The alley was filled with a damp and cold stench, and clotheslines and coarse clothes were swaying. Joseph Daly was hiding on the balcony of the second floor, with the muzzle of his rifle passing through the gaps in the debris pile, vigilantly monitoring possible

Arriving enemies.

He exhaled a breath of cold air, and his vision began to dim. He was terribly thirsty, and the burning thirst spread in his throat.

Joseph suddenly wanted to have a drink.

I'm too old and too tired. Maybe just a little alcohol to warm me up can cheer me up again.

No, no. He told himself, you are different from the past, Joseph. Just like this gun.

He fondled this new rifle with rare care. When Corporal Daly was still young, to load ammunition, he had to bite open the oil paper bag, pour the bullets and gunpowder into it, and then compact it with a purge rod to complete a firing.

At that time, his back was as straight as a bamboo pole, he had piercing brown eyes, thick black curly hair, and a neat and masculine beard.

But fate played a bad joke on him, and the former Corporal Dally became the homeless man Joseph.

It's like a sugar cane that has been squeezed out and thrown as garbage on the roadside, he thought to himself.

Until Colonel Haken found him——

Clatter. A golden pound fell into the broken porcelain cup. He had never heard such a sound before.

"You have cuts on your face, veteran. What did they do to you?"

"I brought it upon myself, breaking the law and stealing the bread," he replied.

"That's their law, not ours." Colonel Haken replied.

"...This country is extremely rich, but it is unwilling to give out a copper coin to support the soldiers who have sacrificed everything for it. Since its glory has nothing to do with us, why should we abide by their laws?"

So the colonel gave him a gun and a reason to fight again:

Every soldier who was betrayed should be compensated. What Joseph had to do was to take the other four brothers to cause some chaos in the city and distract the police.

Taking advantage of the chaos in Silvermist City, Colonel Haken would bring the most reliable men to rob the Royal Mint. By the time the cops figured out what had happened, they would have gone far away with the gold bars.

As long as this vote is completed, veterans like them can stay away from this continent and go to the new world to spend their remaining years in peace.

Warm islands, dream-blue waters, beautiful sunsets and palm trees, endless rum and the rest of your life...

He closed his eyes and enjoyed the beautiful fantasy.

Suddenly, one hand covered his mouth from behind, and the other hand grabbed his right arm, making the veteran unable to make even the slightest sound or pull the trigger to alert his teammates.

Completely suppressed. He was terrified, but at a loss.

"Shh...Mr. Daly, I want to talk to you alone."

A familiar voice sounded in his ears, and Joseph was stunned.

And the hands holding him on the opposite side slowly released, and when he turned around, he saw a young face, dark eyes, and that familiar hat...

Edgar Waikolo.

But, why does he appear here?

"Are you...an agent of the Divine Bureau?"

The other party nodded.

Oh, I didn't expect that the young man who saved me this morning turned out to be a crow.

Destiny...how long will you continue to tease this bad old man like me?

"What are you doing here with a gun in your hand?" the young man asked.

"Someone hired me to rob a drug store." The veteran argued.

"But the drug store did not lose any property. Please tell me, what is the real goal of Colonel Corus Haken?"

He knows what we are doing. Joseph sighed sadly.

"I won't say it. Just do it, kid, and let me die with dignity."

He puffed up his chest, closed his eyes and just wanted to die.

"What if I'm here to help you?"

"Help us?"

What on earth is this young man talking about?

"This is a suicide operation. Your colonel underestimated the security force in this city. The Bureau of Detention still has an emergency response force in its hands. Once it is delayed, the garrison and the agents who come to support will block all your areas.

As for the escape route, the Royal Society's aerial gunship will arrive in thirty minutes at most. No matter where your goal is, you are destined to fail."

"So what, we already have nothing. Failure can't take anything away from us."

"A lot of people are going to die, Mr. Daly. Dutiful people, innocent citizens, your comrades, and Colonel Harken. Do you think he will surrender?"

I'm afraid never. He will fight until the last moment and bleed out.

Corporal Daly closed his eyes in pain.

"There is still room for redemption. I will find a way to ensure that Colonel Haken and your brothers do not go to the gallows... as long as they have not committed an irreparable crime. But before that, I must know his goal

Where is it."

"Will you believe me, Mr. Joseph Daly?"

…

In the mint, the hostages were neatly tied in a row. They knelt in the corner, trembling and praying in low voices.

Fortunately, no one dared to resist in front of the veterans who were armed with live ammunition, otherwise Colonel Haken would definitely open fire to show his authority.

Maybe I shouldn't be here. Dr. Rowan lowered his head and covered his face more tightly with the mask. But what could he do? Colonel Haken once saved his life, and he would eventually repay it.

"Colonel, what should I do with the treasury door?" A veteran came forward and asked.

The cold steel door tightly sealed the gold bars inside, like an unbreakable bunker.

"Which of you holds the key?" the colonel asked in a low voice, and the crowd fell silent.

"I'll count to three. As long as no one speaks, someone will take the shot."

He held out three fingers.

"three."

Most of these people were simply dressed, and they were obviously just minting workers. Perhaps the person who really held the key was not here. Rowan knew that such people would only come once or twice a week.

"two."

"Colonel..." Rowan finally couldn't help himself and said in a low voice.
Chapter completed!