The Heartthrob Guide: Dodder of S-Class Sentinels

Chapter 290 Rumors
But is it truly "protection," or is the central government using the guise of "protection" to carry out disguised house arrest and weakening measures?

No one can say for sure, and no one dares to speak rashly.

After all, in a world where monarchical power reigns supreme, questioning "official goodwill" is inherently a dangerous thing.

The truth of this world has always been in the hands of a few. They can arbitrarily define "goodwill" and "threat," and use high-sounding reasons to cover up the dirty nature of power struggles.

In the eyes of those corrupt and entrenched "rats" who occupy the center of power, the Trevor family, who are independent of the monarchy and hold the hearts of the people, are a potential major threat.

Thus, after Hossen's father also sacrificed his life, the Trevor family was once squeezed out of the center of power, and even the family's reputation was gradually forgotten in the silent suppression.

This situation continued until Hosen came of age and once again established his authority on the front lines...

"Ah, that devil Huo is here again!"

"How can there be such an annoying guy? I heard that the guides' benefits have been reduced again this year."

"Why doesn't he go to the front lines to kill the aliens? Why does he come back to oppose us?"

"Xiao Ru worked as a military guide for a week, but she couldn't stand it on the first day. In Huo Motou's army, you have to do eight hours of guidance work every day, or you'll have your performance bonus deducted!"

"What outrageous demands do you think he'll make in parliament this time?"

"Oh God, we're so unlucky."

"Breaking news! I heard that the Demon Lord Huo is going to take over the acting duties of the Dean of Academic Affairs at the Guide Academy!"

"(O_o) What?!"

"Oh my god, why wasn't he eaten by the aliens on the front lines?!"

"Exactly! People like this, cold-hearted and heartless, should be thrown into the contaminated zone to feed on the alien species!"

"..."

Lin Nan continued walking upwards, and gradually, she heard more and more discussions.

Realizing that she had reached the point where Hosen was about to take over as the college director, she stopped again.

This time, she didn't possess anyone; instead, she stood behind the man.

The tall, well-dressed man, bearing numerous injuries, entered this renowned breeding facility, hailed as the most important in the world, for the first time. The luxury and impenetrable defense system within made it difficult for him to adapt.

He didn't show it, but his cold and stern expression frightened the guides who had grown up in a greenhouse and were pampered.

Many people here have heard of Hosen's name. In recent years, as his reputation has grown, his voice in the central government has gradually gained importance. In particular, he used his achievements to introduce a series of reforms to the guide system, which has brought joy to many and sorrow to others.

In Hosen's army, the severity of his treatment of guides was well-known. Every delicate girl who was cherished by everyone else would be skinned alive when she came to him.

The guides were suffering terribly under these circumstances. The excessive workload was overwhelming, and mental exhaustion became the norm. Complaint letters kept pouring into the logistics department, but they were like pebbles thrown into cotton, having little effect.

Although Hosen's military management was strict and the training intensity was high, his achievements were truly remarkable.

Some prominent families were reluctant to let their guides suffer under Hosen's command, but the impressive resumes of Hosen made them suppress their discontent.

By this point, Hossen had completely angered the guide community, and he was ostracized wherever he went. To the point that even in his thirties, he couldn't find a guide to offer him any basic guidance. The surrounding whispers grew louder, the words like icy needles pricking at one's heart.

Naïve yet malicious words came from the mouths of these guides, who had been pampered by their families since childhood and had never even seen the wasteland outside the main city. They complained about the harshness of the Hosen troops, mocked the "vulgarity" of the frontline sentries, and even distorted the Trevor family's original intention to protect, calling "dedication" "foolishness".

At some point, the world's guides have become a group of "greenhouse flowers" who only hide in safe zones and judge others with privilege and prejudice.

Lin Nan understood this feeling all too well; it was as if someone across time and space had once again stuffed the previous owner's pain into her heart.

The body's former owner lost his life quietly amidst such rumors and gossip.

No one cared why she was silent, no one asked her if she felt wronged. Those casual accusations eventually crushed her remaining courage.

Even though they were surrounded by humans and their companions, they felt a loneliness they had never experienced before.

My heart is empty, like a barren desert.

Lin Nan paused, gazing at the lone figure walking ahead, then suddenly strode forward and quietly took his hand.

Don't be afraid, I will help you fulfill your wish.

Even though she knew the scene before her was just a fragment of a memory, she still spoke to him softly like that.

Then—she saw the man in front of her and stopped in her tracks…

Lin Nan had never seen Huo Sen so angry and out of control; his eyes contained countless emotions she couldn't understand.

"Edward, you're insane!!" he roared at someone, though it was unclear who he was addressing.

The surrounding scenery vanished, and Lin Nan found herself in a magnificent bedchamber.

Inside the bed curtains, countless shadows, like octopus tentacles, wriggled silently. If you listened carefully, you could even hear the man's low moans when he was deeply in love.

After an unknown amount of time, the noise inside stopped, and a handsome man, covered in sweat, got up from the bed.

He carefully drew the curtains for the people inside before turning his gaze to his friend who had barged in.

"As you can see, the country has run out of energy stone reserves," the man said, retracting his spiritual tentacles, his face showing obvious fatigue.

“Recently, He has become increasingly gluttonous... My spiritual power can't hold for much longer; sooner or later, He will absorb it all…”

"Brother, don't blame me, I had no choice."

"..."

The gap in mental strength between the guides and the sentinels is widening, and the guides' ability to channel information is gradually weakening. This imbalance is expanding year by year.

The crisis facing the human world has quietly transformed in just twenty years from an "external threat" of being attacked by alien species into an internal crisis of "collapse of spiritual connections".

With the increase in high-level sentinels and the weakening of guide abilities, some heavy tasks have fallen on the Queen, who has the highest mental strength level.

Countless noble families have gone to great lengths to win the Queen's bedchamber, but purification comes at a price. At some point, the Queen could no longer withstand the pressure on her mental strength—

(End of this chapter)