"This Han Meng is quite interesting too."
Bai Ye watched with surprise as the lone figure sealed off the city walls. "Is there a chance..."
"No." Chu Muyun cut him off directly.
"But he’s already questioned Aurora City. Why not?"
"His questioning of Aurora City precisely proves he won’t join us. People like him have their own unwavering principles... I know him. The path of the Twilight Society is different from his. He won’t join."
"...Fine." Bai Ye shrugged. "Then he’ll just have to wait to be dragged before the tribunal... What a waste of such promising talent."
As the two spoke, Han Meng had already completely imprisoned the three five-striped enforcers. Black chains coiled around their bodies, and their domains were likewise suppressed by Han Meng. They glared furiously at the approaching black-clad figure, their eyes practically spitting fire.
They struggled incessantly, causing fine cracks to spread across the black chains. It seemed it wouldn’t be long before they shattered them and broke free.
Han Meng naturally saw this but didn’t press the attack. He knew these three were enforcers of the same tier as him. No matter how dominant he was, completely incapacitating all three would be no easy feat. For now, using [Judgment of Sin] to temporarily immobilize them was enough.
Because he knew the key to whether that train could enter the city didn’t lie with these three five-striped enforcers.
If Aurora City was truly determined to destroy that train, they would send more people. If five stripes weren’t enough, they’d send six... or even seven.
Han Meng sat down on the inner edge of the city wall, gun in hand, his tattered black coat fluttering lightly in the wind. He looked toward headquarters, his calm gaze concealing a resolve no blizzard could shatter.
His actions, his gaze, seemed to declare to everyone at the city gates and even within headquarters—
Today, anyone who wanted to approach these gates would have to step over his corpse first.
---
Aurora City, Enforcer Headquarters.
"What’s the situation in the city?" Chu Shiduo hurried back to headquarters and asked.
"Not good," an enforcer replied, his expression grave. "The backlash is worse than we anticipated. After that train broadcasted its message, most residents on the southwest side joined the protests. Over a thousand civilians have gathered near the city gates demanding we let the train in."
"On top of that, people from the Aurora Daily are on the walls and seem to be clashing with our enforcers. If we don’t let that train in, tomorrow’s entire front page will probably be articles condemning us..."
"Even within our own ranks, a significant number of enforcers believe we should let them in..."
Hearing this, Chu Shiduo quickened his pace, his brow furrowed as he analyzed coldly, "If we really destroy that train outside the city, the fallout will far exceed expectations... If someone fans the flames behind the scenes, the entire city could descend into chaos... No, I need to see the Teacher immediately!"
Chu Shiduo swiftly navigated several corridors and arrived at the door of the tea room. After a light knock, he entered.
"Teacher! About that train—"
Before he could finish, Tan Xin glanced at him calmly. A communicator rested beside him.
"Teacher, you’re already aware of the situation outside?" Chu Shiduo asked immediately.
"Yes." Tan Xin took a sip of tea. "What do you think?"
"I believe we should let the train in," Chu Shiduo answered earnestly. "Even if the survivors on board bring news of the outside that might cause panic, that panic is controllable. With proper oversight, these people might not even become rebels later... But if we don’t let them in, the consequences will be a hundred times worse."
"Correct." Tan Xin nodded slightly.
"Teacher, you also think they should be let in? Then why haven’t you given the order?"
"No need to rush." Tan Xin spoke unhurriedly. "Han Meng has already subdued the enforcers at the gates and taken control. Whether I give the order or not, the outcome is the same."
"Han Meng?" Chu Shiduo froze. "He subdued those enforcers? But wasn’t he..."
"That no longer matters."
Tan Xin swirled the tea in his cup, his gaze seemingly piercing through the void to the train speeding toward the city.
"That Chen Ling is indeed capable... I’m curious. After going to such lengths to enter Aurora City, what kind of show is he planning to put on?"
"It’s Chief Han Meng! Chief Han Meng has made his move!!"
On the roaring train, many residents saw Han Meng suppress the three enforcers, their faces lighting up with joy!
Just moments ago, they had been trembling under the enforcers’ oppressive aura, certain they were doomed. But Han Meng’s sudden appearance had given them a sliver of hope... Now, as the train drew closer to the gates, their hearts pounded in anticipation.
Through the carriage windows, they stared at the towering city gates, their palms slick with sweat...
In the control room, Chen Ling watched the figure sitting on the inner side of the wall, the corners of his lips curling slightly.
He knew his gamble had paid off.
"Another favor owed to him..." Chen Ling murmured to himself.
"What did you say?" Zhao Yi turned his head.
"Nothing. Increase speed."
Chen Ling returned to the top of the locomotive, watching the gates rush toward them. The train’s whistle blared from the smokestack behind him, piercing the skies.
Bzzzz!!
His blood-red coat whipped wildly in the icy wind as Chen Ling drew his gun and aimed forward, his eyes gleaming.
Whether they could enter the city smoothly now depended on this final step.
Two kilometers, one kilometer, seven hundred meters, four hundred meters, two hundred meters...
No one else intervened. Amid the clanging of turning wheels, flames surged as the train’s prow split the air, forcing the blizzard itself to part in its wake.
"Everyone! Hold on tight!!"
Zhao Yi shouted from the control room, pushing the throttle forward with one hand while instinctively squeezing his eyes shut.
The passengers immediately grabbed anything they could and curled into tight balls, their hearts pounding as every cell in their bodies braced for the impending impact.
Clang-clang-clang-clang...
The towering, sturdy gates rapidly filled Chen Ling’s vision, the wind whipping his hair back. At the moment of collision, he pulled the trigger without hesitation.
"Hello... Aurora City," he whispered to himself.