Haili Fenny’s fragile heart began to revive again within the airship, buoyed by the excited feedback from both the equipment she had maintained and its protectors.
Thank goodness—this plan, which even she had thought viable, had finally not driven her decision-making to the worst possible outcome.
The gondola cabin was bustling with noise, but the black private telephone remained silent. The pressure from the Empire, the absence of decision-makers like Yang Buchen, and the constant burden brought by Jennifer, who carried the official authority of Hewenk…
A memory that used to suffocate her heart with tension now instead sparked a flicker of elation in this moment, because this was—finally—an idea that had come from her own mind.
Perhaps this was a moment worth both telling others about and cherishing in her own memories forever, Fenny thought.
In her mind’s eye, flashes of silhouettes from magazine clippings appeared, often seen in the notepad she would leaf through before sleep these days.
Suddenly, a figure in uniform—a lady—appeared by her side.
Fenny looked over. The woman who had knocked on her door just over ten minutes ago spoke with a calm gaze and an equally gentle tone:
“Ms. Haili Koni. The municipal government of Kruen has received your pledge, made on behalf of the World Ark, to return our airship. “
“Um, I’m sorry about that. ” Fenny’s voice shrank again, tinged with guilt.
Right now, the only person she could count on was Yang Buchen, hoping he’d come back quickly and deal with these annoying people.
“To express our gratitude for your assistance to the Kruen side over this period, our city government has decided that, in the near future, a district will be allocated to you within our city to serve as the site for the World Ark’s International Stateless Relief Committee, signal station, and standard-system research and development. “
“Eh? ” Haili Fenny’s eyes flickered with a strange glimmer.
The few people by her side, positioned near the equipment, were engaged in urgent, low-voice communication and note-taking, and they turned to look over.
Seeing Fenny’s reaction, the woman in uniform cast a sidelong glance, gave a light hum at the back of her throat, and continued:
“Our mayor has just contacted the Prime Minister’s office. The Prime Minister stated that the ‘World Ark’ has contributed to the global dissemination of culture and information and has also answered the call of our Stieffinfen Lion. He welcomes your committee to co-establish a new international headquarters for the Stateless Relief Committee here, one that will benefit post-disaster reconstruction publicity and cultural revitalization. “
Haili Fenny’s mouth slightly dropped open.
Her heart couldn’t help but race with a pounding rhythm!
What this promise signifies speaks for itself!
If the first sentence from the lady representing the Kruun City Hall in front of her signified a new price that Kruun offered to the Fogfolk, then the second sentence, a reply from the Prime Minister amid his busy schedule, represented a fallback option that Shidefen had provided to the founding families of the World Ark—specifically, to the Haili family she represented, as well as several other families of the Building Committee—should they face future suppression by the Black Consultation Falcon.
The greatest worry in her heart thus melted away like ice before a fire!
Yet, when would this post-disaster reconstruction take place? Word had it that by tonight, the vines in the central region had grown so abundant that they had already begun to cross the seawater tributaries. Just as her mind was set at ease, she suddenly belatedly realized that the nightmares were still unfolding in other parts of the world.
She dared not imagine how many lives would be claimed tonight. Would a world without demon vines truly ever arrive?
……
At Kruun, the action plan proposed by the natives involved sending the World Ark out. Among those lying in ambush in Tarko, the differences in opinion sparked a more rousing exchange beneath layers of hidden excitement.
“I wonder whose idea this is.“
As Stellar Yuan expanded, low voices sounded from the shadows behind the building.
Above their heads, the airship that had been floating endlessly over the World Ark’s headquarters had begun heading toward a large city in the southeast that was missing an airship of its own.
In the room, Ying Renyu watched the departing airship from beside the window; the sound of the siren in the night sky had already faded into a faint, blurry noise. As for Talik’s other airship, it was not visible from here.
“Now the initiative for World Ark’s broadcast is back in our hands, ” said the person beside him.
“Ha, that damned hidden member. He’ll realize now that we’re not soft persimmons he can just squeeze as he pleases. “
“That may be true, ” Rocmont said, looking at the large bonfire being lit by someone outside the courtyard entrance, “but they should be able to do the same things we do, right? “
“Find scientists to design a secure image signal receiving device? “
“And even if they succeed, what would they do? I bet they’ll first aim to complete the goal of helping the Steadfen Lion Empire gain broadcast rights. “
……
Near them.
The people in this refugee gathering place, shrouded in darkness, were being awakened to evacuate.
The end-of-the-world survivors thought they were going to light the bonfire, but they soon realized too many people were being organized to leave together.
“What’s going on? I haven’t even packed my luggage yet. “
“No need to pack, ” said a figure holding a gun.
