National Guardian's Gone and We're Done

The sides of the street were a scene of utter chaos.

Countless figures lay strewn about haphazardly on the cold flagstones, like carelessly discarded dolls.

The thick stench of blood filled the air, assaulting the senses of every passerby.

Some writhed in agony, rolling on the ground, their faces twisted almost beyond recognition.

Their hands clawed at the pavement, desperately seeking something to ease the pain, but in this cruel reality, it was a futile struggle.

Others lay prone on the ground, their clothes shredded.

Beneath them, a pool of crimson blood slowly spread, staining the surrounding pavement red.

Their eyes were vacant and lifeless, having already lost the will to live.

Their bodies trembled slightly as they wept softly.

Still others had been torn apart, their dismembered limbs scattered across the street.

A leg lay on the left side of the road while the rest of the body was on the other—a gruesome sight too horrific to look at.

The injured wore expressions of bewilderment.

Their eyes were filled with a desperate cling to life and a terror of death as they helplessly cried for help.

"Someone help! Call an ambulance, quickly!" a person shouted anxiously.

"Who was driving that car? They were driving like a maniac, just plowing through everything. If they hadn’t crashed into that shop, it looked like they had no intention of ever hitting the brakes."

"Are you tired of living? Didn’t you see it was the Lighthouse Empire? We have our Queen, Her Majesty Ji Shengyue, to thank for this."

The street was packed with onlookers, as it was the time of day when people were getting off work and out of school.

Seeing the horrific scene, many in the crowd pulled out their phones to record it.

There were also some who couldn’t bear to watch the innocent victims screaming in agony from their severe injuries.

One by one, they went over and began administering basic first aid.

"Hey! What did you just say?"

A visibly drunk member of the Lighthouse Empire Guard staggered toward a bystander who was recording him with a phone.

He went up, raised his hand, and slapped the phone, shattering it to pieces.

He followed up with a vicious punch that struck the bystander’s face,

sending the man tumbling to the ground with his mouth and face covered in blood.

"You people live under the protection of our Lighthouse Empire, and you dare to criticize us!"

With that, the Guard member lifted his leg and kicked the man viciously several more times.

Although these Guard members weren’t particularly powerful, they were all legitimate Martial Artists.

How could an ordinary citizen be their match? A single slap would be enough to break bones if you weren’t sturdy.

Soon, a large number of ambulances from Fujiang City arrived.

Fujiang City’s local security forces also rushed to the scene, fully armed.

When they arrived, they saw the drunken Lighthouse Empire Guard member pummelling a local citizen of Fujiang City.

The citizen had already been beaten unconscious, his face and clothes stained with blood.

But the Lighthouse Empire Guard member showed no signs of stopping; in fact, each punch was heavier than the last.

This was outrageous!

The security forces quickly knocked the Guard member to the ground, cuffed him, and brought him under control.

...

「On a street lined with bars in Fujiang City.」

Several members of the Lighthouse Empire Guard were on leave.

They spotted a young woman in revealing clothes and surrounded her with malicious intent.

After arriving at the Martial Artist Base in the Great Jing Empire,

these Lighthouse Empire Guard members had all undergone systematic language training for the Great Jing Empire.

While they still struggled with some difficult phrases, they had no problem with basic communication.

When she saw the Lighthouse Empire Guard members approaching, the young woman’s expression clearly showed fear and disgust.

Ever since these Guard members had come to Fujiang City, they had committed every evil imaginable,

which was why the vast majority of Fujiang City’s local population despised people from the Lighthouse Empire.

Those who were better off had moved away as soon as the Great Jing Empire announced the establishment of the Martial Artist Base in Fujiang City.

"Hello there, beautiful. Are you all by yourself? Feeling lonely?"

The Guard members formed a human wall, trapping the young woman and blocking her escape.

"Excuse me, I’m meeting a friend."

The young woman shook her head in fear and tried to leave in another direction,

but one of the Guard members grabbed her and dragged her into an alley.

Soon, the girl’s miserable screams were drowned out by the noise of the bustling street.

...

「The Great Jing Empire, Royal City.」

In her office, Ji Shengyue was busy handling numerous official matters.

Moments later, a large stack of complaint letters was brought before her.

Without even opening them, Ji Shengyue knew exactly what they were.

These letters were undoubtedly more vehement condemnations of the Lighthouse Empire Guard members.

"Mr. Joliton, you are the person in charge of the Lighthouse Empire’s Martial Artist Base in our Great Jing Empire.

I think you ought to take a look at these letters.

Right now, the outcry against your Lighthouse Empire is surging throughout the Great Jing Empire.

If this continues, it will be disastrous for both me and your Lighthouse Empire."

Ji Shengyue’s expression was dark as she slammed the letters down on her desk.

"Your esteemed Majesty the Queen, some time ago, our Lighthouse Empire helped your Great Jing Empire deal with that rebel, Xiao Cangqing.

In the process, we lost two Emperor Realm powerhouses and several dozen King’s Realm Martial Artists.

As for the other Low Level Guard members, the losses were innumerable.

And yet, you still have not given us any compensation for these losses!"

The man from the Lighthouse Empire known as Joliton sat in his chair, crossed his legs, and said with a chuckle.

"The compensation was paid in full when we signed the agreement—ten billion, to be exact."

Ji Shengyue said, her gaze hostile.

However, Joliton simply ignored her, shaking his head and explaining, "I believe Her Majesty the Queen has misunderstood.

The ten billion was merely the fee to invite our Lighthouse Empire to protect your Great Jing Empire.

However, everything from the construction of the Martial Artist Base to the expenses for every single person, as well as all our various losses...

...all of these things still need to be paid for by your Great Jing Empire.

The higher-ups in our Lighthouse Empire are pressing the matter. They expect Her Majesty the Queen to transfer the payment for this bill within one week.

Otherwise, our superiors in the Lighthouse Empire will be very displeased.

Furthermore, the brave warriors of the Lighthouse Empire who died fighting for your Great Jing Empire will be disheartened."

After speaking, Joliton made a gesture, and the secretary behind him immediately handed him a document.

Joliton personally took the document and placed it on the desk in front of Ji Shengyue.

"One hundred billion?!

Does your Lighthouse Empire think our Great Jing Empire is an ATM?"

Staring at the number on the document, even someone as powerful as Ji Shengyue couldn’t help but suck in a sharp breath and ask indignantly.

"The cost of every single item is written out clearly. Her Majesty the Queen should calm down.

Remember, you only have one week.

Only when the money has been transferred will our Lighthouse Empire resume our duties of protecting the security of your Great Jing Empire."

Joliton’s face still wore that same meticulous smile.

"Then what about the harm your Lighthouse Empire Guard members have inflicted on the people of our Great Jing Empire?

That catastrophic traffic accident... over twenty people died on a single street.

Not only did your Guard members show no remorse, but they also beat and insulted our citizens. How do we settle that score?

And what about this thick stack of cases on my desk, all committed by your Lighthouse Empire Guard members?

How will these scores be settled?"

Ji Shengyue truly couldn’t bear it any longer. This was simply going too far.

Besides, suddenly having to produce one hundred billion would be a crippling blow to the Great Jing Empire!