Apocalypse Forecast

Chapter 446 386 Advice_1

Actually, the bowl of noodles was finished quite quickly.

Although he looked a bit like a corporate drone, there was an indescribable charm about him when he ate.

Even just watching him, one could vicariously experience the heartiness and sweetness.

Only after gulping down the noodle soup did the man in the gray suit finally raise his head, wipe his mouth, and a touch of rosiness appeared on his pale face.

"I've been working a lot of overtime recently, it's exhausted me."

He smiled apologetically at Huai Shi. "My apologies for my appearance. Are you two on a trip?"

A twitch passed through the corner of Huai Shi's eye.

It was only now that he realized... this man seemed to be able to see the Raven?

But the Raven pretended to be just an ordinary raven, completely oblivious to what he was talking about, looking around but pointedly ignoring him.

The man in the gray suit didn't speak to it again, but instead suggested to Huai Shi, "There's still half an hour before the train leaves, how about a bowl of noodles?"

"Huh?" Huai Shi was puzzled.

"The noodles here are quite good. Although the soup is a bit average, the noodles are definitely hand-pulled, probably made with a matured dough instead of yeast, which gives it a completely different texture. They have a nice chew, plus the side dishes..."

When it came to food, the man in the gray suit brightened up, as though he was talking about the best thing in the world, animatedly expressing his thoughts.

It wasn't until he finished that Huai Shi shook his head, slightly embarrassed. "No, that's alright, I ate before I came."

"Ah, that's a shame."

The man in the gray suit shook his head regretfully, then remembered he hadn't introduced himself. "Sorry, I didn't ask for your name?"

"Huai Shi."

"The 'Huai' of nostalgia?"

"The 'Huai' of the locust tree, and the 'Shi' of poetry."

"...Is that so? Huai... Shi..."

The man seemed lost in thought for a moment, as if concentrating hard to remember the name. He didn't mention his own, however—whether intentionally or because he simply forgot.

During the wait for the train, the two men chatted sporadically.

Soon, Huai Shi found that they got along quite well.

Even though it was their first meeting, unexpectedly, there was no barrier or distance between them; rather, it was like meeting an old friend after a long time.

Although this guy looked like a corporate slave who had been overworking himself to the point of collapse, his conversation was always genuine and cheerful.

Huai Shi could feel the Resonance within his own spirit of indifference!

It was as if they were enacting a bizarre setup only found in comics—slackers always meeting other slackers and then happily sharing their experiences in shirking their duties.

Huai Shi was so engrossed in the conversation.

He completely failed to notice the odd looks from other passengers.

No one was tactless enough to interrupt their chat.

No, rather, they instinctively chose to stay away.

Anyone with even a hint of intuition could sense it—aside from the weary expression of a man overworked to the brink of death, that man in the gray suit was enveloped by a gloomy atmosphere, and an ominous aura exuded from deep within his bones.

It was like a knock on the door in the dead of night, causing a heart-pounding fear. People couldn't help but avoid it.

Unconsciously, everyone distanced themselves, until finally, a clear boundary formed that even Huai Shi could notice.

Most of the waiting room had emptied out.

"...What's going on?"

Huai Shi looked astonished at the others' odd behavior, thought for a moment, analyzed carefully, and then realized—could it be that he was being ostracized?

He was suddenly subjected to the proverbial cold violence among social beings.

Why, though!

Had his reputation outside deteriorated to this extent? Or was it really as the Raven said, that the members of the Astronomical Society were everyone's target for elimination?

I, the once Prince of Paradise, falling out of favor is bad enough, but to be shunned like this is going too far!

"Ah, it's probably because of me."

The man in the gray suit seemed to catch on to his thoughts, shrugging slightly. "Ordinary people don't really like to deal with someone like me. After all, my visits usually don't bode well."

"Hmm?" Huai Shi became curious. "Are you some kind of Assassin?"

Even though he seemed like he wouldn't have much fighting power, looks could be deceiving.

Nowadays, it's fashionable for seemingly inconspicuous characters like delivery men to be retired military elites, saving the world with ethernet cables in hand.

Even a high school student could be reincarnated in a fantasy world and become a legend.

The world has changed.

People are not always as they seem.

"No, no, no, that's a bit of an exaggeration."

The man in the gray suit shook his head awkwardly. "Just look at me, on the verge of dropping dead from overwork, you can tell I'm no fighter... I'm a civilian employee."

He paused, choosing his words carefully, and said calmly, "Back in the day, I could have perhaps considered you a colleague, right? But since resigning from the Astronomical Society and becoming unemployed, I've not been very popular. I can only get by doing odd jobs like delivering messages to make ends meet."

This sentiment seemed full of heartache, a story of work woes and unshed tears, resonating deep sympathy within Huai Shi.

"Actually, the Astronomical Society isn't much to speak of either these days."

He sighed. "Staying on is just back-breaking labor as a tool for others; and if you're unlucky enough to get a temperamental boss, the suffering's worse... Working yourself to death isn't enough. Ever since the organization's last outing failed, my boss has suddenly given me the cold shoulder.

