“Let noble anger surge like a mighty tide, boiling and roaring!”
The assembly closed with the representatives singing together the anthem Holy War.
Amidst the tsunami-like waves of sound, Ci Yue felt somewhat dazed—she understood now.
This was the answer Xing Luo had spoken of; they intended to exact revenge on the mainlanders who persecuted them…
The uniformed girl beside Ci Yue joined in the chorus, as did everyone here—they all knew this song originating from the former Soviet Union.
After the chorus ended, the crowd began to disperse. Ci Yue stood and searched for Chi Lian, but she had already left long ago.
“My name is Guo Xueyan, but you can just call me Xueyan. That’s also my code name,” the uniformed girl said to Ci Yue as they stepped out of the hall.
“Are you going to take me to the prison again?” Ci Yue asked.
“I need to get permission from Senior Xing Luo first. Until then, stay there. It’s getting late; someone in the prison will bring you food. Also, don’t try any tricks while I’m gone!”
Xing Luo rubbed her temples.
The Witch Committee never let Xing Luo rest. As soon as she returned to Song City, a mountain of tasks awaited her—just after the conference, numerous reports had arrived at her post, awaiting her review.
***
Finally finishing her paperwork, Xing Luo suddenly remembered someone else she needed to deal with—Ci Yue.
A knock came at the door; Xing Luo motioned for the visitor to enter.
It was Guo Xueyan—what a coincidence. Xing Luo had been looking for her.
“Senior Xing Luo, you look exhausted. Take a break.”
“I’m fine. I’m used to it. What’s Ci Yue’s current situation?”
“She’s in the temporary prison. What should we do with her?”
“Let me think… I don’t have time to handle her personally for now, so you’ll be responsible. She’s an S-rank magical girl—though her Magical Heart isn’t on her, she still has some strength. Be careful.”
“But… I’m going to participate in the Squad Selection. I’m afraid I can’t keep watching her all the time.”
“Hm? Xueyan, what’s your current position?”
Xueyan said proudly, “I was promoted to Captain of the Song City Guard these past two years due to my excellent performance! So I’m qualified for the Squad Selection. Senior Xing Luo, impressive, right?”
“You’re only a B-Rank magical girl. How did you become captain?”
“That’s because Senior Chi Lian trusts me and specially promoted me.”
“Getting promoted through connections isn’t a good thing… Xueyan.”
Xueyan pouted, “No way! I was only noticed because I performed well in front of Senior Chi Lian!”
“Fine, Xueyan, Ci Yue will stay at your place. She seems like a rational person and won’t do anything reckless.”
Xing Luo took a badge and a black wristband from the drawer.
“This is… a Labor Reform Badge?” Xueyan exclaimed in surprise. “I thought those disappeared long ago.”
“There’s no choice. The Labor Reform Facility closed five years ago. This is the only remaining badge. And this wristband is also for Labor Reform Convicts. It has tracking and electric shock functions.”
“Fit this on her; she won’t run off,” Xing Luo handed the two items to Xueyan.
“As expected, bad kids must undergo Labor Reform! Hmph.” Xueyan smiled mischievously.
“All right, it’s late now. Go back quickly.”
“Got it! Senior Xing Luo, you should rest early and take care of yourself!”
Xueyan strode out the door but immediately stopped in front of it, seemingly surprised by someone she saw.
“Chi… Chi Lian, Governor! Hello!” Xueyan hurriedly saluted, then dashed away after the salute.
The scarlet-haired girl walked in.
“Xing Luo, we had an appointment,” Chi Lian said.
“Mm.”
Xing Luo nodded, stood, and followed Chi Lian out of the room.
“Where are we going, Chi Lian?”
“To the surface. Fewer people there.”
They pushed open the heavy iron door. A biting cold wind blew in, but neither girl flinched as they stepped out of the bunker.
“Put this on. Be careful of the dust; some contains radiation.” Xing Luo handed Chi Lian a Protective Mask.
“I know.”
The surface of Song City was a city in ruins, with broken walls everywhere. Occasionally, faint lights flickered amid the debris—that was people also wearing Protective Masks, moving through the ruins.
Crows perched on newly erected utility poles, cawing unsettlingly. Yet, they were among the few relatively tolerable creatures remaining in this ruined city.
In the darkness, a rat heard footsteps and quickly scurried into a drainage pipe, making a gurgling sound.
Due to nuclear radiation, some rat populations had mutated, growing as large as their southern counterparts.
Some groups even evolved the ability to hunt mid-sized animals cooperatively.
They were widely recognized as hazardous animals in the Northern East Region but were difficult to eradicate completely—after all, like humans, they survived both the nuclear blast and the Beast Invasion, their vitality stubbornly enduring.
“Since I came here, the surface hasn’t changed in my memory—still lifeless and dead,” Xing Luo said as she walked among the ruins.
“I’m not a local of the Northern East Region, but I still sympathize with what happened here,” Chi Lian said, kicking away a blocking stone. The rock fell into a snowdrift, sending up a cloud of dust.
“Chi Lian, where are you going?”
“To the People’s Mall. That place is a bit warmer.”
The two arrived in front of a large, relatively well-preserved building. Though the big characters “People’s Mall” welded atop the roof had faded, the building still looked grand from below.
Inside was spacious and empty. Compared to outside, the temperature was noticeably higher—just as Chi Lian had said.
Surprisingly, a faint light glimmered inside; it seemed someone was stationed here.
The people stationed here were Patrollers of the surface. The mall’s basement also served as an air raid shelter, where they spent cold nights.
The two entered the shelter, removed their Protective Masks, and breathed in the warm air.
The Patrollers never expected two governors to arrive here. Seeing Xing Luo and Chi Lian, they almost thought they were dreaming……
“It’s nothing. We’re here for an inspection. How’s your working environment? Any difficulties? Need any assistance?” Xing Luo asked the Patrollers.
They dared not complain and all said it was fine.
“You’re still the same as when I first met you,” Chi Lian said to Xing Luo.
“Well, that’s because my predecessor taught me…” Xing Luo tightened her grip on the Cross Necklace she wore. Against her splendid uniform, the necklace appeared especially plain.
They rested in the warm shelter.
“Your predecessor… You still haven’t told me her story. Last time, where did we leave off, Xing Luo?”
“Put this on! You’re officially one of our Labor Reform Convicts now.” Xueyan said to Ci Yue.
“Lab… labor reform what?” Ci Yue was clueless as Xueyan fastened the wristband and badge onto her.
***
The black wristband was fastened tightly, impossible to remove.
“It’s Labor Reform. We used to call those undergoing labor reform ‘Labor Reform Convicts.’ This wristband can shock you if you exceed a certain speed, so you can’t run away. It also has tracking functions, so you can’t hide either. Understand, Ci Yue?” Xueyan explained.
“Thank heavens… you finally called me by my name.” Ci Yue sighed.
“Don’t bite the hand that feeds you. You’ll be staying at my house. I have an empty room just for you.”
“How can that be… I’m a Labor Reform Convict. Having a convict live in your home doesn’t seem right.”
“My mom used to be in charge of labor reform convicts, and my dad is a soldier. Our house can be your Labor Reform Facility. You have to obey my parents’ orders while you’re here! Got it?”
“Got it…..”