Night Journey

Chapter 155 Intensifying
"Do you repent?"

Decal looked at Daelin with great surprise, as if he were seeing him in a completely new light.

Dai Lin slumped in his chair, one hand wearily rubbing his temples, while between the fingers of his other hand, a cigarette had burned to the end, its ash piling up long and teetering on the verge of falling.

He took one last deep drag, the crimson glowing brightly before being stubbed out harshly on the edge of the ashtray.

The office fell into a deeper silence, with only the faint sound of rain pattering against the glass outside the window.

"So, is your keeping of the records made by Gyouhachi also out of this kind of repentance?"

De Karl joked, "Even at great risk, I want to do what I think is right."

Dalin's reaction was not dramatic, just slightly surprised.

When he realized that Decal was the Unseen One, his heart rate had already increased once. Now that his secret had been exposed, he felt something was off.

"I was discovered by you."

“How could your little tricks possibly fool me?” Dekar scoffed. “I’m just too lazy to bother with you, after all…”

He paused for a moment, then continued, "After all, I personally trained you."

Dai Lin did not deny this, reminiscing.

"If it weren't for your recruitment, I'd probably still be wandering the streets, or maybe I'd be dead by now."

He belatedly realized, "Oh, so that's why you entrusted me with the task of investigating the Reverse Falcon."

"You are a naive and foolish fellow. Whether all of this comes from your so-called repentance or not, one thing is certain: you are more dedicated to this task than the other employees."

Dekar said calmly, "In fact, in order to help the Reverse Falcon whom you have never met, you may deliberately conceal relevant information about him under the guise of a mission."

"Why do you think so?"

Dai Lin became suspicious. He did have a deep friendship with Ni Jun, but unfortunately, that person was a fake.

"Why... because you are naive and foolish, just like everyone else in this city."

Decal bluntly remarked, "You do not agree with my ideas, but instead support that unrestrained Reverse Falcon."

"..."

Dai Lin did not respond.

Almost instinctively, he reached for the cigarette box on the table, groping around, only to hear the empty sound of cardboard scraping against the inside.

Just then, De Karl made a move.

He didn't speak, but leaned forward slightly, took out his exquisite silver cigarette case, pressed it gently, and handed the case to Dai Lin with utmost naturalness.

"Perfect, the last two."

Dai Lin did not refuse, nor did he even react. He silently reached out, his fingertips touching the cold metal cigarette case, and pulled out the lonely cigarette.

Dekar snapped the cigarette pack shut and casually placed it beside him.

The lighter flames lit up almost simultaneously, first illuminating Dekar's composed jawline, then Dailin's lowered eyelids as he leaned in to light his cigarette.

The fire went out, and two new, faint red dots lit up in the dim light.

The two fell silent, each lost in their own smoke.

Wisps of smoke drifted from their lips, initially just a few clear strands, but soon they intertwined, rose, and spread within the limited light of the desk lamp.

The smoke, like a flowing veil, gradually blurred their eyebrows, expressions, and even their outlines.

Dai Lin's face was only a dim, taut silhouette behind the smoke, occasionally outlined by the red light of the cigarette butt that suddenly lit up when he took a deep drag.

On Decal's side, shrouded in smoke, all that could be seen was the steady burning rhythm of the cigarette between his fingers, and his deep, unfathomable eyes that occasionally flashed through the gaps in the smoke, as if piercing through the haze and firmly locking onto the figure opposite him.

Dai Lin exhaled a puff of smoke and began to speak.

"As expected of the director, you've completely figured me out. So what are you planning to do? Fire me? Or use some legal provisions to lock me up for a few days?"

Am I really that heartless?

Dekar sneered, "If I really intended to deal with you, you would have been in jail long ago."

"Aren't you afraid I'll expose you?" Dai Lin retorted. "You yourself said you condoned my actions."

"But don't forget, I am the head of the city garrison and a member of the city council."

Decal shrugged and smiled. "I'll only sit in the dock, not the defendant's seat. That's the beauty of power."

"Haha."

Dalin laughed heartily without any pressure, and Dekar laughed along with him.

“My God, Dalyn, how long has it been since we had a conversation like this?”

"A long time."

Dailin thought about it seriously for a moment, "Ever since your conflict with Chief of Staff Rolf has intensified, you've locked yourself in your office and been thinking about so-called power all day long."

