Mister Zero, Her Story: Chapter 52 – The Candle’s Flame Flickers
The oppressive cumulonimbus clouds hung low over Yan City, a seemingly endless downpour.
The entire city was submerged, the streets deserted except for Anomaly Management Bureau personnel and the city guard.
“Splash—”
The sound of footsteps in the water.
But in this downpour, such a small sound was insignificant.
No one would notice him.
Mister walked slowly in the rain, his hands clasped behind his back, his clothes soaked.
He walked unhurriedly towards the core district.
This was his final journey.
The ticket in his hand would soon take him aboard the train to his final destination.
Just then, Mister stopped, a flicker of surprise in his melancholic eyes.
Because the rain above him… stopped.
No…
Only the rain above him stopped.
A large, somewhat comical, floral umbrella shielded him from the downpour.
“What a coincidence, old man… or rather, Nine,” a soft, melodious voice echoed beside him. He turned slightly and saw a flash of pure silver.
Vague images surfaced in Mister’s mind.
Sensing the ethereal aura, he remembered.
“…It’s you?”
Mister hadn’t expected to encounter this young lady again, especially under these circumstances.
And…
She was so close, yet he hadn’t sensed her approach.
And logically, under the influence of his ability, no one should have noticed him…
Even the heavily guarded “Wall of Resentment” hadn’t detected his presence.
What was going on?
Was it because of his own impending death?
Or… was this young lady truly special?
If so, if she had any hostile intentions…
Mister quickly dismissed this thought, chuckling self-deprecatingly.
How could he harbor such suspicions towards this gentle, innocent girl?
“Indeed, a coincidence, young lady, but we’re probably not going the same way,” Mister’s voice was raspy and low. “I’m going somewhere… you can’t, and shouldn’t, go.”
“Is that so…”
A troubled expression appeared on Luo Yan’s face.
Back at the apartment, she had resolved to reach the “Wall of Resentment” before the rain stopped.
Although she didn’t know the cause of this unusual downpour, or when it would end, it was a perfect opportunity.
Yan City’s defenses would be at their weakest.
Luo Yan knew Yan City would never agree to what she wanted to do.
Therefore, she had to act on her own.
But…
Coincidentally, after leaving the apartment, forcing herself to maintain her half-opened eyes, she had encountered a familiar, elderly figure.
Although she hadn’t seen him clearly before, with her eyes closed, her keen senses recognized him as the mysterious old man who called himself “Nine,” who had appeared at the end of the Flower Street incident.
And he was walking in the rain…
That wouldn’t do.
He was so old; he would get sick!
Without a second thought, Luo Yan had hurried over and shielded him with her umbrella.
Only now did she realize…
She had a destination.
And the old man had said they were probably not going the same way…
“Nine, could you tell me where you’re going?” Luo Yan asked. “Perhaps… our paths might align for a while.”
Mister hesitated, then, since the young lady had asked so politely, he couldn’t refuse.
“The core district,” he whispered. “I want to… rest there.”
“Eh, we’re going the same way then! Let’s go, Nine,” Luo Yan blinked, relieved.
She couldn’t maintain her half-opened eyes for long, and if their paths didn’t align, she wouldn’t be able to accompany him.
But without this state, she could barely walk.
As for the wheelchair… it was too cumbersome.
Luo Yan’s destination was the “Wall of Resentment,” where the Ice Coffin Weapon was stored, the most heavily guarded location in Yan City.
Bringing a wheelchair, so conspicuous, would immediately draw attention.
“Envy” wasn’t omnipotent; minimizing her presence had its limits.
Since they were going the same way, she might as well escort the old man.
Mister’s thin, wrinkled lips trembled, then he uttered a single word.
“…Alright.”
He hadn’t expected to be accompanied by a kind stranger in his final moments.
“Be careful, the ground is slippery in this rain. And there are many sewer grates around here, if you fall…” Luo Yan warned, noticing Mister seemed distracted.
“Yes, thank you for the warning.”
A faint smile appeared on Mister’s lips. For some reason, he thought of his sister.
…Both times he had tried to see his sister, he had encountered this strange yet kind girl.
Perhaps… it was fate.
“Young lady, what’s your name?” Mister asked softly.
“Luo Yan,” Luo Yan replied without looking up.
She was still maintaining her half-opened eyes, afraid that looking directly at the old man would unleash her uncontrollable “Envy.”
So, she kept her head lowered, carefully sensing her surroundings.
Hearing Luo Yan’s answer, Mister froze.
He slowly looked down at the silver-haired figure, slightly shorter than him, tears welling up in his clouded eyes.
After a long moment, he whispered,
“…A beautiful name.”
Chosen by fate.
…
“Teams Three and Four have reached their designated locations, but they need about three minutes to prepare for the assault.”
“Acknowledged.”
“Teams Six and Ten are estimated to arrive at the Yan City Anomaly Management Bureau branch office in ten minutes. The disruption operation will commence soon.”
“Hurry.”
Under the cover of the rain, Dawn’s movements were hidden.
Yan City couldn’t predict their deployment, only defending the key locations leading to the core district.
However, as Dawn’s Third Cadre, even without the support of his more experienced brothers, Rhine was a capable commander of small-scale warfare.
