"Great news! Fantastic news! Reunion is hiring..."
Following a brief discussion, FrostNova could only watch in silent resignation as her embarrassing squad drove their motorcycles across the streets, broadcasting the message to every corner.
Although she understood there was nothing truly wrong with their method, watching those hyperactive troublemakers run wild still made her worry they might spark some unexpected trouble. Perhaps worry had simply become second nature to her.
"Relax, they might act a bit silly, but they're not foolish," Jeanne said, patting FrostNova on the shoulder to offer some encouragement. "They know full well what can and cannot be done here. Have a little faith in your crew!"
"If you weren't wearing that look of someone watching a theater performance, I might actually believe you mean every word," FrostNova replied, giving the spectator beside her a dry look.
How could she not know how mischievous this girl was? Jeanne simply loved watching scenes where she had no personal stake while everyone else wrestled with a massive headache.
"Hey, you have to trust me!" Jeanne adopted an expression of utter sincerity. The white Cautus remained entirely unmoved, keeping her focus firmly on the squad members driving around with their loud broadcasts.
For now, her duty was to wait at the designated post to see if anyone would approach out of curiosity regarding Reunion. Beside her sat Hoshiguma, keeping a watchful eye to ensure the peace was maintained.
FrostNova hadn't expected any immediate results from her crew's eccentric publicity stunt. She figured she would simply treat it as a chance for them to blow off steam after being bottled up for so long.
Seeing that matters had settled down, Jeanne took her leave alongside Ch'en to track down the Ursus refugees who had fled to the city, hoping to find her primary targets.
Yet, to FrostNova's surprise, Jeanne's prediction proved entirely correct. The squad's lively and unreserved antics piqued the curiosity of the surrounding dwellers, prompting many to creep closer to check on the situation.
However, when they spotted Hoshiguma sitting nearby, many froze in their tracks. Who in the slums didn't recognize the high-ranking Guard Bureau officer? A few began to wonder if this entire setup was merely a trap to lure them out.
FrostNova made no sudden moves as the onlookers hesitated. She sat motionless, her expression serene, doing her best to project an air of calm authority.
Since her crew had already shown their eccentric side, someone needed to represent the organization's dignity. FrostNova sat like a carved ice sculpture, quietly observing the Infected gathered in the alleyways.
Looking at the crowd, FrostNova had to admit that Lungmen's policies toward the Infected were somewhat better than those in Ursus. The complexions of the people here looked noticeably healthier than those of her homeland's downtrodden.
Yet, it was only slightly better. Compared to ordinary citizens, their condition remained far behind, barely maintaining the bare minimum needed for daily survival.
"Excuse me... are you really with Reunion? Ah, Big Sis Hoshiguma!"
While everyone else held back, a slender purple-haired Cautus girl stepped forward as the very first person to break the ice.
The purple-haired girl glanced at Hoshiguma, then turned her gaze to the white Cautus before her. Only when her eyes caught the emblem pinned to FrostNova's coat did she finally let out a small breath of relief.
"Indeed, we are Reunion. May I ask..." FrostNova noted the girl's quiet excitement. Though curious, her tone remained composed.
Hoshiguma immediately recognized the girl. Rope had likely come over the moment she heard the name Reunion, given that she had received Jeanne's assistance in the past.
Sure enough, Rope immediately began asking about Jeanne's whereabouts. Realizing Jeanne must have aided the girl at some point, FrostNova shared a few details about their shared journeys.
To FrostNova's surprise, however, the girl didn't sound as if she intended to join their journey. She had simply come over to inquire about an acquaintance and seemed to have no plans of leaving the city anytime soon.
"You don't wish to join us?" FrostNova asked, having assumed the girl meant to sign up.
"I still need to give it more thought," Rope replied, scratching her head with an embarrassed grin. "Life here is tough, but I still have a hard time letting it all go."
"Besides, I used the LMD Sister Jeanne gave me to start a small business. If I leave, I have to settle my affairs properly first!" With that, Rope offered a bright wave and turned back into the crowd. FrostNova watched her depart without any disappointment.
The moment Rope returned to the onlookers, curious dwellers instantly swarmed her, eagerly asking what the white Cautus had said and whether Reunion was truly a reliable organization.
As Rope shared her story, the crowd recalled a major event that had swept through the slums years ago—an event that had touched nearly every Infected resident and left them fearing their final days had come.
"So that lady was with Reunion all along? If she's part of them, then this organization sounds genuinely trustworthy. Should we go over and ask?"
"I'm planning to go with them. Nothing is ever going to change for us here anyway. I'll go ask a few questions first, then start packing my bags."
The crowd's impression of the organization warmed significantly. Certain that these visitors were no shadowy conspirators, many began making actual preparations to leave the city behind.
Watching the sudden crowd gather in front of her post, FrostNova blinked in astonishment. Did those troublemakers' ridiculous plan actually work? It seems I truly misjudged them.
Beside her, Hoshiguma watched the Infected eager to pack their bags and leave Lungmen today, her heart heavy with mixed emotions. For the Guard Bureau, this scene was practically a stinging mockery.
When the people living under your jurisdiction refused to view you as their own and wished for nothing more than to leave at the very first opportunity, an officer could easily feel a deep sense of despair.
While Hoshiguma knew better than to sink into despair, her mood was far from pleasant. She understood the deep-seated rift between Lungmen and its slums, and the people's reaction was entirely justified.
When surviving day-to-day was a constant struggle within this city, how could anyone expect them to feel a sense of belonging? In a sector ruled by local gangs, who wouldn't jump at the chance to escape?
What made the situation even more tragic was that their departure would offend no one in power. The city's ruling elites wished for nothing more than every living soul in the slums to vanish, freeing up vast swathes of land to be redeveloped into mountains of LMD.
However, as news of the gathering spread, the local gangs in the slums grew restless. If all these impoverished victims departed, who would be left for them to exploit? Where would their protection money come from?
They decided it was time to teach these newcomers a lesson. What better way to assert dominance than by striking down a member of Reunion right in plain sight?
With that wicked intent, several gang members began prowling through the narrow alleyways. Before long, they struck luck, spotting a single, isolated member of the visiting group—a slender, red-haired woman who looked entirely defenseless at first glance.
As the gang began tailing Crownslayer in the shadows, Crownslayer's eyes flashed with exasperation. She truly didn't know how to judge these fools following her every step.
Do they honestly think I'm easy prey? Having split up from the others to cover more ground in her search, Crownslayer glanced back at her pursuers. If these thugs dared to draw blood, she would have zero hesitation in putting them down permanently.
As the gang members raised their crossbows and drawn blades, Crownslayer made her move. The moment she heard the tension of the crossbow strings releasing, a thick veil of obscuring mist spewed from her lips, instantly blanketing the passage.
She drew her blades, ready to execute a swift ambush. Even if her direct combat power wouldn't rank among the top leaders, handling a handful of street thugs in an enclosed alley was as effortless as breathing.
Yet in the very next instant, her instincts flared. She sensed another presence joining her mist—fine, delicate grains of sand suspended quietly in the air around her.
"Young people shouldn't carry such heavy fire in their hearts. Not every conflict must end in bloodshed, don't you agree?"
An aged, mellow voice drifted through the haze, and Crownslayer instantly realized she had crossed paths with a formidable master.