Ling Cage: Twelve Talismans? I have everything I need.

Chapter 33 A Choice Without Regret

For the next three days, Hong Kou acted as if nothing had happened.

At least on the surface.

She went to the medical department to visit Benny, who is now awake, but will have to rely on a prosthetic leg to walk from now on.

If he had only lost one leg, that would be fine, but the prosthetic leg on the lighthouse wouldn't be enough for him to carry out missions on the ground.

She found Instructor Elon and solemnly handed him her insights on manipulating gravity and the precautions to take on the ground.

"Professor Elon."

Hong Kou's voice was calm and even: "These are yours. Although the gravity body is adjusted according to each person's habits, it should still be of some use."

Elon took the items and patted Red Cop on the shoulder with his thick palm. The veteran's gaze was deep and complex.

He wanted to persuade Hong Kou again, but in the end, he could only let out a heavy sigh: "Hong Kou... take care."

He knew Hong Kou's character all too well.

"And this, give it to Mark."

Hong Kou pulled a metal box out of her pocket, inside which was a photograph and two lollipops.

Hong Kou laughed and said, "Consider it as scouting the way for you. If we can really survive on the ground, perhaps we'll meet again in the future."

Elon nodded, saying nothing more.

"only."

A hint of reluctance flashed in Hong Kou's eyes: "That brat Mark, I'll have to rely on you from now on."

"Don't worry, I'll definitely train him properly when he gets a little older," Elon promised.

"I'll beat him into the shit."

She found teammates like Xuefeng, Haji, and Kunjie, with whom she had fought side by side for many years.

There were no words of farewell, just the usual brief break after training, where we rested together against the cold metal wall.

"Captain..." Xuefeng's voice was a little hoarse.

Hong Kou interrupted him, a faint smile even curving her lips: "No, I was dismissed from my position as captain a long time ago."

"Then we will only recognize you as our captain."

Hong Kou smiled but did not respond to that statement.

After a while of silence.

“Mark keeps saying he wants to be the leader of the Wilderness Hunters.” Red Cockles looked at his teammates of many years and said, “When the time comes, you guys should help him out.”

Everyone nodded unanimously.

"Don't worry, Captain."

“Mark is someone we’ve watched grow up, so we’ll protect him.”

During these three days, Hong Kou devoted most of his time to Mark.

It was as if she wanted to compress all the companionship she would miss in the future into this short period of time.

She chased and played with Mark in the narrow passageways of the residential area, and accompanied him to watch the sunset from the stands.

Even after Mark's persistent pleading, they took him to the gravity training field.

“Mark, call me sister and I’ll let you pilot my gravity body.” Red Collar crouched down and looked at Mark.

Mark was thrilled. Calling someone "sister" was all it took to activate Gravity Body. What was so difficult about that?
“Sister,” Mark called out crisply.

Upon hearing the word "sister," Hong Kou pulled Mark into her arms.

Mark was puzzled, but at this moment he seemed to be able to sense Hong Kou's sadness, so he just let her hug him.

"Sis, what's wrong?"

"It's nothing." Hong Kou reached out and wiped away the tears that had somehow flowed from the corner of her eye.

"Once you become a Hunter of the Wasteland, you can pilot this Gravity Body."

Hong Kou got up and opened the gravity body cockpit.

When Hong Kou held Mark, whose little face was flushed with excitement, and carefully placed him into her black gravity body, the child's eyes shone with an astonishing light.

“Red Armor! Can I...can I really touch it?” Mark’s voice trembled as his small hands carefully touched the cold outer shell.

“Of course.” Hong Kou’s voice was gentler than ever before: “But you can’t activate it. Gravity bodies have identity verification.”

"You can only stay inside for a short while."

"That's enough!" Red Cop watched Mark excitedly gesturing in the cockpit, his face beaming with pure joy.

Mark was immersed in the novel experience of controlling the enormous machinery.

Hong Kou didn't say anything more, but just watched quietly, deeply imprinting this brief but precious scene in her heart.

The three days passed quickly in a subdued calm.

The day of my journey has arrived.

The atmosphere was solemn at the edge of the massive elevator platform at the bottom of the lighthouse.

There was no farewell ceremony as in the past, only the city defense troops standing in neat rows with guns.

Morgan stood on the high platform, sighed, and turned to leave.

Victor walked alone to the elevator platform and looked at the two people in front of him.

Hong Kou and Po Xiao stood in front of the platform, carrying no weapons, their faces showing no fear, only a calm after the dust had settled.

Victor drew the pistol from his waist and pointed it at Red Cop's forehead.

Red Collar didn't react; she simply looked calmly at Victor.

"You pointed a gun at me before, so we're even now."

Victor turned his gun around, pointing the grip at Red: "If I were to advise you again now, you probably still wouldn't admit your mistake, would you?"

"I would rather live freely."

Victor remained silent and extended the gun in his hand forward.

"Whether you choose to defend yourself or save face is your choice."

Hong Kou hesitated for a moment, but still took the pistol that Victor handed her and tucked it into her waistband.

Victor said no more, turned and left without looking back.

Suddenly, a commotion arose from the direction of the stands.

Xuefeng, Haji, Kunjie, and others disregarded the city defense troops' attempts to stop them and forced their way to the entrance of the passage.

His fists were clenched tightly, his teeth were clenched, and his eyes were filled with sorrow and resentment, but he ultimately did not utter a sound.

This is the law of the lighthouse, the choice of the Red Bandits themselves; they cannot change anything.
"sister--!!!"

A heart-wrenching cry shattered the deathly silence.

Mark suddenly appeared out of nowhere, crying and rushing towards the platform, but was quickly caught and held tightly by Instructor Elon.

"Let me go! You old geezer, let me go! Sis! Don't go! Don't go!!"

Mark struggled frantically in Elon's arms, tears streaming down his face.

His small body unleashed astonishing strength, yet he couldn't break free from the old instructor's iron grip. He could only watch helplessly as his dearest sister walked step by step toward the elevator platform.

Hong Kou stopped in her tracks.

She slowly turned around and looked at Mark, who was crying his heart out.

Her eyes were as gentle as water, filled with deep reluctance, yet also with unwavering determination.

She didn't speak, but gently and slowly shook her head in Mark's direction, trying to curve the corners of her mouth into a reassuring smile.

Then, she resolutely turned around and, together with Dawn, stepped onto the elevator platform.

The two stood in the center of the platform, their backs straight.

Bo Xiao's hand silently grasped Hong Kou's hand, their fingers intertwined.

Victor waved his hand expressionlessly.

The operator started the lifting platform, and the huge hinges made a heavy and ear-piercing "creak" sound. The lifting platform shook violently and began to sink downwards at a steady speed.

The two of them slowly descended towards the ground along with the platform.

From the stands, Mark's cries were piercing and desperate.

The hinges of the lifting platform continued to lower.

Red Archer took one last look at the cold dome of the lighthouse, and gripped Dawn's hand even tighter.

"Do you regret it?" Dawn looked down at Red Armor.

Looking down at the vast wasteland shrouded in dust that was drawing ever closer, she answered resolutely against the wind.

"I do not regret."

(End of this chapter)