Apocalypse Forecast

Chapter 513 443 The Philosopher's Audience_1

"Farewell then, Mr. Philosopher."

Huai Shi picked up the keys and waved to the Little Brag not far away, "Seilar, let's go."

But Seilar hesitated for a moment, remaining still, and instinctively looked towards the Philosopher instead.

Huai Shi frowned.

"There is something I forgot to mention." The Philosopher glanced at the child beside him. "He came to Madura to find me."

"What do you mean?"

"My people told me a strange invisible child appeared in the Yogyakarta Area, wandering around. I then spent some time and found his whereabouts."

The Philosopher looked down at Seilar. "We had a conversation over the phone. I told him he could come to Madura to find me. I would provide him with the education and life he should have, so he wouldn't have to suffer from hunger and cold. The end result is, he was willing to come to Madura to find me."

Huai Shi finally recalled the Philosopher's surprise when they first met.

His astonishment wasn't because of his own age but because of Sayul's... He had not expected that Sayul turned out to be such a young child.

Yet, he was uninterested in what the Philosopher said.

"The Astronomical Society has special care institutions and policies for such underage Sublimators." Huai Shi calmly retorted, "I think you probably don't need to trouble yourself with this."

"Why not ask him then?"

The Philosopher turned back, looking at Sayul. "For something like this, should it not be for the person concerned to make their own decision?"

"He is just a child."

"No, he is already a Sublimator."

The Philosopher said earnestly, "Every Sublimator must take responsibility for their own fate, no matter how young they are. Neither you nor I can make choices for him, right?"

Huai Shi silently faced the Philosopher for a long while before lowering his gaze to Sayul.

Sayul was also looking at him.

"Alright," Huai Shi sighed, "let's have a chat, the two of us."

"Okay."

The Philosopher nodded and stepped back, seemingly not keen on wasting time, his pen still steadily writing and annotating on the lesson plan, waiting patiently.

Huai Shi glanced at him, withdrew his gaze, and studied the Little Brag in front of him.

"You heard everything. This guy, who doesn't exactly seem like a good person, wants to adopt you."

Huai Shi shrugged. "If you're willing to go with me, I'll contact the Astronomical Society. Well, you don't know what that is... Anyway, I can assure you, you will be properly taken care of. Now, it's up to you to choose either side. You have to make a choice for your own fate, Sayul."

Sayul stared blankly at him, then looked at the distant Philosopher with some disbelief.

"Is he really the Philosopher of Madura?"

Huai Shi shrugged. "Whether he really has a philosopher's trophy and identity, I can't guarantee, but if someone is referred to as the Philosopher, it's probably him."

"I've always heard about him!"

Sayul said excitedly, "Everyone says, he's a boss among bosses! When he speaks, no one dares to talk back; a mere cough from him would make everyone tremble and kneel... He told me to come to Madura to find him, it was true!"

His eyes sparkled. No answer was needed.

Huai Shi sighed somewhat helplessly, "Alright, I understand..."

He rose to his feet and waved to the distant Philosopher, indicating he could come over.

As if he had already known the outcome, the Philosopher's expression was calm and firm. He glanced at the excited Sayul and nodded slightly. "It seems I may be more popular with children?"

Huai Shi couldn't help but roll his eyes.

He let out a long sigh.

Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out his credentials and unfolded them.

"So now, as a Registered Militia of the Astronomical Society, I stand before you, Mr. Philosopher," he said, "I need your assurance."

The Philosopher's expression remained calm, assuring Huai Shi, "I will raise Sayul to adulthood, as an educator, and do my best to ensure he becomes a kind person, harmless to Current Circumstances."

"You won't use him as a tool?" Huai Shi pressed. "You won't lead him astray?"

"I swear."

The Philosopher raised the Rosary Beads on his right wrist.

"You don't need a god to guarantee this for you here."

Huai Shi lifted his credentials, showing him the logo of the Astronomical Society. "You just need to be honest with it."

"Then, I promise."

Without any hesitation or guilt, the Philosopher made a promise to the Astronomical Society, making Huai Shi feel even more disheartened.

A Philosopher godfather with flawed ideals, and a brash invisible Little Brag... Who knows what kind of sparks they might ignite together?

He had every right to forcibly take Sayul away.

But what would be the point? The Philosopher could adopt Sayul through proper procedures anyway. Sayul could also come out and find the Philosopher again. What would be satisfied was nothing more than his own meaningless goodwill.

After looking deeply at the Philosopher in front of him and then at the excited Sayul, Huai Shi couldn't help but shake his head, extending his hand to vigorously ruffle Sayul's hair.

"Well then, let's say our goodbyes here, Little Brag."

He thought for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Before you go, can you tell me, what is your dream?"

"Hm?" Sayul didn't understand.

Huai Shi explained, "I mean something you'd dream of achieving."

"I..."

Sayul thought for a moment, hesitated, and then eventually began to spill the thoughts from his heart, "I want everyone to see me! Does that kind of thought count as a dream?"

