Chapter 572: Rain in Changkong City

It's raining, it's raining all the time.

Dark clouds have been lingering in this sky for a long time, and there are few sunny days throughout the year. The thin silver line like cow hair cuts through the dark purple cast by the dark clouds, and it itches when it falls on the face. The wind that follows blows away the strange touch, and makes people feel cold instead.

Standing on the top of the ruined high-rise building, it is obvious that if you step back, you will be able to hide from the rain, but Mikael would rather stand in the rain.

The wind is getting stronger and stronger, and the criss-crossing wires and clotheslines are swaying in the wind and rain, "whoosh" non-stop.

The TV antenna extending from the top of the colorful container is like a pair of hands trying to touch the deep space, but unfortunately, it has been broken by the wind, leaving only a half of it, which seems to have been transformed into a lightning rod. But it is too long to be a lightning rod, and can only swing helplessly in the increasingly urgent wind, causing the entire container to emit a faint "clang clang" sound.

From time to time, a "tick-tick" sound came from the yellow plastic ceiling. It was when large raindrops fell on it. Not to mention the plastic, these raindrops would occasionally fall on the containers, making a slightly crisper collision sound than the plastic.

This world is so quiet, and yet so not quiet.

My heart was a little confused, like the raindrops circling and entangled in the air.

Everything was going according to plan. Even if there were some accidents in the middle, such as the feather that carried all her memories of herself 50,000 years ago... the possibility brought about by it was also strangled by him through the Herrscher of Knowledge.

Well, that feather and that memory have been completely integrated into the Herrscher of Knowledge, and Hua has no chance to see it again. Even if the Herrscher of Knowledge went to the trouble of orally narrating that memory to Hua, it didn't matter. There is still a difference between orally narrated memories and memories that really exist in the heart. Although Hua might lose a part of herself forever in this way, it is better than...

However, if it comes to the end, maybe I can free up my hands to return that part of the memory to her before everything is over.

No, it's better not to do that. That memory will only bring her pain in the distant future.

Is this what I am worried about?

Mikael shook his head.

Or is it because of the "father's" narration.

It's not an exaggeration to compare his relationship with the Herrscher of Knowledge to that of a father and daughter, but is it necessary to say so? It seems that there is really no effect except to successfully cause some unnecessary misunderstandings.

Is he and Mei addicted to playing the father-daughter role-playing game?

Or is it that he unconsciously wants to make up for the regrets of the past.

The rain got a little heavier.

However, in the final analysis, no matter how meaningful or meaningless the thoughts in his heart are, the truly meaningless thing is this act of getting wet in the rain.

Such behavior will not get anything except a cold or a fever - oh, for Mikael, not even a cold or a fever. This is a truly meaningless thing.

"Heh..."

There was an undisguised sense of prying behind him. Mikael turned his head and met the sight of two dirty, thin children with bandages wrapped around their bodies through the window.

The so-called window is actually a piece of ordinary glass, embedded in the hole opened on the container. The window was polished very brightly, but most of the blue paint of the container had peeled off, revealing the iron plate that was rusted like osteoporosis. There was no way to do this. It rained almost every day here. It would be strange if it didn't become like this after years of being soaked in water.

"Hehe."

He showed a kind smile, but the children closed the curtains in fear. The sound of the fast-running footsteps was too clear through the thin iron plate of the container, and the smile on Mikael's mouth was gradually frozen in the cold rain.

"Hiss... Am I so scary?"

With the reflection on the glass, Mikael silently looked at his smiling face.

No problem, no problem.

Back then, he used such a smile to deceive Mei's trust step by step.

What exactly is wrong... Could it be that her temperament has been infected by the Herrscher of Knowledge?

"Tsk."

Hearing the deliberately low footsteps behind her, Mikael gathered her rain-soaked hair and turned around slowly.

"Lord, why are you here?"

The raven was a little surprised, as if she didn't expect Mikael to appear directly in front of the "nest" she built for the children.

"Does seeing me make you so nervous? Besides, I still want to hear you call me teacher instead of Lord, Nata."

"Since I'm working for World Snake, I think it's better to follow the local customs. Don't you like the title of Lord? It feels much cooler than 'teacher'."

"But even if you call me Lord every day, the reward should be the same."

Pretending not to feel Raven's tense nerves, Mikael steered the topic back on track:

"Have you found the traces of Raiden Mei and Kiana Kaslana?"

Strangely, when the mission was mentioned, the tension surrounding Raven dissipated a little:

"Kiana was found a long time ago. I thought the overall Honkai energy reaction of this city was already outrageous, but the Honkai energy reaction that erupted in the instant that the girl appeared was like a flare in the middle of the night. Although it was only a short moment, it was enough to determine her location."

"How is the situation?"

