Chapter 182: An Insignificant Pawn
This world doesn't revolve around any one person. It won't grind to a halt just because Lin Wei is taking a break, waiting for him to wake up from his daydream and resume this game of child's play.
In this world, everyone plays their own role, driven by their own goals, together pushing the world "forward."
Just as Lin Wei had predicted, over the next two or three days, that most restless Dr. Jackal fell completely silent.
Losing the pull of this vortex, the other parties being drawn in were also forced to, willingly or unwillingly, lay low along with her. The entire city of Manila seemed to return to its former peace—in fact, the city had always been this peaceful.
The scheming and infighting among a few was just a trivial interlude.
And this is the truth of the world—danger lurking beneath a peaceful exterior; surging undercurrents in a calm world. Even the so-called "peace" and "calm" are merely illusions barely maintained on the surface, like a bubble blown with soapy water by a child, beautiful yet fragile, bursting at the slightest touch…
Even humanity itself is just a part of this bubble, a tiny speck of foam on that bubble swaying in the wind, living and dying with it.
The vast majority of people have no chance to choose their own fate, either living in false peace, enjoying the trivial worries of daily life, or dying in despair and helplessness in the face of sudden disaster.
Manila—this megacity with a population of tens of millions, is naturally no exception. It sounds very sad, but it is indeed the reality…
And in this world, there are always some people who are fighting to protect this fragile bubble.
"It's been so many days, still no news about support from headquarters?"
Captain Jell suppressed her inner anxiety, forcing herself to sit steadily in her seat, asking her assistant in a calm tone, but the stylus in her hand couldn't help but tap against the table, making a "tap, tap, tap" sound.
Last time, after returning from the forest investigation, Yuno told her that the strange cat-type Honkai beast should have the ability to shrink its body and might have already infiltrated some corner of the city, suggesting that the Snow Lotus Squad focus their search on the inner city.
Otto's goal, of course, was to use the Snow Lotus Squad, this ready-made force, taking advantage of their long-term stationing and familiarity with the local area to help him further accelerate his investigation into World Serpent.
But Jell didn't know his intentions. After hearing this news, she couldn't help but become even more anxious and worked up, and her patrols and investigations became even more diligent—perhaps this was exactly the effect Otto wanted to achieve?
"Captain, headquarters replied saying that in order not to provoke the emotions of Southeast Asian governments, they cannot provide support for the time being without conclusive evidence…"
The Valkyrie temporarily filling Anna's position gave a bitter smile and said, "Captain, you know, Southeast Asia… has never been very welcoming to us Schicksal, and of course, Anti-Entropy either…"
"Tch!"
Jell couldn't help but snort, not knowing who she was dissatisfied with; the stylus tapping unconsciously in her hand also stopped, and she said in a somewhat dry and hoarse voice, "Can someone give me some good news?"
Another Valkyrie walked over from the side and gently handed Jell a bottle of spray, "Captain, you're so anxious you've got blisters in your mouth, put some medicine on it…"
"Oh? Thank you…" Jell was taken aback, as if only after being reminded did she realize there was a pain in her mouth that was due to her troubled mind.
"Isn't no news good news?" the Valkyrie serving as assistant also comforted her, "Besides, headquarters has also promised that although they cannot directly dispatch forces, they will have satellites in the sky constantly monitoring Manila and the surrounding area. Once there are any findings, they will notify us immediately and, depending on the situation, promptly dispatch follow-up support. Also, the other squads stationed in the Philippine Islands have already increased their alert level and explicitly stated that they can support us at any time."
"Hmm, that is indeed good news." Jell only commented on the latter half, "I just hope that before headquarters' support arrives, not too many people will die…"
Hearing these somewhat demoralizing words, the Valkyries couldn't help but look at each other in dismay, and fell into silence.
A Honkai beast that could critically injure an A-rank Valkyrie with a single blow was simply an insurmountable obstacle for their Snow Lotus Squad. It was even more so for the city of Manila they were protecting.
"No news is good news," this sentence sounded somewhat like self-deception, but for these Valkyries, it was also their true feeling. If possible, who would be willing to challenge an enemy that is fundamentally unbeatable?
Jell also sensed the somewhat awkward silence among her team members at this moment, realizing that she seemed to have said something wrong. She had no choice but to smile helplessly, wave her hand, and say, "Alright, everyone has worked hard, since there's nothing else today, everyone should go and rest early…"
After speaking, she stood up, pretending to walk out.
"Captain, where are you going?" The team members didn't scatter all at once, but asked one after another, "Are you planning to go patrol some dangerous places again alone with that temporary member?"
"What do you mean dangerous places? Have you seen me encounter any danger?" Jell tapped each of the team members surrounding her on the head, looking at their aggrieved expressions as they rubbed their foreheads, she couldn't help but chuckle, and said with a smile,
"Alright, that Yuno member is very strong, you should all know that; as for me… although I'm not strong, I'm still an A-rank Valkyrie at least, my battlefield performance is definitely better than that silly girl Anna, right? Even she can't die, as long as I take precautions in advance, what trouble could I get into?"
Seeing that she had suppressed their momentum, Jell was satisfied and pushed aside the Valkyrie team members blocking her way, continuing to walk out.
After walking a few steps, as if suddenly remembering something, she abruptly stopped in her tracks, turned back and sternly instructed, "As for you guys, you are not allowed to act on your own, understand? If you're really too restless, go to the hospital and keep Deputy Captain Anna company."
"Ye-yes, understood…" Seeing their captain so serious, the team members didn't dare to argue back, nodding repeatedly and vigorously.
Seeing this, Jell breathed a sigh of relief. While continuing to walk out, she prepared to send a message to "Yuno", who was still keeping watch at the hospital, saying that she would soon ride her motorcycle to pick her up.
"Sigh…" Closing the door and isolating herself from the team members' sight, Jell still couldn't help but stop in her tracks, sighing tiredly. Her tense back also relaxed a little. She self-deprecatingly muttered to herself, "If you guys were still here, these things… how would it be my turn to worry about them?"
Then she cheered herself up again, continuing to walk out. Her light blue short hair was gently fluttered by the cool breeze between the shade of the trees, "But since I'm still here, then I have to protect our home, right?"
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