Chapter 468
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Chapter 468: Ganis’ Thoughts
Tatsumi City.
Platinum Zone, Alan’s residence.
“I went out for a trip.”
Faced with Ai’s unreasonable stubbornness, who had forcibly moved in, Alan, unable to bear it any longer, attempted to protest and negotiate. However, in the end, he couldn’t withstand her irrational behavior.
He considered using magic to force her to leave, a task that would have been effortless. Yet, Alan chose not to go down that route.
This was because Alan had once entered Ai’s dream.
He learned that although she appeared tough and cold on the outside, she was more fragile than people thought. She had deep fears. Even though the Leaf King and Mr. World no longer pursued her, after her undercover identity had been exposed, there was still a chance her former comrades from the Demon Hunt Agency might secretly come after her for revenge.
Thus, Ai became a permanent resident in Alan’s home, and each day she would lounge in the living room with her long legs exposed, watching television with her roommate.
This aloof and beautiful woman lacked basic self-sufficiency. When Alan wasn’t around, Ai could only rely on takeout meals, and even something as simple as instant noodles became a disaster for her.
Alan had asked her in amazement how she managed to live on her own before. To his surprise, Ai confidently replied that while working undercover, she received salaries from both the Sword-wielding Troop and the Leaf King, allowing her to employ several servants in her luxurious home.
Now, the situation had changed, with no income and only a mortgage to worry about.
“You…”
Fortunately, both Alan and Bai Yan were self-sufficient. So, they continued to cook and do laundry for Ai without complaint, despite the inconvenience.
“I’m going out for a bit to meet someone, it’s work-related,” Alan sighed. Since Ai moved in, he had to inform her beforehand whenever he left for anything.
Otherwise, she would have nightmares at night and feel unsafe.
Ai, dressed in a white nightgown, sat on the couch. She was silent for a moment before nodding slightly.
“You may go…”
Alan donned his coat and left. Ai glanced back at the door before getting up to enter Alan’s room. She began searching for his clothes and socks before stripping the bedsheet off his bed.
“I can’t keep living like this, depending on others and waiting for things to end…”
Ai sighed deeply.
The fate of a double agent like her was rarely a good one.
Her survival had been a stroke of luck, aided by Alan’s protection.
Although she didn’t voice it, Ai was constantly thinking about how she could repay Alan.
The body is just the foundation… In life, one must strive, or else become useless.
Alan, having left home, didn’t go far. He arrived at a dim, quiet alley near his house, completely devoid of people.
Stopping before a wall at the alley’s end, Alan quietly muttered a complex and ancient incantation. The surrounding air began to vibrate as he unleashed a rare spell.
Moments later, a soft halo formed on the wall, exuding a mysterious allure, as if drawing someone in.
Alan took a deep breath and stepped through.
This was a special boundary space attached to the real world of Tatsumi City. It was akin to the home of Mu Ling’s family. Inside this space stood a small, humble villa.
It was Ganis’ residence in Tatsumi City.
The man had lived alone in the city for quite some time, and thanks to Alan’s reminders and counsel, he hadn’t caused any trouble for now.
As he approached the door, Alan murmured,
“At first, I was worried this guy might not follow the rules and cause some kind of disaster. But now, it seems like I was overreacting. He’s actually quite disciplined.”
With a slight smile, Alan opened the door and walked inside. However, as he entered, his smile quickly faded, and he furrowed his brow.
Despite his keen perception, he couldn’t detect Ganis’ presence. Either Ganis was highly skilled at concealing his abilities, or the man simply wasn’t there at all.
“Dammit!”
Alan gritted his teeth, veins pulsing, and then noticed a note on the table.
“The nearest square.”
Hmm?
The space enveloped by the barrier was the “reverse side” of the central square in Tatsumi City. That meant Ganis’ current location should be there.
Without hesitation, Alan sprinted toward the square.
The central square.
Ganis, dressed in simple white clothes, sat on a chair wearing sunglasses, watching children play, caretakers tending to them, and pigeons cooing in the square.
People smiled all around.
The harmony was surreal. The citizens of Tatsumi City were slowly being freed from the trauma of the Doomsday Crisis.
But when Ganis, with a serious expression, removed his sunglasses, a completely different scene appeared in his mind.
