"What??"


    Wang Yong was shocked. He cannot believe it.


    "There has to be a mistake, A Ying wouldn''t—"


    "No, boy. It was not a mistake." Aiman cut in. "According to the multiple sources that we gathered so far, she crossed the border checkpoint using a false identity and managed to get out. We are almost certain she''s connected to Gambit."


    "Almost?? So it is not confirmed yet?"


    "Yeah, it is not confirmed yet. But we know about your activities around that girl, including stealing something from that girl''s client. Our investigation revealed that her client is the Gambit leader. Her name was Valerie. And trust me, kid, if that woman is involved, there is a high chance that your friend has joined them."


    "No way…."


    "And now, there is a discussion about whether we have to place the bounty in her head. But until we confirm that, your girlfriend is safe. Yet"


    And Wang Yong still couldn''t believe what he was hearing. A few days ago, he and Shi Ying were playing in the street, and now, she has the potential to be branded as a terrorist.


    And this situation didn''t make sense to Wang Yong. So Wang Yong made his choice.


    "I have to find her." Wang Yong immediately gets off the bed and prepares to leave the room.


    Aiman grabbed Wang Yong''s hand, "No, boy. Listen, when I said you can''t go, means that you can''t go."


    "LET ME GOO!!"


    His sudden outburst shocked everyone in the room.


    Wang Yong tried to break free from Aiman''s grip, but it is no use. He then made an attempt to run, hoping to break free again from Aiman''s grip.


    And he cannot. Because it was useless to begin with.


    "Boy, stop it!! You are in no condition to run!!!" Lisa approached Wang Yong with a concerned expression.


    Jun Sang also joins the effort of putting a stop to him.


    "They are right. You need to stay put. Your wounds are too deep, and there is a chance they will reopen if you do more activities. I suggest you stop now."


    And Wang Yong didn''t listen.


    "WHAT DOES IT MATTER? I''ve got nothing left anyway! My mom wouldn''t even look at me, even WHEN I WAS BORN. WHY SHOULD I CARE FOR IT NOW?? AND WHY SHOULD YOU GUYS CARE???? YOU GUYS ARE THE REASON WHY I AM LIKE THIS RIGHT NOW!!!!!"


    He looks at Aiman, who looks irritated. Wang Yong pointed his face. Specifically, his left eye.


    "Look at me!! Your friend did this to me!! No!! YOU GUYS DID THIS TO ME!!! TO HELL WITH YOUR GRANDIOUS PLAN OF SAVING ME!!! ALL YOUR PLAN DID WAS TO MAKE ALL OF THE PEOPLE OUT THERE HATE ME. WHY SHOULD I CARE FOR MYSELF IF NO ONE CARES ABOUT ME?? WHY SHOULD I PROTECT THE PEOPLE IF THEY JUST HATE ME AT ALL???? WHY SHOU—"


    Aiman punched Wang Yong''s face, and Wang Yong fall to the ground. And the same time, Aiman releases his grip on Wang Yong''s hand.


    And now Wang Yong is free, but he was now stunned on the ground.


    Lisa and Jun Sang were also stunned. Both also rush forward to help Wang Yong get up.


    Aiman, on the other hand, looks angry at Wang Yong. Even when Wang Yong get up with the help of Lisa and Jun Sang, he still didn''t even move a step. His eyes were still staring at Wang Yong.


    "Are you done?" Aiman finally speaks. "Are you done being an irresponsible kid? Did you think that because your life isn''t fair, you can just go act like you please, declare that you have the right to blame us for your misfortune?? Well, here''s the truth for you, boy. The world is unfair at the start."


    Aiman halt his speech while Wang Yong continued to glare at him, but he began to waver. Aiman noticed it and continued.


    "Let me tell you, once again, boy. The world IS unfair. It''s cruel. It takes things from you without asking. You remember that you are being treated harshly, right? Well, congratulations. You just won a lottery, experiencing how the world truly works. If you want to help people and change the world, you better accept that fact fast. Helping people and becoming a hero means facing reality, no matter how harsh it is, he stands by proudly and tackles it head-on, not running away from it."


    Lisa tried to butt in. "Captain, stop it."


    But Wang Yong finally wavered, he was silent.


