The Seventh Base - Chapter 64

Chapter 64: Chapter 59 Perfect World
 

The battle at the Arena saw Xu Mo winning first place without any surprise, and he left right after collecting the money.

As he had expected, someone was tailing him—after all, he had killed a Genetic Warrior.

However, he shook them off quite easily, as being tracked was the least of his concerns.

Back at the small bar, Xu Mo resumed his role as a bartender.

Xu Mo knew this simple life might not last much longer.

Ever since Councilman Tyrone died, this tranquility could be disrupted at any moment, which was the reason for his hesitation back then.

At the small bar, Lady Hellen was still Xu Mo’s loyal customer.

And every time she came, she wore different seductive outfits, always leaving a hundred Federation dollars as a tip, and casually asked when he was free.

Flirting with Xu Mo had become one of her pastimes.

Of course, she wouldn’t mind having something happen with Xu Mo’s younger brother either.

When Elsa arrived, she was carrying a six-inch cake, which she had reluctantly bought.

Cakes in the Underworld were not cheap, even a simple six-inch cake cost dozens of Federation dollars, and she had to work many days to earn that money.

Nevertheless, Elsa was still very happy as she walked into the bar with the cake and sat down in her familiar corner spot.

Xiao Qi was too lazy to go over, since it was not him she was here to see. He just shouted, “Brother Mo!” to signal Xu Mo.

Xu Mo looked towards Elsa.

Lady Hellen turned her head and said with a coy laugh, “Little girlfriend here?”

“Lady Hellen is joking. She’s just a friend,” Xu Mo replied.

“Just a friend?” Lady Hellen gave a meaningful smile.

“Girls are reserved, especially beautiful ones. If they come every day, naturally, they have feelings for you, just like me.”

Xu Mo gave a bitter smile.

It was tough on his heart.

“You should be more decisive when it’s time to make a move. If you need any advice, I can teach you, including in certain areas.”

Lady Hellen chuckled and laid a Federation dollar bill on the table, saying, “See you tomorrow, little brother Mo.”

“Have a safe trip home, Lady Hellen.” Xu Mo watched her swaying figure, feeling ‘humiliated’.

In certain areas, he didn’t need any teaching.

However, he wouldn’t mind having more customers like Lady Hellen.

Silently, he pocketed the Federation dollar.

Elsa sat quietly by herself, not disturbing Xu Mo at work.

If Xu Mo was busy, she would wait here alone.

She was still a bit nervous, because this was the first time she celebrated her birthday with someone other than her parents.

Xu Mo mixed two drinks and walked over, smiling and saying, “Good evening, Miss Elsa.”

“Ah…” Elsa was still lost in thought.

Looking up and seeing Xu Mo, her heart thudded and her cheeks flushed as she replied, “Good evening.”

Xu Mo handed her a low-alcohol drink, and Elsa smiled back at him, “Can I have plain water instead? I don’t have much money on me.”

“It’s on me,” Xu Mo said with a smile, not minding Elsa’s embarrassment at all.

Compared to the proud Elsa of the past, he admired her current temperament more.

Unpretentious, unguarded.

“Then let me treat you to the cake,” Elsa said with a radiant smile.

“Sure,” Xu Mo smiled and sat down, having noticed she brought a cake when she came in.

Today was probably her birthday.

Elsa happily cut the cake, handed Xu Mo a big piece, and said softly, “Here.”

Xu Mo looked at Elsa’s innocent smile, somewhat bewildered that this was the Elsa he knew?

It was a simple birthday ritual, a small cake, two drinks.

No flowers, no candles.

But Elsa was extremely happy.

“Happy Birthday, Miss Elsa,” Xu Mo said softly under the dim lights.

Elsa was taken aback, then her face blushed as she shyly smiled and said softly, “Thank you.”

A moment of silence.

Elsa looked at the musical instrument near the bar and asked Xu Mo, “Did you buy it? May I give it a try?”

“Of course,” Xu Mo nodded.

Elsa walked up to the instrument, sat down, and started playing. She chose one of her favorite pieces, ‘My Soul’.

Under the influence of the alcohol, Elsa played the old tune, reminiscing about the past, tears forming in the corner of her eyes.

Growing up is hard.

But she still wore a smile, and after finishing the piece, she looked at Xu Mo and asked, “How was it?”

It seemed she was somewhat expecting Xu Mo’s praise.

“Very good,” Xu Mo nodded. “I learned a piece of music not long ago, especially for Miss Elsa.”

Elsa’s face lit up with surprise, as she moved aside.

Xu Mo could actually play himself.

Yes, how could he not, being so talented?

Xu Mo sat at the instrument, his fingers moving, and a piece of instrumental music filled the small bar.

In just a moment, it struck Elsa’s soul like lightning, her eyes wide with wonder as she watched Xu Mo.

