"What, are you trying to give another punishnt? Co on, I don't care! Too many lice don't itch!" the sergeant shouted.
"What faults did that convoy pick...?" the lieutenant frowned; he felt there was surely so misunderstanding.
"Things like fire equipnt not properly installed, ammunition boxes not locked according to regulations, soldiers' weapons not safetied... all minor details," the soldier said. "Rumor has it that the convoy's leader extorted unsuccessfully and got beaten up, so he decided to retaliate..."
"Extortion? Retaliation?" the lieutenant's eyes widened. "Do we actually have such scum in the army?"
"Captain, keep your voice down! It's just a rumor! A rumor!! It hasn't been verified yet!" the soldier quickly said.
"Sergeant, I think there must be so misunderstanding! About yesterday's incident, I..."
The lieutenant hadn't finished speaking when the man in the black robe suddenly pushed him aside and walked straight into the outpost.
"Halt!" the sergeant imdiately reached out to stop the black-robed man.
"Move aside," the black-robed man said lightly, without even raising his hand. The short, robust sergeant flew sideways like a ball, crashing heavily into the vehicle barrier.
"What are you doing?!"
The soldiers inside the outpost instantly pointed their guns at the black-robed man, creating a tense, confrontational atmosphere!
"Is this a mutiny... or a rebellion?" the black-robed man asked indifferently, staring at the dark muzzles.
"Everyone... don't... cough cough..." The sergeant who was blown away struggled to get up, spitting out a mouthful of bloody froth with broken teeth, "Nobody... damn it, don't shoot!"
"Don't shoot! Let's talk things over! Nobody shoot!" The lieutenant hurriedly ran between the outpost soldiers and the black-robed man, raising his hands high above his head, "Don't escalate the situation; it won't benefit anyone!"
"This guy first hit the station master!" a soldier shouted with a stiff neck, "It's an attack on the outpost; according to regulations, we can retaliate!"
"Retaliate, my ass!" Before the lieutenant or the black-robed man could speak, the sergeant cursed first, taking off his helt and throwing it forcefully at the soldier who spoke, "Everyone damn well put down your guns, are you deaf?!"
Then, the sergeant turned to the black-robed man and said coldly, "Are you... a Mysterious Creature Hunter?"
The black-robed man glanced at the sergeant expressionlessly, without denying it.
"Hmph... Hunter... Such ostentation." The sergeant clutched his chest and belly, stepped back, and sat heavily on the vehicle barrier. "Just a bunch of short-lived freaks..."
Before he finished speaking, the black-robed man suddenly flashed in front of the sergeant, a claw-like weapon from his robe reaching directly for the unprotected head of the sergeant!
"Dood!" the lieutenant lanted in his heart—too late! Everything's too late! No one can save this sergeant... If he dies here today...
This Hunter might manage to leave here alive, but the soldiers inside the outpost, others in the convoy, and himself... all risk dying in a sudden gunfight.
His peripheral vision even captured the muzzle flash from the outpost soldiers' guns firing!
It's over! Completely over!
As the gunshots rang out, the Hunter's claw suddenly flew off, landing about a dozen ters away, while a steel-like burly figure blocked the soldiers' line of fire, intercepting all the bullets.
The sergeant froze for a mont and turned back, seeing a slender eerie cadaver standing behind him, blood dripping from its scalpel-like fingers.
The black-robed man clutched his severed arm's wound, stepping back several ters, eyeing the cadaver behind the sergeant like an enemy.
"Cadaver?" the sergeant wondered, "Why is it here? And it saved my life?"
"Don't shoot! Don't anybody shoot anymore!" The lieutenant shouted, awakening from a dream, breathing a sigh of relief internally—thankfully, there was another "ability-user" in the convoy, or else today's incident might escalate into a fight to the death.
"These cadavers are allies! Allies!!" The lieutenant emphasized again, "They're on our side!"
"I... I know..." a soldier mumbled, "It... it saved the station master... but... why would a cadaver..."
Before he could finish, the enraged sergeant was already in front of him, grabbing his rifle and delivering a heavy slap.
"I told you not to shoot, don't shoot! Are you trying to get yourself killed?"
"But! Station master, the Hunter wanted to kill you!" the soldier said a bit aggrievedly.
"Even if I'm killed, you're not allowed to shoot! Got it?" the sergeant roared almost in a fury.
"What, are you planning to mutiny with these soldiers?" the Hunter stood at the highway edge, glaring towards the convoy direction.
Everyone followed his gaze, seeing a slim black-skirted girl slowly approaching, accompanied by two cadavers like attendants.
"Post 307 refuses inspection and will naturally receive punishnt," the girl said, "But you were the first to strike, so you're the one who caused the ard conflict."
"Who does he think he is! Not to say hitting him, I could kill him with a flick!" The black-robed man said fiercely, "Does a mortal's life compare to mine in value?"
If Sun Hang were here, he could see the shadow representing negative emotions behind the black-robed man becoming extrely intense, ready to engulf him whole.
"This isn't about worth; right is right, and wrong is wrong," the girl's tone was calm, "They did wrong, and you did wrong."
"What do you want, to lock up in prison?" the black-robed man raised his eyebrows, "Like that Hunter who accidentally squeezed a few ants to death the other day?"
"That Hunter killed people, not ants." The girl shook her head.
During the confrontation between the girl and the Hunter, the sergeant quietly moved next to the lieutenant, nudged him with his elbow, and whispered, "Who is this girl?"
"She's an adept of Deceitful Equipnt from Chunming City, code-nad 'Puppet Master'," the lieutenant quietly explained.
"Puppet Master?" The sergeant thoughtfully looked at the cadavers, "So, these cadavers are her puppets?"
"Yes." The lieutenant nodded.
"She's also a Hunter?"
"No, she's not infected... but I don't know why she has the ability to control cadavers... probably so sort of paranormal ability." The lieutenant said, "I've heard that so people, even if they're not infected by the Deceit Virus, awaken certain special abilities."
"I admit my temper wasn't good just now, please have them cease," the sergeant exhaled heavily, "Feel free to inspect the post; I'll accept whatever punishnt there is... but I have one request.
"What is it?" the lieutenant asked.
"When the investigation starts, tell them it was I who ordered my subordinates to shoot." the sergeant said.
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