De Karl's smile froze, and he sighed, "To achieve one's ideals, one inevitably has to sacrifice something."

Dalin pressed further, "Are you going to sacrifice the Reverse Falcon now?"

Dekar was stumped by the question, his eyes hiding in the shadows. After a long pause, he finally gave this answer: "I need an enemy to unite all the forces of Hel City. This enemy cannot be like the Claw of Evil, truly threatening Hel City itself, nor can it be like the Chaos Evils, so powerful as to be suffocating."

Only a completely united Hull City can protect itself and all its inhabitants.

Dai Lin was stunned.

He should have agreed with De Karl, flattered him, and fawned over him.

Unfortunately, he was a naive fool, and he was furious.

Dai Lin mocked.

"Bullshit, you're just afraid of repeating your father's fate, afraid that the Reverse Falcon will shake your power."

silence.

Decal took a deep breath and said quietly.

"That's right, you're right."

Rather than fearing repeating my father's fate, I fear I cannot change the fate of Hull... I want to protect this city.

However, not everyone can understand your thoughts; they will oppose you and try to stop you, even if you are clearly doing the right thing.

Decal affirmed to himself, "I need to drive out the Rebel Falcon and ensure that no one can challenge my position. Only in this way can I fully implement my ideals."

Dai Lin didn't understand and questioned loudly.

"Chief, you keep talking about protecting Hull City, but where exactly does the threat come from? If it's the Claws, haven't we already wiped them out?"

De Karl's breathing grew heavier as he silently puffed on his cigarette.

"Blazing sun".

He spoke.

"That legendary blazing sun has already stirred up a storm on the outer borders."

According to intelligence from the City of the Lonely Tower, they have encountered intermittent attacks from the Spore Sanctuary, while the more distant City of the Wounded Cocoon is facing a surprise attack from the Rebels.

Meanwhile, the stargazers foresaw that a large number of wicked offspring were gathering in the dark world, seemingly chasing something, and would soon break through the borders and reach the outer flame frontier.

Decal said in a pale voice, “What’s worse, someone brought back a message from White Gorge, claiming that something terrible has risen from the Sea of ​​Origin. It has reached the edge of the Spirit Realm and will soon ascend into the Spirit Realm, until it reaches reality.”

Dai Lin froze for a moment, at a loss for what to do.

"See, Daelin, whether it's the Claws or the Reverse Falcons, they are merely internal problems for Hel City. External threats are looming. Do you think Hel City can escape them?"

Decal said angrily, "Or are you planning to be like Rolf, hoping for help from outside forces? They can't even save themselves."

He crushed the cigarette butt.

"The reason I hate your naivety and stupidity so much is because I was once like you... Many people are like that."

Damn it, abandon that ridiculous naiveté. Let me tell you, idealized justice doesn't exist. The so-called justice we can understand is nothing more than a struggle for the right to speak, or to put it more bluntly...

Justice is illusory, narrow-minded, selfish, and preconditional, just like the slogans we often chant: "For what?"

Decal almost growled.

"Even if it means sacrificing the Reverse Falcon, sacrificing more people, or even myself, it's all worth it for the sake of Hel City standing strong. That's justice."

Dai Lin did not respond, his gaze fixed on the ground.

De Karl realized his lapse in composure, stood up angrily, and was about to leave the office when a deep voice came from behind him.

"Director, will you feel at peace with this?"

He turned around and could only see a ghost in the shadows.

A sudden chill gripped Dekar's heart, and he fled as if escaping, hurrying up the stairs.

Suddenly, Dekar stopped and looked down at the City Guard Bureau, where only a few staff members were still working overtime.

In the silence, a faint voice asked about De Karl.

"What are you willing to offer for the city of Hull?"

De Karl's gaze first became confused, then clear, sharp, and unquestionable.

"Naturally...everything."

He gritted his teeth, turned and walked down the stairs, heading toward the ghost in the shadows.

As Dailin listened to the returning footsteps, he recalled a question he had asked Anya long time ago.

What exactly is faith?

Anya responded casually.

"Seeking peace in lies."

Dai Lin breathed a sigh of relief, his heart as calm as the sound of rain outside the window.

(End of this chapter)