"When I arrived, she had already fainted. Of course, her condition was not very good, and the lines of Honkai erosion could be seen on her body. I did not move her rashly. Raiden Mei seemed to have been teleported to a different place, but... how should I put it, she was caught in a trap? Not long after noon, around one or two o'clock in the afternoon, she was brought here by Xiaokong. Not long after, she left with Xiaokong again. Xiaokong was more familiar with the environment of Changkong City, and she must have been asked by her to go with her to find Kiana. Right. The anti-entropy Helios transport ship is anchored in the south of Changkong City. The girl has made an appointment with the children to bring hot dinner from Helios when she returns in the evening. "

Hearing a familiar name, Mikael's eyes flashed, and he asked knowingly:

"Xiaokong? Is he also your adopted child?"

"Uh... I can't say adopted, it sounds like I'm old enough to be a mother..."

Standing in the gradually heavy rain, Raven pulled down the hood on her head, covering most of her face.

She didn't seem to want to talk about the children in front of Mikael, and soon led the topic elsewhere.

"Speaking of which, sir, how did you predict that the two girls would suddenly appear here this morning? It's too much of a coincidence. Or did you do something to 'interfere'?"

"Hmm?"

Mikael smiled and tilted his head, "Do you really want to know this? Or do you not want me to ask more about these children's affairs?"

"Both."

Raven's answer was frank with a hint of embarrassment of being seen through. But even so, she still stubbornly planned to continue the topic.

"Then I won't tell you."

Mikael put one hand on his waist and wanted to snap his fingers, but his fingers were wet by the rain. He tried several times and only made a muffled sound.

"?"

Raven sighed deeply, his left hand unconsciously stroked the mole at the corner of his mouth, and a visible fatigue surged all over his body.

"Teacher, to be honest... I'm a little worried about your mental state."

Unconsciously, the address changed, which meant that the girl in front of him was really concerned about him as Natasha.

But Mikael didn't think there was anything wrong with him.

"Hmm? What should I worry about?"

"It's this tone of voice... Teacher... Don't you think you will become another person occasionally?"

"..."

Mikael didn't answer. He silently wiped away the hair stuck to his forehead by the rain, and suddenly felt that this sentence sounded familiar, as if someone had said something similar not long ago-

"Ah! The tone of your words just now is like an antique!"

Also, did he just make a "tsk" sound?

Fortunately, it was not a serious problem, and he had known about this kind of thing for a long time.

"Don't worry, I'm fine."

Mikael patted his head gently, but splashed water droplets from his hair, which was no less than Natasha's.

Now was not a good time to chat. Even the wind and rain seemed to be urging the two to end the conversation as soon as possible, and it became more and more urgent.

Mikael clapped his hands, and it seemed to wipe away the excess water stains from his palms.

"After this is over, let Gray Snake find a good place away from the collapse, and then take all these children there."

"Huh?"

Mikael turned sideways, and the previously closed curtains had a crack again. The breathing sounds of several children were clearly felt even though there was a steel plate and the wind and rain blocked them.

"The conditions here are limited. The children will not be able to bear the emergency food such as compressed biscuits and self-heating rice you brought for a long time. The water source is also a problem. Although it rains every day here and most of the streets are flooded, these are all water with collapse energy radiation. In this case, it is difficult to even boil some water for a bath. If an infectious disease is caused, it will be troublesome."

"Haha. I really didn't know that you, an old man, actually have a side that loves children."

The topic stopped abruptly in Mikael's silence.

If it continues, even if the two people present deliberately control and avoid it, it will probably be difficult not to touch the Siberian snowfield more than a decade ago.

Today, Natasha has understood that Mikael had the power to save her brother, but a person has never been obliged to help another person unconditionally, and Raven did not think that the price she paid was worth a life, but she had nothing to use as a bargaining chip at that time.

Mikael did not do nothing, at least he gave his brother the best medical conditions that ordinary people can enjoy... So, Natasha can no longer tell whether the man in front of her is the murderer who indirectly killed her brother or the one who saved them.

This is also good, talking about feelings is always not as reliable as talking about rewards, which may be the reason why she subconsciously prefers to use the title of "Lord" rather than "Teacher".

"Thank you for your kindness. But forgive me, teacher, this matter... Can you please do it yourself..."

He used the title of "Teacher" again, although the hood covered his eyes, but the pleading meaning in it could be heard by anyone with normal emotional intelligence.

"I'm very busy..."

Having said that...

"Are you worried that once the Gray Snake takes over, the news will inevitably spread to other people in the World Snake, especially... Jackal? These incomplete Stigma Awakeners are really good for that guy Jackal Experimental material, but Gray Snake has also come into contact with these children before... Wait, do you want me to... Okay, I promise you."

The rain was already heavy enough to obscure the view. If the previous raindrops were just like cow hairs floating randomly in the sky, then the current rain is like a thick bead curtain, dividing the world into countless parts layer by layer. , and it also makes people who are face to face feel as if they are separated by countless worlds.

The moment Mikael agreed to this request, a large cloud of white steam came out of the raven's mouth. While the whole person relaxed, the rare closeness and pleading to Mikael that he had to fake before also dissipated. .

This result is really not surprising, and Mikael thinks... this is not bad.

