After concluding their journey in Burning Sun City, the sampling in Northern 2nd District also came to an end.
In the final days, Thilan and her companions stood atop the highest ramparts of Burning Sun City, overlooking the scenery. She sat on the edge of the rooftop, her legs and skirt swaying gently in the air as the evening breeze brushed against her youthful face.
"When it's quiet here, the scenery is actually quite beautiful," someone remarked, gazing at the sunset-drenched land and the fiery purple-red clouds.
The May breeze was pleasant, neither as cold as winter nor as hot as summer. The gentle wind that slipped into their sleeves soothed their tired bodies, bringing a sense of calm.
After their extensive sampling journey, the once chaotic and noisy Northern 2nd District had gradually quieted down. Most of the major gangs had been dealt with, and the smaller, wandering groups, having lost the chaotic environment they once thrived in, were now being controlled by local forces and forced to behave.
"Although the economic situation can't be changed overnight, as long as public safety improves, people will gradually settle down and focus on working toward what they want," Thilan shared her simple, straightforward thoughts.
"Chaotic environments don't give rise to civilization, nor do they foster change or progress. If change is about achieving something, then aimless chaos and killing achieve nothing."
"There will undoubtedly be people who hate us and dislike what we've done. But if we shrink back out of fear of such things, then all our dreams are just empty talk. The world doesn't operate on reason. Even when doing the right thing, you'll face doubt and slander."
"True justice and fairness don't change based on how loud the voices are. Just because many people don't speak up doesn't mean they don't exist. Those overlooked voices are still voices, and they deserve to be recognized and seen."
Some of her words were directed at her companions, while others were for herself, to strengthen her resolve and prevent herself from wavering easily.
Two days later, a gray aircraft landed in the wilderness outside Burning Sun City. Thilan and her group boarded it, taking one last look at the now quiet world from the steps before entering the aircraft.
Once seated, the aircraft's bottom emitted a blue, fiery stream of air, slowly lifting it off the ground. It accelerated, eventually entering supersonic flight.
"Next, we're heading to Northern 9th District, right? But there aren't many sampling points there, so it probably won't take more than a month to finish," someone commented.
Compared to the abandoned Northern 2nd District, Northern 9th District was still under the Federation’s control, and some sampling points were maintained by personnel, so not all of them needed to be sampled.
"Yes, the rest of the journey should be much more peaceful and straightforward," Thilan replied softly, gazing out the window at the floating clouds and the land below.
"Speaking of which, Valk's hometown is in Northern 9th District, right? Can you tell us about the situation there?" Guro leaned back in his seat, adjusting to find a comfortable position, a chocolate bar dangling from his mouth.
"The situation in Northern 9th District..." Valk fell into reminiscence, sharing some past experiences.
Generally speaking, Northern 9th District was quite barren, with many towns abandoned and only a few places inhabited, scattered and sparse. Large cities were rare.
"Although Northern 2nd District is desolate and in decline, it was once the capital of the Verdant Veil, so it has some foundation and industry. But Northern 9th District, aside from some mineral resources, has nothing else and has never been prosperous."
Valk, no longer the naive newcomer he was when he first entered the academy, had spent the past half-year studying and reading up on materials, gradually coming to understand his hometown's past.
"I visited Valk's hometown last year. It's indeed quite quiet, with only a few hundred households in the town," Jinzerk chimed in.
"But we did encounter some interesting things," he added, a grin spreading across his face, as if recalling something enjoyable.
"Probably bullied someone," Ruby teased.
Over time, everyone had grown closer, and given Jinzerk's personality, his cheerful demeanor likely meant he had had a good time venting or fighting.
"Haha, they started it! I even gave them time to call for backup," Jinzerk retorted.
"As for the process, I just had a simple mech airdropped, and then I beat them to a pulp," he said, drawing the attention of his companions.
"I was alone, and they clearly outnumbered me. I was the hero here, okay? Don't look at me like that!"
