Chapter 7: I Only Need 72 Hours To Fall In Love With You (VII)

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Chapter 7: I Only Need 72 Hours To Fall In Love With You (VII)

Shang Ke reclined against his pillow, staring at the holographic screen in front of him, which was broadcasting the founding ceremony.

The plaza was packed with people and buzzing with excitement. Ravel sat in a slowly moving shuttle, surrounded on both sides by guards escorting him in formation. Ceremonial salutes thundered overhead as bursts of color blossomed across the sky. The sheer grandeur of the occasion was unprecedented.

Shang Ke felt that any man who made it as far as Ravel had could say his life had been worth living. Ruler of an empire, leader of the people—the undisputed top man in the world.

“General Ravel—no, we should call him ‘Your Majesty’ now. His Majesty is so handsome!” the nurse exclaimed, stars practically shining in her eyes.

Shang Ke nodded in agreement. Ravel was, reluctantly, maybe two-thirds as handsome as he was.

Ravel ascended the high platform and began delivering an impassioned speech. His expression was solemn, his gaze focused and unwavering. The discipline of a soldier and the elegance of a noble blended into a unique charisma that naturally inspired awe.

When he loudly declared an end to Kruse’s rule and the establishment of the Nova Empire, the entire crowd erupted in cheers. People cried, laughed, and embraced one another, overcome with emotion.

Shang Ke wasn’t from this world and had never personally experienced the darkness and brutality of Kruse’s rule. Yet seeing the genuine joy pouring from these people, he couldn’t help feeling moved as well.

Actually, being a hero felt pretty good. Sure, he could only count as a “fake” hero, but the torture he had suffered had certainly been real. Even if he couldn’t claim much credit, he had at least paid dearly for it. Shang Ke figured he had every right to join in the nationwide celebration.

At that moment, Ravel suddenly raised his head. His gaze burned with such intensity that it almost seemed as though he were looking through the screen at someone far away.

“Ah!” The nurse let out a small squeal and excitedly said to Shang Ke, “Young Master Cage, His Majesty must be looking at you!”

Please. Don’t be ridiculous. He’s obviously conquering the world with his gaze.

Seeing how completely unfazed he looked, the nurse suddenly grew nervous instead. She hurried to his side and carefully checked the readings on the medical equipment. “Young Master Cage, how are you feeling? Is anything uncomfortable?”

Shang Ke looked at her in confusion, unable to understand what she was so nervous about. Wasn’t he perfectly fine? If something were wrong, he would already be looking drop-dead gorgeous by now.

(The miraculous Perfect Expression Pack: the more they torture you, the more beautiful you become~~)

Seeing nothing unusual, the nurse breathed a sigh of relief. “Before His Majesty left, he specifically told me to keep a close eye on your condition. He was worried something might happen while you were watching the ceremony.”

What could possibly happen? Does Ravel think I’m going to get so excited that I drop dead? Relax. I’ve still got three days left to live.

The ceremony lasted three hours. Even after Ravel departed, the people gathered in the plaza showed no sign of dispersing.

Shang Ke was just about to change channels when Ravel called. He glanced at the time. That guy should have been incredibly busy right now, yet he still hadn’t forgotten to call him. What a considerate bro.

“Did you watch the ceremony?” Ravel asked.

Shang Ke nodded.

“Are you happy?”

Of course.

Shang Ke nodded again.

“There’s also a banquet this afternoon. I originally wanted to bring you with me, but I’m worried about your condition.” Through the video feed, Ravel carefully looked Shang Ke over from head to toe. Only after confirming that he truly seemed fine did he relax.

Shang Ke actually really wanted to attend the banquet and broaden his horizons. This was a genuine state banquet! How often did a person get to have a buddy who was literally the ruler of a country? He probably wouldn’t get another opportunity like this.

Looking at Shang Ke’s shining eyes, the cold severity surrounding Ravel unconsciously softened considerably.

“Your Majesty, everyone is waiting for you,” Kahn’s voice came from Ravel’s side.

Ravel composed himself and said to Shang Ke, “Get some rest. Wait for me to come back.”

After the call ended, the nurse tucked Shang Ke’s blanket around him and teased with a smile, “His Majesty ordered you to rest properly. You wouldn’t want to disobey a royal command, would you?”

Shang Ke pursed his lips.

Don’t think I don’t know what you are. You’re his informant, his mole, his spy!

After silently grumbling for a while, Shang Ke closed his eyes and obediently went to sleep. After all, who could expect a half-paralyzed man to go bouncing around everywhere?

That evening, Ravel turned down all the miscellaneous social engagements awaiting him and rushed straight back to the hospital without even changing his clothes.

As he reached the hospital room, he slowed his steps and gently pushed open the door. The moment he saw Shang Ke sleeping peacefully inside, his pupils contracted slightly.

Ravel walked to the bedside and carefully studied the readings on the medical equipment for a while. Only then did he slowly sit down, take Shang Ke’s hand, and feel the warmth of his body. His entire body finally relaxed.

Thank you for still being alive.

Early the next morning, Shang Ke vaguely heard voices coming from outside the door through the haze of sleep. Ravel seemed to be speaking with someone, his tone cold and severe.

“Find the source of this information as quickly as possible!” A trace of killing intent flashed through Ravel’s eyes. “This isn’t merely a challenge to my authority. It’s also an insult to Cage.”

Kahn frowned. “I had specialists examine the images and videos carefully. They haven’t been fabricated, but…”

“I believe in the Cage I have seen with my own eyes. Whether these things are true or false will not affect my judgment of him.” Ravel fixed Kahn with a piercing stare.

“I understand.” Kahn’s expression turned solemn, and he bowed before withdrawing.