He silently retreated under the shack. The plastic baffle blocked the dripping rain, but occasionally when the wind suddenly became stronger, some raindrops would still splash in.

Like a woman, Mikael pushed her hair to one side with both hands and twisted it hard. As the moisture seeped out, the power of the Seventh Herrscher was activated, and her body became dry again, but her clothes still smelled wet and musty.

Tie your long hair into a bun at the back of your head. Is this obviously only the second time... or the third time? But the technique has become quite skillful.

He just did his thing slowly and slowly, as if Natasha and the dozen children in the container behind him didn't exist.

Great, keep it that way.

There was a voice in my heart telling myself this.

First it was Mei, then Seele, then Mebius, then Hua, and now even the last relationship was severed.

Now, I am finally alone again.

The next short section is a distance that cannot be seen in the entire fifty thousand year timeline, so you can walk it alone.

There is no unaccustomed feeling as imagined, both body and mind seem to feel that this is how it should be. And that's exactly how it should be.

"Aren't you going to take shelter from the rain? Or go in and take care of the children? Even if you're wearing a raincoat, it's going to be uncomfortable just standing in the rain."

"It's okay. This is a common thing when doing tasks. I'm used to it by now."

Mikael nodded and did not mention the topic of shelter from the rain again.

As for the raven's wariness towards his "employer", he didn't care at all. If she were elsewhere, like when she was in Changkong City before, she had never shown this attitude. The reason why she was like this was probably because this was the "nest" she built for her children.

In the plan, they shouldn't meet here.

In other words, Mikael's sudden appearance here was somewhat of a warning and provocation, which forced the raven to respond to him with the same attitude. But he knew all this clearly in his heart.

If there was any surprise, it was...even though she was so vigilant, she still chose to entrust these children to him. After all, he was the only person in the world who could cure these children. Human beings are indeed the most contradictory creatures.

"After this mission is over, you can actually choose to take the money and leave, and then join Anti-Entropy or Destiny. Although your resume is not clean, in this special period, they will not abandon an infinitely close S Super Valkyrie. In this way... you can be exempted from guilt due to your contribution in the future trial."

?

"I really can't stand it!"

Natasha lamented and took off her hood. The rain suddenly soaked her hair, but she walked under the plastic baffle in two or two steps and stood next to Mikael.

"Teacher, don't you think this is a problem - you always use the calmest voice and say the most scary things. What about post-war trials and the like, have you ever considered the feelings of the listener? Sometimes it really does I wonder if I heard the wrong thing."

"..."

What's going on? What's the problem? It seems different than expected.

"If you are considering the problems of these children, you can wait until I cure them and then take them away with you. But in this case, the only choice you can make is reverse entropy."

"Well, this is indeed one of the reasons. Anyway, help me dry my hair first, teacher."

"...Then why are you getting wet?"

Things were out of control again. Although he didn't understand what went wrong, it seemed that he could only accept it.

A ball of fire was lit in his hand, and Nata's hair was quickly dried. Although she felt that the other party's behavior was unreasonable and unnecessary, she couldn't leave it alone as it was wet.

Not long ago, she was enveloped in the cold wind and rain, but now her whole body was warmed up again. Under the alternation of hot and cold, Natasha suddenly shivered, and a "sneeze" made Mikael's nose feel itchy. .

After sneezing, Natasha's voice became a little dull.

"The children are my weak spot. If you had just agreed to take the money and leave, you might not have tried your best to treat them. And... the reward you gave is too much. My annual reward is 1000 yuan." Twenty times the annual allowance plus bonus, there will be no such store after this village. As for the post-war trial, let’s wait until after the war.”

"..."

Mikael was speechless for a moment. He could only hear a sense of coping in Natasha's words.

She wasn't telling the truth, of course Mikael knew that.

He had also thought of these reasons, but because of this, when these reasons became lies, he couldn't understand why Nata stayed.

Maybe, that's just a kind of inertia.

He who couldn't understand Natasha's decision was probably like those people in the past who couldn't understand that an object without force could move in a straight line at a constant speed.

"Teacher, you seem to have a good understanding of how bad a person can become."

Natasha's words had no beginning or end, and Mikael couldn't figure out what she wanted to express, so he just waited quietly for the next step.

"But you don't... forget it, let's consider a more realistic issue - it's raining so heavily, and according to Raiden Mei's temperament, even if she wants to continue looking for Kiana, she will definitely choose to send Sora back first. Why don't you avoid it? I don't think you are good at dealing with this kind of thing."

"Although I don't know why you are so confident that I am not good at dealing with this kind of thing, but..."

Mikael slowly raised his hand and pointed to the stairs in the distance:

"They are back."

Natasha's eyes followed Mikael's fingers, and she happened to see Mei holding her coat with both arms, covering Xiao Kong in her arms, and carefully walking up the stairs step by step.

In a few days, we will enter the penultimate volume. Before that, wait for Zhi Bao to come back with Old Antique after all the miles.