"Lebion, with an estimated current population of 280,000 to 330,000, is located at latitude... longitude..."
Sitting in the underground shelter, the black-haired Thilan tapped on the holographic keyboard, searching for data and slowly analyzing it.
"The population of Lebion is far smaller than that of the former Thousand Towers City. The direct members of the two major factions account for about one-tenth of the population. Including peripheral members and those with close connections, each faction likely has around 40,000 to 50,000 people, which makes up a significant portion of Lebion's population," she pondered.
If they wanted to quell the fighting, they would have to crush the main forces of both sides. But it was clear that their group didn't have the capability to do so. If it were just her... The girl opened her palm, watching the dark blue crystals that continuously gathered and shifted within it, her thoughts swirling.
It was still too risky. She shook her head. If she fought at full strength, she wouldn't be able to protect her companions.
But if they let things continue like this, the two sides would likely fight to a standstill, leaving the city half-destroyed and countless people dead or injured.
Although she wasn't the type of saint overflowing with boundless compassion, she couldn't just stand by and do nothing either.
She needed to think of a solution. Rubbing her temples, she tried to calm the slight unease in her mind.
"Are you feeling a headache?" A familiar voice came from behind her, followed by a pair of hands gently massaging her temples.
"Dolores." Thilan turned around to see her companion, now awake.
"I woke up and saw you sitting here, looking troubled, so I came over," Dolores said naturally, leaning against Thilan as if it were the most obvious thing to do.
"I'm a bit worried. It feels wrong to just let them keep fighting, but if we intervene, it would be irresponsible to everyone else," the girl voiced her thoughts.
"Thilan... you're too kind-hearted," Dolores said, shaking her head.
Although she adored Thilan's pure and gentle nature, seeing her troubled by such matters made her sigh.
"Maybe your intentions are good, but some people might not appreciate it. They might even see you as an enemy or suspect you have ulterior motives."
"I know. I understand how they think," Thilan replied.
How could she not? She had experienced and witnessed such things before in Arpeggio City.
Not everyone would understand. If you did something good without any apparent reason, it would only invite suspicion and resentment. In their worldview, such selfless acts were impossible. They would rather believe that everyone was selfish than accept that someone might genuinely want to help them. And this wasn't entirely wrong, as many people did use the guise of doing good to commit evil, like certain cults or salespeople who always claimed to have your best interests at heart.
"Kindness gets worn down like this, but that doesn't mean I agree with their behavior."
"Although I might choose to stand by out of self-preservation and caution, that doesn't mean I think such behavior is right or worth praising."
"Life is full of helplessness and powerlessness. Many people practice transcendent sequences and gain power precisely to change this kind of helpless situation."
"But if, even after gaining the power to change things, you still choose to accept the helpless outcome, then what's the point of striving to gain that power? I think it would just be frustrating. People always yearn for freedom and a bit of recklessness."
"So, you're saying this little bird thinks her wings are strong enough to fly now, huh?" Dolores couldn't help but chuckle.
"Alright, I don't know exactly how strong Thilan is, but if you really want to do something, I'll be here to cheer you on and support you, not just oppose you."
"Thank you, Dolores." After talking with her close friend, Thilan felt much more at ease.
Not long after, Red Hat, Xelian, and Guro returned to the underground shelter.
"The fighting is still going on above. The streets are full of gunfire. It might calm down a bit by tonight," Xelian reported.
"Then let's go out tonight," Thilan suggested.
"So soon?" Jinzerk was a bit puzzled. Logically, if they waited a few more days, the war might end.
"It's better to move while it's chaotic. Neither side will pay attention to such small matters," the girl shook her head. She actually had another plan in mind.
"Then let's do it."
Seeing that Thilan had made the decision, the others didn't object. For them, leaving sooner or later didn't make much difference.
In the evening, as dusk settled over the city, the heat of the day's battle began to cool. The injuries of comrades and teammates made people reflect on the war and the unexpected dangers they might face.
Standing on the rooftop of a high-rise building, the girl looked down at the city filled with ruins and debris. In the distance, the skeletal remains of a massive dome, the collapsed skyscrapers, and the lonely abandoned crane stood as silent witnesses to the city's past.
Footsteps echoed from the stairwell, and a short but mature-looking man slowly walked out.
"You wanted to talk to me?"
He had been told that the black-haired girl had something to discuss with him.
"Yes."
Under the setting sun, the girl turned around. Her dark blue dress and black hair were bathed in the golden afterglow, giving her an air of nostalgia and maturity that didn't match her age.
"Mr. Red Hat, can you tell me about your past?"
Her voice was gentle, as if she were chatting with an old friend.
The scene made Red Hat uncomfortable, but faced with the girl's words, he couldn't help but relax, willing to believe she meant no harm.
It was strange. Even bad people preferred to be around those with good intentions.
"My past? What's there to say?"
He shook his head and looked away.
"I grew up in this city, living a humble life. Every day, I thought about making money and living a comfortable, carefree life. I wanted to be a boss, to be in charge, so I wouldn't have to work so hard every day."
"I used to stand guard for people, but when it came time to divide the spoils, I always got the least. Later, I tried to find honest work, but because I was short and didn't look the part, I was always pushed aside. I had no choice but to find other ways—stealing, coercion, extortion. I've done all sorts of bad things. If you think I'm some kind of good person you can save, you'd better give up."
"No, I don't blame you, Mr. Red Hat," the girl shook her head.
"Life at the bottom is hard. Sometimes, to survive, you have to do things you don't want to do. I don't want to spout overly righteous words. If I were starving and about to collapse, I might steal too."
"But yesterday's suffering can't be an excuse for today's crimes."
"If, in the future, you had the chance to live a stable and decent life through honest work, could you leave your past mistakes behind?"
"Hah, that's a good one. You think it's that easy to change? Do I even have the choice? Is there an environment that would allow me to live like that? Stop dreaming, kid. You're so naive..."
He shook his head and turned to leave, but the voice behind him made him stop in his tracks.
"What if I said I could make it happen?"
The voice seemed to carry a magical quality, so soft yet deeply etched into his mind, freezing his body as if this were the only sound echoing in his soul.
The rough, dusty rooftop floor suddenly transformed into the smoothest mirror, reflecting the entire sky filled with the glow of sunset. It was as if the burning purple and red clouds were beneath his feet, and he was walking in the heavens.
Turning back, he saw the figure standing in the evening breeze, her black hair fluttering. Her hands were spread open, and transparent crystals floated around her, refracting the sunlight into a kaleidoscope of colors, dreamlike and beautiful, like a descending glow.