In the wilderness, he saw himself fighting over food with a sister and a stray dog while a father and son cried out at an abattoir, forced into a brutal struggle amidst the jeers of the crowd. The sister, refusing to fight her sibling, was dragged out like an animal, stripped of her dignity and subjected to a collective examination…
Flames.
A fire he could almost touch.
That was hatred, an emotion that burned deep within Ganis, never extinguishing.
Though he tried to convince himself that the people before him had no connection to those events, it was impossible. The people of Tatsumi City also held a poor attitude toward the Persecuted.
Sinner.
This was the unified title they gave them.
They were sinners… Amicio remembered the past shown to him by the Son of God, which depicted the history of his ancestors, who had been invaded and slaughtered by Noah’s people.
“But we are indeed guilty.”
He sighed, recalling the Demon Hunt Agency’s records Alan had found. Their ancient ancestors had worshiped the Outer God and were likely connected to the Doomsday Race, perhaps even a branch of it.
Had they never felt guilty when they joined Babel Tower and killed those cultists and members of the Doomsday Race?
So, the war between their ancestors and Noah’s people may not have had a clear side of righteousness.
But the suffering he had endured over the past thirty years, the pain his loved ones and friends had endured, still lingered in Ganis’ heart, and it would not easily fade.
Why was he fighting?
Was it to honor long-dead ancestors, for revenge against invaders and oppressors, for the liberation of the persecuted, or simply for justice and righteousness?
Ganis understood well that in this world, there was no such thing as pure justice.
He also knew that he could never ignore the current plight of the Persecuted.
“If you obsess over every goal, it will only lead to chaos,” Ganis muttered to himself, shaking his head.
“Why did you run here?”
Alan suddenly appeared beside Ganis, clearly displeased, though no one around seemed to notice his sudden arrival.
Ganis chuckled and cheerfully replied,
“Oh, nothing much. I just felt like I should take one last good look around before I leave.”
Alan blinked and asked,
“Have you decided to accept Mr. Profligate’s offer?”
“Well, there’s no reason to refuse.”
Ganis nodded and stood up, continuing,
“Since the Giant Hive is offering to shelter all the Persecuted, they shouldn’t be left to rot in the wilderness or the abattoir.”
Alan fell silent. He had heard Profligate’s offer before… to use the Babel Tower “gate” to transport the Persecuted from all over the world into the Giant Hive.
It was a huge task, but Ganis was clearly determined to make it happen.
“I already knew that even people in the city have good hearts. I don’t want to destroy everything around me… I’m not an avenger, but a leader.”
Ganis took a deep breath and added,
“But I can’t stand by and watch my countrymen be slaughtered like animals.”
“I hope that the Persecuted can live a life similar to those in the city. The great Savior of Babel Tower may not be able to change everything, but perhaps this is the best we can hope for right now.”
Alan laughed and smiled,
“Ah, I’m relieved, Ganis. Honestly, if you had chosen to be enemies with the people in the city, I would have had no choice but to kill you.”
Ganis knew Alan wasn’t joking. Members of the Demon Hunt Agency had a strong sense of purpose. They would do anything to save the World.
“I don’t know. If I were your enemy, it wouldn’t be your turn. The Savior could crush me with one finger.”
“I can only thank the Savior now,” Ganis sighed and shook his head,
“Only His grand presence can unite us, a collection of mismatched individuals, into a powerful bond.”
“Mmm, thank you, great Savior,” Alan also nodded, expressing his sincere gratitude.
Meanwhile, at the same time.
Night Union, Giant Hive.
The hidden lower level of Noy Military Headquarters.
In this pristine, white corridor, a semi-transparent floating annulus was all that stood at the end.
At this moment, the great Savior of Babel Tower, Profligate, the Keeper of Secrets…
Bai Yan stood in the middle of the corridor, his expression solemn as he walked forward.
Reaching the annulus, Bai Yan paused and, without a word, extended his hand to touch it.
A voice spoke from deep within his soul.
[“O Connector, God of Games… whoever you were before, now you are the Savior of Babel Tower.”]
[We are the annulus civilization, waiting here since ancient times.]
[For the agreement we made long ago.]
[…]
[Not right.]