Night Journey

Chapter 72 The Night Before the Storm

Chapter 72 The Night Before the Storm
Dai Lin turned on the night light, stood naked, lit a cigarette, and began to puff away.

"It stinks."

A woman's languid moans came from beside her, and she pinched Dailin's arm in disgust.

"Sorry, sorry."

Dai Lin quickly extinguished his cigarette and fanned the air.

A pair of fair hands reached out and wrapped around Dai Lin's neck. The woman was about to kiss him when she smelled the lingering cigarette smoke, frowned, and forcefully pushed him away.

The woman complained, "I've told you so many times, don't smoke this kind of stuff when you're with me."

"Haha, I was just under a lot of pressure, so I took it out subconsciously."

Dai Lin apologized again.

"Okay." The woman lay on her side, strands of hair falling down, and asked curiously, "What's bothering you?"

"Many things...all things."

Dai Lin nestled against the woman's chest and spoke in a slightly coquettish tone.

"What should I do, Anya?"

Anya smiled and stroked Dailin's forehead, encouraging him, "Let's take it one step at a time."

"Should we take it one step at a time?"

Dailin rolled over, lying flat on the bed, staring at the ceiling.

He suddenly remembered something and asked, "Do you think we can invite Cillian to join the investigation?"

“Cillian?”

“He is young, passionate, of noble and powerful blood, and hates Chaos intensely,” Daelin said with deep emotion. “Most people would have succumbed to Valerie’s beauty, but he remained completely unmoved.”

Daelin murmured, recalling Cillian's actions in the interrogation room, "Cillian is a natural at hunting Chaos."

"More importantly, Cillian has only been in Hel City for a short time, has not joined any faction, and... his own mysterious background."

After summarizing his remarks, Dai Lin affirmed, "His involvement may advance the investigation."

“I admit that Cillian is indeed quite good.”

Anya nodded, then changed the subject, "But I don't think his background is as mysterious as you imagine. The idea of him being an imperial envoy from the Holy City of the Day is just wishful thinking."

Judging from Anya's tone, she seemed to know something, and Dai Lin's attitude became serious.

"what happened?"

Anya said slowly, "Do you remember what I said before? I asked people from other departments to help me investigate some things. They just returned to Hull City."

Dalin belatedly asked, "After leaving Hel City... what did you commission them to investigate?"

"Baiya Town".

Anya threw out a heavy name.

Dailin sat up. "What exactly happened?"

"After White Cliff Town was extinguished, a fierce argument broke out in the city council. The councilors, led by Chief Rolf, demanded that the truth about the extinguishing of White Cliff Town be found out, while the councilors, led by Director Dekar, refused to investigate, suspecting that the residual chaotic power of White Cliff Town would bring disaster to Hel City."

Anya explained, "After a long argument, Chief of Staff Rolf won the support of more members of parliament by defeating the Worms."

Dai Lin said in a low voice, "This kind of information is not something we employees should know."

“I got this from a certain senator,” Anya said with a sly smile and a seductive tone. “I can hold my liquor very well. If I get him drunk and then put on an adoring act, he’ll tell me everything.”

Dai Lin's expression froze.

Anya burst out laughing when she saw his expression. "Are you jealous?"

"What do you think?"

Anya kissed Dalyn's cheek. "You're so cute, Dalyn."

"Speak the truth."

Dai Lin pushed Anya away with mixed feelings.

"Ok."

Anya gently patted Dailin's head, as if she were petting a puppy.

"According to the investigation team's report, Baiya Town has become a dead zone. High walls have collapsed, buildings have been burned down, and even the Lighthouse has been reduced to ruins."

Anya paused for a moment, then said, "This kind of complete destruction could be caused by either the arrival of a chaotic beast or a collective attack by chaotic forces."

"We have no evidence for the former, but if it is the latter, why would the Chaos forces collectively attack such an obscure town?"
We estimated the total population of Baiya Town; they wouldn't even be able to cause a large-scale demon tide.

Dai Lin looked troubled and pressed for an answer, "So, what exactly happened?"

Anya smoothed her disheveled hair and replied.

"That's a terrible truth."

She continued speaking.

"The investigation team detected malevolent forces in the ruins of Baiya Town."

Dai Lin's pupils constricted, and his breathing became labored.

"This intelligence has been strictly blocked, and the city council is on high alert. Otherwise, they wouldn't have reacted so strongly to Valerie's incident."

Anya stretched vigorously, her fingers tracing patterns on Dailin's chest.

