"How could that be?"
Euphemia froze at Xiao Ran's inexplicable words and looked at him in astonishment. "This isn't your problem. It's Butalia's treatment of Area 11 that's wrong. You aren't in power, so you can't change any of this. With the overall situation being what it is, no individual can change it. Even strength shouldn't be used as a weapon for conflict. Conflict will only make life worse, never better. I don't think there's anything wrong with you, Mr. Xiao Ran. You shouldn't think that way."
"Is that what you think?" Xiao Ran smiled. "But just as you said, I'm not in power, so I can't change any of this. The overall situation is what it is, and there's no way to change it. I shouldn't think of myself as hypocritical, but what about you? Since coming here, I've noticed that your mood hasn't been quite right. None of this was caused by you, so why let yourself sink into this sadness? If you truly want to help them, then sooner or later, you'll have the chance to do so."
"Mr. Xiao Ran..." Euphemia paused, then suddenly covered her mouth and smiled. She glanced at him and said, "Mr. Xiao Ran, are you saying all this to comfort me?"
Xiao Ran spread his hands and smiled noncommittally. "Perhaps."
Euphemia looked at Xiao Ran, lowered her hand, and solemnly bowed to him. "Mr. Xiao Ran, thank you very much for keeping me company all day. You let me see many beautiful things, as well as many things that weren't so beautiful. But I believe that all those ugly things will slowly change someday."
"It would certainly be good if that happened." Xiao Ran stepped closer to Euphemia and shrugged. "Whether this world becomes better or not, before it gets worse,