...
"Alright, we won't tease you anymore. Overall, it's a good thing. Hopefully, those troublemakers learned their lesson and will behave. Otherwise, when we go back, we'll have to teach them another lesson."
Several hours passed as the high-speed aircraft traversed multiple regions, gradually descending as it approached the equally desolate land of Northern 9th District. Pale green grass covered the landscape, and gray roads stretched out like sparse, clear circuits in all directions.
After disembarking, the group walked toward a nearby town. This time, they didn't drive, as they didn't need to travel far and wanted to take in the scenery along the way.
The roaring engine started up again, and soon the aircraft took off. As they walked, they caught sight of the town's tallest church, its stained-glass windows refracting the morning sunlight, the rooster weathervane atop the tower creaking as it turned.
"Baa, baa, baa~"
In the town's outskirts, the gates of a pasture opened, and a flock of white sheep trotted through the streets toward the distant grasslands. A few sheepdogs ran around the flock, and occasionally, a low-flying autonomous unit buzzed past.
A portly man driving a small, single-seat vehicle passed by and stopped.
"Valk, you're back. Are these your classmates?"
He waved, his tone familiar.
"Yes, Uncle Hood," Valk walked over, and the two began chatting.
"It's rare for you to bring classmates back home. I'll let Old Siko know and have him prepare a hearty meal to welcome you all."
Old Siko was the town's only restaurant owner and chef.
"Thank you, Uncle," Valk nodded, unable to refuse the warm gesture. Despite his burly frame, he always gave off a somewhat simple and honest vibe.
"No problem. I've watched you kids grow up. You're like my own children, haha."
With that, the man waved to Thilan and the others before driving off after the sheep.
"He seems like a nice guy. This town seems pretty good," Ruby said, skipping ahead and taking out her camera to snap photos of the sheep and grasslands in the morning light.
"It's better now," Valk started to say something but then shook his head, deciding not to bring up past events.
"Follow me. Father Berys is probably still doing his morning prayers."
Valk led the way, familiar with the streets, greeting the townsfolk as he guided the group toward the churchyard.
A group of children spotted Valk and leaned out of the church windows, waving and calling out to him, creating a noisy commotion. However, when the church's main door opened, the children immediately fell silent.
A man dressed in a white priest's robe stepped out. He appeared to be in his forties or fifties, with a face that wasn't particularly old but with streaks of gray at his temples.
"You're back, my child," he said upon seeing Valk, descending the steps with open arms.
"I'm back, Father," Valk accepted his embrace, gently patting his shoulder.
After a few seconds, they released each other, and Father Berys turned his attention to the group behind Valk. "You must be Valk's classmates. What a fine group of young people."
As he spoke, his slightly shadowed eyes sparkled with joy.
"It's wonderful, Valk. You've made new friends."
"Oh, right, come inside. No need to stand out here."
Remembering himself, he stepped aside, allowing Thilan and the others to enter the church.
The church's interior was modestly decorated, the floors scrubbed clean, with some areas worn white from frequent use. The central wall had several transparent glass openings, allowing light to filter in, creating a serene and solemn atmosphere.
"Please, have a seat. I'll prepare something for you," he said, gesturing for them to sit before hurrying off to a side room.
As they looked around, the group asked Valk about the local situation. Shortly after, the pastor returned, pushing a cart with a teapot. The cart, adorned with angel patterns, was likely used for distributing communion during services.
"I don't have the finest tea, so I hope you can bear with it," he said, aware that Valk's classmates were likely from wealthy or influential families and might not find the local offerings to their taste.
"It's fine, Father," Ruby took the tea and helped serve it to everyone, her demeanor polite and well-mannered, a stark contrast to her usual mischievous self.
After exchanging a few words with the group, Father Berys seemed restless and excused himself, heading toward a side room where several young children were.
"Father seems a bit nervous around us, probably worried he's not doing enough," Iyepher whispered.
