I've Got this Cannon Fodder's Back Chapter 4 - I've got this Tyrant's back (4)

Chapter 4 - I’ve got this Tyrant’s back (4)

Chapter 4 I’ve got this Tyrant’s back

He cannot. He definitely cannot.

Remembering what he’d seen just now — that pile of exercise booklets so high they almost reached the ceiling — Lu Deng felt lingering fear in his heart. With his back firmly against the door, he furiously shook his head.

He came here to do the mission, not to do the homework. If the target really sees the situation inside, he can already predict how their ‘kept man’ appointments will go in the future.

The boy’s expression was unexpectedly determined. Gu Yuan was momentarily surprised but he moved back and rubbed the boy’s hair. “I’ll be going then. I’ll look for you next time.”

This was the age when one’s self-esteem was the strongest. The reason why he refused to let him see inside his place was probably either because the house was really messy or it was really too impoverished. Gu Yuan didn’t want him to feel overly-conscious about this sort of thing so he said goodbye in a warm tone of voice, stepped on the creaky wooden stairs to head downstairs and walked back into the car.

Seeing his figure plunge into the night, Lu Deng breathed a sigh of relief. He opened the door a crack and turned his body sideways to enter into the house.

The tables and floor were filled with stacks of brand new exercise booklets. They were piled into tottering stacks that almost reached the ceiling. A rough estimate showed that there was probably enough for seven or eight worlds, with probably even some leftovers.

Lu Deng carefully turned sideways, squeezing through between two stacks of exercise booklets that were about the same height as himself. He put down his schoolbag, took off his clothes, folded them neatly and lay flat on the bed.

Then he had a nightmare where he spent the entire night diligently studying.

Early the next morning, Lu Deng, who rarely ever woke up late, sat on the bed and spent a few minutes in a rarely felt dazed state.

In any case, he can’t stay in this kind of house. If he went to school, though, he’d have to do homework. It would be better to just go out and do his mission.

This world wasn’t safe. If he manages to find an opportunity in the future, he must make sure to get this house blown up.

With this idea in mind, Lu Deng’s enthusiasm for the mission increased by a lot.

Lu Deng took a deep breath and pulled himself together, rallying his spirit. After putting on his clothes, he slid down the temporary tarpaulin pole set up outside the window, and left the slums.

*

In order to facilitate their work, the system can detect the location of the mission target at any time. Lu Deng turned the amulet half a circle and followed the map generated according to the system’s navigation.

He hadn’t intended to bring the schoolbag out with him, but when he was about to head out he discovered that the schoolbag was actually a backpack that was bound to the system. In order to be able to buy things from the system mall at any time, at least for now, it was necessary to carry along this schoolbag.

The system was brand new, it hasn’t been long since it left the factory. Its current level was not enough to conceal external devices. It was guilt-ridden the entire way to the target. Its navigation voice sounded dispirited and downcast.

Lu Deng had already dumped the homework from his schoolbag in advance. He held the amulet and consoled it in his mind. “Don’t worry. After we finish one mission, you’ll have enough experience points to upgrade.”

“The host can rest a.s.sured. I will surely upgrade as soon as possible so that the host won’t need to carry around a schoolbag in the future!”

The system immediately raised its spirits and confidently swore to this. Lu Deng smiled and adjusted the red string from which the amulet hung around his next. He proceeded to ask the system. “Are you certain about the target’s location?”

“I’m positive. The target is in the art gallery up ahead. The host just needs to go in and follow my navigation!”

The system responded excitedly. Filled with determination, the system had once again done a search for the target’s location. It determined the location and pa.s.sed it onto his host. It even considerately marked out the detailed route he needed to take.

Looking at the markers on the map, Lu Deng unexpectedly stopped. His eyes revealed that he was deep in thought.

Art gallery.

Gu Yuan’s profile didn’t include any art related hobbies and he rarely visits such a place. This was such a tense time, him coming to the art gallery probably wasn’t to admire the artworks.

The main plot of the story revolved around the protagonist. Only a few lines were dedicated for the cannon fodder. It was only by comparing the timeline and the plot that Lu Deng judged that very soon, Gu Yuan would be very busy handling that vital order. However, he still didn’t know how Gu Yuan managed, by his own power, to deceive everyone.

For a moment, Lu Deng couldn’t make up his mind. He lifted his schoolbag on his back and then instead of following the route marked by the system, he forced his body up, pulled himself up the wall with one hand, and landed on a windowsill on the second floor.

