Chapter 224
Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/PazjBDkTmW
You can buy coins here to unlock advanced chapters: https://gravitytales.com/coins-purchase-page/
Chapter 224: Awakening from the Dream
Faced with the puzzled gazes of the others, the elderly man seemed to feel scorned and spoke even more agitatedly:
"After Zhang Tong spoke to me about this yesterday, I decided that these outsiders have regressed far too much; they can no longer be considered human. For so many years, I have endured living with them, fighting off my disgust every day.
"Twenty years—how many twenty years can a person have? Every night when I close my eyes, I dream of those prematurely aged faces. I really can’t go on like this.
"Please let me return to Hope City, even if it’s just to sweep the streets. I want to sleep somewhere with light just once."
He sat down, defeated, unsure whether he lamented the passage of time or his recent outburst.
The remaining man and woman clearly leaned more towards Zhang Tong’s ideas. They wanted to return to Hope City but were unwilling to entirely abandon the Marsh Settlement.
Given the production capacity of Hope City, creating some shallow-bottom boats was not a difficult task.
If they could skillfully navigate through the marsh, then with the near-impenetrable barriers of this region, the center of the marsh could become a human camp outside of Hope City.
With the support of a stronghold, even if these regressing outsiders could never enter those high walls, they could live a better life than they do now.
Ink Drench remained silent, quietly listening to the four’s statements. Many of their suggestions were quite practical, and Ink Drench herself had even entertained similar thoughts.
The only issue was that they had been contaminated.
Even though bipolar disorder had already conveyed a coded message confirming that the others were not lying, it did not change that fact.
Seeing disappointment on Ink Drench’s face, Zhang Tong asked seriously:
"Have we been trapped here for so many years, and has our way of thinking fallen too far behind?"
"No."
Ink Drench shook her head, her fists slightly clenched on the armrest.
"The question I asked you about loyalty relates to something else."
"Please, go ahead."
"Based on our observations, you— all the people of the Marsh Settlement—have been subtly contaminated by the mycelium or something else outside the city."
"Wha…"
The faces of the two elderly individuals and two middle-aged men revealed expressions of disbelief and extreme surprise.
In less than five seconds, Ink Drench used one sentence to shatter their efforts sustained over twenty years.
"This is impossible!"
The older man was about to rise but suddenly felt a wave of inner calm.
This calm did not come from within; it was not that their internal strife and external threats had been resolved. Instead, it was a forced tranquility derived from an outside force.
He suddenly lost the energy to argue, leaning back in his chair while glancing around, noticing a young woman with mismatched eyes.
Before the four could continue to dispute, Ink Drench’s tone grew colder:
"Last midnight, everyone in the Marsh Settlement unconsciously left their homes and gathered in the central square for a mysterious ritual.
"During this process, not a single person was awake."
Ink Drench looked at Zhang Tong, as if to prove her understanding of the truth:
"The injury on your face is not from a fall or a bump."
She looked at the elderly man who had been forcibly calmed:
"You slept with an outsider last night."
She turned to the surviving middle-aged couple,
"You two seemed very affectionate yesterday.
"I don’t know the purpose of your ceremony, the extent of your contamination, or how often you hold such rituals.
"But…”
Ink Drench scanned the room:
"There’s no doubt that you have been contaminated.
"So, everyone, please allow me to sincerely ask, do you still remain loyal to Hope City?
"You understand what I mean, so answer from your hearts, for the outcome is already determined."
Silence enveloped the narrow space of the room, a combination of a conference room and bedroom that felt a bit cramped for nine people.
After an unknown amount of time, a bitter laugh suddenly came from the room, followed by a long sigh. Zhang Tong slightly smiled, looking at the younger Ink Drench:
"I lied to you yesterday. In fact, after I escaped from that forest in the south, I experienced an inexplicable fainting spell and lost about a day’s worth of memory."
The other three survivors pondered thoughtfully, but none replied directly like Zhang Tong.
"If I’m not mistaken, the surviving outsiders from the Shelter were those you encountered after waking up, right?"
No one answered Ink Drench’s question, but the silence indicated the answer.
"I understand now."
Ink Drench sighed softly.
"I see; so that’s how it is."
Zhang Tong leaned back in his chair, causing the rough wooden seat to creak.
"Thank you for your hard work."
Though she clearly understood the regulations, it was Ink Drench’s first time executing such a task, and her mental preparation was not perfect.
"Who will do it? Thank you for volunteering."
"I’ll do it; my ability causes life to approach death in a short time. It won’t be too painful, just a bit weak."
"Sounds good."
Zhang Tong revealed a relieved smile.
At that moment, the old man, who had slumped in his chair for a while, suddenly opened his eyes wide. A power not typical for his age surged within him.
He jumped onto the table and then leaped toward the window, aiming to break through.
Zhang Tong’s expression first showed surprise, then deep regret.
The old man’s body was still in motion, but the spark in his eyes had vanished.
“Thud.”
A body crashed against the wall, the sound too quiet to draw any attention from the guards outside.
Shuijing stepped forward and turned the old man’s body over, discovering that his face was deeply lined, resembling not an ordinary old man, but more like… a tree.
Zhang Tong slowly stood and said,
"I have something for you; please wait a few minutes."
Ink Drench nodded, looking at the remaining man and woman.
"Let’s go first."
"Yes, we’ll go first; let the Captain go last."
The two spoke almost in unison.
Ink Drench pointed at the two, and their faces turned pale.
"How does it feel?"
"Not bad. I gained twenty more years; it’s worth it."
A few minutes later, Zhang Tong returned from a small storage room in the back, one hand carrying a box and the other holding several worn notebooks. He made his way back to his seat slowly.
He glanced at the three teammates who had departed first and spoke calmly:
"I wanted to say more, but my memories may also be false, so I can’t help you anymore. The truth must come from you newcomers.
"The only thing I can be sure of is that it is dangerous outside the city, but not invincible; otherwise, humanity wouldn’t have survived this long. We couldn’t have gained these extra twenty years. There must be weaknesses; you need to keep trying."
"Got it."
