Living in the City (Big Chapter Seeking Monthly Ticket)

In the photo, the flames of missile explosions blanketed the sky like clouds from hell, while fine rain and night formed the backdrop of the world.

Missiles hung tightly above the fighter jet's head like the God of Death.

Against that grand yet dim backdrop, beneath those flame-spewing missiles, the frail floating fighter pulled up sharply. Towering mechs stood behind it, while rows of low buildings flickering with faint lights in the darkness lay beneath its feet.

That floating fighter, suspended between heaven and earth and as weak as duckweed, now stood like an unyielding barrier, protecting the faint lights below.

"Beautiful."

Inie stared at the photo and could not help exclaiming.

There was no deliberate composition in the photo, no exquisite technique. It was merely a snapshot of a single moment in time, yet everything was so harmonious, like a painting by God, naturally perfect.

Taking a deep breath to steady herself, Inie continued scrolling down. When she saw the floating fighter swallowed by the flames of the detonated missile, her heart tightened.

Then, when she saw the floating fighter charge out of the flames like a god descending upon the world, joy rose in her heart.

If she had not seen these images, she never would have imagined that the neatly dressed, dignified Old Mayor had experienced such a life-or-death battle before returning to the Mayor's Residence.

Most importantly, the mayor had originally had a chance to leave. He did not have to save anyone. He could have left calmly and let those missiles destroy the mechs and blow up these low buildings, then simply blame all the resulting casualties on the assassins afterward.

As someone in the news industry, Inie knew very well how such things were handled.

But that mayor had not left. Instead, he had