Mister Zero, Her Story: Chapter 51 – “Illusion”
The “meeting” Luo Yan sought wasn’t simply finding the bandaged girl in the Wall of Resentment.
She wanted to meet the girl’s conscious self.
Meeting a dormant “Ice Coffin Weapon” was pointless.
That’s why she hadn’t requested to visit the Wall of Resentment, although even if she had, Yan City likely wouldn’t have agreed.
First, the Ice Coffin Weapon was too important. Second, the Wall of Resentment was located near the “Ember,” the heart of Yan City.
Luo Yan had learned from the files that even Yan City didn’t fully understand the Wall of Resentment.
The reason for storing such a dangerous weapon near the “Ember” wasn’t Yan City’s decision.
It was because… Yan City’s “Ember” originated from the Wall of Resentment.
When the pioneering team finally reached the site of Yan City, they found the Wall of Resentment buried in the desert sand.
As for why the Ice Coffin Weapon was stored there…
It was because when Noah sent “F-02,” Yan City lacked the resources to build a separate storage facility, their limited energy being used for the city’s construction.
Therefore, they had no choice but to store the dangerous “Ice Coffin Weapon” in the Wall of Resentment.
Because of this, Yan City wouldn’t allow anyone near the Wall. Even deploying the Ice Coffin Weapon was done remotely, using the pre-existing teleportation array within the Wall.
Security around the Wall of Resentment was always at its highest, even in this torrential rain.
Luo Yan knew this was dangerous, but she had no other choice.
If she didn’t grasp this last straw… she would either be sealed in an Ice Coffin herself or exiled to the Wasteland.
However, Luo Yan didn’t intend to endanger Yan City just to survive.
She wasn’t planning to awaken the bandaged girl, but to… slumber with her.
More precisely, Luo Yan wanted to enter the bandaged girl’s spiritual world and find her consciousness.
As the pinnacle of mind-related abilities, “Envy” could achieve this.
However… overuse of demonic power could lead to a loss of control.
Therefore, to prevent this, Luo Yan planned to enter the bandaged girl’s Ice Coffin and slumber with her consciousness.
From the files, Luo Yan understood the concept of the “Ice Coffin.”
It was originally designed to contain ability users who lost control.
Sealed within, their souls and consciousness would be suppressed, even an out-of-control ability couldn’t be unleashed.
“But if I fail… I won’t be able to come back…”
Luo Yan smiled wryly. This was a last resort, a desperate measure.
She didn’t want to die, but she had to face something even more terrifying.
Anna stared at Luo Yan, noticing the rare flicker of emotion on her face.
But… Lady Luo Yan didn’t seem happy, a hint of sadness in her usually indifferent expression.
Anna tugged on Luo Yan’s sleeve.
“Lady Luo Yan, if you’re unhappy about something, you can tell Anna!”
“I’m not unhappy, just… letting go of some things,” Luo Yan forced a smile and patted Anna’s head.
“I can make many beautiful dresses for Lady Luo Yan!” Anna said, waving her hands, feeling even more worried seeing Luo Yan’s forced smile. “I don’t need payment, as long as Lady Luo Yan is happy… Don’t be sad anymore, okay?”
Anna couldn’t bear to see Luo Yan like this; she had seen this expression countless times on her friends’ faces when she was a refugee.
They would smile and say they were fine, then die soon after.
Death was a constant companion in the Endless Wasteland, but Anna didn’t want to experience it again, not even once.
“I’m… not sad,” Luo Yan said, using her cane to support herself as she slowly returned to her wheelchair. “I’m just… at peace… that’s all.”
“But, but…”
Anna didn’t know how to comfort her.
“I’m suddenly feeling a bit hungry,” Luo Yan said, “looking” at Anna with her usual gentle expression. “Anna, can you make me something to eat?”
Anna’s eyes lit up.
“Of course!”
She hurried into the small kitchen and started preparing the ingredients.
Luo Yan “watched” Anna’s busy figure and sighed softly.
“…It’s time to go.”
A short while later, Anna emerged from the kitchen, carrying a bowl of thick, fragrant soup.
But Luo Yan was gone, only her wheelchair and cane remained.
“Lady Luo Yan…”
The soup spilled to the floor.
…
“Good news and bad news. Which do you want to hear first?”
Li Ping looked up at Frick, whom he had summoned, and asked gravely.
“Director-General Li, what are you playing at?”
Frick frowned, his arms crossed.
“I’m just worried you might not be able to handle both pieces of news at once, so I’m separating them,” Li Ping said.
Frick’s expression darkened, then, after a moment, he whispered,
“…The good news.”
“The good news is, the city’s defense system detected traces of Dawn,” Li Ping handed a file to Frick. “This is the system’s report. Unfortunately, that’s all it managed to send before being destroyed.”
A flicker of joy appeared in Frick’s eyes as he quickly took the file.
But he immediately realized his reaction was inappropriate and suppressed his emotions.
“This isn’t good news. ‘Dawn’ is dangerous.”
“Should I say it’s two pieces of bad news then?” Li Ping raised an eyebrow. “The other news is also related to Dawn.”
“What is it?”
