Chapter 40: Chapter 40 Doubts
Editor: Noodletown Translations
Finally, Mu Fan’s morning training results came to fruition…
From initially controlling two blue and three red mechanical levers plus synchronizing five console keys, to two hours later controlling four blue and four red mechanical levers plus six console keys, he eagerly absorbed the knowledge explained by Black. By lunchtime, he finally managed to make EH01 walk, and he could even make small jumps. However, Mu Fan still felt ashamed when he left, retreating from the PO Battle Net under Black’s smiling face.
Black himself flew around inside the cockpit twice, muttering to himself, “Am I being too harsh on Mu Fan?” Then the electronic eye squinted into a line, “Egg Lord must be the best, can’t tarnish Lord Black’s reputation! Yes, can’t tarnish my reputation.”
“Hey, it seems like the Thousand Wave Star’s radio is reporting something extraordinary, I better go check it out, zoom!”
Black’s little eyes suddenly widened, and then he disappeared in an instant.
The Thousand Wave Star’s radio, 2.7 light-years away, was rolling the news, “The annual Thousand Wave Star beauty pageant has begun…”
…
Seeing the fat brother’s miserable expression, Mu Fan knew he had lost again. Young Master Harry was now feeling somewhat exasperated, angrily demanding double lunch from Uncle Wu over the Sky Communication. After Mu Fan declined his lunch invitation, the fat brother prepared to devour twice the food alone. He was too grievously defeated this morning, and his heart was deeply hurt, needing comfort.
Mu Fan’s heart was also deeply hurt, so he ordered twelve meal boxes at noon. After exhausting some effort in his bout with Young Master Wen, he needed to replenish. Today, everyone spontaneously cleared a circle around him; even someone as insensitive as Mu Fan could feel the respect and fear in their eyes.
The strongest human punching bag has arrived! Are you kidding? Jeff was beaten until he spat blood. This guy is sitting here, eating twelve boxes of nutrition meals! Not only is he fine, he’s even eating extra! Extra!
Well, I’m not brave enough to mess with him, better steer clear. One person thought this, and the people around weren’t fools, so all the treatment Jeff used to enjoy in the entire cafeteria now fell on Mu Fan.
Mu Fan contentedly finished his nutrition meals, feeling his whole body finally basked in sunlight, warm and full of strength!
So, Mu Fan stood up and left, crowd watching in awe as they saluted his bruised arm.
The afternoon was undoubtedly going to be the same old. Mu Fan stroked his chin; there was still some time before noon ended. Why not take a walk outside? Thinking about it, Mu Fan changed into his clothes and went out.
The temperature in the downtown area was relatively high at noon. Due to the naturally high ultraviolet radiation intensity on Loga Star, there weren’t many people on the streets at this time. Most hid in the shade indoors, making the wide streets the least populated at noon.
I wonder how Uncle Bard is doing. Mu Fan thought about visiting him at the grocery store when the Martial Arts Hall was on break this weekend.
Mu Fan now had a small sum of money, one thousand Star Coins, more than he ever had. He touched his torn backpack, licked his lips, and took a step towards the nearby equipment store to buy a sturdy battle satchel.
“Welcome,” the usher at the door greeted with a bow.
“See you next time,” as two men wearing yellow-green linen tops with black gun butts on their waists walked out, each carrying a sleeping bag, one tall and one short, bidding farewell to the clerk with friendly faces, but occasionally revealing a fierce glint in their eyes made Mu Fan frown quietly.
As they passed Mu Fan, the short man beside him, carrying the sleeping bag, seemed not to notice Mu Fan, walking straight ahead with the bag held horizontally.
Mu Fan stood still, waiting for them to pass, yet the short guy walked out like that, the sleeping bag hitting Mu Fan’s shoulder.
“Are you blind, damn it?” The short man felt his bag hit the boy, exploding first.
“You are blind, and your mouth stinks,” Mu Fan looked at the short man with a fierce gaze and said coldly.
