The time on Lucien’s camo-watch had shown [11:50 pm] when the trio decided to rest in a random building in Sector 4.

And now, after a long hour had passed, it was time to get moving.

They were currently in the residential areas of Sector 4, where the outreach and influence of the border gangs were mellow, making for a slightly safe state, assuming, of course, branches of the border gangs in the residential areas hadn’t heard of the little skirmish that’d occurred around the border gates and knew to search for and hunt down three smugglers.

It would be easy to identify them, they had a small child with them, a blond, well-built man who was a poignant standout in any area littered with zeros, and a... Well, Lucien.

But Lector had told him not to worry about the gangs locating them. He’d said the leadership of zerozone gangs were way too greasy and stupid to give that kind of command. To them, the moment the trio crossed the border, they’d assumed them gone.

There was no reason to chase them, except if they were being extremely aggressive or petty. And in that violent skirmish back at the border, Lector hadn’t badly hurt anyone, he’d only hit them just enough to render them unable to chase after the trio as they sprinted across the gate. And it wasn’t like they’d stolen anything. They just crossed the damn border. People smuggled their way through the borders all the time.

Lector would know that. He was literally the Vice-Leader of the largest gang in Shaw.

Lucien let out a resigned sigh, rubbing his forehead.

’Shit it all.’

He stood under the roof of an uncompleted building, emerald eyes affixed upward as he gazed at the lone moon whose pale light, faintly obscured by the clouds, illuminated the entire world below.

The sounds of crying crickets rang out through the night, mixing with the distant bellows of croaking frogs, all rushing into Lucien’s ears, grinding him in the present.

He held onto his large backpack like a school boy, thinking and contemplating.

They had hurriedly ran from the border without being chased, and speedily made their way toward the residential area where they finally decided to rest as no one was coming after them.

But Lucien hadn’t rested one bit.

He sighed, letting his mind wander toward the weight of his responsibilities and the dozens of burdens that accompanied them.

If they eventually rescued Amira, how was Lucien even going to convince her to come with them? Would she even trust them?

That kid trusted no one easily ever since she got kidnapped by The Cerulean Orphanage.

But okay, if, somehow, someway, she eventually trusted and followed them, how was he going to get into the heart other calamities? How was he even going to find them?

Yes, Lucien once had a plan that seemed full proof, but their journey up to this point had proved that things never went according to plan. He’d had to keep adjusting and adjusting in real time, experiencing different setbacks.

It made him wonder.

Would he have to experience these constant series of setbacks, problems, and hurdles three more times just to find those kids?

Lucien knew the answer. He’d known since the moment he decided to leave with Mikky.

In fact, one of the calamities, Raphael, was currently living in the big cities. How the hell was Lucien going to get there?

He’d simulated a rough plan for this, sure, but his plans always seemed to tangle, obstructed by multiple variables. Hell, they were even traveling with a variable.

Shaking his head with his eyes snapped close, Lucien drew in a soft breath, calming his drumming heart and his racing pulse.

Fine. Yes, it would all be fine. He knew what he signed up for the moment he decided to raise these kids. He knew the pros and the cons. And he was willing to bear with them.

And, well, if this journey had shown him anything, it was the fact that Lucien had the ability to adapt under pressure. So what if his plans get obscured in the future?

Lucien would improvise.

’Sounds good enough,’ he thought to himself. ’Now, on to important stuffs.’

Was Michael hungry? Should Lucien wait until the next morning to prepare a simple meal with the ingredients he had?

He nodded. That would be for the best, unless Mikky explicitly showed signs of hunger and complained.

For now, though, Lucien had to get his head back into the game.

’Load Map.’

The status screen materialized, showing the overlay of landscapes and his position on the map, which differed a bit from Amira’s.

Sector 4 wasn’t as big as Sector 5, which meant that the journey to 3 would take less time. And, as Lector had said, the border between Sector 4 and 3 had no criminal city. Just the walls and gate, which were loosely guarded. Entrance would be easy.

Hearing the faint and familiar crunching sounds of footsteps, Lucien turned his neck, watching Lector and Michael walk toward him. The big man rolled his stiff shoulders, letting out a soft groan as he walked, and Mikky just calmly strode with patient steps.

As they arrived next to him, Lector rested a big palm on Lucien’s shoulder, while Mikky crept up to his other side, eliciting a small smile from Lucien.

"It’s time to get moving," Lector said.

Lucien nodded.

And, under the lazy silver light of the midnight moon, the trio began their journey to Sector 3.

***

"Have you ever eaten a burger?" Lector asked.

"No," Lucien said.

"Sausage roll?"

"No."

"Pizza?"

"No."

"Then what the hell do you guys even eat in these damn zerozones?!" Lector yelled. "I’m tired of all of this bloody damn nonsense I’ve been eating! What even is this concoction?"

The blond man gestured at Lucien’s hot pot of broth. A delicacy he’d crafted with the limited amount of ingredients he had. It was a finely blended soup filled with just the right amount of vegetables, garnished with spice and sprinkled with salt.