Counterfeit Hero

Chapter 174: Revised: Volume 3, Chapter 54 - Just a Bit More Time_2

After some contemplation, Stephen decided to seek out Liebgoet. He wanted to discuss with his mentor; perhaps achieving a local victory would be beneficial to him. If he were to die of thirst, he would have to drink even dirty water. At the very least, he should have that cup of water within reach. He got up and walked towards Liebgoet’s office, not knowing that there was an old saying in China’s ancient Earth: ”Drinking poison to quench thirst.”

Poison, not dirty water.

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In the technical department of Holy Knight Company, everyone was staring dumbfounded at a chubby guy shaking his head vigorously.

Fatty proclaimed decisively, ”I’m not going, not even if you kill me. Once you join the Mythical Army, you lose all freedom. Everything is restricted! I’m not doing it. I’m a Heavenly Mountain eagle, destined to soar freely in the blue sky. Freedom is my life!”

Christina wanted to kick this fat eagle to death. She couldn’t tell if he was just stupid or utterly shameless! Hearing such words come out of his mouth was downright laughable.

She said wryly, ”The Mythical Army is the Empire’s finest unit. Every soldier is one in a thousand, going through multiple rounds of tests and screenings just to get into the Mythical Army...”

Fatty retorted blankly, ”What does that have to do with me? The guys in prison not only go through multiple screenings but also multiple trials. Each of them has the skills for murder and arson, skilled in the art, isn’t that a place you’d want to go to?”

Fatty’s unreasonable argument left Christina speechless and secretly anxious. Such an opportunity, which ordinary people would long for, was scorned by this fool, who clamored about being a free-flying eagle of Heavenly Mountain. Yet, he was the most important member of their team.

After all, Holy Knight Company was a private enterprise. If they wanted to gain respect in the Mythical Army’s Mecha research lab, they needed to showcase technical prowess. This skilful and experienced guy was definitely the team’s stabilizer. Facing those military mechanical technology experts, even Christina felt somewhat intimidated. The only one who could hold these people in awe was Zhang Yuan, who proposed the [Vajra] modification plan.

Looking at Fatty’s defiant face, Christina was both amused and exasperated. Suddenly, she had an idea and tempted him, ”If you really don’t go, Bonnie’s suitors will be overjoyed. You’d be giving up the strongest competitor.”

”Bonnie? Who’s Bonnie?” Fatty looked puzzled. Christina drew a curve and said, ”The red-haired one.”

Fatty suddenly realized, hesitating painfully for a long time, and finally said, ”The solitary soaring eagle... Damn it, I’ll go!”

Christina, blushing, left the technical department. She felt deeply ashamed of herself for using someone else to seduce the foolish fatty. If she didn’t leave, she feared she might end up killing this hypocritical lecher.

Fatty struck a pose and innocently thought, ”Mythical Army, you can investigate. It’s not that I wanted to join on purpose; it’s because someone forced and tempted me. My willpower isn’t that strong, and that’s a common problem with fatties.”

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Reinhardt carefully examined Zhang Yuan’s profile. The document was unlike something produced by the Imperial Intelligence Department after a thorough investigation; it seemed more like a form filled out for a company hiring a janitor.

In the photo on the profile, Fatty wore a silly grin, with a look of foolishness mixed with simplicity and honesty. The profile had only a few brief descriptions of him; the rest were filled with the words ”verified” and the signatures of the Intelligence Department’s investigators. For someone who had been an orphan wandering the streets since the age of ten and studied abroad, the profile was remarkably simple, to the point of being unusual.

Reinhardt smiled slightly. This profile had been examined thoroughly, and everything that needed investigating had been investigated. There should be no problem.

Although Zhang Yuan had been wandering the streets since he was ten, he never interacted with anyone, only knew how to beg, and his greatest hobby was collecting mechanical and electronic parts from trash heaps. At twenty, he smuggled into Tatania, using the money he had saved to pay for his studies in systematic mechanical repairs. The Intelligence Department’s investigation was very meticulous, even pulling up photos from his childhood. Though skinny, traces of his current appearance could still be seen.

Reinhardt chose to trust this mechanical genius. The simplicity of his experiences matched his character. Looking at Fatty’s profile and recalling his demeanor in the test field, Reinhardt shook his head with a smile. This slow-witted, timid yet mechanically obsessed guy was indeed not much to doubt. Moreover, Reinhardt was confident that in the Mythical Army, no one could hide their identity under his watchful eyes.

Reinhardt raised his head, looking at Bonnie who was flipping through a magazine on the sofa opposite his desk, and said earnestly, ”Bonnie, I’ve heard something very interesting.”

”Oh?” Bonnie didn’t look up from her magazine.

”You’ve gained another passionate admirer.” Reinhardt’s mouth curled into a mischievous smile. ”A very outstanding gentleman, perhaps the best I’ve seen of his kind.”

”Who?” Bonnie finally raised her head. When they were alone, Bonnie always made Reinhardt feel at ease. She knew when Reinhardt was a close friend and when he was a General of the Empire.