He hadn’t chosen to attack the core district directly, but other areas.
—To disrupt Yan City’s communication systems.
Communication systems relied on relay stations, which were distributed throughout the various districts.
To Dawn’s elite teams, these locations were practically undefended.
This wasn’t negligence on Yan City’s part; they simply couldn’t defend everything.
And against Dawn’s teams, led by “Peril” level ability users and composed entirely of “Ruin” level ability users, they would need at least three thousand troops to defend each relay station.
Yan City had to defend the core district; they couldn’t spare so many troops for the less important communication relays.
From the beginning, Yan City was at a disadvantage.
This wasn’t surprising. Yan City was a young mega-city, less than a century old.
It lacked the deep roots and experience of older cities, its potential yet to be fully realized.
If given another ten or twenty years, when Hua Qiling’s generation matured, Yan City’s strength would increase exponentially.
Perhaps, in ten years, Hua Qingling might even reach “Destruction” level.
With a “Destruction” level ability user as a guardian, even if Dawn attacked with all their forces, victory wouldn’t be guaranteed.
Unfortunately… they didn’t have time.
The crisis was imminent.
The rain continued to fall, and Yan City’s communication channels were almost completely destroyed.
Only the backup relay station in the core district, near the “Ember,” was still functioning.
But a backup station was just that, a backup. Its capacity for secure communication was limited.
Yan City lost its ability to effectively command its defense forces, only able to maintain communication with the main divisions.
The Anomaly Management Bureau’s combat teams were now isolated.
Even with all their forces, they could only muster about thirty teams.
But they were led by “Ruin” level ability users, no match for Dawn’s elite teams led by “Peril” level ability users. They could only rely on Yan City’s defense systems to hold them off.
In direct combat, unless reinforcements arrived quickly, they would be defeated.
Yan City could only hunker down in the core district, its nerves severed by Dawn.
However, due to the heavy rain and Dawn’s deliberate control over the scale of their attacks, the fighting hadn’t yet affected the city’s citizens.
Only the bloodstains, constantly washed away by the rain, hinted at the war’s cruelty.
“Phase one complete. All teams are converging for the next phase—approaching the core district. So far, everything is proceeding smoothly.”
“Good,” Rhine, listening to the report, sighed in relief, then asked with concern, “No casualties?”
“Lei Bing from Team Two and Melissa from Team Seven suffered minor injuries, but they’ve been treated,” came the reply.
“Understood,” Rhine nodded. “Everyone, please be careful.”
“Yes!”
A chorus of voices echoed from the communicator.
Rhine, needing to maintain the rain, remained at the rear, directing the operation.
Dawn’s principle was to minimize casualties, even if they were prepared for losses.
Unless absolutely necessary, they wouldn’t engage in costly exchanges with Yan City.
Otherwise, Rhine, with his near-“Destruction” level power, could simply lead a direct assault on the core district.
They wouldn’t even need a plan to achieve their objective.
But if they did that, the Dawn members involved would likely die in Yan City’s desperate defense.
And if Rhine attacked alone, he would be even less likely to succeed.
Forget reaching the “Wall of Resentment,” even just facing the “Ember’s” eruption, he might perish.
Therefore, Dawn had devised this cautious plan, to ensure success.
“Mister has left,” Grifres said, walking over. “He didn’t tell us where he was going, but perhaps he’s already…”
Rhine shook his head. “Mister is walking his own path, Grifres. Don’t disturb him.”
He looked up at the gloomy sky and whispered,
“We both know Mister wouldn’t approve of this operation.”
“But he didn’t object either,” Grifres said.
“He simply knows it’s futile,” Rhine clenched his fist slightly. “Because no matter what, the Eldest Mister’s remains cannot be left in their hands, cannot be used as an ‘Ice Coffin Weapon.’
“It’s a disgrace to Dawn, an insult to the Eldest Mister.”
“But Mister is dying,” Grifres said softly, a hint of sadness in his voice.
Regardless of what “Mister” represented, he was still the kind old man who had raised him.
Although his death was expected, it was still painful.
“We will give him a proper farewell,” Rhine whispered. “Although our two ‘Destruction’ level brothers are unavailable due to other matters, many of our brothers and sisters in Dawn are waiting for the day Mister returns home.”
“We are family, we always have been, and we always will be.”
Rhine stood up slowly, his face slightly pale from days of using his ability.
“The world knows Dawn as ‘Mister’s’ Dawn, but they don’t see that ‘Dawn’ is also our ‘Dawn.’
“Even as the ‘Misters’ depart, Dawn will not change. We will continue down the path they forged.”
He looked at Grifres and said softly,
“Are you sad? Grieving? Yes… Mister’s passing will be a painful loss.
“But my two brothers and I have a responsibility to the current ‘Dawn,’ to the thirty-six thousand, seven hundred and twenty-one brothers and sisters within ‘Dawn.’
“This is all we can do for ‘Mister’.”
Even as the previous generation passed away, those who remained couldn’t dwell on their sorrow.
They had to carry the torch and continue forward.
Mister also knew this. He hadn’t asked anyone to accompany him, walking his final path alone, seeking his final answers.
The candle’s flame flickered, about to be extinguished.
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