Javier and Brand have known each other for a long time, and they are both warriors known for their bravery, and they are not only colleagues, but also close friends.

The two of them are very close on weekdays, and the friendship between them naturally does not need to be said.

When Brand was imprisoned, it was all Javier who was helping him up and down, but when he saw that he could be rescued, he got the news of Brand's defection.

Brand is one of the most promising young talents in the Southwest Military Region, and he was only about 20 years old at the time, and he became the commander of 10,000 cavalry because of his accumulated military achievements, which is already quite a remarkable achievement among civilian soldiers.

You know, even Arowen became the captain of ten thousand horses when he was twenty-two years old.

If Brand hadn't chosen to defect and continued, he might have become a famous general by now.

After hearing the news of Brand's defection, Javier felt regretful and more frustrated.

Frustrated that he couldn't save his friends, and even more frustrated that there was a split of will between them, and maybe in the future it would end in the death of one of them.

This is not the result he wants, and even if he can slash Brand in the future, he will surely suffer for the rest of his life because of endless self-blame and remorse.

Javier was silent, his eyes flickering slightly, and finally as if he had made up his mind, he looked at Brand with an unusually solemn expression.

"Brand, because I know you very well, I will only say some things once, you listen carefully."

Brand restrained his smile and waited for Javier's next words, and even Leonay pricked up his ears to hear what Javier had to say.

"You are my comrade-in-arms, and one of my most cherished friends. You know, I don't have many friends, so each and every one of you is an extremely important presence to me. ”

"If I can, I hope to solve the problem between us in another way, after all, the ideals we have are essentially the same."

"We all vowed to give everything for this country, to change the darkness of this country, and although you have since left, my faith has not wavered in any way."

"Protect this country, protect the people of this country. Those who have power will have their responsibilities, and I believe that this is my duty. ”

"Javier ......"

Brand's expression became complicated, his lips moved, but he didn't know what to say.

Yes, he reneged on his oath between men and wanted to fulfill his ideals on another path.

Brand didn't think he was wrong, and he didn't regret it until now, but now that he was facing his former friends, he couldn't hold his head up, and he was guilty after all.

Javier's gaze was calm at Brand, an ancient pool of tranquility, but an unknown storm brewing.

"I'm still working hard to fulfill the vows I didn't make back then. I have never relaxed for a moment in the past five years for this goal, and this time I am fully prepared and will never fail again! ”

With this, Javier suddenly stretched out his right hand and extended the most sincere invitation to Brand.

"Brand, come to my side, come back to me, and be my strength."

"What you want for the future is what I want. Believe me, I will definitely save this country. You should know what I'm capable of, and as long as I'm determined, there's nothing I can't do. ”

It was still flat and cold, but it was full of convincing power.

This is Javier's unique personality, and countless people follow him wholeheartedly for it.

Because he believed in him, because he looked forward to him, because he felt that this person could fulfill his wishes, Javier had such a magical power in his body.

Brand stared at the hand that was reaching out to him in a daze, his face flickering, and he didn't react immediately.

“…… Don't force me and you to be enemies, I don't want it to turn out like that. ”

Javier's iceberg-like voice sounded again, and it felt like he was giving his last advice.

But it is not difficult for those who know him well to hear the trace of suppressed pain and struggle in his voice, and Javier's heart is far from being as calm as it seems.

Brand was still silent, but it was Leonay who responded to Javier's statement first.

“…… Did I think you were going to say something all of a sudden, and it turned out to be just some joke-like nonsense? ”

Her eyes seemed to erupt with flames, and she roared at Javier, "Do you know the current state of the empire? The current empire is completely hopeless! Guys like you who want to change the empire from within won't end well! Hasn't the tragic death of so many loyal servants taught you a lesson!? ”

"If you really want to change all of this from the bottom of your heart, you should be on our side in every way!!"

Javier did not respond to Leonay, he neither agreed nor objected, and Leonay may have been right, but his conviction would not be shaken by these words.

He just looked at Brand fixedly, waiting for Brand's answer, which was the most important thing for Javier now.

Brand was silent for a while, and all kinds of strong emotions flashed in his eyes, sadness, pain, struggle, and shake...... But in the end, he shook his head gently.

"The empire is destined to have no future, and I will not betray my companions. I'm sorry, but please allow me to solemnly decline your invitation. ”

Javier's hand slowly drooped, and he smiled, laughing without any emotion.

"Never betray your fellow...... What a sad answer. Once upon a time, we were also companions who could trust each other's lives, didn't we? ”

“…… I'm sorry. ”

"You don't have to be sorry, I didn't expect much. As I said earlier, I know you very well, so I probably know what kind of answer you will have. ”

Javier took a deep breath, as if trying to calm himself, but apparently failed.

For the first time, the coldness in his eyes cracked, and he was filled with sadness, and he was sad like a child.

"But even so, there is always a glimmer of hope in my heart, and there is always a 1 in 10 chance, right? There's always a one percent chance, right? I didn't expect to have such unrealistic expectations. ”

"I thought I had grown up and grown into a strong person, but did I still have weakness in my heart after all? If my father saw this embarrassment, he would have laughed at me. ”

"Obviously, all I want is such a small wish, I just don't want to fight with important friends, I just want to avoid such a sad fate...... Can't even that be allowed? The god of fate really doesn't have the slightest affection for us. ”

Javier smiled hard, and the emotions in his eyes began to slowly converge, locked to the deepest part of his heart.

The words that should be said have been said, and although the result is regrettable, it is also a knot in the heart.

Then, he will not hesitate in the future.

"Boom ——!"

The end of the rioter's saboteur sank deep into the ground, and cracks erupted around it, the result of Javier smashing the end of his spear into the ground.

The power that is out of specification is truly impressive.

Both Brand and Leonay became serious, and they took on a fighting posture and stood opposite Javier.

Javier's eyes had changed, returning to that chilling indifference, adding a touch of unshakable determination.

"Since you have rejected my invitation, it is equivalent to giving up your last chance of life."

"Goodbye then, Brand, I won't keep my hand this time."

"Struggle as hard as you can, or you'll die here!"