"Let's go, Simu." The black steel-colored vehicle stopped by the roadside, and the people inside called out to their companion who was still in the distance.
It had been a week since they arrived at the Withered Tree Garden, and it was time for them to leave.
"Wait a moment, I'll bring this over," Simu responded from afar. After exchanging a few quick words with a veiled arborist beside him, he hurried over carrying a wooden box.
"Are you in love? You've been spending every day with that young arborist," his companions teased him, asking about the identity of the young arborist.
"Her name is Hasna. She just became an arborist not long ago. She has beautiful black hair and bright, deep purple eyes, like gemstones," Simu said with a hint of reluctance as he waved goodbye to the girl in the distance.
"Have you seen what she looks like? All the arborists here wear veils and dress conservatively."
"Cough, cough, I saw her once. It was during a windy evening when we were out for a walk. The wind blew her veil aside, and I caught a glimpse," Simu said with a mix of joy and nostalgia.
"Was she pretty?"
"Very pretty, at least in my eyes."
"Is she as pretty as President Thilan?" someone teased, trying to stir up trouble.
"That's an unfair comparison. They're different types. President Thilan is like a serene and dreamy orchid, occasionally very cute. But Hasna is more like a desert rose—vibrant and passionate. Oh, and her laughter is very pleasant."
"Alright, alright. It seems Simu has fallen hard in just a few days. She must be quite beautiful."
The group settled back into the vehicle, and Simu opened the wooden box he had been carrying. Inside, nestled in leaves, were numerous pale yellow fruits that resembled lemons but were harder and had uneven surfaces.
"These are Silver-Grade yellow citrons, right? A box like this is quite valuable, especially in such a barren place," someone commented, estimating the worth.
"That's quite a generous gift. Could she really have fallen for you?" the others asked about how the two had met.
"I got a bit lost in the Withered Tree Sea and ran into an arborist on the path. When she spoke, I realized she was about my age. I asked her for directions, and we started talking," Simu recounted.
"Wow, you're really lucky. The arborist who showed us around sounded like an old man. These past few days have been pretty ordinary, but the old man was very knowledgeable, and I learned a lot," Guro and Phyllis expressed their envy.
"Well, it's still a good experience overall," someone said, and the cabin filled with laughter and chatter.
The black steel-colored vehicle gradually left the tree sea and headed back into the wilderness. Unconsciously, they had grown accustomed to this kind of travel.
However, Thilan and her group didn't have much time left in Northern 2nd District. Only a few sampling points remained.
"The last location is probably near the Burning Sun City," Alen pointed to a spot on the projected map.
"The security situation there isn't great. I heard it used to be a prison in the North Star District."
"We've come this far. We can't give up on the last few stops."
"Yeah, let's head to the final destination!" the group cheered.
"Haha, this feels like something out of a game or anime."
"But it's still pretty fun."
...
Two days later, the black steel-colored vehicle drove into a black fortress. The fortress was made of black, rock-like walls, square and spread across the land. Tall walls and towers were inscribed with admonitions and criminal codes, while the tops of the towers were adorned with statues of suffering angels in chains.
It was said that long ago, this was the largest prison and reform area in the North Star District. The black-robed priests here were responsible for guiding those who had gone astray, adhering to strict rules and spreading their faith.
"What happened later, after the North Star District declined? What happened to the prisoners here?"
"Most of them were relocated, but some who had served their sentences chose to stay, having grown accustomed to life here."
"Most of the facilities here have independent operating systems, originally designed to prevent the prison from losing water or power in case of emergencies. But after the environment deteriorated, this became a suitable refuge. The local priests also took in many homeless people."
"At first, things were fine. The refugees followed the priests' guidance and instructions. But as their numbers grew, the original priests became a minority, and the situation gradually changed."
"Security declined, and various crimes began to emerge. Since this was an abandoned area by the Federation, there were few surveillance and riot control units, and no police stations to maintain order or make arrests."
"Things gradually worsened. Some even began to harm others, coveting the priests' wealth and assets."
"Tensions between the two sides eventually erupted, and the remaining black-robed priests were forced to unite and carry out a purge. Although the refugees outnumbered them, the priests were mostly transcendents and had received excellent education. They were far more united and disciplined than the refugees had imagined, and they quickly defeated them."