It was a piece full of power and beauty, bringing endless hope.

“This is Xu Mo’s gift to me,” Elsa’s eyes turned slightly red, truly feeling happy.

Elsa kept smiling radiantly, her gaze bright as she watched Xu Mo play.

In this moment, Xu Mo seemed to glow.

He really looked so good!

As the music concluded, Elsa asked, “Xu Mo, what is this music called?”

“Perfect World,” Xu Mo responded.

He could feel Elsa’s melancholy and hoped this piece of music would bring her some strength.

“Thank you, Xu Mo,” Elsa said with a beaming smile.

This was her most meaningful birthday.

Elsa had left, very happy at the time of her departure.

In the small tavern.

“Brother Xu Mo is really talented, this music is so beautiful,” Xiao Qi said leisurely, and Ye Qingdie nodded in agreement.

“Alas,” Xiao Qi sighed, “If I were a woman, I would like Brother Xu Mo too.”

Ye Qingdie: “???”

Is his orientation getting twisted?

“Sister Butterfly, Brother Xu Mo hasn’t given you any music, has he?” Xiao Qi said slowly.

Ye Qingdie looked at Xiao Qi, finally understanding his implication.

Is he stirring things up?

However, thinking about it, it seemed to be true. Smiling, Ye Qingdie just kicked Xiao Qi over.

“You don’t have to take your jealousy out on me,” Xiao Qi muttered sullenly.

Why was it always him who got hurt?

…

When Elsa left the tavern, she had a smile on her face all the time.

Under the light, she was carrying a bag with a piece of cake inside for her mother.

She hummed the tune lightly, but somehow she felt something was wrong, having only heard it once.

“It’s really beautiful,” Elsa giggled to herself.

Especially when she thought of Xu Mo playing “Perfect World,” she felt as if her heart had flown away.

How could he be so talented?

At that moment, Elsa felt as if her life had regained some light.

If only life could be like this every day, how beautiful that would be.

For Elsa, today was undoubtedly a meaningful day.

She thought she must learn this music and share it with her mother.

“Nineteen years old, a new life,” Elsa said with a smile.

She began to look forward to the future.

Walking up the stairs, Elsa knocked on the door.

“Mom, I’m back.”

No one responded; the room was very quiet.

Elsa found it odd, took out her keys, and unlocked the door to walk in.

The room was dark.

“Did Mom go to sleep?”

Elsa said quietly. She closed the door and then turned on the light.

The next moment, Elsa’s heart violently convulsed, and her face turned deathly pale.

“Mom!” Elsa’s tears instantly started flowing.

The hope that had kindled was instantly shattered.

That glimmer of light dimmed completely.

In the room, Elsa’s mother lay in a pool of blood, already breathless.

On the couch next to the corpse, two figures sat quietly, their eyes carrying a cold intent as they watched Elsa approach.

“Mom…” Elsa walked to her mother’s side and knelt on the ground, trying to check her breath only to find her body already cold.

She hugged her mother’s corpse, lying on top of her, as tears continuously slid down.

No fear, no fright.

Only despair, endless despair.

The perfect world only exists in ideals; this is a world filthy to its core, a world devoid of hope.

She felt so terrible, too hurt to even cry.

Her heart ached so much that she felt utterly powerless.

Why did life have to be so cruel?

Today was her birthday, and she thought it would be a new beginning.

But it turned out to be a dead end.

She wanted to scream, but found she could only make a hoarse noise.

The two on the sofa watched silently, in no hurry to act, their eyes indifferent, devoid of any emotion.

“Was the death of Councilman Tyrone a conspiracy of yours?” a cold voice spoke from one of the figures on the couch.

The recent covert investigation had led them to Councilman Tyrone’s mistress and a small tavern that might be involved in the councilman’s death.

Suspecting this, they came here, and Elsa’s mother died proving her innocence, hoping they would spare Elsa.

Unfortunately, it was in vain.

Elsa didn’t hear the other’s question.

After despair, came anger.

Why, why did they have to do this?

Over the past year, her mother endured suffering, humiliation, and despair, even unwilling to die for her sake.

Why did they still treat her like this?

As she tried to get up, the other person raised a foot and stepped directly on her back, with a mocking tone.

Elsa turned and crawled forward, the person treading on her showing an interested expression.

Where was she crawling to?

Elsa didn’t flee; she crawled into the room.

The two members of the Federation Guard still sat on the couch, somewhat amused.

They were curious about what Elsa was trying to do.

Elsa went through the cabinet in the room and opened a metal box which contained two vials of liquid and syringes.

Elsa stuck the syringe into one, drew the liquid out, then tore off the sleeve of her arm, and with tears, injected the contents of the syringe into her veins.

Without stopping, she drew the liquid from the other vial and injected it into her body as well.

In such a despair-filled world, what was there left to fear!