Ilan City · South District
"General,"
The middle-aged officer walked over to Old Man standing by the garden and handed him the tablet. "General Mide has returned to the North District."
"Cough, where's Lynn? Has he returned?"
Kewei coughed and looked up at the dark clouds overhead.
"The North District said,"
the middle-aged officer paused. "Mr. Lynn stayed behind at the Kopes Mercenary Group's camp to cover the retreat."
A cold, lonely wind swept through the silent garden. The pale-faced Old Man stood before the railing, gazing down at the dim city below.
"I see."
He lowered his head and let out a hoarse sigh. Then, he quietly took out a metal cigarette case and tipped out a cigarette with a silver gray filter.
He held the cigarette between his fingers without lighting it. Looking at the city ahead, he asked softly, "How is the city doing?"
"At first, it was difficult to maintain order, but after the citizens organized voluntary patrols, things improved greatly,"
the middle-aged man answered quickly. "The City Defense Army returning from the north also joined the patrols. The situation has basically stabilized, and there have been far fewer reports of people suddenly going mad."
He paused, then said with some surprise, "I never expected these patrols to show such strength in a crisis."
"This is the strength the people of Ilan have always possessed,"
Kewei sighed. "We simply never noticed it before."
He raised his head and looked toward the distant north. His fingertips brushed through the cold, lonely air. "And perhaps the patrols themselves carry a kind of extraordinary meaning."
"Huh?"
The middle-aged officer froze and looked at Old Man in confusion.
"The flock that should have been afraid finally found the courage to unite and resolve to defend themselves,"
Kewei stared at the