Life as a mercenary turned into a girl is a bit difficult

"But why me?"

Hiiragi recalled that she only spent a few minutes with that woman. She was not worthy of being targeted. Could it be that she was retaliated for her fight with the girl?But this doesn’t look like it either…

"Perhaps, she should have guessed your purpose of coming here, to find Han Nianling."

Hu Lan's accurate guess surprised Hiroyuki: "How do you know?"

"It's lunch time at the institute, and she is the only one left here in the whole building. Even the gate guard knows her living habits."

This is really...

"But my suggestion is that you don't come to her today. The current situation with Han Nianling... is not the right time."

Isn't it time?

Before going out, Phil mentioned that something was not right about Han Nianling's situation. Now Hu Lan also made similar remarks, which made Jingjing even more curious. What happened to Han Nianling?

I seemed to have heard it before... "Does it have anything to do with the decision Jiaheng just said?"

Hu Lan's brows were raised slightly by Hei Jing's question. After a few seconds of silence, a smile suddenly appeared on Hu Lan's face: "You are quite keen on these matters. If you can put this If you focus on studying..."

Learn.

These two words were like a nightmare to Hiiragi Jing. As soon as Hu Lan mentioned them, the expression on Hiiragi Jing's face collapsed.

"The guy should have told you this kind of thing in person, but it's impossible for him to take the initiative to speak. I'll do it for a little bit." Hu Lan sighed, seeming to have made up his mind, "Have you heard? Have you been to... Green Ancient City?"

"I... heard that it seemed to be a destroyed human base in..."

"In the 118th year of the New Era, the same year that the First City was established..." Hu Lan paused for a moment. She was still looking at Hiiragi Jing, but Hiiragi Jing could clearly feel that the focus of his eyes was not on her, but on her. It fell even further, far beyond her imagination.

"That year, Han Nianling was five years old and I was ten years old..."

Chapter 15 Tragedy in Green Ancient City

Green Ancient City is a large independent city-state that does not belong to the Southern Federation or other forces. It is located in a valley to the west of the Southern Federation.

There are not a few people who know this name in the Newborn City, not only because of the coincidence between the time of destruction and the construction time of the Newborn City, but also because its destruction is a shocking warning to the surviving humans.

Before this, no one would have thought that this large-scale human urban base with a population of 40, a standing army of more than 118 all year round, and equipped with various types of light and heavy weapons purchased in large quantities would open in the [-]th year of the New Era. At the beginning, it was completely destroyed in just three days.

Tens of thousands of mutated monsters and zombies tore through the defense lines of the city base, greedily devouring the residents. This cruel tragedy is destined to be deeply remembered in the history of human civilization's struggle for survival in the new era.

Hiiragi Jing was not yet born when the incident occurred, but she did not think that it was far away from her because it happened 16 years ago. Even today, she can still hear the news of the fall of the human city base and was captured by the traveling caravan. Even though the scale is far less than that of the Green Ancient City 16 years ago.

But Hiiragi never thought that one day he would be so close to the vanished green ancient city...

"The previous name of Green Ancient City was Green Valley Town. Just like the name, it was built in a valley and sat on a large flat and fertile impact plain. Because of this, Green Ancient City's grain production was extremely abundant. Green Ancient City, which had no food pressure, was very important to Residence applications for outsiders are also quite open..."

These basic information about the Green Ancient City are all briefly recorded, and Hu Lan's introduction is also very simple. However, the dryness of the text is far less vivid than the tone of Hu Lan's reminiscences. Just opening his mouth made Hiiragi unconsciously... Indulged.

"There are a large number of grain transactions between the grain-rich Green Ancient City and various city bases. Every year after the harvest is the time to fulfill orders, a large number of trucks filled with grain will drive out of the city gate one after another, on the road They formed a mighty motorcade, so loud that even the monsters didn’t dare to approach easily... At that time, I would sit on the haystacks piled up in the field with a large group of children, watching the cars drive through the city gate. The outgoing convoy counted the trucks in unison.”

