Super Soldier in the City

Andrew shouted angrily, "That’s not what I’m asking, I’m asking about Owen. Was he killed by someone you sent?"

"Owen?" Babua seemed a little more awake, he instinctively shook his head and said, "How could Owen be killed by me... Owen... What, you say Owen is dead?"

"Nonsense, and he was murdered, shot in the head!" Andrew said.

"Impossible, Owen was very skilled, even the strongest among my disciples. How did he die?" Babua’s eyes showed a hint of panic as he repeatedly asked.

"Babua!" Mus, who had been silent in the back, walked over, his eyes sharply fixed on Babua, and said, "We’ve known each other for many years. I advise you to honestly admit it, stop creating bloodshed!"

"Me, creating bloodshed?" Babua pushed Andrew away with his hand, shouting, "Me, creating bloodshed? My disciple was killed, and you’re asking me not to create bloodshed? Mus, Andrew, can you see? If you can, open your eyes wide and see clearly, it’s my people who were killed..."

"Your people were killed, but that doesn’t mean you’re not suspicious. On the contrary, you’re the prime suspect. Don’t think that Owen’s death will break the trail, Babua, at tomorrow’s Elder’s Council, I will propose to the Elders to exercise their right to expel you from the Elder’s Court and put you on trial!" Mus said harshly.

"You want to put me on trial?" Babua pointed to his own nose, breath reeking of alcohol, face contorted, and shouted, "On what grounds do you judge me? Just because I sent people to protect the Saintess’ subordinates? Just because someone wants to kill the Saintess, you question me for this? That Owen is my disciple, also one of the closest to me,..."

"Enough, Babua!" Andisto, who had unknowingly entered the room, couldn’t help but reprimand upon hearing Babua’s clamor. His face was very unpleasant. These past few days had been a torment; right after discovering Owen’s body, someone rushed over to report to him.

"Andisto, I will shout because you teamed up to slander me, why can’t I shout!" Babua, eyes red and breathing rapidly, glared at the few people in front of him.

Andisto let out a heavy hum and said, "All evidence points to you. It’s no use denying it unless you can provide evidence right now that shows someone else did it, not you!"

Andisto left one thing unsaid — almost all elders have their own private forces, even though they belong to the Holy War Organization. People like Owen are Babua’s disciples, his private force, hard for other elders to mobilize. Looking at Owen’s past, he was very loyal to Babua, even refuting other elders for Babua’s sake. Conversely, Babua was also good to Owen, valuing subordinate forces greatly — who wouldn’t guard their own assets?

With no argument left, Babua, who initially wanted to make a commotion, seemed suddenly struck silent, staring vacantly at the crowd. He murmured, "What can I do to prove it, the one dead is my subordinate, it could be a silencing act, and if more evidence comes up proving he was assigned by me, I’m even more helpless... Forget it, leave, Andisto, how many years have we known each other, I’ve done a lot of things, but I know there are some things I shouldn’t do!"

Andisto glanced at the others and said, "Mus, Andrew, you two go back first, I want to have a word with Babua."

"Alright, I’m leaving then!" Mus nodded, and Andrew, wearing a complex expression, looked at Babua and said, "Elder, forget it, I have nothing more to say."

The events here were quickly known by the Saintess. The Holy War Organization’s headquarters was vast, each a private territory, living far apart, especially the Saintess’ residence was relatively independent. However, with intent, events would quickly become known. After listening to the process, the Saintess smiled and muttered to herself, "The ancient saying from Huaxia is right: ’one’s own misdeed leads to one’s demise’..."

No one knew what Andisto and Babua talked about, as there were no third parties present at the time. However, after that night, at the next day’s Elder’s Council, Babua no longer clamored, and of course, didn’t show weakness either. He just couldn’t provide evidence, and his subordinates couldn’t help. So-called ’when the tree falls, the monkeys scatter,’ he hadn’t fallen yet, but those subordinates were preparing new paths. The Holy War Organization hadn’t seen an abnormal loss of an elder in many years, so many people had forgotten the ruthlessness of internal strife, should Babua fall, many others would quickly meet misfortune.

