"My dearest friend, do you know how deeply I miss you? Though that burning red cloud swallowed your body, your voice and your smile will forever remain in my mind..."
Inside the editorial office of *Survivor Daily*.
Perched on a small stool by the window, Hal clutched a half-empty liquor bottle. Between hiccuping from the alcohol, he recited poetry in awkward, convoluted grammar.
Usually, no one paid him any mind.
In the eyes of most employees at the newspaper, the man was simply looking for an excuse to drink during the day. Flattering him brought no benefits whatsoever; instead, you would get trapped listening to his endless ramblings for the entire day, leaving you unable to finish your work.
"Did your lover pass away?"
"Lover? *Hic*—how shallow! This is for my best friend—" Hal let out another drunken hiccup, but right in the middle of his slur, he froze.
A figure was standing in the doorway of the office.
A backpack was slung over his shoulders, with an assault rifle strapped to its side. He looked exactly the same as when he had left more than a week ago—without a single scratch on him.
Hal went rigid.
Not just him; every employee in the office froze. The rustle of turning pages and the scratching of pens died down at once.
The entire office plunged into utter silence.
"F-Fang Chang!"
Hal scrambled up from his stool in excitement, set the bottle on the wooden windowsill, and hurried over to the office entrance.
Seeing his tear-streaked face, Fang Chang couldn't help but feel a wave of awkwardness.
"You couldn't possibly have written that for—"
"It was for you! By the Spirit of the Sand Sea! When I saw that brutal battle report, I... I thought you had fallen!" Hal grabbed his shoulders with both hands and shook him violently, his voice an incoherent mess of emotion. "Thank goodness! You're still here!"
Fang Chang cleared his throat lightly.
"Thank you for caring so much about me..."
Though his emotions were running a bit *too* high.
About four days ago, he had indeed died aboard the *Heart of Steel*. But once the seventy-two hours passed, he woke right back up in his private room on B2 of Shelter 404.
Upon waking, Fang Chang didn't linger. Packing only light luggage, he immediately set out for Boulder City.
Normal caravans took two days to make the trip.
Yet traveling alone, and being an Agility-type, it took him only a single day and night to reach the base of those towering walls scraping the sky.
Still, the journey had been grueling enough.
Now that summer had arrived, the mutants inside the urban ruins had grown active again.
In the corner of the office, the newly hired female reporter stared wide-eyed at the two men practically embracing. She leaned toward her coworker and whispered,
"Who is that?"
"Fang Chang. A friend of the chief editor, a resident of a nearby shelter, and one of the Alliance people from the northern suburbs."
"From the Alliance?! Then doesn't that mean he's..."
"Yeah. More than a week ago, he received a mobilization order and returned to the northern suburbs to fight. Word has it he isn't just an Alliance member—he's part of the Burning Corps..."
In all of Boulder City, there wasn't a soul who didn't know the name of the Burning Corps, nor anyone unfamiliar with their legends.
Listening to her coworker, the young reporter's eyes went round, staring in disbelief at Fang Chang standing in the doorway.
Suddenly, she shot up from her seat, grabbed her notebook, and dashed to the entrance. Looking at the hero trying to disentangle himself from the chief editor's clutches, she gasped in excitement,
"U-Um... hello!"
Fang Chang looked over at her. An unfamiliar face. Puzzled, he said, "Hello... May I ask who you are?"
"I'm Rose, a reporter for *Survivor Daily*! I just started yesterday!" Shaking his hand, the young reporter pressed on eagerly, "Forgive my intrusion, but are you a soldier of the Burning Corps?"
"Yes..."
"Did you take part in the airborne operation that day?"
Watching Rose lean closer and closer, Fang Chang instinctively took half a step back.
"Yeah..."
Hal sucked in a sharp breath, staring at the man in utter astonishment. The hands resting on Fang Chang's shoulders gripped even tighter.
"Spirit of the Sand Sea... Y-You survived!"
And not a single injury on him?!
Noticing the shock in his eyes, Fang Chang cleared his throat and subtly averted his gaze before speaking.
"...Ah, it was truly horrific that day. Luckily, Lady Luck was on my side. I might look fine on the outside, but truth be told, I was pretty badly hurt."
As he spoke, Fang Chang glanced down at the hands gripping his shoulders.
Catching his glance, Hal quickly pulled his hands back, looking apologetic.
"I didn't realize you were—"
"It's fine."
Looking at Fang Chang in the doorway, Hal sighed with deep emotion.
"When I heard only one person from the Burning Corps made it out alive, it scared me half to death... Sorry, that probably wasn't appropriate to bring up."
After all, the fallen had been his comrades-in-arms.
"It's fine..." Fang Chang replied vaguely. "I'd rather not talk about it right now... Hope you understand."
Hal nodded and dropped the heavy subject.
Fang Chang exhaled in relief.
