Apocalypse Forecast

Chapter 1217: Chapter 928: A Wonderful Life

"It really is you... I thought I was mistaken."

The middle-aged man couldn’t help but reveal a surprised smile. He was stunned for quite a while, as if a burden had been lifted, and let out a long sigh.

"Hello, Owen Carter. Just call me Owen."

He introduced himself somewhat excitedly, carrying a large bag from the supermarket as he opened the door: "Please come in. The house is a bit messy, so please don’t mind."

Ten minutes later, Huai Shi and Luo Su were already sitting in a slightly cluttered but comfortably decorated living room.

Warm steam rose from the teacup in their hands.

A dog was running around the living room in excitement, eventually nudging into Huai Shi’s arms for a cuddle, and was held and petted by Huai Shi.

Looking around.

The place was filled with bookshelves stacked with various materials, and a large table covered with blueprints. It was all adorned with various peculiar creatures and buildings, flights of fancy, and some innocent and adorable children.

The display cabinet also held a variety of picture books and fairy tales, giving the impression of an artist’s studio.

In the storage room, sounds of rummaging could be heard continuously.

After a long time, Owen wiped the sweat from his forehead, his face and arms covered with dust, struggling to carry back a huge box.

He placed it in front of them.

"Finally found it."

He sighed with relief, sat down: "Before passing, my father had a will saying that one day if a gentleman named Luo Su from the photo visited, I should give this to him."

He pulled out an old photo frame and compared it to the present Luo Su, sighing: "I didn’t expect, after all these years, you wouldn’t have changed at all."

"People slow down and change with age, nothing unusual."

Luo Su slowly put down the teacup and gazed at the iron box before him: "That guy was always full of peculiar ideas... But such an absurd will, did you never have doubts?"

Owen shook his head: "Most of my father’s arrangements had their reasons. Besides, since it’s a will, as a son, there’s nothing much to say."

Next to him, Huai Shi was holding the dog, curiously observing the furnishing in the living room, noticing the exquisite fairytale picture books: "Did you draw all these?"

"Yes."

Owen nodded, somewhat embarrassed: "I currently illustrate for magazines and ads, sometimes publish some picture books to make ends meet. If you like them, I’ll give you a couple of them later."

"That would be great."

Huai Shi nodded: "I’ve been wondering what small gifts to bring for my students. Could you sign a few more copies?"

"Of course, no problem, but students?" Owen grew puzzled.

"We work at an educational institution, and Mr. Huai Shi here recently became my assistant," Luo Su calmly explained: "He, your father, never mentioned this to you?"

Owen shook his head.

It seemed his father had never talked about the world of Sublimators with his children, and under Luo Su’s probing, it quickly became clear he knew nothing about it all.

Perhaps this was the father’s way of leaving protection for his child.

To ordinary people, the world of the Sublimators might not be so wonderful.

"Did he really never mention his past work?"

Luo Su said: "Mr. Carter was once our finest White Pigeon. Well, you could think of him as a member of the institute—before his retirement, he went deep into the wilderness alone for us, collecting numerous valuable specimens and data, with distinguished service."

"Oh, oh, like an explorer?"

Owen’s eyes lit up: "He never mentioned any of that to me.

As a child, I used to fantasize that he was an incognito assassin or a tough character in some dark organization... Thinking back now, none of that suited his image."

"He had his reasons." Luo Su said: "The harsh life of braving the elements isn’t something suitable to tell a child, besides, he gave up a lot for it."

"I could somewhat guess."

Owen nodded, sighing: "A man like him, so serious about himself, wouldn’t let his life be wasted. As for why he didn’t tell us, he must have had his own reasons.

But when he passed, he seemed very content, with no regrets—that made me envious."

"So, I think he must have done some very valuable work, like... saving the world or something?"

After speaking, Owen amused himself with his absurd imagination, shook his head, and said no more, just pushed the dusty box forward.

"No matter what, I believe my father completed his own mission. Thank you for coming, for letting me recognize his significant value once again."

He solemnly spoke to the visiting guests: "Now, I’m entrusting what he left behind to you, Mr. Luo Su, hoping his relics can provide you some assistance."

Luo Su looked down, staring at the dusty box and the untouched combination lock on it.

"Aren’t you curious about what’s inside?" he suddenly asked, "You’ve never opened it?"

Owen paused.

He fell silent.

It seemed like he was struggling between curiosity and some kind of insistence. After a long while, he shook his head.

"Before leaving, my father told me that if one day I wanted to abandon my current life, I could open it. But I feel my life is pretty good now, no need to change anything, so... I’ll leave it."

He took a deep look at the iron box that had accompanied him for many years, withdrew his gaze, completely unconcerned: "After all, it’s not mine, so let me keep a sense of mystery about it."

Luo Su nodded, added nothing further.

Before leaving, he asked the two to sit down so he could draw two sketches as mementos.

In the drawing, Luo Su appeared as a dignified and stern old man holding a scepter, imposing. Whereas Huai Shi was portrayed as a dusty traveler, yet wearing a proud smile, as if he owned the entire world.

Was it his imagination and creativity as an illustrator, or had he accurately captured something with intuition?

