Chapter 54: waiting
"Where could he have gone?" Mei Lan was filled with worry.
She paced back and forth restlessly.
Several times, she tried to head back into the forest, but Mei Li stopped her.
"Look, the attacks have stopped. He’s definitely okay," Mei Li said, holding her by the shoulders and looking into her eyes.
"He’ll be fine. Trust me."
When Kogan saved her and spoke to her telepathically, she realized he was a first-rank.
But from Mei Lan’s behavior, it became clear that this truth had been buried so deeply that even his partner, Mei Lan, had no idea.
So she said nothing.
She had no reason to interfere in what didn’t concern her.
Besides, she hadn’t forgotten what had happened that night.
Her partner, Wei Li, was killed.
That meant all her dreams and ambitions had evaporated.
Now, she would live the rest of her life as a silent, pitiful slave.
When faced with such a terrifying fate, some might think they’d rather take their own lives than end up as slaves.
But then, why are there so many slaves in the city?
Because they can’t kill themselves.
They can’t let go of that last drop of hope.
The simplest example is Mei Lan.
After the death of her partner, Shan Yu, had she given in and ended her life to escape slavery, she would never have reached the life she now has.
Logic said that what awaited her was slavery, and yet, at the last moment, her life took a different turn — an unexpected one.
And that’s exactly why everyone clings to life until the very last second...
Holding on to the hope that maybe, just maybe, something unexpected might happen.
After a while, two figures emerged from the darkness.
It was Jin Chao and his partner, Dai Li.
Their faces were pale as paper, and their bodies trembled, weak and worn.
"Everyone’s dead," Jin Chao said with a sorrowful tone.
"When we get back, I’m definitely quitting this job," Dai Li muttered, her voice frail.
After witnessing such horrors, many decide to give up this line of work and turn to something safer.
They’re then welcomed by a number of first-rank individuals who run private businesses and offer them jobs.
But after working for a while, they realize the pay isn’t enough — and worse, they feel exploited by their new bosses.
In the end, they find themselves with no choice but to return to working with the teams.
And as for those first-rank individuals who recruit them... they’re cunning and experienced manipulators.
They target those who are mentally fragile and still shaken from the attack — offering them jobs in closed, "safe" environments to give them a false sense of security.
Then these bosses begin exploiting them to the fullest, pushing them to their limits for a salary that’s less than half of what they used to earn with the teams.
Because they know, sooner or later, these people will go back to their squads — so they try to squeeze as much out of them as they can before that happens.
"Have you seen Kogan?" Mei Lan approached them nervously and asked.
"That..." Jin Chao gasped, his expression changing.
He looked at his partner, Dai Li, who seemed just as shocked.
"No... I think..." Jin Chao stammered, unable to gather his words.
Suddenly, from the shadows behind them, a young man with black hair and black clothes appeared. The most distinctive feature was his gradient-colored eyes.
"Kogan," tears streamed down Mei Lan’s face as she instinctively rushed to embrace him.
"Why do you scare me like that?" she said, resting her head on Kogan’s chest, her voice trembling.
Was that love?
What are the components of love?
Sincere care.
Joy for the success of the one we love, and sorrow for their failure.
The willingness to give a piece of our soul to the one we love.
All these things exist in the relationship between Mei Lan and Kogan.
But there is something missing, something that can elevate the relationship to a completely different level.
Instead of just being willing to give a piece of our soul, we must be ready to give our entire soul.
Just as Shan Yu did for Mei Lan, giving his whole soul.
Yet, there remains a problem.
The problem of order.
Whoever can arrange the pieces in the correct order will have the power to control love.
***
Kogan placed his hand on Mei Lan, comforting her.
He glanced at Jin Chao, but the latter quickly looked away, avoiding eye contact.
Even his partner, Dai Li, averted her gaze.
’Did I miss something?’ Kogan narrowed his eyes and thought.
"Kogan!"
Suddenly, a voice echoed in his mind.
"Captain, I’ve been trying to contact you for some time," Kogan sent toward Ray Kang.
"I was also trying to reach you. I’m on my way. What’s the situation over there?"
Kogan scoffed and said sadly, "We faced a terrifying attack. Many have died. Right now, there are five of us here."
Throughout the attack, Ray Kang’s voice kept echoing in his mind, but Kogan ignored it.
He didn’t want to lie, nor did he want Ray Kang to know about the attack.
Ray Kang was silent for a moment, then added, "We’ll arrive soon."
***
Silence settled over the dark and desolate place.
Mei Lan remained clinging to Kogan’s chest, trying to forget what had happened tonight.
Mei Li sat on the ground, leaning against a large tree.
She was quiet and calm.
Would she miss Wei Li?
Perhaps, or perhaps not.
Who was Wei Li?
The safety pin of her life.
With his disappearance, it meant her life was about to explode.
Jin Chao and his partner, Dai Li, stood a little apart from the rest, unable to hide the fear in their eyes. The tension in the air hung heavy, pressing down on them like an invisible weight.
Silence blanketed the group—no one spoke, no one dared to breathe too loudly.
Without their captain by their side, they felt exposed—like prey left out in the open, surrounded by unseen threats. His presence wasn’t just about command; it was a barrier, a symbol of stability in a world that felt one step away from crumbling