431 I Am Sincere! (1/2)
”Wow, look! The moonlight is so pretty!”
At the top level of the Judgement Tower, under the silent moonlight, someone studied the moon outside the bars and sighed as if intoxicated by it. Behind him, everyone was silent. They buried their faces in their hands.
However, the young man seemed to not sense anything. Turning around, he said with anticipation, ”The night is beautiful. How about I perform for all of you to add to the mood?”
Someone's expression changed drastically. ”Don't! Charles, wait—”
”Oh, oh, oh~ Oh, oh, oh~ Oh, oh, oh~ Oh, oh, oh~” Charles began singing happily, drunk from his own voice. ”The beauty of the Sacred City, a day in June~ Spring rain falls like wine, the willows like smoke~ Come thousands of miles if we're fated~ Can't even hold your hand if we're not~ Ten years of going through the obstacles, hundred years to share the same home~”
The horrible voice passed through the railings and echoed in everyone's ears. It kept repeating, ”Oh, if there are thousands of years, oh, of destiny~ We'll be together~ Oh, if there are thousands of years, of, of destiny~ We'll be together~ Lalala, lalala~”
The prisoners could not help but cover their faces and look everywhere for earplugs. Finally, the closest victim—his cellmate, a man covered in hair—could not take it anymore. He snapped a toothbrush in half and pointed it to his own throat.
”Charles, shut up!” Gritting his teeth, he was determined. ”Otherwise, I'll hurt myself and make you get locked up by yourself.”
”No, don't! If you don't like it, I can sing another song,” Charles said dejectedly. ”I used to be a prodigy musician. Do you know what the triangle is? It's really cool! Don't believe me? Let me show you—”
”Just shut up! Let me sleep and stop bothering me!” the man roared.
The prisoners in the neighboring cell made noises of agreement. They all yelled at the voice that was pushing them to the brink of insanity.
Hearing those hateful words, Charles's eyes clouded. He suddenly looked depressed and pitiful. Fluttering his lashes, he looked at his cellmate in anticipation.
”Don't you feel touched and see me in a new light after hearing it? That's what's supposed to happen! Is it because I sang badly? Give me another chance. I'll—”
”Listen, Charles.” The cellmate pressed down on his shoulders and used all his patience to say, ”I know you feel that the future is dark and hopeless after you were arrested and that's why you're doing everything to join the Revolutionaries. But no offense, we…don't take people like you, even if we're outside…”
Charles froze. In disbelief, he moved in close and pointed at his face. ”Look at me! I have potential! Won't you consider it?”
The man's features twisted and looked away determinedly. His decision was resolute.
”Naw, you can't be like this!” Charles was shaken. ”I got in because of you guys. What will I do if you won't protect me? And that bald guy next door keeps looking at my butt when we go out. I'm so scared.”
”Bullsh*t!” the man roared. ”That bald guy is my cousin. He's had a lazy eye for five years!”
”Uh…” Charles started feeling awkward. ”Don't get angry. We can discuss this. Why don't you consider it again?”
The man's expression was livid. He cracked his knuckles, unable to bear it anymore. As soon as he raised his fist, Charles collapsed onto the ground like a limp noodle. He grabbed the man's leg, tears, and snot streaming down his face.
”Brother, please just accept me! I really want to be a Revolutionary… I'm loyal and sincere!”
The prisoners had never seen someone so shameless as to admitting defeat even before fighting. They suddenly felt disgusted as if they had stepped onto gum. Their expressions twisted as they swore and cursed.
Finally, an old voice sounded in the cell across from them. ”Go to sleep.” In the darkness untouched by the moonlight, the old man leaning against the wall sighed. ”It's late.”
With that, everyone fell into silence. Even the furious muscular man shut his mouth obediently and went back to bed, no longer speaking.
In the awkward silence, only the weak Charles did not understand what had happened. He looked around in confusion but everyone ignored him. After a long while, he climbed up helplessly and sighed in frustration. Being a spy was harder than he thought!
But just as he decided to sleep, the old man's hoarse voice sounded behind him. ”Your name.”
”Huh?” Surprised, Charles turned around. In the cell across from him, the old man had risen at some point. He walked into the moonlight and stood before the bars, looking at the confused young man.
He was very old. With a head of white hair, he looked like an old scholar rather than a commanding figure. His emerald eyes looked like a carving by an artist when they looked at someone. After being weathered by time, merely the rough edges were able to instill awe.
It was Constantine.
”Your name,” Constantine repeated patiently.
”Uh…Ch-Charles.”
”Charles?” Constantine pondered and slowly nodded. ”A good name. I heard you are an Angloian musician?”
”That's right. I'm from the history department of the Royal Academy of Music. I'm really impressive, let me tell you. I graduated with the highest grade in the past ten years!” Charles instantly started bragging. After all, he was the only one to graduate from the history department in the past ten years. It counted as breaking a record.