Chapter 118

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Chapter 118: Departure Again (Part Two)

Seeing everyone’s gaze turn to him, Fresnel greatly enjoyed the moment.

“You all must have heard about the Exploration Plan, right?”

He scanned the room, focusing on the newest member of the team, Wang Xiao.

“I know, Brother Obscure mentioned it to me a while ago.”

“Then I won’t go into too much detail. In summary, the recent riot by the Infected, combined with the passing of Lord Holy Shield, has drawn significant attention from the members of the Hope Council.

“I heard they discussed it for a long time and ultimately decided to restart the plan, launching an exploration beyond the wall following footsteps from decades ago.

“After all, everyone aware of these two events understands that if things continue like this, humanity will face a slow death.”

Wang Xiao listened intently to the captain’s words and suddenly sensed that Obscure beside him had stiffened for a moment.

After ascending to the Second Level, his five senses had heightened again; although not as dramatic as the leap from an ordinary person to the First Level, he could still perceive subtle changes in his surroundings.

He suddenly recalled how Obscure always seemed somewhat disheartened when discussing the Exploration Plan with him.

Obscure had mentioned that the Exploration Plan hadn’t been discussed for many years, gradually fading from everyone’s memories.

With this in mind, Wang Xiao began to entertain a certain suspicion.

Fresnel continued to speak passionately:

“What I want to say is that the average human body is indeed relatively weak. The exploration team will inevitably select among the superpowered individuals. I know you all have done your best, but I hope you can push yourselves a little harder. This will be an incredibly honorable endeavor.”

At this point, the team members, who had received a proper education since childhood, began to feel excitement rising.

Especially Puppet Master and Beacon, the two female teammates, were now beaming with joy.

Superpowered individuals recruited by the government enjoyed treatment beyond what ordinary citizens could imagine, which indeed fostered a loyalty that the average person could not match.

Although Wang Xiao did not show any change in expression, he too felt anticipation for what lay beyond the walls.

Like a boy collecting shells on the shore during low tide, Wang Xiao eagerly longed to venture out and explore amidst the beast tide; he still held a strong curiosity about the outside world.

However, Obscure, in the joyful atmosphere surrounding them, lowered his head.

After several seconds passed, as everyone’s excitement began to calm, Obscure raised his hand:

“Captain, I have something to say.”

Seeing the most senior team member’s serious demeanor, Fresnel also turned serious:

“Speak up; we are all comrades who can rely on each other. There’s nothing you can’t say.”

“Captain, I want to say that if you plan to involve everyone in the selection process, please allow me to withdraw from Team 25.”

Beacon and Puppet Master froze in shock, while Wang Xiao sighed deeply, feeling that part of his suspicion had been confirmed.

Obscure did not look at his teammates’ expressions; it was unclear whether it was due to disappointment or guilt:

“Let me explain; there are two main reasons:

“First, I’m not young anymore. Everyone knows that superpowered individuals age a bit slower than ordinary people, but I am already in my thirties, no longer in my prime. My abilities are not particularly versatile for exploration, and my combat skills are quite limited; I would just become a burden.”

“If that’s the case, then I’m also a burden.”

Puppet Master suddenly interjected. As a young woman in her twenties, she rarely displayed anger, but a hint of it now flickered across her lovely face, as if she were reproaching Obscure’s actions.

“When I activate my power, my body falls into complete unconsciousness. If an enemy kills my body during this time, my consciousness will be trapped forever within the extraordinary beasts.

“Thanks to everyone protecting my body, I’ve been able to fight until now.

“I know I will cause trouble for everyone, but I also have confidence that my contributions can make up for this flaw. Mr. Obscure, you were once my guide; I know this isn’t your true thought, so please share your real reasons.”

Wang Xiao heard his teammate speak so much for the first time and turned to look at Obscure, waiting for his response.

“That leads to my second reason. I have talked about the last Exploration Plan with each of you. Why is it only I remember, and only I keep bringing it up?”

