AZI Volume 3 Chapter 22

One after the other, more and more people are teleported into the nightclub—via the teleportation magic array.

"Welcome to Refuge, I guess?"

Saying this, while shrugging her shoulders, Li Zi Xiang removes the wireless headpiece—that is stuck to her right ear.

"How the hell…?"

With a look of confusion on her face, Li Xue frowns as she looks around the area. One moment they were in the middle of the streets, and now, they're suddenly inside a nightclub.

"Immortals really do have some amazing pieces of tech, don't they?"

Saying this, Chen Lan seats himself at a stool in front of the bar counter.

In the same instance—

"Cheers."

"Cheers."

Nonchalantly, the sound of two glasses being pressed together goes off—causing everyone to turn their attention towards the source.

Sitting down together, Long Hua and Shao Tianming downed their drinks at the same time.

Gesturing towards Shao Tianming, Li Zi Xiang says—

"Well, there's our boss."

"Uh?"

"Hm?"

It is also then that Yu Ji and Qing Yue begin to show signs of regaining their consciousness.

"Straighten those two up, would you?"

Massaging his temple, Ye Chen leaves the two with Li Xue, and walks towards the area Long Hua and Shao Tianming are at, and asks—

"Mind if I join?"

"Be my guest."

With Shao Tianming's permission, Ye Chen sits down on the opposite side of Long Hua.

Despite being sandwiched between two outsiders, Shao Tianming doesn't show any hints of discomfort, while Long Hua asks—

"I guess, this counts as us heading out to drink together, then, captain?"

"I suppose? Doubt, I'd have time to go out for a drink with you—due to the report that I need to make after this."

Sliding a glass towards Ye Chen, and pouring them a bottle of whiskey, Shao Tianming, as if he is a co-worker of the former's, says—

"Well, no need to be concerned with work right now. Just enjoy yourself."

"And who's fault do you think it is—that I'll be made to take my work seriously?"

Downing the glass without any suspicions of it being spiked with poison, Ye Chen asks Shao Tianming of this, as if they had known each other for years, to which, the latter replies—

"Not mine. If you want to complain to anyone, complain to the military's top brass for not doing their due diligence."

"…"

"…"

Staring at each other in silence, both Ye Chen and Shao Tianming had a strange feeling welling up from the pit of their stomachs.

This should be their first meeting, and yet, they feel as if they had already known each other for ages—akin to two distant relatives reunited, after being separated for a decade.

Breaking the silence, Ye Chen replies—

"…Can't argue with that. So, shall we get introductions out of the way first? I'm surnamed Ye; my full name is Ye Chen."

Hearing this, Shao Tianming turns to—

"Long Hua."

Receiving this answer from Long Hua, Shao Tianming turns back to Ye Chen, and asks—

"So, your subordinate here used your name?"

"I'll be getting you back for the slander later, 2nd Lieut. Long Hua."

"I don't see how it's a slander—calling yourself the number one hottie of the mortal realm, captain."

"Not everyone has skin—as thick as yours…"

Watching the three's interaction with one another, Li Xue remarks—

"What are they even doing?"

Pressing a hand to her forehead, Li Xue finds the situation surreal.

Right now, they're outnumbered by a vast margin, and yet, two of her squad-mates are still able to drink so casually.

"Where…?"

"This is…?"

"You two finally awake?"

Glancing to her right, Li Xue raises a voice of concern for Yu Ji and Qing Yue, to which, the two nod, and looks back to the former with an expression of confusion.

Feeling a headache welling up, Li Xue remarks—

"Where do I even begin?"

"How about just going with the flow instead?"

Saying this, Li Zi Xiang—who is standing behind the bar counter, places three drinks in front of them.

Twitching her lips, Qing Yue asks—

"…Why am I the only one served with a glass of water?"

"You don't seem old enough to drink."

"Even though I'm already 18…"

Back at the seating area for three—

"Surnamed Chen said, your group wishes to put the ordinary in their place, is this true?"

With a glass pressed to his lips, Ye Chen asks this of Shao Tianming.

"Pretty much."

"Then-?"

"It's only fair that I get an answer as well, isn't it?"

"Go ahead then."

Drawing in a breath of air, Shao Tianming says—

"I find this world far too strange. Why is it that Sinners are being suppressed—despite being the first wave of defense against the Immortals? Why is it that Sinners have to be pushed around by the ordinary? To me, it just doesn't make any sense. You can argue—that if the Immortals are not fended off, everyone else will end up dead; however, that isn't an excuse—to let the weak and powerless, exploit the powerful to this degree."

"…"

Much of what is being asked and said by Shao Tianming makes sense.

In fact, it makes so much sense to everyone here—that practically everyone is nodding their heads along with it.

However, setting his cup down, Ye Chen asks—

"How much do you know about the military?"

"Probably as much as anyone else."

"Then, you don't know about the existence of the Four Executioners, I would assume?"

"Four Executioners?"

As Shao Tianming raises an eye, Ye Chen explains—

"Their task is to execute the Sinners, who are unwilling to cooperate with the military. In terms of authority in the military, I've heard rumors of them—having more sway than the generals. A few other rumors say—that they've been around for a thousand years. There's also some other nonsense saying—that the people, who are holding this role, have never been changed even once."

"…"

According to what Shao Tianming knows of the military's ranking order, it goes—second lieutenant, first lieutenant, captain, major, colonel, and finally general.

"They're that high up, are they?"

Muttering this, Shao Tianming constricts his eyes, while sucking in the smoke of his cigarette.

(Four Executioners… A rank higher than generals.)

For Long Hua, this would also be the first time—that he's hearing about the existence of the Four Executioners.

"Are they Sinners as well?"

Towards Shao Tianming's question, Ye Chen shrugs his shoulders, and replies—

"Who knows? If you ever meet them, you can ask them yourself. In any case, how about a question from me?"

"Ask away, if it's something that I can answer, I will."