Steampunk Era: Mad Abield
Chapter 143: Lesson One Hundred and Fourteen: Reality

Chapter 143: Lesson One Hundred and Fourteen: Reality

After hearing the gnome’s story, Malin felt a pang of sadness—from a man’s perspective, he didn’t think the gnome deserved to die. Everything he did was for his child and wife, to save some money for his child even if he couldn’t return home.

But from the perspective of a former soldier, if he could abandon his comrades today, what about the future?

No one would dare trust him again, no one would entrust their life to a coward.

And his joining the Robber Group only added to his crimes.

He had been close to that individual who turned into Chaos, and it was possible he had become contaminated by it. Malin had to perform a Purification on the entire camp because of this, which consumed a considerable amount of Spiritual Energy.

"What do you plan to do with this fellow?" Faye asked Malin. For her, the deserter could not escape death, and although she was moved by his love for his child, it could not make up for the punishment he deserved as a deserter.

The Sydney Union paid every infantryman a salary, and it was not meant for them to run away with it.

"How does the Sydney Union deal with deserters?" Malin asked.

"The deserter’s entire family is hanged," Faye answered, then sighed, "I’m very troubled because my conscience tells me I shouldn’t do this, but my identity tells me I can’t show mercy outside the law, or else every deserter will look to me for a plea."

Malin thought for a moment, then looked at Faye: "Can you trust me?"

"Of course, Malin. If I can’t trust even you, then who in this world can I trust?" Faye replied as she looked at Malin.

Malin then took Faye’s .357 Revolver from her waist, walked over to the gnome: "Joe."

"Yes, sir," the gnome knelt there, looking up at Malin: "How do you plan... to kill me and my family?"

Malin popped out the cylinder of the Revolver, checking that it was loaded with bullets: "You must die, Joe."

"I know, sir. From the moment I fled the defense line and then came to my senses, I knew that this end was inevitable..." Joe’s face was filled with sadness as he looked at Malin: "I have failed the comrades who entrusted their backs to me, failed the son who saw me as a hero, and failed the mentors who raised me... If possible, please don’t hang my children and wife. Could you use poison instead?"

Malin pushed the cylinder back in place, aiming the Revolver at the gnome: "What I am about to shoot and kill here, in front of everyone, is the Robber Group’s Joe. Does anyone object?"

No one responded, Malin cocked the hammer.

"Thank you! Sir! I will forever remember your kindness!" The gnome cried out loud but smiled: "I have forty gold coins in my pocket... I was going to use it as a reward when hiring my child to run errands when I entered the city. But now there’s no need, so please take it!"

"I’ll take your forty gold coins to your child. Someday, I will make him my Apprentice. He has a father who died a hero at the northern defense line. He has every reason to earn such an honor... Does anyone object?"

No one responded again, Malin looked at the gnome: "Mr. Joe, any last words?"

"Thank you, sir. Please, shoot," the gnome straightened up, raising his head to look at Malin.

Malin pulled the trigger, then reversed the gun and handed it back to Faye.

Faye took the gun and looked at the gnome lying in a pool of blood, "I thought you would let him go at the last moment."

"Everyone has to pay for their own choices, otherwise those who died because of him would truly be too pitiable," Malin crouched down, took a wallet from the gnome’s body, glanced at the money inside, and then stuffed it into his pocket.

"Your actions make the Hammer of Justice shine bright," the small Healer in the mercenary troop saluted with her hand on her chest.

Malin gave her a glance, then smiled, "I only do what I think is right. I believe in my oath, and everyone must pay for their deeds."

Then he raised his eyebrows at the dwarf, "Old Ironfist, toss this gnome out."

"Little sir, do you need me to dig a hole for him?" asked the dwarf.

"No need, treating a robber differently will only attract curiosity and attention. Since I’ve promised that his family would not be harmed for his crimes, I cannot bring disaster upon them because of him," said Malin, turning to the mercenaries. "Everyone, please make sure you watch what you say. If I find out that anyone has betrayed me for a bounty, I will make sure they pay a bloody price. What I say, I always like to see it done."

"Little sir, if anyone betrays you, please take me with you. Your pure heart should not be sullied," the old dwarf said with a serious expression. "You say who to kill, and I, Old Ironfist, am definitely not the kind of scum who would betray a benefactor for a few dirty coins."

"No worries, Old Ironfist. In this life, how could one not be tainted with blood?"

Malin smiled and gestured to Old Ironfist to drag the gnome away, then looked at the mercenaries, "Everyone, I am the kind of person who repays kindness tenfold and seeks revenge a hundredfold. I cannot interfere with your choices, but I can tell you that opposing me will have certain outcomes."

He then drew the revolver from his waist, and a spell to detect lies spread out from his feet, "Swear, everyone."

"No matter where or when, I will never betray Mr. Malin, for I value my life quite dearly," spoke first the Half-human in leather armor in the mercenary squad, looking at Malin with a professional smile. "Besides, if you were to fire that big thing in your hand at my belly, I’m afraid it would cut me in two."

The spell to detect lies showed a large passing mark.

The Half-human chuckled and stepped aside.

