The matter of suggesting the evacuation of personnel in other airships was passed on by the two people beside them, who had heard the news, climbing up the rope ladder to relay the message.
However, neither those who went up nor those present really understood the situation.
Beside the hanging rope ladder, a man in a cyan uniform approached and asked, “President Buchen, what do you mean by evacuation? Are these winds dangerous? “
Ang Pailisi stood calmly nearby, while Yang Zicang stared at the ground in thought for a moment before saying, “This wind is quite dangerous. But don’t worry, I have a way. “
“You have a way? ” Those standing around looked at each other in confusion.
Seeing this, Ang Pailisi took a step forward, made eye contact with one of the men from Prime Minister Stephens’ office, and said,
“Chairman Yang Buchen came this time specifically to discuss important matters with the Prime Minister. Please help us make an introduction. “
“This… ” The gentleman glanced at Yang Zicang, who stood silently beside Ang Pailisi, then nodded at the man whose face was covered in burns. He turned and ran toward a parked car with its engine running, quickly reversing to the other end of the street.
The few people around murmured a few words among themselves, feeling a gust of wind sweeping past—one that, in their minds, could never be associated with disaster.
But as they looked around at the swirling leaves and garbage about them, two of them, who had changed into thin jackets because of the afternoon heat aboard the airship, wrapped their short sleeves tighter over their vests.
Yang Zicang pressed a hand against Colonel Brownlion’s shoulder, guiding him several steps to the side.
“When we see the Prime Minister, are you planning to ask for some resources? “
“No. ” Pailisi glanced at him and spoke in a low voice: “Entrusting your ancient intelligence to the Prime Minister for safekeeping is the most secure, the most challenging, and the most valuable collection endeavor there is. “
Soon, the car returned.
Perhaps embodying the lion spirit of Steffin, the Prime Minister had not left the empty city a single step that day.
Yang Zicang, along with Colonel Brownlion, who followed him, and Gale, who was determined not to miss a step, all got into the car and headed for the Prime Minister’s current residence.
As footsteps entered, Steffin’s Prime Minister, Fludirich, rose and, accompanied by the entourage around him, walked toward the three men at the door.
Not long after, the three came out.
Gale’s face was blank, slightly dazed, as he quickly descended the stone steps behind the two men.
He felt his head buzzing.
……
A civilian tilt-rotor aircraft landed in Double Shot City against the wind.
In the small city that still retains an ancient circle of city walls, figures in black coats walked out of a four-story, long, white-walled building with a sloping roof, heading towards the small aircraft.
One of the men, who had graying hair and a cape draping down his back, approached and asked why they would be here at this time.
The man who emerged from the belly of the plane glanced at the sky above this remote small town. The twilight was dim, and some starlight began to appear on the thin clouds.
The sense of vastness brought by the high sky and sparse clouds made his heart feel more open.
This man, who had rolled up his sleeves, said:
“The director said that Double Shot City, whether it’s the low humidity maintained by scarce annual rainfall or the stable airflow due to weak atmospheric turbulence, is an observation site that deserves special attention. So, besides Heiwen Zike, Double Shot City is the first place to be allocated the observation supplies for this ‘Captain’s Eye Operation.’ “
“How can this be! ” the graying-haired man exclaimed, looking quite surprised. “Is this actually… the case! “
The several people in black, both men and women, flanking this man all looked curiously at what the person on the aircraft had said.
Captain’s Eye. They murmured the term among themselves, their clothes ruffled by the wind, but none of them had heard of it.
These people, who had spent many years in this quiet, obscure town, didn’t feel there was much worth protecting about this old city.
On this small hill, the city had neither mines, nor was it a transportation hub, nor did it possess any special local products, except for the Cocoa Berries planted extensively by the estate owner and some medicinal herbs suitable for the wilderness.
The girl with light purple hair thought to herself, “Even the doomsday demons are too lazy to visit this barren place. Perhaps this is why the merchant leader has kept Bishuang City as his stronghold all these years. “
Beside the girl, a man with a weathered face – dry and wrinkled and weathered by years of outdoor labor – had sun spots on his cheeks. He clenched and curled his fingers into a fist while gazing at the aircraft before him and the chest inside it.
Seriseras looked a bit excited. He stepped forward alongside the group and asked proactively, “Need any help? “
The old merchant leader, with graying hair, glanced at this diligent young man a couple of times. Having worked in the merchant group for nearly a decade, he was a trustworthy person.
“Help me carry that chest down. “
“Yes, Mr. Jurgen. “
Hearing from their conversation that it contained something roughly code-named “Telescope, ” and that it needed to be distributed to everyone immediately, Seriseras said as he gripped the cargo box with both hands and walked toward the others, “Come on, folks, let’s divide it up. “
“Alright! “
These people came closer, and he placed the chest on the ground.
