Classic Old Antique

"Okay, as I said, this matter can't be disclosed yet, so I need you two to sign these non-disclosure agreements. As compensation, we'll give you a generous sum. Yes, you can think of it as hush money, whatever you want to call it. Just don't let us catch you spreading information about this."

The small, enclosed room was filled with smoke. Elvin, cigarette dangling from his lips, pushed two agreements towards the coughing girls.

"Knock, knock, knock…"

"Who is it?!"

Having finally reached the last step of… ahem, his work, only to be interrupted, Elvin was annoyed. But as the only staff member present, he could only curse under his breath and open the door.

"Oh! Squad Leader Michael! What brings you here?"

Times had changed. Fire Moth, after a rapid expansion, had increased its combat personnel tenfold. The Fifth Squad now had nearly two hundred members, responsible for handling Honkai incidents around shanghai City and the entire southern region of Shenzhou.

As Squad Leader of the Fifth Squad, Michael's status had naturally risen accordingly.

A wave of smoke hit Michael, making him squint. He looked at Elvin in surprise. "Section Chief Elvin, what are you doing here?"

"Section Chief my ass!" Elvin rubbed his nose, finally able to curse freely in front of a Fire Moth veteran.

"Those United Government guys are so arrogant, I couldn't stand them. So, I requested a transfer to the support company! It's much better here, providing psychological counseling to ordinary people. Life's good."

Michael's lips twitched. Knowing Elvin, it probably wasn't that simple. He had likely offended some higher-up with his loose lips and been demoted to the support company.

But… even a veteran like Elvin wasn't safe… How much had Hua's influence waned? And Mobius, still at headquarters, how much harassment was she facing? And Uncle Ato… he'd gotten Aunt Blanka pregnant, hadn't he?

Wait…

"Psychological counseling?" Michael looked at Elvin strangely. "Shouldn't that be done by professional psychologists?"

"It's not that simple. We can't just mass recruit psychologists. They're in short supply and mostly busy with the soldiers. They don't have time for civilians."

Michael nodded. That made sense.

"Let me talk to them. I rescued them, after all."

Elvin nodded, having no objections.

Michael entered the room. The two girls sat side by side on the sofa, the white-haired girl with the healthier complexion leaning against Hua, holding her arm tightly.

They seemed uncomfortable with the smoke, as was Michael.

Cursing Elvin inwardly, he casually waved his hand, the smoke swirling out the door, which then closed behind him.

After witnessing the battle between the Zombies and Elysia, Michael assumed the two girls wouldn't be surprised by something so trivial.

He was wrong. The white-haired girl's eyes widened. "Wow! Mister! How did you do that?! So cool! Can you teach me?!"

Michael rubbed his forehead, sitting down in Elvin's chair.

Hua, seeing the man… boy who had saved them looking at her, instinctively straightened her posture, reminded of a teacher's gaze in a classroom.

But then she noticed something. "Why are his eyes so red…?"

As she wondered, Michael spoke.

"You've seen the contract Elvin gave you, right? Honestly, don't worry about the details. Just sign it, and you'll get a decent sum – a considerable amount for students like you. More importantly, whether you sign or not, we won't allow you to spread information about this, so there's no point arguing."

Hua obediently signed her name.

The white-haired girl, while signing, asked excitedly, "So, what were those things?! They looked like zombies, but they were way more agile!"

Hua sighed, answering before Michael could. "Carole, if they don't want us spreading information about this, do you think they'll do it themselves?"

"Ah… ah! Oh! I see! Hua, you're so smart!"

Michael chuckled softly.

Looking up, he saw Hua's lips moving, as if she wanted to say something.

He didn't rush her or interrupt, allowing the room to fall silent.

So silent that only their breathing could be heard.

Finally, Hua spoke, asking the question that had been on her mind. "Then why not tell everyone the truth?"

Carole's jaw dropped, her eyes wide with disbelief as she looked at Hua, as if saying, "Hua, you're so brave!"

But Hua continued, calling Carole out directly, "Like Carole, for example. She heard some rumors, wasn't sure if they were true, but being so bold, she actually came here to 'explore.' Haven't you considered the consequences?"

Hua's initial hesitancy vanished as she spoke, her tone growing bolder.

Carole scratched her head, embarrassed and slightly worried.

Not every man could remain unfazed by such a direct accusation from a young girl.

But Michael simply bit his lip, looking at Hua with an unreadable expression.

Hua turned her head slightly, their gazes meeting briefly.

For some reason, she saw a familiar sense of confusion, helplessness, and resignation in his eyes.

She even had a fleeting illusion, as if she were looking at her own reflection.

She twitch with the braid at her temple to ease her discomfort.

This man… no, judging by his appearance, Hua thought he was only slightly older than her, still a boy.

She suddenly felt like she had known him before, even though they had just met. It felt like a reunion.

Michael felt a similar connection. Elysia was always optimistic, while he was perpetually pessimistic. Being with her sometimes made him feel unworthy.

In contrast, Hua's loneliness and confusion mirrored his own, offering a strange sense of comfort.

But was that really all it was? Michael felt like he was avoiding something, avoiding Elysia's warmth.

Forget it…

"You know this isn't my decision. I'm just a soldier."

Even Michael wasn't sure whether Fire Moth's decision to conceal the truth about the Honkai was beneficial or harmful to the public.

The downsides, besides what Hua had mentioned, were that as a human being, Michael believed people had a right to know, a right to know what they were facing.

But was "knowing" truly a good thing?

"Knowing the truth means bearing the consequences." Michael said with a wry smile.

"The truth can be far more cruel than you imagine… So, for most people, a truth too cruel to bear is perhaps better left unknown."

Michael saw Hua's pupils constrict slightly.

He shrugged. "Alright, I've already contacted your school. You can still make it back in time. They said they want to provide you with psychological counseling… But you two don't seem scared at all!"

Hua tilted her head, thinking. "Actually, we were scared."

Well, classic Old Antique.