Chapter 79
Cheese Fries. Even though the portion was smaller than what the three of them had eaten earlier, this was the food that made Zavi's appetite surge the moment the paper bag of Cheese Fries was in his hands, while the fragrant aroma pierced his nose.
Without the slightest hesitation, he washed his hands using a bottle of water Aaron had taken earlier and enjoyed the cheese fries, all while remaining alert to the situation around him.
Their food varied, each suiting their own tastes; Zavi with fries coated in cheese, Aaron with bread filled with a mix of fish, potatoes, tomatoes, and cabbage. Meanwhile, Felina and Zuhen ate the same thing; cakes neatly wrapped in banana leaves, soft in texture and crumbling with each bite, releasing the sugar inside to flood their mouths.
Only three types of food, matching their orders, could be taken by Aaron. He had wanted to grab more varieties since it would be a waste not to, but unexpectedly, out of the many kinds of food available at the festival, everything was gone within minutes.
What puzzled him at that moment was how people were even willing to fight over a long rice snack, almost resembling noodles but with a striking purple color, something people in Forgenate and the other six districts called; Noterel.
A few minutes later, when the clock had reached half past eleven and the festival had already ended hours ago, the citizens who had previously attended, including the officers and the organizer; a Baron of Forgenate who funded the event, gathered on the stage, discussing something important.
This drew the four of them to join the gathering and listen to a man in a wide-brimmed hat speaking in a raised tone, his expression full of conviction.
"This festival will be the last to be held in Forgenate, not because of the end of the year, but because Moran's current condition is truly questionable."
"Agreed," a man below the stage responded enthusiastically.
The man beside him let out a short sigh.
"Sorry, but has the evacuation of the other residents, including those from the six districts, been completed?" he asked out of curiosity.
All eyes turned toward him, including the man in the cap and the three important figures sitting at the edge of the stage with their legs idly swinging.
The atmosphere fell silent instantly, the air growing heavier as their thoughts became tangled trying to process it.
Yes, evacuating such a massive number of people from the fifteen streets in Forgenate was not as simple as it sounded. One main street, with roughly six large alleys, housed thousands of residents. Multiply that by six, then consider the remaining fourteen streets, each with different large alleys? It was nearly impossible, or rather, only possible if there were no further attacks, including the aftermath of the comet's fall and subsequent disasters.
They wanted to use the fastest route via steam train, but realized there was only one station available on the western side of Forgenate; Pamlinov Station. And one abandoned stop on the southwest side.
Realizing this, anger and frustration mixed in their chests, leading them to question the performance of Mayor Novewilian Alistair, a subordinate of Count William Surcre. The citizens truly blamed them, and even the Baron, Haver Dominus Lacitta, joined in questioning what they had done while ruling Moran so inconsistently...
Haver Dominus Lacitta, a tall man with a pale face, responded to the statement honestly, a faint smile forming on his lips:
"That's exactly what I dislike about nobles and their servants. Yes, even though you all know my status as a low-ranking noble, I would do the same."
"What do you mean?" they asked in unison, confused by his earlier statement.
Haver Dominus Lacitta let out a deep breath as he observed the people standing below him. Then he stood and walked steadily toward the small staircase on his right as he spoke in a restrained voice;
"There's no point in building anything in the middle of an unfavorable situation, that's all. Do you understand?" His feet had fully stepped onto the cobblestone street as he observed their strange expressions.
A flat, distinctly feminine voice came from the right side of the stage shortly after.
"Because of a strange conflict with another noble, the person you're referring to turned the territory he controls into nothing more than his dumping ground? Is that true?"
Everyone's gaze shifted toward the woman named Fiona, including Zavi and the others, staring at her in disbelief at her boldness.
"Heh, turns out you're right as well," Haver Dominus Lacitta replied, his face filled with delight.
Hearing that, the man standing beside her, Reynald, let out a deep sigh, realizing just how blunt she was.
"You're in the middle of a crowd, aren't you embarrassed?" he whispered with a flat expression.
"Be quiet," Fiona replied calmly. "It's a fact. There's nothing wrong with someone stating the truth to others."
'Tch, this woman really has no control over her mouth,' Reynald complained inwardly.
"But... she does have a point," he added in a voice barely above a whisper.
Meanwhile, murmurs spread across the stage, making the previously tense atmosphere feel alive again like the earlier festival. But this could become dangerous if someone reported this to the person being talked about.
"Are there any of that ruler's servant subordinates here?" a man standing in the center voiced his thoughts.
"I don't think so," another man nearby replied with a mocking smile.
"Be careful, or when you wake up, you might find yourself in a very different world," the man in a gambler's hat retorted with a sharp hint of sarcasm.
"Ah, that'd be bad if they found me," several of those present on the stage replied almost at the same time.
