Chapter 406: the end of a journey

Neon City, South Ville District, Orion Street, Oliver mansion.

It was already a day since the hero of the Radan republic addressed every citizen of the republic, and optimism could be felt in the atmosphere for the first time in years.

Currently, the country was now in a period of recovery on every facet imaginable. It felt like a previously malnourished tree that could not grow properly, but who now had access to good nutrients to grow.

At this moment, a car suddenly drove into the street. Driving through the familiar road of Orion Street, Clark suddenly felt funny. He felt like this would be part of his story in the future when and if they discussed his legend.

It was a shameless thought, but a man got to dream. Every high-grade soldier wanted to be seen as a legend in the future, and he was one of them.

Throughout the ride, Albert who sat beside him was quiet as he silently observed the street. It was clear that he was also missing this country already despite not having left yet.

Clark laughed on seeing him. “If you remain adamant in following me, you’ll experience such scenarios a lot, so you better get used to them”.

“I’ll follow you”. Albert replied solemnly.

“I like the experience here, it built me up in ways that I never expected. I don’t know why I think so, but I think I’m more mature now after this encounter”.

“…”

For that, Clark didn’t know what to answer for it.

As he tried hard to ignore the awkward silence that followed, he finally steered his car inside the familiar Oliver Mansion.

Unlike before where the mansion was heavily guarded like it belonged to an evil underground drug lord, the guards were reduced by a lot, and the mansion’s atmosphere seemed much lighter and optimistic.

Seeing such an atmosphere on his first time coming here after the battle made Clark nod with a smile. For the first time, he really felt that his actions were affecting the world.

He was no longer the small Clark of yesteryear, he was no longer just the dreamer, he was now the doer.

He’s started this activity in a small country like the Radan republic, but he believed that he would one day get to the level where he could influence the top powers to change the paradigm completely.

As he thought, he smoothly entered the building with his student.

“Yo, you came?”

Captain Drake greeted with a smile as soon as he saw the 2 people who entered his mansion.

“Yeah, I came”. Clark mimicked the captain’s tone, earning a laugh from him as he shook hands with him in a buddy-to-buddy manner.

He always thought that he knew this captain, but the speech yesterday gave him a new impression of who Captain Drake really was.

Despite his fierce and unyielding attitude, he did not expect this man to be a victim too who suffered the death of his wife and 2 sons. Since he knew the truth, he discovered a newfound respect for the captain.

He really wished to ship a relationship between him and his assistant, Captain Daniella, but the word just couldn’t leave his mouth.

“I didn’t expect to see you here, I thought you would be busy with the governing of the country, Mr. Hero”. Clark struck a joke as he sat down.

Captain Drake smiled. “I actually don’t want to put hands into the governing of the country, I’m content with monitoring things from the dark, just like I did with my old warriors club”.

“I didn’t even rejoin the Radan army though Odin and the others tried to persuade me, I don’t think I can return to that life anymore”.

“Oh”. Clark nodded in understanding.

“What of Captain Madara and the Timber government? Do you guys have any plans on how to go about it?”

Hearing that, Captain Drake revealed a grin. “You know, Lieutenant Colonel, I’m actually a fake hero. You’re the real hero”.

“I don’t think a situation like my country will happen again. Though most low-grade countries still don’t know who we got help from, they know that a powerful expert is opposing them already”.

“You know politicians, they’re always afraid for their lives”.

“Immediately after the news from us spread, that same day, some low-grade countries started implementing reforms to herald a new era of good governance”.

“Killing our President was not the way I wanted to do it, but the situation left us with no choice. Now that they’re repenting themselves, I think we can let them be”.

“The only condition is to make sure that they revert any stupid decision that they’ve taken before now, like breaking their country’s constitution”.

Hearing all that, Clark was left stunned. “I’m surprised, I didn’t expect everything to just snowball so easily”.

“That’s why I said you’re a hero”. Captain Drake laughed again. “You know, the Radan republic wants to give you a gift as our country legend”.

“Ha-ha”. Clark laughed while waving his hand. “I already told you, I didn’t do this for money. The peace of heart and joy that it brings to me is the greatest payment”.

“I told them, but Odin and the others adamantly insisted”.

“To be sincere, I agree with them, it seems you don’t really know the magnitude of what you did for us. You saved our country!”

Now, Clark felt a little embarrassed when it was put so blatantly.

“Don’t worry, it’s not something bad, and it won’t affect our recovery procedures. They decided to give you 5% of our national income every year”.

“The f*ck!” Clark almost spit the drink that he was drinking all over the captain’s face.

“And you allowed that? Do you know what that means?” Clark was flabbergasted.

“I know what it means”. Captain Drake smiled. “General Cable would have doomed the country one way or the other, so this wouldn’t even affect us”.

“And I don’t think accumulating that sum for 5 years is still not enough to give a mercenary for hunting a 4th rank high-grade soldier”.

“And besides, it's not up to the amount that our politicians previously stole every year”. The captain laughed dryly.

Hearing the explanation from the captain, Clark wanted to retort but he found himself lost for words. In the end, after more persuasion from the captain, he agreed and put the pen to paper to sign the contract.

He did the good deed because he felt like it and it was in line with his conscience, but if those that he helped insisted that they must pay him, he wouldn’t reject. He was a mercenary Afterall.

After finalizing everything, he finally stood up to leave the Radan republic with his student.

Almost every notable assassin of the old warriors club came to wave goodbye to him. He saw Captain Daniella, Estella and her 2 teammates, and the assassins that he’s followed for assassination missions.

As he left, he divided a place in his brain to keep the history that he had with the Radan republic.

It would be part of the legend that defined who he was.