The *Player Handbook* noted that to prevent errors in the NPCs' AI algorithms, players were strictly forbidden from "initiating out-of-game discussions with NPCs" prior to open beta.
Out-of-game topics included the other world, the shelter's respawn mechanics, and the like.
Unlike other rules, the enforcement criteria for this one were vague, but the penalty was severe, putting one's closed-beta eligibility at risk.
Some NPCs were scripted to know they could revive—such as the Administrator and the white-haired girl in the medical clinic. Certain non-core NPCs had heard occasional rumors too, though those rumors were mostly absurd and wildly contradictory.
No veteran player who had taken the trouble to learn the game's language would risk losing their beta access just to confirm or debunk rumors in public, and Fang Chang certainly wouldn't do something so stupid.
Strictly adhering to the covenant and dodging the topic before open beta was the wisest move.
Still, he would have to give that kid Ye Shi a heads-up later, lest he blab and force Fang Chang to spin another round of bullshit to cover it up, which wasted far too much time.
"Um... could I interview you? Mr. Hero?" Seeing the chief editor let go of Fang Chang, Rose asked nervously, "If any topic feels intrusive, you don't have to answer."
"About that day... I don't really have much to say. Better to defer to the Alliance's official announcements." Looking at the newly hired reporter, Fang Chang suddenly blinked.
A moment ago, he had assumed Dolly was out on an assignment. But seeing this newcomer idling about, that didn't seem to be the case.
"Where's Dolly? Didn't she come in today?" Fang Chang turned to Hal. "I was meaning to ask—why did you suddenly hire someone new?"
Facing his friend's gaze, Hal's expression turned awkward, and he stammered,
"She... she left yesterday."
Fang Chang stared in shock. "Left?!"
Hal nodded slowly.
"Yeah... You might not know, but news of the victory at the front reached here that very evening. We didn't receive a specific casualty list, but the word was that only one person from the Burning Corps survived. You have no idea how devastated she was..."
Fang Chang sucked in a breath through his teeth and demanded at once,
"Where is she now!"
Hal's eyes darted away.
"Yesterday morning, she handed in her resignation, saying she was heading to Dawn City to look for you. I tried to persuade her to wait a bit longer, but she insisted on leaving. We couldn't function without a reporter, so I brought in someone else... Of course, I didn't approve her resignation! Her letter is still right here. She can come back to work anytime."
Fang Chang fell silent for a moment and let out a sigh.
"This is on me."
He had wanted to surprise Dolly, rushing straight to Boulder City the second he revived, never expecting they would pass each other by...
With that, Fang Chang hitched the pack on his shoulders and turned around.
Startled, Hal blurted out, "Where are you going?"
"Back."
Leaving those words behind, Fang Chang vanished from the entrance of the newspaper office.
Beside the stunned chief editor, Rose's eyes sparkled as her pen scribbled frantically across her notebook, her mouth murmuring in excitement.
"Is this true love?"
The hero who boarded the *Heart of Steel*, and the tender little wife longing for his return... Wait.
Rose looked sharply at the chief editor.
"Are they lovers, or have they already..."
With that, she capped her fountain pen with great relish, her face full of anticipation.
Hal glanced down at the shorthand notebook packed full with writing. Reading just two lines turned his face bright red, and he gave a dry cough.
"...We are not that kind of newspaper."
***
The fifth day after the war ended.
Floating above Ruigu City, the snapped wing of the *Heart of Steel* had finished undergoing emergency repairs.
Though far from pristine, the patch job was sturdy enough for the airship to partake in the triumphal celebration.
Standing before the floor-to-ceiling windows on the bridge, Chu Guang gazed out at the endless clear skies and the rising sun, his eyes narrowing comfortably.
At this moment, the entire earth seemed beneath his feet. Rolling mountains, snaking rivers, dense forests, and open plains stretched out in full view.
Was this what it felt like to stand aboard a starship?
Sooner or later, he would get himself an even bigger one!
Aside from the quest grinders who intended to stay behind at Vault 79 and Falling Leaves Camp, all the players who wanted to head back with him to show off had finished boarding.
Brimming with pride and ambition, Chu Guang issued the command with sweeping grandeur:
"Hoist the sails! Set forth!!"
Xiao Qi's untimely voice chimed in his ear.
"Master, the *Heart of Steel* doesn't have any sails."
Chu Guang chuckled.
"Doesn't matter! If I say it has them, it has them."
This AI was clever enough normally, but its emotional intelligence left something to be desired.
Look at how smart Finode was—the man didn't dare make a peep, merely muttering a meek "Yes" before hurrying off to work without another word.
Most of the captured engineers were technicians who had rarely piloted the airship themselves. Frantically operating the equipment, they managed not to drop the ball, successfully hauling up the mooring cables that rested on the ground and firing up the engines.
Finode let out a long breath. His neck was safe for now. He turned toward Chu Guang by the window with hopeful eyes.
