Chapter 169
Todd fell to the ground as if he was electrocuted. He grabbed his chest with both hands, opened his mouth and breathed rapidly like a thirsty fish, but it seemed that he could not catch his breath. His eyes were wide open, his face was blue and purple, and the veins on his neck were exposed.
Rong Yuan reached out and patted him, and he let out a long inhalation sound like a bellows pumping air. Then he fell to the ground and coughed for a long time, his face full of tears and snot, before he finally recovered.
"What did you do to me?"
The man knelt on the ground, his body bent like a shrimp. He suddenly raised his head, grabbed Rong Yuan's clothes and stood up, his lips trembling, and asked in a shrill voice: "What did you do to me? You tampered with my memory, right? Who are you? What good will this do you? Killing is not enough, why torture me like this? I don't remember meeting Lord Liuka and Mapu when I was a child. You are lying to me, right? You are lying to me!!!"
He roared at the top of his lungs , but Rong Yuan just looked at him quietly.
There was no extra emotion in those light brown eyes, no conspiracy, no deception or exploitation. They reflected the blurred and dreamy lights of the city, but they seemed even clearer and cleaner, as clear and inclusive as the distant sky.
Without a word, Todd's last bit of delusion was shattered. He staggered back, unable to even maintain his balance, and fell to the ground. He was stunned for a long time, then suddenly covered his face and burst into tears. His cry was shrill and hoarse, like a night owl howling in tears.
However, the world will not stop for a moment because of anyone's pain. Even the extreme grief and tears cannot bring back the people and time that have been lost.
Rong Yuan didn't look at Todd's embarrassed look. He looked into the distance, feeling neither sad nor happy.
Suddenly, there was a slight movement in the white ball beside him. It turned out that the girl was awakened by Todd's crying. She didn't know where she was or what happened. She was rubbing her eyes and calling for her mother in a daze.
Rong Yuan leaned over and carried her out. He let the girl's head rest on his chest, preventing her from seeing Todd's appearance, and then sent her back to the floor where she fell.
There, the rescuers from the third floor had already arrived and were doing work like cleaning and registering. People within the area covered by the falling object had also been evacuated. At this time, the color of the white cloud had become lighter and lighter, as if it would soon disappear. Some people were taking the time to collect samples and test them with various instruments, while others were simply watching from a distance.
The girl's family has also been rescued to a safe place on the second floor. Her parents are holding the rescuers' hands and crying and begging, probably begging them to help find their daughter.
Rong Yuan put the girl on the ground, pointed over there and said, "Go, your mother is there."
The girl took two steps forward, then turned back hesitantly and whispered, "Big brother, is the blue uncle okay?"
"Uncle in blue?" Rong Yuan was stunned.
"Yeah, that uncle cried so sadly." The little girl nodded and said, "Please tell him that I don't blame him for what happened before. Although it was scary at first, I later realized that he was trying very hard to protect me! I think he is a good person and I am very grateful to him in my heart."
"Oh." Rong Yuan paused and smiled, "You knew it was him just now? Then why didn't you say it?"
"Because he was crying, and crying so loudly!" The girl scratched her face, sighed, and said in a very mature manner: "You adults are very concerned about your reputation! You definitely don't want a child like me to see him crying, so I won't say anything!"
"Oh, I see." Rong Yuan smiled and said, "Okay, I will tell him about your gratitude and consolation. I also want to thank you for forgiving him for his previous offense against you and your family."
"Nothing... nothing at all!"
The girl pursed her lips shyly, waved her hands, turned around and ran quickly towards her family. A pair of thin braids bounced on her shoulders like a jumping deer.
She rushed straight into her mother's arms, and her mother touched her from head to toe, spanked her twice, and then hugged her and started crying. The girl patted her mother's back helplessly, turned her head and looked behind her, but she could no longer see the big brother who sent her back.
The second floor of Liukasao is not like the third floor, where many "ground-to-sky" tombstone-like buildings were built to accommodate as many people . The buildings here are at most half the height of the ship's deck, and some are even as low as two or three floors. The space is more spacious and the decoration is also very attentive.
There were many people coming and going on the street, most of them were with friends, and there were few people like Rong Yuan who walked alone. Some of them were adventurers who wore plain clothes with dull colors but full of sturdiness, and some were young men and women with dazzling clothes and good looks. The latter had skin that was white as if transparent because they had not seen the sun for many years. Even ordinary looks would appear outstanding under this skin quality, not to mention that most of the people here were beauties picked from thousands of miles away.
