You Take the Front, I'll Raid Their Home!

"...What you said was moving, but I still don't quite understand."

With his hands folded on the table, Ian stared at the old man before him. He was silent for a while, then slowly said, "If you truly are as you say, and dream of seeing the stars..."

"Then why, when faced with this starless night sky and the fact that the stars are vanishing one after another, can you remain as calm as you are now?"

"My lord."

Old Fal's tone became more solemn. He weighed his words, trying to speak as evenly as possible. "Aren't you the same? You clearly know how hopeless it is to gaze upon the stars... yet you can still remain rational."

"Of course, I am far inferior to you, my lord. I went mad once, but I survived... when everyone else took their own lives in despair."

"I lived on... shamefully, stubbornly."

"Perhaps my current rationality is precisely the aftereffect of that madness."

Ian did not reply. He merely watched the old man in silence.

"I understand."

After a long while, he spoke again, and this time he got down to business. "Let's discuss your work and compensation."

Everyone had dreams, and no dream was ever absolutely unique.

This vast and murky world, yet one not devoid of hopeful light, had taken shape through the intertwining of countless dreams.

Ian did not speak with old Fal for long.

After discussing matters related to territorial administration with an outwardly unchanged expression, he discovered that the old man knew every major and minor affair of Xiahui Territory like the back of his hand. He immediately made the decision for him to begin work at City Hall tomorrow, assisting Scott with all matters concerning finances and personnel appointments and dismissals.

They called it assisting Scott, but