Abyssal Awakening-Chapter 933: Meeting Miki Again

As the group entered Grand Cathia, they half expected a lively city but what they saw was the opposite.

Despite the giant sprawling towers, the marbled surfaces and the humming of machines, the group could tell some of the smiles and daily interactions were forced.

Everyone was trying their best to look happy despite being worried about the Nightmare.

A sister trying her best to hide her sobs while she mumbled about her brother.

A father who looked dead in the eyes as he realised his children can no longer return from the nightmare...

Lovers separated.

These were common sights next to people trying their best to survive this chaotic time.

The guard kept his eyes forward. He was guiding the guests deeper to the city but at the same time, he was also patrolling this area.

Several eyes turned towards the group. Hints of anger and caution.

They didn’t say anything on the trip to the inner city. What could they say?

If they say too much and seem overly cheerful, it’ll earn them ire from the city.

The moment they entered, they had to follow the laws here. And by extension, they understood that they shouldn’t disturb the ’peace’ that has been established.

Parking the carriage off to the side, the guard led the group into the biggest building of the current layer.

Inside, employees ran around.

Some had Nightingale family crest on their jackets, some had crests belonging to other families. Regardless of their ties, they were all working together.

Closing her eyes, Alice began to eavesdrop as she listened in on their conversations.

Everyone here were talking about the Nightmare, information from their own experiences. Information gained from others and... information gained before they lost their mind.

There were a small handful of leisurely conversations but they were few and far between.

However, there was a common theme across a few of the conversations.

Reinforcing defences.

"Is the city being attacked by beasts?" Suyin spoke up first.

She had also been eavesdropping on the conversations around them.

"Pardon?"

"I hear all this talk about defence but there are still lots of refugees outside isn’t there? Are they not afraid of being caught in the crossfire?" Suyin clarified.

The guard scratched his cheek.

"It’s... complicated. During the downtime between Nightmares, we are being attacked by man and beast alike. Usually close to nightfall. They’re only focused on breaking the wall and strangely avoids killing unless provoked." The guard decided to share this information since it wasn’t exactly a piece of rare knowledge.

Everyone who stays in the city for longer than a day would find out.

"Avoiding killings? Even though they’re attacking the walls?" Suyin raised an eyebrow.

"Indeed. We don’t know why either, they seem to be intent on breaking out defences rather than taking our lives."

"If they’re breaking the walls, have any of them tried to break the pillars supporting the upper layer?" Suyin asked.

If the upper layer was to fall...

She frowned at the thought of the casualties should the layer crash down.

"We’re not sure. We’ve been focusing mainly on air defence because of the fear of the upper layer."

"Tsk, so nothing has changed." Suyin clicked her tongue.

While there were a few good ones that live on the upper layer, most of them were... insufferable.

A cultivation pot of the worst traits in humanity.

The guard couldn’t help but laugh upon seeing Suyin’s disgusted expression.

She shared the same sentiment as most of the people who were here. All of them harboured some degree of dislike towards the upper layer.

But at the same time, they couldn’t exactly act out against them.

Not when the branches of their families would no doubt seek vengeance should anything happen.

Thus they can only try their best to keep the city safe.

"Well... I can’t say nothing has changed. With the nightmare, people are getting restless about the divide between the layers." The guard sighed, surprising Suyin.

"Are you sure you can say that?"

"Why not? It’s a fact that everyone knows. It’s why we’re put out for patrol. We have the Nightmare taking us out one by one, beasts that seeking to destroy the wall and possibly the pillars.

"And when we’re not thinking about threats on the outside, we have the parasites above us looking down like we’re dirt even though their survival hinges on our actions. They take everything for granted but we can’t do anything about it." He complained, venting his frustrations.

A few of the people who overheard his words nodded in agreement.

Arriving at the elevator, the Guard took the lead and sent them up to the floor where Miki was waiting.

Giving the group a polite salute, he bid farewell as they were now waiting outside of Miki’s office.

"Sounds like the people have their work cut out for them." Alice mumbled, walking over to the glass windows.

Looking down, she could see most of the city being shielded by the shadow cast down from above.

