Back to the Future 1999: Raining at the Same Time

"The matter of the First Line of Defense School has been thoroughly investigated."

Ms. Z spread a document in front of Constantine.

"Inspired by the remake flyers, a girl named Verdin organized about 20 students to sing an adapted version of the school song at the parade performance."

"Also, regarding that lion, it seems to be related to the recent intense controversy over the remodeling of cadres in Egypt."

"Anna, an ordinary human, carries a special sharp tooth. It is said to have been crafted by a high-ranking member of the Hand of Reshaping named Chen Xi."

"Did anyone collect it for research?"

"No, she was recruited into the Foundation because of her alter ego."

Constantine frowned in dissatisfaction.

"Tell Richard: The school is now under special supervision. The Foundation will take full control from now on."

"Also, pay special attention to that lady and her necklace..."

"Submit it to the supercomputing center for research as soon as possible."

"This move is our disadvantage. The seeds of suspicion have been planted, and the reshaping will begin soon."

"And I... need Veltin to grow up—in the way I like."

……

Because of the lion, the tear gas grenade that was originally going to hit Veldin's thigh exploded in her chest.

This kept her lying there for much longer than she had intended.

During this period, Anna also wanted to visit, but was refused on the grounds that no unauthorized persons were allowed to approach.

In fact, besides visiting Verdin, Anna also wanted to get her necklace back. These past few days, stroking her empty chest, she felt an inexplicable irritability and uneasiness that was hard to dispel.

……

"Vice president."

Zhang Zhizhi pushed open the office door and saw Constantine fiddling with his black and white chess pieces.

"The test results of Sharp Tooth are out."

Constantine didn't look up from her chess game. She raised her bishop and asked Ms. Z with a smile:

"Ms. Z, what do you think is the best position for this bishop?"

Ms. Z's eyes fell on the chessboard.

"Move diagonally four squares and land on b5."

"Just as I thought, go deep into the front lines and take the initiative."

With a click, the chess piece landed where it belonged.

"What is the result?"

"According to the Supercomputing Center's research, aside from the marks on the teeth, it's indistinguishable from an ordinary one."

"Yeah……"

It seemed a little unexpected, but Constantine quickly smoothed his brow.

"Send out a scout force to trace the route of Aurituo. Another force to search for any water source within a hundred miles."

She sat down on the sofa calmly.

"Just like my bishop, deep in the enemy's front line, huh..."

"I will convey these recommendations to the Minister of Military Affairs."

"What about that sharp-toothed guy?"

"Of course it is returned to its original owner."

"But this woman named Anna seems to be very close to Verdin..."

Ms. Z pushed up her glasses.

Constantine looked at her with a smile and said nothing.

"I see……"

Zhang Zhizhi sighed and prepared to turn and leave, but Constantine's voice sounded again from behind him:

"Please also send a copy of the previous suggestions to the Pigeon House."

"……OK."

Zhang Zhizhi's hand rested on the doorknob, and she didn't look back at her. Under the spotlight above her head, the shadow on her face seemed so heavy...

……

An open notebook passed quietly from the other side of the desk. It contained the class notes for the week.

"I…thought you might need this."

The owner of the notes seemed a little cautious.

"You rarely talk to me."

Verdin's questioning also made her feel a little ashamed.

"I...I may have had some misunderstandings about you before. I'm sorry..."

"Are you recovering well? I heard you were in a coma for a week."

"It's okay. It doesn't hurt that much now. It hurt more when the tear gas burned."

The girl described what happened to her in a lighthearted manner.

Sonnet lowered her head, she seemed to have no idea what to say.

"That song... is very nice."

"Thank you for your love, but we won't sing it again."

"Maybe everyone except me is in the detention room."

"I heard the environment there is very bad, and I wanted to go deliver food but the instructor stopped me."

"They'll be released next week, and my notes will be available for loan to everyone."

"Thank you for your kindness, I hope it will come in handy..."

Another suffocating silence, at least it makes the sonnet a little breathless:

"That lion...is that your mysticism?"

Verdin turned his head and looked at her with some confusion. She thought the conversation would end there, but she never thought that the topic would be brought up again.

"That was transformed from Sister Anna's necklace. It's the power of the knight she mentioned, Chen Xi."

“It also seems to hold many stories of adventures outside.”

The conversation seemed to have come to an end here. Sonnet bit her lips, not knowing what to say next.

……

"Miss Anna..."

A certain examiner from the Foundation sank into the leather sofa, unwilling to even spare a glance at the girl standing before him.

He rhythmically tapped the golden necklace in front of him, his nails jumping up and down, hitting the sharp golden teeth again and again, hitting the carefully carved patterns.

"You should be aware of the sensitivity of your identity."

Anna kept staring at the token that kept rubbing against the table and making a wail. Her instinct told her to rush forward and take back the necklace, but her rationality held her firmly in place.

The foundation is her only chance to meet Chen Xi, and she can't leave.

The Hand of Reshaping's brochures these past few days were driving her crazy. The brochures portrayed the world, the truth. This organization wasn't as bad as the Foundation said it was. Maybe... maybe Chen Xi was right here where the brochures were being distributed?

Looking at the rain outside the window, her heart was torn apart - she wanted to go out, she wanted to escape this cage, escape this cage that imprisoned her body and her mind, but...

"You shouldn't have made such a conspicuous move."

The examiner hammered down hard on the innocent little trinket on the table, and the loud bang seemed to almost shatter Anna's heart.

"You should know that humans like you originally had no chance of joining the Foundation."

"You should be grateful."

The examiner grabbed the necklace from the table and threw it roughly at Anna's feet.

The sound of the sharp teeth hitting the ground was still so crisp and dark...

Anna silently picked up the necklace at her feet. Until she passed through the door again, the arrogant government official did not raise his head to look at her, nor did he see the deathly gloom on her face.

……

"Sister Anna?"

Like countless times before, Verdin pinched the corner of her hanging clothes and called her name sweetly.

She really wanted to hug Veldin and bury him in her arms and have a good cry.

But... she is an adult. Why should a child bear the grief of an adult?

"What's up, Verdin?"

Forcing a smile, Anna asked as calmly as possible.

"We have a meeting in the underground air-raid shelter tonight. I hope Sister Anna can attend..."

"About 'Prison Break.'"

These two simple words powerfully broke Anna's last tense heartstrings. She tried her best to suppress the redness in her eyes and agreed in a trembling voice:

"Okay...Okay, I'll go...Thank you...Thank you for taking me..."