Three airships drifted over the city of Kluhn.
Yang Zicang and Colonel Brownlion ran together through the narrow alleys between street buildings toward the wide avenue ahead.
“Gale, Li Guanghao, can you help me lock down the tracks again? “
“Oh, Chairman, are you just openly trying to get rid of us? “
The two running behind said:
“Relax, Yang. Just a few sections of rail. We have the ready-made car now, no more tests needed. Give me, uh, five minutes—no—I’ll have them laid on the ground in four. “
“Ha, so generous. Actually, even four minutes is too long. “
The airship descended to a lower altitude, and the four of them climbed up the rope ladder one by one into the cabin. Upon seeing Yang Zicang’s arrival, the bustling crowd gathered around him enthusiastically.
“Wow, the President is here too at this hour. “
“Got good news for you, President—we might have made enough today to buy an entire country. “
“Don’t listen to his nonsense, ” another person said seriously. “The exact amount is still being tallied. On top of that, with the de facto collapse of currencies in multiple countries, we need to reassess some original monetary values. For instance, the Grand Duchy’s Silver Coins, which once held higher value, are now probably worth only the intrinsic value of the relatively high proportion of real silver contained within those coins. “
Holding the documents, he continued:
“And a lot of it is just fixed assets and equity stakes. Of course, that’s already staggering—maybe we can actually buy one and a half small-to-medium countries, ha. “
“Alas, the current state of the world is robbing us of a proper sense of celebration for this joy. “
“Alright! Who gives a damn about how much fixed assets it is! ” a young man in blue clothes came over, slung an arm around Yang Zicang—who had just glanced at the bill—and raised his arm, shouting to everyone:
“If you ask me, that flash of brilliance we all burst out with earlier—we have Brother Yang to thank for that. Come on, how about we send the two heroes off together? “
“Whoa~. “
“Actually, if you’d just step aside, the President can find Miss Haili Koni all by himself. “
“I’m afraid he’ll get too engrossed in looking at these numbers. ” The young man said with a chuckle, pushing through the crowd and shoving Yang Zicang behind them.
Haili Fenny, wearing her sister’s military uniform, looked flustered, her hands and feet in disarray as she faced the tall, fair-faced young man before her. He was also wearing a black Wendick Soldier Army uniform, being pushed forward by his companions from behind.
He… had he joined the kingdom’s army?
Yang Zicang looked at the predominantly white embassy uniform before him. Among Kony’s several sets of personal clothing, this one was the most photogenic.
“Uh, well… ” Yang Zicang turned his head. Inside the stuffy cabin, a group of gentlemen and ladies all stared at him, as well as Miss Mu Tao standing before him.
“S-sir… ” A soft voice, never so moist and delicate, reached Yang Zicang’s ears.
“Ah, Kony. ” Turning back, Yang Zicang bit his lower lip. He then turned to address the whispering crowd around him, “Could you all please just mind your own business? “
“Ooh~ “
“Ah, okay, okay! “
“Let’s get back to the tally work then. “
“They sure look good together, don’t you think? “
“I heard someone used to work at a bank. “
“That’s me. I never gossip or leak client secrets. ” Everyone picked up their work and stepped back a few paces. The three who had just arrived were also courteously invited by the crowd to rest off to the side.
Only then did the pressure of being watched on the two beside the window lessen considerably.
“The air is a bit stuffy. You’re not used to it yet, are you?” Fenny buried her head and brushed her hanging hair aside with her hand.
“I’m a bit sorry for that. Mm, I’ve been putting you through a lot lately. I… Well, I’ve just been too busy.“
After saying that, Yang Zicang’s heart churned with hesitation as he pondered. Finally, his thoughts turned to that boy with horns on his head back at the inn.
He cleared his throat inwardly. Powerless, he sighed, straightened his back, and cast aside those memories.
Then, raising his arm, he grasped the girl’s delicate wrist. Startled, Fenny’s posture tensed as he dragged her off the ground and pulled her behind the backdrop stand a few steps further away.
Hei Yang, who was holding the broadcast script for perusal, “Hey, yo–” She turned her head and glanced toward the two making their way to the backdrop.
“Whew–” the sound of several technicians on standby could be heard over there.
In the nacelle, the busy crew craned their necks. However, they immediately noticed that the two of them from the three who had boarded—Gaier**h earlier—suddenly stood tensely up from their chairs and quickly trotted toward the direction of the camera-captured backdrop.
“What are you two doing?“
“Oh, nothing. Just leave us be.” Li Guanghao smiled politely and chuckled in response to the onlookers.
