Chapter 418
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Chapter 418: Lingering Sound of the Waves
The natural disaster caused by the ash tide dominated headlines in the following days.
Every nation experienced varying degrees of devastation.
In Y, the local region, casualties had already surpassed three thousand. Coastal cities in Europa and the Ming Country reported even higher numbers.
Amid the chaos, the death toll in the thousands was seen as “acceptable” by some, yet the horror of the disaster’s true impact was undeniable.
Survivors who escaped the cult of the Evil God revealed that many deaths were the cult’s doing, further igniting public outrage.
News outlets echoed calls for war against Goryeo Island, spurring a storm of public opinion.
However, these calls for action were limited to mere rhetoric.
The Shogunate alone lacked the strength to suppress the evil god’s catastrophe on Goryeo Island. A coalition of multiple nations was necessary for such an undertaking.
But the Ming Country showed little enthusiasm, the Four Seas Group remained inactive, and distant nations like Europa and the Ten Thousand Demon Kingdom—unaffected by direct proximity to Goryeo Island—were even less inclined to act.
As cries for action reverberated, the response was divided.
For those untouched by the disaster, protests and marches were mere performances. For those who lost loved ones, sorrow consumed their days as they prepared funerals.
The sorrows and joys of different people never aligned.
Some suffered in silence. Others clamored noisily.
The ash tide incident led to the premature dissolution of the music festival, robbing fans of Hatsurai Wagaizuma’s performance.
She had planned to debut her new album at the festival but was forced to abandon those plans.
Instead, she adapted. Choosing a slow, heartfelt song from her album, she altered the lyrics to fit the somber occasion. She then organized a ticket-free charity concert in Sapporo, Hokkaido.
Over ten thousand people gathered in the park, each holding a candle as they prayed for the deceased to the accompaniment of her soulful singing.
The concert was solemn, with an atmosphere of quiet reverence. Flickering candles and drifting lanterns created a poignant backdrop.
While chaos reigned in places like Honshu and Shikoku, Hokkaido remained relatively peaceful, its restraint attributed, in part, to Hatsurai Wagaizuma’s efforts.
The media praised her for the event, which brought her widespread acclaim.
Though the charity brought no direct profit, her rising popularity promised long-term dividends.
Jealous competitors whispered among themselves, while fans rallied to her cause.
Whether her success was “blood-stained bread” or a genuine effort at healing depended on perspective.
Regardless, her concert’s positive impact could not be denied.
Hatsurai Wagaizuma’s busy schedule left her no time for personal matters. Preparing albums, attending TV programs, and organizing charity events consumed her days.
Meanwhile, Bai Wei lingered in Hokkaido, taking a brief respite after recent events.
Most of his troubles were resolved, and the Evil God’s schemes thwarted. Evidence lay in the evolution of his title from “Enemy of the Evil God” to “Great Enemy of the Evil God.”
Yet this triumph came with a price. Wherever Bai Wei went, he would now be a prime target for the Evil God’s followers.
Though the Evil God’s plans had failed, Bai Wei remained unable to uncover the truth behind their schemes.
The soul exchange between Yagyū Simozi and Guan Ling posed a lingering challenge.
Returning to the Yagyū residence was impossible until this issue was resolved.
Their interactions were awkward. Every time Guan Ling addressed Simozi, it felt out of place, as though both were trapped in identities not their own.
Bai Wei suspected the Demon Cat Yumeko was responsible, but catching the elusive entity proved difficult.
A new strategy was needed.
Late one evening, Bai Wei logged into Europa but avoided Michelle, deciding it was better to give her space.
Instead, he sought out Judy.
Judy, a student at Tulip Academy, was applying for a bloodline scholarship to purchase a magical artifact.
Although uninvolved in the ash tide disaster, even she had heard of its widespread impact.
When Bai Wei found her, Judy was lounging in a bath, reading news reports about the disaster.
Europa had suffered similarly to Hokkaido.
Tulip Academy had lost five students, two of whom were reduced to ashes. Thousands of civilians were injured or missing, with infrastructure damage compounding the tragedy.
Yet Judy found it strange that Bai Wei never inquired about Michelle’s safety.
Bai Wei, in turn, remained silent.
Judy mistakenly believed she still had an advantage over Michelle, unaware the situation had shifted.
Bai Wei then attempted to summon the Demon Cat Yumeko, whose unique abilities were crucial for resolving the soul exchange.
The demon had once told him they could cooperate outside Yingzhou. However, the summoning failed.
The Endless Sea, which separated Europa from Yingzhou, was vast and mysterious, its depths holding countless secrets.
Though Bai Wei anticipated the failure, it left him contemplating alternative summoning locations.
Countries close to Yingzhou, like the Ming Country, Goryeo Island, or the Ten Thousand Demon Kingdom, seemed promising.
However, the ongoing ash tide delayed any immediate travel.
Simozi and Guan Ling could not wait, and neither could Bai Wei.
Three days passed.
With little progress made, Bai Wei received a phone call that offered a glimmer of hope.
On the other end was Xue Hanlei.
Her message promised a new turning point.
