Chapter 113 Chapter 113: Tragedy is the True Face of War
Chapter 113: Tragedy is the True Face of War
"Orphanage... How come I've never heard of such a place on the Xianzhou?"
Qingque tilted her little head. The name itself wasn't hard to understand. It was inevitable that many children would lose their parents due to various accidents, but they usually had other relatives. If absolutely necessary, the Xianzhou would also arrange a future for them.
As a Diviner, she had fought her way through various exams against thousands of competitors to get her position. How could she possibly be unaware of such basic Xianzhou laws and regulations?
"If it could be known by someone like you, then wouldn't all the effort spent restricting them to this place be completely meaningless?" Kevin retorted.
"But, why would they..."
Before Qingque could fully voice her question, Kevin straightforwardly replied, "Let me give you a simple example. If there was an orphan with no parents, born with a congenital defect and blind... If he stood before you and said his parents died in the war, what would you think?"
"Hmm..." Qingque pondered for a few seconds before honestly replying, "I might think he's very unlucky, or pitiful, something like that?"
That was indeed the genuine reaction of most people. After all, everyone possesses some degree of compassion, even if not consciously. The brain's instinct makes one feel a pang for the tragic plight of their fellow beings.
"Good. Now, what if all other conditions remain the same, but the number of people who became like this because of war increases to dozens, over a hundred, or even more?" Kevin, with his eyes closed and posture unchanged, simply added another condition.
"This... Then I might think, if there were no war, wouldn't these children be spared such tragedy?" Qingque once again replied very honestly.
Exactly. One or two tragedies can be attributed to bad luck or individual misfortune... But once that number keeps increasing, reaching a point where mere coincidence can't explain it, then it can only mean there's something fundamentally wrong with the matter itself.
Regardless of the purpose, war itself is something that only brings endless sorrow and mistakes; it holds no inherent correctness whatsoever.
"But for 'The Hunt,' war is its very foundation... Are you suggesting we persuade the Xianzhou Alliance or that Aeon to abandon their crusade against 'The Abundance'?"
Determination, vengeance, ruthlessness—this is probably how Xianzhou people currently interpret the Path of 'The Hunt.'
"Ah?!"
Kevin's seemingly casual questions successfully made Qingque realize the terrifying nature of this matter. It's fine if she alone thinks war is bad; after all, there are already people like that on the Xianzhou. But if most people start believing that war only brings more sorrow to more people, then the Xianzhou Alliance is probably not far from its next disaster.
"Done for, done for, done for! To suddenly learn such an important thing... If the Master Diviner finds out, wouldn't she have me silenced?!"
Qingque had absolutely no doubt that her all-seeing old superior was unaware of matters here. But she's just a small Diviner with no ambition to save the world; she just wants to muddle along peacefully and comfortably!
Maybe occasionally showing a little kindness is fine, but such a huge matter had to fall into her lap. Even if she wanted to do something about it, she lacks both the will and the ability. What can she do?!
Watching Qingque's pained and conflicted expression, Kevin helplessly shook his head but didn't intend to explain further. After all, whether it's justification or explanation, that's something the Xianzhou itself should handle; it has little to do with him.
But just as Kevin was about to continue exploring this Fragmentum zone further, a sudden voice reached both their ears—
"That's right, that's right... The truth might indeed be as you say. The Xianzhou higher-ups fear the cruel truth of war would affect too many Xianzhou people's views on war, which is why they keep these children imprisoned in this desolate compound."
"Perhaps they think this is kindness, but for the children, having their freedom imprisoned is the most tragic thing. Moreover... if they still had living relatives, they wouldn't have fallen to such a state..."
Following that aged and desolate voice, one could easily see a figure emerging from a courtyard—an elderly Foxian man. The fur on his ears had faded to a grayish-white like his hair, and his tail hung limp and powerless behind him, as if having suffered some unimaginable trauma.
Compared to Xianzhou natives who live nearly a thousand years and are only declared deceased by judges when Mara-Struck symptoms appear, Foxians have a lifespan of only over three hundred years. But theoretically, they don't show signs of aging; they die suddenly due to cellular failure when their lifespan ends, yet they wouldn't appear this aged either.
"Th-this elder... who are you...?"
The eerie environment of the Fragmentum and the truth she just learned made Qingque adopt a more cautious stance. She hid her vigilance within while maintaining a somewhat amiable expression towards the other.
"Me? I was once a Cloud Knight. Whether by fortune or misfortune, I didn't die in the war against the Abundance followers but survived, though it left me with chronic injuries. Even taking care of these children in this compound has become so difficult."
The elderly Foxian shook his head as he introduced himself, his brows unable to conceal his sorrow. Only when he looked up at Kevin again did he ask hopefully, "Might I ask... are you also from the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus?"
Clearly, this old man had witnessed the entire process from hiding in the shadows when Kevin eliminated that spiritual beast; otherwise, he probably wouldn't be so amiable now.
"No." Kevin shook his head.
Hearing this, the elderly Foxian's eyes immediately dimmed. In a low voice, he asked, "So... your purpose in coming here is actually to uproot the Arbor's roots in this place?"
Even though he hid it well, even though most would think such a frail old man poses no threat, Kevin clearly sensed the other's intent—if he expressed such an inclination, the old man would undoubtedly reveal his killing intent without mercy, even if he stood no chance as an opponent.
But don't underestimate him too much. He is, after all, a warrior who survived that brutal war; he's not truly some harmless old man.
"At least at this moment, I still have no such intention."
However, Kevin showed no tendency to accommodate or conceal anything from the other because he simply didn't need to.
"My purpose in coming here is only to find two girls who entered not long ago. That's all."
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