"Every time the children count, the smiles on the faces of the adults around them will deepen, and there is a kind of brilliance in their eyes. I didn't understand it at that time, but I know it now: it is longing, expectation, and hope for the outside world. expectations... Afterwards, the numbers obtained by the children will be written on the adult's registration form. Each participating child will receive a large handful of candy as a reward. The white maltose is very sticky to the teeth, but very sweet, so sweet that it reaches the throat. That kind of..."

The look of reminiscence on Hu Lan's face couldn't stop showing warmth, and when she talked about interesting places, she couldn't help but chuckle a few times. It was obvious that she was quite nostalgic for her childhood in Green Ancient City.

Hiiragi Jing did not interrupt Hu Lan's narration and even listened very carefully. The prosperous life described by Hu Lan made her feel incredible. She had never thought that the world where she and countless people had imagined that the world without worries about food and clothing really existed. Green Ancient City 16 years ago.

"But these are just beautiful memories after all. Everything is fixed in the dusk of that day..." The warmth on Hu Lan's face gradually faded, and a trace of pain appeared on her face. As a listener, Hiiragi Jing Unconsciously, her face and breathing became softer. She knew that the details Hu Lan was going to talk about next were the main topic.

"On January 118nd of the 1th year of the New Era, the celebrations to enter the new year had just ended. Because of the school holiday, my family took my sister and me to spread out on the central streets. A sudden broadcast interrupted my ears. With laughter and joy, the news of a large-scale beast herd appearing nearby was announced to the whole city. People at that time were not worried, because similar situations would happen every year, not to mention that the military strength of the Green Ancient City was extremely strong, otherwise it would not be possible. It is impossible to have an enviable and abundant grain crop and at the same time maintain its independent status.”

"But as time went by, the number of troops on the streets gradually increased, first infantry, then armored vehicles, then tanks. The rumble of helicopters passing over the city drowned out the noisy and enthusiastic voices... The festive atmosphere began to decline. , people's expressions became serious, and some people asked the army, but all they got was solemn silence... Then another broadcast came, and then we knew: the induced team action failed, and the herd did not change its route. Instead, they continued to move in the direction of the Green Ancient City, and announced the temporary martial law order, promising that the crisis would be lifted by tomorrow."

"...People did not panic. The defense capabilities of the Green Ancient City are trustworthy. Decades of comfort cannot be easily destroyed. People fulfilled the requirements of the base government. Shops and vendors closed their stalls one after another, and people began to return to their homes. My father, as a squad leader in the army, ended his vacation early to report in the army, and my sister, my mother, and I returned home."

“I welcomed the next day with great expectations, but the base government did not fulfill its promise... In the early morning of January 1, my sister and I were woken up by the noise outside the window. The streets were full of vehicles. Whether they are private or government, they have been temporarily requisitioned to deliver supplies to the front line. Martial law is still in effect. People who want to take to the streets are driven away by guards. At the same time, I can still hear faint voices in the distance outside the city wall. There was the roar of artillery fire...At this moment, my mother came in and held my terrified sister and me in her arms, but I saw tears on her face that I had no time to wipe away..."

"The sound of artillery fire became clearer and clearer, and the flames of war reached the foot of the city wall. At this time, people in the city also began to hear the sharp roars of the monsters. The entire Green Ancient City finally fell into a comprehensive panic. The frightened people gathered to protest against the guards. They They asked for the city gate to be opened and wanted to leave. A conflict broke out between the guards and the crowd. Some people took advantage of the chaos and started smashing and looting. Some people organized to attack the guards and the city gate. The chaotic situation continued until the troops outside the city withdrew at dusk. It ended inside the city... Finally the city wall became the last line of defense of the Green Ancient City..."

Hu Lan's calm narration made Hiiragi extremely nervous. She swallowed her cigarette and realized that her throat was dry.

She could hear the danger Green Ancient City was facing, but she could also hear that Green Ancient City had neglected its internal management. Perhaps it was the long-term prosperous life that caused the government and residents to sink together, and it was difficult to recover until the alarm bell sounded.Many of the victories between humans and beasts were achieved on powerful fortifications like city walls, but before the final defense battle began, they failed to maintain order in the city, allowing the chaos to last for such a long time.