When Rongyuan's team was still there, some of them were also frequent visitors to this kind of place. They would dive in every time they finished work, and would leave reluctantly when it was almost time to gather.
According to them, life is short, so enjoy it while you can. Since they have accepted the call of the starry sky and freedom, it is impossible for them to start a family and build a career. They can only find beautiful girls to comfort their lonely souls.
Rong Yuan naturally knew that they were all talking nonsense, just looking for an excuse for their lust. However, this kind of thing cannot be prohibited, so he can only let it go.
And people who engage in this kind of profession are not necessarily forced to do so. Perhaps they just choose a more relaxed lifestyle for themselves.
In the interstellar era, various values collide and merge with each other, and concepts such as "chastity" and "female virtue" in traditional society have no market here. Although some people remain pure for their lovers, others indulge their nature and enjoy themselves freely. Although the choices are different, the same thing is that they are all from the heart, not forced by others or social values .
Rong Yuan has long passed the age of seeing things in black and white, and has become more tolerant of the various attitudes in the world. Of course, in a place like Liukasao, it would be self-deception to say that everyone is willing to be imprisoned in the second floor without seeing the sun to do such a thing. But this does not require saving one or two people, but the entire Liukasao needs to change.
After walking around outside, when Rong Yuan returned to the rooftop, he saw Todd was still there. He had calmed down by now, sitting against the wall in a daze, probably wiping his face with his sleeves a few times, still in a mess, looking gloomy and desperate.
Rong Yuan walked over, sat cross-legged beside him, and accompanied him quietly.
After a long while, Todd asked in a low voice: "Why?"
"Um?"
"Why did they try so hard to harm me? Why did they try so hard to destroy my life and then appear in front of me as a benefactor? Just to make me work for them?" Todd said blankly: "But...but I was just a child at that time...What's more, given my situation at that time, even if they didn't do these things...I would be so happy to have such a big shot willing to recruit me, how could I refuse?"
"You are wrong." Rong Yuan said, "It can't be said that they are [scheming] or [trying every possible means]. Your matter is just a casual order to them. The rest will naturally be handled by the people below who will figure out the intentions of the superiors."
Todd's expression twisted slightly, but he had to admit that Rong Yuan was right.
——Isn't that what he is doing now? As long as Liuka or Mapu gives a hint, he will get rid of anyone for them - frame, frame, imprison, torture, murder...
To achieve the goal, no matter what is necessary.
Todd clenched his hands tightly and felt deeply disgusted with himself.
Rong Yuan added: "Moreover, for some people, the emotions and ties you have with your family, friends, and lovers are unnecessary obstacles. When they want a knife, they naturally hope that the knife is clean and will not become dull or fragile due to any external factors."
Todd closed his eyes. Every line on his face was filled with pain because of the truth. His tall body seemed much shorter because of his hunchback.
Because of an appreciation and a word, he lost the most important person to him, lost his life, and even lost his own thoughts. However, he regarded his enemies as his faith and as his father, and willingly became a knife in their hands that obeyed his orders, committing countless crimes.
His life was a complete joke. Such a ridiculous, such a pathetic life... What on earth had he been doing for the past sixty years?
Thinking of this, Todd couldn't help but laugh softly a few times.
The way he smiles is uglier than the way he cries.
After laughing, a tear fell quietly, sliding down his face and to the corner of his mouth.
After a long silence, Todd asked, "Who are you? What do you want?"
Rong Yuan said: "Lanxi Star, Tono Star, Debia Star, Gangjia Star, Aimenming Star, Yago Star, Erqi Star...Have you heard of these names?"
Todd's eyebrows twitched slightly, and a strange color suddenly appeared on his ashen face. He finally raised his head and looked at Rong Yuan, saying, "Are you an investigator from the Alliance? Are you investigating the truth behind the destruction of the seven asteroids?"
Rong Yuan was silent. Tao De thought he had guessed the truth and stopped asking. After thinking for a long time, he said, "If you ask me the truth, I can only say that I have investigated and suspected it, but I have no conclusion and no evidence. But..."
"but?"
Todd said, "Have you ever heard of... Veranadynia?"