A hint of sadness crossed Obscure’s face:

“Because my parents were members of the last two exploration teams of that plan. I don’t want anyone to forget that failure; I don’t want their deaths to be in vain.”

It seemed as if he completely opened up, shedding all the secrets he had carried, exposing his heart and soul to everyone:

“My parents were among the first superpowered individuals, but their abilities were only average, so they weren’t well-known.

“As registered superpowered individuals, they couldn’t be assigned to the same team.

“The first to go missing was my father’s team. They explored twenty kilometers south towards Hope City, which is where his signal disappeared. However, even ten kilometers out, Hope City could no longer hear from him.

“My mother must have had some premonition. That morning, she dressed me in a beautifully crafted outfit they had given me and made a lot of dishes I can’t even name before leaving.

“And then, there was nothing after that. I received two death notices and two compensation payments, and I heard through the broadcast about the indefinite suspension of the Exploration Plan…”

At this point, the man in his thirties was already in tears, his voice choked as he said:

“I’m not staying behind because I’m afraid of death; it’s because my mother didn’t want me to go. That was the last thing she said to me before she left.

“I don’t want to worry or upset them, so let me stay here peacefully until I grow old.”

The members of Team 25 fell into silence.

To be fair, Obscure’s usual silence, combined with his older appearance, often made his teammates subconsciously overlook his feelings.

At this moment, Beacon and the Puppet Master realized they did not truly know this teammate and naturally had no right to make decisions for him.

Obscure wiped away the tears on his face, regaining his usual calm expression.

He stood up and walked over to Fresnel, patting his shoulder:

“I will write my resignation and submit it myself, Captain. You all train hard! Keep going!”

He silently walked a few steps forward before suddenly turning to face everyone:

“I remember something; if you leave Hope City, be sure to watch out for the fog!”

“Fog?”

Fresnel frowned. His ability was very sensitive to light, so he paid special attention to this kind of information.

“Yes.”

Obscure nodded:

“Later, when I joined the direct superpowered group at headquarters, I was able to review some documents, and I found the last message sent back by my father’s team before they went missing—‘What a thick fog.’”

Having given his last advice, Obscure silently left the team’s activity room.

Fresnel was no longer as excited as before. He spoke seriously:

“You all should understand how dangerous this is, but for Hope City, I will do my very best.”

"As the Captain, it’s my failure to not take care of Obscure’s feelings, but I also respect everyone’s choices. There is still one last opportunity; those who do not wish to go need not raise their hands. Even if I’m the only one, I will choose to participate in the selection."

Having said that, he raised his right hand first. The other three people did not hesitate and followed suit.

—

Inside the mental health clinic, after sending off the last patient, Lin Qingliu opened the radio on the nightstand after a busy day.

This was one of the few ways to stay informed about current events in Hope City.

With a population of millions, there was rarely any news worth reporting; the fixed segments on the broadcast included how many waves of the beast tide the army had repelled that day, how many people the factories had assisted recently, and what research difficulties the research institutes had recently conquered.

In short, the news was heavily homogenized, and Lin Qingliu had long given up on finding nourishment from the broadcast.

However, in the past few days, or rather since that day, it seemed like the broadcasting had been injected with fresh energy, showcasing different news every day.

Just now, the broadcast was playing a man’s thank-you speech, where he expressed gratitude to the city defense army in the outer city for rescuing her and his family during a recent Infected riot and passionately cursed the wretched Infected and extraordinary beasts using notably vicious language.

Finally, after the man finished his lengthy speech with a dry throat, a woman’s voice quickly took over the broadcast.

After a wave of inspiring words, this news segment reached its conclusion:

"This news was reported by Hope City’s spire journalist, ‘Fulan’."

The mention of Fulan in the broadcast sounded somewhat abrupt, carrying obvious traces of interference, as if something briefly took over the transmission.

Lin Qingliu sighed silently and glanced at the Kitten’s Paw on the radio knob, lightly asking:

"Interesting?"