Unfortunately, the Administrator's attention was nowhere near him, completely omitting any mention of reducing the ransom.
Finode ventured to remind him,
"Respected Lord Administrator, our cruising speed can reach roughly twenty knots. We should arrive at Qingquan City before noon."
Chu Guang laughed heartily. "Not bad."
Finode waited a long moment, but nothing followed. With an aggrieved look, he clamped his mouth shut.
The steel-reinforced wings trembled faintly. Driven by fusion-powered electricity, the vintage propellers began to spin.
With a low, rushing whistle and a steady hum, the towering iron fortress began pushing eastward!
Its colossal bulk swept over the wilderness, the crisp angles of its armor bathed in the golden hues of dawn. Down below, many wild mutants caught sight of the shimmering colors above and scurried back into their burrows in terror, scattering in every direction.
Standing before the bridge terminal, Chu Guang had Xiao Qi patch the communication system through to the loudspeakers across every compartment. Picking up the walkie-talkie on the desk, he cleared his throat and bellowed,
"This flight is bound for Qingquan City—"
"Let us return home with victory and glory!"
After delivering the announcement in the Human Alliance language, he repeated it in Mandarin. A roar of thunderous cheers answered almost immediately.
"Awoo! We're finally going home!"
"Mosquito?! Didn't you already go back, you dumbass?"
"What of it! Can't Lord Mosquito paradrop here just to fly back again?!"
"What the hell is wrong with you!"
"Gacha! Gacha! I want to roll the gacha! That dog Spring—if he's the RNG god again this time, I swear I'll murder him!"
"???"
"Giao! Rou Rou, you're blocking the window!"
"Teng Teng! Look, look, quick! The breaking dawn blending with the lingering dark over the earth—every single frame of this game is made with pure love! Wuwuwu, it's so gorgeous I could cry!"
"Mmph—"
No one knew who let out that short, muffled squeak, but it sounded like someone smothered in sheer bliss... surely moved to tears of joy at that very moment.
Chu Guang chuckled, suddenly in the mood for a drink.
Yet just as he was about to uncork a bottle from General McClen's private reserve, Xiao Qi's alarmed voice sounded in his ear.
"Master! Radar detects four unidentified targets approaching."
Chu Guang raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Oh?"
Who dared to rain on his parade!
Without a shred of hesitation, Chu Guang commanded,
"Anti-aircraft batteries, prepare for action!"
The anti-aircraft guns atop the airship began to swivel, rows of hedgehog-like barrels locking onto the aircraft flying toward them from twenty kilometers out.
While the ground-support cannons on the gondolas required manual crews, the twelve 100mm and one hundred and forty-four 20-to-30mm flak cannons were fitted with automated fire-control systems.
Just yesterday, Xiao Qi had taken full control of the fire-control network, locking down the airspace ahead of the airship.
Chu Guang stated calmly,
"Set perimeter to ten kilometers. If they don't establish contact on their own, don't bother asking me—shoot them down on the spot!"
Xiao Qi: "Understood!"
At this hour, Chu Guang could guess where these people had come from with his eyes closed.
The red dots on the radar closed in. But upon reaching fifteen kilometers, they abruptly halted. At the same moment, an incoming transmission request flashed across the communications console.
Glancing at the screen, Chu Guang ordered,
"Patch it through."
The channel opened promptly.
A steady voice came from the other side.
"This is the Boulder City Militia. I am the captain of the Militia Aviation Squadron... Li Hua. May I come aboard to speak with you?"
The name rang a faint bell, as though heard long ago—probably back when the *Pioneer* first arrived.
Chu Guang had forgotten who mentioned it, though.
Perhaps Luo Hua, perhaps someone else.
After a moment's thought, Chu Guang said, "Granted."
A single craft resembling a dolphin flew in from the distance.
It possessed a wide nose and a slender fuselage, two engines mounted front and back beneath its belly. Jetting eerie pale-blue flame arcs, it pushed slowly through the deflector shield of the *Heart of Steel* and hovered beneath the airship's keel.
The ventral hatch opened smoothly.
Borne on the billowing updraft, the VTOL aircraft ascended into the bay.
Standing in the U-shaped landing dock, Chu Guang watched the sleek, sci-fi craft settle onto its pads. A man wearing an exoskeleton stepped down from the ramp.
Three bodyguards, also clad in exoskeletons and armed to the teeth, followed him down, flanking the aircraft.
Lyu Bei stood quietly beside Chu Guang, his grip tightening around his weapon, eyes locked on the newcomers.
If they showed the slightest hostile intent toward the Administrator, he would strike without hesitation.
The man, however, didn't look at him. Signaling his men to stay by the VTOL, he walked up to Chu Guang alone.
"Allow me to introduce myself once more. I am—"
"Li Hua," Chu Guang offered his right hand, shook briefly, and let go. "I am the Administrator of the Alliance. State your purpose."
