"...Is that so? As expected, it still sank."
Dawn City, Vault 404, Level B4 reading room.
Upon hearing that the Haiya had sunk, Sun Yuechi froze for two seconds. A complicated expression then appeared on his face.
Chu Guang could tell that upon hearing the news, Sun Yuechi felt both the relief of having a burden lifted and hesitation over the outcome. More than anything, though, there was the "as expected" he had mentioned.
He seemed to have anticipated this outcome from the very beginning, before tossing Vault 70's mess into Chu Guang's hands.
Chu Guang could not help feeling a trace of curiosity.
However, before he could ask, Sun Yuechi, seated across from him, spoke first.
"Is it really alright for you to leave the front lines?"
Chu Guang smiled faintly.
"They do not really need me there. Even when I am not around, they do quite well. Compared to that, meeting the representatives of the South Sea Alliance authorities is more important."
Although the Heart of Steel remained on the front lines, he was not there every moment of every day. He occasionally flew back.
For instance, when the Sticky Community had important matters to discuss at a meeting, or when internal Alliance affairs required his decision.
Sun Yuechi nodded in understanding, forcing a relieved smile onto his face.
"That is good... I heard the Southern Alliance was jointly formed by Vault 70's residents and the survivors of the southern seas, right? In the end, they still overcame their differences... Honestly, it was rather foolish. We turned the VM into a 'black card' and forgot that we were originally compatriots. The vault doors have been open for a century and a half, yet calling ourselves vault residents is still too foolish."
"Sometimes I cannot help thinking that vaults