novelnext Chapter 127: You are the first batch
Chapter 127: You are the first batch
Seeing Edward's bloodshot eyes and the look of utter hatred that seemed to want to devour him alive, Ronin smiled and stood up from his chair.
"Let him go," Luo Ning said to the guards.
The moment the guards relaxed their guards, Edward pounced on Ronin.
However, such a weak attack naturally couldn't reach Luo Ning, who easily dodged it.
Meanwhile, Ed, having failed in his first attack, immediately resumed his assault on Ronning with a series of punches.
But Luo Ning stepped back slightly, tripped, and sent him sprawling face-first into the dirt.
"That's it?" Ronin looked down at Ed lying on the ground and mocked him, "With your pathetic skills, you dare to talk about protecting Hana? You probably can't even protect yourself."
Hearing Ronin's words, Edward gritted his teeth, got up, grabbed a chair from the side, and threw it at Ronin.
Luo Ning raised his hand and caught it steadily. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the boy take the opportunity to lower his body and launch a sneak attack. His eyes were fierce, and he thought he had succeeded.
Luo Ning simply smiled faintly and slammed the chair down hard.
"A feint attack is a good idea, but unfortunately you handed me the weapon and charged into my most convenient position. You're hopelessly stupid."
The wooden chair shattered on the ground, and Edward was so badly injured by the impact that he almost vomited blood. He lay on the ground for a long time, unable to get up, and was in excruciating pain in his chest.
Luo Ning stood quietly, watching the struggling boy.
He didn't find the child laughable at all; he just knew all too well that having passion but lacking ability and intelligence would only lead to humiliation.
Ed finally crawled over, gasping for breath to suppress the tightness in his chest, but his defiant eyes remained fixed on Ronin's face.
"Do you know why you can't beat me?" Luo Ning asked with a sneer.
"Because you're an asshole!" Ed cursed, throwing a punch, but it was easily dodged, and then Ed kicked him in the knee.
The boy immediately knelt down and screamed in pain.
Luo Ning leaned down to look at him and said calmly, "Wrong answer. Guess again?"
Ed struggled to his feet, leaning against the wall. His gaze toward Ronin showed no sign of backing down, but a hint of confusion had crept in.
He didn't understand what Luo Ning was trying to do. Was it simply to humiliate him?
"Because you're calmer than me?"
The boy tentatively spoke, while simultaneously grabbing a vase and smashing it hard at Luo Ning.
Luo Ning easily caught it, carefully placed it aside, dodged his pointless attack, and then kicked him in the butt.
"wrong."
At least he saw a hint of contemplation on Edward's face, which gave him some comfort.
But this time, Edward, who had fallen, did not get up for a long time, as if he had given up the struggle.
Luo Ning watched, then silently stomped hard on his hand.
"Ugh! You bastard! Because you're better than me! Okay, fine!"
Ed screamed and pulled his finger back. Enraged by his failed ambush, he threw another punch.
"Not right yet."
The punch missed again, and in return, Luo Ning delivered a kick to the face.
The boy's body went limp, and he completely lost consciousness.
Luo Ning gave the guards a look, and the guards immediately stepped forward and dragged the unconscious Edward away.
Luo Ning then walked over to the remaining nine teenagers and sat down.
"Can anyone answer me? Why can't he beat me?" he asked slowly.
The boys looked at each other, their faces full of confusion.
Luo Ning patiently sat there, quietly watching the teenagers.
Finally, the strange silence was broken by a boy. Among the group, this boy appeared to be the strongest and probably older, but his face still carried a shy, childlike air.
"My lord, I think it's because Edward isn't as fast as you."
His voice trembled slightly; clearly, he was worried about getting beaten up for asking the wrong question.
Luo Ning stood up, and the boy instantly closed his eyes in fear.
But the expected beating did not come. When he opened his eyes, he only saw Luo Ning rummaging through something in his desk.
Soon after, a bag of bird cartilage strips was thrown in front of him. The boy picked it up, bewildered, and looked at Luo Ning blankly.
"No, but this bag of cartilage strips is for you, since you were the first to speak." Luo Ning sat down and said slowly, "Try it, it tastes pretty good."
The boy carefully unpacked the package, and the first bite of meaty flavor instantly brought tears to his eyes.
Having been a slave his whole life, this was the first time he had ever tasted real meat; the rich aroma melted in his mouth.
An indescribable sense of happiness welled up in his heart, making him cherish every bite he took, reluctant to swallow, and chewing it slowly.
The faint aroma of meat wafted from the boy's mouth. Although it was very weak, the two boys next to him could smell it keenly. They didn't even know what was happening, but their mouths were already watering uncontrollably.
Luo Ning held another piece of cartilage in his hand, fiddling with it, and looked at the boys in front of him. "Anyone else want to answer me? There's more here."
"Sir! I know, Edward's fighting style is too clumsy, it's all straightforward and useless!" A sly-looking boy answered quickly, then looked at Ronin expectantly.
Luo Ning smiled and, as agreed, tossed the jerky in his hand over.
"No, that's not right either. Does anyone else want to say something? The last piece."
Hearing Luo Ning's words, the teenagers looked at each other, but no one spoke, unsure of what to do.
Just then, a boy who looked gloomy and taciturn suddenly spoke.
"Because of experience, even if Edward is stronger and faster than you, it's useless. You've anticipated every move he makes."
Luo Ning looked at him, and couldn't help but feel pleasantly surprised.
I've struck gold!
If this boy were placed in the world of anime, he would be the template for a ruthless and taciturn second male lead!
Luo Ning smiled and tossed the last piece of cartilage over. The boy caught it steadily, bowed his head, and thanked him, "Thank you, sir."
Ronin stood up. "That's right. The difference in experience is the most obvious. You were given to me as a gift by Viscount Walker, but I don't intend to raise you as ordinary slaves."
His gaze swept over the boys in front of him, and each of them looked at him differently.
"Do you know what Hana and those girls were taken away to do?" Luo Ning said slowly, and the boys no longer looked at him with the same wariness as before.
"I'm sending them to learn skills and knowledge," Ronin continued. "I control this planet. What we lack here isn't manpower, but talent—trustworthy confidants, people I can rely on. As for you, you've been subjected to all sorts of oppression and inhumane treatment all along. I'm willing to give you a chance to turn things around, a chance to be trusted by me."
After Luo Ning finished speaking, he looked at the boys in front of him, and the expression on each of their faces changed.
Looking at the group of teenagers with their varied expressions, he had already made up his mind.
He had always wanted to cultivate his own elite squad.
Although these teenagers are no longer young, they are more malleable and more worthy of careful guidance than the stereotypical adult soldiers in the army.