They had only received the order a moment ago and came rushing here—young soldiers of the Special Defense Command, wearing helmets on their heads.
The soldiers stood at the entrances of these refugee shelters, mostly built from the recently scarce bricks and lumber, maintaining order during the evacuation.
Amidst the gradually rising noise, people began to move.
“What happened? ” The evacuees, carrying only partial belongings allowed for removal, muttered anxiously amongst themselves along the way.
“I don’t know. “
“I was already short on what I brought, ” a disheveled-haired man grumbled discontentedly, frequently glancing back toward the increasingly chaotic camp area behind him.
But soon, the news that drifted forward gradually lifted their despondent spirits.
“Some evacuees from our area sneaked into the disaster relief committee meeting place this afternoon and stirred up trouble. “
“What?! ” The people on the road were filled with panic.
“It’s not just creating chaos, ” another voice provided clarification.
“Someone tried to assassinate Chairman Yang, but was stopped by the Warrior from the Goas family who was protecting him. “
“Oh, god! “
People finally understood, exclaiming, “So… where are we heading? “
They became lost. While burning with fury at the concealed troublemakers, these tens of thousands of migrants also grew concerned.
Would they receive targeted treatment from Havenquirk because hidden attackers might lurk among them? Could they become homeless?
……
Somewhere else.
In the darkness, the silhouette of a reporter wearing a soft, round-brimmed hat appeared at the threshold of an open door.
“Sir, this isn’t good. The World Ark has launched a new plan. “
“Oh? ” A puzzled voice came from deep inside the darkness within the floorboard space.
The person at the door quickly stepped into the room. The faint sound of a desk lamp switch being pulled echoed, and the dim room was illuminated by a soft, orange light that couldn’t diffuse too far.
A newly printed sheet of paper, with fresh ink, lay under the lamplight.
The man’s gaze, with his features hidden in the darkness above the lampshade, swept across the text on the paper.
The reporter said, “This is their latest proposal, which is announced periodically from the airship. It seems they are giving local factions time to deliberate on participating in the equipment auction.“
The man was silent for a moment, then placed his finger on the paper, pressing down lightly. “A clever response. Hmm… It looks like I was thinking a bit too well of things.“
The man in the hat looked up, a contemplative expression on his face.
His tone was unusually low as he continued his speech:
“Although they followed the intention of the letter sent by Jinbei’s legacy to the Empire and made concessions, at the same time, they have overturned our advantageous position for overturning the World Ark.“
Both of them pondered for a few seconds in the darkness.
The reporter asked helplessly, “I hear that news has come from the capital of Hei Wen Zi Ke. The holder of the key is opening it to the public.“
The gentleman standing before him fell into a deep silence at this question.
“According to the plan,” the reporter continued, “we don’t show ourselves. Our best move tonight is to have those people locked in their hotel rooms. However…“
“Yeah, the crux is that ‘however’.“
The man snorted and said, “I’m really curious to know where Yang Buchen suddenly acquired abilities that are almost like divination. “
He tapped his finger, and the reporter felt those eyes gaze at him:
“If the Divine Hotel not only allows the indigenous people who have been exposed to bloodline auras to go to the Next Era Land but also possesses some form of prophetic ability… could that value… be used to find another way to implicate the soldiers? “
“It might have been possible before Chairman Yang revealed his trans-oceanic ability. ” The man stood up. “For today’s plan, this sudden intelligence about the ‘future’… is indeed… too inconvenient to simply ignore. “
What will happen next? He couldn’t help but wonder.
“Then, how should we arrange things? “
“Continue to find a channel to leak the news about the key and some of our arranged support to Admiral Ordryov’s people. “
……
On the vast, boundless dark land, some faint clamor is like nothing but fleeting leaf shadows, scraping noisily in the wind.
In the eyes of the moose and eagle, at this moment, the world holds only the instinct summoning them to a new habitat.
The information conveyed by the air, the earth, and the trees and grass tells them where they should go. These beasts of the wilderness gather in different types, leaving gaps between them.
Amidst the steady thud of the herd’s movement, a figure emerged from the roadside nearby.
“Whew,” Zorro gasped, slightly out of breath, his gaze fixed on the group of beasts passing through the desolate wilderness between the empty cities, all converging and heading north.
He still did not understand why they acted this way before.
But at this moment, standing on the ground, the young man felt the thick, musky odor emitted by the gathered beasts before him, and an involuntary sense of powerlessness and despair surged from within.
The faint sound of heels treading on the grass came from behind.
“Who’s there? “
Zorro turned his head to look.
It was a stranger—a man dressed in a formal suit that accentuated his slender and clean-cut figure. He stood not far off, one hand in his trouser pocket.