“Are you looking for death, kid!” The man had the tendency to make a move without a word, but the tall guy beside him pulled him back, his tone fierce, “What are you doing! Stop looking for trouble!”
The short guy wanted to lash out at the tall man’s gesture but forcibly restrained himself.
“You bumpkin, beggar, grandpa lets you off, ptui,” looking at the ragged jean-wearing boy, the short guy lost interest in arguing with a beggar, spat, and then turned and walked away. After ten meters, the tall guy also turned to give him a deep look, while Mu Fan held his head high and met the gaze.
Fist clenched, Mu Fan wanted to lash out, but relying on his keen hearing, he heard the tall guy whispering to the short one, a word, very softly, something impossible to hear from this distance without Mu Fan’s extraordinary senses.
“…Martial Arts Hall…Fat sheep…”
The two didn’t look back, carrying the sleeping bags and walking toward the city exit.
“Martial Arts Hall?” Mu Fan’s sharp eyebrows furrowed, he squinted slightly, then turned and apologized to the usher in front of him, “Sorry, I forgot to bring money, I’ll go back and get it now.”
Under the usher’s disdainful gaze, the boy in the tattered work clothes turned and left, following the same path the tall and short had just walked.
Mu Fan’s steps were light as he quickly followed, eventually spotting those two men ahead. He trailed them from afar, keeping a natural pace among the sparse pedestrians, never casting a direct glance their way.
Like tracking prey in dense woods, one must always remain hidden before launching an attack.
The two men turned into a food store. Mu Fan hid behind a roadside billboard, pretending to pick something off the ground. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw them come out, with the taller one now carrying a big bag of food.
After leaving, they turned right into an alley.
Mu Fan squinted; the two were heading towards the city inspection gate. They were almost there but made a turn before arriving. From here to another exit was still a long way, so these two were taking a false route.
Mu Fan walked with a steady pace, turning the same direction at the previous alley. Nobody was there! Mu Fan planned on tracking them along a parallel route; their strange behavior made him suspicious.
Suddenly his ear twitched, Mu Fan stopped pretending, and started sprinting rapidly. Using a slanted tree for leverage, he sprang onto the side of a two-story building, the entire action smooth and silent.
His breathing gradually adjusted, there was no sign of disruption from the intense exercise, he held his breath, making no noise at all, and even the work pants wrinkles were consciously pressed against the wall. The gentle breeze passed, creating a seamless whole.
Footsteps came from below, deliberately slowed by their owner, stepping carelessly on small stones, water edges, and fallen leaves, making tiny, subtle noises.
Someone was coming. Mu Fan clung closely to the wall, almost blending in.
Two vigilant figures emerged below, looking left and right before stepping out.
The voice was very low, Mu Fan’s ears twitched lightly, hearing the familiar voice from earlier, it was the short man. Though the voice was low, it was full of indifference.
“I’m telling you, why are you so timid? If we don’t say, who will know what we’re here for?”
The tall guy’s tone suddenly rose but immediately suppressed, “You, lower your voice, okay!” filled with warning.
Mu Fan tightly gripped the crevice, holding his breath over three meters high above the two heads, a place just a glance upward would reveal.
The tall one’s voice slowed again, “Second Brother, we were sent here to spy, you targeting a fat sheep on your own is breaking the rules. I’m accompanying you, not saying anything, but can’t you restrain yourself now?”
The short man’s voice came faintly, full of impatience. “Spying to see the rich’s routes, have we benefited from it!? What’s wrong with me targeting a fat sheep myself, you don’t say, I don’t say, who would know.”
The persuasive voice came again, making the tall guy a bit swayed. “You know that fat sheep at the Martial Arts Hall, it’s been two days, that little fat kid doesn’t have bodyguards, we finish this ticket and go, it won’t affect the mission.”
The tall guy hesitated, the short man added a line that clinched the deal, “Brother, fifty-fifty split, tomorrow afternoon, no telling anyone.”
“Okay! Nobody can say a word,” the tall guy gritted through his teeth.
(Rolling at the end to ask for collections and recommendations, today’s first update!)