    "I''ll leave you alone. You better behave and think carefully about what I said. Everyone, out!!" Aiman then exits the room.


    Jun Sang and Lisa guided Wang Yong back onto the hospital bed and followed Aiman out of the room. Wang Yonf was left alone, with his mood sinking in, and began to cry silently.


    Stolen story; please report.


    <hr>


    "Captain, that was harsh." Lisa approached Aiman in the hospital hallway. "He''s just fourteen—."


    "A fourteen-year-old who happened to lose everything. He didn''t have any choice except to accept that fact. Lisa." Aiman stopped walking and looked at Lisa. "His girlfriend, that Shi Ying girl, she''s the same age as him, yet she was able to make a decision that almost us adults can''t think of. She knows we will pursue her if she remains in the city, and that''s why she left this country."


    "But still, you cannot compare her to Wang Yong."


    "Lisa, I cannot afford to let Wang Yong follow the same step his girlfriend took. And he was ready to disregard his safety. He was controlled by his emotions alone. That''s exactly why I needed to step in. To beat some sense into him. Which is precisely why he needs guidance now more than ever."


    Lisa stayed silent, unsure whether to speak or not.


    "Speaking of guidance, I have to be careful to not make—"


    "Hi, hi, captain." Kenji and Amabella show up from the corner and approach the group.


    "—one wrong turn or that boy may end up like these clowns."


    Lisa and Jun Sang turned their face at Kenji and Amabella, who were both dressed up like clowns as a punishment.


    "AHAHAHAHA". Lisa burst into laughter.


    Jun Sang tried to suppress it but ended up laughing a little.


    Even Aiman began to smile. "How do you like my punishment, folks?"


    "This is fcking embarrassing." Amabella''s resting bitch face made her clown makeup even more iconic. "I look fcking stupid in it. All because of this clown right there." Amabella pointed a finger at Kenji. "If he''d just followed my plan, I would not be a clown today."


    "Oh, come on. Your plan was boring and useless," Kenji also complained.


    "Captain." Amabella faces Aiman. "Explain to me why I have to be paired with this sword motherf*cker."


    "It''s because you guys didn''t get along, that is why I keep pairing you guys until you learn the word teamwork, Bella."


    "Yeah, captain. But if he doesn''t follow my plan, how am I supposed to work with him??"


    "Work with him. Bella. Surely you can also do better in controlling him next time. If not, you will have to do it again!!"


    Amabella is defeated. She sighs.


    "Fine." She looks grumpy.


    "Ohh~~ my little shorty is defeated~~~ here. Let me dance for you to cheer up~~~" Kenji then did the dance clown.


    Normally, Amabella smiles a little for the clown, despite her hard demeanor, but now, since she is a clown that is being punished, the situation itself leads her to be very, very angry.


    So she proceeded to kick Kenji''s crotch.


    "AAUUUUGGHHHHHH!!!!"


    It is super effective.


    "AHHHH, YOU LITTLE PIECE OF SH*T!!!! I''LL FUCKING KILL Y—"


    "ENOUGH!!!!!" Aiman''s voice is louder than those two, and all of the hospital hallway can hear them, too. They all look at the Aiman right now.


    Aiman bowed deeply while giving the kindest face he had ever given to the audience in the hallway. "My apologies for that. Please continue with your duties."


    The audience in the hallway continued their activities, with their eyes still glued to Aiman. And also the two clowns.


    To change the topic, Lisa suggested something.


    "You know, Kenji, you should apologize to Wang Yong while wearing that makeup."


    "What~~? No way-"


    "Excellent idea," Aiman nodded.


    "Captain, it is not a good idea~~"


    "No, no, it IS an excellent idea. I approved." Amabella smiles slyly. Completely agree to the plan on the spot.


    "It is 4 against 1. Right, Jun Sang??" Lisa gave a non-too-subtle wink.


    Jun Sang nodded. "Indeed, Kenji. It is advisable to apologize to the boy right now."


    Kenji feels defeated. "Fine. I will apologize."


    "Good. Though not right now," Aiman added. "That boy needs time to cool off."


    "How is that boy doing anyway~~~?"


    "He''s struggling, thanks to you."


    "Oh, captain. You don''t have to be harsh on that." Kenji sigh. "But I doubt he''ll forgive me for that."


