America: I'm really not crazy

Chapter 109 One Warrior

If Cruz's beating was a whip that instilled fear, then the jeers coming from behind were wooden sticks that shattered dignity.

A person who has lost their dignity is capable of anything in order to escape true fear.

For example... betrayal.

But when he entered the factory, he couldn't help but pause for a moment.

Inside the factory, the control panel was pushed aside, revealing an open vault door.

Esther now finally knows what the key Cruz gave him was for.

However, he did not act rashly, but stood at a distance.

"Hello, sir. Excuse me... are you still there?"

When Esther entered the "factory," his voice trembled, but he asked as politely as possible.

He didn't approach the open underground vault without permission, fearing it might offend the person.

"Bang..."

"Bang..."

"Bang..."

Footsteps, as pounding as a heartbeat, came from behind the vault door.

Even though she had already made a decision, Esther still couldn't help feeling nervous.

And when the person who shot off his toe appeared, the other person's reaction was... somewhat friendly?

"Hello, may I ask your name?"

He stood there casually and waved his hand.

Esther was stunned.

He didn't understand what the other person meant, but the casual atmosphere made Esther subconsciously answer.

"Este, Esther Ban."

After Esther finished answering, the other person politely introduced himself.

My name is Li Wei.

Then, the other person crossed their arms and looked at him with a smile.

"Is there anything I can help you with?"

Esther hadn't expected this reaction. He opened his mouth, forcing his brain to work.

"Outside... there are people outside lying in ambush for you."

Li Wei raised an eyebrow.

"Thank you for reminding me."

Esther was somewhat taken aback by the other party's polite thanks, but when he saw Levi walking back into the vault, he finally spoke out of fear.

"I...I want to follow you, is that alright?"

Li Wei stopped in his tracks and tilted his head to look at Esther.

He seemed to be considering whether or not to take this "little brother" in.

Two seconds later.

"Can."

Li Wei answered crisply, but those two seconds felt like an agonizing ordeal for Esther, as if she had rolled around in hellish lava.

But at least, the result was good.

Perhaps because Levi's attitude was more reasonable than Cruz's, Esther regained a little courage.

He cautiously asked a question.

"Boss, why did you ask for my name first?"

Esther's "role" shift was very smooth; she immediately changed her mind after Levi agreed.

Li Wei kept walking and only casually replied.

"This is the most basic courtesy and respect one can show to others."

Esther became even more confused after receiving the answer.

People, manners, respect...

Is this referring to him?

It turns out that he wasn't the "hopeless scum" that others described, but a person who deserved to be treated politely and was entitled to be respected.

"Thank you, boss."

This time it was Esther's turn to express her gratitude.

However, there was one more thing he didn't say aloud.

Thank you... for letting me die with dignity.

Originally, he only wanted to use Levi to take a couple more people down with him before Esther died, but now he wants to pick up a weapon and try to fight back.

Even if his terrible marksmanship means he might not be able to kill anyone, whether he can hit the target is a matter of ability, while whether he fights back is a matter of attitude.

Although the result may not be much different.

but.

This is the difference between "having dignity" and "not having dignity".

It's also the difference between "people" and "scum".

"Boss, is there anything I can do to help?"

Esther took the initiative to follow in Levi's footsteps.

"Pick one that feels good to you and hide it well."

Having returned to the underground, Li Wei casually picked up an HK416 and a box of ammunition.

He took nothing else.

Esther was stunned by what she saw underground.

Cruz never told him what was underground in this "factory".

He didn't realize it until Li Wei, carrying a gun and an ammunition box, brushed past him.

Esther quickly grabbed his most familiar Glock 19 and followed Levi.

But he turned back after taking only two steps—he had forgotten to take the magazine and bullets.

Like buying groceries at a supermarket, Escott grabbed a handful haphazardly and then jogged away from the underground.

Then he saw Li Wei put the gun and ammunition box aside and stand in front of the control panel fiddling with the equipment.

"Boss, what are you doing?"

Esther thought that at this point, shouldn't they be setting up some traps or something to prepare for Cruz's attack?

Li Wei uttered a noun without even looking up.

"Dragon's Breath".

Dragon's Breath is an "offensive alchemical potion" that, when applied to projectiles, can produce an effect similar to "Dragon's Breath Bullets".

Li Wei decided to test whether this thing was as amazing as described in the "Notes".

If so, he planned to manufacture a batch of "special alchemical ammunition" afterward.

For example, instead of applying "Dragon's Breath" to the bullet, it is directly loaded into the bullet.

Esther didn't know what "Dragon's Breath" was, nor did she understand what Levi was planning to do.

All he knew was that his boss looked quite serious and focused, and... he seemed to need time to prepare.

Esther looked at the Glock 19 in his hand, seemingly deep in thought.

After a full five minutes, Esther made up her mind.

"Boss, I'll try my best to buy you some time."

"If I die... please take down Cruz for me."

"It's the one leading the group outside. He carries an assault rifle and is also the ugliest."

After saying that, Esther put down the Glock 19 in his hand.

He came with nothing, but left with a gun, which would arouse Cruz's suspicion.

Hopefully, this will fool Cruz...

Thinking this, Esther didn't wait for Levi's reply, but simply turned around and silently walked towards the door.

Li Wei, who was originally looking down at the raw materials, suddenly looked up.

He showed no expression and said nothing, simply watching Esther's somewhat resolute figure gradually disappear into the distance.

In the end, Li Wei blinked but still didn't say anything.

However, he did take action.

Li Wei returned underground, picked up a G28, and went back to the surface.

Then, he continued to produce "Dragon's Breath".

While waiting for the raw materials to be converted, Li Wei looked towards the gate.

He could no longer see Esther's back, but he seemed to see her still walking forward.

However, in his eyes, Esther was not the disheveled, bruised and battered figure, but rather... a warrior preparing to rush to his battlefield.

As a soldier, one can die in defeat, but one cannot lose one's dignity.

Li Wei... always firmly believed this.