Babua didn’t confess but rather realized something, which was something Andisto pointed out to him last night. Once everyone left, Babua sobered up, looked at Andisto with clear eyes, and Andisto prompted him: if it really wasn’t you, someone is framing you, the more helpless and panicked you are, the happier they are. Conversely, if it was you, no amount of noise will help.

So today Babua was very reserved, quietly making it hard to read, with his head down, saying nothing. Andrew publicly shared last night’s findings, while Mus presented new evidence, which on top of existing information on Babua and Owen, included new proof showing the gun used to kill Owen had been found. It was on another person who also died yesterday at dawn, upon which the gunshot stirred the surroundings, people rushed there only to find the man had shattered his own temple, beyond dead.

"Deaths are nothing new; many die each year, but this corpse... was one of your people, and he saw you yesterday." Mus said, turning to Babua, opening a box to reveal a Desert Eagle, adorned with gold, exquisite but stained with blood. As Babua’s face drastically changed, Mus continued: "Babua, you should know who this person is by now, right?"

"No way, no way!" Babua shook his head repeatedly. He originally wanted to remain silent, but upon seeing this evidence, he couldn’t hold back anymore! 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

"There’s no wall without cracks in this world, and no secret is airtight unless you haven’t done it. First, it was that general, then your disciple Owen, and now another disciple. I think his name is... oh, Zambis, that’s the name, also a favored disciple of yours!"

"Impossible, Zambis could never do such a thing, and he couldn’t have killed Owen either!" Babua said, suddenly lifting his head, his eyes showing a blood-red shade, shouting: "It’s you guys! Someone among you is framing me! Although my relationship with the Saintess is average, I would never kill her, I have no motive to do so!"

"Babua, this gun was given to Zambis by you, and this has been confirmed by his last words, which is why you reacted so strongly upon seeing this gun." Mus dealt another verbal blow.

Babua’s body trembled, subconsciously asking, "Last words?"

"Yes, the last words, written by your disciple Zambis, half an hour before his suicide," Mus replied.

There was a murmur among the surrounding people. Initially, many didn’t believe Babua could do such a thing, but with days passing, most leaned towards the idea that he orchestrated the plot to murder the Saintess, arranging for his disciples to use drones and missiles to kill them both during the Saintess’ duel with Golden Eagle. In such circumstances, the speed of a missile would leave little time to react.

"Even if he committed suicide, what does that have to do with me? He came by yesterday, but only to deliver food, with no extra conversation, and it wasn’t just him. I have other witnesses for this!" Babua said.

Mus shook his head, glanced at the crowd, and said, "Indeed, he didn’t say much with you yesterday. His last words mentioned this!"

"Mus, read the last words!" Andisto, who had been silent until now, spoke.

"Yes!" Mus motioned, taking out Zambis’ last words. The hall suddenly fell silent; everyone was waiting for the content, many feeling that these last words would likely become key evidence of Babua’s crime.

"I am Zambis; I decided to end my life after writing this will. I do not regret my decision, but I regret something I have done before."

"This matter is... obeying Elder Babua’s orders to conspire against the Saintess with Owen. I can’t believe how ignorant and mad I was back then. Like Owen, after doing that, I was full of regret and self-hatred, suffering every sleepless night."

The last words read halfway, already being brief. As the line about following Babua’s orders was read, everyone in the hall showed signs of shock; if this will were true, Zambis would be the most compelling witness proving Babua’s order to kill the Saintess.

"No, Zambis is lying, he’s lying!" Babua immediately defended himself, but his shouting had few believers. Andrew stepped forward, his broad frame blocking Babua, signaling Mus to continue.

"Upon finding out the Saintess survived, I was enormously relieved, but I know my sins are unforgivable. As a devout believer, I remained steadfast in my faith, yet I had attempted against the divine emissary, the Saintess. I couldn’t face her anymore, and when she returned, from just a glimpse, I was filled with horror, knowing God was watching me, and he would reveal everything to the Saintess!"