Behind the backdrop, three workers tactfully excused themselves and left.
Fenny’s heart pounded softly while sighed; Yang Zicang gazed intently at her face, which was beautiful as a jade sculpture.
“Connie, I like you.“
Fenny felt her ears flash hot all at once.
She was completely frozen in place by a feeling she had never experienced before. At this moment, the girl unconsciously realized that her own body still contained such a miraculously intense emotion.
Yang Zicang’s emotions seemed somewhat stirred.
He quickly shook his head and looked at the woman whose pretty face was flushed, her breathing slightly rapid but her eyes full of radiant spirit.
“But, ” Yang Zicang said in a slightly closer whisper, “I still have more important things to do. “
Before the words faded, Fenny stepped forward into his arms, tilting her head back a little, and with a heroic gesture, her red lips sealed tightly onto the momentarily stunned Yang Zicang’s mouth, her eyes closed.
Her arms encircled Yang Zicang’s shoulders.
Sunlight penetrated through the window and shone on the floor behind the backdrop panel.
On the other side, sensing the sudden spread of a chilling and fluctuating aura, some among the crowd cleared their throats with a light cough, waved to the people sitting nearby, and urged them to get back to work quickly.
Fenny, as gentle as water, closed her eyes and cast everything aside to finish this long kiss.
A soft breath brushed from her cheek toward her ear. Haili Fenny’s eyelashes fluttered slightly as she heard a faint voice whispering beside her ear.
“I’ll be leaving for a while, but it might also be leaving Mutao forever. “
The maiden’s eyes opened in disbelief.
She was about to move but was forcefully restrained by two arms in the embrace of the person before her.
“What I’m about to tell you might bring some trouble into your life. But there will also be many friends who know the situation to protect you. “
“Wh-what? Leave? ” Fenny felt her mind and heart in a jumble, her arms going numb and hanging limply at her sides.
“The story you told Miss Hua Mi last night contains extremely important ancient intelligence—something we all want to obtain. Besides that… the Sacred Origin Source comes from a star in the heavens, the legendary birthplace of our kind. Don’t tell it to just anyone lightly, but those who hear it will understand. “
Fenny instantly sensed a surge of strange energy, as if germinating turbulently within her heart.
A teardrop slid from the corner of her eye.
Outside the partition, Li Guanghao looked restless and anxious, sizing up the wooden screen.
Dark Kite frowned as she stared at Gael, twisting sideways to press her ear against the background panel like a lizard crouching on it.
On the other side of the wood board, Yang Zicang gently patted the back of the girl who was leaning against his chest, utterly spent.
“From the first moment I saw you, I knew I was falling in love with you. But as for that matter, even though it seems like a one-sided wish, I still want to give it back to this world one last time. “
Yang Zicang looked at her steadily. “You’ll know what I’m talking about. But don’t be sad. Well, in short… Connie, please wait for me a few days. Otherwise… just think of me as the scoundrel who used to stand in front of Mist Island Hotel. “
Fenny blinked her open eyes, as if shocked wide awake.
Yang Zicang gently stroked her soft hair.
Having already possessed a model, after that he would likely become nothing more than an ordinary person, forever unable to accumulate the progression of ages.
Therefore, certain pledges, rather than being burdens for those carrying immense weight in this world, are like stumbling blocks that ought to be kicked away.
“That truck looks a bit odd, don’t you think? ” A few people were still by the window, using binoculars to watch the vehicle on the ground being gradually approached by several Kruen soldiers.
Amidst the restored calm murmur of ordinary conversation within the gondola, Yang Zicang’s figure emerged from behind the backdrop, followed by Haili Fenny, who was wiping her eyes and putting on a forced smile.
Everyone looked at the girl, whose emotions seemed so volatile, and let out a few light exclamations of surprise.
Seeing her dejected attempt at a forced smile, Gael and Li Guanghao near the backdrop exchanged a glance, casting slightly suspicious looks as they followed behind the pair with hesitant steps. Hei Yang, pondering, observed these two who appeared so peculiar.
As they chatted for a while, Fenny tilted her head in slight confusion. These two gentlemen from Mustic had been standing not far from her all along.
Could it be… has what Buchan said already begun? Fenny’s eyes revealed a mix of contemplation and doubt.
“Yes, I have some urgent matters to attend to, ” Yang Zicang said to those urging him to stay.
“Then I’ll go prepare the ladder. “
“President, some soldiers are inspecting your car. Did you drive it into the city? ” A person approached, carrying binoculars.