Frick stopped reading the report.
“There are seventy-two such reports,” Li Ping tapped the desk, and a stack of reports emerged. “Almost all the city’s defense systems were destroyed simultaneously. These are the final reports.”
“What…?”
Even Frick was shocked.
Seventy-two locations with traces of Dawn…
That meant…
“The war has begun, Frick,” Li Ping said seriously. “This is the first time in thirty years that Dawn has launched an attack against a mega-city. You understand what this means.”
“It means…” Frick clenched his fists. “‘Mister’ is indeed in Yan City, and…”
At this point, Mister’s presence was no longer a secret.
And although Li Ping didn’t know that Yan City’s Ice Coffin Weapon was Dawn’s “Eldest Mister,” combined with the fact that “Mister” had silently visited the “Wall of Resentment,” Dawn’s objective was clear.
It was something inside the Wall.
And the only thing inside the Wall now… was the Ice Coffin Weapon.
“The Yan City army has been mobilized. Both the Disaster Response and Exploration Departments, all combat-capable ability user teams, are defending key locations leading to the core district,” Li Ping stood up, his gaze fixed on Frick.
“I want to know, whose side is the Apprehension Department on? Yan City’s, or your own?”
Li Ping had summoned Frick not just to play a game of good news and bad news. Yan City needed to mobilize all its forces against Dawn.
Including the Apprehension Department, which was outside their direct control.
“Of course… the Yan City Apprehension Department.”
Although Frick had his own agenda, he knew that in this situation, he had to stand with Yan City.
Yan City couldn’t afford to lose this war.
Neither could he.
Frick rubbed his right index finger, the power within it unsettling.
Even a mere Devil’s minion, possessing only a fragment of a Demonic Power, could be so strong…
What about “Mister’s” power?
…And the “Eldest Mister’s”?
Frick had been worried that Mister would die peacefully in Yan City, and Dawn would silently retrieve his body.
Then, he would have no chance.
He had even considered leaking the information about Yan City possessing the Eldest Mister’s remains, but he had decided against it, deeming it too risky.
The current situation, although unexpected, was the best possible outcome for him.
“Don’t worry, Director-General Li,” Frick smiled faintly. “I will do my best to help Yan City against Dawn.”
“If that’s truly the case, then good.”
Li Ping knew Frick’s loyalty wasn’t absolute.
But they had no choice in this situation.
Although a mega-city’s “Ember” was incredibly powerful, even if Dawn attacked with all their forces, breaching its defenses would come at a great cost.
And the “Ice Coffin Weapon” was still under Yan City’s control, another option.
But… Yan City would still have to bear the consequences of Dawn’s attack.
The “Ember” would be weakened for a long time after its activation, and the “Ice Coffin Weapon’s” unpredictable nature made it a last resort.
And even then, they had to ensure there were no living beings nearby; otherwise, the consequences would be catastrophic.
More importantly, activating the “Ember” required a “Peril” level ability user.
Even ordinary “Peril” level ability users risked death activating the “Ember,” let alone Sun Biwu.
His remaining lifespan couldn’t withstand it, even for a short activation.
And Hua Qingling, the other “Peril” level ability user, was still outside Yan City.
Judging from the current situation, Dawn wouldn’t give her time to return.
Therefore, for both sentimental and strategic reasons, Sun Biwu couldn’t die, not now.
If he died, Hua Qingling would be forced to stay in Yan City, her progress as an ability user possibly stagnating at “Peril” level.
Yan City couldn’t afford to lose this war, not even a pyrrhic victory.
“I’ll go and make preparations. May Yan City weather this storm.”
Frick bowed slightly and turned to leave.
Li Ping watched him go, his brow furrowing almost imperceptibly.
“Why does that guy… suddenly seem so… feminine…?”
Frick had always seemed grim and cold, but now… he seemed… softer?
Li Ping thought for a moment, his frown deepening.
Although it was an odd thing for an old man like him to notice, had Frick been wearing makeup?
“Never mind, those are trivial matters.”
Li Ping sighed and picked up a file, then put it back down.
“No… it’s best not to… involve her… three months will pass quickly.”
He tucked the file away, a name barely visible.
—”Luo Yan.”
…
“The rain is still falling, it seems it will continue for a while.”
Elise sat on a sofa by the window, her chin resting on her hand as she looked out at the distance.
“This ability… So it’s that little guy who came from Dawn. His two older brothers must be occupied…”
“But… heh, if that’s all… a doomed operation… how boring.”
Elise shook her head and stood up, intending to go back inside.
But just then, a strange intuition stopped her.
Her slightly amused expression turned serious.
She sighed heavily and sat back down, this time sitting upright, her expression solemn.
“It seems… ‘Mister’ has made his move…”
“Then allow me, Fourth Saint ‘Illusion,’ in the name of all past Twelve Saints and the Saint himself, to bid you a final farewell.”
“And… to that era.”
“The bygone Old Era, the irretrievable past, and its final echoes…”
“…will soon draw to a close, along with you.”
She slowly closed her eyes. When she opened them again, the gentle “Elise” was gone.
Replaced by a cold solemnity.
“Rest in peace, Mister Nine.”
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