Chapter 145: I Have Nothing and Stand Alone, With No One to Leave Behind

Chapter 145: Chapter 145: I Have Nothing and Stand Alone, With No One to Leave Behind

Jasper Rivers looked at her with utmost seriousness. "I don’t think you should have come here. This place doesn’t suit you. Someone like you was born to live openly and serve your country, not to depend on the charity of others in a foreign land.

"You shouldn’t be here at all. You deserve better. I can tell you’re extraordinary.

"From the very beginning when you deceived me after arriving here, to the fact that you haven’t suffered a single scratch that would draw my attention to you... you really can leave this place."

Jasper’s brows furrowed in distress. He seemed to be wondering why she had chosen to come here. This place was a living hell, and he never imagined someone could actually yearn for it. Because of this, his interest in Rian Sinclair grew. However, she had absolutely no interest in him. After all, she only wanted to mind her own business; knowing too much wouldn’t do her any good.

And so, after traveling for about a dozen days, they finally reached the border. By this time, Rian had also endured a dozen days of Jasper’s incessant chatter.

Finally, the moment they crossed the border, Rian felt an unprecedented sense of relief and liberation.

She turned her head, only to see Jasper looking at her with a probing expression, as if trying to find something by seeing right through her.

Finally, he said, "I didn’t think you belonged here before, but in this exact moment, I feel like you were born for this land.

"Are these people just too stupid? How have they not noticed for so long? Or are you just hiding it too well?

"I really want to know who you truly are."

Rian’s lips curled up slightly. She turned sideways to look at Jasper. "I’m just a child."

For a nine-year-old Rian, no excuse could have been more convincing. Because back then, that was exactly what she was—just a child.

What could a child possibly do? Still wet behind the ears, lacking foresight, ignorant and innocent... a child couldn’t do anything. This served as the perfect smokescreen. Jasper’s eyes were filled with doubt, but he didn’t press the matter further. After all, he truly couldn’t fathom what Rian’s motives were.

Thinking back on it now, what had it been for? Wealth? Power?

Even Rian couldn’t remember what drove her back then. Later, due to some issues at the border, the entire group was forced to camp nearby for about two or three weeks. Although they had been steadily marching toward the Golden Triangle, unexpected incidents constantly plagued their journey. Rian watched in silence as one child after another died around her.

She wasn’t some bleeding-heart saint, but seeing kids her own age—or even younger—worked to death, beaten to death, or tortured until their last breath still tugged at her conscience.

But what could she do? She was just a child. And Jasper, despite always putting on a brave face like an adult, was just a twelve-year-old boy himself.

Sensing the aura of death slowly swallowing the group, Jasper grabbed Rian’s wrist. She whipped her head around, her eyes meeting his calm and steady gaze.

"Do you want to escape? I can help you."

Rian was puzzled. She had no idea what gave him the impression that she wanted to leave. Pointing at the others, she said, "All of these people want to escape. You could easily help them instead."

Jasper shook his head coolly. "They won’t do. They have no brains, no courage. In other words, the beatings have terrified them into submission. If I help them, they might end up dragging me down with them. It’s not worth the risk."

Hearing this, Rian glanced at the others. He was right—they really were quite foolish, actually believing these monsters might miraculously show mercy and let them go.

She looked back at Jasper without uttering a word. He continued, "You have foresight and brains. Wherever you go, you’ll be able to carve out a place for yourself in the future. But I’m different. I’m just a worthless piece of trash, a lost cause who can only scavenge for scraps left behind by others, barely clinging to life."

His tone was solemn and absolute. Rian let out a soft chuckle. "Jasper, I never expected you to talk about yourself like that while praising me so highly. Hearing you say all this makes you sound like a righteous Veridia police officer, serving the country and its people."

Her gaze then locked directly onto him as she added softly, "But I want to brave this path of no return too. I’m no model citizen, so don’t put me on a pedestal. Someone is willing to sink into the abyss with you, and you’re refusing?"

Rian’s expression was full of playful amusement. Jasper pursed his lips. "I know you’re even crazier than I am, but this path only requires one person.

"I have nothing to my name. I’m completely alone in this world, with no family and no ties to hold me back. I can afford to waste my entire life playing games with these people.

"My life is worthless. The world won’t stop spinning if I’m gone, and no one will shed a tear if I die. I’m the only one who can walk this path."

Rian pursed her lips in return. She didn’t understand what kind of obsession was driving Jasper to insist on taking this burden alone. She just didn’t get it.

But when she met his eyes, she saw a glimmer of hope she had never seen before. His words left her frozen. She didn’t know what mindset was fueling him, but that raw hope in his eyes genuinely moved her.

Jasper waited quietly by her side. Finally, Rian looked up. "Jasper, what do I do?"

Jasper smiled, his face radiating absolute relief. In that moment, Rian felt as though she had finally seen the real him, though she chose not to question him any further.

Jasper looked at her intently. "Tomorrow afternoon, at exactly 6:17 PM, there will be a shift change. That’s when the camp will be the most crowded, which makes it the best time to escape.

"Run northwest on a 369-degree bearing. Don’t look back. You’ll run into the Veridia military. When you do, don’t even think about coming back to save anyone, because by then, everyone who was destined to die will already be dead."

Rian simply raised her eyes to look at him. She had no idea how Jasper knew so much, but in the end, she swallowed the questions she wanted to ask.

Jasper studied her face and smiled. "Aren’t you afraid I’m lying to you? That it might cost you your life?"

Rian chuckled softly. "My life isn’t worth much anyway. Whoever wants it can take it. Since I chose to come here, I never expected to make it back alive. Either I grit my teeth and climb to the top, or I end up as a nameless corpse in a foreign land."

Rian had made her peace with her fate long ago; stepping foot here meant she never planned on returning. Still, she couldn’t fathom why Jasper was so desperate for her to leave. After all, this wasn’t something a madman would do.

However, the unexpected happened suddenly that very afternoon.

Someone who had tried to escape was dragged back into the camp. In front of everyone, the runaway was tied to a tree and whipped mercilessly. The man’s limbs each bore a bloody bullet hole that oozed crimson continuously. As the whip lashed across his body, not a single inch of his skin remained intact.

The vicious guard holding the whip glared at the gathered crowd. "If any of you think about running," he snarled, "this is exactly what will happen to you!"

With that, the guard delivered another brutal lash to the captive. The man, who had been screaming in agony at the start, could no longer make a sound. Rian couldn’t even tell if he was still alive.

Still unsatisfied, the guard raised his whip and swung it wildly toward the rest of the group. Pure reflex kicked in, and Rian instinctively dodged the strike. But the moment she realized what she had just done, a flash of utter dismay crossed her face.