LRAB Chapter 466: Those Once Great (2)
Chapter 466: Those Once Great (2)
Chapter 466: Those Once Great (2)
As the agents were blown away by the airflow, Kayla frowned deeply. She looked at Alfred's expression and asked him, "Aren't you curious about who that person is?"
Alfred shook his head and replied, "I'm just an aging butler. The great events about to unfold in this world have nothing to do with me."
"What did you mean by that thing you said earlier?"
Kayla walked over to Alfred's side and looked at him. Since he had spoken those words, Alfred seemed somewhat tired.Fôllôw new stories at novelhall.com
If it were an ordinary elderly person, Kayla might think he was just fatigued from thinking and talking, but Alfred was still robust, despite not being young anymore. She had no doubt that she couldn't win against this old butler.
"Valeria, in your previous letter, you asked me about my thoughts on your future life plans. In my reply, I didn't mention that part not because I don't have thoughts, but because I'm afraid that you don't want to hear them..."
Kayla tilted her head, not understanding the meaning behind Alfred's words. She thought for a moment and said, "Are you worried that I won't take your advice? It's alright; I believe in listening to different opinions. Even if some advice doesn't align with my expectations, I'm happy to take it as a reference and appreciate the person giving it..."
"That's why you've made such rapid progress, but at the same time, it's also why you might not want to listen to my advice."
Kayla thought Alfred was still worried about her not accepting advice. She walked up to him, looking into his eyes, and said, "Oh, Mr. Pennyworth, you really don't need to worry about that. I've always regarded you as my teacher and The Godfather..."
"...My advice is to bring your family to the U.S. as soon as possible and find another job to spend the rest of your life peacefully without mentioning any part of your past identity to anyone."
Kayla's eyebrows slowly furrowed, her chest rising and falling faster. It was evident that she was getting angry, but she still tried to remain patient and asked, "Why?"
Before Alfred could answer, Kayla couldn't help herself and said, "How could I betray my career? How could I betray my ideals? Lake Baikal is my hometown, and I will eventually return there."
She grew more agitated as she spoke, and her emotions were stirred up as she thought of her hometown. Her voice trembled as she said, "Yes, I know that most people have a negative impression of Siberia, thinking of it as a frozen land..."
"But it is also a place where great mother nature nurtures her children. Lake Baikal is the pearl on her forehead, the tear in her eye. It's my homeland; I was born there, and I will die there."
"Calm down, Valeria. I don't deny that. That's why I said my advice might not be what you want to hear."
"You still have to tell me the reason, Alfred. Otherwise, how can I accept this absurd advice?"
Alfred sighed and said, "Decades ago, I was as passionate and idealistic as you..."
"Even when I completed the task of hiding the list, I was intoxicated by the beautiful vision of achieving a great cause..."
"But everything changed because of one decision I made."
"What was that decision?"
"Because what I knew about the monster's egg and the information about the dark force could seriously shake the confidence of our military. They didn't want me to spread panic..."
Alfred closed his eyes and continued, "Once, we walked on a path that would never fear anything. When we wanted to move forward, we didn't need to go around the mountains; the mountains would go around us out of fear."
"All of that came to an end during that moment of hesitation."
"Maybe in this world, no one is truly obligated to save the world. Perhaps all of it is just an unrealistic fantasy. But when we give up on that fantasy, we give up on everything."
Kayla saw the wrinkles on Alfred's face trembling, and she suddenly realized that his old age didn't seem to come from physical decay, but more from the collapse and exhaustion of his spirit after being shattered and rebuilt.
She understood that Alfred didn't give up this career because of his feelings for Bruce. Rather, after he abandoned his beliefs, Bruce became his only spiritual support.
Thinking this, Kayla became somewhat anxious and said, "Wait, Alfred, Benjamin got hold of your materials before. It documented your past experiences..."
"If what you said is true, that you never developed young Wayne into a member of the organization, and he doesn't even know about your past, then you must hurry and destroy those materials!"
"Follow me; I'll take you to that room!"
Alfred looked at Kayla with some surprise in his eyes and said, "I thought you would reprimand me for fabricating the story, or you would be unhappy with me deliberately tarnishing her image..."
"You're not that kind of person."
Kayla's steps halted, and she turned around, hesitating for a moment before looking back at Alfred, saying, "During these difficult times, people like you and Philby have withstood unimaginable pressure, trying to turn the tide. And indeed, you've done it."
"At the moment of your death, you can say, 'My whole life and all my energy have been devoted to the world's grandest cause - the struggle for the liberation of humanity.'"
Kayla paused, her voice trembling as she continued, "Perhaps all of humanity won't be liberated..."
"Alfred..." Kayla looked into Alfred's eyes and asked, "...But do you regret what you've done for the cause?"
Alfred also looked into Kayla's eyes, remained silent for a moment, and then slowly shook his head.
Kayla turned away from him, pausing for a moment, and then resumed her steps.
Her voice echoed in the room, like an actor who, as the curtain of the play was about to fall, was still striving to deliver the final line.
"I don't regret it either."
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