Chapter 157: How to Survive?

A group of people stood in silence on the tall city wall, watching the flaming train that had burst forth from the disaster. Living in Aurora City, they had never dreamed of witnessing such a sight. The train, wreathed in flames, seemed like an avenger from the underworld. As it bore down on them, they felt an inexplicable sense of dread. For them, the Gray Realm symbolized mystery and the unknown. This train, bursting forth from it, along with the bloody silhouette within, was even more enigmatic.

"Officer, what do we do now?" a law enforcer tentatively asked.

"Headquarters has issued orders," the Five-Stripe Enforcer said slowly, putting away his communicator. "To prevent panic, that train absolutely cannot be allowed to enter Aurora City. First, issue a remote warning. Ideally, he should get off the train himself and surrender... If he refuses to cooperate, destroy it immediately."

"What about the disasters following behind?"

"With the aurora present, they won't dare approach the city wall. Ignore them."

"Understood."

Just then, Wen Shilin's voice rang out from behind the enforcer.

"Former District Three Enforcer? Heretic Chen Ling? Can you tell me more about the person on the train?"

The Five-Stripe Enforcer frowned, then turned around and spoke unhurriedly. "Mr. Wen, since you're so capable, why don't you investigate it yourself? We don't just reveal confidential information from our law enforcement system to outsiders."

Seeing this, Wen Shilin did not press further. Instead, he stood quietly, watching the approaching train, lost in thought.

While the two were speaking, a nearby law enforcer had already prepared the loudspeaker equipment. The Five-Stripe Enforcer took it, looked at the steadily approaching train, and spoke slowly and gravely:

"Chen Ling, your identity has already been exposed. Stop the train and surrender now, and you might still have a chance to live."

The voice, amplified by the loudspeakers in front of the city gate, spread through the wind and snow. The protesting citizens very close to the city wall heard it clearly, whispering in confusion, seemingly discussing who this Chen Ling might be.

At the same time, on a wooden bench in White Pigeon Square, a figure in a black trench coat trembled slightly!

"Chen... Ling?"

He slowly raised his head, his chapped lips murmuring the two words, seemingly trying to confirm if these were the words he knew... No, it couldn't be. The Chen Ling he knew was certainly no heretic.

On top of the brown building.

"Here they come," Chu Muyun said, raising an eyebrow.

"I knew this kid wouldn't cause a small commotion," Bai Ye said, gently lowering the brim of his baseball cap, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"...Who was panicking just now?"

"Panicking? You must be mistaken."

"How could I... Huh?" Chu Muyun scratched his head in confusion. "What was I just saying...? Queen of Hearts, did you steal my thoughts?"

"I merely caught a bug in your memory, but that's no longer important," Bai Ye said, looking towards the city wall with a faint smile. "I'm curious, how will this kid enter the city under the watchful eyes of Aurora City?"

"Chen Ling, your identity has already been exposed. Stop the train and surrender now, and you might still have a chance to live."

The warning, carried through the wind and snow in front of the city wall, reached Chen Ling's ears. He squinted, barely able to make out numerous figures standing on the city wall. It seemed his arrival had already caused some commotion within the city... But this was exactly what Chen Ling wanted.

He turned and returned to the control room, where he saw Zhao Yi looking at him with a tense expression.

"Chen Ling, what do we do now?"

Chen Ling did not reply. Instead, he took a walkie-talkie-like communicator from the control panel and walked into the carriage behind him.

The people inside the carriage had also heard Aurora City's warning. Recalling everything Chen Ling had said earlier, the entire carriage was now filled with an atmosphere of oppression and despair... Perhaps, as Chen Ling had said, they wouldn't be able to enter Aurora City.

"Do you want to live?" Chen Ling asked directly.

Hearing this, some people in the carriage looked up, their hollow eyes fixed on Chen Ling, filled with confusion.

"Didn't you say... Aurora City wouldn't take us in?" someone asked hoarsely.

"That's right, Aurora City won't accommodate you," Chen Ling said slowly, "because the enforcers in high positions stand on the most rational and objective ground. But you must understand that Aurora City... doesn't entirely belong to these enforcers."

Blankness appeared in everyone's eyes. They realized they didn't understand what Chen Ling was saying.

"In a play, what must be avoided most is the stereotyping and homogenization of characters... because people are different. This difference is reflected in their thoughts, emotions, and their different choices when facing various events;

It's impossible for all enforcers in Aurora City to be in a state of absolute rationality. Some among them must disagree with Aurora City's cold-blooded and ruthless methods. Moreover, besides the enforcers, there are three million citizens in the city. They are the foundation of this city, and the emotions of the public are the easiest to rouse.

We are only sixty-three people. Compared to the powerful entities and three million citizens within Aurora City, we are no different from ants crawling out of ruins;

So the only thing we can do is make Aurora City fight against itself. We need to make a second voice emerge within this city..."

"Officer Chen, do you mean... make them turn on each other first?" Xu Chongguo, being a businessman, was the first to grasp Chen Ling's meaning. "But... with just a few of us, would it be worth it for them to do that? Will anyone truly speak up for us?"

"There will be," Chen Ling said. A figure in a black trench coat flashed through his mind. "There definitely will be."

"Officer Chen, please teach us... what exactly should we do?"

Although the others might not have fully understood Chen Ling's words, from the conversation between the two, they could sense that they weren't completely without hope. A glimmer of light returned to their dim eyes. They looked at Chen Ling, expecting an answer from him.

Chen Ling's gaze calmly swept across the carriage. He slowly stepped forward, approaching the crowd.

In front of him was a middle-aged woman with frostbitten cheeks. She held a five or six-year-old child in her arms. The child had suffered extensive burns, with charred skin, and their breath was extremely faint... It was estimated they wouldn't live much longer.

As if sensing Chen Ling's gaze, the woman's hollow eyes slowly lifted to meet his.

"Your child is dying," Chen Ling said calmly.

Hearing this, the woman trembled, and pain and despair reappeared in her hollow eyes.

"But Aurora City has excellent doctors. As long as he enters the city and receives treatment, he will definitely live," Chen Ling said after a brief pause.