The black sun hangs high

Chapter 191 Old City, New Look
After learning about Felix's experiences during this period, Hugh felt as if a legend was sitting in front of him.

Because his experiences were just too difficult.

Because of his protest to the Peace Newspaper, he was imprisoned in the Seren City police station jail by members of the Tricolor Brotherhood. He was supposed to be released on the morning of the Armistice Memorial Day, but the sudden assassination and disaster disrupted the order of the entire Seren City. The order within the police station was also affected. With a severe shortage of manpower, Felix was inexplicably imprisoned until noon the day after the disaster.

It was only at this point that a police officer, still shaken, remembered him and released him from his cell.

However, after Felix walked out of the chaotic police station and onto the street, he realized that this city he knew so well was turning into a real hell.

"Too many people died. All my neighbors disappeared overnight... I only found out when I went to their house to borrow tools the next day."

Felix spoke of these things with remarkable composure: “Those monsters must have crawled out of the pipes in their house and just ate them in their sleep… So I took the weapons and some food they left behind and went somewhere else.”

During his conversation with Hugh, Felix devoured the magically created water and bread, but he didn't touch the canned fruit that Malena brought back. He just stared at it for a couple of seconds and swallowed twice.

Felix clearly still desired these things, but he had become accustomed to giving these important possessions to the children outside.

Seeing this, Hugh shook his head: "You should be more practical in the future. Before protecting them, you'd better think about your own problems... If you are really so sick that you can't even walk, then they will be in real danger."

With that, Hugh decisively opened the can of fruit and pushed it in front of Felix: "Marlena was lucky. I happened to be nearby at the time, otherwise she would be wrapped up and waiting to be digested by now, and you wouldn't be able to see this can of fruit."

Hughes spoke in a very serious tone, which made Felix fall silent for a moment, but he quickly nodded, then picked up the can and began to wolf it down.

Perhaps it had been far too long since he had eaten something that could evoke memories of his past life, because Felix's eyes were a little red. Although he ate very quickly, he didn't miss a single drop of the juice, and he only stopped when the entire can was completely clean.

At this moment, the healing magic that Hugh had released in the room earlier had exhausted its magic power, so the life-giving light slowly dissipated, and Felix's condition had greatly improved. Because of the magic power and nutrients he had absorbed, his complexion had changed from haggard to radiant.

“Then, Mr. Ernst…”

"No need for that. You can just call me Xiuge."

Hugh looked at Felix: "As Malena said before, I came here not just out of a moment of goodwill, but because I really need to find a reliable person to understand the situation in Seren, especially the things related to the city gates, walls and mages."

Upon hearing these words, Felix couldn't help but raise his eyebrows. He was a sharp-minded and quick-witted person, so based on Hugh's identity and what he said, Felix immediately realized that the young man in front of him, who was somewhat famous in the past city of Seren, seemed to be preparing some amazing plan.

Seeing Felix's expression, Hugh laughed: "You guessed right, I am indeed trying to leave Seren City, but before that, I have several important things to do... After all, everyone wants to escape this hell, and this is not just my business. I may not be able to do it on my own."

Perhaps it was his military experience during this period that changed Hugh's temperament, or perhaps it was the improvement in his magic and abilities that made Hugh extremely confident. In any case, when Hugh said these words, Felix inexplicably felt a faint sense of pressure from him.

But he was certain that this sense of oppression was completely different from the feeling emanating from those officials and nobles.

So he unconsciously maintained respect for the other person in his choice of words: "So, what are your thoughts?"

"I need to first visit the mages of the Legal Council and the soldiers of those independent governments, and then investigate the magical rituals near the city walls... I hope to complete these things within a day."

“If it’s just a visit, I should be able to make the connection for you, since the mutual aid society knows quite a few people.”

Felix frowned and said, "But there are hardly any usable means of transportation left in Seren now. We probably won't be able to cover all these places in a single day on foot."

"Don't worry about that, I have a way to solve it."

The moment Hugh uttered those words, a slight protest came from inside the metal disc. Clearly, Sniggy was somewhat dissatisfied with the term "transportation vehicle," and it seemed unwilling to carry two adults at the same time.

But in this matter, it has no right to refuse; such a protest would only invite ridicule from the other residents of the disc, such as the Messenger in the Mirror.

A promise made by a mage with a proven reputation is always more trustworthy. Although Felix lacked a general understanding of Hugh's magical abilities, the fact that Hugh was able to rescue Malena from the threat of those monsters was enough to prove that he possessed more than just simple tricks.

“If this is your plan, then I think we should perhaps go to Iris Street first.”

"You mean, we should visit the Delan Embassy first?"

"Yes."

Felix nodded and said, "Iris Street is the latest built and best maintained street in Seren City. Even the great earthquake had very limited impact on it. It is probably the place in Seren City that still retains a certain degree of order, but this order... is also very limited."

Hugh's eyes widened: "You mean, the independent government is still governing there?"

"No, no, no, it's not an independent government, it's soldiers and military personnel."

Felix quickly corrected him: "Those civilian officials were relieved of all their duties shortly after the anniversary, and some even said that a number of them were directly found and killed... The one who is now in control of Iris Street should be General Butz of the Seren City General Defense Department?"