She could also see the camps being set up outside the walls. All of these people would be in danger the moment the attackers determine that they wanted blood rather than to take out the wall.

And recalling the people she had seen outside, Alice felt bad for their predicament.

This was a situation where one must ask, are you willing to let unknown variables into the city because you feel bad and risk killing everyone due to bad actors?

Or, will you be cold and cruel. To prioritise the many and ensure that as many of the bad actors are outside of your walls.

If Alice had to make a choice, and it wasn’t a trick answer where she’ll use her strength to resolve everything, then she’ll pick option two.

She’ll abandon those outside the walls and ensure the peace and order she has established.

However, this’ll change if any of her close ones are on the outside.

Then she’ll risk it and take action should any bad actors appear.

"Sorry for the wait miss Bai, please come on in." Miki opened the door.

Despite Suyin’s size, she didn’t show a hint of surprise in her face nor eyes. If anything, there was only respect for the genius as Miki gestured for people to enter her office.

Alice was about to say something when she decided against it.

If... Miki wasn’t acknowledging her then perhaps they weren’t as close as she thought they were.

With a light shrug, Alice entered after Suyin while Elias entered after Alice.

Making themselves comfortable on the sofa, they turned to Miki who leaned against her desk.

"As you can see, Miss Bai, the city is not in a good shape. I’m not sure why someone of your standing has decided to visit but glad I am to hear that you have a method of solving some of the Nightmare side effects and information." Miki spoke first.

Despite having a casual tone, her expression was that of seriousness.

"Visiting wasn’t my original intention you know? I was relaxing in my home when I got a message from a dear friend. So I decided to surprise her with this body and got pulled into this whirlpool of chaos known as the Nightmare." Suyin shrugged with a laugh before her smile faded.

"We have some ideas on what the Zenia is planning to do but we can’t make major moves until we resolve the danger of the Nightmare. I have some notes and readings on what happens to the body when the Nightmare occurs.

"We also discovered that leaving the border of Extalia, where the Nightmare is in effect, will temporarily erase all knowledge on the subject matter and replace it with something else." She placed a stack of notes on the table as Miki walked over and picked it up.

"The researchers in Grand Cathia have noticed the second point. It’s why we’re bunkering down in this city. Naturally, we’ve tried other methods of communication to the outside world but channels are abnormal.

"Even if we pass the information to someone trusted, the world still passes in ignorance. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Zenia family has a control over what information is passed out into the world." Miki flipped through the pages before pushing a button on her desk.

Soon, an assistant stepped through as she handed the sheet over to him.

"Pass it over to the research department. Have them examine the notes and see if we can do anything with this."

Ideally, they can help those who have died too much in the nightmare return to their bodies but... the chances weren’t high.

Despite that, it wasn’t going to stop them from at least trying. That’s the least she could do after their sacrifice for the greater good.

"Hou~ Funny you say that. The Underground had a Zenia spy that Alice met when trying to gather information. We don’t know how much of the Underground has been compromised already." Suyin gestured to Alice with her chin.

Miki folded her arms.

"The Underground is currently struggling with an internal battle. There was originally a sanction placed on the Zenia family for unknown reasons, stopping them from using the service whatsoever.

"But with the emergence of the Nightmare and a display of power never before seen, the faction has gone into survival mode. One side is against the Zenia family while the other seemed to be in favour of allying themselves with them. If you intent to use the services of the Underground, careful not to expose yourselves too much." Miki explained.

"Ohya? You seem to know a lot. Do you happen to have a pair of eyes and ears inside the group?" Suyin narrowed her gaze.

The Underground has always kept itself a neutral source of information. Any form of discourse within the group is heavily hidden unless you were directly involved.

So if Miki knew what was going on...

"My father happens to have ties with the group. It’s a battle of information and espionage right now. So everything you learn from them should be taken with a grain of salt." Miki explained off handedly, not wanting to dive deeper into the subject matter.

For a split moment, there was a hint of pain in her eyes.

However...

Alice realised something.

If Miki’s father had a connection with the Underground then...

There was a chance that Miki knew she came from the Zenia family.