Pep took a deep breath and accelerated forward. He drove the escape capsule and crashed into his brother's universal armor.
"So, Brother —"
Pep bit his lip hard. "You're still determined to kill Shanua, right? After he just risked his life to save everyone, you didn't even hesitate at all?"
"Forgive me."
His brother's voice was trembling. He seemed to close his eyes inside the universal armor as he forced himself to say, "For survival, we have no other choice."
"For survival? How laughable."
Pep said, "Even if we can survive for a while with such a method, what kind of people will we become? They were heartless, ungrateful, and bloodthirsty villains, just like the 'Forty Thieves' in the stories!
"Brother, I remember that you weren't like this in the past. When we were young, you liked to listen to stories like me. You listened to the stories of good people defeating bad people and heroes defeating demons. You praised Ali Baba's kindness and good luck. You worshipped Sinbad's courage. You swore that you would be like the main character in the stories. You would be an indomitable hero, helping good people, fighting bad people, and doing the right thing.
"Since when did you turn into one of the 'Forty Bandits' in the story and a complete bad guy? Is this really you? Is this really the real you? What are you doing? Do you still recognize yourself? "
"That's not important, Pep. In front of survival, good and bad, right and wrong are meaningless," his brother said in pain.
"Even if — even if we become the Forty Thieves, as long as we can survive, it's enough."
"No, it's not enough. It's far from enough. Not only do we have to survive, we have to live like good people and heroes. That's real life, real civilization!"
Pep shrieked. "If we turn ourselves into the Forty Thieves, turn the fleet into a bandit's nest, break all the laws, and trample all the bottom lines, will the people who live be happy? A bunch of bandits who have no morals, no bottom lines, and no humanity, can they really stay united and survive the difficulties together?"
"You don't understand …"
His brother said.
But before he finished, he was interrupted by Pep.
"That's right. I really don't understand. I don't understand at all what you adults are doing. To be a good person, to be a hero, to defend home and justice, to fight against darkness and evil. Isn't that what you adults write in stories and teach all the children?"
The girl cried. "Good will be rewarded with good, and evil will be punished with evil. As long as you have a kind heart, uphold the law of justice, and treat your friends warmly, you will definitely be able to overcome all the difficulties and defeat the most powerful enemy. A prince and a princess will live happily together. Isn't that what the stories say? Isn't that what the adults inculcate into the children so that the children will believe in everything?
"Why? Jumping from the story to reality, from a child to an adult, everything changed so drastically, but all of you changed?
"Tell me, who was wrong? Was it you adults who wrote the story for the children, or was it the adults themselves?"
"Perhaps we were wrong."
Her brother sighed softly. "But I still can't let you go."
"Why?"
Pepe asked. "Since you know you're wrong, why don't you try to change, stop, and redeem yourself? It's still not too late!"
"You don't understand."
Her brother said. "It's very complicated. I don't have a choice."
"Why does everything become 'very complicated' in the eyes of you adults? Can't you simply follow your heart and do the right thing, the righteous thing, and the kind thing? "
Pepe shouted. "You clearly have a choice. All you need to do is slightly move aside and let me pass!"
"No."
Her brother said. "No."
"Then, then —"
Pepe took a deep breath. "Destroy me. Destroy my escape capsule like how you were going to kill Shanuya!"
"Impossible."
Her brother said. "I won't attack you, but I can't watch you tell the Void Hunter everything and let it kill everyone."
"Then trust me."
Pepe said. "I will never let you kill Shanuya, but I will never let Shanuya kill you, either."
"That's impossible."
Her brother said. "Even you cannot predict and control the behavior of the Void Hunter."
"I know, but I've come up with a solution."
Pepe said, "To minimize the probability of possible danger. I'll say it again. I won't let it hurt you, and I won't let you hurt it."
"What solution?"
Her brother was slightly dazed.
"I can't tell you now. It won't work if I do."
Pepe begged. "Brother, trust me. I can do it. Give me a chance to try. Give the things you protect a chance. Give the stories of heroes and good people a chance!"
Her brother was silent.
The universal armor trembled violently, as if it was withstanding enormous pressure from the inside out.
"Do you remember the game we always played when we were kids? I played Markina in the game, and you played Ali Baba. But no kid was willing to play the Forty Thieves!"
Pep sounded like he was about to cry. "Our civilization has a hundred fleets in total. If ninety-nine of them choose to become 'Forty Bandits', at least one of them should try to become 'Ali Baba' or 'Marquina', right, brother? Right?"
Her brother continued to be silent.
The universal armor stopped trembling. Like a thinking statue, it floated in front of Pepe quietly.
"Trust me, brother. I can save everyone. I can save everyone!"
Pepe shrieked. "Please, trust me!"
When the escape capsule passed by the universal armor softly, her brother still did not speak, but … he did not stop it, either.
The escape capsule continued to accelerate. It was getting farther and farther away from the universal armor and closer to the Void Hunter.
Her brother still did not do anything. It was as if the universal armor was empty.
"Brother?"
Pepe was surprised and overjoyed. He called out softly in the communication channel.
"I'm here."
Her brother finally spoke. His voice was low and hoarse, as if he was about to collapse. "Pepe, now, everyone's life is in your hands."
Not far away, a few more dazzling rays of light shot toward them.
They were her father and four guards. They were also riding the universal armor and approaching aggressively.
"Where is he?"
Her father asked solemnly.
"He just passed by."
Her brother replied calmly.
"B * stard. What's going on? Chase him!"
Her father roared. He waved his hand and led the four guards to chase after Pepe's escape capsule.
However, the moment they moved, a sharp alarm came from the universal armor.
The scorching saber aura from her brother turned into magma in the sea of stars and covered their heads.
"What the hell?"
Her father was shocked and roared, "You're crazy!"
"I … don't know."
Her brother smiled bitterly. He opened his arms and stopped in front of the five universal armors. "Maybe."
"Lei Qi!"
Her father was dumbfounded. "What are you doing?"
"Doing my duty as a warrior."
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