"However, due to the priests' vows, they couldn't kill indiscriminately. So, the refugees became new prisoners, locked up once more."
"Returning to their old work, the priests became familiar with the routine again. They began to guide and admonish some of the refugees, gradually changing their mindsets and integrating them into their own group."
"That sounds like a decent outcome, doesn't it?"
"Well, the influence was mutual. The original black-robed priests were born into clean and excellent families, while the new members were mostly societal misfits. Although they were supposedly reformed, some habits and mindsets couldn't be completely erased."
"Over time, the demeanor of the black-robed priests here shifted toward violence. They no longer adhered strictly to secular laws, with the only remaining belief being their devotion to the Angel of Torment. They believed that pain was the secret to keeping people sober and strong."
"Our objective shouldn't directly conflict with theirs. It's best to avoid conflict, but if they don't know better, we'll have to teach them a lesson."
"With just the few of us? I feel like everyone's been getting a bit too confident lately."
"Is that so? I think it's just about right," Jinzerk said as he, Xelian, Guro, and Simu picked up their guns, released the safeties, and lowered the vehicle's windows. They aimed their weapons outside and began firing.
A fierce exchange of gunfire erupted instantly. From the ruins on either side of the road, figures clad in black emerged, wielding various weapons and firing at the moving vehicle. Sparks and the sound of bullets ricocheting off the vehicle's surface filled the air.
The two sides continued exchanging fire until a group of black-clad figures appeared ahead, blocking the road. They carried various weapons but didn't fire. When the leading priest raised his hand, the gunfire from both sides ceased abruptly.
"Welcome, friends from afar."
The priest wore an Angel of Torment pendant around his neck. Though his expression was kind, the group of burly black-clad men beside him carried heavy weaponry, giving off an air of "persuasion through force."
The vehicle gradually came to a stop, and the doors opened. Surrounded and escorted by her companions, a black-haired girl stepped out and approached the priest.
"Quite surprising. Although I've heard many rumors along the way, I didn't expect your leader to be so young and unique," the priest said, his voice tinged with astonishment as he stared at the girl.
"Hmph, is this how you treat your guests?" Alen stepped forward, adjusting his glasses. With a wave of his hand, his companions brought over a chair for Thilan to sit on.
During negotiations, aside from threats and intimidation, the most effective tactic is to elevate the status and authority of your leader, subtly pressuring the other side.
Thilan, aware of Alen's scheming, felt a bit helpless but couldn't expose him now. She sat down as instructed, crossing her legs and placing her arms on the armrests, her hands resting on her black skirt-covered knees.
"Our Miss Thilan is destined to be the queen who conquers this wasteland. Have you not heard who you're dealing with? Lebion, the Withered Tree Garden, Thousand Towers City—which of them dares to defy our Miss Thilan's orders? If your little Burning Sun City doesn't surrender and pledge allegiance soon, I can't guarantee what will happen next..." Alen's improvised speech grew more impassioned, his finger pointing accusingly at the group before him.
Thilan maintained her cold expression, but her mind was racing.
“Since when did Alen have such acting talent?” she wondered.
“Is he secretly a drama king? Was his scholarly demeanor just a facade, and now he's finally showing his true colors?”
As Thilan's thoughts wandered, Jinsenk stepped forward, planting one foot on a roadside rock and slamming the barrel of his heavy rotary gun into the ground.
"Stop standing there like idiots. Look at the state you're in. You, you, and you—yes, don't hide—what are you holding? A forty-year-old submachine gun? And your bulletproof vest is full of holes. Don't you know those things are useless once they're damaged? And you, with that rocket launcher—can it even fire? The fuse chip looks melted. And you, with that pea shooter—my grandma wouldn't use that for fishing, let alone for intimidation..."
"You guys, your entire arsenal combined isn't worth a single outfit of our Miss Thilan's. And here you are, putting on airs. Can't even afford rice, but still trying to look tough. Did you think splashing some water on the roadside made you look intimidating? Let me tell you, if our Miss Thilan makes one call, a hundred armored vehicles will roll in, and the thousands of people who step out won't be as polite as we are."
