Meteor Fall Master in the 'Starry Abyss'
Chapter 293: Liberty

Chapter 293: Liberty

"Have you heard?"

"The Red Squad is going to attack the prison? What’s the reason?"

"Don’t be naïve, why would you believe such rumors? The Red Squad is just a bunch of kids."

"It’s not a rumor. I just overheard the prison guards chatting while I was working in the laundry room. They said that the members of the Red Squad are assembling, not sure if they’re coming for us though."

"Really? ..."

Gretto Yegg passed through the corridor with his tray, his gaze calm, as he queued up for his special meal.

After a morning of labor, the inmates were covered in a film of Bai Shuang. The temperature inside seemed far colder than the prison guard’s so-called minus ten degrees. Fingers almost dared not bend, and people clutched their hands under their armpits as if they had just placed ice cubes atop their hearts. Suddenly, everyone snapped out of the exhaustion from the heavy physical labor.

He found a seat at random, and immediately someone came over with a tray, raised an eyebrow, and asked:

"Are you the Gretto who took the bullets from the guns?"

"That’s me."

"Awesome." The newcomer immediately sat down, shook his hand, "The inmates here have long admired you. Most of them are members of the Anti-Royalist Party and those in opposition to the Houjo Clan, captured by the Sky Ring. Everyone witnessed you standing up, fending off the machine gun fire, and flipping over tanks. You’re truly awesome."

His voice was a bit loud, immediately drawing the attention and gathering of others around.

"This is Gretto Yegg!?" someone shouted, "You shouldn’t be locked up in here, you’re a hero."

"Save it, what difference does it make? This world needs tycoons, politicians, emperors, and beasts, but it certainly doesn’t need heroes."

"Damn, it really is Gretto Yegg, so you’ve been incarcerated here all along."

Gretto Yegg hadn’t expected that being taken out for collective labor would cause such a stir, even attracting several strong Beta Ranks who came over and thumped his shoulder with their fists, a gesture of acknowledgment.

"Gretto, you are an extraordinary person."

The praises from these people left Gretto feeling somewhat bewildered. He scratched the back of his head and said, "You flatter me too much. I merely did what had to be done. I’m not someone special; I’m just an ordinary person."

"An ordinary person wouldn’t have the courage to stand in front of a cannon."

A Beta Rank Martial Artist shook his hand firmly and envied Gretto’s sturdy physique. Admiringly, he said:

"Those who swim against the current are always extraordinary."

Then, he introduced himself:

"Li Chuxi, member of the Self-Reliance Party. I got caught for opposing the monopoly of the Houjo Clan."

"Gretto Yegg, second-in-command of the Red Squad from the Sky Blazing Ring, nice to meet you."

"I’m Jin Zaiyun, this is my companion Zhou Xu. The Houjo Clan, in collusion with the government, forcibly took over our hometown and turned it into a factory. It’s so good to see you; you’ve inspired many people back home."

"I also come from the Outer World. Thank you for your struggle for freedom and rights."

"I am Yamagami Etsu, a former military official, falsely accused of political crimes and imprisoned. I quite agree with the principles of the Red Squad. It’s very reassuring to see young people like you stepping forward; you and others your age truly are the future of our country."

"Thank you for your support..."

As Gretto conversed with one person after another, he was surprised to find that Shiratori Town Prison was indeed filled with talent. From rebellious local leaders, destitute nobles, political prisoners, infamous thieves, to even a scientist and ordinary women.

Without exception, they had been tossed aside here under the pretext of ’endangering national security,’ yet any one of them would be seen as patriots in the eyes of others.

"In the past, we always thought that the actions of the Red Squad were too radical, but only after we ourselves became trapped did we realize that we were the ones who were not awake."

A former diplomat from the government, Kazuho Yui, said resentfully:

"I thought I was a part of the ruling class, but they never took me seriously. I was wrong, profoundly wrong. The Sky Ring is nothing but a tool for the sovereign and conglomerates to rule over the people. I’m just a screw in their machine... Perhaps only by overthrowing the Ring King can we truly attain redemption."

The inmates locked up here, after being tortured and serving their sentences, had lost their passion for their country, and their will was aimless. Gretto could clearly sense a lack of a leading ideology in their hearts.

"But without the Ring King, what’s the point of our nation’s existence?" someone couldn’t help but question. "The Sky Ring’s existence relies on the perpetual reign of the Ring King. The Royalty is a relic from the old era, what could surpass the products of the old era?"

"You say that... yet we’re supposed to be the people of the future, and still, we treat relics of the old era like precious standards. Isn’t that shameful?"

Gretto looked at the person who had retorted and said:

"Does a nation need a master to really be considered a nation?"

As soon as he said this, almost everyone turned to look at him.

Previously, their eyes were filled with admiration, but now, they were brimming with doubt and wariness.

Someone then shouted:

"Gretto, you’re the second-in-command of the Red Squad. What are your thoughts?"

The gathering of people caught the attention of the prison guards who bellowed, "Hey, break it up!" and then tried to scatter the crowd with electric batons.