OBS Chapter 3509 The Second Bullet
Chapter 3509 The Second Bullet
Chapter 3509 The Ninth Bullet
The voice that called out Major Raders' name wasn't very loud, but everyone nearby could hear it, including Major Raders himself. He turned to look at the speaker, and judging from his expression, he had indeed encountered an "acquaintance."
Shad, standing at the back of the crowd, was a little worried that he might lose control of his emotions, but fortunately, after experiencing so much, "Captain Eight Guns" Rades was no longer the same person he was two years ago when he first returned from Carsonrick.
He simply nodded to the man who had spoken and continued dealing with the conflict. Although the crowd whispered among themselves, no one spoke loudly about Major Rades' past anymore.
The matter was quickly resolved; the conflict between the two sides was nothing more than a few words exchanged and nothing serious. So everyone dispersed, and Major Rades, who had just seen Shad, first sent his soldiers back, then put his hands in his pockets and walked towards Shad.
"Who is this"
He also saw Miss Larson following behind Shad, but in Major Lars’s memory, the girls who followed Shad were either mature and steady or graceful and charming. It was rare to see a “young girl” like this who was not very tall and had a youthful face.
Xia De then explained:
“This is Miss Stella Larson. Someone told her to keep an eye on me today.”
The white-haired girl gently patted him, and Major Rades understood:
"Then let's take a walk along the beach."
"Looks like you've had a lot on your mind lately?"
"Yes, where can you go without worries?"
Besides its clock business, Time Wheel City is also an important resort city in the Duchy of Lagerson, so its beaches are very beautiful. Winter is not yet over, and although the scenery by the sea is not as beautiful as in summer, the emptiness and desolation perfectly reflect Major Rades' mood.
Shad walked side by side with his old friend on the beach, while Miss Larson lagged two steps behind, curious about their story.
Xia De was very worried about his friend:
“You’ve been recognized by the people of Carsonrick. If word of what happened in the past gets back to the Navy, you’ll probably be in trouble.”
Being captured was no honorable experience, and the major never mentioned it to anyone after being transferred from the army to the navy. Although there was no rule against prisoners of war becoming officers, if word got out, his sailors would look down on him.
The major himself seemed quite philosophical about it:
"I survived those eight shots, and being captured afterwards can be seen as punishment for my attempted suicide. If this matter really gets out, I will gather the sailors and soldiers on the White Pearl to explain it to them. I consider myself to have some prestige on the ship, so I won't be isolated by everyone."
He stopped and looked at the sea:
“That’s not what’s bothering me lately. Actually, I’m still having nightmares, which haven’t stopped since the fleet arrived at Fattumn.
"Still the nightmare about that gun?"
Major Raders nodded slightly:
“I dreamt that I returned to Tobesk as Captain Eight Guns through a prisoner exchange. But what happened afterward was different from my actual experience. I didn’t meet you at Lakeview Manor, and that gun has been in my hands ever since.”
His voice was deep and hoarse:
"Because I didn't meet you, I didn't cheer up, and naturally, I didn't catch that human trafficker later. So I wasn't transferred to the Redwater Camp on the Wind Rises Trail in Midhill Castle to continue serving as an officer because of my meritorious service."
So I received my discharge order with the title of "Captain of Eight Guns," and then, relying on my discharge pay and the support of my former friends, I spent my days drinking in my apartment, letting alcohol numb my senses. Until one day, when my discharge pay ran out, I became a member of the Tobesco city gang to make a living.
In my dream, I always carried that gun and was always called "Captain Eight Guns." Later, I did many things until one day I was in a shootout in the lower city. My pistol ran out of bullets, so I pulled out my revolver, pulled the trigger, and was struck in the forehead by that belated bullet. Captain Eight Guns died from the ninth bullet of that gun.
This indeed aligns with the "Good Gun" characteristic of "neither harming oneself nor others".
"Is this a series of dreams?"
Shad then asked with a smile, while Major Raders, with his hands in his pockets, shook his head, gazing at the sea:
"I experienced so much in one night, and for several nights afterward, fragments of this dream would appear intermittently. I think this was partly due to my own overthinking. Although I've forgotten many details of the dream, it was just too real."
I still remember the headache from a hangover, the stench of the garbage alleys in downtown Tobesco, and the terrified eyes of the people who died in gang shootouts. Most of the time, my dreams ended with that bullet.
"Are you worried about this dream? Worried it might be a premonition?"