Realizing that the conversation, which had seemed ordinary at first, had turned into subtle mockery toward the ruler who had led them all this time, the four of them tried to leave before the situation worsened.
He immediately turned and headed back toward the roundabout to pass through the main road on his left, trying to make his way to Pamlinov Station while keeping an eye on someone from there.
As they walked, Aaron tried to make small talk to ease their wariness toward him, feeling as though he truly was a stranger among them.
"So, Actitus, and Mr. Mudelk, are you still going to carry out the plan we agreed on earlier?" Aaron didn't expect it himself as he slowed his steps.
Their steps came to a halt after that.
"I have an idea to make the attack even worse," Zavi answered firmly, the idea forming when he left the bar. "But half of it, I'll rely on Mr. Mudelk, who can create even greater chaos."
'With that mysterious creature of his.'
Then without giving them time to react, Zavi quickly added in a lower tone, "Together with Miss Felina, of course, and just like you suggested earlier, Aaron."
This time, Aaron truly realized that his role was lighter compared to the other three.
A few seconds later, their attention shifted as a group of people walked toward them; some carrying carts filled with important belongings, others carrying large bags, including suitcases packed with their usual clothes.
Their expressions were flat, but their hearts were filled with panic and tension as they realized something.
Murmurs instantly filled the cobblestone street.
"The apocalypse has come, and it has punished Moran City," a woman said with trembling hands, goosebumps rising on her skin, unable to believe that the prophecy had turned out to be true.
"Damn it," said the man behind her in a calculating tone. "To hell with the apocalypse, the house I just got a few days ago with my sweat and effort—I have to leave it because of this."
"Such a pity, sir, your fate is truly unfortunate."
"Yes, but this is for my own survival."
"That's right, we need to leave this place as soon as possible," a man walking behind them commented.
"They say people from other districts who survived are heading to the station, right?"
"Yes," a young woman replied who happened to overhear.
"I wouldn't be surprised if we end up fighting over seats once we get there."
They only caught fragments of voices from the crowd moving toward them. And as time passed, the group nearly reached the spot where the four of them stood in silence.
"So it's true, this city will be abandoned soon." Zuhen took out a pack of cigarettes and pulled one out before placing it between his slightly darkened lips.
Felina watched him, letting out a deep breath before saying gently, "Just stop smoking, won't you? Don't you care about your condition anymore?"
"Sorry, sorry, I think I'm already addicted." After that, he extended the cigarette pack toward the two of them.
Seeing that, Aaron paused for a moment before taking a deep breath and exhaling.
He didn't smoke. He had never even touched one, or perhaps never even truly understood it. Then he stepped forward and passed Zuhen just like that.
"Sorry, I don't smoke."
Zuhen's pupils widened for a moment. He turned, and when his pale blue eyes landed on Aaron's back, he gave a faint smile, realizing how foolish he had been.
He stepped forward to follow Aaron.
"Looks like I made a mistake."
"Obviously," Felina replied, walking right beside him.
Zuhen clicked his tongue, then his gaze shifted to Zavi, who walked steadily behind him on the right.
"Want a smoke?" he asked, hoping to have someone join him.
Without waiting for an answer, Zuhen realized he had once been rejected when offering the same thing.
The question hung in the air like mist, soon to be swept away by the wind.
'Damn, turns out he didn't hear me,' Zuhen thought as he lit his cigarette with a lighter.
At last, their group was nearing their destination; Pamlinov Station. The journey from Syrp Street No. 2 to Huween Street No. 3 had taken nearly over an hour on foot, without running even once.
Despite having walked for so long and encountering strange supernatural sights along the way, everything had been handled by Aaron, although one member of the group had fainted after being possessed by a wandering spirit that liked to terrorize people.
The group rested at the entrance road, about a hundred meters from the station, which lay in a lowland area with a tunnel entrance.
Meanwhile, the four of them searched for a quiet place to observe and plan what they would do in the morning.
"So," Aaron finally spoke up, "what time are we going to do it?" he asked, just to be sure.
"Maybe half past one in the morning would be a good time?"
Felina unconsciously voiced her thoughts.
The three of them immediately turned to look at her, leaving Felina confused, completely unaware of what she had just said a few seconds ago.
'Is something wrong with her head?' Aaron thought as he leaned against someone's iron fence.
Zuhen pulled out a cigarette from his pack and said in his hoarse voice, "Well? I think that's a good idea."
"Looks like I'll follow your suggestion." Zavi touched his chin as he spoke, then took out his pocket watch from his coat and opened the lid.
Click..
"One more hour, huh?" Aaron said as he straightened his posture.
Zavi closed the pocket watch before putting it back into his coat.
And this was the moment when their original plan to destroy six districts, failed due to the comet's impact, shifted toward destroying Forgenate, giving Zavi the chance to force out the person he was searching for and uncover the secret to advancing the Prisoner ability, from the first level, Error, to the second level, Motivation.