"Boots..."

Hugh frowned slightly. He had heard this name from Verin before. When the Black Sun Society borrowed the power of the Delan royal family and tampered with the ceremonial site in Seren, those orders seemed to have been issued by this General Butz.

In other words, this general of the General Defense Department may have already established some kind of cooperative relationship with the Black Sun Society, or he may be an opportunist like Morel, using the Black Sun Society's missions to achieve his own goals and interests.

In short, this is definitely not a good bird.

So Hugh asked, "Tell me about Iris Street, what's it like there now?" "All sorts of weapons... flamethrowers and crystal guns, and mountains of alchemical bombs, everyone's fully armed..."

Felix described, "Although the people of Iris Street also dare not go out at night, there are quite a few mages in Iris Street. They seem to have sealed off the monsters' attack routes through magical rituals, so it is relatively safe as long as you stay in the street."

"Sounds good."

"But it only sounds like it..."

Felix shrugged: "The rules there are entirely up to them. Someone tried to make a deal with those people in Iris Street before, but they just disappeared and never came back... When we asked the soldiers there, they just said that no such person had ever come."

"Moreover, they are also trying to recruit the Tricolor Brotherhood. Ha, a bunch of scoundrels found a group of thugs, and they hit it off immediately, and they all have weapons."

As the leader of the Seren Mutual Aid Society, Felix harbored extreme hatred for the Tricolor Brotherhood, his old adversaries: "The reason I moved here with Malena and the others was not just because the old house collapsed... but because this place is farther from Iris Street, and the Brotherhood members don't come here often."

"Will they rob other people?"

"At first it was robbery, but then the people on Iris Street set some rules for them, so they started coming to their door with weapons to 'collect taxes'—one can of food today, a bundle of gauze tomorrow, or sometimes they would rob people..."

As he spoke, Felix glanced toward the door.

Hugh immediately understood what he meant, and asked, "They even rob someone like Malena?"

“They will even target smaller ones.”

Felix's eyes flashed with hatred and anger: "They probably think they're going to die in this city anyway, so they don't care what they do... This place has become a 'forsaken place by both man and god'."

"Putting everything else aside, this title is really fitting."

Hughes exhaled sharply.

He wasn't too surprised by Felix's account. Human social structures weren't as stable as one might imagine. The instability of individuals brought about far too many variables. Whether it was the collapse of order within Seren or the rise of forces like the Brotherhood of Three Colors, these were all within the realm of prediction.

"However, I think the people of Iris Street would still be willing to talk to you...after all, they definitely hope that more mages will join them."

Felix finished giving a brief account of Iris Street, and then the conversation began to shift towards the Legal Committee.

"Marlena said you were near the city gate before?"

"Yes, I've been there, more than once."

Felix nodded and said, "Initially, I even considered joining the strongholds set up by the Legal Committee and some soldiers at the major city gates, since there we could get enough supplies and protection from magic and weapons... but I later dismissed those ideas."

He sighed, "Because these outposts not only have to withstand attacks from those monsters..."

"Are there still residents inside the city?"

"Yes, especially at the beginning, many people died near the city gates every day. Everyone wanted to escape, and no amount of persuasion could change their minds. After some people saw supplies being brought in from outside, even more people rushed to the gate strongholds... Even if they didn't want to escape, they wanted their share. At that time, all reason would disappear. Besides, the survivors in the city had all gotten some weapons."

At this point, Felix couldn't help but shake his hands twice. He had originally wanted to describe the horrific scene he had witnessed near the city gate, but the memories were so nauseating that he simply made two gestures to vent the emotions weighing on his heart.

Through the memories of the Dark Abyss offspring he had previously hunted, Hugh had learned the fate of these strongholds; they had been completely abandoned.

So he asked, "If that's the case, why did you go near the city gate?"

“Look for some abandoned weapons and ammunition, and if you’re lucky, you might even find important alchemical tools… Also, when I was searching for supplies at the outpost on the south side of the city gate, I encountered a mage from the Law Council through that semi-transparent magical ritual.”

Felix remarked, "He was a very, very kind man... He tried his best to help the refugees in the city, but unfortunately, he was the only one willing to do so, and each time he could only bring a limited amount of things."

"You made an agreement with him?"

"Yes, the mage's name is Valery. He asked me to meet him at the south gate every five days... Each time, he would try his best to bring us something, which were all very important supplies."

Felix placed the new crystal gun in front of Hugh: "This was also given to me by Valery. Without this weapon, I would probably be long dead."

"He's a monk from the Legal Affairs Committee? What rank is he?"

“It’s a Stream-level one. He showed me his credentials and badge, but the Legal Committee has completely abandoned this place. Valery is continuing to fund it entirely in his personal capacity… but he’s just one person, and there’s very little he can do.”

Hearing this, Hugh nodded quickly and asked, "So when is the next time you've agreed to meet?"

"Tomorrow! Tomorrow at noon!"

“Very well, then we’ll set off tomorrow morning… We won’t go to Iris Street or the Legal Committee branch. Take me to see this kind monk first.”

(End of this chapter)