Chapter 613: Because We Are Matras

Taj would deliver his final judgment upon himself. As for everything regarding the organization, he had already paved the way—the rest was left to Cyno.

This enormous achievement he casually handed over to Cyno, while he himself might have to bear the name of "traitor" and die here.

After hearing Taj's words, the readers couldn't help but feel respect. For such a person, the readers didn't even want to judge him.

Was his behavior correct? Is it right to do "evil" things for the sake of achieving "justice"?

The readers didn't want to evaluate, because Taj's heart was noble enough to convince everyone wholeheartedly.

To be fair, there aren't many people who can be impartial between family affection and the law, so those who can do it naturally earn a few points of respect.

[Taj: "In any case, allowing canned knowledge to circulate and researching the Court of Desolation are serious crimes. Consider this my final judgment upon myself."]

Itto: "What the heck, hurry and pull him out!"

Itto watched anxiously—what judgment, life force fading and all that, he didn't care. Right now, he just wished he was at the scene himself—no matter what, he'd drag the guy out.

If you "did wrong," make amends! Dying to escape—what's that?

Okay, the main issue wasn't really escaping through death—Itto just couldn't stand seeing others sacrifice themselves like this.

However, Itto's view was actually similar to Wanderer's thoughts. He himself quite wanted to "die," with severe self-destructive tendencies.

But he never did it, precisely because he felt dying would be too easy on himself.

This was also the reason he would charge at the tree in the future—he wanted to completely erase himself in exchange for the tragedies he caused to disappear.

Yet his "failure" didn't let him off, and in the end, he still failed.

His failure constitution was simply stronger than Bennett's bad luck constitution.

But this time, he didn't need to charge at the tree anymore, because Lucian would tell him—he would fail.

So the current Wanderer was much more well-behaved, even helping Lucian with voice acting.

Back to the story—Itto would drag the person out, but everyone's personality is different.

Cyno was more willing to respect Taj's choice—he would only help Taj handle the aftermath.

This wasn't Cyno being heartless; this was Cyno's respect for his "old partner."

Amid the violent shaking, Cyno and the Traveler turned to leave, while Taj sat cross-legged on the ground, awaiting death's arrival.

As death approached, Taj seemed to hear voices from the past.

[Young Murtada Radkani: "Dad, why are they so strict with me?"]

Clearly committing the same mistake, yet only he was criticized—unfair.

[Teenage Murtada Radkani: "No need for you to care! Rest assured, I won't tarnish your reputation."]

His life seemed like a "projection" of his father's shadow—he was just XX's son, he wasn't Murtada—resentful.

[Young adult Murtada Radkani: "Fine, reconciliation."]

That was the son's reconciliation with his old man, yet not quite willing.

["Old man, I've finally found the research direction I want—"]

As an adult, he slightly understood his father, but he still wanted to become Murtada, so he urgently wanted to prove himself.

He wanted to prove he was no worse than his father—he wasn't XX's son, he was Murtada.

He absolutely had to achieve something, because he—refused to accept it!

But his research was halted, and his hope of becoming "Murtada" seemed extinguished.

[Murtada puzzled, facing his father: "Is there really no room for leniency? Why?"]

The young child's tearful questioning, the teenager's back as he slammed the door, the adult's stiff "reconciliation"—finally freezing on a dispute.

The seated Taj in the scene finally spoke—yellow sand had already buried up to his chest, he lowered his head, his throat trembling:

Child... back then you asked me why I never showed favoritism...

["Because, we are Matras."]

The yellow sand buried this father, this Matra.

The yellow sand entombed this final sigh—unknown whether the sigher was old or young.

He had fulfilled his duty; now, he would permanently bury his "love" in this research to which his child had devoted his life.

At first, everyone thought this was a matter concerning justice, but unexpectedly, it was a story about family affection.

Unfortunately, many readers just couldn't handle family affection knives—they were secretly wiping tears.

Taj's emotions were silent and calm, seemingly making one unable to feel his love.

But everyone who read this story could understand—he loved his child deeply.

His love was like a great mountain—the mountain is there, it doesn't move and doesn't speak.

But the mountain is there—it is heavy, it is steadfast.

Calm family affection paired with just a few words—his great love and small love were both firm to the point of unquestionable.

The readers' feelings at this moment were like accumulating much depressed energy, all endured, forcing smiles to face life.

But one day, seeing the note they wrote on the fridge, they froze—even if it just said "keep going" in two words.

Taj's final words had this kind of killing power: "Because, we are Matras."

It was precisely this sentence that broke the readers' defenses—not an emotional dam burst, but noses souring, tears welling in eyes.

As the person involved, Taj fell into silence—in fact, he hadn't yet been tempted, because his son was still alive, still in prison.

The current timeline was a bit earlier than the story in the book—many tragedies hadn't occurred yet.

Now having read this book, those tragedies naturally wouldn't be allowed to happen.

In fact, the reason their father and son weren't tempted was still because of Lucian.

Not that Lucian specially helped, but because Lucian's arrival caused a "major earthquake."

The Akademiya was directly purged in a big overhaul, and the other bad guys were all in danger—no one dared stick their heads out, and even those turning into quails were still caught.

This was similar to them in the story—four days, Cyno spent four days sweeping through the desert capturing criminals.

Those hiding in the desert, fleeing to Fontaine, escaping from the Akademiya—without exception, all captured by Cyno.

This was his agreement with the Matras—he said he would help Taj handle the aftermath.

Other Matras also noticed Cyno's swift and decisive actions—because who else could do such things besides the General Mahamatra Cyno?

The scene in the story shifts—Cyno is chatting with Tighnari.

[Tighnari somewhat "reproaching" Cyno's recklessness: "Judging over three hundred people alone—do you think you're amazing? No matter how you look at it, this isn't the best way."]

This experience left Cyno outwardly cold, but inwardly emotionally stirred—judging over three hundred people alone was proof.

He wasn't originally an emotionless, aloof person.