Chapter 114: Exposure

Su Ming progressed from anger to agony, and finally, even a sense of numbness. He held his phone with a dazed expression, broadcasting the scenes of slaughter to everyone watching. His eyes were unfocused, and only one thought burned in his mind: such beasts deserve the most brutal of punishments! A firing squad would be too good for them.

At some point, the Japanese soldiers suddenly descended into chaos. They fled in droves toward the city gates. Shortly thereafter, violent explosions erupted from outside the city walls. The image on the screen gradually faded to black.

Su Ming exited the shooting range. As soon as he stepped outside, he clutched his stomach and began to retch violently. The suppressed emotions caused his eyes to redden, and tears streamed down his face. Beside him stood Wei Liang. This iron-blooded man was also gritting his teeth, his fists clenched as he spat out bitterly, "Damn those devils!"

Li Banchuan stood silently in place. Although he had successfully taken out that legendary, high-ranking member of the imperial family without any mishaps—satisfying a craving for rebellion—his heart felt heavy. He realized that history was not what he had believed it to be. More importantly, where should he go from here? His family had stood for centuries, and he had assumed they would continue to prosper, but his experience in the shooting range filled him with a sense of crisis. He did not think Wei Liang was merely trying to scare him.

He knew exactly how miraculous the Fantasy Park was. It was obvious that its owner had close ties to the Rabbit Country. If that were the case, as long as the Rabbit Country did not court disaster, it would soon emerge from global competition, perhaps even leaving other nations far behind. If a lion grew up, would it not take revenge on the hyenas that once bullied it? Especially since this hyena had already had its teeth pulled by its new master.

Just as Li Banchuan was lost in thought, a voice called out from beside him. A blonde, blue-eyed man was greeting him. Li Banchuan recognized him—it was Ramos, a representative of a conglomerate from the Eagle Nation, with whom he had once gone hunting in Africa. Ramos was fond of Eastern culture, a "Rabbit-phile" who handled Asian affairs and spoke fluent Chinese. At this moment, Ramos was addressing him in that language.

"I really didn't expect to see you here," Ramos said, his face beaming with enthusiastic smiles.

Li Banchuan’s expression, however, gradually soured. This guy must have gone inside. And now, with that look on his face...

He offered a stiff smile and said in English, "Mr. Ramos, shall we find a place to talk?"

"Talk about what?" Ramos replied in Chinese. "The fugu sashimi you treated me to in Tokyo last time was excellent. Let me treat you to some Rabbit Country cuisine today."

Hearing Ramos’s words, many people turned to look. Su Ming took a tissue from a volunteer, wiped the vomit from the corner of his mouth, said "Thank you," and turned to Li Banchuan. The live-streaming phone was still strapped to his chest. He glanced at Ramos and asked Li Banchuan, "Brother Chuan, is this guy your friend?"

He was still haunted by the images of men and women lying dead in the streets, and he felt miserable, trying to distract himself through conversation.

Li Banchuan nodded.

Ramos looked at Su Ming: "Are you Japanese, too?"

Su Ming was momentarily stunned, then flew into a rage: "Who are you insulting!"

Ramos said with a meaningful tone, "Then why are you so familiar with the heir of the Kawada Group?"

Li Banchuan opened his mouth, then immediately shut it. He knew the man was doing this on purpose. Suddenly, his face alternated between red and white, showing his inner turmoil. Su Ming was dumbfounded.

Wei Liang, standing nearby, was the first to react. He whipped his head around, staring fixedly at Li Banchuan, and said coldly, "You’re one of those devils?"

Su Ming finally caught on. The Kawada Group was one of the most famous conglomerates in the island nation. This Li Banchuan was from the Kawada Group? No wonder! That was why his name sounded so much like a Japanese name, why he spoke the language so well, and why even the Japanese officers had been fooled by him... A traitor!

Su Ming immediately thought of the mountains of corpses in Nandu and the innocent civilians who had died with their eyes wide open. He clenched his fists and glared at Li Banchuan: "Is what he said true?"

Other surrounding tourists looked over as well. Some had watched Su Ming’s previous broadcast and were still seething with rage, while others had been in the shooting range and witnessed the massacre of civilians. A few volunteers maintaining order stood nearby, making no move to stop them. They were all itching to give this little devil a good beating.

Sweat beaded on Li Banchuan’s forehead. He knew that if he didn't provide a good explanation, a beating was inevitable. He might even be killed on the spot. He knew exactly who was in charge of this place. If those two people knew his true identity, they would likely want to kill him without hesitation. At this moment, Li Banchuan mentally cursed the ancestors of all those old fossils at the shrine.

"Listen to me," he said, looking at Su Ming, speaking quickly. "Did I show any mercy when I was killing those devils?"

Su Ming frowned but remained silent.

Wei Liang scoffed, "People like you have small virtues but no grand principles. You’ll do anything to achieve your goals; you probably only killed those Japanese soldiers for the points!"

Su Ming tightened his fists again. The other tourists nearby also began to close in. Ramos shrugged at Li Banchuan and took a few steps back. He loved seeing the man in a tight spot. It would be best if he were beaten to death; this guy had stolen several deals from him.

"My ancestors were survivors from the Ming Dynasty!" Li Banchuan shouted. "I have always wanted to join the Rabbit Country; don't lump me in with those devils!"

The crowd paused, confused. A devil scolding devils?

"I have always supported the Island Communist Party; I loathe that stupid Yasukuni Shrine," Li Banchuan looked at everyone with a sincere expression. "You know what I mean by that, right? I just slaughtered Prince Asaka!"

At this, even Wei Liang grew hesitant. He looked at the man suspiciously—could he really be a turncoat against his own nation?

"I have always wanted to join the Rabbit Country, but your citizenship is too hard to apply for," Li Banchuan sighed. "Don't treat me like those beasts; I am different from them."

"We are comrades!" he insisted earnestly.

Su Ming suddenly noticed the phone still strapped to his chest. He said with a strange expression, "Is what you’re saying true?"

"Of course," Li Banchuan said. "I hid my identity before because I was afraid of a misunderstanding, but you saw my actions inside the shooting range, didn't you?"

"The part where the Japanese soldiers rioted and ran outside?" Su Ming asked, unsure.

Li Banchuan replied, "That was because I killed Prince Asaka, and then Brother Liang and I blew up their ammunition depot!"

Seeing the expressions of those around them relax, Ramos, who had been watching the spectacle with his arms crossed, felt incredibly disappointed. *Cunning little devil,* he thought with annoyance.

Su Ming took out the phone from his chest and said to Li Banchuan, "I’ve been live-streaming this whole time. I suppose what you just said has already reached the island nation?"

Li Banchuan’s face turned pale instantly. He had only said those things for self-preservation, and he hadn't decided whether to fully commit to them in the future. But seeing the crowd’s expressions and knowing his identity was exposed—and that his act of killing the Japanese soldiers would surely become common knowledge—he had no choice but to grit his teeth and say, "That... that is what is in my heart!"

Su Ming led the applause, though the cold sneer on his face never vanished. He didn't like a single living devil!