The art gallery was constructed to display the artistic style of the interstellar era. The exterior of the building was dotted with numerous relief sculptures. Without much effort, Lu Deng found the floor where Gu Yuan was located. He pushed open the skylight and landed smoothly in the corridor of the sculpture exhibition hall.

Today, Gu Yuan did not wear that stiff three-piece suit. Instead, he changed into an ink-colored casual trench coat. His figure is still as handsome and dashing as before. He seemed to be completely relaxed as he strolled and stopped before the various exhibits.

Like many ordinary guests, he would stop for a moment in front of each exhibit and he would even use his smart computer to record the introduction of those exhibits. It seemed that he has a rather strong interest in those items on display.

Lu Deng avoided the crowd and tried to turn on the system to do a scan. After a few seconds, a reminder sounded in his mind, “Host, the target is recording the material structure of the exhibits. His smart computer is a.n.a.lyzing materials similar to Radium. Would you like me to make a copy?”

“No need. Withdraw the probe.”

Lu Deng replied in his mind. He then took out his gla.s.ses and put them on and then quietly melted into the crowd.

Radium Ore is a mineral found especially in the mineral veins controlled by the Gu Group. It also happened to be the core content of the Guar’s order. It seemed that Gu Yuan came here to find a subst.i.tute that could reduce Radium Ore’s defense capabilities without being immediately discovered.

Such a search was tantamount to finding a needle in a haystack, but at least it showed that Gu Yuan has already received the order from Planet Guar and was starting to think about countermeasures.

In the Gu Yuan’s eyes, he was still a hard-working and poor student. Right now, he should be in school, not going for a leisurely stroll in some art gallery.

Lu Deng didn’t intend to appear before the target right away. He pushed up his gla.s.ses and followed behind him at a suitable distance.

*

Gu Yuan hadn’t gone far when he was suddenly greeted by a smiling figure.

The person coming his way looked eagerly attentive. He walked quickly towards him, and stretched out both hands towards him. “What a coincidence—President Gu, have you also come to see the sculpture exhibit?”

“I was free today so I came to have a look.”

An indiscernible look of vigilance flashed in his eyes. Gu Yuan smiled back and stretched out his left hand; the hand that did not have his smart computer; and gently shook hands with him.

He recognized the person before him. His name was Lei Sheng, a small but well-known entrepreneur in Galileo. The two of them have had a few business dealings before.

This man wasn’t operating a big business and he was also attentive and amiable but he was secretly a member of the Galilean resistance. In normal times, Gu Yuan wouldn’t need to take precautions against the other party, but the situation now was different. He cannot afford to lower his guard even by a little bit.

Lei Sheng still had a friendly smile on his face. He shook Gu Yuan hand with one hand and took out an e-cigarette with the other. “It’s a rare coincidence. Meeting President Gu is simply an honor. I hope the President Gu can look kindly upon my humble company in the future…”

He hadn’t let go of Gu Yuan’s left hand, but knocked out that piece of e-cigarette one handedly and offered it over with a smile.

Gu Yuan lowered his gaze, his expression faintly turning cold.

While there were safeguards to ensure the security of the smart computer, there were also devices invented to fraudulently acquire the information from a smart computer. Even when information protection was turned on, as long as the smart computers of both parties brush against each other, the information can be transferred.

He had just received an 200-million star dollar order for Radium Ore from Planet Guar. The resistance must have also gotten wind of this. Someone would definitely come to make discreet inquiries about this news. Lei Sheng definitely didn’t come over to talk to him on just a mere whim.

The two hundred million star dollar worth of Radium ore is an important step in Guar’s aggressive expansion. But if he could seize this opportunity, sneak in fake Radium ore for the deal, it may just become the key to turn the tide of the war.

From this standpoint, he and the resistance were actually allies. However, fishes and dragons have mixed in together within the resistance, not everyone there was clean. The implications of the deal was too big. He planned to go at it alone. He did not intend to divulge this secret to any party.

Lei Sheng was still smiling, waiting for him to take the cigarette.

Both parties were partners in trade. If he refuses, not only will he not give the other face, but he will also immediately increase their suspicion towards him. It might be enough to provoke the resistance to try their hand at him again.

If he doesn’t refuse, in all likelihood, the information in computer will be directly pa.s.sed on to the other party. When the time comes, the two sides may be able to trust each other fully. But there were truly too many spies that had managed to infiltrate the resistance. So long as someone opens their mouth, this vital opportunity will vanish.

Gu Yuan was silent. His eyes fell on the cigarette, and the light in his eyes darkened bit by bit.

