Girl Doesn’t Die in Fairytale Town: Chapter 11 – Single-Handedly Entering the Fray
“Urgent report! Large-scale assimilation phenomena are occurring in Ghost Town. The affected area is rapidly expanding, and the town continues to move towards the inner city!”
“Understood.”
An Zaipao listened to the report and looked at the haggard Hua Qiling beside him, his eyes questioning. “Director Hua, what do you think…?”
“Now, you are the Director.”
Hua Qiling shook her head, interrupting An Zaipao.
Although she had been removed from her position and transferred to the Oversight Department, she was still the most knowledgeable about the Ghost Town incident.
Moreover, Hua Qiling couldn’t shake off her concern and frequently visited the Director’s office to assist An Zaipao.
However, without the authority to make decisions, her burden was considerably lighter.
“There was another report just now. Xu Lin from Team Two, while observing Ghost Town, suddenly experienced soul entrapment. All observation points have been lost… I’m afraid there might be a connection between these two incidents.”
Hua Qiling said gravely, “Worse, Xu Lin stopped recording before losing consciousness. No one knows what he saw last.”
Xu Lin was also a “Ruin” level ability user. Although not combat-oriented, his mental defenses were strong, and he had comprehensive protective measures in place.
Yet, even he hadn’t escaped unscathed.
“Even a ‘Ruin’ level ability user can’t resist, I’m afraid…” A worried look flashed across Hua Qiling’s face, but then her resolve hardened. “No, this can’t go on.”
After a period of hesitation and uncertainty, Hua Qiling finally made up her mind. She stood up and walked towards the door.
The decision had to be made; she had to take a chance.
“Director Hua, what are you doing?” An Zaipao, who had worked with Hua Qiling for several years, seemed to sense something and quickly stood up, calling after her.
“I’m going into Ghost Town,” Hua Qiling replied softly, the image of the silver-haired girl flashing in her eyes. “I must… meet her. I must stand before her, face her directly.”
It was time to lift the fog surrounding Ghost Town.
“That’s too dangerous!” An Zaipao exclaimed. “Director-General Li will never agree. Moreover, the Bureau has already decided to dispatch an investigation team. They are almost fully organized…”
“‘Ruin’ level disaster events should be handled by ‘Ruin’ level ability users. Those below ‘Ruin’ level are just cannon fodder.” Hua Qiling shook her head and sighed. “They are prepared to sacrifice their lives to fill this gap, but it’s not necessary.”
She continued towards the door without stopping.
An Zaipao didn’t try to stop Hua Qiling because he knew he couldn’t.
So, he decisively picked up the phone, intending to inform Li Ping and let him stop Hua Qiling from this dangerous course of action.
But unfortunately, Hua Qiling had temporarily blocked communication between the Disaster Response Department office and the Director-General’s office. The call wouldn’t go through.
“Damn it…”
An Zaipao was extremely anxious. He rushed out of the office and ran straight towards the Director-General’s office.
But it seemed to be too late.
…
After being removed from her position, Hua Qiling had been contemplating what she could do.
Regardless, the “Ghost Town” incident had become her responsibility.
Hua Qiling had a strong sense of responsibility. When she decided to do something, she would devote herself to it wholeheartedly.
Even now… when she had been stripped of her authority to act.
But it didn’t matter. Besides being the Director, Hua Qiling was a “Ruin” level ability user, a powerful individual even within Yan City.
Otherwise, even with Li Ping’s support, the twenty-one-year-old Hua Qiling wouldn’t have become the Director of one of the Bureau’s four departments.
At least, none of those who could compete with Hua Qiling for the position of Director of the Disaster Response Department were her match.
Hua Qiling’s life had been smooth sailing. She had never encountered a setback she couldn’t overcome; she had never tasted failure.
Hua Qiling was proud, and always had been.
—Until she met her, the silver-haired girl in Ghost Town.
Those pale red eyes were a recurring nightmare for Hua Qiling, even driving her to the extreme of suggesting the use of the Ice Coffin Weapon to erase Ghost Town.
Li Ping had seen that Hua Qiling was almost obsessed with this, which was why he had temporarily transferred her from the Disaster Response Department.
But what Li Ping hadn’t anticipated was that Hua Qiling would come up with an equally radical plan. She intended to go to Ghost Town alone, to confront her nightmare head-on.
By the time An Zaipao rushed to the Director-General’s office to inform Li Ping, it was already too late.
Hua Qiling, carrying her usual sniper rifle, two swords at her waist, and a blindfold covering her eyes, stepped into the area affected by Ghost Town.
To prevent herself from meeting those pale red eyes, Hua Qiling had blocked her vision. Of course, she had other ways to “see” her surroundings.
A deathly silence fell over the Director-General’s office. Li Ping stared blankly at the screen, watching Hua Qiling venture alone into Ghost Town.
This junior, whom he regarded as a granddaughter, was walking towards an unknown land of death. Cloudy tears streamed down Li Ping’s wrinkled face.
“Xiao Hua, why are you doing this…?”
“Old man, don’t cry. I can hear you.” Suddenly, Hua Qiling’s voice came from the monitor’s speaker. “Don’t worry, I’m not crazy. I just think that I’m the best person to execute your investigation plan.”
Hearing Hua Qiling’s voice, Li Ping was taken aback. A flicker of joy crossed his face, but it quickly turned into a complex expression.
“Xiao Hua, come back first. After the team has assessed the situation…”
“No, there’s no turning back now,” Hua Qiling said calmly.
“Moreover, I disagree with sending in a team for exploration. Last time, when Ling Qi from the Dawn organization strayed into Ghost Town, it triggered the ‘assimilation’ phenomenon. The best course of action is to have an ability user with strong solo combat capabilities execute the mission.
“And I am currently the most knowledgeable ‘Ruin’ level ability user in the Anomaly Management Bureau about Ghost Town, naturally making me the best candidate for this mission.”
“But this, Xiao Hua, you…”
Perhaps because there were no outsiders present, Li Ping didn’t seem like the authoritative elder he was during the council meeting. Instead, he resembled a nagging elder.
“From now on, I am the investigation team.” Hua Qiling said firmly. “Continue with your arrangements, old man. It’s pointless to dwell on this now. The more important thing is to focus on the task at hand.”
Li Ping was silent for a moment. He knew Hua Qiling was right. At this point, they could only continue with the investigation plan, with Hua Qiling replacing the team.
“…From now on, you must obey commands.”
“Relax, I understand.”
Compared to coordinating the overall situation in the office, Hua Qiling seemed more at ease carrying out missions personally.
Her rise to one of the top positions in the Bureau was due to her rich and outstanding mission experience.
Li Ping turned to An Zaipao and said, “Go. Initiate the investigation plan ahead of schedule. The executor has been changed from the team to Hua Qiling. Now… she’s in your hands.”
“Understood.”
An Zaipao nodded seriously and hurried out of the office. There was still much work ahead of him.
After everything quieted down, Li Ping sighed deeply, seemingly aging several years.
“I hope… everything goes well.”
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