Evil Emperor Zun

Chapter 2025 Idealists and Realists

Sindeni, true to his old fox nature, agreed to Arakiji's request to change his mission, but also made a condition at the same time.

"If we fail to capture a pure soul, then whether you like it or not, you will have to participate in the operation to kill the Solitary Awakening King. Your commitment will be bound by the oath of the law."

Arakiji didn't want to harm the Solitary King. Rather than letting him languish in the team without contributing, it was better to give him a less difficult task. After all, the oath of the law could not be violated. The more he resisted, the more loyal he was to his former master, and the more he would do his best in the other task.

However, Sinden realized he had underestimated the influence of the Solitary King. If he didn't devise a plan, even his allies who had already agreed to cooperate might back out at the last minute.

The reason why the Solitary Awakening King is so difficult to deal with is partly because of his supreme strength, which is comparable to the Heavenly Dao. Another reason that cannot be ignored is that anyone who has dealt with him, or even just seen him, finds it very difficult to bring themselves to attack him.

Sindney himself deeply understands this point.

"The perfect prince of the universe"—he used to think this was an exaggeration, until he saw him with his own eyes.

At that time, he was in a dual capacity as a high-ranking official of the divine kingdom and the woman's parent, sending his daughter to "meet" the other party.

Those chosen to be paired with the Solitary Awakening King are all women of the highest caliber. Beauty, background, strength—they are top-tier in every aspect. Such women undoubtedly possess extremely high aspirations; his daughter initially resisted blind dates with strangers, especially when everyone considered it "her honor."

She couldn't accept that all her efforts were merely to "be worthy" of a man. That would be tantamount to dissolving her agency as a person, treating her like a beautiful commodity to be given away. Even if the other party had the reputation of being the most powerful person in the universe, she still wouldn't care if it wasn't her own choice.

Sindeni knew that all the major powers wanted to form marriage alliances with him. If they could get him to accept a girl from their faction and abandon the world-destroying plan, their family would become heroes of the cosmic sea, and they could also rise in status through his influence. The women carefully selected were all no less qualified than his daughter, but none of them caught his eye. Similarly, he might not accept his daughter. However, he couldn't tell the truth, so he had to use a lot of persuasion to convince his daughter to agree to go and see them first.

As a result, his daughter fell in love with him at first sight, and Cindenny also corrected his arrogance.

Given his status, he had seen countless prodigies, and he could honestly say that none could compare to the Solitary Awakening King. Those praises he initially thought were exaggerations didn't even capture a tenth of his goodness. This man was more perfect than the very limit of perfection.

Moreover, he was truly considerate. Even though the "blind date" arrangement was something outsiders were discussing, he still gave them ample face, ensuring that they, as the rejected party, didn't feel any discomfort.

After that, the father and daughter maintained contact with him. The daughter was trying to pursue him; she always had such a strong personality—if she didn't like someone, no matter how outstanding they were, she wouldn't accept them, but once she liked someone, she would try her best to win them over, no matter how small the chance. However, she already had high standards, and now that she had her ideal type, it would probably be even harder to introduce her to potential partners in the future.

Sindeni himself often consulted the other on cultivation matters, and the other always answered his questions without reservation, explaining everything in a gentle and polite manner without any impatience. Thanks to him, Sindeni avoided many detours and risks in his cultivation, and it was no exaggeration to say that he had done Sindeni a great favor.

Even if such a person offered no resistance and simply stood there letting him kill him, he was certain he couldn't bring himself to do it. Unless it came to the most extreme situation, where only one of them could live, Sindney would still choose to live.

Therefore, he also wanted to create the "most extreme situation" for Arakiji.

Ironically, the divine kingdom initially placed its hopes on him precisely because he was a beast, devoid of conventional emotions, perhaps immune to the allure of the perfect prince. Unfortunately, he displayed humanity at the very moment when it least should have. This suggests he might not be so ruthless towards a pure soul. However, he would ultimately have to choose between the two, and Cindney didn't care which one he chose.

Now, he and two subordinates who came with him are being led by guards to complete the formalities.

Griffin's face was grim. He had vehemently opposed releasing Arakiji, but his opinion carried little weight with the higher-ups. The matter was quickly settled. Joseph had volunteered, saying he could handle it. Sindenny felt the same way. Griffin understood their good intentions, but he ultimately decided to participate. He didn't want to hide, pretending he hadn't seen it and therefore it was none of his business. If this absurdity couldn't be avoided anyway, he at least wanted to face it personally.

After being released from prison, Griffin became even more depressed. Sindney felt he had to say something.

“Griffin, I know you’re upset. You were the one who arrested Arakiji, and it’s hard for you to accept being asked to release him. But it was a decision made by the higher-ups of the Divine Kingdom. You also know that the reason the higher plane didn’t directly execute the criminals in the Mingyu Prison is precisely for this kind of situation. The more power we have to resist ‘destruction,’ the greater our chances of survival. This is a necessary sacrifice for the greater good.”

