Short, Light, Free

Chapter 75: Choice (Part 2) III

When Xiaohong came out to the corridor, everyone had their arms raised in the air.

Frustrated, he looked downstairs and saw that the area was crowded with policemen.

Xiaohong took off his mask and put it back into his pocket along with his other equipment before raising his arms.

The policemen made their way up the stairs as Xiaohong gradually leaned against the wall against the staircase.

“Do not move, everyone. Tell me where room 202 is, left or right?” a policeman holding a gun asked the crowd.

Xiaohong pointed, “That opened door over there.”

Just as the policeman was about to turn away, he stopped. “Your clothes... you don’t seem to be from here...”

Before he could finish his sentence, however, he collapsed weakly onto the ground.

As the other policemen started to sense something, they, too, fell down one after another.

Xiaohong stepped over the policemen’s bodies and made his way down as the other citizens started shouting in panic.

The policemen on standby started making a move but were also rendered paralyzed by Xiaohong.

They sprawled motionless on the ground, barely able to breathe.

Their minds went blank as they experienced anemia and dizziness, their visions darkening.

Xiaohong got to the first floor easily but more sirens started to sound.

He walked briskly toward his car and eyed the incoming police cars along the way.

The policemen noticed that the panel board meters were indicating an empty water tank and oil tank.

Xiaohong was unstoppable.

Even those policemen lying in ambush fell to the ground before they could even shout for Xiaohong to freeze.

Xiaohong got nearer and nearer to his car but helicopters started to draw close.

Frustrated, he looked up and saw that it was an old and worn one, owned by the civilians.

The policemen in the helicopter were shining bright lights down on Xiaohong, accentuating his silhouette.

Xiahong frowned and sighed, “How tricky to avoid killing people.”

The police lights followed Xiaohong closely.

Left without a choice, he looked up and stared at the source, instantly deactivating them.

The policemen were confused by the sudden blackout. They shook their torches as if that would turn them back on.

They opened up the back of their flashlights to remove the batteries only to realize that they were weightless.

The policemen squeezed the batteries slightly and discovered that they were empty inside.

By then, Xiaohong had already gotten into his car and drove away, leaving a huge mess behind.

...

The next day, he sat in a coffee shop reading some newspapers.

The coffee he had ordered turned ice cold within ten minutes.

He was already wearing the overcoat given to him, but a mist was still coming out of his mouth whenever he exhaled.

The deputy mayor’s face flooded the front page.

‘Northen region’s deputy mayor arrested after 23 years.’

‘Mentally unstable, incoherent speech.’

Xiaohong smiled bitterly at the report but his brows were furrowed.

Hundreds of thoughts were running through his mind.

There were many devils apart from the tooth fairy, they can’t attack humans, fifty with superpowers, managing their own territories, betting game...

...

He turned his focus back to the northern region.

That had to be the tooth fairy’s region.

Unable to harm humans.

Xiaohong closed his newspaper and dashed back into his car.

He sped toward the northern region.

The moment he entered the region, he felt an arising suppression.

He was a hundred meters in when he started having difficulty breathing.

Just then, a hand extended over, scaring and provoking him to step on the emergency brakes.

That sharp halt left tire marks on the ground.

The figure on the passenger seat smiled. “You’re finally here. You were still a young man when you came over to the school looking for documents. Now, you’re the homicidal maniac who’s killed 26 of my chess pieces.”

This must be the tooth fairy, Xiaohong thought.

“Nothing to think about. Your power does not work on me,” the tooth fairy stated.

Xiaohong threw a punch that penetrated the tooth fairy’s body and landed on the seat.

“You can’t touch me either, maniac,” the tooth fairy said before waving his finger, instantly locking Xiaohong tight in his seat.

“Killing? I’ve never killed anyone.”

The tooth fairy smiled again. “Why did you have to take away their lives? Their superpower, to me, is life. Without the power, their lives are not worth living and they’re better off dead.”

Xiaohong forced himself to calm down. “I haven’t killed anyone. This so-called superpower is a sin.”