"When my father returned home, his body was completely blackened by smoke and exuded a strong smell of gunpowder that made people afraid to approach him. However, my sister, my mother, and I still stepped forward to welcome him back with hugs. This short-lived The warm meeting was too late to end. At this moment... countless huge vines emerged from the ground of Green Ancient City. Each of their diameters was thicker than a big tree. They were twisting like tentacles and destroying them with all their strength. Everything they touched, including streets, high-rise buildings, and even city walls, large sections collapsed. Hundreds of soldiers fell to their deaths in one fell swoop. The beasts outside the city swarmed in through the gaps... Finally..."

Hu Lan sighed quietly: "The ancient green city has completely collapsed..."

"The chaotic people fled from the Green Ancient City one after another, wanting to leave the ravages of those vines, but the beasts outside had been waiting for a long time. They rushed into the crowd and started their feast. Blood and minced meat splashed like raindrops. It was like a hell. I will never forget the scene in my life. Only about 10 of the hundreds of thousands of human beings actually escaped..."

"I am lucky. At least my father and I survived. I have a relative to rely on... But Han Nianling is different. She witnessed the tragic death of her parents. When I first met her, She was also carrying her mother's severed limbs on her back...like a dead body, following the team of refugees who had lost their homeland...In fact, Han Nianling was not able to save the severed limbs in the end, and the hungry refugees took away the severed limbs. , if my father hadn't saved her with a gun, I'm afraid she would have been eaten by those crazy people..."

Cannibalism... The experience of Han Nianling narrated by Hu Lan made Hiei Jing feel tight in her chest, as if she could not breathe as if something was blocked. Naturally, she, who was also a refugee, knew about this kind of thing. How crazy it would be once it happened, the elderly, children, women...the weak would become food in the mouths of extremely hungry people, and they would swallow their own compatriots like monsters without any scruples.

"Could it be that those vines..." Hiiragi licked his lips and said.

"That's right..."

Hu Lan nodded slightly and confirmed Hiiragi's guess: "It's a witch, a druid. Do you know? Two months later, we landed in a human town near the Newborn City. When I told Han Nian the news When she regained her consciousness, the child, who was speechless and expressionless, like a zombie, finally responded. She knelt on the ground and cried silently. Half an hour later, she recovered, using hatred as fuel, and rekindled her anger. took her life."

"Two years later, my father joined the local Heitali Security Company with his military background, while Han Nianling relied on his own efforts to get admitted to the local school as a refugee, which coincided with the Newborn City Research Institute The affiliated academy came to the local area for special recruitment, and she seized the opportunity to become the youngest student of the academy at that time. From then on, she came to the Newborn City, and I followed my father to the Black Tower headquarters."

"Today, she has become the youngest researcher at the institute. Not surprisingly, she chose to study witches. Although she always looks rational and calm, when it comes to certain aspects, behind her rationality is madness. .”

Behind the sanity... is madness?

Hiiragi's thoughts couldn't help but drift to that experience in JD's abandoned city.

Hu Lan subconsciously looked at the sky, her face showing a bit of embarrassment: "Sorry... I'm not usually a talkative person..."

"I know that..." Indeed, as far as Hiiragi's understanding of Hu Lan was concerned, apart from giving lessons to herself, she would not speak easily when it was not necessary.

"That's it, I'm going on patrol." Hu Lan waved her hand and turned to leave. But after taking a few steps, she stopped and turned her back to Hiiragi Jing and said slowly, "These words today came out of my mouth. Into your ears..."

"Don't worry, I know what to do."

After receiving Hiiragi Jing's promise, Hu Lan's shoulders seemed to relax a bit. She continued to walk and disappeared around the corner of the road without looking back.

Chapter No.16 Changes

"Take care of your 'baby'. If you cause any trouble next time, just deal with it yourself. I don't want to get involved in anything."

"what?"

Jiaheng suddenly pushed in the door, startling Ujiaxu who was concentrating on recording information at his desk. Just as he was blaming the other party's behavior, Lingjiu, who followed Jiaheng in the room, made him stop Jiaheng's accusation immediately: "Ling Nine? Aren’t you in the next room?”

