At that moment, the little doll was staring across the street at where the Orphanage had once stood.
One of her hands tightly gripped He Ao's hair, while the other clutched the fried chicken.
Seeing her like this, He Ao asked softly, "What is it?"
"Big Guy," the doll's body trembled uncontrollably, "I don't know, I just..."
"Scared?" He Ao finished for her.
"Mm." Silvi nodded shakily. "Big Guy, can we go home? Don't go near there."
He Ao could vaguely see fine cracks appearing across the little doll's white porcelain skin. Even the Restoration Power covering He Ao had become unstable.
After thinking for a moment, He Ao reached out, lifted her down, and looked behind him.
Besides the four of them, quite a few Anomaly Association staff members were present. Reed's off-road vehicle was also parked there.
He Ao walked over, placed Silvi inside the off-road vehicle, and handed her the fried chicken. "Wait here for me. I need to take care of something. Once we're done, we'll go home together, okay?"
"It's raining." Charn's voice came from behind him.
"Big Guy." Silvi clutched the bag of fried chicken and reached out with her little hand to tug on He Ao's sleeve. "Can't you not go?"
"I'll come back," He Ao said with a smile. "Remember to save me some fried chicken. Don't eat it all."
Silvi raised her head and stared at He Ao.
After a brief hesitation, she let go. "Then you have to come back."
"Mm." He Ao nodded gently.
He turned around and walked back to Reed's side.
"She can't go in?" Reed asked slowly.
"Her condition is unstable." He Ao shook his head slightly. "Have your people help protect her."
"Alright." Reed nodded slightly.
"Then let's get ready to move," He Ao said,