Does it count? Huai Shi didn't know. He just suddenly felt it was absurd.

A Sublimator who chose to hide himself for fear of harm longed to be seen by everyone, while a philosopher who questioned everything could gain others' unconditional trust.

It was so contradictory, and also so ironic.

"I wish your dreams come true soon, Sayul."

Huai Shi reached out, touched his shoulder, and said earnestly, "I hope everyone can see you... and I hope you can remember that among those watching you, there's a very fierce big brother."

Sayul nodded as if he understood.

Then Huai Shi smiled.

Perhaps one day, Sayul would understand the choices he made today? I also hope that he will be able to fulfill his wishes in honorable ways.

"Goodbye, Little Brag."

Huai Shi held his head high as he said farewell.

Sayul waved at him, then turned and followed the school's janitor away.

The Philosopher had guaranteed that starting tomorrow, Sayul would begin his new life here, free from any harm.

Despite his doubts about the Philosopher's vile character, Huai Shi believed the man wouldn't stoop so low as to deceive a child for some nefarious purpose.

"Very sentimental, isn't it?"

The Philosopher smiled and watched Sayul's departing figure, then suddenly said, "Sometimes, I think only children are the truly vibrant and real beings in this world."

"Most people are like that, full of curiosity when they first open their eyes to the world, but after being covered with layer upon layer of well-intentioned or malicious lies, they start to change."

The inscrutable middle-aged man looked pensive as he said, "Once one enters society, no matter how grand and upright the ideals, no matter how splendid the dreams, no matter how sharp the edges, they all get worn down bit by bit.

"Whether it's resolve or dreams, they get gradually forgotten amid the dust... Too many regrets, too many grievances, eventually fade away in the long passage of time, just like morning dew."

Huai Shi couldn't help but nod in agreement. "Honestly, out of all you've said, only this seems to make some sense."

"Am I disliked now?" asked the Philosopher.

"Pretty much so." Huai Shi nodded and candidly said, "You're the kind of person I don't like; we probably won't get along well."

So, the Philosopher laughed, "But you won't stop thinking, will you?"

"Maybe once in a while, but it won't be because of you."

After giving it some thought, Huai Shi answered seriously, "It's for the things that are more worth thinking about."

He turned around, climbed into his car, started the engine, and prepared to leave.

"The Sea of ​​Silver has its own gravity, Mr. Huai Shi."

Outside the car window, the lonely man suddenly said, "Compared to the eternal sea, we are but a mist. Every independent Soul must struggle constantly.

"Otherwise, even if they ascend, it's just a fleeting soar... and ultimately they will fall to the earth."

This was the Philosopher's final farewell.

"I sincerely wish that you may soar long in the sky."

Huai Shi did not respond.

The SUV had already roared away.

The Philosopher stood still, quietly watching him go.

It wasn't until the bell for class rang behind him that he picked up his lesson plan and turned to walk into the school.

.

.

「Four hours later.」

After returning the car to the Forestry Association in the Madura area, Huai Shi arrived at the dock.

The Forestry Association was much more generous than he had expected.

After settling the amount of work Huai Shi had done, they not only subsidized his fuel cost but also gave him an additional 12,000 US dollars in reward.

The amount of money had increased. There was no need to beg his way to Antarctica.

But Huai Shi didn't feel much joy.

The conversation with the Philosopher wasn't as pleasant as he had expected, instead making him extremely uncomfortable.

After answering Huai Shi's questions, the Philosopher left Huai Shi with even more questions.

He also unapologetically displayed his own attitude and life.

Facing Huai Shi's rebuttal so openly, and absolutely unwilling to change even a little due to Huai Shi's dislike.

It was as if there were many people in this world who got along and clicked well with him, just as there were people he could not understand but who equally existed.

Whether one side or the other, both were aspects of this world. Each was a part of the Sublimators.

"This world is really complicated," Huai Shi murmured to himself.

On his backpack beside him, Raven nodded, "Who's to say it isn't?"

"I'm kind of lost."

"It doesn't matter, many people are lost," Raven said lethargically. "But you still have plenty of time to figure it out, don't you?"

Huai Shi nodded gently.

It wasn't long before the sound of a ship's horn snapped him out of his reverie.

At the edge of the dock, a steamer pulled up a gangplank and then, a man wearing a white naval hat popped his head out and waved at Huai Shi.

"There's no time to explain, hurry aboard!"

The familiar-looking man beckoned to him with a flourish and said, "A long journey awaits us!"

"Hello, I am Huai Shi."

The young man shook his hand, studying his face, feeling sure he had seen this very punchable face before, but for the life of him, he couldn't remember where.

"May I ask how to address you?"

"Just call me K... COUGH, Captain Kate Peterman!" The familiar-looking man grinned, slapped his shoulder, and said, "Hold tight, young man, we're off to Australia!"

Soon, the steam whistle shrieked.

Carrying its single passenger, the steamer named Mayflower roared toward the distance.

As carefree as a wild dog frolicking on the sea, a new journey was about to begin.