From behind came the sound of Merchant Leader Jurgen talking with someone arriving…
“Besides the telescopes, these are that gentleman’s documents. Please distribute them all to everyone. “
“Just these? Are there no more materials? “
“There won’t be any more, but this is already enough for everyone to find him. Anyway, you just need to know that he’s still alive. “
Assigned to this merchant group,Sailurasfelt his ears burning with excitement. He had thought this merchant group had given up searching for any suspicious leads, but now, at this critical moment, they were finally about to reveal some of their secrets…
Several hands worked together to pry open the tightly sealed wooden crates.
Then, the smile onSailuras’sface gradually froze as he stiffly stared at the items revealed inside the wooden crate.
They were all neatly arranged telescopes, no more than ten in total.
The purple-haired girl picked one up, pulled out the retracted half-tube lens, squinted one eye, and looked around, adjusting the focus.
Seeing the others around her pick theirs up,Sailurasalso held onto his last sliver of hope, took one out, and examined it cautiously by pulling and rotating the parts.
Lowering the telescope from his eye, he puzzledly rubbed the object in his hands. The components were crudely made, but the functionality was rich; aside from that, it was quite ordinary.
……
A few ordinary people who had disembarked from the airship gathered together nervously.
The chairman, who was originally about to leave, actually called them back down to the ground to follow him. This was truly a strange event.
Including MissHailikoni, this group was quickly transferred next to a very peculiar vehicle.
Before long, a man who was very silent—so silent that he seemed devoid of emotion—arrived at the street corner.
The people around Haili Fenny, who were discussing what this strange vehicle might be called—a “Four-Track Rail Train ” or a “Truck Train “—all turned their heads in slight surprise to look at the young man wearing the uniform of the Stefdun Army but bearing no rank, his specific age indiscernible.
He said emotionlessly: “Ladies and gentlemen. I am Number Five, and I will now escort you to Havenkitz. “
“Escort? “
“What about Chairman Yang? Didn’t he have us come down? ” these people asked.
The excitement within Haili Fenny gradually cooled.
The expressionless man who called himself Number Five lifted his eyes and said to the crowd:
“Mr. Buston said it was inconvenient for people to see what he last needed to do, so for the rest of the journey, a certain degree of confidentiality is required. “
Haili Fenny stepped forward, “Sorry, I need to go back to the airship; there are still some show segments that need to be recorded here. “
“Ah, well, I also have some unfinished business. ” One person raised their hand apologetically and, after speaking, nodded slightly and trotted off toward the other side.
“Then… I’ll go back too. Running off like this is neither honorable nor heroic. “
With four consecutive people leaving, only four, including Jennifer, and one poodle remained.
Number Five, with little emotion, watched their retreating backs as they walked toward the other end of the street, showed a moment’s confusion in his eyes, then turned back with a placid expression.
This somewhat odd iron hunk was soon hoisted up by four large birds with metallic-shimmering feathers, using ropes.
The ropes were tied to the vest-like riding pads worn on their bodies, and the birds spread their wings and took off. The vehicle was thus steadily lifted into the air.
Four Sdifen Warriors sat on the backs of the large birds, each carrying a communicator in the wind.
Inside the carriage.
No. 5 sat on a chair in the “Royal Steed, ” staring coldly and intently at Haili Fenny’s flushed and averted face across from her, who was hugging her arms and leaning against the chair back, imitating Zhao Xuemei.
The few who had been caught back were all sitting obediently on other nearby chairs, rubbing their shoulders and waist muscles.
Beside a building, next to Yang Zicang, who was watching the receding black dot in the distance, Ang Pailisi asked, “Are you really going to let the girl go on the road alone like this? “
Yang Zicang lowered his head in silence for a moment. “I didn’t want her to see me in that final state in the first place. Wait, do you think there’s a problem on the road? “
The colonel smiled slightly and handed him a handkerchief, pointing to the corner of his own lips.
“No. But sometimes, because of the nature of this professional identity, we have to be cautious even in some interesting conversations. “
“Mm, alright. “
Yang Zicang took the handkerchief, paused for a moment, wiped his lips with it, and then saw some lipstick stains. He was shocked and rubbed his cheek vigorously with the back of his hand.
“Koni! That damned woman. “
“It’s still not too late to catch up now, ” the colonel said with a smile.
“I… forget it, it’s best to stop here. ” Yang Zicang wiped his hands angrily with a handkerchief, then paused, “Just think of it as me being selfish. “
“No, it won’t. ” The Colonel turned to glance at the person running over from the street behind him, and said in a low, soft laugh, “In our country, what girl doesn’t dream of becoming the woman of a true hero? “
Gael walked over from behind. “Hey pal, I asked Li Guanghao. Some brothers on the airship responded to your suggestion, waiting for you to take them back to Havenmark. “
“I have no intention of doing that kind of thing. “
“Whoa hey! ” Gael was startled. “President, weren’t you worried about everyone freezing to death in the wind? “
“Who told you that? ” Yang Zicang tossed the handkerchief into the grinning Gael’s arms. “Let them figure it out themselves. I’m going to wash my face. “
Gael watched Yang Zicang walk into a nearby house. He hummed a tune and waited for a while, but when the other man didn’t come out, he walked into the house suspiciously.
Not long after, Gael ran out in shock.That bastard Yang Zicang!
