Chapter 188 Chapter 188: Salt Wind City
Chapter 188: Salt Wind City
"Should we go back then?"
"Let's not complicate matters. Our destination is Salt Wind City."
Outcast shook her head, showing no intention of returning.
Save them? Or root out those villagers carrying the scent of Seaborn?
That's the Inquisition's job... Rhodes Island has no obligation to save Iberia's people.
Moreover, judging by the appearance of that old National Defense Army soldier, most people in the village probably aren't just aware of the situation...
She patted the Guardian Gun at her waist and lowered the brim of her hat.
"Let's go."
Outcast led the way but didn't take the path pointed out by the old National Defense Army soldier directly. She actually knew the direction to Salt Wind City.
If no one followed along the way, fine. But if there were pursuers, then she couldn't be blamed for setting a trap.
After all, ordinary villagers who can't even eat their fill wouldn't have the energy to chase after them...
The Guardian Gun at her waist gleamed brightly, yet her face still wore that kindly smile reserved for juniors.
Those who travel around, who doesn't keep their wits about them?
——————
However, even after traversing a long stretch of muddy road, Outcast still hadn't encountered the ambush she anticipated.
She could even see the outline and edges of the distant city.
"They actually pointed us to a real path... The vanished Iberian National Defense Army, huh...?"
She lowered her head slightly, seemingly murmuring something under her breath.
But she didn't regret her vigilance. A mindset of caution often only brings regret when it's lacking, and rarely brings joy when it proves successful.
"This city... can it really still be called a city?"
Passing through the last patch of withered woods obstructing their view, FrostNova stood on high ground, overlooking the terrain of the city not far below.
Desolate was no longer sufficient to describe that city, just like its name—"Salt Wind City."
Salt deposits dried and crystallized in rock crevices had stained the land. Seawater had once soaked this city for a very long time.
Especially near the sea, one could even see a long white salt line.
A prosperous town from the era of the "Golden Age," yet now it hadn't left even a single piece of suitable farmland for its people.
Ruins and broken walls remained unrepaired. The long-starving populace had long since had no time to care about such external things. They just wanted to eat, to survive.
No matter what!
"Isn't this even more dilapidated than the Londinium districts plowed over by a Catastrophe?"
Outcast made a harmless joke, though somewhat awkwardly, because what she said was indeed true.
"It's raining."
FrostNova reached out her hand, catching raindrops falling from the sky.
She seemed to have suddenly grasped a factor that made her feel this city's atmosphere was gloomy and oppressive.
Aside from the dilapidated urban area, here—
"There's no sun."
They hadn't just entered Iberia a day or two ago, but the closer they got to the sea, the less attention they received from the sun, gradually obscured by dense, impenetrable clouds.
"No sun, no hope (Laterano language)."
Outcast uttered a phrase in a strange tone, drawing a puzzled look from FrostNova.
"Don't mind it. It's just an insignificant line from ancient scriptures."
She offered an explanation, though sometimes these scriptures were indeed quite accurate.
"Let's enter the city from over there."
Using the high ground, she quickly picked an infiltration point where houses were relatively sparse.
Rhodes Island couldn't be sure to what extent the Deep Sea Church controlled Salt Wind City. It was always wise to avoid drawing too much attention.
——————
West Gate direction,
A group of three people clad in tattered robes moved slowly, appearing no different from others.
And Salt Wind City's residents, who seemed like walking corpses, naturally didn't notice these three uninvited outsiders either.
Or perhaps, their minds, long forced into barrenness by hunger and poverty, could no longer accommodate excessive thought.
"......"
They hung their heads, silent, not uttering a word.
They kept their eyes open, numb, motionless.
Only their slow breathing proved they weren't sculptures left behind from the "Golden Age."
"The people here... are just too strange."
FrostNova wasn't unfamiliar with Infected who had lost hope. On the contrary, thanks to Rhodes Island's principles, she had encountered many.
They lacked the motivation to live on. They were remorseful, they were angry, but rarely were they so... numb.
But in this dead city without sun, such emotions seemed to have spread into a norm.
"They carry the same scent as the villagers from before on them."
Kevin slightly perked up his spirits. After spreading his perception throughout Salt Wind City, the number of such "abnormal people" had exceeded his expectations.
"More than in that village?"
Outcast suddenly felt that they might need to reassess the difficulty of this mission.
"No."
Kevin shook his head. If it were only to this extent, it wouldn't have surprised him either.
"Every single one."
"Every single one what?"
FrostNova asked in a low voice.
"Every single person here carries what you call 'Seaborn' information on them."
Not a high pitch, not a loud voice, yet it sent chills down both their spines simultaneously. Shocked gazes shot out from beneath their ragged cloaks towards those dazed and numb citizens.
"Perhaps this place already belongs to 'them.' In other words, every single person here could become your enemy."
After hearing Kevin's words,
Outcast's expression turned extremely grave.
Being enemies with an entire city—this was already beyond the scope of a two-person mission, wasn't it?
"In any case, let's proceed for now. If things become impossible, we'll retreat."
Since its establishment, Rhodes Island had basically never produced deserters. After reporting the situation,
the Doctor would generally issue orders based on circumstances. If things truly became impossible, he would always issue retreat orders before you even requested them.
Human touch.
This was the biggest change Outcast noticed after realizing the Doctor had awakened.
"Hmm?"
A corner of eye-catching red clothing occupied FrostNova's vision. In this city where even the sky remained only gray and dark, that splash of bright color was so attention-grabbing.
Even FrostNova saw it; Outcast, being a Sniper operator, noticed it even more so.
She was old; her physical abilities and constitution were declining. But this pair of eyes—the most important asset for a Sniper operator—were still sharp as ever.
Those keen eyes even caught a glimpse of that red-clad woman's profile.
The moment she glimpsed the other's face, Outcast felt slightly surprised and then chuckled.
"That Yan saying is quite apt: Coming early isn't as good as coming at just the right time."
——————
Tap, tap, tap.
Skadi followed the little girl, walking through dark streets and alleys.
She carried a huge instrument case on her back, wore a light green pointed hat. Beneath the singer's red long skirt were slender, fair legs. Her curvaceous figure and clean, pretty face made her seem like an anomaly in this city.
Suddenly, she reached out to stop the little girl's movement.
Her eyes glanced towards behind her; her hand rested on the instrument case on her back.
"Come out."
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