Chapter 4: Family Disgrace

Bernard was sent flying by Joshua's punch. After spitting out a harsh threat, he vanished into the night. He could tell how formidable Joshua was—if they went all out, he might not stand a chance. As the vice commander of the Crimson Fiend Mercenary Corps, Bernard held a position of power and wasn't about to risk his life needlessly. Retreating now was the most brilliant move. He could settle the score with Joshua later. Bang! Bang! Bang! The surrounding bandits opened fire on Joshua all at once. There were nearly a hundred of them. The sheer number of men showed just how massive the arms smuggling operation was. Joshua rolled to the ground as bullets whizzed past him. He grabbed a machine gun and fired back, instantly blasting the heads off three of the attackers. In the post-apocalyptic world, Joshua rarely relied on firearms. While he acknowledged the necessity of powerful weapons in certain situations, he preferred not to use them unless necessary. There was something far more satisfying about taking down enemies with his bare fists. If he had to wield a weapon, he favored a rocket launcher—each missile he fired could bring down an entire skyscraper. Though he disliked guns, that didn't mean his marksmanship was poor. With a machine gun in each hand, Joshua charged forward like a war god, neither dodging nor flinching. By the time he stopped firing, every single bandit lay dead in a pool of blood. Only Bernard managed to escape. Tossing the guns aside, Joshua picked up a few grenades from the ground. He hurled two into a nearby tent. Explosions lit up the night sky. With a smirk of satisfaction, he turned and walked away. He had avenged his five fallen comrades, wiped out every last bandit, and destroyed their smuggled arms. Mission accomplished. Alice had watched everything unfold in the branches of a tall tree. She was utterly stunned. She couldn't believe what she had just witnessed. Joshua's strength and skill were beyond anything she had imagined, more intense than the most action-packed war films. Even the best elite soldiers, let alone a newly recruited special forces operative like Joshua, wouldn't be capable of this. "Alice, we should go. Dawn is approaching." Joshua had appeared behind her without making a sound at some point. "Joshua, when did you become this powerful?" Alice couldn't help but ask. "Huh? Haha, just a little untapped potential and a classic underdog comeback." Joshua chuckled as he scratched his head. He knew Alice wouldn't accept the truth that he wasn't the same Joshua she once knew, but rather, a reborn Divine Esper. If he blurted that out, she'd probably think he was insane and have him locked up in a mental hospital. Joshua carried Alice on his back, slipping away into the night, heading for the Eastanian border. As soon as they arrived, several off-road military vehicles surrounded them. Armed soldiers jumped out, weapons at the ready. Leading them was a man of local descent, around thirty years old, standing about five-foot-seven with a buzz cut. When he saw Joshua and Alice, his expression shifted to surprise. "Mr. Hammer, you're here?" Alice dismounted from Joshua's back, her face showing a mix of awkwardness and sorrow as she addressed the man. Hammer was the captain of Chanaea's Celestial Strike Force, an elite unit handpicked by military higher-ups. Shortly after Alice and her team were deployed, Eastania's intelligence agency caught wind of a possible Crimson Fiend Mercenary Corps ambush, setting off alarm bells. The military's top brass immediately ordered Hammer to lead dozens of Celestial Strike Force operatives on a rescue mission to Shadowmist Forest. Even with reinforcements dispatched, most believed that Alice and her seven special forces soldiers had little to no chance of survival. The intelligence had been flawed. Alice's team was against nearly a hundred ruthless bandits and the infamously deadly Crimson Fiend Mercenary Corps. Returning alive would be nothing short of a miracle. Yet, a miracle had happened. The one responsible for it was Joshua. Alice recounted everything to Hammer, who listened in stunned silence. He repeatedly glanced at Joshua, unable to believe what he was hearing. Finally, he signaled for Joshua to ride in his vehicle. He wanted to have a private conversation with this remarkable new soldier. After all, Eastania had just lost five special forces members, and this mission had significant international implications. It wasn't something that could be brushed aside. Inside the off-road vehicle, Joshua sat next to Hammer. He wasn't particularly interested in the conversation, though. Leaning against the seat, he let the cool breeze wash over him. The battle had drained him. He had pushed his Esper abilities to their limits, even though he had only used less than ten percent of his full power. The exhaustion was catching up to him. "Want a smoke?" Hammer offered, holding out a cigarette. He already believed Alice's report—this young man was powerful. What puzzled him was why no one had noticed it before. Or had Joshua been deliberately hiding his true strength? Joshua took the lit cigarette and took a deep drag, savoring