A week later, the aftermath of the events at the ruins of Thousand Towers City was gradually being dealt with. The elderly residents of the ruins were relocated by the Federation to a retirement home in the southern districts, where the environment was beautiful and peaceful, sparing them from the harsh and barren Northern 2nd District. The site of the incident was disinfected, treated, and then sealed off. The personnel at the camp also began to withdraw.
A large black steel truck rumbled across the wilderness. More than a cargo vehicle, it resembled an armored war machine, standing out conspicuously.
Inside the truck, the sound of laughter and conversation filled the air. A black-haired girl in a black dress held a pink guitar, gently strumming it, with notes occasionally jumping out.
"Yes, that's the rhythm. Thilan, you're doing great~ You're learning so well," Ruby clapped beside her, her eyes sparkling as she continued to guide the girl on how to play.
The pink-purple guitar naturally belonged to Ruby, who occasionally showcased her guitar skills during performances.
"You know, Thilan, when you stand on stage, with countless glow sticks waving and countless eyes focused on you, it feels like every cell in your body is charged with energy, filled with endless vitality and the urge to let loose. As the music builds toward its climax, your body sways, sweat drips, your arms ache, heat rises in your throat, and the roaring cheers of the crowd surge like a tsunami—it's like ascending to heaven," Ruby said with longing, her eyes filled with envy and desire.
"That feeling must be absolutely! Absolutely amazing!" Ruby declared loudly, expressing her wish that the Twilight Ensemble not forming a proper band would be a disservice to its name.
"Let me think, I can be the lead singer and also play bass. Thilan can choose one of those roles too. As for the drums, we'll leave that to Valk. With his size, he'll definitely bring a powerful presence. As for tuning and playing the keyboard, we can probably find someone in the club to handle that. Once we form the band and compose a few songs, we'll quickly become famous across all the star regions of the Federation, becoming super invincible superstars!"
"Alright, alright, Ruby," Dolores walked over, covering Ruby's eyes with one hand and wrapping her other arm around Ruby's waist, gently cooling her overheated enthusiasm.
"Thilan is so cute. Putting her on stage would feel like throwing her into a pack of wolves. Let's take it slow."
"But... ugh..."
Although Ruby wanted to argue, she slowly closed her mouth and sat down under Dolores's smiling gaze.
After all, Dolores was her biggest financial backer and close friend. It was best not to upset her.
Dolores then sat down beside Thilan, watching her carefully adjust the guitar and practice playing. The wind occasionally blew in through the windows, brushing through their hair. The laughter and chatter of the others, combined with the dappled sunlight inside the truck, created a scene that felt deeply nostalgic.
If only things could stay like this forever, Dolores thought, before the idea slowly faded away.
After finishing their journey to Thousand Towers City, the group headed toward another settlement in Northern 2nd District: the Withered Tree Garden. This was one of the few places in Northern 2nd District with decent security, and along the way, they rarely encountered wandering individuals or bandits. As they approached their destination, the horizon gradually revealed a landscape dominated by withered forests.
Dried, dead trees lay tangled on the ground, their weathered, yellowish-brown trunks resembling the color of the earth. They were hard and brittle to the touch, producing a hollow "thud" when lightly tapped.
Vast stretches of withered roots and tree trunks covered the land within a fifty-kilometer radius, forming a sea of dead wood. These fallen, twisted trees piled up to about six or seven meters high, and the black steel truck moved through them like a shadow weaving through a forest of light and dark.
The scenery here was unique but eerily quiet, with no signs of life—not even mice. The dry environment and toxic rainy season had driven both plants and animals away from this area. If not for modern technology, even humans would struggle to survive in such a place.
The vehicle slowly made its way to the center of the withered forest, eventually stopping when a group of tree arborists dressed in deep brown clothing intercepted them.
"Hello, we're here on behalf of the Planetary Environmental Governance Committee to collect samples for inspection," a golden-haired girl in white jumped out of the truck and explained to the group. Although she had left the team for a while, Evony had returned after convincing her family.
After Evony showed her credentials and identification, the lead tree arborist nodded slightly. His face was obscured by a dark veil, making his expression unreadable.
"Follow me," he said, leading the group deeper into the forest.
Passing through streets lined with fallen trees, the group finally began to see signs of human habitation. The beige buildings, shaped like upright, plump seeds, blended seamlessly with the ground.
Along the way, they encountered many tree arborists dressed in deep brown, leaf-like attire. They seemed to adhere to some ancient code, maintaining a simple and austere lifestyle, speaking rarely and softly.
Deep within the residential area, a massive onion-shaped building came into view. Its walls were made of countless withered trees, curving inward to form a dome.
Inside, sunlight streamed through the nearly ten-story-high dome, illuminating the vast, empty space. At the far end of the room, a throne made of withered wood stood, and an elderly man in white stood before it, facing away from the group, seemingly in meditation.
Hearing the footsteps, he turned around, revealing a long gray beard. "Greetings, friends from afar."
"I am Augustazi Samakurutas. My name is probably quite a mouthful, so you may call me Augustus."
"Hello, Mr. Augustus," the group nodded and reiterated their purpose.
"I've heard of you, whether it's about what happened in Lebion or the recent events at the ruins of Thousand Towers City," he waved his hand, and the tree arborists beside him brought over chairs and tables made of polished, smooth withered wood, simple yet durable.
"Thank you for your contributions to the security and environment of Northern 2nd District. Regarding the sampling and investigation, we will assist you. If you wish to tour and learn about the Withered Tree Garden, feel free to ask. There is nothing here that needs to be hidden; everything can be laid bare under the sun." As he said this, Thilan sensed a faint sense of pride rising in the hearts of those around her.
"However, there is something we would like to ask of you," he added after the formalities.
"Although we persist here, our situation is not ideal, so we need some help."
"What kind of help do you need?" Thilan stepped forward, looking at the tall elderly man.
"It's about plant breeding and future market channels," he sighed softly, as if this had been a long-standing concern.
"You are from Edess Academy, correct? There, you must have access to the most advanced instruments and research facilities in the Four-Leaf Crystal Star Region. We have long struggled to improve our crops to adapt to this unique environment."
"Additionally, there's the issue of sales. Although we produce some crops, the difficulty of transportation and lack of market recognition have made it hard for us to profit."
"These issues are not simple, and they're beyond the capabilities of a few students," Dolores stepped forward, gently pulling Thilan's sleeve to signal her not to agree immediately.
"Yes, I understand these requests may be overreaching, but we can draft a reasonable agreement and offer you adequate compensation," he slowly stroked his long beard.
"I understand, but given my nature, I would like to carefully observe your situation here before making a decision. Is that alright?"
Thilan looked at the elderly man. Although her perception told her he wasn't lying, agreeing without seeing for herself felt too hasty.
"Of course. Over the next week, we can show you in detail how we live, cultivate, and sustain ourselves here. I believe that after seeing it, you will understand our struggles and aspirations," several tree arborists bowed respectfully and led them toward a side door.
Though they no longer enjoyed their former glory, the tree arborists still maintained a noble demeanor in both spirit and conduct.
This was the first time since entering Northern 2nd District that the group encountered a relatively simple and relaxed environment.