Chapter 984: Bluff?
"You’re not fighting for her, but rather, you’re simply trying to make amends to quench your guilt. This is for you, not for her or anybody else."
A long silence followed suit as neither Moose nor Ram spoke after the former’s remarks. After a while, Ram let out a long sigh as he looked away.
"If that is what you believed, then I don’t have anything else to say," Ram expressed quietly, setting his eyes at the side of his window. "You already believed what you want to believe. I already said this to Bear. We’re not the only members of the Reapers. You said it yourself. Many of her people were now working for Dragon. As long as she’s in his custody, they would keep jumping to fire for him."
"What happened to Wolf and Joker and even to Fig were the results of your retaliation," he continued. "That has nothing to do with me. At least, I didn’t do anything directly. Not that I was aware of it."
Ram paused and pondered calmly. "This is not for her? Sure. If that is what you believe in. But it won’t change my mind because Hera... the mere fact she’s alive and vulnerable puts more lives at risk." His expression darkened, twisting his neck to look at Moose squarely.
"You got no idea how some of those guys found a life very different from what they used to have. Some of them even got to pursue studies, a career, a small business, and even a family. Yet, because Dragon had Hera, they were forced to leave the life they were starting to build and return to what they have now," he added through his gritted teeth. "No matter how we turn the truth upside down, you are right. Facts will always be facts."
"The Reapers centered on Hera. No matter how we deny it or try to ignore it, our lives, our fate, and even our future revolved around her." He paused once more, trying his best not to get emotional. "Unless we kill her, only then we’d be able to free ourselves. But alas, neither you nor I can do that. So, it doesn’t matter to me if you think of my reasoning as shallow as quenching the little conscience I have."
"I will free her and her people in my own way." Ram huffed, his shoulders going up and down. "Once she’s safe, I’ll be the first person to mince Dragon alive. I got no personal grudge against you or anyone in your group, but I don’t mind fighting you if you stand in my way."
Moose laughed shortly, shaking his head mildly. He couldn’t argue with Ram, though. What Ram said covered the entire truth of everyone in the Reapers. No matter how skilled they were and no matter how high the position they attained in life, everything about Hera would pull them back into this damned.