Li Hua was momentarily taken aback.
Chu Guang had taken the words right out of his mouth.
Regaining his composure, he continued,
"...I am here on behalf of the Castellan to confer with you. If your airship continues on its present course, it will enter our air defense identification zone."
Chu Guang looked at him impassively.
"Under our treaty, we ceded all airspace inside Qingquan City's North Fourth Ring Road and the Fifth Ring Road in other directions. We intend to honor that agreement."
Li Hua frowned slightly.
"Your artillery has an effective range of at least twenty kilometers."
Chu Guang offered a faint smile.
"Hard to say. Maybe forty kilometers, maybe a hundred. Who knows?"
Li Hua narrowed his eyes.
"Aren't you worried about a misfire?"
Hearing the threat in his voice, Lyu Bei's face chilled, and he took half a step forward.
At the youth's movement, the three bodyguards guarding the aircraft tensed, index fingers instinctively resting on their weapon safeties.
The atmosphere inside the landing bay grew thick with tension.
Looking at the wary Li Hua, Chu Guang spoke in an even, tranquil tone.
"Has the Alliance ever feared a fight?"
Sensing how difficult the man was to handle, Li Hua lowered his voice, softening his tone by a fraction.
"If you insist on passing through, I must request instructions from the Castellan..."
"Feel free. Request your instructions; I will chart my course."
The Alliance would negotiate with anyone.
But it would never become anyone's vassal.
As the Administrator of the Alliance, he was under no obligation to take orders from anyone.
The visor of his power armor snapped shut. Chu Guang turned, glancing sideways at Lyu Bei and the surrounding Guards Corps soldiers.
"See our guest out."
"Sir!"
Answering crisply, Lyu Bei faced the man named Li Hua and said in an unyielding tone,
"Sir, please see yourself out."
Li Hua stared at him, then at the suit of power armor striding toward the exit, and finally at the heavily armed soldiers nearby.
He had no doubt that if he uttered a single "no," these bloodthirsty soldiers would toss him straight overboard.
Gritting his teeth, he spun around.
"We're leaving!"
The VTOL's engines reignited. Carrying Li Hua and his three bodyguards, it departed the airship, slipped through the deflector shield, and flew back toward Boulder City.
The three escort craft turned back alongside it.
Watching the signals recede on the radar, Chu Guang reflected quietly.
Just as expected.
Equality only existed within the range of artillery; matching force was the sole prerequisite for dialogue.
He knew perfectly well that if he hadn't ordered Xiao Qi to train the anti-aircraft batteries on them earlier, these allies—who had been forced into the same trench alongside him—would never have approached in such an orderly fashion to talk...
The Castellan of Boulder City was probably breathing a sigh of relief right now, thankful that the "servants" he looked down upon possessed enough foresight to establish diplomatic ties with the Alliance on their own initiative.
Chu Guang would keep his word. The Alliance's aircraft would not breach Qingquan City's airspace. Economic and cultural exchanges between the two parties would continue, and he would keep paying the interest that was due... After all, credit was more precious than gold.
Whether in the long run or for the immediate present, a peaceful and stable Boulder City was far more advantageous to the Alliance.
He would bring a new order to this land.
Not chaos.
Returning to the bridge, Chu Guang walked to the floor-to-ceiling windows and stopped. Looking eastward, he could already make out the city's sharpening skyline on the horizon.
He could almost hear the cheers of his people.
A faint smile touched the corners of his mouth. He gave the order:
"Full steam ahead!"
Xiao Qi's energetic voice chimed in his ear.
"Roger that!"
***
The majestic *Heart of Steel* finally glided over the northern suburbs of Qingquan City.
However, the Legion's emblem had been erased and its flags snapped. In their place fluttered the banner of the Alliance beneath the bridge—
The meters-long standard rippled against the wind, snapping proudly amid the roar of the crowds below.
Boulder City's radar tracked the arrival of the behemoth every second, helpless as it cruised into the northern suburbs and descended in altitude.
The Castellan had decreed:
Let it pass.
They had no other choice anyway. While Boulder City's anti-aircraft batteries and missiles were on high alert, that 400mm main cannon was pointed straight their way.
Heaven only knew if that apocalyptic sub-nuclear shell was loaded in the breech.
Nobody doubted whether those northern hicks would dare to fire—after all, they had dared to beat the Legion, and they had done it two and a half times...
Inside the radar station atop the colossal wall of Boulder City.
Seated before the console hooked to the radar, the officer on duty pinched the bridge of his nose, silently praying that nothing would go wrong.
At least not today, during his shift...
Just then, footsteps came from the entrance. A soldier snapped to attention and saluted.
"Report, sir! A message has arrived from the Alliance embassy. They are informing us that there will be a fireworks display in the northern suburbs of Qingquan City at eight o'clock tonight, and that we shouldn't be alarmed."