"Although the door of the room is locked from the outside, the window is open, and there are many broken branches and fallen leaves in the trees downstairs... It may be difficult for ordinary people, but it is not difficult to do it with her physique. Obviously she He jumped from the window and climbed to the tree trunk and landed successfully." Jiaheng unceremoniously pushed a chair to sit in front of Ujiaxu and told him exactly what happened just now.

The scrutinizing gaze and slightly teasing tone made Ujiaxu's expression gradually cloudy, and the indifferent expression on Lingjiu's face gradually turned into fear after seeing this scene.

"Lingjiu, answer me: why?"

"Because...because of the smell..." The submissive Lingjiu trembled all over, not daring to look directly into Ujiaxu's eyes.

"Are you sure?"

"No...I don't know. The smell suddenly became very strong and then disappeared again."

"Dr. Jiaheng, although I can't be sure, maybe that person really has something to do with the witch..." Ujiaxu's slightly anxious tone was interrupted by Jiaheng's wave of his hand.

"Stop your excuses, Captain Wu. I don't know what the relationship between that person and the witch is, but I can be sure that that person has a close relationship with Han Nianling. Once an accident occurs, do you know what irreparable consequences it will cause?"

"What do you want?"

"Watch your tone, Captain Wu." Jiaheng slowly moved his crossed legs to one side, looking away from Wu Jiaxu's face and looking at the layout of the room as if carelessly, "I just want to remind you, Don’t forget the real reason why the Ministry of Science chose you to be the leader of this team, and whether you are really capable of taking on the responsibilities in this team..."

"Your mission has ended since the moment the convoy entered the New City. You are not the leader of the mission now. Whether it is intentional or unintentional, please do not affect the real purpose of our coming here. What do you think? ?”

Ujiaxu's eyes were fixed on the other party. Suddenly he raised his hand and took out a simple remote control device from his pocket. When he saw the remote control device in Ujiaxu's hand, Lingjiu's expression immediately became frightened. What she said was followed by a sharp crackling sound and a flashing arc of electricity hitting her neck.

Lingjiu, who fell to the ground, was trembling on the ground. His mouth was wide open and he couldn't make a sound as if he couldn't breathe. Uncontrollable drool and tears were flowing down his face.

But even so, the strikes of the electric arc did not stop, and every sound could cause her to tremble violently.

However, neither Ujiaxu nor Jiaheng paid too much attention to Lingjiu. After looking at each other for half a minute, Ujiaxu finally said slowly: "Are you satisfied?"

"Personally, I'm quite satisfied. Captain Wu's execution ability is really outstanding. Don't worry, the report submitted to the Ministry of Science will definitely include support for Captain Wu and your mentorship plan." The smile on Jiaheng's face gradually spread. Although this level has been overcome, Ujiaxu's complexion has not improved.

Jiaheng was extremely satisfied with Ujiaxu's obedient attitude. Jiaheng, who had achieved his goal, no longer stayed, but walked straight past Lingjiu on the ground and walked out of the room, closing the door behind him.

Ujiaxu's eyes shifted from the door to Lingjiu and he didn't know what he was thinking about. Finally he turned off the switch in his hand, and the arc that was constantly tormenting Lingjiu finally stopped. But before she could put on her clothes for a few breaths, Ujiaxu Then he kicked Ling Jiu hard in the abdomen.

The sharp blow to the abdomen caused Lingjiu to arch up and curl up into a ball, and bitter acidic water flowed from the corner of his mouth to the floor from the violent cough.

"Remember: Don't act rashly again without my instructions. I won't let you off so easily next time... Clean up the floor and go back to your room."

"……Yes……"

……

Han Nianling actually agreed? !

Hiiragi Jing could never have imagined that the rhetoric she had prepared in advance was completely useless, and the heated argument with Han Nianling did not happen at all, let alone an argument, not even a few words of defense.

When she asked the question straightforwardly, Han Nianling would also answer with a straightforward affirmative, without even a half-word superfluous, so that after receiving the answer, Hiiragi Jing didn't know what kind of expression to face, knowing that Han Nianling Nian Ling only woke her up when she spoke for the second time.

"Curfew is coming soon, how long are you going to stay here?"

