Apocalypse Forecast

Nine hours later, a steel train loaded with "cargo" stopped outside Kyoto, at a station exclusive to Tanbo Industry.

Once the carriage door was opened, the stench of urine and filth rushed out. The glaring flashlights illuminated inside, revealing haggard faces matted with dirt.

They gathered together, some male, some female, some old, some young.

Their faces were colorless, some pale, some sallow, none healthy. Some were shrinking back uneasily, some nervously leading the way, while young girls bit their lips, trying hard to wipe clean their faces, straighten up and subtly lower their collars, striving to showcase their value.

Others brimmed with hatred and anger in their eyes, gritting their teeth.

More were already exhausted.

Simply lying on the ground, breathing blankly.

Without exception, all were hybrids.

In silence, Lin Nineteen looked at those eyes, wanting to speak yet stopping short, quickly retracting his gaze, turning around to leave.

Only when getting off the train did he speak to the waiting person, "Please count the number, Ueno-kun, clean them up, inspect them, work quickly, finish before the next batch arrives."

The burly extreme path grunt with sharp teeth nodded, saying nothing unnecessary, raised his hand to put on the raincoat hat, and waved his hand behind him. Instantly, a dozen people grabbed short sticks and rushed in, beginning the rough yet efficient "unloading."

The whistle sound was sharp.

Every now and then, there were rough urging and angry curses.

The hybrids were driven off the train one by one, ignoring whether they cooperated or resisted, someone immediately stripped their clothes, regardless of gender or age, directly tied a plastic wristband printed with a code onto their wrists, locked it, and handed over a small piece of soap.

Next, outside the carriage door, at the place near the wall, the person holding the hose turned on the nozzle, and the water, not warm, roughly blasted every person’s body.

Sharp cries sounded, along with impatient urging and rough roaring and prodding.

Those who were washed were pushed into the temporary disinfecting corridor next to them, passed through suffocating white mist, then given a set of dried uniforms, and immediately someone transported them to a temporary shelter.

No one explained, nor did anyone come out to reassure.

There wasn’t that kind of time to waste, there were more people waiting behind.

Fear is, people coming here... wouldn’t believe in "rescuers" such lies.

More hybrids would only assume they’re being resold again as cheap tools, disposable consumables, sent into a place even crueler.

When unable to resist, all they can do is numbly pray, hoping the darkness ahead won’t be too dark.

Daring not to imagine having light.

"The train from Kyushu Island actually arrived?"

A smoking vagrant scratched his head, pulled out a can of beer from his coat pocket, drank it down in one go, wiped his mouth, and joked, "So fast... didn’t they say the Yingzhou People love procrastinating, why is the action so quick this time? The Dragon Head speaks, and it works."

Wood Cottage glanced at him, too lazy to respond.

This was the third batch tonight.

More was behind.

A sharp curse was heard from afar.

"You will die a bad death! You will die a bad death!"

In the foul-smelling carriage, the elderly man clutching a dying child struggled mightily, shouting painfully, unable to resist the rough tugging of the extreme path gang and was pulled out.

After nurses seized the child, he also got forced into the washing queue, wailing tearfully, his cries drowned by the sound of rushing water.

Inaudible.

"Look, they don’t trust you."

Lawrence tilted his head, lit a cigarette, "Besides, after doing so much, they might not be grateful."

"Did my teacher do all this just to have them line up, one by one, and say thank you to him at the front?"

Wood Cottage laughed, shaking his head indifferently, "Come off it, he doesn’t care."

"Makes it sound so noble, making me, a Green Day feel ashamed." Lawrence shrugged.

"Knowing you’re Green Day, don’t be so high-profile and show off, alright?" Wood Cottage coldly stepped aside, turning up his collar, displaying the Tanbo Inspectors’ insignia, "Mr. Lawrence, what exactly are your business?"

"Can’t I just watch?"

Lawrence innocently looked at him, "At first, I was sharp-eyed, saw your teacher wasn’t ordinary at first glance, we have some kind of connection, don’t be so cold."

"Besides, the hybrid hero Huai Zhisu People is a member of our Green Day... After the Astronomical Society freeloaded, you can’t just wipe your mouth and walk away, right?"

In this age, once someone becomes shameless, they’re simply invincible.

Especially with an organization like Green Day, they can always surprise people in unforeseen ways.

For example... The hybrid hero ’Huai Zhisu People’ who recently gained fame between borders, a good model of Green Day, the beacon appointed by the Great Commander.

Undercover in Astronomical Society, outmaneuvering Deer’s Sing Hall, assassinating Minister Yusheng, rescuing Tanbo, then Gone with the wind, endless stories abound.

Attracting passionate men and infatuated young women.

After the Astronomical Society freeloaded them, Green Day began reverse freeloading the Astronomical Society.

You say Huai Shi is an undercover, I say Huai Zhisu People is our undercover, a piece painstakingly set by the Great Commander to save innocent hybrid compatriots, unexpected, right!

Don’t believe, don’t believe, go ask Huai Shi!

This brand-new propaganda strategy exudes a familiar racy smell Huai Shi knows well from inside out, leaving him speechless, unable to refute.

He wanted to rebut you’re damn nonsense, but unfortunately, Tanbo and Green Day privately indeed have a bit of shameful dealings, for long-lasting friendship trades, it’s harder to separate too far.

Just pinch the nose and accept.

