Chapter 646 Thunder Island
When Wang Chao spoke, he directly stubbed out the cigarette butt and stared intently at Atreus.
Honestly, he had fought alongside Atreus before and understood his character well. This brother was genuinely righteous. However, having spent many years in the Crimson Flame Corps, he had undergone extensive indoctrination from the Crimson Flame Mercenary Group's rigid doctrines. This had caused him to always obey their orders.
But this person never killed innocents and never harmed the elderly, weak, sick, or disabled. He was a steadfast and upright man.
For this reason, his attitude toward Atreus remained quite friendly.
"Brother Wei Meng, look at what you're saying. Back in the day, the Crimson Flame Corps raised me. If I were to leave the corps, wouldn't that make me an unfaithful person?"
Atreus remained calm and walked over to Wang Chao, saying, "Now that Chi Long has left, I still have two minutes left of the time he gave me. Brother Wei, can you spare me a cigarette?"
Wang Chao took out a cigarette and handed it to Atreus, lighting it for him as well.
If Atreus had known that Wang Chao was the Dark Night Overlord, he would have been praising him for lighting his cigarette for the rest of his life. But unfortunately, he didn't know about Wang Chao's hidden identity.
As Atreus smoked and observed the situation ahead, he said, "Brother Wei, I actually understand your good intentions very well."
"The Crimson Flame Corps has done many outrageous things these years!"
"Especially after that battalion commander who was imprisoned in Dragon Kingdom returned. The Crimson Flame Corps has become even more ruthless and has committed many heinous acts."
"I'm in the corps, and I have no control over the decisions made by the higher-ups. I can only go with the flow and suffer, watching them commit these deeds while being powerless."
"Brother, I won't hide it from you. I've wanted to leave the corps countless times."
"But this corps is my home; it raised and nurtured me. My parents are also members of the corps. I was born and raised in the corps."
"For me, the corps is my hometown."
"If I leave the corps, will I still be a person? How will they treat my parents?"
While speaking, he exhaled a puff of smoke, his gaze filled with complexity.
Zhang Long looked at Atreus with some astonishment.
Atreus had grown up in such a corrupt environment, yet he managed to maintain his kindness!
This was truly remarkable!
When he first saw the Crimson Flame Corps emblem, he had thought that Atreus was an exceptionally ruthless Crimson Flame soldier. However, he could have never imagined that Atreus was such an ambitious young man with a clear sense of right and wrong. It was indeed remarkable.
Wang Chao lits another cigarette, placing it in his mouth, and said, "You have 90 seconds left."
Atreus smiled and asked, "Brother Wei, we won't be able to communicate soon. Don't you want to say something to me?"
"I've already said what needed to be said before. You have your own judgment, and your life is your own. There's nothing more for me to say," Wang Chao replied.
Atreus took the cigarette out of his mouth and said, "Never mind those useless things. I just want to know, what's your real name?"
Wang Chao smoked in silence.
"If you don't want to say, it's fine, I understand," Atreus said.
He wasn't a fool, and having spent so much time with Wang Chao, he naturally realized that "Wei Meng" was a fake name. However, he hadn't found an opportunity to inquire about Wang Chao's real name.
Now, with their relationship about to be severed, he naturally wanted to know Wang Chao's real name.
"Brother, you can't reveal your real name; it's a rule in the Crimson Flame Corps," Wang Chao explained.
"If you don't want to say, it's alright. After finishing this cigarette, we might not have a chance to meet again," Atreus said.
"What's going on? Where are you headed?" Wang Chao asked.
Atreus took a deep drag from his cigarette and replied, "The corps just assigned me a mission to participate in the assault on Thunder Island in the extraterritorial battlefield."
"As you're aware, Thunder Island is known for being a tough nut to crack in the extraterritorial battlefield. Additionally, it's located in a complex sea area where it's especially challenging for ordinary ships to land."
"If I go there, there's a good chance I won't come back."
Wang Chao and Zhang Long both furrowed their brows upon hearing this.
Thunder Island, they had heard of it before. It was an island known for its remote and perilous location.
In particular, Wang Chao's navy had almost met its downfall at the hands of the natives on Thunder Island. Even experienced teams like the Dark Night Corps hadn't attempted to land on Thunder Island.
Compared to the Dark Night Corps, the Crimson Flame Corps was of a much lower level. Their chances of success in attacking Thunder Island appeared slim.
"So, once I go on this mission, I might not see you again."
Atreus took another deep drag of his cigarette, absorbing it entirely, and then exhaled before looking at Wang Chao, saying, "So, Brother Wei, before I die, I just want to know your real name."
"This way, even if I die, I'll die knowing it."
Afterward, he threw the extinguished cigarette butt into the nearby bin used for such things.
Wang Chao smoked in silence.
The place was bustling with people, and if he were to speak, someone would undoubtedly hear. If someone heard and started inquiring about him, it would cause unnecessary trouble.
"I do not want to say for your sake," Wang Chao replied.
"If you don't say, many people could still find out about you. Even if they do find out, how can they be sure the name they found is my real name?"
"... Names are just code words. Whether I say it or not doesn't matter. If you want, I'll continue to call myself Wei Meng from now on."
Wang Chao then took a final drag and exhaled rings of smoke.
Atreus stared at Wang Chao for a long time, then chuckled, "If you don't want to say, then so be it. Time's up, brother. Hopefully, we'll see each other alive again."
With that, he patted Wang Chao's shoulder and turned to leave, not looking back.
"Take care," Wang Chao said.
Atreus didn't turn around, he just waved and disappeared down the corridor.
Zhang Long watched the direction Atreus disappeared, saying, "This kid is something. He has the same spirit I had back in the day. But if he's really going to attack Thunder Island, he might not make it back."
He sighed, extinguished his cigarette, then suddenly turned to Wang Chao and asked, "Why did not you tell him your name? Afraid of retaliation?"
Wang Chao smiled but did not respond.
In reality, he had already revealed his name to Atreus, but Zhang Long was oblivious of it.
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