Malin turned to another Half-human, "What about you, Pina? Your brother has already spoken first."

The girl pointed at herself, "Little sir, you are my employer, and I have no reason to tell the entire world about what you hired me to do. So, please rest assured, if I betray you, it’s probably because I’m tied to a torture rack."

The spell to detect lies showed a passing mark as well.

The girl didn’t move but kept her gaze on Malin.

Malin shook his head with a smile, "You passed, Pina. If things turn out like you said, I will come to save you. However, remember one thing: Since you would have betrayed me under torture, I will save you but not heal you. So you better pray that you aren’t too severely injured."

"Of course, thank you, Mr. Malin," Pina stood next to her brother.

The previous Half-human scratched his head with a hint of embarrassment, "Mr. Malin, just ignore what my sister said, she’s all bark and no bite."

"Alright, Jerry, I know. So, who’s swearing next?" Malin looked at the mercenaries.

"I will not betray you, Lord Malin..." the human rogue from the mercenary squad said, with the lie detector showing an incorrect cross symbol above his head.

The atmosphere turned awkward, Malin raised his Revolver and fired a shot, and the rogue collapsed to the ground.

The disgruntled Ol’ Ironfist, who had just disposed of the body, cursed as he walked over and grabbed the human robber’s feet to drag him outside, "I’ve always said this, Sheriff joining us halfway can’t be trusted." He looked at Malin while speaking, "Your Lordship! I would never betray you!"

Then a circle formed above the Dwarf’s head.

Malin nodded, "Drag him aside and when we contact the garrison tomorrow, report that he died in combat with the enemy," Malin said.

If you’re going to betray me, you’ll have to face my gun. Everyone has to pay the price for their choices.

So Ol’ Ironfist dragged the body away.

"And what about you two," Malin looked at the middle-aged captain and the young Healer beside him.

"I’m not foolish enough to fight against a future Prince, especially one who appears to have a heart of stone. Rest assured, Eileen and I will never betray you," the middle-aged mercenary captain received an affirmation, and the young Healer beside him nodded.

Malin was about to say something when he saw a circle jump above this man’s head as well.

Malin then turned to the Gnome who had yet to speak, "What about you?"

The Gnome hummed and hawed for a while, then looked at Malin with pleading eyes.

"What’s the matter?" Malin asked curiously, "Are you... unable to speak?"

The Gnome nodded vigorously, then opened his mouth to show his swollen and blackened tongue.

"What happened to you?" Jerry rushed over.

The Gnome made a few gestures, the Half-human looked puzzled for a moment, then turned to Malin, "This fellow was stung by a Killer Bee just after nightfall; he’s already taken an antidote."

Malin was silent for a moment, then turned to look at Fio who was silently watching, somewhat helplessly he holstered his Revolver, "Alright, everyone can go back to rest."

As he passed by Logan, the young man and Malin high-fived, "Well done, Malin."

"Malin, I and Logan will absolutely not betray you," Miriam took Logan’s arm.

"I trust you both, now go on," Malin patted Logan’s arm.

Back in his own cave, Malin began to light the small stove.

The girls also crowded around.

"Mr. Malin, aren’t you going to ask us?" Clovis’s ears, unlike usual, were not standing up but were pressed back against her head.

"Why would I ask you that?" Malin lifted his head, looking at the Bunny Girl in front of him as he lit the stove, "You believe in me, and I should trust each of you in return. So, some things don’t need questioning because loyalty is mutual. If you are willing to spend a lifetime with me, it’s only right that I trust each one of you."

The Bunny Girl pursed her lips without saying anything, but her ears stood up once again, betraying her feelings.

Jessica didn’t say anything, but the Wolf Girl was smiling happily.

Lillim squinted, helping Malin place a pot over the stove.

Maya, with her tail held high in pride, assisted her brother.

Faye sat quietly to one side until Malin noticed something was amiss with her.

"What’s wrong, Faye?" he called softly to the girl in front of him, his concern evident.

She wiped the corners of her eyes, seemingly having cried, but in that moment, the girl smiled so beautifully, showing her joy and happiness to Malin.

"I’m so happy; I used to worry a lot because people always say that first love is just a small step and a mistake in the process of growing up, that young men and women who come together will eventually part, and that there are only transactions between Nobles, and we girls, from start to finish, are just sophisticated commodities... Watching what you just did, I thought that was your true nature... But I was terribly wrong... I never imagined that I could meet the right you at the right time and place..." As she spoke, tears began to well up in the eyes of the Elf girl, "I’m crying because I’m happy."

For some reason, Malin felt as though he saw her sitting next to Faye for a moment.

Just then, Malin, smiling, got up and sat next to Faye.

"I’m happy too," he reached out and took her hand.

Feeling the warmth from the palm of her hand.

And the hot tears that fell on the back of his hand.

He withdrew his hand from hers, and under her puzzled gaze, wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

"I like seeing you smile," Malin said, "So, can you smile for me?"

Then he added, "You see, this is my true nature."

Faye looked puzzled, then annoyed, and finally laughed as she bumped her forehead against Malin’s with force.

"You bastard," she said with a laugh.

Malin grimaced, covering his forehead, laughing joyfully with the girls.