HCB Chapter 598 Compromise on Dreams
Chapter 598 Compromise on Dreams
Griffith didn't know how he got back to his residence.
Memories are like torn fragments, floating sporadically on the edge of consciousness.
He remembered the neighing of war horses, the roar of gunfire, and the cold, mechanical volleys of Black Watch soldiers.
He remembered his own mercenary group, which was once invincible, collapsing like a fragile sand castle under the volley of gunfire.
They lost.
It was not because of tactical mistakes, not because of insufficient equipment, and not because of low morale.
Simply because those black, cold, precise weapons can turn the most elite cavalry and the most experienced mercenaries into cold corpses in an instant with just one volley.
Griffith stumbled and pushed himself away, as if he was just an empty shell without a soul.
The fireplace in the house was burning with a faint flame, but it could not dispel the chill in his heart.
He sat on the edge of the bed, his hands hanging on his knees, his fingertips trembling slightly.
Two days later, several carriages slowly drove into the gate of the camp.
The canopy was covered with black cloth, and a strong smell of blood and decay came from the carriage.
Griffith stood at the front, watching silently as the soldiers lifted the curtains.
Inside were his mercenaries.
Corpses were carried down one after another, some still wearing tattered armor, others shirtless, the bullet holes on their chests or foreheads already clotted into black blood. Their faces were huge and distorted, some with their eyes wide open, as if they had seen something unbelievable before dying; others with their eyes tightly closed, as if finally freed from pain.
Griffith stood there, watching them, without saying a word.
Bibin came forward, his face terribly gloomy. He lifted a piece of cloth from one of the carriages, revealing the face of a young boy, not even ten years old, with a bullet hole in his chest and large patches of blood clotted on his shirt.
“These are the kids on our team.”
Bibin's voice was as low as thunder.
"He just joined not long ago. This is his legacy."
Griffith silently took the bag from Bibin and opened it. There was only a wooden knight toy inside.
His fingers tightened slightly as he remembered the child.
That night, by the campfire, the boy looked at him with admiration, as if he were a hero in a story.
When everyone was talking about their wishes, the boy smiled and said:
"I want to become an outstanding mercenary, be valued by noble lords, and eventually become a knight."
Griffith gently placed the toy on the boy's chest.
Before his death, was he full of hope or despair?
Casca stood aside, watching all this quietly. She looked at Griffith and suddenly felt that the man in front of her was completely different from the confident, brave, and fearless Griffith of the past.
A few days later, the night in Dordorei City was bitterly cold.
Casca stood at the window of the station, looking at Griffith's unlit room with a frown on her face.
"Griffith has been coming back later and later lately."
she whispered.
"I heard that Governor Goron has military business to ask him."
Gorkas answered absentmindedly, fiddling with a dagger in his hand.
Casca didn't respond, but stood up silently, put on her coat, pushed the door open and walked out.
"Casca, where are you going?"
"I'm going out for a walk."
She answered without turning her head.
The streets were deserted, with only patrolling soldiers and beggars huddled in the corners.
The cold wind howled, like countless knives scraping across her skin. Casca wrapped her clothes tightly and walked quickly towards Governor Goron's castle.
The castle was as majestic as a mountain, and its tall towers looked eerie and depressing in the moonlight.
Casca stood in the distance, hesitating whether to approach. On the one hand, she was afraid of disturbing Griffith's affairs, and on the other hand, she hated Governor Goron even more. She had also heard about Governor Goron's bad habits.
"Could it be that……"
A horrifying thought suddenly occurred to Casca, and she shook her head.
"No, Griffith wouldn't be that kind of person."
At this moment, Casca's eyes were suddenly drawn to the balcony of the castle.
With the help of moonlight, she saw a figure with white hair.
That's Griffith.
Her heart tightened, and she was about to call out, but suddenly she noticed that Griffith's upper body was naked.
Before she could react, a tall figure appeared beside Griffith.
Governor Goron!
Casca's pupils suddenly contracted.
Governor Goron was tall and dressed in a gorgeous black robe. His face showed a condescending arrogance and indifference.
Governor Goron gently stroked Griffith's shoulder with his hand, as if he was comforting a docile pet, or as if he was declaring some kind of sovereignty.
Then, as if not caring about the eyes of others, he put his arm around Griffith's waist, turned around and walked into the shadow of the castle.
Griffith stood in Governor Goron's bathroom. The fatigue on his body was temporarily covered by the hot water, but the cracks in his heart became deeper.
Not far from the bathroom is Governor Goron's bedroom, which is luxuriously and gorgeously decorated. Exquisite oil paintings hang on the magnificent golden walls, and the floor is covered with thick carpets that feel soft to the touch.
However, these luxurious decorations could not make Griffith feel relaxed at all.
Just now, Governor Goron was sitting on a soft sofa, and he laughed softly:
"...It's a pity that your mercenaries died."
Griffith didn't answer. His eyes revealed a hint of anger and humiliation, but he couldn't lash out.
He knew that he was now under the control of Governor Goron and he had no room for resistance.
"However, if you lose soldiers, you can always recruit more. In this world, time, talent, and money are essential to achieving any goal."
Governor Goron leaned close to Griffith's ear, his voice full of temptation and threat, like a cunning fox luring its prey.
"You're still young and talented. You're just one step away from realizing your dream of establishing the most famous mercenary group. What are you still hesitating about?"
Griffith closed his eyes and recalled what Governor Goron had just said. He tried to remain calm.
The sound of water in the bathroom gradually stopped, and Griffith stood in front of the mirror, looking at himself in the mirror.
There was a hint of confusion and despair in his eyes, his hair was wet and stuck to his forehead, and the fatigue and vicissitudes of life on his face were obvious. He looked at himself in the mirror as if he saw a stranger.
Governor Goron's voice came from outside the bathroom door:
"Griffith, are you ready? We still have a lot to do."
That voice was like a death warrant, making Griffith's heart tighten.
Griffith took a deep breath and tried to cheer himself up.
He knew that he would eventually have to face reality. After sacrificing so many lives, he could no longer turn back. In order to achieve his goal, he had to keep moving forward no matter what the cost.
Griffith slowly opened the bathroom door and walked out. He looked at Governor Goron in front of him, his calm eyes revealing a hint of determination.