When Ravel returned to the hospital room, he found that the young man on the bed had already woken up at some point and was staring directly at him.

“You heard?” Ravel walked over and sat beside him.

Shang Ke nodded, asking with his eyes, What happened?

Ravel was silent for a moment before opening a virtual screen and switching to a webpage.

A large number of photos and videos had been posted there, accompanied by vividly written descriptions. Every single one concerned the same person: Cage, the original owner of Shang Ke’s current body.

Shang Ke had to admit that Young Master Cage had led quite a colorful life. He had hung around with gangs, gotten into group fights, chased beautiful women, belted out outrageous hit songs, bullied the weak… Living on impoverished Tayma, where he couldn’t exactly indulge in extravagant pleasures, these low-class amusements were apparently the best he could manage.

In Shang Ke’s eyes, Cage had simply been an affection-starved teenage edgelord. Ordinarily, that wouldn’t have been such a big deal. Unfortunately, Cage had now become a nationally recognized hero. Once someone became a public figure, even the smallest mistake could be magnified beyond recognition. On top of that, Cage genuinely hadn’t been a particularly good person and had offended plenty of people in the past. The moment his history was made public, a flood of condemnation and criticism followed, with many people feeling as though they had been deceived.

【Damn, Cage was actually this kind of person? My whole image of him is shattered!】

【And I actually idolized him. Forget “idol”—now he just makes me want to puke.】

【Someone like this deserves to be called a “hero”? He’s a disgrace to the word.】

【That’s going too far. Cage is lying seriously injured in a hospital bed and doesn’t have long to live. Can’t you show a little basic decency?】

【Doesn’t have long to live? Didn’t the doctors say ten days ago that he wouldn’t survive more than two days? Yet he’s still alive now, isn’t he?】

【I saw Cage’s medical report. With injuries like those, an ordinary person really wouldn’t have survived two days.】

【Heh. Don’t you think the whole thing is suspicious? Cage may just be trying to win sympathy so people will overlook the stains on his past. Maybe his injuries were never as serious as the official reports claimed.】

【Damn. If that’s true, I’m a Cage anti for life. No explanation needed!】

【Same.】

……

…

Ravel watched Cage’s expression the entire time, worried that becoming too agitated might cause his condition to worsen. To his surprise, Cage not only showed no anger, but remained remarkably calm.

That was right. This was the “Cage” Ravel knew. Faced with the enemy’s torture, he had refused to yield. Faced with the world’s accusations, he remained neither servile nor arrogant. A person’s outward appearance could deceive, but their eyes could not. There was not a trace of gloom in Cage’s eyes, only open, radiant warmth.

Even Ravel found the comments online difficult to stomach, yet this young man remained unmoved by either praise or humiliation. That strength of character alone was enough to make Ravel determined to protect him with everything he had.

Sometimes words were more frightening than blades. A few irresponsible remarks could wound someone until there was nothing left untouched. For that very reason, Ravel despised those who spread rumors and stirred up trouble all the more.

“Don’t worry. Leave this to me. I won’t let you suffer this injustice,” Ravel promised.

It’s fine. I don’t care at all.

Shang Ke was just about to give Ravel a reassuring smile when the System’s voice suddenly rang through his mind:

【Additional Mission: In two days, Ravel will be targeted by a sniper. The Host must ensure his safety.】

How is a disabled person like me supposed to protect him?!

【According to the System’s assessment, although the Host currently suffers from muscle atrophy, viral invasion, and necrosis of the internal organs, the Host’s bones have essentially healed. The Host therefore has at least three seconds in which explosive movement is possible. Please make reasonable use of these precious three seconds and heroically challenge death.】

System, be honest with me. Is Ravel your son? You’re going all out to protect his life, but the life you’re gambling with is mine!

【If the Host completes this mission without dying, the System will grant an additional fifteen-day stay in this world.】

Shang Ke: Hehe. Thanks, but no thanks!

Within only an hour or two, they traced the source of the information spreading online. Although the person responsible had not yet been caught, they were closely connected to Gabriel. A little questioning would be enough to get a lead from him.

Gabriel still hadn’t recovered from his torture. He had become a nervous wreck, jumping at shadows and answering whatever he was asked with unparalleled obedience.

The material released online exposed Cage’s entire sordid history from the ages of fourteen to twenty-one in exhaustive detail. Gabriel had clearly been planning this for a long time.

If Cage hadn’t returned to Draconis ahead of schedule, the resistance would have won, stabilized the situation, and then brought the two of them back. At that point, Gabriel could have used this material to manipulate public opinion and seize the opportunity to fight Cage for the right to inherit House Bick. His scheming had clearly begun long before any of this happened.

Ravel originally hadn’t intended to execute Gabriel.

But Gabriel should never have kept crossing the one line Ravel would not tolerate anyone crossing!

“Your Majesty, all of the material online has been removed, but…” Kahn hesitated. “Public opinion is still heavily against Cage. People want an official explanation, and they’re demanding that Cage appear personally to address the matter.”

“Appear personally?” Doctor Benny was furious. “Do they really think Cage’s condition was fabricated?”

Suppressed fury burned in Ravel’s eyes as well.

“Your Majesty…” Benny looked at Ravel, his voice filled with sorrow. “Cage… he truly doesn’t have much time left.”

Ravel lowered his eyes, both fists clenched tightly.

“I want Cage to be able to leave this world in peace. Please don’t let him die while still carrying a reputation he doesn’t deserve.” Benny sighed softly, then turned and left.

Only those who had truly spent time with Cage knew that he was a gentle yet strong young man. Whatever he had been like in the past, the person he was now deserved everyone’s respect and care.

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