Chapter 85: The Price

Chapter 85: Chapter 85: The Price

Tanliwei could hardly believe his ears.

’What is that bastard Vili saying?! He said he’s going to kill me!’

"I’m under Ricker’s command! You have no right to dispose of me!"

Tanliwei was truly panicking now. The coward who had swallowed insult after insult was now actually trying to kill him. And from the look in Vili’s eyes, he was dead serious.

Tanliwei finally realized he had overplayed his hand.

"Ricker has no authority over me. Besides, I’m not killing you for personal reasons. You delayed military action, a crime punishable by death. I will report the full truth to Cres afterward."

Vili flashed a grin, revealing pristine white teeth. To Tanliwei, however, the smile was utterly bone-chilling.

Tanliwei finally understood. The Vili he’d seen before had been an act. He wasn’t afraid of Ricker, nor was he showing him any deference.

He was just waiting for an opportunity! A chance to kill him justifiably, and in doing so, grind Ricker’s reputation into the dirt!

"You can’t do this!"

One of Tanliwei’s adjutants still hadn’t grasped the reality of the situation. Perhaps Ricker’s name gave him some misplaced confidence. He stepped forward, looking as if he was going to protect Tanliwei.

"Eat shit, you trash!"

Before Vili could say a word, Dane stepped forward and punched the adjutant square in the face.

A sickening CRACK of breaking bone echoed through the room. Dane’s punch sent the adjutant spinning, his face slamming hard into the corner of a table. He slid slowly to the floor and fell silent, blood pooling out from under his head.

At this moment, Dane almost wanted to cry out in exhilaration!

He was a man of few words, but that didn’t mean he was without emotion. The pent-up frustration he’d been feeling was not only gone, but replaced by a sense of satisfaction he’d never felt before.

Dane felt fortunate to be one of Vili’s men. Following a captain who was patient, wise, and ruthlessly decisive was an incredibly satisfying feeling.

Sandoor’s blood boiled as he watched. He was a little disappointed he’d been too slow to act, so he fixed his gaze on the other adjutant, ready to beat the man senseless the moment he stepped out of line.

But Sandoor was disappointed. After seeing what happened to Tanliwei and his unconscious comrade, the remaining adjutant stood rooted to the spot, not daring to move an inch.

"Captain Vili, you really can’t do this! Ricker won’t let you get away with it! He won’t!"

Tanliwei was already babbling incoherently. Enduring the excruciating pain, he was still trying to use Ricker’s name to intimidate Vili.

Vili let out a loud laugh. "That’s fine. I won’t be letting him off the hook either! Dane, Sandoor! Drag this man out to the open ground. Summon everyone in the camp—from Diamond Team Six and Diamond Team One alike. Everyone must attend. I’m going to execute this bastard in front of them all!"

"Yes, sir!"

Sandoor and Dane’s voices cracked with excitement.

"You can’t do this!"

Tanliwei was trembling. He tried to say something else, but Sandoor seized the opportunity and smashed a fist into his face.

"Shut your stinking mouth!"

Sandoor followed up with two more punches, shattering Tanliwei’s jaw. All he could manage were muffled groans.

「Ten minutes later.」

The camp’s open ground.

Aside from the Guards still stationed at key posts, almost everyone had gathered here.

Just moments ago, they had been summoned. The reason? Captain Vili of Diamond Team Six was going to execute Deputy Captain Tanliwei of Diamond Team One for delaying military operations!

Upon hearing this news, the Guards of Diamond Team Six nearly cheered with joy.

It was because that bastard had deliberately delayed their deployment that six of their brothers had died and another twelve were wounded.

The news pulled them from their grief and filled them with excitement.

Before, they had thought they were following a captain with no guts. Now, it was clear that Captain Vili’s decisiveness commanded respect.

The members of Diamond Team Six were exhilarated, but the members of Diamond Team One were terrified.

Although their deputy captain was about to be executed, not a single one of them dared to speak out. Instead, they were all incredibly nervous, afraid Vili would pursue the matter further and punish them as well.

This wasn’t a matter of loyalty. The man taking action against their commander wasn’t an outsider; he was a higher-ranking officer within the Diamond Guard Team.

The Guards summoned to witness the execution formed two circles. The front was filled mostly with men from Diamond Team Six. The wounded, wrapped in bandages, stood almost directly in front of Tanliwei. Meanwhile, the men from Diamond Team One instinctively hung back in the rear circle.

Tanliwei was bound tightly with ropes, forced to his knees. His face was caked with blood and his hair was a mess as he continued to struggle.

Sandoor stood behind him, Long Spear in hand, yanking his hair to keep him from thrashing about.

A bonfire blazed in front of Tanliwei, illuminating his wretched face for all to see.

The wood crackled in the fire. Across the wide-open campground, no one else made a sound.

"Everyone."

Into the silence, Vili walked to the center of the crowd, his voice resonating with authority. "We rush to the dangerous front lines to repel the enemy and protect the homes at our backs. And yet, at a critical moment like this, Tanliwei used despicable means, senselessly sacrificing the lives of our brothers for the petty gains of certain people."

"I cannot forgive a man like this. I will use his life to give you all the justice you deserve. Even if Cres himself holds me accountable for this afterward, I will not be afraid."

Vili spoke with righteous conviction.

’In truth, Cres would never punish him for this. He hadn’t done anything wrong, and Cres himself couldn’t stand Ricker. On top of that, Vili was a core member of Bamos’s new power base. Cres would never find him guilty. At most, he’d get a verbal reprimand. Vili had calculated everything perfectly.’

’He was only saying all this to seize this golden opportunity and rally the men of Diamond Team Six.’

’An opportunity bought with lives couldn’t be wasted.’

Just as he’d expected, the moment Vili finished speaking, excited looks appeared on many faces.

Vili wasted no more words. He turned to Sandoor and gave the order, "Execute him."

At the sound of that order, Tanliwei began to struggle frantically.

But Sandoor gave him no more chances to struggle. He’d been waiting for this moment.

Upon receiving Vili’s command, he planted his right foot on Tanliwei’s shoulder and drew the Long Spear back with his left hand, gathering his strength.

SHLICK!

Like a striking viper, Sandoor’s Long Spear shot forward. As everyone watched, it pierced straight through Tanliwei’s skull!