"Now I feel like I've become an invisible man at work. The year is nearly over, and not even a portion of hairtail to show for it, not to mention the difficulty of just going out for a trip..."

"Exactly, exactly, it used to be the same."

The man in the gray suit heaved a long, empathetic sigh, a shared sense of grief palpable, "When you started the job, they told you there would be no overtime and the treatment would be good. Only after you joined did you realize it meant no holidays at all.

"Every day you're running errands, serving tea, and being dumped with tasks by those above, with reports that never end. Before you know it, you're working overtime until Doomsday, and in the end, you have to stand the last watch alongside a boss with a cruel sense of humor. Looking back on it now, it was just unbearably miserable... How did I ever get through it?"

"Yeah, yeah." Huai Shi nodded sincerely.

Somehow, in some bizarre way, the two men had miraculously reached a consensus.

This world really is too strange.

The enjoyable times always fly by too fast, just like the limited free promotions of ancient travel agencies, ending before you even realize.

Outside the waiting room, a faint rumbling came from the tracks, with the sound of a steam whistle blowing, growing nearer, as the train approached the station.

It was at this moment that the door to the waiting hall opened once again.

Huai Shi stiffened for an instant.

He heard the sound of an illusion-like wind and snow blowing in from the door that had just opened behind him, mixed with the deep echoes of an avalanche and the collision of icebergs.

The cold wind was piercing to the bone.

But soon, with the door closing, that sudden chill dissipated.

Only the sound of heavy footsteps arose as Huai Shi turned his head and saw two travelers walk in under the dim yellow light.

No, anyone at first glance would have their attention drawn to the middle-aged man walking at the front.

As if he had come from a land of snow, the slightly aged man wore a heavy coat. Even in the absence of a single snowflake, the bitter cold of his journey could be felt.

His calm face bore no expression, neither handsome nor striking, except for his gray eyes that were unlike anyone else's.

Like a bonfire burning in the midst of a blizzard, flames of intense light leapt continuously.

Piercingly intense, making it difficult to look at him directly.

The only slight flaw, perhaps, was the top of his head after he removed his hat. His smooth scalp, encircled by sparse hair, reflected the soft light from the ceiling—a slightly embarrassing sight.

Behind him, the young man carrying his luggage hardly had any presence, following in his steps as if he were a retainer.

But Huai Shi felt... that he had seen the young man somewhere before.

Mysteriously familiar.

Yet, he couldn't quite place it at the moment.

While Huai Shi pondered this, the man in front had already walked straight towards them.

One step after another, without any hesitation or confusion.

At last, he stopped by the table, giving a slight nod to the man in the gray suit.

"Long time no see."

He spoke in Latin, but with a tinge of a Russian Federation accent, indecipherable as to his origins. It was only after he approached that Huai Shi finally realized—this man was very tall, at least over two meters.

He stood with his back to the light in front of the table, and his huge shadow covered the entire corner, like a heavy stone pressing on one's chest, making it hard to breathe.

But the gray-suited man seemed unaffected, his expression unchanged, though speaking up to him seemed a bit laborious, "Long time no see... Looks like, it's you guys again?"

"Shouldn't be."

The dignified middle-aged man thought for a moment, shaking his head dismissively, "Even if it has nothing to do with me, whatever happens in the end will probably be blamed on me, right?"

The gray-suited man nodded in agreement. "After all, it is rare to see someone as unpopular as you."

In their conversation, the middle-aged man glanced at the young man beside him, seeming somewhat surprised, "Your friend?"

"Just met."

The gray-suited man shrugged, "Don't think too much about it, he has nothing to do with a Gate of Death Star like me."

"Is that so?"

The middle-aged man turned back and looked at the young man sitting in the chair. "Then let me give you some advice, Mr. Huai Shi."

He called out Huai Shi's name so unexpectedly.

As if he had known him all along.

He said, "For the sake of the peaceful life and happy living you seek, you'd better stay away from this man beside you, and you should hope that this guy never shows up in front of you again—getting involved with him would not be good, just like getting involved with the Astronomical Society."

The advice came abruptly, but the tone of condescension made Huai Shi feel uncomfortable.

It was as if he were being scolded like a mischievous child.

And so, in the shadow of the tall man, Huai Shi looked up at that authoritative face.

"What a coincidence."

The young man suddenly smiled. "I have some advice too..."

As he spoke, his hand reached into his saddlebag and clasped something heavy. Behind the middle-aged man, his attendant's expression changed slightly; he wanted to step forward but was stopped by the middle-aged man's raised hand.

The man didn't seem to care about Huai Shi's hostility or actions. Instead, he appeared curious about what weapon or tactic Huai Shi might produce to challenge him.

So, presumptuous...

Until at last, a gift pack enclosed in plastic film appeared before him, causing him to widen his eyes, frozen in place.

Gazing at his bald head, the young man suggested, enunciating each word,

"—You should try the new Regain!"