"Ah...oh!" Hiiragi Jing, who had come back to her senses, was about to turn around, but when she recalled what Hu Lan had just said to her downstairs, she stopped dead in her tracks and opened her mouth for a long time, not knowing what to do. After all, it didn't take long for her to respond to Hu Lan's last instruction. Thousands of emotions were clogged in her brain, and she finally managed to squeeze out just one sentence.

"Employer Han...are you okay?"

"Pfft...what's your problem?" As if being amused by Hiiragi Jing's silly pose, Han Nianling couldn't help but laugh out loud. Such ridicule coupled with his poor expression just now , the red-faced Hiiragi Jing felt embarrassed, she hurriedly rushed out the door and ran downstairs.

And the next second after Hiei Jing disappeared behind the door, Han Nianling stopped laughing in just a moment. Her serious expression showed no trace of her laughter a second before, and then she turned to look at Outside the window sill, the muffled voice could tell that she was not in a very good mood at this time.

"Hu Lan, you did something unnecessary again."

"Ha...yeah, I think it's necessary." Hu Lan turned over and jumped from the window sill into the room. He shook his arms to shake off the dust that fell on his body when he climbed up the wall. Although he had asked Hiiragi to keep it secret before, But she also knew that with Hiiragi Jing's childish city, things like this couldn't be hidden from Han Nianling.

Hu Lan, who was always worried about Han Nianling's reaction, had to climb along the water pipe to the window sill of Han Nianling's office, hanging on her body with only the strength of her hands, and listened to the conversation between Zhong Nianling and Han Nianling in this state. Fortunately, nothing unexpected happened during the entire exchange.

"By the way, why did you agree to her request? To be honest, I don't understand the purpose of your arrangement. Don't you want to reveal it to me?"

"Because it's...no longer necessary."

"What is necessary?"

Han Nianling shook her head to express her refusal to answer, and Hu Lan then shrugged, indicating that she didn't care.

"I thought your bad personality had changed since you came back from JD Abandoned City, but it turned out that I thought too much... I will go back to report first, otherwise I will be really late, so you can do your own thing. "

Just as Hu Lan waved her hands and was about to leave, Han Nianling behind her suddenly stopped her.

"Hu Lan."

"Ok?"

Hu Lan was a little caught off guard when Han Nianling suddenly called her. She turned around, but she didn't expect that Han Nianling's next words were even more unexpected.

"What do you think has changed about me?"

"Where has it changed?"

Hu Lan was slightly stunned. She didn't quite understand whether there was something else hidden behind Han Nianling's words, but she immediately thought about it: if Han Nianling wanted to hide it, she couldn't figure it out with her ability. Exploring will only increase your troubles, and simply answer the question according to its literal meaning.

"I can't tell you specifically, but from my personal feeling... you have been a little confused recently..."

"confused?"

"Don't frown like that. Anyway, I think it's a good thing. At least this guy like you will probably not rush to JD's abandoned city without saying a word in a hurry... Be confused and give yourself time to think. , think carefully about what you have done so far and what your goals are in the future. Hatring the witch is not the only motivation for living."

After saying so many words from just now, Hu Lan also felt the taste. She picked up the teacup on Han Nianling's table and drank it in one gulp. Then she raised the tea leaves in her mouth out of the window. Such a rude gesture was not taken by Han Nianling. What should she express, because at this time she seemed to have been addicted to the words of Han Nianling just now.

"Hu Lan, do I really... hate the witch?"

"You should ask yourself this question. I'm leaving. If I don't leave, I will really be late."

Regardless of whether Han Nianling had something to say or not, Hu Lan walked straight out of the door, leaving behind only the sound of footsteps that continued to go away.

"Hate?"

Han Nianling actually had no intention of stopping Hu Lan. She was completely immersed in her own thoughts at this time. While thinking about the problem, she was also reviewing her experiences during this period, from JD to the abandoned city. From that shocking action until now, can what I did really make a difference?

No matter which angle she started from, that figure was something she could never get around.

Hiiragi... what has changed with her appearance, and what has become of my desire to study her since I first got to know her.

No matter how she asked herself this question, she had no way of finding an answer. Finally, she sighed silently and reached out to pick up the teacup. Only when she put it to her mouth did she realize that the tea in it had already been drank by Hu Lan. Only a few tea leaves clinging to the wall of the cup were left.