The Universe is Innately Just - Chapter 148 Bond Breaking Part Four

The moment the pair of masked figures left through the window, the rest of the crew regained their senses as their inner panic disappeared. They looked at each other with a pair of eyes filled with confusion and bewilderment. They still didn’t understand whatever had just happened. They knew that their boss had disassembled their crew, but they didn’t receive any explanation, nor did they get an answer about who was the masked figure following Joe.

They stood in place for a minute or two. The hotel that had faced a battlefield turned into a gloomy environment. Finally, they began moving as they took the stairway and begun descending through the several floors before leaving. After what happened, they felt lost and didn’t think about the treasury as their minds were still shaken by the unexpected events. The one who showed dissatisfaction couldn’t help but empty his frustration, and as he descended, he insulted his old boss and spouted infamy and curses one after the other. The others were too tired and wasted by the feeling of betrayal after the departure from their boss. Even Richard only looked at the man twice before shaking his head and ignored him for the rest of the trip.

“How dare he treat us like disposable trash? That fucking bastard only knows how to use people, and we’ve been used like the rest of Filthy Jade Palace!” he kicked rubbles as he advanced. His eyes glowed from anger, and the temperature of his body spiked as his speech accelerated. He was fuming, and all of the anger and jealousy he had towards their boss was released in one go. “Why is there no one speaking? I am the only one who feels like we just go fucked?”.

“We fought with him for years, and the only thing we get is a thanks?”

“Fuck him, and F-“, his speech stopped suddenly. Confusion appeared on the face of two men that walked in front of him; he had been flapping his lips ever since Joe had left. They had been hoping that he would shut his mouth, and even thought about putting a bullet through his skull. However, they managed to stop themselves as too much blood had been spilled that night. But now that he had stopped speaking, they couldn’t help but find it odd and turned around to check why he suddenly stopped in his angry bravado.

Their hearts sank in their chest the moment they turned around and saw the scene behind them. There was no one, no trace of their comrades who had been incessantly ranting. The only thing that could be seen was a wall painted red, droplets of a red substance fell on the floor in a rhythmic tone and awakened them from their stupor. Both of them could have sworn that they hadn’t fought in this compartment of the building, especially when the walls of the corridor they walked through were white. Completely different from the red walls close to where the ranting man was.

Both of them looked at each other before the pair decided that they should just ignore whatever happened. They were alive, and their ears were finally safe from the constant rant; that was what mattered, and that was enough for them. Joe’s past subordinates left the hotel that was used as Filthy Jade Palace’s general quarters. They stood in the empty streets; most of them still didn’t shave off the aftertaste of what had just happened. After what seemed like a few minutes of bitter silence, Richard finally stepped in and exclaimed loudly.

“It’s useless to stand here while reminiscing about the past and doubting about the future! What can’t be changed never will. Follow me, brothers, let’s go drink ourselves to death tonight!”, as he finished his speech, he turned around and started walking in a straight line, without waiting for anyone. A few of them followed him, and Joe’s ancient crew was separated even more as everyone went their own way.

That was the last time most of the crew would meet each other inside of the Core. Whether they lived through the future calamity or died, it all depended on their destiny and will to survive. But that was a story for an other time. One that would reveal to be much closer than what the inhabitants of the city thought. The citizens of the main district still lived in their robotic routine; those who worked kept working every day while those who owned the businesses continued their blissful life of luxury. That was the sad fate of the city, one where money was the main goal of everyone, yet still couldn’t bring happiness in one’s life. That fact was well known throughout the higher classes and especially the noble families. Although their children grew in a safe haven where every single desire could be met, they still put a major emphasis on developing their seedlings, and that was even more a reality with the emergence of the cultivation era.

Sadly, cultivation was a luxury that wasn’t easily accessed by the poor, and even if they came upon a cultivation technique, it would only augment their life expectancy by a sliver. It would definitely never grant them super strength or make them break through the shackle of mortality. This was a sad reality of the city, one that still didn’t adapt to the growing cultivation era. Thankfully, a few opportunities existed, Battle League being one of them, and that made it possible for the majority to get a taste of acquiring prowess akin to a cultivator.

Wind was currently advancing towards the battle center of New Casablanca. He hummed a happy tune as he walked in the empty roads of the central district, and his mood made him feel as if nothing could ruin his day. He had just finished dating the cute receptionist of the Golden Factory and had decided that today was a good day for his debut in Battle League.