It was burning—the enormous pile of firewood stacked as high as a mountain was burning.
"The Little Match Girl" gave it the middle finger, and the thing caught fire.
Impenetrably dense clouds closed over the sky. Artificial night drew its curtain, and lights came on in front of the temporary barracks, dotting the valley with its first sparks of starlight.
Everyone had been invited to the square: all the children from the orphanage, the Council employees who had cared for them all this time, and the Special Operations Bureau engineering team that would be withdrawing tomorrow. More than a hundred people had gathered beside the bonfire, while beyond it sat the silent, towering shadows of the Thunder Titans.
An illusory gate appeared at the edge of the square. Yu Sheng pushed the door open and stepped out, cheerfully calling to Little Red Riding Hood and the others waiting in the square, "Look who's here!"
Li Lin and Xu Jiali came out of the gate first. They stared at the scene in the square in astonishment, and only hurried forward to greet Little Red Riding Hood after Yu Sheng reminded them.
Engineer Sun, the head of the Special Operations Bureau's engineering team stationed here, seemed to know Xu Jiali. He immediately led several people over to greet her warmly. Teacher Su and the other "employees" sent by the Council also came running at the sound of the commotion, welcoming the new guests.
Another two or three seconds passed before a cool, aloof figure with a gray-white ponytail and a white skirt suit hesitantly stepped out of the gate and curiously looked around.
The surrounding area instantly fell silent.
Engineer Sun stared at the figure emerging from the gate. "Di... Director?"
Yu Sheng glanced over and saw, to his surprise, that even