"Abandoned city?"
The words sank into the room like lead, their weight dragging everyone's spirits down. Faces grew ashen, fists clenched in frustration, despair tightening its grip. The reality of their predicament hit like a storm—no reinforcements, no salvation, just the cold acknowledgment that their survival was no longer a priority.
The government had abandoned them. The implication was clear: the situation was beyond salvaging.
Bai Yingxue broke the suffocating silence. Her icy gaze swept the room. "There's no point blaming the government. This decision wasn't made lightly." Her voice was firm, yet devoid of sympathy. "Wasting resources on a futile battle serves no purpose. Better to conserve strength, study the nature of these spirits, and strike when we're truly prepared. Dying here gains us nothing but loss."
Her words were logical, though bitter. The agents could only nod in grim acceptance. They understood the reasoning—cold, calculated, and unyielding.
Rushing to their aid would likely only result in more needless deaths. The nation had to think strategically, especially in an era where threats from other realms loomed ever closer.
A faint hope flickered among them. Someone hesitated, then spoke. "If only the mysterious figure who defeated the barbarians appeared again… perhaps they could turn the tide."
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This thought sparked murmurs. That unknown powerhouse—capable of obliterating an entire barbarian army with but a thought—had become a symbol of hope. Their power bordered on divine, a force that defied comprehension.
"If they intervened, maybe… just maybe, we could survive this," another added, the faintest trace of hope coloring their voice.
But Bai Yingxue was unmoved. "Don't waste time dreaming about saviors." Her tone was cutting, her words like shards of ice. "We don't even know who that person is, let alone how to contact them. Hoping for their intervention is meaningless."
Her conviction left no room for debate. "Believing in fairy tales won't save you. In this world, you can only rely on yourself. No one else."
Her words struck home, scattering the fleeting whispers of hope like leaves in the wind. The agents exchanged solemn nods, realizing the truth in her cold pragmatism.
"She's right," one murmured. "Putting faith in an unknown figure is foolish."
"We don't know if they'd even help us," another added.
"We stand alone," someone concluded, the resignation in their voice palpable.
Qin Changqing, unable to suppress his concern, stepped forward. "Director, what's your plan?"
Bai Yingxue's voice was steady as ever. "You all should leave. There's no sense in staying here just to die. But as for me…" She paused, her gaze distant yet unwavering. "I'll remain. The sealed city is my responsibility. If it falls, I fall with it."
"Director?!" The room erupted in protest.
She silenced them with a glance, her frost-like demeanor cutting through the chaos. "Enough. My duty binds me here. You, however, have no such obligation. Leave now, while you still can."
Her words carried an air of finality. "I've long since accepted this fate. My life should've ended in the last incident. That I'm still here is nothing more than borrowed time. If the heavens wish to reclaim it, so be it."
The agents stood frozen, their hearts heavy with her resolve. Bai Yingxue's unwavering determination was both awe-inspiring and heart-wrenching. She was prepared to face the oncoming storm alone, a solitary figure standing against the tide of despair.