Chapter 127: We Bear a Heavy Burden

"Old Zhou," Huang Long said softly, offering comfort, "even if we had stayed behind back then, it wouldn't have changed anything. Don't be too hard on yourself."

"However, we have two problems now. The first is how we are going to reach the Old City."

Nangang City lies to the east of Nangang New City. With the New City blocking threats from the west and the sea bordering the southeast, its geographical position is actually quite advantageous.

The only problem is the lack of Awakened ones. Even the energy crystals required to activate the city’s protective shield depend entirely on support from the New City.

But as long as they can return to Nangang City, they will be out of danger. Moreover, even with the few remaining Awakened, they would possess a significant power advantage, enough to seize control of the Old City's administration.

"We can certainly forget about the original trains and tracks, and the airport must have been destroyed by the mutated creatures," Huang Long said, his face solemn.

"At the moment, I can only think of one way: leaving in the individual flying craft. As you all know, although they are called 'individual' craft, their interior space is actually quite substantial. If we squeeze in, we can fit."

These so-called individual flying craft were once work machines used for patrol and supervision under the control of the planetary local area network before the catastrophe.

Nangang had found three in total; one was in the Old City, and two were in the New City.

Fu Ting took the initiative to explain: "Captain, Ji Cheng had already planned for this before he left. He told us the western defense line would inevitably collapse in a short time. To keep an escape route open, he sent people to retrieve the flying craft, though they haven't been brought back yet."

He, Centipede, Liu Fangjian, and the others were all members of Huang Long’s squad. Although they now possessed Tier 2 gene progenitors, they hadn't actually ascended to Tier 2 yet, so they still addressed him as "Captain."

"It was Lu Shangbai..." Huang Long scanned the room, "...and Qiu Ding, correct?"

When he returned yesterday, only Liu Fangjian, an Awakened, was guarding the command room; the others had dispersed to gather intelligence and clear the surrounding streets.

Seeing two people missing at today's meeting, he had guessed they were sent to retrieve the craft, but he hadn't realized it was a plan Ji Cheng had laid out long ago.

Thinking of this, he suddenly realized that perhaps the nuclear explosion in the Emerald District wasn't as simple as these people claimed.

On the surface, it was said to be for clearing mutated creatures from their doorstep, but in secret, could it also have been part of Ji Cheng's plan?

Huang Long understood in an instant.

Of course. How could the pig-headed people under his command have predicted that the Emerald District had already been breached?

Speaker Zhang’s two daughters didn't seem particularly sharp, either; they were out of the question.

Well played. They even dared to deceive their own captain.

He cast a subtle glance at the pale-faced Zhou Ze but ultimately decided not to reveal the truth he had deduced. He merely glared at Centipede and the others, leaving them feeling confused.

"That's right, they were the ones who went to find the flying craft," Fu Ting said, feeling flustered by Huang Long’s glare, his speech slowing down.

"As you know, since the planetary network is down, these craft can only be operated by high-level intelligent life forms."

"Among the remaining Awakened, only Lu Shangbai has a high-level intelligent life form, and that 'Osprey' was already being used by him. We don't have the authorization."

"Hmm, I see," Huang Long nodded, then pressed, "When did they leave?"

"Yesterday morning."

"That long? Then they should have been back by now."

Huang Long opened the holographic map and carefully checked it before confirming again:

"If I remember correctly, the hangar where that 'Osprey' is parked is right here. They could have easily returned via the Line 2 subway; it’s very safe down there."

Therefore—

Lu Shangbai and Qiu Ding must have run into trouble. Everyone present knew it, though they were at a loss as to why Huang Long insisted on slowly re-analyzing it.

"So, we just need to wait a little longer for them."

Huang Long shifted in his chair, patted the armrest, and delivered a statement that stunned everyone.

"This..." Liu Fangjian hesitated.

"What about our families? My Xiao Tian must still be hiding at home in the Emerald District. We originally discussed that once Lu Shangbai found the flying craft, he would pick up our families along the way."

Centipede looked at Huang Long and straightened his posture. "And as you can see, besides those two, others haven't returned..."

"That's right, Captain. Four Awakened haven't returned, including two council members."

Fu Ting voiced his skepticism as well.

Although he had no family, he was deeply worried about Ji Cheng’s delayed return and hoped they could send someone to look for him.

Zhang Lingfei and Zhang Jing'e stood up immediately.

Zhou Ze kept his head bowed, his eyelids half-closed, as if those few words had already exhausted his energy.

"Centipede, Fu Ting, Liu Fangjian, and you two sisters," Huang Long’s chubby body looked harmless, but his eyes were firm. "As Awakened, we must take on the responsibilities of the Awakened. Sometimes, we cannot act on emotion."

"The interests of the city-state must come above all else."

"Captain..." Centipede’s voice was low, the ugly scar on his face twisting. "Yes, you are right, but..."

Huang Long slammed the table. "There are no 'buts.' You all know the importance of a Tier 2 Awakened."

"Huh?" Zhang Lingfei’s eyes widened as she exchanged glances with Zhang Jing'e. "Does Councilor Huang mean..."

"We must send people to find Councilors Ji and Yao now. We will leave one Awakened here to look after Councilor Zhou and wait for Lu Shangbai and the others to return," Huang Long said firmly.

So that’s where he was leading us.

Centipede looked at Liu Fangjian, who seemed equally surprised, then glanced at the silent, bowed Zhou Ze.

So that was the Captain's plan.

Old Liu looks as confused as I am, but Councilor Zhou seems to have known the Captain would say this all along.

"I agree," Centipede sighed. "As for Lu Shangbai and Qiu Ding, I believe they will be back soon."

He was familiar with Lu Shangbai and Qiu Ding, but he owed a much greater debt to Ji Cheng. Since Huang Long had provided a graceful exit, he wouldn't dismantle it, no matter how unreliable it seemed.

As for their families, they would just have to be picked up later. The underground safe houses had plenty of food reserves and oxygen generators; apart from being stuffy, there was generally no great danger.

"Let’s go find the two councilors first."

"Agreed," Liu Fangjian said concisely.

Zhou Ze gave an imperceptible nod.

With the three Awakened who had family present agreeing, the others had no objections.

...

Emerald District.

Lu Shangbai, Qiu Ding, and a petite woman were hiding behind a rockery.

Through the tactical goggles' zoom function, they watched a massive 'helicopter' with legs pacing back and forth.

"A Rotor-Dragonfly... a gate-class mutated creature. What are we going to do?"

Lu Shangbai paced frantically, unaware that he had already been sold out by Huang Long and the others.

"We are on a crucial mission to bring the flying craft back! Everyone is waiting for us to save them!"