An Youlu's death plunged everyone remaining in Zone 1 into utter despair.
They had never imagined that An Youlu, the pillar they relied on, the Minister An who served as their bridge to Ander, would kill himself by taking poison!
The twenty-odd others seemed to see their own impending deaths in An Youlu's fate.
Everyone began to grow frantic, searching for a way to save themselves.
But after arguing for ages with stiff necks and flushed faces, they realized that every path to saving themselves had been completely cut off.
The people in the other districts refused to let them off. Fleeing Zone 1 meant certain death.
Ander refused to see anyone. If they angered him, they would die right then.
All they could do now was wait.
Wait for a turning point to emerge.
Either Ander would take control of the Safe Zone and they would serve as his foot soldiers, or the people from the other districts would storm Zone 1 and they would turn traitor.
In short, the situation no longer left them any room to make a choice of their own.
Those outside were also somewhat surprised when they heard of An Youlu's suicide.
"He got off easy by dying." Fan Baoluo was particularly displeased. "How many times did he make me take the blame over the years? I was still planning to settle the score with him."
Beside him, Olof asked, "District Chief Fan Baoluo, even if you've lost your chance to settle the score, surely that's no reason to look so sorrowful?"
Fan Baoluo let out a long sigh. "I knew him for twelve years, and there wasn't any truly irreconcilable hatred between us. How could I not have mixed feelings after hearing that he killed himself today?"
"True. But An Youlu's convictions were