Though Thilan suspected Jinzerk and Alen were bluffing, the opposing group seemed half-convinced by their confident and impassioned performance.
"You're just spouting nonsense. What kind of boss goes around with just one vehicle? You think you can overturn the world with that?" a burly, dark-skinned man finally retorted.
"You still don't believe us, huh?" Jinzerk slapped his thigh and gestured behind him. Valk stepped forward, placing a satellite communication box in front of everyone and opening it.
“When did they prepare this?” Thilan thought, blinking in surprise as she watched the scene unfold.
The call connected quickly, and soon Brod appeared in the projected image, wearing a deep red uniform. He looked slightly surprised at the scene but quickly composed himself.
"Brod, these guys have been disrespecting Miss Thilan. I think they need a lesson," Jinzerk said boldly.
"If needed, we can dispatch 60 Red Iron mechs to your location immediately. At full speed, they'll arrive by tonight," Brod said, standing in a noisy factory. He gestured, and several subordinates came over to report on the preparations.
Seeing the image of one of Lebion's leaders, the lead priest furrowed his brow, his resolve wavering.
Soon, other figures appeared in the projection—the leaders of Black Hammer Heavy Industries, dressed in black trench coats, seemingly in discussion with Brod. They stepped forward and bowed to the black-haired girl sitting in the chair.
"Do you have any orders, Miss Thilan?" they asked. Thilan had no choice but to respond briefly.
Though the conversation was simple, it was clear to everyone that the black-haired girl held a position of great authority.
Shortly after, the call ended, but the opposing group remained skeptical, suspecting the images were AI-generated. They decided to contact Lebion themselves using their own satellite equipment.
"Uh, sir, it seems to be real," a low-ranking member reported quietly, causing a stir among the group.
“Could she really be a high-ranking mafia princess who has subdued the powerful Lebion?”
"You must remember the elder arborists from the Withered Tree Garden, right?" Alen stepped forward and connected another call.
Soon, the elder arborists appeared in the projection, their attitudes similar to Brod's, warning Burning Sun City not to disrespect Thilan and her group, or face severe consequences.
"As for Thousand Towers City..." Thilan wanted to explain that Thousand Towers City had already relocated and wouldn't be involved in matters here, but the Burning Sun City group seemed more eager than her and quickly connected to Thousand Towers City's signal.
“Weren't the two sides in conflict before? How did they connect so quickly?” Thilan thought, but it was too late to stop them.
The familiar figure of Gu Qianlou, wearing his metal mask, appeared in the projection.
"It's been a while, Father Hoglath. I don't think there's much left to discuss," his voice was as cold as ever.
"I envy you for finding a new path, Qianlou," the lead priest nodded slightly, then pointed to the black-haired girl sitting in the chair.
"This girl claims to be the queen who rules Northern 2nd District and says even Thousand Towers City has submitted to her. Do you think such a thing is possible?"
He knew Gu Qianlou's pride well and doubted he would acknowledge such a claim, even as a joke.
"Her?" Gu Qianlou studied the girl sitting in the chair, making Thilan almost want to stand up. After all, this was her uncle, and sitting in such a pose in front of him was utterly embarrassing.
Her poised sitting position felt like ants were crawling all over her, making her extremely uncomfortable, especially when displaying such a childish, show-off image in front of family.
"Uh..." Thilan finally couldn't hold back and wanted to explain, hoping her uncle wouldn't think she had gone astray.
"As for her, she can indeed make such a claim," Gu Qianlou's calm voice acknowledged, shocking everyone in Burning Sun City.
"I advise you not to harm a single hair on her head. Even if I've left Northern 2nd District, I will return with forces to destroy you if you do."
The call ended, and the scene fell into silence. Not only were the Burning Sun City group stunned, but Thilan's companions were also filled with confusion. However, for the sake of the act, they all maintained their composed expressions.
Finally, after a long silence, Burning Sun City yielded.
"Please forgive our earlier actions, Miss Thilan. The descendants of Burning Sun City, the believers of the Angel of Torment, are willing to become your supporters and followers..."
As the lead priest bowed, the others also lowered their weapons, placing a hand over their hearts and bowing in submission.
=========================
T/N: Uncle must be holding back his laughter, that’s why he quickly cut the comms.