(Congratulations to 'Imagine Breaker God' for becoming this book's Alliance Leader!)
"I... I got here first!"
"No! I got here first!"
"Move aside!"
"Let me get on!"
Beside the cold Iron Fortress, civilians dragging their families along and carrying luggage shoved against one another, fierce and terrified expressions on their faces as they desperately squeezed toward the train's entrance.
"Huh..." Mumei said in a somewhat disinterested tone. "So someone already got here first?"
Fang Li nodded, confirming Mumei's words.
Even Fang Li had learned the location of the Iron Fortress meant for escape after spending three days here, let alone the civilians of Aragane Station.
Thus, when the alarm bells rang, the first place the people of Aragane Station thought of fleeing to was naturally this one.
But when everyone wanted to escape, this was naturally what happened.
People shoved people, who shoved more people, and after all that pushing, fewer people who should have been able to board actually got on.
"If they just boarded one at a time, they should all be on by now." Mumei's lovely brows furrowed.
Fang Li frowned as well. Then, amid Mumei's slightly stunned expression, he took her Steam Gun and raised it into the air.
Bang—!
A deafening gunshot abruptly rang out.
"—?!"
The panicked clamor vanished without a trace.
One civilian after another turned around to look at Fang Li holding the gun, their expressions completely frozen.
Under those circumstances, Fang Li narrowed his eyes.
"Board in order. No pushing!"
He pointed the Steam Gun in his hand at the crowd, his voice carrying a chilling calm.
"If any of you keep pushing and make it impossible for everyone to escape in the end, then rather than let you get everyone killed, I might as well deal with you now. Anyone who doesn't believe me is welcome to try."
The entire scene suddenly fell silent.
Then, the civilians one after another swallowed hard.
Clearly, no one would choose to take that risk at a time like this.
And Fang Li was not joking, either.
Though he had yet to kill a living person, Fang Li was certain that if he decided to act, he would not hesitate in the slightest.
After all, Fang Li felt no emotion toward "death" at all.
So Fang Li swept his gaze across the crowd, aimed the Steam Gun at the person closest to the carriage door, and said, "Starting with you. Get on one at a time!"
Though the person was terrified at having a gun pointed at him, he let out a breath of relief and hurriedly climbed into the train.
"Then you!"
"Next, you!"
"And you!"
"Good. Get on one after another!"
Under Fang Li's direction, the panicked crowd immediately became remarkably orderly.
By the end, people barely needed Fang Li's instructions anymore. One by one, they silently boarded according to their distance from the carriage door.
Watching this, Mumei gave Fang Li another look and said, "You really are reckless."
"You charged through an army of Kabane alone and slaughtered them as you pleased. Are you qualified to say that about me?" Fang Li tossed the Steam Gun back to Mumei, then added, "Besides, if I hadn't done that, you'd probably have gotten tired of all the noise too, wouldn't you?"
"...You make it sound like you know me so well." Mumei muttered.
But just then, Mumei suddenly swayed as though dizzy, her petite body tipping sharply to one side.
"Hey?" Fang Li hurriedly caught Mumei.
At once, a pleasant fragrance drifted from Mumei's body and entered Fang Li's nose, making his brow twitch as even his heart felt a little itchy.
Though this girl looked very young, even childish, she was already exceptionally charming at this age.
Back on Earth, girls this age would basically just be a bunch of little brats. What charm could they possibly have?
That made Fang Li realize that this truly was a two-dimensional world.
Only a two-dimensional world could have so many moe elements.
If this were Earth, this girl would definitely be chased relentlessly, wouldn't she?
Thinking that to himself, Fang Li gave a wry smile and asked the girl in his arms, "What's wrong?"
"...Nothing." Mumei rubbed her eyes and yawned, her voice growing somewhat weak as she said, "I'm just a little sleepy."
"Sleepy?" Fang Li's heart stirred slightly, as though he understood something.
However, Fang Li did not ask anything. He merely said, "Then do you want to rest for a while?"
"Let's do that..." Mumei yawned again, looking as though she really was very sleepy.
"I'll take you onto the train to rest first." Fang Li made the decision without hesitation.
But before Fang Li could act on it, a chaotic burst of footsteps suddenly rang out, drawing everyone's attention.
Fang Li focused his gaze and immediately smiled.
The owners of those chaotic footsteps were none other than the warriors of the Yotsuyu Clan.
Naturally, Kurusu Kunoichi and Kibito Aragane were among them.
And the person being escorted by Kurusu Kunoichi, Kibito Aragane, and the other warriors was none other than Yomogawa Ayame.
"You..."
Seeing Fang Li standing before the Iron Fortress with Mumei in his arms, Kurusu Kunoichi and Kibito Aragane seemed rather surprised.
"Mr. Fang Li!"
Yomogawa Ayame saw Fang Li as well, and her expression brightened slightly, delighted that he was still alive.
Unfortunately, before Fang Li could exchange greetings with them, the disturbance began again.
The newcomers were not only members of the Yotsuyu Clan, but also a group of civilians under their protection.
Those civilians had no idea what had just happened. The moment they appeared, they rushed toward the Iron Fortress in panic, scrambling to get there first.
"E-Everyone!" Yomogawa Ayame finally reacted and hurriedly said, "Please don't panic! Board the Iron Fortress one at a time!"
However, the civilians completely ignored Yomogawa Ayame and charged straight toward the Iron Fortress.
Bang—!
Another gunshot rang out.
The civilians rushing forward in a frenzy abruptly stopped in their tracks, their eyes widened to the limit as they stared ahead.
With one arm holding the sleepy Mumei and the other gripping her gun once more, Fang Li sighed before looking ahead.
"Board one at a time. Don't make people keep repeating the same thing. It's boring."
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