Sindney admired Griffin; he had personally mentored the boy, and he was well aware of his development trajectory.

His father was also a soldier he had led in the Star Guardians. Young Griffin admired his father and had a strong sense of justice; his dream was to follow in his father's footsteps and walk the same path.

Later, his father died in a mission. His mother was devastated and begged him to take a safe job so that she wouldn't have to suffer the pain of losing a son again. But Griffin didn't change his mind; his desire to protect peace only grew stronger.

Having experienced the rain himself, he wanted to hold an umbrella for others. He had personally felt the pain of losing loved ones and witnessed his mother's suffering, while the thugs wreaking havoc in the cosmic sea continued to inflict the same pain anytime, anywhere. Although his strength alone was like a drop in the ocean, every time he could subdue more thugs, fewer people would commit atrocities, and consequently, countless families would be spared from being torn apart, their loved ones no longer having to endure the pain he and his mother had suffered.

So Griffin repeatedly reassured his mother, promising to work even harder in his training and to protect himself. He indeed did very well, always standing out among his peers from a young age. Later, he joined the Star Guardians with outstanding grades, becoming the quintessential "model child" in their social circle. Friends and family would always envy his mother for having such a wonderful son.

When he first joined the guard team, due to his humble origins and constant focus on cultivation, he was extremely unsociable, and many in the team disliked him, even forming a group to target him. But Griffin gradually won them over with his undeniable strength.

Finally, he rose through the ranks to become a team leader, achieving what even his father had never accomplished. Teammates with whom he had previously had minor disagreements transformed into true brothers, trustworthy enough to risk their lives for, through countless shared missions.

During those unnoticed times, he endured all the hardships and shed all the blood and sweat alone, and he did not intend to let anyone know.

In Sindney's view, Griffin was good in every way, except that he was too idealistic. So whenever his ideal world clashed with the real world, he would fall into confusion and struggle with "what should and shouldn't be," "right and wrong."

For example, what he said next was pretty much exactly what I had expected.

"Yes... to have reached this position, I'm certainly not that naive. I know the place I live in has never been a pure land. But I still want to believe that the principles and laws of the world should not completely give way to gains and losses! What I uphold and what I fight against should at least be different, right...?"

"Since entering this profession, I've dealt with the most extreme evil every day and experienced many things beyond my control, but I've never regretted it. I've always felt that I'm doing a proud job, protecting the safety of the entire universe. Our existence is a line of defense between good and evil, life and death, ensuring the reunion of countless families. I also hope that everyone I love and everyone who loves me can be proud of me!" "But today, I truly feel lost. We're actually using a vicious criminal to capture pure souls, letting 'evil' fight 'good'—who is truly guilty?! Who are we supposed to protect?! And the person who made this decision is someone I've always respected the most. I really can't accept it… I feel like everything has gone completely wrong!"

His breathing was heavy and rapid, and his stubborn eyes were faintly tinged with a dark red, as if he was about to say, "Sir, I am very disappointed in you."

Having long held a high position and being a military commander, Sindney demanded absolute obedience from his subordinates. Although he wanted to comfort Griffin, being contradicted so openly by his subordinate still greatly displeased him, and his voice suddenly turned cold: "Then you should reflect on yourself! Because you are not strong enough, you have no right to set the rules of the world!"

Griffin was silent for a moment, anger and restraint once again intertwining on his shoulders. Until these emotions also disappeared, leaving only a bitter mockery.

"Aren't you the same in this respect?"

Sindney frowned: "What?"

Griffin replied expressionlessly, “You say you keep these thugs around because you might need them someday. But isn’t it actually because you’re not strong enough yourself? You can’t solve your own problems, yet you never reflect on them. Instead, you brazenly make the public bear the consequences of your shortcomings, then use the law of the jungle to shirk responsibility, spouting hypocritical platitudes like ‘the world is never a fairy tale.’ Why should we have to understand you?”

Seeing the two getting increasingly tense, Joseph stepped in to smooth things over, speaking gently and kindly:

"Alright, alright, sir, you know the captain's temper. He just can't get over it right now, so he's stuck. In the end, it's someone else's business, so there's no need for us to get upset. I'll talk to him privately when I have time, and I'll definitely handle everything properly for you, so you don't have to worry about it. Just remember to approve my paid annual leave application last time if you can get through this."

Sindney's anger was indeed calmed down by his few words of comfort. At times like these, he couldn't help but marvel at how perfectly his two subordinates complemented each other. Everything about them was like two perfectly matched puzzle pieces, meant to fit together.

Joseph came from a path completely opposite to that of Griffin.

Born into nobility, he had seen the true nature of the world from a young age through the ways of the upper class. He understood perfectly well the true purpose behind every seemingly glorious order issued by the ruling class. His environment had also molded him well; he understood the rules of the game and quickly mastered and adapted to them.

Therefore, unlike Griffin, a complete idealist, Joseph became a complete "realist," focusing only on results. In order to maximize profits, he often made decisions that were emotionally difficult for others to accept.