the moment. In the apocalypse, getting to smoke a cigarette like this was a luxury beyond measure—something not even a hundred women could trade for. "You were the biggest contributor this time. I'll make sure to report your achievements. You might even get a big promotion," Hammer said as he looked at Joshua. "No, thanks. I don't want any commendations, and I don't want a promotion. I want to go back to the city—to my home," Joshua replied, shaking his head. From the moment he opened his eyes, he had understood a lot. He would never have enlisted if it weren't for his desire to restore his family's honor and wipe away the disgrace he had brought upon his parents. Now, all he wanted was to go back and see them. If it weren't for Alice running her mouth and telling Hammer everything, Joshua wouldn't have let anyone know about his past. "Really? This is a major achievement. High-ranking military officials will meet you. It's an honor, and you'll rise through the ranks quickly. Even though the Yale Family has fallen, this could be your chance to redeem your name," Hammer said, puzzled. "Sorry, but I'm not interested. I'm sure news of this will spread soon enough. The fact that I can go home alive is enough to make my parents proud. I want to be with them and give them a peaceful, happy life," Joshua said calmly. Hammer was genuinely confused. From what he knew, Joshua was a freshman at Longtide University. The Yale Family was a third-rate family in Regalburg. Joshua was once notorious for being a delinquent—fighting, chasing women, and causing trouble wherever he went. His most infamous scandal was when he had gotten caught peeping at Abby Lashbrook, the most beautiful woman in Regalburg, while she was bathing. The incident had shaken the entire city. The Lashbrook Family was Regalburg's most powerful family, and its leader was a high-ranking national official—far beyond what the Yale Family could afford to offend. Ultimately, Joshua's parents were forced to publicly apologize to the Lashbrook family in front of several prestigious families, while Joshua knelt beside them the entire time. That was the only way he had escaped with his life, but the Yale Family had become the laughingstock of Regalburg as a result. After that, Joshua seemed to have had a wake-up call. He eventually enlisted, hoping to turn his life around, which had led to this very moment. But no one had expected that this once-useless troublemaker, who had brought shame to his family, would possess such terrifying strength. It was almost unbelievable. "I'm afraid this isn't up to you," Hammer said after snapping out his thoughts. Joshua looked him in the eye and said sincerely, "I appreciate it, Mr. Hammer. You're a good man, but I want a simple life. I had no choice but to fight this time. Others need this honor more than I do. Let them have it. I want to go home." "I can only report this to Marshal Greywolf. He will decide how to handle it." After arriving at the military camp, Alice was immediately sent to the medical unit for treatment, while Joshua collapsed into a deep sleep. His body couldn't handle the explosive surge of energy he had unleashed. Forcing his Sovereign-level power to its limits to take down those ruthless criminals had drained him completely. He was exhausted and needed rest. Meanwhile, Hammer stood respectfully in the camp as he reported to Marshal Greywolf. "Sir, this is exactly what Alice told us. I don't think she would lie." "A useless troublemaker who disgraced his family... Is he that powerful?" Greywolf muttered, still skeptical. Greywolf was a high-ranking member of the military commission and the leader of the Celestial Strike Force. He was also one of the three legendary warlords of Eastania, known for his unparalleled strength. Before arriving, his superiors had instructed him to keep the incident under wraps as much as possible—to downplay it, whether for classified reasons or to avoid unnecessary international attention. He wasn't one to gossip, but the scandal between the Yale Family and the Lashbrook Family was so infamous that anyone of status had heard about it. It was the reason the Yale Family had become a joke in Regalburg. "Hammer, do you seriously believe this once-useless brat is that strong?" "I do," Hammer replied firmly. Greywolf was momentarily taken aback. Hammer was one of his most trusted subordinates—the leader of the Celestial Strike Force, skilled, composed, and sharp-witted. He was even a candidate to replace Greywolf in the future. That someone like Hammer would believe such a claim was surprising. "I'd like to hear your reasoning." "Marshal Greywolf, Chanaean martial arts are vast and profound. I once studied under a master from an Ancient Martial Sect. He told me there are people in this world known as prodigies. They may seem ordinary most of the time, but when faced with life-and-death situations, the power they unleash is unimaginable. I believe Joshua is one of them," Hammer replied respectfully. Greywolf furrowed his brows slightly, then the corners of his lips curved into a faint smile. "A prodigy, huh? Well, now I'm curious. Bring him to me. I want to see what kind of genius he is."