Apocalypse After

The Lotus In the Mud Pool

About an hour later.

Alexander looked at the two robed figures who left with a complicated look in his eyes. Although a friendly smile appeared on his face, but the two hands on his back clenched tightly. He seemed uncomfortable because of something.

‘Viewed directly by others was indeed a very bad experience.’

Alexander took a long breath. The man felt that Annie was different from the people he had met before.

Alexander has met some smart people with various great thoughts. However, rather than those people, even compared to himself .. The man felt that Annie was completely different.

Although he could not figure out his identity as Alexander, it seemed that the woman's eyes had broken through the shell of lies he made. The man realizes that Annie clearly knows that Faust's identity is fake, but the woman does not choose to expose him. That person also did not force him to show his true identity.

From what Annie had done before, Alexander felt that the woman might have connected some things. He even suspects that V and Faust's relationship has been discovered by him.

‘Not to mention ... without level? Could it be that the woman hid her level?’

Alexander narrowed his eyes. If Annie was indeed able to hide her level, she could confirm one thing for sure. The woman ... at least had a fairly old legacy in her hands.

After giving it some thought, Alexander nodded his head. Clearly, the Rosewald Family was one of the same old families as his family. As a family that is very old, it is only natural that it has a legacy from the accumulation of ancestors.

If Annie had indeed hidden her abilities to the point that the family and people in Shelter 1 did not know about it, there was a reason why the woman bothered to do so.

Realizing that Shelter 1 was more complicated than he thought, Alexander let out a long sigh.

“I think it's a clear river where I can swim freely like before.”

The man shook his head.

“Who would have thought it turned out this place was a narrow pool full of mud to the point that my view was blocked and difficult to get out of it.”

***

Her afternoon.

When Aurora, Daisy, and Aster return from their training, the three go straight to Alexander. They heard Jane and Nene mention ‘guest special’ coming at them.

While meeting Alexander, the three of them were surprised because the man's reaction was different than usual.

If normally Alexander seemed calm, cold, and indifferent, but hid a hint of ridicule in his view, now the man looked very serious. Even more serious than usual.

“For now, use this quiet time to practice as much as possible. We also have to focus on increasing our strength (level),” said Alexander.

“Can the situation get worse Al?” ask Aurora.

For everyone, the situation now was already very bad as the monsters were getting denser and rampaging out there. If it was a political issue, Alexander should not have thought about it so much because Aurora knew that the man had gone through such a thing.

Whether it was the chaos in Shelter 13 or Shelter 11, Aurora knew that Alexander could get through it smoothly. So, he was curious as to why the man looked quite nervous.

“Worse than what you think,” said Alexander.

The man then leaned against the sofa, sighing long while looking up at the ceiling.

“That's bad?” daisy asked with a surprised expression.

Meanwhile, Aster only looked at the three of them while blinking. The woman occasionally nodded, pretending to understand what they meant. But he also realized that he was not as smart as his cousin, let alone two other people. However, there was one thing that the woman believed in.

‘Do not interrupt let alone pretend to be smart, silence is a wise choice because others will not know that you are stupid.’

That was what Aster learned during following these people. Sometimes he sees people in other groups or teams who seem to speak with pride and confidence. He felt wise and waited for a lot of praise from people.

Aster also knew, people who had real abilities only chose silence and looked at such people. However, within their eyes, there was a hint of mocking gazes. It's like watching a clown jump.

Although not very smart, Aster knows that his colleagues do not mock him. So he doesn't need to think much and focus on what he can. Even Alexander, his master once said to him.

‘When The Creator chooses to close the door, The Creator will not forget to open the window for you.’

That is, everyone must have their own shortcomings and advantages. If it has no advantages in field A, there must be other advantages, perhaps in fields B, C, and so on. The most important thing is not to give up and keep trying to find it, then develop it.

Life is a choice. Although sometimes there are not many options, but it does not only consist of a straight line where people do not need to turn and do not meet intersections. They must have met him, and were eventually forced to make a choice.

Thinking about what Alexander had said before, Aster thought about what he should do from now on.

‘It looks like I have to study swords more seriously and immediately go up to level 2. That way, at least I won't be a burden.’

Meanwhile, the other three people were still busy discussing some plans. Decide what they should do afterwards.

***

Her night.

In one of the buildings of District 3, the place that became one of the Nine Gates headquarters. The door opened, two people entered the building.

That place looks lonely. But after entering the room deeper, it looks like some women are dressed like ordinary free hunters. Their levels were not high, but their numbers were still quite a lot. Not to mention, all those who were there were women who were usually considered weak or burdensome.

“Goodnight, Chairman!”

Seeing the arrival of Annie and Mei, those people who were relaxing immediately saluted.

“No need to be too formal. You guys are not on duty. You guys can relax.”

Annie greeted them kindly. After that he went to a deeper room.

There, not many people. In a rather narrow room in the corner, it appeared that two people were sitting while chatting.

“What you mean is a type of folding knife right?”

“Not! I mean, it's a little similar but larger and its shape is curved like a crescent.”

“Didn't that curved sword suit you? Why would you want to change it?”

“Because it's less conspicuous!”

“Eh? Stunning?”

Just then, the short woman who looked beautiful and agile stood up. He then walked to a wider place. After which, the woman suddenly made a pointing pose with her left hand.

“Rather than being pulled from behind, I want the short sword folded in hand. So ... swoosh! Suddenly just popped up!”

“...”

The woman sitting on the chair was dumbfounded. Completely did not understand the pose shown by his partner. At that moment, another voice sounded.

“You're making Chris miserable, Yona.”

Hearing that voice, Yona and the woman called Chris turned to the source of the voice. There, it appeared Annie who was looking at them with a gentle smile on her face. As usual, Mei stood behind him without saying a word.

“AAAHHH!!”

Yona suddenly crouched down while holding her head. His face looked pale as he continued muttering in a voice that could barely be heard.

“After I made them see my childish nature. Again ...”

Looking at Yona who was like that, Chris shook his head. She was a tanned woman with shoulder-length black hair. At the bottom of his body, he wore long pants equipped with boots. At the top, she was wearing a dark green tank top that accentuated her figure and wore a bandana of the same color.

Chris himself was a blacksmith. The person in charge of making the equipment of the Nine Gates members. Something even more surprising since female blacksmiths were rarer than female hunters.

The woman propped up her chin while talking to Yona.

“No need to keep pretending to be elegant, Yona. All core members know what your real nature is like.”

“Shut!” Yona yelled dissatisfied. “Don't ruin this young girl's dream (me). At least I should be able to look a little like the Chairman. Looks beautiful and elegant in the eyes of my opponents.”

Hearing that, Annie shook her head.

“I'm not as good as you think, Yona.” Annie said softly.

“No, Chairman. After all, who doesn't know you ..”

Yona looked up directly at Annie's pretty face.

“Women who are considered white lotuses that bloom in this dirty mud pond (Shelter 1).”

>> Connect.