Chapter 90

Sailor A: "I want to go home, I don't want to die here. I want to spend my last moments with my family!!" —— He packed his belongings and turned to leave.

Lin Youde: "Hey! Wait a moment. According to the new contract, you are now employees of the Shield Organization. If you leave, you won't get your wages or bonuses! Everything you've done so far will be for nothing!"

Sailor B: "Who cares about money now? Let those bonuses go to hell!" —— He prepared to leave as well.

Sailor C: "Are you asking us to stay and die with you? I won't go along with that!"

Sailor D: "Me neither!" —— He started to take off his equipment.

Sailor E: "I... I'm with you too." —— He also began to take off his equipment.

Under the lead of a few, more than half of the sailors started to take off their super-powered combat gear and prepare to flee.

Cheshire Cat: "This is not good, order is starting to break down..." —— He whispered.

Lin Youde: "Indeed, if this continues, the remaining people will lose their fighting spirit and become uncontrollable... (clenching his teeth) Whether you want the money is your own business, but leaving this room and laying down your weapons without orders from a superior is an act of treason. Don't blame me for being ruthless with traitors!" —— He pulled out his pistol, chambered a round, and was about to set an example by shooting a few.

Sailor D: "You! You dare!" —— He raised his half-removed super-powered combat weapon.

Sailor E: "Yeah, we outnumber you!" —— He also raised his weapon at Lin Youde.

Lin Youde: "Dare to point weapons at me? (noticing their weapons were not even safety-unlocked) Prepare yourselves, rebels, I will execute you right now! (unlocking his weapon) Everyone, watch this, this is the fate of traitors!" —— He was about to shoot the leaders as a warning, but his gun was pressed down by Gordon.

Lin Youde: "Director Gao?" —— He was surprised.

Gordon: "There's no need for that. They are already terrified by the enemy. Even if you set an example by shooting a few to keep them here, they won't fight effectively when we engage the enemy. They will only hold us back."

Cheshire Cat: "Ah?"

Sailor A: "You... You mean you're letting us go?" —— He was surprised.

Gordon: "I'm not letting you go; I can't stop you from having the idea to run and acting on it. I haven't installed mind controllers in you. However, your actions are still acts of treason, and I don't have the authority to forgive you."

I (narrator): "So lenient? No way, there must be a plot."

Sailor B: "Treason? No problem, as long as I can return to my family alive, I'll accept a few years in jail!"

Sailor C: "Yeah, I have family I can't leave behind in my hometown!"

Gordon: "As the saying goes, 'A son worries about his mother when he travels a thousand miles, but a mother worries about her son even when she travels ten thousand miles.' Wu Biao (Sailor C), you are a filial son for always thinking about your 63-year-old mother at home."

Wu Biao (Sailor C): "Thank you... (suddenly feeling uneasy) How do you know my name and that I have a 63-year-old mother? I'm just a minor sailor, Sailor C."

Gordon: "Hehehe, I know more than that. I know your mother's name is Li Lan, and your father, Wu Hu, died of cancer when you were five and a half years old. Your mother raised you single-handedly, and you are a well-known filial son in your village."

Sailor B: "Why are you saying all this? We submitted our resumes during the interview..." —— He was unconcerned.

Gordon: "Cheng Bing (Sailor B), I haven't even mentioned your sister obsession, and you're already jumping to defend yourself?" —— He interrupted Cheng Bing.

Cheng Bing (Sailor B): "You..." —— His face turned red from being exposed.

Gordon: "What? Am I wrong? I know that you and your sister, Cheng Feng, lost your parents in a car accident when you were young. You had to move from one distant relative to another, enduring much hardship. This voyage is to raise tuition for your sister so she can have a better future and not drop out of school like you did."

Sailor A: "You've investigated our backgrounds?"

Gordon: "Of course. Do you think the organization's criteria for recruiting the White Horse crew members were physical fitness, experience, or education? No, it was whether the applicants had family members in the country they would protect even at the cost of their own lives, to prevent situations like this from happening."

All the sailors: "..." —— They were all stunned.

Gordon: "Don't believe me? I'll point out each of you! You, Zhao Qilang (Sailor A), have a father, Zhao Dou, who suffers from heart disease. You went to sea to raise money for his surgery. You, Liu Guan (Sailor D), have a loving wife, Wang Ping. Although your family isn't wealthy, you two respect each other and have a happy marriage. Your son, Liu Xu, was born a month ago, and you spent half a month deciding on his name. He's a healthy 7.5-pound baby. This voyage is for your family and your child's future. You, Yang Jiao (Sailor E)... (omitted thousands of words) How about that? Did I get anything wrong? The organization cares deeply about you. To ensure you can focus on your work without any worries, we have thoroughly investigated your situations. In necessary times, such as if one of us dies under mysterious circumstances, we will provide them (the people you cherish) with 'care' in spirit, 'concern' in politics, and 'attention' in life, helping to solve practical problems and difficulties. The organization is sincere with you. If you don't want them to be 'sincere' with the organization, please reconsider your decision." —— His tone was sincere and calm, as if he were consoling an old cadre.

I (narrator): "This is called 'care'? It gives me the chills!"

Liu Guan (Sailor D): "..." —— He put down his weapon aimed at Lin Youde.

Yang Jiao (Sailor E): "Right, I'll risk my life to protect my brother!" —— He also put down his weapon and started to put back on the equipment he had taken off.

Zhao Qilang (Sailor A): "Fight bravely!!" —— He returned to the center of the group, crying and leading everyone in a chant.

All the sailors: "Serve the country loyally!!" —— They shouted with tears in their voices.

Gordon: "Good! You are all loyal and patriotic young men. I will entrust my life to you. Protect me as if you were protecting your parents, spouses, siblings, lovers, and friends!" —— He looked moved.

All the sailors: "..." —— They glared at Gordon with tears in their eyes.

Lin Youde: "I thought forcing these civilians to fight with guns was the most unethical thing I could do, but I didn't expect..." —— His face turned pale.

Cheshire Cat: "Don't you understand? He's no longer just a soldier. Compared to these political players, we who do the dirty work are moral role models and upright gentlemen. Even if we did something unethical in the past, thinking about them makes us feel better."

I (narrator): "It seems Cheshire Cat has truly enlightened and gained insight after being possessed by the evil god. He can help Lin Youde resolve his inner conflicts while making sarcastic comments. He's really improved."

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