Chapter 159: Responsibilities

Gu Yuan's expression was touched as he sensed the madly surging aura. Ever since the sounds from beyond the city walls reached them, Han Meng had transformed. Once on the verge of giving up, he now erupted with an unprecedented fury and stubbornness. For some reason, the sight of the scarlet veins in Han Meng's eyes made Gu Yuan's heart tremble slightly.

"Why bother, Han Meng?" Gu Yuan's voice, tinged with helplessness, spoke. "You must have heard headquarters' communication just now. That train cannot enter Aurora City."

"Just now was just now! Now, there are survivors from District Three on that train!"

Gu Yuan was about to say something else when Han Meng growled again.

"Aurora City stood by while the Seven Districts perished, arguably because their population was too vast to save... But now, there are only a few dozen people on that train at most! They barely escaped from District Three; they are the last seeds of the Seven Districts! They've fought desperately to reach the city gates—are you still going to abandon them? Does Aurora City not even have the strength to save these few dozen people?!"

Hearing this, Gu Yuan fell silent.

The shouts from the train continued.

Simultaneously, the crowd around White Dove Plaza grew agitated and restless.

"Are those survivors from the Seven Districts?!""Someone's alive! People are still alive outside the city walls!!""So many elderly and children... Heavens, what have they endured?""Why aren't they allowed into the city?!""Exactly! They barely managed to escape to Aurora City, why won't you let them in?!"

Anger flared on the faces of those holding flags and banners. Moreover, Aurora City residents who had not initially joined the protest but heard the shouts from beyond the city walls also walked onto the streets, looking puzzled. Upon seeing the scene, they froze.

Some had already heard the news of the Seven Districts' demise but had remained silent, as not everyone possesses compassion. Others had just heard the news and were greatly shocked. However, when they heard the shouts from outside the city walls, many were deeply moved.

The lives of three hundred thousand people were too immense for them to speak lightly of, but the few dozen exiled children, elderly, and wounded outside the gates stirred their compassion.

As residents of Aurora City, they had always been proud. They couldn't understand why Aurora City wouldn't accept these survivors. Coupled with the surging emotions of the surrounding populace, many more people were influenced and voluntarily joined the ranks.

"You cold-blooded Enforcers! You abandoned the Seven Districts, and now you're abandoning these wounded and children too?!""Deputy Chief Tan Xin is a coward! What is he thinking? Does he not even have the courage to accept the injured?!""I'm a doctor! Let them in! They need treatment!!""If you even kill these poor people, what kind of Enforcers are you?! How can cold-hearted people like you manage Aurora City well?!"

The public's emotions soared amidst the shouts. They clenched their fists and flags, beginning to attempt to cross the cordon. Some had even started grappling with the Enforcers guarding the line, plunging the scene into extreme chaos!

Figures rushed across the plaza, joining the chaotic spectacle, startling all the peacefully resting white doves nearby, which flapped their wings and soared into the sky.

Unnoticed on a wooden chair, Gu Yuan silently watched the chaotic crowd in the distance, his expression complex.

"Let me go!!" Han Meng continued to struggle wildly, cracks spreading across the wooden chair beneath him, as if it would soon shatter.

"Han Meng, you have great potential," Gu Yuan said slowly. "But don't forget you are also an Enforcer. Your duty is to be loyal to Aurora City... You should know the consequences of openly defying Aurora City's orders."

Han Meng looked at him and replied, word by word, "My duty is to protect... not to pledge loyalty to anyone."

Seeing the determination glinting in Han Meng's eyes, Gu Yuan let out a long sigh.

The white-haired Enforcer said no more. Instead, he slowly placed the coffee cup from his hand onto the wooden chair beside him...

*Crack!*

The moment the paper cup touched the surface of the wooden chair, it was as if a mountain had crashed onto ice. Vicious cracks instantly covered the entire chair, and with a sharp bang, the chair burst apart and splintered from Han Meng's struggles!

As the wooden chair shattered, Han Meng seized the opportunity to break free from the restraints on him. He transformed into a black lightning bolt, swiftly dashing towards the city wall without hesitation amidst the swirling dust.

Gu Yuan stood calmly amidst the wreckage of the wooden chair, his pupils reflecting the retreating figure in black. It was as if he saw his younger self."Such a character," he mused, "no wonder the Path of Judgment favored him so much... What a pity..."

He shook his head, then turned and walked away alone into the distance.

The City Wall.

The shouts from the train outside the city merged with the roars of the citizens within. At this moment, the many Enforcers standing on the city wall felt a sense of bewilderment.

"Is Chen Ling... using the survivors from District Three as hostages?" A five-mark Enforcer frowned and spoke."He knows he can't enter Aurora City on his own, so he's using these survivors to stir up the emotions of the city's residents, to blackmail us... A truly clever tactic.""But I don't understand, what if he does enter the city? We already know his identity; isn't he just walking into a trap?""I don't know...""So now, do we destroy the train or not?"

At this question, all three Enforcers fell silent.

After a moment, the Enforcer in the middle still took a deep breath and said slowly, "Headquarters hasn't changed the order. We proceed as planned... No matter who is on that train, it cannot be allowed into Aurora City!"

Perhaps the phrase "Headquarters' order" had its effect, as the other two Enforcers nodded slightly. They stood side-by-side on the city wall, and three domains simultaneously expanded around them!

"Are you really going to destroy that train?!" Wen Shilin's brows furrowed. "No... The survivors on board are innocent! Not only will you refuse them entry, but you'll personally kill them? Do you know what a terrible impact that will have?"

"Since when do reporters get to dictate matters concerning Aurora City's safety?" an Enforcer cast a cold glance at him.

"I am merely stating an objective fact!"

The pen in Wen Shilin's hand was rapidly writing in his notebook. He stared at the three of them and spoke with grave seriousness, "Unless you kill me now, once I return, I will report all of this truthfully in print... The public outrage it will cause will not be easily quelled. You... and indeed the entire Enforcer system, will suffer unpredictable consequences."