But as he ran out, he noticed the shopkeeper—the ordinary-looking man with the false face—was also gone from the empty street.
……
Back at the inn, Yang Zicang arrived at Room 407, which opened with a single twist, its door still flashing the blue0scoreboard from the legendary viewing reality, 0 Points Glory Statement achievement rank #Room‘Remapp – with match sequence: Score V ｛Update confirmed:｝｛Structure required= from in-draft)but read like specific connection omitted final decode.)
He placed the two blue-background patterned cards, a small box containing a few grains of Obscurus Wintestorm Rime obtained from Zhao Anlong’s group, and his own first-step Bloodline Statue, into the drawer that would henceforth belong to Lilaya.
As for the gifts sent outside by the two princes, Black and Wen Zishi, although they were very valuable, he had never even met the Second Prince. Not knowing what requests the other party might subsequently make, he found it hard to refuse. Moreover, there are suspicions that one of the princes was behind the attack on the bus during the return journey two months ago. Therefore, he did not want to bring those two gifts into the Divine Hotel.
Afterwards, he came to the first floor of the hotel. After asking Xiao Suansuan, who was watching the Tenivi machine, he found Li Liya in the bar, busy making notes.
After confiding some small tasks to her, Li Liya bent down.
{Oh~ }
She sized up this male human, who exuded an aura of honesty. Having finished the most important task of asking her to hand over the items, Yang Zicang finally set his mind at ease. Then, recalling those few minutes when the reporter Xiao Suansuan last appeared, following him out and witnessing, amidst the chaotic and noisy streets, the unsettling impact emitted by society’s great upheavals…
In his memory, the young reporter’s words echoed in his heart: “A lasting and profound influence,” “Amidst the worlds of the big shots here,” “In such a huge and chaotic turmoil.” These words were still deeply imprinted in Yang Zicang’s mind.
He walked out toward the first floor of the hotel. The young reporter, accompanied by the chatter of Motaf and others, was watching an image of a “Liuli Zhan” on the screen.
The dance drama footage would cut off for a short moment roughly every five minutes or so. Then, another group of people and stage would shift in, performing the continuation of the content.
Fortunately, since the footage was in black and white and the figures were already hard to distinguish, and because the content of the dance drama remained coherent, everyone chatting found it quite engaging to watch.
“Soursop the Journalist, Miss Soursop, could we have a word? ” Yang Zicang glanced at the snow pear manager looking over, and spoke softly to the little figure floating near the counter.
{Hmm? }
Little Soursop turned her head, glanced over at him as he floated closer, {What do you want, Big Shot? }
“Well, it’s like this—I have a tour group… ” Yang Zicang said hesitantly. Little Soursop hummed in acknowledgment, pulled out a small notebook from her waist, tugged out a pen, and said, {Mm-hmm, go on. }
……
Time ticked by, minute by minute.
In the night, over the ruins of the World Ark headquarters, even amidst the wind, the number of figures not only didn’t decrease, but actually grew larger.
Black Venice’s Great Prince, Kars, sat inside a large truck that resembled a motorhome. Before him were several political dignitaries.
Yet none of them spoke much, as the Great Prince remained conspicuously silent, his gaze fixed outside, barely shifting throughout.
Faint, timid whispers occasionally reached their ears.
“Seven o’clock, Your Highness, the Crown Prince, ” said an elderly gentleman in a suit as he approached. “Shall we go dine first? The command has already prepared the second batch of meals. “
“Has Mr. Yang Bucheng not come out yet? “
“According to the personal guard of the General, the Chairman is in the inn discussing something with an elf. Grand Scientist Mortaf, Waldestadt President Frederik Bergman, and the elders of the Hellfire Sect are all listening in. “
The Grand Prince lowered his eyelids slightly.
“Let’s wait a bit longer, ” he said, looking up with a steady tone. “Let the others eat first. Tonight, we are all equals—no need for formalities or protocols. “
“Understood. ” The man responded and left.
The Grand Prince closed his eyes for a short moment. Suddenly, the sound of voices outside grew louder.
Sariqion Hazel snapped his eyes open, jumping down from the carriage with the agility of a young man.
He felt a surge of heat rapidly rising from the ground, accompanied by faint vibrations beneath his feet. Some of the gathered crowd, panicked, began to scatter, fearing that demonic iron vines might emerge.
But the Grand Prince walked firmly toward the center of the ruins. A few people in the carriage behind him exchanged glances before jumping down to follow. Seeing that the figure had not left, those who were hesitating to retreat exchanged uncertain looks and reluctantly turned back. A few even quickened their pace, switching to genial expressions as they hurried toward the Crown Prince.
Suddenly, a blinding light flared before everyone’s eyes.
Boom!
A colorful, bird-shaped firework burst from the ground, shooting into the night sky. This never-before-seen magical bird transformed in the sky and crashed to the ground, turning into a flickering fiery stump that shapeshifted between a tree and a bird.
Its two eyes narrowed slightly as it looked toward the human figures illuminated by the emergency streetlights behind them.
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