Shad reached into his pocket and, to Major Rades' astonishment, pulled out the [Gun of Kindness].
In front of Major Raders, Shad flung open the revolver's cylinder, spun it once to show that it was full of gleaming yellow bullets, and then handed the gun to his friend:
"If you're worried that the dream foreshadowed the ninth bullet taking your life, then pull the trigger now. I assure you, you'll be fine. Yes, even if you are hit, you'll be perfectly safe. Once you've fired this shot, you can relax, right?"
The unique nature of Fatummister Island could indeed cause Major Raders to dream of unusual things. Since Shad was able to hear Luvia's long-haired voice twice underwater, it's not surprising that Major Raders might dream of his past lives, or simply dream of fate.
But Shad felt he didn't need to explain things like "I broke fate" or "that might have been the original possibility," so pulling out the gun was the most straightforward way.
Major Raders hesitated for a moment as he looked at the familiar revolver—he had seen it many times in his dreams recently—before actually reaching out to take it.
Facing the sea, Napoleon Rades raised his revolver with his right hand, aiming it at the side of his head, the muzzle about two inches from his skin.
On a sunny winter afternoon, Major Rades stood on the beach, basking in the sun facing the sea. In addition to feeling happy, he also had a strange feeling that "I really live in this world".
With a click, he turned the hammer with his thumb, took a deep breath, and then pulled the trigger with his index finger.
A loud bang startled Miss Larson, who was pondering their conversation. Of course, no one fell after the shot. Major Raders was unharmed; he took deep breaths of the sea breeze to calm himself. Although he trusted Shad, he was still terrified.
But gradually, as his rapid breathing subsided, a smile returned to his face.
Shad reached out and caught the stray bullet, opening his palm to show Major Raders the bullet inside:
"Major, are you relieved now? It's just a dream. You've probably been too anxious lately."
Rades then put down the gun and said with a smile:
"I'm relieved, I'm relieved. It seems that even Captain Eight Shots might not die from the ninth shot. I was indeed overthinking it."
He returned the [Gun of Kindness] to Shad, and took the bullet for himself:
"I plan to make this into a pendant and keep it on my person as a talisman."
Shad had no objection to this. Although the [Gun of Kindness] was a relic, the bullets fired from that gun were still ordinary bullets.
He carefully put away the [Spear of Kindness], but didn't forget to give a word of advice:
"However, if you continue to have these dreams, you can write to Victoria Street again. I know a psychologist who is very good at solving dream problems. He can prescribe some calming medication for you."
Major Raders thanked him again, placed the bullet in his breast pocket, buttoned it up, let out a long sigh, and continued to gaze at the shimmering sea in the afternoon light. He put his hands back in his pockets, staring absently at the scenery before him. To Miss Larson, who was watching the two from the side, the snow-capped mountains seemed to gleam behind this unfamiliar northern officer.
As a candidate for the chosen ones, compared to the candidates of the [Society of Ten Thousand], [Order of Misfortune], [Clown Troupe], and [Association of Prophets], her talent for divination was not particularly strong. However, at this moment, she seemed to still see the arc of fate, a story of destiny that had been altered by human intervention.
She became increasingly curious about the story.
"The weather is so nice."
After a long silence, Major Raders spoke softly, and Shad stood beside him, smiling:
"Actually, the weather on Fatummst Island is fine most of the time, you just haven't noticed it."
The two didn't discuss the "Gun of Goodness" further; Major Raders seemed completely relieved. However, Shad brought up Viscount Allefield's fiancée, Miss Lavender, the imposter they had captured the day before:
"Has Miss Lavender's disappearance caused a stir in the delegation? Didn't the Viscount Allefield order a search throughout the island?"
Major Raders shook his head:
“I’ve heard about it, but Viscount Allefield is just very sad and has fallen ill and is bedridden. Others are looking for the missing lady, and the police in Time Wheel City are also helping, but it hasn’t caused much of a stir. News of what happened in Tobesk on Monday has already reached here, and Viscount Allefield is now more than happy that his fiancée is missing.”
Although the House of Resurrection has been destroyed, the Church will surely search for those false people who "came back to life," and it is only a matter of time before they find the false people in the Tobesque delegation.
Once the imposter is found, Viscount Allefield will certainly be questioned by the Church. Therefore, for the sake of his reputation and to avoid being arrested by the Church, making Miss Lavender disappear now might be what the Viscount desires most.