted.

”Exactly,” Fatty said more assertively, his voice louder than Folman’s. ”We said we needed passage to enter here, we never said we’d leave from here!”

Men are at the mercy of others, Folman realized arguing with this Fatty was like a scholar meeting a soldier, reasoning was impossible. The stance Fatty took was no different from the opening moves of a shrew’s quarrel.

”What do your troops intend to do?” Folman asked helplessly.

”We came to retrieve some people from Silicon Valley 3rd District under your control!” Fatty checked his watch and said casually, ”I want to take everyone from the Black Devil Studio.”

”Retrieve people?” Hearing it wasn’t about exterminating them, Folman let out a sigh of relief. But as he thought of the 3rd District, he suddenly jumped up like a monkey with its tail on fire! That district was controlled by that damn Kolev, who was currently under his orders to sweep through the area! He’d heard that several studio members had already been killed.

”I’ll take you there!” Folman said quickly.

****************************************************************

”I told you all long ago, one should know contentment!” Kolev pointed the muzzle at a staff member standing dumbfounded on the side and pulled the trigger.

With a bang, a big hole appeared in the staff member’s chest. The middle-aged man stared dumbfounded at his chest, then fell backward. Thick, bright red blood slowly flowed from beneath him, spreading across the anti-static floor.

”When given time, you should learn to be grateful!” Kolev grinned menacingly, turning the gun on to the next person, ”But unfortunately, you’ve lost your last chance. If you want to learn gratitude, that will have to wait until the next life!”

The scientists stared blankly at their fallen companion. Just minutes ago, this companion was standing in front of them talking, but now, he had become a lifeless corpse.