    "Which is precisely why you need to apologize."


    "But Captain-"


    "No, but. You want to apologize or not??" Aiman gives Kenji a sharp, stern look.


    Kenji returns and holds the stare for three seconds.


    And he was no match for Aiman''s incredible aura of pressure.


    "Fine. I''ll apologize~~ but can I at least wash this ridiculous makeup off first~~~?"


    "No!!" Aiman then continues to walk off.


    "Enjoy being the clown. Ciao." Amabella follows Aiman while smirking at Kenji. "I''m gonna enjoy washing this ridiculous paint off."


    "Hey—"


    "Good luck with the apology." Lisa winked at Kenji, her pink hair bouncing as she turned to leave. "Come on, Jun Sang. Let''s go!!!"


    Lisa and Jun Sang leave Kenji alone in the hallway.


    "Ah sh*t. Here we go again~~. How am I supposed to apologize~~~?"


    Kenji walks here and there, trying to plan how to apologize in the hallway.


    <hr>


    At night, Wang Yong still sitting in bed. His wound sometimes ached, especially in his left eye. But he paid no mind to it.


    He was thinking of Shi Ying, and he was also thinking of his fate.


    The door slides open, revealing Kenji. Wearing a suit, bringing a flower. He looks like he is ready to get a date.


    Except he wasn''t. It was a hospital, after all. And he was still in his clown makeup.


    He also brought a stuffed teddy bear with an ACP uniform in there as well.


    He looks at Wang Yong and smiles awkwardly.


    Wang Yong stared at him blankly, before starting to ignore him.


    Both of them enter the silent contest. And Kenji lost.


    "Hello, pretty boy~~~ Here is the yellow rose flower just for you~~ And say hello to Teddy the teddy bear~~ You know him, right?? A big, fluffy teddy—"


    "What do you want?" Wang Yong''s cut Kenji off.


    "Aww, don''t give me that attitude~" Kenji put his gift on the table near WAng Yong''s bed. "Don''t learn from Captain, boy~~ I hate how he has the habit of cutting off the conversation~ Oh, btw, do you want me to place the flower in the—?"


    "I don''t need them." Wang Yong lies down and covered himself in the blanket. "Begone. I don''t want to see you."


    "Okay~~~ but I am here to apologize. Will you—"


    "APOLOGIZE?" Wang Yong suddenly gets up to his feet, and his expression is furious, all toward Kenji. "IT''S TOO LATE FOR THAT!!! YOU THINK YOU CAN JUST WALK IN HERE WITH STUPID FLOWERS AND STUPID BEAR AND EXPECT ME TO FORGIVE YOU??? NEVER!!!!!"


    Wang Yong pointed at his left eye. "YOU WANT ME TO FORGIVE YOU??? THEN GIVE ME BACK MY EYE?"


    "I-"


    "GIVE ME MY LIFE!!!" GIVE ME MY EVERYTHING!!!! GIVE ME MY MOTHER LOVE!!!! GIVE ME BACK A YING!!!!!"


    Kenji remains silent.


    "You can''t, huh??? Let me tell you why. YOU ARE CRAZY, LUNATIC, AND A F*CKING HYPOCRITE!!! ALL OF YOU ARE. So don''t stand there pretending you can make it better. BECAUSE YOU CAN''T GIVE ME WHAT I WANT!!!!!"


    Kenji sigh. He then summoned his Kusanagi sword.


    "Listen, kid." Kenji''s voice turns serious. "I cannot undo what''s been done, but I can pay the price" Kenji give Wang Yong his sword. "Take my eye. Slash it. I won''t blame you. I encourage you to do it!!"


    Wang Yong stared at the offered weapon, He was shocked.


    "What?? Are you serious?"


    "I uphold my honor. This is my way of living, boy." Kenji closed his eyes. "Take it. Make it even."


    Wang Yong''s hands reach for the sword. It is heavy, and the sword looks sharp.


    He looks at Kenji. And Wang Yong has conflicted feeling about it.


    But he was the one who injured his eye and now Wang Yong was officially partially blind.


    So he raised it slowly to the top. He was preparing to slash it.


    "Come on, boy. Do it."


    Wang Yong''s hands trembled harder as he held the sword.<figure></figure>