"Honestly, we don't feel uncomfortable at all. But I guess to ordinary people, students from Edess Academy must seem quite arrogant," Ruby remarked, sipping her tea.
Thilan, too, slowly drank her tea, her gaze wandering over the church's walls and furnishings before settling on the empty main seat.
"Doesn't this church enshrine a specific angel?"
Although gods didn't exist, the revered figures of history had become objects of faith in the new era, known as canonized angels.
"There used to be one, but the children defaced the angel's statue with graffiti. Eventually, Father removed it," Valk recalled.
"The local residents have grown accustomed to it. Their faith isn't focused on a specific angel, and the lack of a physical representation has actually reduced conflicts."
After sitting for a while, Valk stood up and, after consulting with Father Berys in the side room, led the group to another part of the churchyard.
The church also served as an orphanage, housing over a dozen children aged 8 to 15. They were currently sitting inside, studying, while Father Berys answered questions for some of them.
Basic education was provided by remote AI, so a dedicated teacher wasn't necessary. The children only sought the pastor's help for more complex or personal issues.
The black desks, seemingly made of stone, felt cool to the touch. Although the children were supposed to be studying, most of them were clearly distracted. Some sat daydreaming, others secretly played with toys, a few tapped randomly on projected keyboards, and some looked around, their minds elsewhere.
When Thilan and the others entered, the children suddenly became attentive, pretending to be studious. However, some details betrayed their lack of focus.
"Welcome. I'm sorry you have to see such a humble setting," the pastor said, his hands fidgeting nervously.
"It's alright. We're the ones imposing," Thilan shook her head, then led the group out of the classroom.
As they walked, she sighed and explained to her companions, "Children aren't as innocent and pure as the media often portrays. Many are mischievous, even a bit naughty."
"Father Berys must have put a lot of effort into raising these children."
"Thilan, you're so understanding."
They then sat on the grass in front of the church, watching the rising sun as Valk began to share the orphanage's struggles.
"Although Father Berys is very dedicated, the children don't always understand. Many of my childhood friends were quite mischievous back then. At the time, I didn't think much of it, but looking back, I realize how difficult it must have been for Father."
"Every child has their own thoughts and circumstances. Many of the abandoned children have congenital issues—illnesses, disabilities, or behavioral and mental challenges. Raising them not only takes a lot of effort but also rarely yields positive feedback."
"Before I graduated, or rather, before I was discovered by the teachers at Edess Academy, Father was already quite worn out. He occasionally had to drink to relieve his anxiety and stress."
"After the academy's teachers found me, Father's mental state improved somewhat. Not only did the academy provide a substantial donation to the church, but I think he also felt that his years of effort had finally borne fruit."
Valk shook his head.
"Although Father's past, or some of his actions, might not have been perfect, I don't blame him. Some mistakes and misunderstandings were born out of necessity, and I try to understand his difficulties."
"I mention this because I had a childhood friend who didn't share my perspective. He resented Father for being unfair and for not having the right intentions."
"I can't say he was wrong, because I was fortunate enough not to experience what he did. I can't easily judge his feelings."
With that, he sighed. Having experienced various hardships in his childhood, he deeply understood that in such situations, morality often had to give way to survival. One couldn't demand too much.
"What happened to your friend?" Guro asked.
"He's in prison in Southern 1st District now. When we return, I'll visit him. I hope he's still alive."
Valk clenched his fist, as if trying to grasp something, but he was acutely aware of how insignificant and powerless an individual could be in the face of the times.
As a child, he had thought that becoming a transcendent would guarantee a comfortable life. But now he realized that even powerful transcendents in the city were often at the mercy of various corporations, and true freedom was hard to come by.
Changing things wasn't easy. Perhaps he wasn't strong enough yet. If he could reach Sequence 7, maybe he could create an environment where the pastor and his friend could coexist harmoniously, where everyone could live in peace.