For what he intends to do, the fewer the people who knows, the better. He doesn’t need anyone to understand and he doesn’t need anyone to serve as an accomplice.

Gu Yuan’s expression gradually faded to distinct arrogance and indifference. He raised his jaw impatiently and just as he was about to knock that cigarette out of his hand, a figure suddenly pounced on him and hugged his arm.

Not only his arms, but almost half of his body was held firmly by the boy who had suddenly appeared. Before he could recover from the shock, something cold and cloyingly sweet touched his mouth.

An ice cream cone with chocolate and vanilla ice cream was stuffed into his hand. Gu Yuan automatically held on to it and looked down.

The young man hanging off his body looked up at him. His eyes were filled with vivacious and affectionate light. He grumbled resentfully, “I just went to buy food…why’d you have to walk so fast!”

Despite knowing clearly that this wasn’t the young man’s true temperament, Gu Yuan still couldn’t help being drawn by that bright light in those eyes. Gentleness and warmth seeped through to his features. The corners of his lips curved up slightly as he feed ice cream to the young man. “It’s my fault. Is there anything else you’d like to eat?”

Lei Sheng was instantly pushed aside. He remembered the news he had just heard last night. He couldn’t help the surprise that appeared in his eyes and he instinctively took a step back.

This man was tall and had a grave and stern appearance but his gently drooping eyes were focused and gentle. The young man he had half-wrapped in his arms had bright eyes. Although he had him in his arms, the young man’s movements were still clumsy and awkward, like that of someone who had yet to experience the ways of the world. Looks like Gu Yuan still has yet to touch him.

He was already providing for the young man but he hadn’t rushed lay his hands on him. It seemed that Gu Yuan really did dote on this young man.

Realizing that he was interrupting the couple’s date, the vague hostility that Gu Yuan showed just now suddenly seemed quite natural.

At this time, Lei Sheng suddenly felt a bit embarra.s.sed. He rubbed his hands, ready to apologize but the young man was already spouting words like “grilled fish” and “cake” with great enthusiasm as he dragged President Gu to the restaurant downstairs.

…

Lu Deng meticulously read the books on being a kept man provided by the system. After dragging the target into the elevator, he finally breathed a sigh of relief. He took a step back and gently released the arms he had around Gu Yuan.

The weight around his arm grew lighter and the body warmth suddenly moved away.

With his gaze fell on to the young man’s slightly lowered head and his pale nape. Gu Yuan was silent for a moment. Like before, he raised his hand and lay it on top of the young man head. He rubbed it gently and said, “Thank you.”

The timing of his appearance was too coincidental. It was clear that he had come over to help him out of trouble. No matter what his intentions, he had undoubtedly rescued him out from that impossible situation.

Perceiving the vague strength on that hand, Lu Deng blinked. He took the proffered ice cream and raised his head hesitantly. “I’m here today—”

Only halfway through his statement, Gu Yuan suddenly encircled him in his arms.

If the young man had managed to guess his predicament based only on the few conversations they had in the hotel yesterday, then the young man before him was really too smart. If this was not the case, then the other definitely had some other purpose for approaching him.

He was really afraid that Lu Zhiguang would give some false excuse or pale and weak explanation to explain what happened today.

The elevator chime beeped. It would take another ten seconds to reach the restaurant on the first floor.

He should be wary of everyone trying to get close to him, but only right now, for these ten seconds, he really didn’t want to have any doubts about the boy in his arms.

The target’s heartbeat and breathing rate changed and the arms around Lu Deng tightened considerably. When he raised his head and looked at the man’s taut side profile, it actually displayed a bit of coldness that he had never seen before.

He was obviously angry.

Lu Deng was pressed against the man’s chest, still holding onto the melting ice cream with one hand. He listened to the man’s fast heartbeat. After a moment of saying nothing, he struggle free of his embrace and he honestly admitted his wrong-doing.

“I’m here because I ditched school…”

The author has something to say: Mr. Gu: ……Haa ⊙▽⊙

#Are you angry#

#I’m also not allowed to skip school? QAQ#

———————>>>>>>

Translator’s note:

This has nothing to do with the story or BL even. But, I would just like to get it out there that for fans of old school, turn-based, story-driven, immersive, PS-one pixel-type JRPGs out there, please check out this kickstarter for Eiyuden Chronicles, the spiritual baby of the Suikoden series from the people who made the Suikoden series (but are no longer with Konami, because Konami is never gonna make another Suikoden game. Huhuhu)

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