Shadows of the Deep Space Chapter 1724: 545: The Eve
Previously on Shadows of the Deep Space...
The next day.
Order was restored in the Lost City after the rebellion got crushed.
In the central square.
City Lord Otain occupied the main seat with a stony expression, flanked by Jikol Corps Commander and Hovido.
Troops in Exoskeleton Armor, gripping their weapons, encircled the whole square.
A massive crowd assembled beyond the square to observe the scene.
Right then, Hovido grabbed the captive roster and announced.
“Meng Lao…..”
Meng Lao, the Black Death Society's leader, and his followers were promptly escorted forward by soldiers, standing in line.
“Lord Otain, I was wrong! Please let us go.”
Meng Lao begged City Lord Otain right away.
“Hmph, traitor, kill them!”
Otain waved his hand with icy indifference.
“No!”
Terror filled the screams of Meng Lao and his group.
Soldiers lifted their guns and fired straight at the heads of Meng Lao and his men!
Bang bang!
Meng Lao and his men's heads exploded instantly, brains and blood spraying all over.
Excited chants rose from the crowd outside the square.
“Good kill!”
…
Otain declared coldly.
“Next batch!”
“Lu Ang….”
Hovido kept calling out names from the list.
One group after another of prisoners faced execution, their corpses stacking into a mound.
Noon arrived swiftly.
Hovido announced the final group of prisoners.
“Fergus….”
Fergus along with his underlings got hauled forward in humiliation.
The spectators, spotting the main offender, yelled furiously.
“Kill him!”
…
Otain eyed Fergus with a mocking sneer.
“Fergus, weren’t you arrogant and trying to kill me? Now you’re in my hands.”
“Indeed, I intended to kill you, but will you dare to kill me? I am a prince of the Dark Star Empire, representing the Empire. If you dare to touch me, the Empire will surely wipe out the entire Land of Lost!”
Fergus lifted his chin toward Otain, brimming with haughty defiance.
His words caused all present to stiffen in shock.
Otain's face grew darkly grim too. Fergus's arrogance rang true despite it all.
Killing him would enrage the Dark Star Empire, prompting an invasion to raze the Land of Lost.
Noticing Otain's silence, Fergus smirked smugly.
Yet suddenly, a voice echoed.
“And what about me?”
Shock gripped Fergus, Otain, and everyone else as they whipped around.
Land of Lost troops parted to clear a path.
Su Ming strode in wearing his Grand General Uniform, accompanied by Ankaga, Zhang Yi, and others.
“Su, Su Ming….”
Fergus's features twisted in utter dread at Su Ming's sight, his frame quaking.
He might bully Otain, but Su Ming was beyond his reach.
“General Su Ming.”
Otain rose swiftly from his seat and offered a courteous welcome.
“City Lord Otain, Fergus wants to kill you, yet he’s so arrogant, why not fulfill his wish?”
A faint smile played on Su Ming's lips as he addressed Otain.
“This….”
Otain's face stiffened upon Su Ming's suggestion.
“City Lord Otain, with everyone watching, are you going to back down? Besides, with me supporting you, do you dare not kill him?”
Su Ming regarded Otain steadily and said.
His aim was to compel Otain into slaying Fergus, severing all ties with the Dark Star Empire for good.
Otain's visage shifted repeatedly; he'd planned only to threaten Fergus, not execute him, yet now faced a dilemma.
All eyes locked onto Otain.
Resolving himself, Otain's gaze hardened with ferocity as he drew his waist pistol and pointed it at Fergus.
“No, please don’t!”
Fergus cried out desperately, his prior bravado vanished.
Whoosh!
Otain fired without hesitation.
Fergus's skull shattered on impact, his corpse crumpling to the ground.
Wild cheers exploded from the onlookers.
“Long live the Lord City Master!”
….
Having slain Fergus, Otain drew a deep breath to steady his pounding heart before facing Su Ming.
“Lord Su Ming, apologies for letting you witness this spectacle.”
“How could that be?”
Su Ming smiled in response.
“Lord Su Ming, I’ve prepared a banquet at the mansion. May I invite you to honor us with your presence?”
Otain extended the invitation with unease.
With Fergus dead, securing Federation backing was urgent to shield the Land of Lost from doom.
“Alright!”
Grasping Otain's intent, Su Ming agreed at once.
“This way, please!”
Otain responded eagerly as Su Ming consented.
…
A short while later.
Within the City Lord Mansion's dining hall.
Delicacies and premium wines graced the round table.
Su Ming, Otain, and Jikol took seats around it.
Otain lifted his wine glass, beaming at Su Ming.
“Lord Su Ming, without your intervention, the Land of Lost would be finished. This glass is to you!”
“Alright!”
Su Ming lifted his glass, toasted with Otain, and drained it fully!
Jikol lifted his wine glass too, turning to Su Ming.
“Lord Su Ming, Novlin and Alfaku have shared tales of your countless aids to our Holy Army. Our gratitude runs deep, so I raise this toast to you!”
“Lord Jikol, there's no call for such formality.”
Su Ming refilled his cup and clinked it against Jikol's with a smile.
The pair heartily drained their glasses in unison.
With several rounds behind them, the mood abruptly ignited into fervor.
Otain addressed Su Ming directly.
“Lord Su Ming, we're rough warriors, clumsy with flowery speech, yet should you require our aid in any matter, simply command it!”