Girl Doesn’t Die in Fairytale Town: Chapter 12 – …Hello?
The outer regions of Yan City were filled with settlements built by refugees wandering the wasteland.
Although strictly speaking, the outer regions didn’t belong to Yan City, the city’s higher-ups had decided to allocate some resources to protect the refugees.
Refugees could accumulate merit points by completing tasks issued by Yan City, which could then be exchanged for supplies. Accumulating enough points could even earn them the opportunity to enter the inner city.
The sudden appearance of “Ghost Town” had already destroyed many settlements in the outer regions. Its slowly moving path left a barren wasteland in its wake.
Yan City had urgently evacuated the refugees in the vicinity. Now, the area within twenty kilometers of Ghost Town was completely empty, except for a lone figure walking towards the bizarre area.
Hua Qiling had been prepared to enter Ghost Town herself from the beginning, but she had hesitated, burdened by too many concerns.
It wasn’t until she was dismissed from her position, coupled with the incident involving the high-ranking ability user Xu Lin, that Hua Qiling finally made up her mind.
Now, Hua Qiling carefully approached Ghost Town. The blindfold covering her eyes didn’t hinder her vision at all. In fact, what she saw now was even more precise than with her eyes.
“Eagle Eye.”
This was Hua Qiling’s ability. The initial stage significantly enhanced her vision, while the evolved stage allowed her to see through objects. Now, Hua Qiling could see everything clearly even with her eyes closed.
In this state, the silver-haired girl’s gaze couldn’t affect her.
As Hua Qiling crossed the boundary between reality and illusion, the surrounding scenery rapidly transformed, as if countless years had passed in an instant, before finally settling.
Silence.
“I made it!”
Although she had anticipated this situation after countless simulations, Hua Qiling still couldn’t help but feel a surge of joy, which quickly subsided.
This was just the first step; there were more important things to do.
Hua Qiling’s expression turned serious. She used “Eagle Eye” to observe the town, while also using her ability user’s “spiritual sense” to perceive changes in the surrounding environment.
This was a town that appeared to have been abandoned for a long time, heavily weathered, with a style vaguely resembling the mega-cities in the western part of the continent.
At this moment, a cacophony of noise came from the communicator hanging from Hua Qiling’s ear. It was clear that the early execution of the investigation plan had completely disrupted the Bureau’s previous arrangements, creating a lot of extra work.
A moment later, Li Ping’s low, hoarse voice came through the earpiece.
“Listen, Hua Qiling, all our observation points in Ghost Town have been destroyed. We can only provide assistance based on previously recorded archives and data. The danger has greatly increased. You… must prioritize your own safety before taking any action.”
“…Yes, Director-General Li.”
Hua Qiling still couldn’t bring herself to call him “old man.” Formality was necessary in official situations.
“What is the approximate time in Ghost Town now?”
“Near dusk… approximately between five and six in the afternoon.”
Hua Qiling looked up at the sky and quickly determined the approximate time.
Ghost Town had a day-night cycle, but due to the unstable flow of time, it didn’t correspond to the outside world.
“And your current location?”
Hua Qiling pondered for a moment, glanced at the surrounding scenery, and said,
“Judging from the environment, I should be near Observation Point Three, close to Observation Point Four.”
The rustling sound of flipping through documents came from the earpiece. Soon, Li Ping’s voice sounded again, seemingly more tense.
“…Detailed environmental description?”
“The third building on the left is an abandoned bar. The second building on the right is a public restroom.”
Hua Qiling looked around and casually mentioned two easily identifiable landmarks.
“Wait! This, this is…”
More rustling sounds came from the earpiece, followed by An Zaipao’s voice, slightly trembling.
“Director Hua, ‘Pale’… might be near you right now.”
Hua Qiling’s heart skipped a beat, her pupils constricting.
“You mean…”
“Yes, according to records, ‘Pale’ has a seventy percent chance of passing through this location at this time.”
Hua Qiling’s breathing quickened. She realized she had to leave this location immediately and avoid contact with “Pale.”
But before she could act, a pleasant, melodious voice sounded from behind her.
“…Hello?”
…
Every idle afternoon, Luo Yan would go into town and help the residents as much as she could.
Helping Uncle Andre sharpen his knives, delivering medicine for Dr. Messier, chatting with Old Li, the blacksmith at the town entrance… Small things Luo Yan could manage.
Due to her illness, little Tini could stay awake for much shorter periods than ordinary people.
While she was sleeping, Mrs. Natalie suggested that Luo Yan interact more with the townspeople and build good neighborly relationships.
Luo Yan readily accepted Mrs. Natalie’s suggestion. Before her illness progressed past 80%, she would actively help others in town, partly to make up for the minor troubles her occasional pranks caused the residents.
As usual, after a busy afternoon, Luo Yan strolled along the familiar path, preparing to return to the manor on the edge of town.
However… the strange phenomenon that had inexplicably disappeared a while ago had reappeared today.
In Luo Yan’s vision, clear fragments began to appear in the shadowy corners of the town, contrasting sharply with the surrounding scribbled lines.
She could even touch these fragments, but they felt no different from other areas.
“I remember… when I met Ling Qi before, something similar happened?”
Luo Yan frowned slightly, the question she had buried resurfacing.
She had encountered this strange phenomenon when she met Ling Qi.
But as Ling Qi integrated into the town and became blurry, the clear fragments had silently disappeared.
Until now, they had reappeared in Luo Yan’s vision.
Clear fragments, clear outsiders… There seemed to be a connection between the two.
“Could it be… that another outsider has come to town?”
Just as Luo Yan was wondering whether to go back to town and look around, she looked up and saw a clear figure appear in front of her.
“Eh… an outsider?”
Luo Yan was slightly taken aback. What a coincidence.
This new outsider appeared to be a young woman in her early twenties, carrying a strange metal object on her back, two daggers at her waist looking rather intimidating.
She was looking around, as if searching for something.
“Could she be… looking for Ling Qi?”
Luo Yan recalled that when she first met Ling Qi, she seemed to be carrying similar daggers, equally refined and sharp.
Thinking of this, without further hesitation, Luo Yan raised her hand and greeted her.
“…Hello?”
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