Zorro’s gaze traveled from the shoes and trousers to the decorations on the suit, then rose to meet the man’s face. He soon confirmed that he had indeed never seen him before.
“Hello. I am a secretary to the Six-Ring Sage named Serafiel. My name is Lucius. “
“The Full Moon… Angel? ” Zorro asked, puzzled.
The man before him, elegant yet crisp in demeanor, smiled and said, “The very one—the Life Angel whose focused strike you stole using treasures, along with the thunderbolt. “
Zorro’s expression immediately shifted.
His hand subtly moved backwards. Lucius noticed the gesture, then turned to glance at the nearby potholed bridle path, adding:
“Are you heading—erm, to the Odrjav Dualist Republic? “
“I, uh… yes. ” Sensing he was in big trouble, Zorro’s mind raced as he considered how to utilize the prepared smokescreen devices while being ready at all times to invest resources into the Key.
How did he know?
But a concerned voice came from the other man:
“It’s so far. Can you make it in time? “
Facing Zorro’s barely concealed expression of surprise, the Sage Secretary, who seemed to have come to cause trouble at this moment, tilted his head and shrugged, “Planning to use the air force’s power? But there’s no air base in this direction, is there? “
Zorro’s expression shifted subtly. He checked the communication beacons for his friends on the watchface. Just now, he had only contacted two people. Who could it be?
“Relax, it’s not because of your watch. “
The man took two steps forward and, seeing Zorro’s intention to follow, stopped again.
“Sorry, I have something important to handle right now regarding the last operation… “
“You stole my master’s Thunderstorm. You dragged him forcibly into the Salvation Plan of the Seawater Tributary. “
The man chuckled, “Fortunately, huh, he didn’t violate the pledge of ‘not applying past experience to this world’ because of it. So the consequences aren’t serious for the Sage. Therefore, you don’t need to worry, nor explain. I have already investigated and reported all the details of this matter, covering cause and effect, thoroughly as mending the fold after losing a sheep. Hmm-hmm, I’m not here to make trouble. “
Faced with the other’s relaxed tone, Zorro did not let his guard down just because of that statement of intent.
But he said in a very sincere tone, “I apologize, I wasn’t aware that gentleman was Mr. Serafiel. “
“Mr. Zorro, without Little Red Horse, seems much lower in spirits. “
The young man glanced at him, clearly having done his homework, “Sorry for the awkward display, ” he said, lowering his eyebrows in thought.
He had never heard of the sage’s name before.
Furthermore… concerning the Sixth Ring, based on the information he had, because he himself possessed the Sixth Ring, everyone generally assumed that all Sixth Ring bearers were Fifth Ring Full Moon Angels. The next level up was the Seventh Ring, the Wealth Angel.
But this man had straightforwardly uttered the term “Angel of Life. “
“Then, sir, may I ask the reason you’ve come? “
“It’s simple. ” Lucius casually rolled up one of his cuffs, revealing skin underneath that glistened faintly under the moonlight, and said, “It’s about the source of materials for another ‘Thirteen Lands’ refuge plan. “
Hearing this, Zorro couldn’t help but take a step forward. “This! ” he exclaimed, staring nervously at the other man.
Lucius chuckled:
“Your Nightmare friend found a secret path in that place and hid away with many Nightmare forms. “
The young man with a faint scar on his forehead felt as if he had suddenly regained his senses!
“The lord brought them all out. “
“Is this true?! “
Having said that, Zorro watched as the impeccably dressed Mr. Lucius conjured a business card between his fingers on the hand he had used to roll up his sleeve.
The card then whooshed, rapidly burning up.
Lucius cast the business card away. The smoke born from the card burning in flames spread and diffused rapidly. He turned his head to look; within the spreading smoke, it seemed many vaguely noisy and restless thought-sounds were ringing forth swiftly, emerging from the void into reality.
As if the owners of those bustling, clamoring voices were hurrying over.
“My goodness! “
The young man couldn’t help but joyfully clasp his head with both hands in surprise.
Amidst the ethereal smoke, many swaying figures were gradually appearing. Leading them was a driverless, finely crafted motorcycle that caught Zorro’s eye. He felt a wave of heat, as if brewing within his chest!
{My bosom buddy! }
The motorcycle, hoisted up by several jelly-like, wobbling figures of varying heights, suddenly began to spin its wheels rapidly with a “vroom~ “.
“By heaven, I never expected this! ” Zorro spread his arms wide.
The motorcycle, as if struggling, suddenly accelerated and fell to the ground, speeding forth over the figures!
Lucius watched the young man before him gleefully take hold of this motorcycle, unhesitatingly and handsomely straddle it, and—with joy—sketch a half-circle on the ground.
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