*Andrew's POV*
There's a lot of unpleasant things people do to live, especially people us who were born in the places like district zero.
People talk about honor, pride, or loyalty, but...
But that is something that should be fed or boasted to others, letting them know your value.
That is why I don't trust any of that, especially one that talks more and boasts more. At the same time, I also don't speak or aim to show those things.
Particularly the loyalty is the cheapest of them all. Like any hooker in the street, it can change its color with a simple bag of stones.
When people say they honor their word or talk about how loyal they are, I can't help but to laugh inside that how cheap and useless sounding they are.
That is how I continue to spend over 40 years of my life.
That way of thinking from time to time again proved it right, like my friend's honor or my woman's loyalty.
Or Desir family.
They talked about how cheap I am, but when they thought they took my everything. I always had spare to stood back up.
But I always had those childish wishes about true honor and loyalty.
Just like the devil.
From time to time, it appears when I interact with people. Whispering to my head maybe, this time they are the one.
Then it mocks me when it fails, just like usual.
To me, loyalty is more worthless than maggots crawling on feces. When the time arises, at least you can fry and eat those maggots to live. But honor and loyalty are worth nothing.
That is what I thought until I witness the scene that shows me the example of true honor and loyalty that wishes so much.
Under those soil owned by bastards, I saw it surrounded by death and steel.
I found it from those dolls resting beside their master's remains in peace. They didn't need to prove or say anything, I can see in their action.
The real ones are not just following someone but caring and loving someone. Each and every one of them accompanied their companion and continued till their last breath.
Seein pure smile of doll laying on legs of a skeleton sitting of wheelchair and its arm placed on doll's back as if caressing one last time.
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
It is was the first time I felt this envious of some skeleton.
But at the same time, I understood that I finally found someone or something that I can trust.
Maybe in it possess a different appearance, the HM is the same as those dolls. It means it will know the meaning of honor and loyalty.
May, I can't get its loyalty, but I can get its honor.
The power can converted into anything except for itself.
No amount of money or connection can buy me true loyalty or power. But right in front of me stood a thing that possesses both of those.
Only missing others.
And I know HM shakes the foundation of power on the moment it leaves its nest. At that time, it will be simple to finds someone better than me.
My life taught me never put all chips on the table due to emotion, but this time.
I go against my own rule.
I decided to sell my everything while it still holds value.
If I succeed, I will get rid of the devil in my head and role of acting as HM's funnel. The final word is still on HM, but it is far better than working under other people.
If I fail then, it is also good. I am now already past 40, with no cultivation or mana or family.
It is better to end that way, disappearing one dark street valley of District 0.
Just like others.
.....
....
...
..
It worked!
I only ended up breaking my finger for trying to show little Bao my awesomeness, but it worked!
It worked so well that even Chen, who suddenly awakened as a cultivator, decided to follow me.
If any of the forces took notice of such a young awakened cultivator like Chen. They would be fighting their tooth and nail to get a cultivator with a bright future. But such a promising seed just now voluntarily placed itself on my palm.
Besides of entrance of the District 0's, we took a halt. While taking a break, I checked our new members in the group.
First was four dolls that look like what I saw back in the ground created by the HM.
Those four dolls had the appearance of any common woman in her later twenty with short hair tied in a ponytail. It has no striking characteristics except its dull, lifeless expression.
But all of us saw how their head opened from the middle pushing their fake face in front. Then, receiving the instruction from HM through a cable connected to the hole in their skull.
Along with them, there are another six of them hidden using invisibility as they possess no disguise like us, but they have powerful towering bodies and weapons.
"01, are your brothers are now around us ?"
I asked from one of the dolls who call herself 01. Because of invisibility, I can't know wherever they are here or not.
Also, I decided to call big ones as a brother of female ones because of how protective they are.
"Affirmative, all of them is surrounded all your from every angle."
With a monotonous voice, 01 answered me.
"Then let's go."
I led them through the streets of District 0. As usual, the streets were filled with death, decay, and corruption. This place is a trash pile of Eustis city where all trashes thrown away settled.
I don't how or what is in the past, but right now.
The reason why it is called district 0 is that it not registered as part of the city or empire. The reason for that is to keep the appearance of the city in the eyes of the empire.
To the eyes of the above, we don't exist. Anything that happens in this place is outside of the empire's law.
People in this place didn't recognize them as people by law.
Even if someone is able to massacre everyone in it. He or she will be not charged with any crime or punishment.
This lawless place is the perfect spot for the castaways where they can create their own circle or even a city. Adding even more layer of despair to ordinary people trying to live their best.
And I am right now heading towards the headquarters of the Jackal gang.
There are many places I can point it to, but it won't hurt to take some revenge against my previous comrades and gift HM my past work.