Dai Lin was completely oblivious to Anya's teasing and was lost in thought.

After a long while, he asked in confusion.

"Then you mean..."

Anya interrupted Dalin and began to discuss more details of the investigation.

"Surprisingly, Baiya Town was not entirely in ruins. The investigation team discovered a well-preserved two-story residence. The house was intact and even had the door locked beforehand, as if someone had survived the evil forces, taken care of everything, and then left."

Anya continued, "If I were that survivor, I would set fire to everything that remained of White Cliff Town, so that no one would know what happened here."

"But these are all possibilities under absolutely ideal conditions."

Anya whispered in his ear, "Imagine this scenario, Dalin, you've lost everything you once had, would you have the heart to destroy what's left of this beauty?"
No, you wouldn't do that. Even the most hard-hearted person couldn't. That's the only warmth left in your life, the hope you'll have when you're plunged into despair for the rest of your life.

Your humanity, your anger, everything about you, is sustained by this last remaining, false illusion.

Even if you never return here in your life.

Dailin fell into a long silence. He thought of the city buried deep in his memory, and the people who died in it.

In her memory, she curled up, crying and repenting to herself.

If it weren't for Anya, Dalin would have almost forgotten all of this.

But he won't forget.

People are always like this, stubbornly preserving certain precious things, but sealing them away in a cabinet, letting them be buried by dust.

Even if I never pick it up again in my lifetime, just knowing that it still exists brings me a great sense of peace.

Anya felt a chill, pulled the blanket over herself, and covered herself with it.

"Dailin, listen to me."

Anya leaned against Dalin's body and whispered.

"Hel City is too far from the Holy City of the Day. So far that the radiance of the Second Sun falls on us as just a tiny speck of light, blending into the stars of the night sky."

Rather than believing that Cillian is some kind of imperial envoy, I'm more inclined to believe he's a survivor from White Cliff Town.

Suddenly, a series of clues pieced together in Dai Lin's mind.

When he first met Ciri, he looked travel-worn and disheveled. Despite possessing a noble bloodline, he had never even seen a Soul Essence Elixir...

"Does anyone else know this secret?" Dai Lin asked.

“I deduced all of this based on the investigation report,” Anya said confidently. “As for the others? If they really had my abilities, it’s not like you and I were the only ones in the entire City Guard Bureau who noticed that strange presence.”

"weird……"

Dai Lin clenched his fists instinctively.

“You’re right about one thing. Whatever Cillian’s true identity may be, he has shown enough willpower. We can certainly try to invite him to join the investigation into that strange thing.”

Anya deliberately lowered her voice, afraid that others would hear her.

"The 'invisible one' hiding within the City Guard Bureau, interfering with our investigation of the Claws."

Upon hearing this, Dai Lin felt a splitting headache and instinctively picked up a cigarette, which Anya slapped away. Dai Lin said with a wry smile, "I'm under a lot of pressure."

"Then get out and smoke."

Anya pointed to the door without any hesitation.

"Alright alright."

Dai Lin reluctantly put down his cigarette and rubbed his temples hard.

"Inviting Cillian might harm him, just like the previous batch of interns."

Dai Lin said with a sigh, "We finally found a group of children with a strong sense of justice, but they all died inexplicably one by one. You and I both know that it was done by the invisible forces, but we can't find any evidence that they did it."

“I won’t force Cillian, but you need to know one thing, Daelin.”

Anya warned, "The Unseen One has been lurking in the City Guard Bureau for so long, he's not here to retire. He's been interfering with our investigation of the Claws, there must be something... a huge crisis is brewing within him."

She added.

"Like the extinguishing of Baiya Town."

Dai Lin silently got up, put on his underwear, changed his clothes, and was about to leave when he lay back down on the bed, exhausted.

The two lay side by side, staring at the ceiling, just like they were sunbathing on a lawn.

“It’s such a pity about Valerie,” Anya murmured. “We used to be very good friends.”

Dailin remembered, "I remember you mentioned this."

"We were both dancers, working in the same dance hall."

At this point, Anya chuckled self-deprecatingly, "She and I relied on each other for a long time until one day, I met a guest. With the help of that guest, I accidentally became a torchbearer, and my life took a turn for the better."

“I also tried to help Valerie, but she couldn’t wake up from her dream. The huge gap made her jealous of my life, and then hatred followed.”

"When we met again, just as we knew, Valerie had found a wealthy lover..."