Yang Zicang immediately glanced over. There were only some soldiers observing from a distance, not approaching. “Ah, yes. “
Gael said, “President, do you mind if I tell everyone about Tarkov? “
“Wait until I’m gone to do that. “
“Then is it worth it for me to stay? ” Gael asked immediately.
The corner of Yang Zicang’s eye twitched. “You’re already a grown-up, Gael. “
“Hmm. ” Having not obtained much in the way of a reference answer, Gael clicked his tongue somewhat sulkily.
Was he hinting for him to stay or not? He had the bloodline of the Triple Ring, but it felt frustratingly useless in this situation.
Maybe he should just focus his mind on finding the Blood Ring. That thought popped into his head. But he immediately discarded it.
Opportunities like this, where one could obviously gather “Ancient Gold, ” were rare. Especially when, right before his eyes, the World Ark President had seized the opportunity from a member of the Radiance of Distant Dawn Angel Committee to pass it on to him in a burst.
Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, the few of them walked towards the newly opened cabin door.
“I’m leaving. ” Yang Zicang turned back to say to this girl from another world.
Fenny wanted to use the cold tone of an elder sister to express that his departure would be met with hers, but she still rushed to the cabin door as the wind blew her long hair.
She thought painfully inside. Although she must imitate to be like, and the world was in danger, it was truly wrong for her to have such idle feelings. But, this was the first person she had ever truly liked.
The fresh air from outside was sent into the cabin by the wind. Finally waiting for another chance to see Yang Zicang, whose silhouette at the cabin door was filled with concern for her, she revealed a smile, “I will definitely come back.“
Grasping the edge of the soft ladder, he let go with both hands and slid all the way down the rope ladder, finally leaping down to land lightly on the ground. He then looked up toward the figure who was looking down from the high-altitude cabin doorway.
Following him down, step by step, were Colonel Ang Pailisi and Li Guanghao.
“Gale, aren’t you coming?” On the airship, when it was finally Gale’s turn, one of the men guarding the door asked.
“Oh, heavens,” said Gale, looking very conflicted. He then also turned around and stepped onto the soft ladder, sticking his head through the doorway to glance at the emotionally unsettled “Hailikoni” within the cabin.
And just at that moment, a gust of wind blew, and everyone in the cabin felt a slight wobble from the airship.
“Ah, damn,” the suspicious Gale abandoned his thoughts in this wind. He shook his head, stomped his foot on the ladder, let his whole body fall backward towards the ground. The moment his hands touched the ground, his muscles tensed, he flipped his entire body back and landed on one knee, then stood up, slapping the dust off his hands.
A strong wind blew a handful of dust into his squinted eyes and onto his face.
“Pfft, pfft!” Gale spat out a few mouthfuls of sand and dirt, then walked over towards Yang Zicang and the others.
Feeling the wind, now two or three times stronger, sweeping through the city, Yang Zicang, who had landed on the ground, raised a hand to shield his eyes and looked around, then walked towards a man amidst the wind tousling his clothes.
“Excuse me, is the wind here strong in the morning? “
“Yes, Mr. President. It is quite strong. However, the airship has descended into a safe zone, and under our protection, there shouldn’t be any major issues. “
Sensing something amiss, yet unable to pinpoint anything beyond the unusual breadth of the wind, Yang Zicang replied, “Alright. Thank you. ” He turned and walked towards the colonel waiting to the side, and the four of them proceeded together towards the truck compartment.
After a few steps, Colonel Brownlion stopped and said, “Mr. President, on your land, does wind ever cover the entire world? “
Yang Zicang, with a faint lipstick mark near his mouth, turned his head with his hands in his pockets. “From what I recall, aside from monsoons, even the strongest typhoons only affect less than half of our country’s territory. “
Colonel Brownlion, Ang Pailisi, looked up. His clothes fluttering in the increasingly wild wind, he gazed at the airship rocking and drifting lower in the sky.
“Our world’s… wind… ” he mumbled, his eyes trembling in disbelief.
Pailisi, to an extent he never had before, broke into a run towards Yang Zicang, who was just a few steps away.
“Mr. Buchen, didn’t you mention earlier that the botanical anomalies discovered by the botanist were near Mount Suoji? “
“What’s wrong? “
“Even though that area is at the foot of the mountain, its altitude is still more than two thousand meters higher than ours. Many of the winds we haven’t felt here have likely already been experienced by the plants over there much earlier than elsewhere. “
Hearing Colonel Pailisi’s words, whose speech rate had quickly returned to normal, Yang Zicang and the two people beside him gradually showed expressions of disbelief.
Yang Zicang was the first to look toward the descending airship.
“Not good. We need to inform everyone… notify everyone to evacuate immediately. “
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