Between the lines, there was clearly zero intention of asking for their permission.
The moment he heard the report, the officer's blood pressure skyrocketed. Leaping out of his chair, he lunged forward and grabbed the soldier by the collar.
"A fireworks display?!"
"Don't you fucking tell me they're planning to use that airship—"
Staring nervously at his hot-tempered superior, the soldier swallowed hard, trembling.
"I-I don't know, sir. They didn't go into details..."
The upper echelon of Boulder City was thrown into complete chaos.
Meanwhile, a dozen kilometers away, Dawn City was decked out in lanterns and colored banners, as lively as New Year's—even livelier.
Young girls carrying flower baskets tossed freshly picked blossoms into the air, fluttering upward alongside the streamers dangling from the eaves.
Amidst the stirring rhythm of drums and music, the airship slowly descended, shut down its engines, and lowered its mooring cables.
A red carpet lay across the square concrete platform.
Guards armed with rifles stood in neat rows, maintaining order across the grounds.
The lift slowly descended, settling onto the carpeted platform.
As the azure power armor stepped onto the carpet and towering, noble figures came into view one by one, the atmosphere surged to its peak.
People cheered and roared, venting the boundless excitement in their chests.
"Long live the Administrator!"
"Long live the Alliance!"
"For the glorious Alliance!"
Amid the deafening ovations, Chu Guang smiled and waved.
Those countless eyes shining with reverence and admiration were, to him, the most radiant treasure of all.
Once the roaring waves of sound subsided slightly, Chu Guang surveyed the familiar faces. Clearing his throat, he activated the external speaker on his armor and spoke in a solemn, ringing voice:
"Today, we have written history. We have vanquished an enemy thought invincible, and we have liberated our oppressed brethren."
"This hard-won victory and glory belongs to every single one of us!"
"Whether to the soldiers who fought valiantly on the front line, the farmers toiling in the fields, or the workers sweating in the factories and on construction sites—all who contributed their strength in their own way..."
"This is a victory we won together. Unity is what carried us from having nothing to standing where we are today. The name to be celebrated is not mine alone—"
"Cheer for victory!"
"For our tomorrow—"
"For us!"
Thunderous cheers and applause shook the square once again.
Chu Guang gestured to Luka, the Castellan of Dawn City waiting nearby, who announced the schedule of festivities and the start of the commendation ceremony.
Having been warned in advance, the players behaved themselves and dressed like respectable human beings, including the most notorious troublemakers, Tail and Mosquito.
The funerals of the honored fallen would be held tomorrow.
Today was meant for drinking fine wine, singing at the top of their lungs, and cheering their triumph—
Grief should not be allowed to spoil the peace that had been won with such sacrifice.
In a corner of the crowd, gazing at the figure stepping down from the airship, Shuangxue's serene cheeks bore a soft blush. Her eyes were fixed squarely in that direction.
Standing beside her, Shuanghe noticed that her little sister's hands were clapping until they turned red. She couldn't help teasing the simple girl:
"Taken a fancy to some lad? Want me to buy you a bouquet of flowers?"
The blush instantly climbed to the tips of her ears.
Giving her teasing elder sister a reproving glare, Shuangxue hastily checked left and right. Seeing that no one was paying attention, she whispered guiltily,
"I... I'm not worthy of that great lord."
It wasn't out of an inferiority complex or false modesty.
She knew very well that the great lord belonged to everyone living here—to the brothers and sisters of her tribe, her father, her mother, her grandfather...
She never dared hope that those burning eyes would ever linger on her.
Standing in the crowd, watching quietly from afar and seeing him return safe and sound was more than enough.
Seeing the look on her face, Shuanghe guessed that the young girl was still clinging to an unrealistic dream. She let out a gentle sigh.
"You... forget it."
Everyone went through an age of dreaming and being touched by their own sentimentality.
Herself included.
It was only human nature.
Some things simply couldn't be conveyed in words. When she grew a little older, met more people, and matured a bit, she would understand on her own.
In the center of the square, warriors of exceptional merit stepped before the azure power armor one by one. The Administrator personally took the custom-made medals and pinned them onto their chests.
Among them were residents of the shelter, as well as natives of this wasteland.
For players, in addition to the physical medal, they received an electronic version displayed on their forum profile, along with bonus contribution points.
After receiving their medals, they walked down into the crowd beneath the platform, bathed in countless admiring gazes.
Just as they had emerged from the crowd when marching off to war.
Infected by the fervent atmosphere and shining glory were not just the resident onlookers of Dawn City.
There were also travelers from Daybreak City, Boulder City, and even farther settlements like the Red River Alliance and Garbage City, as well as traveling merchants traversing east and west.
Gazing at the *Heart of Steel* bathed in the bright sun, Zhou Nan, standing in a corner of the crowd, remarked in awe,
"That thing is fucking massive."
