Adjutant Black said, "Marshal, our casualties are catastrophic. We must abandon the Dragon Balls immediately!"
Marshal Red flew into another rage.
"Shut up!"
"No matter how I command this army is my right as supreme commander!"
Black was shaking with anger.
"Do you have any idea how many soldiers have died just to collect the Dragon Balls?
We can't go on like this!"
Red frowned, glaring at him.
"What kind of tone is that? Are you talking back to me?"
"They died because they were poorly trained. All they needed to do was obey their commander!"
Seeing Red's stubborn madness, Black finally snapped.
He drew his pistol, aimed it straight at Red's head, and pulled the trigger.
Bang!
Red's eyes widened as he collapsed stiffly to the floor.
Black stared coldly at the corpse.
"You're not fit to be a commander."
Violet was stunned.
Just like that… he's dead?
So many people had already died since the Dragon Balls were put into play.
Bloodshed wasn't what horrified her.
What shattered her was the truth—that all this death, all this sacrifice, had been for Marshal Red's ridiculous dream of becoming taller.
In that moment, the world felt unbearably absurd.
Her uniform suddenly felt painfully glaring.
What was the meaning of everything I did in my life…?
Her will drained away, as if something inside her had been hollowed out.
The surveillance screens were still playing.
She looked at Son Goku on the screen—charging forward, full of energy, full of life.
It reminded her of that mountain village that had helped her.
They were poor, but they lived with hope, passion, and warmth.
Violet turned around, her resolve hardening.
It's time to take the money and run.
But Black stopped her.
"Wait, Colonel Violet."
She paused.
"What do you want?"
Black asked earnestly, "Will you help me conquer the world?"
Violet stared at him for a few seconds, then shook her head.
"I'm sorry, Adjutant Black. I'm tired. I'm leaving the army."
Black's eyes narrowed. He raised his gun and pointed it at her.
"You think you can just walk away?"
Violet's pupils trembled.
"What do you mean?"
Black said coldly, "From today on, I am the supreme commander of the Red Ribbon Army."
"The one who will rule the world… will be me."
"Either you stay and serve me—"
"—or you die."
With that one sentence, her retreat was cut off.
Violet looked at the gun barrel aimed at her, a bitter sadness flashing in her eyes.
So he's the same as Red…
No matter their goals, one thing never changed—
to people like them, soldiers' lives were nothing more than chips to be gambled away.
As a high-ranking officer, in a power shift like this, she only had two fates:
be purged—or choose a side.
Life was precious. No one willingly faced death.
Violet wasn't innocent—she had blood on her hands from countless wars.
And she could see it clearly:
Black was even colder and more ruthless than Red.
If she wanted to escape this hell, Black had to die.
She took a deep breath and forced a smile.
"Very well, Adjutant Black… no, Marshal Black."
"I'm willing to continue serving the Red Ribbon Army."
Black smiled.
"That's more like it. I knew I didn't misjudge you."
"With the other generals dead, you're now second only to me."
Violet asked, "Then, Marshal Black, what's our next move?"
"Simple. We abandon the Dragon Balls and hide. Once that kid leaves, we'll rebuild."
"Understood."
Black glanced at the two Dragon Balls on the table and pressed the elevator button to the underground.
The doors slid open.
"You stay here and deal with Son Goku. Give him the Dragon Balls. When it's over, come meet me upstairs."
He stepped toward the elevator.
At that exact moment—
Violet struck.
She lunged forward, chopping Black's wrist with her palm. His gun flew out of his hand.
Her other hand clamped around his throat.
"What are you doing, Violet?!"
She said calmly, "I told you—I'm done with this army."
"As long as you're alive, I'll never be free."
"I'm sorry, Marshal Black."
But Black was the second-in-command of the Red Ribbon Army for a reason.
He slammed his head upward, smashing into Violet's chin.
Dazed for a split second, her grip loosened.
Black twisted free and unleashed a spinning kick that sent Violet flying.
The strength difference between a trained man and a woman was enormous—
and Black was a powerful fighter.
After just a few exchanges, Violet was hurled into a metal console.
Crack!
Something broke.
She crumpled to the floor like a rag doll.
She tried to get up—but her body wouldn't move.
Blood spilled from the corner of her mouth.
Her limbs went cold, her strength draining away, her face turning pale.
She had lived her life in gunfire and bloodshed.
She had always known this day might come.
She just never expected to die by Black's hand.
The world felt even more absurd.
Leaning weakly against the equipment, she whispered,
"So this… is what dying feels like… so cold…"
She lifted her eyes toward the monitor, wanting to see Son Goku one last time—
that bright, unstoppable boy.
But he was no longer on the screen.
She felt a faint regret.
One wrong choice… and I walked a life of blood.
As consciousness blurred, she thought—
If I have another life… I want peace. No war. No killing.
Maybe I'll be a rich lady, just enjoying life…
Black had no intention of sparing her.
He raised his gun again and aimed at her.
"I did admire you, Violet… but anyone who won't serve me must die."
Violet closed her eyes peacefully.
Just then—
Boom!
The command room doors were blasted open.
They slammed to the floor as Son Goku walked in.
"Stop! Drop the weapon!"
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