TN: Warning up head this is the worst of what i mentioned earlier mention of chi@d Gr@pe For this and the following 2 chapter after one related to the character Bowen
Leo couldn't just inject himself with some Lizardman serum and go on a rampage.
This time was different. Back when a Lizardman escaped from the biotech building, no one thought it had anything to do with mercenaries.
Why would someone with such tech even bother becoming a mercenary?
So everyone basically assumed the Lizardman came from biotech — they really did have the technology, so whether they liked it or not, the blame was on them.
In fact, even biotech's shareholders might be wondering if their CEO secretly created the Lizardman.
Since that day, Leo hadn't let out a shred of information. Even though he admitted to being the "burger King" in the city center, what did that have to do with the Lizardman?
So now that Militech had brought in the border forces, someone must've fabricated false intelligence.
The previous commander had to rely on false reports to summon the border forces, which showed that he was short on people.
Since it was fake intel, the target had to be the Lizardman, meaning it was unlikely to result in complete annihilation.
If Leo could come up with a way to deal with the border forces that didn't involve the Lizardman, he could still achieve his strategic goal — perhaps even more effectively.
Leo activated his sandevistan — running through the bombed-out area, heading into the garage. He pulled out a large box of gear and rushed towards the basement.
The Minotaur mech was strong, but without its energy cannon, it wasn't impossible to fight back — at least, it could buy him some time.
Jumping into the rubble, Leo dropped into the basement, where Cedric was still struggling to drag Jackie further in.
Leo scooped Jackie up and sprinted deeper inside.
"Cedric, stay here and keep watch. Report anything unusual to me!"
Like the wind, Leo carried Jackie into the surgery room of the Wraith, put on ripper-doctor gloves, and connected himself to the bi-monitoring equipment.
The gear was a bit outdated, but it was enough for Leo's needs.
Jackie slowly opened his eyes. "L-Leo, where are we?"
"The operating room. Listen, Jackie, didn't you want something good? I'm about to install a custom-built berserk component for you."
Leo sliced open Jackie's damaged joints, and blood, lubricant, and synthetic plasma sprayed everywhere.
Jackie, lying on the operating table, looked up at the dim light and managed a weak smile. "Well, that's awesome. But why does this feel... familiar?"
"You've been through it before. That time James Norris cut off your arm, and you bounced back. It'll be the same this time."
"Heh, you don't have to comfort me — really. V and you... you two are the brothers I trust the most."
As blood drained away, Jackie's consciousness began to fade fast.
"You too, brother... It's all in your hands now."
Cedric was moving more slowly. After days of recovery, he was starting to walk without his crutch.
Still, he couldn't help feeling bitter when he thought about how different he was now from his former self.
At least there was still something he could do.
Stay vigilant.
Most people at this moment would have thought this was unnecessary, focusing all their attention on the outside world, on militech, and the Minotaur mech.
But Cedric kept one name in his mind: Bowen.
Holding an old-fashioned revolver, Cedric carefully scanned the surgery room, checking every box and cabinet where someone could hide.
No one in the freezer.
No one in the tool chest.
No one under the bed.
After confirming again and again, he still wasn't reassured and remained on high alert.
Next came the wardrobe, the gear locker, even the trash pile—
One, two, three...
Nothing.
Finally, Cedric's gaze fell on the last unopened medicine cabinet in the cyber-doctor's surgery room —
Even though it didn't look like a place where anyone could hide.
His gun barrel gently tapped the metal door.
Creak—
Nothing.
Cedric's tension eased slightly, and he turned around—
Bowen was right in front of him, grinning, his eyes narrowing like crescent moons.
Cedric's breath caught in his throat. The scene was eerily familiar, throwing him back to the betrayal over 20 years ago.
It was like a flashback from cyber-psychosis, seeing the shadows of the past.
"Hello, old friend."
Bang!
But this wasn't a cyber-psychosis hallucination!
A massive force pierced Cedric's abdomen, crushing his organs. The pain left him speechless as his vision quickly darkened —
Just like that betrayal 30 years ago.
That same loathsome fake smile!
Cedric didn't know where the strength came from, but he grabbed Bowen's clothes and threw a punch!
Thud.
But the hit meant nothing to Bowen.
"Haha... you've really turned into a cripple? I've been hiding in the wall waiting for you, and you're a cripple now? The Butcher of the Mexican Border?!"
Bowen grabbed Cedric's hand, lifting him like a rag doll.
Cedric's vision blurred, but he never let go of the revolver, struggling to aim it—
But Bowen crushed the gun in one hand!
"Shh—don't shoot. Your friend's in the middle of surgery. Though I don't get why surgery at a time like this.
But I'm sure militech will be very interested."
Bowen easily crushed Cedric's hand, then shoved his other hand into Cedric's mouth, grabbing his tongue and jaw, and yanked hard!
Crack!
Bones, synthetic materials, and his tongue all shattered together.
Fingers blocked his windpipe, and Cedric couldn't make a sound.
The pain was overwhelming, his eyes filled with blood, breathing quickened, but he stayed conscious!
"Amazing, old friend. This time you didn't pass out. But I'd advise you to black out.
Or... do you feel guilty about betraying our people all those years ago? Feeling sorry? It's been so long — let it go."
TN: YOU CAN SKIP THE ___________
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Bowen shook his head in mock sorrow, then flashed that same irritating smile:
"I've never forgotten how fun that kid was!
He's the one who showed me how much better it is to screw a pure human kid! I'll always remember that!
No woman could ever compare to him — not even your girl. She was like a zombie in bed, totally unresponsive—
Oh, right, I forgot. She was already dead by then!
What did you say?"
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Bowen withdrew his fingers slightly, and Cedric let out a gurgling, blood-choked sound.
"Ugh—"
Then Bowen shoved his fingers back in!
"Haha, this is hilarious! The Butcher of the Mexican Border, sucking on my fingers like a dog. But I need to go deal with your friend.
As for you, if you don't want to black out like last time, just sit here and watch."
Thud.
Bowen dropped Cedric. His lungs filled with blood, leaving his already weak body even more fragile—
But somehow, Cedric found a last burst of strength, slamming his heel against the wall and kicking at Bowen's back, spitting out a mouthful of blood.
Thud.
Bowen kicked back, shattering Cedric's legs.
"I've seen that trick. That old fool Hector did it on TV. You didn't think I wouldn't be ready for it?
Goodbye, brother. Though with how weak you are now, I think this is where it ends for you."
Cedric's hand tried to grab Bowen's heel but couldn't hold on.
He was too weak now.
In his final moments, he heard voices nearby:
".You're insane!!!"
"Ahhhhhh!"
Bang! Bang! Bang—
Gunfire, the sounds of fighting, and the crashing of bodies.
Cedric could barely see anything, but he recognized that Bowen's footsteps had stopped.
Whatever happened next, it was now up to the younger ones...
But he really wished he could see that bastard Bowen get ground into paste.
(End of chapter)