Albert also understood that he was a pawn, a bargaining chip at the negotiating table, and his combat strength—if it couldn't leave a deep impression on Sagittarius—
then there wouldn't be such an opportunity in the future.
Xun Hui said:
"Wen Xishu, you've said a lot, but you're hoping the old man will go, right?"
Wenren Mirror smiled; Xun Hui always hit the nail on the head.
Xun Hui said:
"If you weighed the pros and cons and concluded that the old man shouldn't go, you wouldn't even bring up this matter. You internally lean towards him going."
"But I think... it's not the right time yet. If this were to be a vote, if we are here, it represents that we have the right to vote, then I refuse."
"I can wait, wait for another more suitable way to fight Sagittarius to appear."
Evelyn shook her head and said:
"I also refuse; the crisis of Sagittarius might not be something that can't be solved later, but if you, Albert, have an accident now, moreover if both you and Wen Xishu have an accident, I can't imagine how chaotic the Bunker would be."
"With Old Jin's life uncertain, now is not the time for you to have an accident."
Wenren Mirror said:
"I also refuse for you to go against Sagittarius, teacher. We'll find a way together; there's bound to be another route."
Wen Xishu indeed leaned towards letting Albert go to battle, but he also acknowledged the result of this vote:
"With three votes to refuse, I accept this outcome."
Albert looked at the group of people refusing and smiled:
"Indeed, when it comes to boldness and madness, only Xishu and I are alike."
Xun Hui shook his head and said:
"I refuse you, not because I'm afraid of death."
Albert agreed:
"Of course, you are straightforward and brave; I don't doubt your courage, but boldness and courage are two concepts. Boldness lies in whether you can seize the opportunity."
"In this respect, you truly fall short. You fail to realize that humanity cannot leisurely, comfortably climb the tower. Just because you won a Great Devour once, do you think you've triumphed?"
"A mere constellation is enough to cut off your future path. If you don't race against time, how would you know if you can still enjoy decades of peace later?"
"Wen Xishu, daring to entrust me with this choice means you're ready to give everything for this mission, right?"
Wen Xishu nodded.
Xun Hui sensed something amiss, and so did Evelyn; when this old man gets fierce, he doesn't bother with things like democratic voting.
There seems to be such a trend now.
Wenren Mirror said:
"Teacher... we haven't learned enough from you yet, would you reconsider? If you fail, then future young people might not be ready to replace you."
Albert laughed, a hearty laugh:
"I used to love reading the stories those writers from the lower tiers would write. The old folks would always use their own death to let the young ones grow up before they mature."
"That's good; the old folks should have such an awareness. I've also read some sentimental lines, something like the new era hasn't built a boat that can carry me... Hahaha, to say that before dying is indeed a pity."
"But I don't love regrets, nor do I love this narrative where the old folks die for the young ones."
"Xun Hui, Mirror, if you can't take over my responsibilities, that only proves you're not up to it. If you can't keep up with my pace, it shows you go just so far."
"Whether I die or not, you all have to improve, must exert every effort to catch up with me. Can't catch up, and you're wastes."
Albert's aura was like a storm; Wen Xishu had to admit, in his eyes, Albert was currently shining brilliantly.
"Your paths to growth have been cut off by others, and now facing such an opportunity to drive away the enemy, you want to persuade me to give it up? I'm so disappointed."
"Of course, I'm also afraid of death. I haven't dared to enter the Deceit Tower for so many years for this reason, but I'm more afraid of dying a cowardly death. The meaning of my life is to wait for an exhilarating battle."
"But I can be sure, this battle won't last only ten minutes."
Albert said:
"Dean Wen, let's set out tomorrow."
Xun Hui knew he couldn't persuade the old man, nor did he blame Wen Xishu, everyone had a different way of thinking.
With Albert's aura at this moment, everyone knew that voting and democracy were useless.
This old man indeed had a bit of a dictatorial and arbitrary temperament.
But Xun Hui was not a person without boldness:
"Since you've decided, I can't miss such a duel. I want to join as well."
Albert cared about the future of the Bunker.
But as he said, if the Bunker had no one who could climb to the seventieth floor, then there was no future to speak of.
He laughed:
"Hahahahahahaha, now that's more like it!"
Wen Xishu admired the old dean more and more.
He actually disliked the narrative of old soldiers dying to pave the way for the rise of a new king. Deep down, he didn't believe that Albert would die here.
Because he had seen a deeper future.
This world loves to hear stories of the rise of a new king, but there will always be those immortal tunes for the old soldiers.
Wen Xishu had a premonition that this battle would become a major event in the Three Towers War.