16 Jack Daniel

It's dinner time and master is still engrossed in the book. Knowing him he would be starving soon. The recruits are gradually leaving the gym after taking a shower to refresh themselves. Dinner would last about an hour and then you would have to pay for food. I guess i would go to the Food Hall and take out some food for him.

"Mister Baldwin, are you going to stay here with Master?"

"Yes butler. I'm worried that he will fall into the pool again and doesn't realize it. Though the suit seems to be dry and he himself could hold breath for about 15 minutes. Rich people are something huh."

Should i tell him about the fact that the suit is made of Hope metal? My master would without a doubt divulge everything should he were to be questioned about it but I'm just a butler and i won't divulge any information.

"He is aware of the fact he is submerged in water and i believe it was his intention to read inside a pool. Sometimes his skin gets too dry so he probably want to moisten it up a bit. I shall go and take some food for the both of you. Please inform me if the two of you are going some other places."

A slight bow to them, takes at least 3 steps backward then turn around. The etiquette of a butler. *sigh* I've changed so much these last decades. The old me would never have bowed to anyone... It won't be much longer that i have to endure this. For Emily. Still, this kind of life isn't bad at all. Not to mention the benefits. Though i lack spirit and enthusiasm of the youth, my body is still at the peak or perhaps i have long surpassed the condition when i was at my prime.

Ah i missed the old days. Looking at that bald guy reminds me of my youth. It brings back all my memories. I was once a general, an odd one. Others would give orders while i fought at the front line. The advance in technology especially the secretly made full combat suit by the Lux Corporation effectively

nullified all the ranged attack. I had so much fun being the vanguard at every fight.

One day it all changed. I don't remember much, i blanked out for a while in the middle of a fight. I was inside a hospital when i woke up. They said it was a stroke, half my brain was fried. To make matters worse, I'm paralyzed. My entire world turned to dark as i saw no hope of continueing my life.

"Take out for 3 please." I said to the **** after my turn arrived. The two young girl my master was interested in isn't anywhere to be found. I waited a while at the waiting area.

"Thank you for the food." I thanked him while picking it up. As i make my way out of this Food Hall I'm still amazed at the sheer size of every hall in here. All together they could probably hold at least a million people with enough food to last an entire year. Should the wall collapsed, this will be our last bastion. The toughest shelter for mankind, i hope we won't be forced to take shelter here.

Back then, after i was paralyzed the world seemed to have ended for me. There is nothing that would excite me, i was only waiting for the inevitable death to come for me. It was then that my daughter brought her child to see me. Her name was Emily and her smile was so bright... bright enough to bring light into my bleak and desolate world. No longer was i waiting for death as my heart longed to see her again.

As the saying goes by, nothing good last forever. Emily would come see me twice a week then as time goes by she would come once per week. Then there was a time where she didn't come for more than a month. Again i was fooled by the lights, i should have just died in the battlefield rather than waiting in agony. Then he came again for the third time to see me here, Gray Lux. I called him here.

The first visit was an apology saying that if he developed a better combat suit for me, a stroke wouldn't have happened but i got a feeling that he is lying. The apology wasn't sincere at all not to mention that smug look on his face.

The second visit, he proposed me to a second chance at living the life i wanted. Fighting and killing everyday in war zones. I just said i no longer want anything, just waiting for the inevitable death. He gave me a card in case i ever changed my mind and a change of mind is what i have. I don't want to die a miserable death here. Told the nurse to call him for me. I still remembered that third visit very clearly.

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'He's here again with that same smug look on his face. What is he so proud of? His face? Hah that make me laugh a bit.'

"General Jack Daniel. Do you want something in calling me here?"

"Gray Lux, tell me the truth, can you bring me to that warzone again?"

"A little bit of time is needed but of course, I've never lied about anything but honestly i don't intent to bring you back to the former glory just so you would die a dog's death."

"There is no free lunch right. So what do you want me to do? Eliminate your competitors?"

"Competitors? Hahaha there is none in this world that could math Lux Corporation. Not with me in charge. Anyways only idiots with no ability would choose such an option."

"The thing you would need to do is simple. I will restore your condition back to it's former glory or maybe even surpassing it. What happens next is your choice. I don't care if you want to suicide, go on a rampage or even nuke other countries but I will just give a suggestion. Serve under me. There is tons if benefits in doing so."

Dumbfounded i just lay there without responding, not that i could move anyway. There is no way my pride would allow me to serve someone else.

"You're saying i can do anything i want? What if i were to destroy your company?"

"I don't like repeating my words General. It is up to you whether to believe it or not. I am the biggest provider of free lunch in this world. Feel free to destroy my building, send me a report after you are done attacking. Haven't had a chance to test the defensive measure of the company."

"You are one weird guy Gray Lux. Will the offer to work under you still stand after i choose to go crazy and perhaps being wanted by the police."

"I didn't expect you are an idiot. A police have no jurisdiction over a military personnel. Only military police would capture another military guy. I plan to establish my own little country so i see no problem with you being a wanted man. Just like today where you could call me after a change of mind, of course my offer still stand. Provided you are still alive of course, i dont have the power to resurrect a dead man. Any other question you would like to be clarified, General?"

"You're very generous Lux. When can you start to... 'heal' me?"

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The past huh. I wonder what would happen if i accepted his offer right then and there. Perhaps Emily might still be near me playing everyday. No use living in the past regretting the decisions. I should strive for the future. I will murder them.