110 Chapter 110: Medal of Honor (2/2)
But you know…some people love to create conspiracy theories. Particularly irresponsible journalists who hoped to draw attention to their websites by writing controversial articles. The worst thing was that there were people on the Internet stupid enough to believe them. And those idiots added to the online harassment and abuse, despite having their lack of logic pointed out by some of the more rational participants in social media. It reminded me of the morons who loved to blame everything, even the most unpolitical things or trivial matters, on the government, and the 70% who voted for them (Singapore reference). I mean, seriously, if a neighbor littered on your corridor, what did that have to do with the ruling party or the citizens who voted for them?
No matter the period, idiots existed everywhere. They were just more visible and noticeable in the present because the Internet made it much easier for them to post their inane views and harass people online without needing to be physically in front of the victim. They could bully people from the comfort of their own home.
The literal keyboard warriors.
”Anyway, I'm glad you are all right now. I heard that you were pretty banged up.”
”He was just a micrometer away from death,” Dad said grimly with a shake of his head. ”Yet I can't tell him not to do it because…”
”…you would have done the exact same thing if you were him,” Whitmore finished and grimaced. ”Yeah.”
”And his girlfriend's being telling him that for me, anyway, so me saying it would be excessive.”
”She's not my girlfriend,” I muttered. At least not yet. With all that was going on, we hadn't actually made our relationship official or discuss on how to go forward with it. Partly it was my fault for being obsessed with training and growing stronger, but while I was rehabilitating and recovering, I just couldn't find a moment to approach Alicia about it. Worse, not when so many of our schoolmates were dead.
Right now, an atmosphere of grief and mourning hung over Jing Tian Academy. It wasn't appropriate to talk about romance at the moment. Perhaps when everyone recovered mentally and spiritually. There were so many empty desks where our schoolmates once sat at. The student population was visibly diminished.
Eventually we would have to move on, but…not so soon. Not right now.
”Now that Richard's fully healed, I guess it's time for me to hunt down the culprits responsible.” Dad turned to me, his expression serious. ”You can handle yourself just fine now, right, Richard?”
It had been a few weeks, and I had recuperated completely, reaching back to 100% of my strength. A miracle, considered that my entire skeleton had been shattered, my internal organs had been ruptured, and my flesh and nerves suffered from severe third degree burns. But magic could do almost everything. While there was no spell that could resurrect the dead and bring those who had died back to life, the most advanced healing spells could restore a person and bring him back from the brink of death to full health.
I was a living example of that miraculous healing spell. Of course, not all healers could pull that off. It was only because Teacher Cure had reached an extremely advanced level in her healing magic that she could restore me back to my prime.
Otherwise I would still be lying in the hospital for another few months, needing organ transplants, skin grafts, and covered in casts. And I would need another year for rehabilitation.
”Yeah, I'm counting on you.” Whitmore looked just as grim. ”Whoever these people are, they are the enemies of our Global Federation. I can't imagine allowing these guys to rampage freely with these devices. If they set them off in the middle of a major city and summon a high ranked monster, then we would be fucked. The amount of damage suffered would be catastrophic. And hundreds will die.” He glanced at me sympathetically. ”I know about ninety-eight students died in the attack, but that would be nothing compared to what happens if the owners of these Transdimensional Keys trigger them in the middle of a densely populated urban area.
”Indeed.” Dad nodded. As for me, I didn't protest. Considering there were about five hundred students who participated in the party, we lost relatively few. Don't get me wrong, losing about twenty percent of the students present was still a massive blow. But I was glad that we didn't suffer any more casualties than that.
”I have already ordered the Global Intelligence Agency to track these bastards down.” Whitmore sighed. ”But we don't have much luck so far. Hopefully your unorthodox methods will uncover them.”
Dad made a face. ”Unorthodox? Me?”
”…dude.” Whitmore rolled his eyes. ”Do you know how your operation procedures deviate from any training manual or standard operating procedures we have for our military?”
”What makes you think I even have operation procedures to begin with?” Dad countered.
Whitmore spread his hands helplessly. ”I rest my case. But one thing I do know is that you will get results.” He nodded. ”As I said, we'll be counting on you.”
”Yeah.” Dad narrowed his eyes. ”Whoever these bastards are, I'll uncover them, flush them out and annihilate them. They are fools if they can get away with massacring so many students.”
Not for the first time, I felt a chill when I sensed the murderous aura in his eyes. I couldn't help but feel sorry for whoever was responsible for this incident.
There would be hell to pay the moment Dad located them. And make no mistake…he will find them. And he will kill them.