Over time, even Green Day’s people believe they’ve recently gained a fiercely boastful big figure, swaggering greatly in Tanbo, indeed mighty beyond compare.

"...So, let’s get back to business."

Wood Cottage rubbed his forehead, "I’ll say upfront, I’m just a tool, hardly any decision-making ability..."

"I understand, I understand." Lawrence nodded knowingly, "It’s all the teacher’s assignment, right, whenever there’s a problem, throw it on others, you’ve learned well from your teacher... Don’t worry, not troublesome, I’m here for good deeds, helping Tanbo address concerns."

Lin Nineteen looked back at him, full of doubt, "Green Day is starting to do good deeds, what’s happening to this world?"

"Even the Dragon Head of the Triad wants to turn a new leaf, let alone Green Day, right?"

Lawrence no longer lingered on this point, directly stating, "Indeed, I must congratulate you, Tanbo completed a crucial second step, once the hybrid statistics and origin establishment is complete, it’ll become a Holy Temple in every Beastified Characteristic Being’s heart... But the crux lies in these people."

He raised his finger, drawing a circle around the foul-smelling train before him: "What do you plan to do with these people?"

"Tanbo will make its own arrangements." Lin Nineteen replied coldly: "You should ask Yuan Yuan about the relevant plans."

"Ah, I see, Tanbo needs manpower; everything is in ruins, and there’s a need for people and strength. Any Hybrid who wants a stable life aims to find refuge there, which is indeed a good thing."

Lawrence, smoking, suddenly asked: "But what about those who don’t want a stable life? What do you plan to do with them?"

Wood Cottage did not answer him.

And Lawrence had already stepped forward, standing in front of the smelly carriage, peering inside.

He did not disdain the filth within.

Instead, he took a deep breath of the stench, exhaling a dull smoke.

With a sigh full of lightness.

"Look, Mr. Lin, excrement, blood, thick phlegm, stench, a confined space, endless panic and waiting, this is everything they have experienced along the way." He said with compassion: "Truly pitiful."

Wood Cottage answered coldly, "We have done all we could."

"I know, I understand, I get it." Lawrence turned his head back with a smile, yet it was particularly mocking: "You know? Even in such an environment, for many, this is already Heaven.

Compared to the mines, Hell, and poisonous kilns they used to live in, it’s like a villa by the sea, spring amidst flowers, unimaginably beautiful——"

As if recalling the past, an eerie fire lit in the eyes of that wanderer: "To many even less fortunate, this world is like Hell."

"You can’t save them, Mr. Lin, you, your teacher, the Ivory Tower behind your teacher, even the former Utopia and Astronomical Society are the same."

He stated so decisively: "They have long been crushed by misfortune, pain, and despair, by everything they have gone through.

After losing everything they relied on for survival: family, love, hope, they were filled with malice, growing up in a dark, sunless place like Hell.

A stable life and a beautiful future cannot heal them, their hearts are long filled with hate and anger. Your Tanbo is not their Heaven, nor is it the place they want."

"They are your burden." Lawrence told him: "Given any chance, they will exact retribution, as long as they live, they will become hidden dangers and poisoned seedlings.

No matter how many times you try to rescue them, it won’t be of any use."

Wood Cottage apathetically looked down, lighting the cigarette at the corner of his mouth, "Tanbo has its own management system, you don’t need to worry."

"Systems can’t solve all problems."

Lawrence said: "In this world, there are places more suited for them."

He glanced into the distance.

In the deep night sky, there was nothing.

He referred to a farther, more ethereal place——Lower Lockdown Border·Canaan.

A place where the abandoned huddle for warmth.

"I want to take them away." Lawrence said.

Wood Cottage did not speak.

Just smoked.

Silently looked up, gazing at the Sky Dome above.

But there were no stars above the Sky Dome, only a layer of overcast clouds.

He suddenly wondered, if the teacher were here, how would he reply?

But immediately, he no longer wanted to continue thinking.

Because he already knew the answer.

That guy, he would certainly shake his head nonchalantly, wouldn’t he? Coldly refusing, mockingly rebutting, mercilessly cutting off Lawrence’s idea, silently placing all burdens on himself.

No matter how much momentary kindness would sow disaster for the future, and never allowing anyone with a future to walk into Hell and head to such a place.

Thankfully.

Thankfully, he was different from his teacher.

Wood Cottage shook his head, laughing self-deprecatingly.

No matter how brilliant the teacher, there are bound to be degenerate students, right?

Such is the world.

Truly saddening.

He lowered his head, no longer looking at the sky. Silently finished smoking, after stomping it out, let out a long breath, muttered to himself.

"Tanbo is not a prison." Wood Cottage said, "This is a place where one can come and go freely."

After saying this, he no longer paid attention to Lawrence.

Turned around and left.

.

Outside the station, in the trunk of the car, the girl, a bit bored from the long wait, was playing a game as she heard the sound of the door opening.

"Back so soon?" She looked up curiously: "I thought you would be busy until late."

"A bit tired, want to rest for a while."

"Want to go back? I can drive."

"No need."

The tired man rubbed his face, bowed his head: "Just... need to sleep a little."

"Then sleep, ’Mr. Shan Zhong’."

The teenage girl reached out, ruffling his hair, telling him: "It doesn’t matter how long you sleep, I will stay with you."

She smiled, her eyes bright like stars.

A gentle embrace.

Wood Cottage closed his eyes.