In his hand was a popsicle he had bought from a street vendor—cola-flavored, no less. He had to admit, the creativity of these blue-coats grew more astounding by the day.
Every time he arrived from Jinchuan Province, he came across fresh, bizarre novelties.
And those novelties often netted him a handsome profit.
Standing beside him, Sun Shiqi narrowed his eyes and spoke up.
"Now that the Alliance controls the western gateway to the southern corridor of River Valley Province, the trade route to Sunset Province will likely flourish even more than before. Going by their usual style, they'll repair the pre-war highways and lay down railway tracks... Steel and cement demands are going to skyrocket."
Pausing, he added,
"I plan to invest in a steel mill in Qingshi County."
Zhou Nan looked at him in surprise.
He knew his drinking buddy had bought property and set up a few businesses here, but he hadn't expected him to open a steel mill.
That was heavy capital, not easily relocated.
If anything went wrong, years of effort would go down the drain.
"If the Legion and the Alliance go at it again... aren't you afraid of getting caught in the crossfire?"
"What's there to be afraid of?"
Looking at the azure power armor and the iron fortress floating in the sky, a confident smile curved Sun Shiqi's lips.
"I've been to countless places, and there isn't a single survivor settlement out there that gives me a greater sense of security than this one."
***
"...I can't believe I got one too."
Returning from the packed square to North Street, Teng Teng looked down at the glittering medal pinned to her chest. Her lips curled upward for the tenth time.
In the center of the medal was a cogwheel, reminiscent of the shelter's blast door, engraved with a commemorative '79' to mark the recent incorporation of Vault 79 into the Reconstruction Area.
The electronic medal had synced to her VM, its description identical to the one from the Alpha test: *We marched forth from here.*
Though she hadn't visited the front lines in quite a while, jumping into a raid with everyone now and then was surprisingly fun.
Before she realized it, she had arrived before the elegantly decorated clothing shop. Just as Teng Teng saw the open doors, a graceful figure came bounding out.
"Teng Teng!!!"
"Oof—"
Before Teng Teng could utter a word after returning home, a suffocating dark shadow slammed into her chest.
*Damn it—*
*That cursed height advantage.*
Teng Teng rolled her eyes, nearly getting knocked offline. Fortunately, Yaya saw what happened and hurried over, grabbing the tearful shop assistant.
"Ah! Quick, let go! Teng Teng can't breathe!"
"!!!"
*You actually noticed, you jerk!*
Finally wriggling free from her clerk's embrace, Teng Teng cleared her throat fiercely and glared at her in mock complaint.
"Were you trying to kill me?!"
Three days on cooldown was pure agony, okay?!
Scolded, the young shop assistant bowed her head, apologizing repeatedly.
Her name was Hua Hua. She had thick, jet-black hair, wheat-toned skin, and wore a classic, British-style maid dress.
It was a uniform Teng Teng had personally designed out of interest, feeling it matched her slightly shy disposition.
As for other players complaining that the skirt was too long and impractical, she had zero intention of listening to those old degenerates who understood nothing of art.
Like many residents of Dawn City, Hua Hua had arrived as a refugee from elsewhere, and her original name had been Cattleya.
Since direct translation into Chinese sounded awkward, Teng Teng had given her a nickname.
Such occurrences were hardly rare on the wasteland.
Homeless wanderers were more than happy to accept names bestowed by locals, as it usually signified paternalistic acceptance.
Even more so when the name came from a shelter resident.
"I-I'm so sorry! I was just too excited... Y-You only left a note before running off. I was terrified you'd run into danger at the front..."
With teardrops trembling on her eyelashes, it was hard to stay mad at her. Teng Teng sighed, a soft smile spreading across her face.
"Sorry for making you worry. But I'm fine, really. I am a—"
Before she could finish her comforting words, Yaya puffed out her chest and cut in:
"That's right! Don't you worry, Hua Hua, she had me! Even though Teng Teng's combat power is a tiny bit lacking, I've got her back!"
Clueless about the truth, Hua Hua bowed gratefully.
"Thank you so much for bringing our boss back safely."
Teng Teng: "..."
*This girl.*
*She doesn't even blush.*
***
Throughout the entire afternoon, Dawn City was steeped in a festive mood.
With the end of the commendation ceremony, the lively crowds gradually drifted from the square to the commercial district, ushering in unprecedented prosperity.
Inside the Highway Town Inn.
The tavern hall clattered with clinking glasses. Beer froth and boisterous spit practically flew to the ceiling as the surviving wastelanders fully savored the sensation of being alive.
Among them were soldiers of the First Corps, mercenaries who had joined the Alliance's campaign, and shelter residents.
Lao Bai and Kuang Feng, who had respawned two days earlier, were finally reunited in-game with Ye Shi, who had returned aboard the airship.