When he was just an ordinary member of the Star Guardians, he had several conflicts with other members over the interrogation of interstellar criminals.

Those were the most vicious and ruthless thugs in the Cosmic Sea, whose crimes were countless. The other team members were so angry while organizing the information that they kept cursing. When it came to the interrogation, the two sides were face to face at close range. After seeing their indifferent and uncooperative attitude, the other team members were even more determined to punch them and give them a good beating.

Joseph was a complete oddity in the interrogation room. He was always calm, unmoved by the horrific crimes, and remarkably friendly, chatting with them with a smile, reviewing their experiences, and making deals with them. The criminals were very receptive to him; those who couldn't be pried open by the other team members became cooperative with Joseph. They were moved by the "best options" he offered and wanted to earn merit.

Joseph's report to his superiors was perfect, but the other team members' dissatisfaction with him grew day by day.

Those who choose this profession are mostly young people full of a sense of justice and hot blood. They can't stand Joseph's easy camaraderie with criminals. Does he really not hate these villains at all? Doesn't the victims' suffering stir any emotion in him? How can such a cold-blooded person be their accomplice?
Joseph's response was quite blunt. At that time, although he was on the same level as the other team members, when he spoke with a stern face, he already had the air of a superior reprimanding his subordinates.

“I’m not angry, and it doesn’t stop me from doing what I should do. I took them down and extracted the necessary information from them. I have a clear conscience.”

"And what about you? Besides throwing tantrums, what real achievements have you made? The sense of superiority that comes from your cheap enthusiasm is, in my opinion, worthless!"

"If you think it doesn't matter if you don't do your job well, and you only want to show your sense of justice by hating evil, then why did you join the guard team? Why did you train so hard every day? Why don't you just go online and become keyboard warriors?"

He wasn't always a nice guy. If a gentle conversation was more effective, he would be gentle; if a sharp rebuke was more effective, he would be sharp. These were his future comrades-in-arms, and he hoped to build a better team. What they should learn was to learn from the successful experiences of their excellent colleagues. It was utterly pointless to get hung up on such trivial matters.

Joseph's principle of "maximizing benefits" has another typical example.

That happened during his time as a squad leader. Once, he was leading a group of teammates on patrol in an airship when they discovered a destroyed plane.

There are still many survivors in the ruins. Due to their weak strength and lack of protection, they were exposed to the elements in space, suffering great damage, and their bodies are rapidly deteriorating.

The escort airships can only carry half the people here. This area is extremely remote, and whether it's calling for rescue and waiting for the next airship to arrive, or sending half the people to the nearest plane and then returning to pick up the other half, it's all too late. These people won't last that long; only those who receive priority rescue will have a chance to survive. They can't save everyone.

Even though they had anticipated this outcome, the other team members still clung to the belief that "if we think about it, we'll find a way," and none of them wanted to be the one to pronounce a death sentence. At that moment, Joseph made a decisive decision: he announced that they would abandon some of the survivors and only save half.

He further stipulated that the airship be parked at the edge of the plane, and the survivors must run into the hatch themselves. In other words, only the first half of the survivors would be rescued.

Afterwards, some team members questioned whether his decision was too ruthless, to which Joseph simply replied calmly:
"We could only save half of the people, which was a cold reality from the beginning. No matter how much you resist, struggle, or hesitate, you still have to accept this reality in the end. I just skipped the emotions and went straight to the result."

A team member asked him why he was letting the survivors compete for spots, which was tantamount to encouraging them to kill each other for survival. Why didn't he let them go down and rescue people directly?
Joseph's answer was:
“If you approach them as saviors, they will place all their hopes for survival on you. Take you for example, when you pull someone out, everyone else will surround you, begging you to save him too, or his family and friends. You will definitely be in a dilemma, and your dilemma will waste more time. The other half of the people who could have been saved will also die one after another because of your hesitation.”

"So, it's better to set rules for them from the beginning. Let them know that we won't interfere, and only they can save themselves. Once they realize this, no one will argue with you; they'll just run desperately to the finish line."

Another team member asked him, "These survivors are already barely clinging to life. Asking them to use their remaining strength means only the strongest will survive. In such disasters, aren't the priority rescue efforts usually given to the elderly, women, and children?"
Joseph answered:
"Those who are rescued will be relocated to other planes nearby. But we can't help them forever. If the immigrants are a group of the elderly, weak, women and children, they will be devoured by the natives in no time. What we are doing today is at most delaying their 's period'. From a practical point of view, it is more conducive to the reproduction of the original plane if the strong survive."

In short, he's the type of person who, when faced with a problem related to orbital design, would sacrifice the minority to save the majority without any psychological burden. However, if he had to choose between a genius and a group of mediocre people, he would also unhesitatingly keep the genius, because the genius is more beneficial to the long-term development of the group.

His judgment was never wrong, and his decisions were indeed always made with the greater good in mind. However, many people still spoke of him with deep-seated apprehension and dislike. They felt that he was almost devoid of emotion, like a hypocrite.