“Haven’t killed? Then what is Xiaohuang if not human? What a kind kid, that little one. He had ambitions.” The tooth fairy smiled coldly.

“I only kill lawbreakers. I know what you’re trying to say. When I’m done with this, I will end my own life,” Xiaohong added firmly.

“Looks like you’re giving this attitude because you’re aware that I can’t kill you,” the tooth fairy said, his teeth gritted.

“Is this also the reason why you let the mayor go that year? Because you can’t hurt humans?”

“You’re very intelligent. I’ve already lost half the bet thanks to you. Of course, there’s a way to make up for it. There are a total of 12 devils and we each gave 50 people the same superpower – controlling liquids. 650 people, spread all over the nation. Go kill all of their chess pieces. Dig out their eyes.”

“Why should I?” Xiaohong flew into a rage.

“You should, because of what I’m about to tell you. 23 years ago, there were a total of 666 people – the holy son, holy father, and holy spirit who started this bet, us 13 devils, and the kids with superpowers,” the tooth fairy narrated.

“Satanic number.” Xiaohong sucked in a cold breath.

“You’ve noticed that the weather’s turning colder, haven’t you? Guess where the liquid you drain goes to?”

Silence.

With a menacing smile, the tooth fairy continued, “The earth’s core. The temperature will only continue to drop as long as there are people engaging their power, bringing us back to the Ice age and finally into destruction. I’m asking you to kill the other chess pieces to save Earth!”

“Or to give you a chance to win your stupid bet? What’s the condition?”

“We’re in charge of recording the volume of liquid each person drains and we will do that until the earth dies out. The biggest team contributor wins and the devil will become the next reigning religious figure,” the tooth fairy said, excitement evident in his voice.

“And you think you still have a chance to win?” Xiaohong asked.

“I have you. You’re very unique. You’re the only one who thought about looking for me. You’re also the only one who knows this secret. Kill them for me. If I win, you’ll get eternal life and become a demigod in the next cycle of life,” the tooth fairy offered, his voice becoming sharper.

“Can’t a person win by sucking the ocean dry?”

“No, we measure by average. No matter how much you drain, the volume will be evenly distributed among the other 46 members. We’re too low in number now that you’ve killed so many of your own. The only way for us to have a shot is for you to lower the other devil teams’ average score.”

“I can listen to you but I have a question.”

“Ask away, my boy. Give me victory and you’ll have everything.” The tooth fairy undid his spell, allowing Xiaohong to move again.

“If the earth is still fine after the death of all 650 people, will the bet still continue?”

After a short consideration, the tooth fairy shook his head. “We’re unable to give any more people superpower. 50 is the maximum.”

Before the tooth fairy could finish, Xiaohong drove his car toward the boundary of the northern region.

“Yes, let’s go get them!” The tooth fairy grinned victoriously.

“No. I don’t want to save the earth,” Xiaohong said faintly.

Xiaohong passed the boundary and the tooth fairy vanished instantly.

...

63 years later.

Aurora district, where the world’s most active volcanoes stand.

134 of them hasn’t erupted since 63 years ago.

The earth’s temperature was returning to normal and was no longer experiencing any dips.

“Are you looking at the weather reports again, Grandfather?” the little girl asked.

With his shaking hand, the grandfather wrote down the temperatures of countries in a small booklet.

He flipped through his book and noticed that the temperature today was one to two degrees colder than the year before.

The grandfather tidied his things, got his overcoat ready, and told his granddaughter, “Be good while grandfather makes a trip up there. I’ll be back soon.”

“Are you going to save the earth again?” she asked, puzzled.

“Didn’t expect that, did you, Tooth Fairy? I’m 98 years old and I doubt anyone with power is still alive. The world is going to be fine. I’m the final winner,” the grandfather said with a smile.

He got up from his chair, but before he could make a step forward, he collapsed onto the ground, lying motionless for a long time.

The granddaughter burst into tears and ran next door to look for her parents.