The three good buddies sat at the bar, wolfing down roasted meat and chugging rich, fragrant beer.
Food and beer were on the house today.
Everyone had come in with the firm intention of walking in on two legs and being carried out horizontally.
"Damn it! Where's that dog Fang Chang?"
Watching the restless Ye Shi, Kuang Feng let out a slightly tipsy hiccup.
"Why ask such a... stoopid question?"
"Exactly!" Lao Bai chuckled. "The second that guy climbed out of the incubation pod, he grabbed his pack and bolted for Boulder City... What do you think he went there for?"
That guy had probably planned it all along.
He hadn't even blinked when crawling into the 400mm cannon breech—he must have resolved to die early so he could head home sooner.
Ye Shi couldn't help swearing,
"Damn it! Bros before hoes, my ass!"
"*Hic*—I'm done."
Tipsy only a moment ago, Kuang Feng's forehead suddenly met the bar counter with a loud thud, looking like he had dropped offline.
"Hahaha! Weakling!"
Ye Shi let out an odd cackle, but before he could gloat for two seconds, his butt slid off the stool. Luckily, Lao Bai was quick on his feet and caught him, preventing the war hero from suffering the embarrassment of rolling under the table.
"A bunch of lightweights."
Propping Ye Shi up across the bar, Lao Bai picked his glass back up and let out a helpless sigh, suddenly feeling lonely at the top.
Still, the metabolism of Intelligence and Perception builds was what it was—a matter determined by character stats, so he couldn't really blame them.
For real drinking, one had to hang out with Jieyan and Elaina. Constitution-build players metabolized alcohol so fast they just visited the restroom twice and could down a dozen pints looking like nothing happened.
Those two had their own plans though, partying somewhere unknown.
Watching the merry crowd, Old Hook behind the bar couldn't help being infected by their optimism, a warm smile gracing his face.
Wiping down a beer glass, he said,
"It's great to see you boys again. That news nearly gave me a heart attack."
Ye Shi and Kuang Feng were practically out cold, currently battling their network connections.
Lao Bai let out a drunken hiccup and sighed through his buzz.
"Yeah, we lost a lot of brothers... especially among the paradroppers."
Old Hook poured himself a pint of beer and clinked glasses with Lao Bai.
"Let's not dwell on that. I shouldn't have brought it up today... Enjoy your drinks."
Lao Bai laughed heartily.
"Hell yeah! You know it!"
Just then, a figure entered the doorway.
She wore a plain long skirt, her face tight with nervous hesitation, seemingly overwhelmed by the raucous atmosphere.
Beside her walked a guard in a black uniform.
Old Hook recognized the guard—a lad from a neighboring village—but the young girl was unfamiliar, looking quite unlike anyone from around here.
"Comrade Guard, care to join us for a drink?" Old Hook greeted him with a smile.
The young guard quickly shook his head.
"I'm on duty. Maybe after shift change later tonight."
Old Hook looked toward the young girl beside him.
"And this is?"
"I..." Before the guard could answer, the girl spoke up timidly, "My name is Lisa... Is there someone here named 'Pangolin'?"
As she spoke, she hurriedly scanned the buzzing hall, but disappointment quickly settled over her face.
Evidently, she hadn't found the person she was looking for.
Hearing the handle Pangolin, Lao Bai paused slightly.
Setting down his glass, he turned on his stool to face the slender girl and asked,
"The Pangolin you're looking for—"
"D-Do you know him?" Lisa blurted out excitedly before he could finish.
Lao Bai scratched his head.
"He went away on a long trip. Is there something urgent? I can pass a message along for you."
It wouldn't be difficult at all.
A quick private message on the forums would do the trick.
Lisa fell silent for a moment before asking softly,
"Will he come back?"
Seeing the look on her face, Lao Bai guessed what was going on. After a brief pause, he nodded earnestly.
"Definitely. Just not sure when."
Lisa bit her lip gently.
"I'll wait for him."
Leaving those words behind, she followed the guard out of the tavern.
Without bringing up the message again, Lao Bai turned back to the bar and took another swig.
Outsiders had no business meddling in such matters; it simply wasn't appropriate.
From the look of her, she clearly had words she wanted to say to Battlefield Guy in person. It was better for him not to meddle like a clueless clod.
Old Hook glanced toward the door.
"Someone from the Reconstruction Area?"
Lao Bai gave a soft "Mm."
Old Hook sighed.
"Another poor soul..."
***
As night descended, the bustling square thinned to scattered silhouettes, most having migrated to the commercial street in the north.
A petite figure navigated the lingering crowd, searching for a long, long time. Finally, her shoulders slumped in defeat, and she trudged toward the caravan station.
Standing beside a two-headed ox cart, a merchant yawned as he checked his goods, preparing to hit the road early tomorrow morning for Sunset Province.
Just then, a young girl approached and stopped before him.