"Eh heh~"

In a swirl of chaotic colors, the colorful little cat tried to rub against Lin Qingliu’s arm while showcasing her cuteness.

"Fulan, you’ve already broken many things. Luckily, El’s previous gift hasn’t been spent yet, or we would have to beg on the streets."

Fulan understood that her great master was just making a kind joke, pretending not to hear the complaints and climbed onto his shoulder, wrapping around his neck.

"I once read a book, and the ending said, ‘You are not a medal; you cannot hang around my neck forever.’ What do you think, Fulan?"

The kitten was startled, as she detected the seriousness in her master’s tone.

Did this mean she would be abandoned?

Fulan trembled, almost losing her balance and falling, but thankfully, as a cat, she landed smoothly on the ground and quickly jumped onto the nightstand, presenting her belly to Lin Qingliu—

I was wrong!

"……"

Lin Qingliu sighed silently:

"I don’t mean that; I’m not saying I want to abandon you. It’s just… have you heard of a term?"

A look of confusion appeared on the cat’s face, and Lin Qingliu smiled as he said:

"This term is—hunting in the wild."

Fulan shook her head.jpg

"Let me explain. You are originally an extraordinary beast, part of the wild monsters. You’ve finally turned to the light; such a perfect counter-example is indeed suitable for a typical instance of recruiting the disloyal."

"Meow?!"

Fulan’s voice carried a tone of astonishment as she grasped the situation. Not all extraordinary beasts were as clever, witty, and adorable as she was, but her master’s idea was truly one of a kind, unprecedented and likely to remain so.

"I understand what you mean, and it won’t be that straightforward. The success of this endeavor largely hinges on your performance, so I’ve decided to let you grow a bit more before I allow you to go hunting in the wild.

"When that time comes, I won’t be quick to assist you; your growth will depend entirely on your own little brain.

"However, you must at least reach the Second Level…"

Lin Qingliu gently patted Fulan’s head:

"At the very least, you need to master the illusions of the Second Level to intimidate others."

Hearing this, Fulan breathed a sigh of relief; her feline life was finally secure.

"For now, I still need to listen to the broadcast. Quickly, transform for me!"

Fulan swiftly reverted to her radio form, and the announcer’s voice flowed smoothly from her:

"To ensure the mental and physical well-being of the soldiers on the front lines, Hope City is now offering special positions—military psychologists. Both part-time and full-time roles are available, with generous compensation and additional benefits for family members. Employment is contingent upon passing an assessment.

"This announcement remains valid indefinitely. Interested individuals may visit the nearest security bureau to obtain an application form and follow the instructions to participate in the selection process."

Lin Qingliu raised an eyebrow; this seemed somewhat unusual.

Recalling how the clinic’s business had suddenly picked up in recent days, he speculated:

Perhaps many soldiers in the military had developed psychological issues due to recent events.

With that thought, Lin Qingliu suddenly conceived a plan.

If he were a psychologist in the outer city, he could maintain his outsider status, but he would always be a step behind on various pieces of information.

If he could become a military psychologist…

Lin Qingliu felt it was his longing for a structured role from his hometown world influencing him, but joining the military would indeed provide better cover for his identity.

"That’s intriguing. I’ll have to consider it later."

—

In the central spire of the inner city.

Luke had never felt his mind so active; he seemed oblivious to the pain in his body, eagerly delving into the information related to the "Believers," and memorizing most of the key details in a remarkably short time.

Councilwoman Nia had appeared by his side at some point. This woman, not yet thirty, looked at the chubby man a short distance away, revealing a smile that signaled her plan was coming to fruition.

When Luke finally lifted his bloodshot eyes from the documents, the figure beneath the hoods slowly extended two long arms and lightly applauded.

"I hope you can bring me good news."

Luke rubbed his eyes firmly to alleviate the fatigue and then declared with unwavering determination:

"Rest assured, noble councilwoman, I will personally uproot the ‘Believers’!"