Anya reminisced about past friendships, while Dailin pondered the present and the future.

He tentatively asked, "Given how complicated and dire the situation is...why not ask Director DeKarl for help?"

“No,” Anya shook her head firmly. “I still think there’s something wrong with Director DeKarl. I shouldn’t tell him until I figure out why.”

"Once our purpose is exposed, we will be in a very passive position. Perhaps you will be killed by the invisible beings as soon as you leave here?"

“You’re such a suspicious person,” Dalin said helplessly, “you’ve actually started to doubt Director DeCar.”

Anya spoke with remarkable rationality, “Don’t let your opinion of him be influenced by the fact that he promoted you.”

“Okay,” Daelin thought for a moment, then repeated her words, “You were killed by the Unseen Being as soon as you stepped outside…”

He suddenly sat up straight, faced Anya, and said in a serious tone.

Anya, I love you.

"Huh?" Anya moved back a little. "What's wrong with you?"

Dai Lin said smugly, "I was thinking, what if I really died when I went out? Wouldn't that be a huge regret? Now that I've said it, I feel much more at ease."

"Neuropathy."

Anya spat, but a smile appeared on her face.

But soon, her smile faded, and she emphasized,

"Dailin, remember the rules between us."

Dai Lin remained silent and listened quietly to her speak.

"As you can see, I used to live off men and navigate terrible relationships. People called me promiscuous and despicable, but that didn't matter. I belonged only to myself."

Anya lay on top of Dailin, looking down at him.

"You can need me physically, you can need me sexually, but you cannot need me emotionally, because that is something I cannot satisfy you."

Is this a rejection?

"No, this is recognition of you."

Anya stated earnestly.

"Because I love you, I cannot love you... My love is pitifully small, only enough to satisfy myself."

Dailin gave a forced smile and sighed.

"Ok."

He hugged Anya tightly and whispered in her ear.

"It sounds like you'll leave me one day... I'd better die before that day comes."

Anya ignored him and scolded him.

"nerve."

……

In the living room, which Bruce had turned into a complete mess, Cillian finally saw the equipment he had been longing for.

"Based on your needs, I designed several features for this helmet."

Bruce explained, like a seasoned expert.

"First of all, there is the essential lighting function. All six eyes can emit light, and the light intensity can be adjusted in three levels. It can also perform a strobe effect when necessary."

The helmet in front of him burst forth with six bright beams of light, which then gradually diminished, leaving Cirien in a state of darkness.

"This is a smoke generator. It doesn't have any special functions; it just produces smoke."

A cloud of water vapor emanated from the helmet, obscuring its appearance.

"And this sound-producing device can make a bird's 'coo' sound."

Bruce said proudly, "Of course, I've included dozens of bird calls. If you don't like this tone, you can choose another one."

It switched between a few times casually, and Ciri suddenly felt as if she had entered a natural world filled with birdsong and fragrant flowers.

It's a bit too noisy.

“This is all the functionality of the six-eyed wing helmet, all built according to your design requirements,” Bruce pushed over another arm guard. “This is a grappling hook arm guard, which makes it easier for you to maneuver at high speeds in the city.”

"Actually, according to this design concept, you should wear another suit of armor."

Bruce muttered to himself as he watched Cillian put on his grappling hook arm guards, tuck the jet revolver into his waistband, attach a chain of ammunition, and finally sheath his Boiling Sword.

“Well, you’re fully armed enough,” Bruce remarked.

Ciri picked up the six-eyed winged helmet and examined it carefully. Under the wings on the side, he found a line of prayers that he couldn't understand.

"What did you write?"

Bruce leaned closer for a look and replied.

“Oh, this is our tradition as spiritual craftsmen. After we make something, we write some auspicious words of blessing in an ancient language. But according to tradition, I should write the prayer on parchment and then seal it with wax.”

Since we don't have the means to do that, we'll just have to carve it directly.

Cirien donned his six-eyed winged helmet, which glowed faintly amidst swirling water vapor.

Ruth continued her sermon.

"As for what's written above, it roughly means..."

The Heavenly Craftsman and the Iron Father blessed this creation to never cease, never be damaged, and never perish.

A cold evening wind swept in from outside the window, and a low, strange gurgling sound echoed in the narrow room.

Cillian invited, "Want to come along?"

"of course."

Bruce put on his goggles and shouldered his large backpack.

"What are we waiting for? Let's go, Xi..."

Bruce swallowed his words and spoke again.

"It's time to set off, Reverse Falcon!"