Glancing at her pale green hair, the merchant's eyes settled on her cybernetic eye. Judging her to be someone of means, he spoke politely,
"Can I help you, miss?"
A raspy voice drifted over.
"...How much to Ruigu City?"
Hearing business come his way, the merchant beamed inwardly and said at once,
"Five hundred dinars! Or a hundred silver coins, or three hundred CR... No chips, though; I'm not heading to Boulder City next. Whichever you prefer, I take them all!"
Dolly's eyes widened, and she gasped,
"Five hundred dinars?! That's highway robbery!"
The merchant shrugged indifferently.
"You're welcome to walk."
Dolly bit her lip.
To leave Boulder City and hire a reliable caravan to reach Dawn City, she had spent a fortune. She had only fifty chips left in her pocket.
Having overheard their exchange, a group dressed like mercenaries wandered over. The man in the lead smiled and chimed in,
"Hey, friend, heading to Sunset Province? We're going that way too. Want to tag along? Just ten dinars a head."
The merchant sneered. "Heh, no need."
The mercenary didn't care. He turned to Dolly, and the moment his eyes landed on her face, a faint flicker of greed slipped into his gaze.
Sharp enough to catch the shift in his eyes, Dolly took a cautious step backward, alert.
"No thanks... I'll ask someone else."
Seeing his prize about to slip away, the man grew anxious. Just as he stepped forward, an unfamiliar voice drifted from behind him.
"Too expensive. Ten dinars? Beautiful lady, I won't charge a single coin—"
Hearing someone dare poach his business, the mercenary narrowed his eyes, turning to see which unlucky bastard was looking for trouble.
Yet at that very moment, a gust of wind swept past his collar and brushed against his neck, sending an icy chill through the heat rising in his chest.
*So fast!*
He didn't even catch what it was before the voice breezed past his shoulder.
"—In exchange, just watch the fireworks with me."
The familiar voice drifted into her ears alongside the evening breeze.
Gazing at that smile she had yearned for day and night, Dolly's eyes widened, almost unable to believe what she saw.
"Fang..."
"I'm back. Kept you waiting—"
Her pent-up feelings burst forth with tears; she could hold back no longer.
Before he could finish his sentence, Fang Chang felt a light breeze sweep over him, and a soft, delicate warmth pressed against his lips.
For a moment, he felt his brain shut down into a blank void.
He didn't disconnect, however.
His eyes widened slightly, then gently closed.
He felt large, burning teardrops rolling down to the corners of his lips, carrying a faint tang of salt.
*I'm sorry.*
*Sorry to keep you waiting.*
*Sorry for worrying you.*
There was so much he wanted to say.
Yet right now, words felt entirely superfluous.
Slowly dropping his playful smirk, he lowered his outstretched hands and wrapped his arms tightly around the figure in his embrace.
Fireworks bloomed across the sky.
A sky full of sparks drifted in dazzling splendor, just like the rain of fire that had swept heavenward like locusts that night.
Yet if duty called, he would gladly do it ten more times.
Even without any reward at all...
***
In the square nearby.
Perched on Rou Rou's shoulders, Tail held her hands to her eyes like a pair of binoculars, watching the fireworks above in sheer excitement.
"Whoa! Sisi! Rou Rou! Sesame Paste! Look, look, the airship is launching fireworks!"
Trails of sparks surged into the sky, bursting into dazzling bouquets of color that lit up the dark night alongside her wide eyes, reflecting shimmering lights.
Sisi checked the time on her VM and stroked her chin thoughtfully.
"Hmm, looks like they started two minutes early..."
A real nightmare for someone with OCD.
Sesame Paste hugged her shoulders from behind with a giggle.
"Aiya... as long as it's pretty, don't worry about the small stuff."
At this moment, the anti-aircraft batteries atop the airship pointed straight into the sky, endlessly venting dense barrages of fire—not to shoot down any enemy planes,
but to send blessings to the people gazing up at the heavens.
Holding a glass of wine, Chu Guang stood before the panoramic window, gazing at the ground illuminated by the bursting lights, a faint smile gracing his lips.
Xiao Qi's slightly wistful voice came from beside him.
"Wuwu, Master, we can't see anything from up here... Maybe you should head down after all."
It had prepared this fireworks show for so long, with so much care.
Yet the bridge sat on the underbelly of the airship, offering no view of the sky above.
Chu Guang smiled faintly, looking out across the land bathed in the glow of the fireworks, his voice soft.
"How could we not see it?"
He had already taken in the most breathtaking view of all.
It was right there—in every single face shining as they looked up at the night sky.
He raised his glass and tapped it lightly against the window. A crisp *clink* rang out, merging into the rustling wind outside.
"A toast to an unbreakable Alliance."
Enjoy the celebration.
And the peaceful evening breeze.
Everything here was what you bought with your blood and sweat.
Chapter 408