There's No Love In the Deathzone (BL) novel Chapter 141

Chapter 141: Chapter 136. It’s Dark Under The Sun

The first loud thing people heard in the peaceful afternoon of Althrea’s southern riverside was that of a car door being slammed heavily. The nearby people, being startled, couldn’t help but turn to look in annoyance for the disturbance.

That annoyance, however, morphed instantly into astonishment as they saw a pair of amber eyes and platinum blonde hair.

"...near Mohan bridge. I don’t think there’s enough time to mobilize anyone, so just ask them to make an announcement," the man spoke in a low, husky voice that was familiar to the people of Althrea. "I’ll cast a dome, so just tell them to stand by."

"So complicated," another man came out of the passenger side, sporting a black mask and casting his blue eyes to the river. "Does securing a place always need so much protocol?"

The people, who were only gawking in surprise before, were now gasping. Why...were the two people who had been the talk of the entire federation suddenly show up in this part of the town? not to mention coming out of a plain car as if they were in the middle of a secretive date?

"Because there’s a possibility of people scamming and terrorizing the citizens using such things," the esper explained while shutting off his commlink. "They were told to only believe and follow the official announcement from either the government or the sentinel association. Especially when the emergency state is yet to be visible. It’s rather cumbersome, but..."

"It’s necessary," the guide nodded. It was easy to declare an emergency state in the face of eerie, swirling dungeon gates, and even without any emergency declaration, people wouldn’t go about frolicking near an active gate. But it was different with something that had not occurred yet, or a gate that wasn’t visible. "But won’t these people believe it if you’re the one who tells them?"

Bassena smiled, and then shifted his gaze toward the congregation of people that had been staring at them, some with their commlinks taking pictures and recording videos. "It’ll be better for you to go back home right now. There will be an outbreak from the river in a few minutes, so you people better evacuate."

The people around them paused, but Zein saw confusion rather than panic. They looked at each other with apparent doubt, and whispers spread among them.

’Outbreak? Here? But there’s nothing here, though. Is it a trick to make us go so they can have the whole place for their own?’

Zein had no idea whether he should laugh or feel annoyed by that reaction. One of them asked timidly, however. "Is...is it true? You’re not playing a prank or anything, right...S-Sir?" the person looked half doubtful and half scared.

"Would I joke about something so dangerous?" Bassena replied casually as if he already knew people wouldn’t believe him easily. "Evacuate if you know what’s good for you. The announcement will come in a bit."

Again, they looked at each other, still filled with doubt from the still peaceful environment and the absence of any announcement. But they took a glance at the pair of amber eyes and the imposing figure, remembering that it was the Bassena Vaski that told them the information, and the doubt slowly being expelled from their mind. _{freewebnovel.cσ๓}

"T-thank you, Sir!" the person who asked earlier nodded and scurried away; either from believing the news or scared of those piercing ambers. But it triggered the others to follow, and soon, the people around the parking lot walked hurriedly to clear the area.

Watching the people dispersing slowly, Bassena chuckled slightly. "See, it takes time for them to believe it. Even then, I bet they would just go to the parking lot while waiting for the official announcement--ah, look, some even decided to stay and see if they can record it for their social media."

Zein cast a quick glance toward some people, most of which still young, crouching behind the low fence of the parking lot with their commlink or even drone at the ready. He sighed and turned away--that was the thing with people who lived in safety all their lives; they were oblivious to dangers.

"There’s a lot of people here, so it will be a waste of time telling them to evacuate," Bassena shrugged and walked toward the river, where more and more people started to recognize them. "I’d rather use the time to think of a countermeasure."

"Mm," Zein hummed in agreement.

"Besides, it’s precisely because I have influence that I need to follow the rules. Otherwise, others would feel like they can easily break the law just because they have power."

Zein glanced dubiously at the esper with a raised brow, as if he couldn’t believe such wise words coming out of the esper’s mouth. "Who told you that?"

"Our dear Guildmaster," Bassena replied with a smirk, prompting a little chuckle from the guide. Well, these people would start running the moment the outbreak really happened anyway. So long as they manage to prevent any civilian casualties, it would be fine.

Zein blinked then, realizing how relaxed he was in the midst of everything. Even Zein knew he always had a strong reaction if civilians were to be exposed to danger, but even while he knew an outbreak was about to happen, he didn’t feel anxious.

Ah...it was because of him. Because of that reliable figure. He suddenly remembered how he wished Bassena was with him during the black gate anomaly last week. Since when, Zein wondered, that Bassena’s presence had been equal to safety for him?

[Announcement to the civilians around Mohan Bridge and Tosan Park: a temporary yellow code had been activated. Please vacate the premise immediately. I repeat...]

The repeating voice, as well as the blinking light from their commlinks, immediately turned the peaceful park and riverside into a frenzy. They got up and immediately moved, some almost forgot their belonging, even. The espers who were coincidentally present around the area stared at their commlinks as different instruction--from helping the civilians evacuate to guarding the premise--was given from the emergency center based on their rank and affiliation.

Zein watched the procession in interest, which reminded him of the emergency state during the anomaly near the hospital--his very first experience with a dungeon accident in the green-zone. "Yellow code?"

"Dangerous, but under control," Bassena explained. "That would be enough, they’re finally moving. The espers around the area should receive emergency instruction to help with the evacuation--"

"Not enough time," Zein cut the esper suddenly. "It’s hastening."

CRACK

Again, the otherworldly sound could be heard. This time, it crawled to the physical world too, making the air vibrate and the ground shake. For the first time, people finally let out a panic scream. Those around them that had been frozen in stunned, who stared at the Serpent Lord and his guide instead of evacuating, were finally being snapped out of their stupor, realizing why these two hotshots would be there. With various gasps and shrieks, they watched the air above the river started to distort before running away.

"Phew--didn’t even let me have a date properly..." Bassena muttered in annoyance as the river started to churn. The shadow beneath the esper, Zein, and people around the vicinity that was too slow to run shook as the amber eyes glowed beneath the darkening sky. As the river suddenly got split and the water evaporated to show a breaking gate, and the first shriek of the miasmic beast could be heard, Bassena turned his head toward the guide beside him. "I can go wild, right?"

Zein’s smirk wasn’t visible beneath his mask, but the glint in the blue eyes was enough as an answer. Rising his arm toward the marching beasts, the Serpent Lord cast his spell in a low voice.

"Nightfall."

And the bright world was enveloped in darkness.