This country has been mired in the flames of war for over twenty years.
Everywhere one looks, there is only desperate yellow sand, with wave after wave of heat rolling over it.
Even during the day, meteors occasionally streak across the sky, kicking up towering dust clouds at the edge of one’s vision.
This is the “correction” of the backward world by the civilized world; they turn prosperous cities into ruins, tear peaceful lives into shreds, and turn the bustle of the marketplace into wails.
Life fades away like shifting sands, yet they remain “just.” Because although they lost their lives, they gained freedom.
Elysia braved the hot wind as she trekked through the desert, bypassing the charred wreckage of armored vehicles and passing through the bombed-out ruins.
Finally, she saw a series of hills, where yellow sand had piled up to create a sense of historical weight, and cave entrances were scattered among them in an orderly fashion.
As she approached, she noticed a child keeping watch on a hillside a few hundred meters away, who hurriedly scrambled down the slope after seeing her.
As she drew closer, she was stopped by several burly men holding guns.
“Stop right there,” the leader shouted.
The wind and sand had carved deep marks into his face, as if by a knife and axe.
“I mean no harm,” Elysia said, obediently raising her hands.
Seeing her raise her hands, the burly men instinctively recoiled a step.
After realizing what had happened, they lowered their gun barrels with lingering fear and let out a long sigh.
The leader signaled one of his subordinates to go back and report, while the rest surrounded her.
It was no wonder they were so cautious; in this land, there were acts everywhere of using children as human bombs.
Elysia stood in place, waiting quietly.
Not long after, a middle-aged man with a white cloth wrapped around his head walked out with an expression as if he had seen a ghost.
He first signaled the others to put down their weapons, then walked up to Elysia and looked her over.
Some things can only be seen clearly up close.
Beyond Elysia’s beauty, which not even the dust and wind could hide, he narrowed his eyes and noticed a detail that others had overlooked.
Even after crossing the desert ravaged by wind and sand, she remained spotless.
A miniature force field; in his knowledge, only the Mu Continent possessed such technology, and those with enough wealth and qualifications to use it all stood at the pinnacle of this planet.
Furthermore, she remained composed despite being surrounded by several armed men, so she must be hiding some kind of protective device on her person.
Her identity was clearly extraordinary, and with such beauty, was she the daughter of some bigwig?
What was she doing here?
“May I ask your name?” he asked in the gentlest tone possible.
“Elysia, a traveler,” Elysia smiled faintly.
“And you?” “Label, a teacher,” he extended his hand, his expression softening.
“I apologize for the earlier offense.
If you need any compensation, feel free to tell me.” “They were only doing their duty.
I don’t mind,” Elysia said, taking his hand.
Label breathed a sigh of relief, gestured for the others to disperse, and led Elysia inside.
“A child we took in previously blew up several people, which is why they are so vigilant now,” he said as they walked.
“It’s very chaotic here; it’s not a good place to come to.” “I’m traveling around the world~ This is just one of my stops.” Going out for training?
Even with full equipment, her parents must be incredibly bold.
“Didn’t your parents tell you about the situation here?” Elysia was silent for a moment.
“My parents are no longer in this world.” Label mentally slapped himself hard.
He hurriedly changed the subject: “Then I’ll help you understand it later.
They said you came from the other side of the desert?
Did you walk here?” “Absolutely.” He stopped and walked around Elysia, but didn’t see her carrying any supplies.
“That’s impossible.
That entire area is a war zone and has long since been bombed into a wasteland.” “Perhaps it’s because my constitution is quite special~” Elysia smiled slightly.
Label’s heart sank.
Genetic modification.
He knew those lunatics in charge would eventually mess with genetic factors and pull off something big like creating “New Humans.” A great family falls, the last bloodline is sent to a laboratory, and after the modification is complete, she escapes and wanders around.
He instantly imagined a grand drama.
For a moment, his gaze toward Elysia became much more complicated.
Elysia looked at his expression—shock mixed with realization, realization mixed with pity, pity mixed with sympathy, and sympathy mixed with encouragement—which was as complex as a pie chart.
She knew he had likely jumped to the wrong conclusion, so she had to correct him: “Um, I don’t know what you’re thinking, but I can only say it’s probably not what you think.” Upon hearing this, his expression became even more pained.
Elysia was very puzzled: “Do you…
not follow current events?” She should be quite famous in the European Union; she had gone to great lengths to shake off the reporters following her before she left.
Label pointed to the dust that had yet to settle in the distance: “The base stations here were bombed out years ago.” War…
Elysia fell silent.
After that, the journey was silent.
Label led her into a cave dwelling.
The interior was very simple, with only the most basic furniture.
The lighting was dim, and the walls were not tiled; it felt like a little force would scrape off a handful of dust.
“Conditions are limited, please understand.” He poured a cup of hot water from a thermos and handed it over.
“You must be thirsty after crossing the desert.
Have some?” “Thank you~” Elysia took it and drank it in one gulp.
Having not had a drop of water for a week, she was indeed quite thirsty.
A number of children gathered in twos and threes at the doorway, wearing felt hats.
Most of them looked reasonably healthy, but they just stood there, staring at her with vigilant eyes.
“Disperse.
Teacher has confirmed that she is a good person,” Label waved at them.
They dispersed, though a few children cast warning glances before leaving.
“They are very hostile toward outsiders,” Elysia remarked.
“Because they think you are a rich person’s child,” Label refilled her water.
“This country has been mired in war for too long.
The rich and most officials ran away long ago, leaving only the poor to struggle here.
Their dissatisfaction with the upper class is deep-rooted.” “Is there no humanitarian aid?”