It’s truly hard to understand.

After finishing the drawing, Owen felt shaken by his work and excitedly inquired: "If possible, could I include them in a picture book?"

"It’s your artwork, of course, as you wish."

Luo Su, holding the suitcase, finally said, "If there’s anything you need help with, please feel free to call this number. I owe you and your father a big favor."

He handed over a business card, "Trust me, I can fulfill most needs."

"I will."

Owen carefully took the card and put it in his pocket.

He didn’t doubt Luo Su’s promise, yet he didn’t seem to care about this valuable commitment.

"Coincidentally, it’s time for me to pick up my daughter from school."

He picked up the car keys, filled with anticipation and joy, "Thank you for visiting today. It looks like I have a new bedtime story to tell her tonight.

Grandpa’s legendary tale, she loves listening to this one!"

Luo Su was momentarily stunned and sighed helplessly, "I really hope I can have a positive role in it, living to the story’s end would be even better."

"I’ll make sure to arrange that!"

Owen smiled as he promised.

And so, after bidding farewell to the two, he drove off into the distance.

It was a while before Huai Shi retracted his gaze.

"You’re quite envious, aren’t you?"

Luo Su sighed lightly, "To have descendants who enjoy a simple life like this, watch them marry and start a family, and finally pass away content without regrets, there’s nothing better in this world.

For people like us, I’m afraid we’ll never have such a beautiful life."

"Isn’t it quite good now too?"

Huai Shi shrugged, "Although a life like that is enviable, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with my life."

"You’re right, except for not having a stable romantic relationship, there’s nothing lacking." Luo Su looked deeply at Huai Shi, implying something.

Huai Shi immediately coughed awkwardly, at a loss for words.

After returning to the car, he looked at the heavy suitcase in Luo Su’s hand and curiously asked, "Mind telling me what’s inside?"

"There’s nothing worth hiding about it."

Luo Su slowly fiddled with the combination lock and asked, "Do you remember what ’White Pigeon’ is about?"

"Uh, I remember Raymond told me they’re the elite researchers of the Ivory Tower?" Huai Shi was a bit uncertain.

"Close enough, should I say, they were originally explorers of the Heavenly Kingdom."

Luo Su sighed lightly, "White Pigeon, Red Deer, Grey Stork, and Black Whale are all honorary titles for those outstanding explorers. Only researchers who have made significant contributions in their own Domains can earn such titles.

Red Deer are itinerant traders roaming Hell, Grey Stork are deep infiltrators in Hell, and ’Black Whale’ can only be obtained by the Owner of the Great Mob in Hell.

As for ’White Pigeon’, they are the most elite explorers of Hell Relics — they are the frontline researchers and combat units responsible for salvage missions of Hell relics and important discoveries, being granted privateering licenses to use any force necessary against any obstructors, they can annihilate them physically and spiritually if needed..."

Before the direct action of the forceful institutions, the White Pigeon symbolized Utopia’s violence in the Abyss.

For independent explorers like them, being a one-man army is no exaggeration.

In the past, when Huai Shi wanted to recruit the Swarm in the Town of Dusk, he needed a Mystic Ritual, but every White Pigeon carried at least ten Legion Contracts, commanding the loyalty of over a thousand Hell Creatures.

It is thanks to their existence that the former Utopia could grasp the heartbeat of Hell, allowing the research of the Ivory Tower to achieve continuous breakthroughs.

"And this, is the legacy left by the most outstanding White Pigeon of the past—"

Luo Su slowly opened the iron case, gazing at the almost overflowing ancient scrolls inside, each one inscribed with Hell’s writings and sealed with stamps and Source Seals.

The six heavy notebooks documenting all Hell exploration experiences, over four hundred Legion Contracts, and hundreds of tokens from the Hell Swarm, alongside three anonymous accounts from the Magic Gold Bank and two deep vault keys.

A terrifying reserve enough to wage a comprehensive war in Hell, all contained within this small iron case. After a long time of silence and waiting, it has come to Luo Su’s hand, following its master’s will.

"Welcome back, my friend."

Luo Su drew out the dagger from the top of the suitcase, the blade of Cursed Iron reflecting in his pupils, revealing countless phantoms of the past.

"Let us rebuild everything again..."

He whispered softly, sheathing the sword, and carefully put it away.

Everything returned to quiet.

"Let’s go, Huai Shi."

He closed the suitcase, gazing at the Dusk outside the window: "We should set off."

Huai Shi nodded, turned the key, started the car, and asked, "Where to next?"

"Let me think..."

Luo Su pondered for a moment and suddenly asked, "Do you like drinking?"

"Not particularly, I have a couple occasionally, but I’m not picky."

"How about gambling?"

"It sounds quite thrilling, but I don’t want to touch it at all."

"Well, what about beauties?" Luo Su suggested.

"Forget it." Huai Shi sneered, countering with, "Could they look better than me?"

"With such a quibbling attitude, you’re not going to find any fun, Huai Shi."

Luo Su shook his head and sighed in regret, feeling sorry for his student’s off-key performance.

"Next stop, America."

As if seeing the dazzling neon lights of indulgence, his words became mocking and hoarse:

"——Las Vegas."