Chapter 210: Isolation Plan
Yu Sheng led Foxy and Irene back to the Orphanage, where he immediately sought out Little Red Riding Hood and Snow White.
Before long, “King” arrived as well. On one side of the reception room sat the Hotel trio (though no one was sure how many of them really counted as “people”), and facing them sat the three from Fairy Tale (including one Cat). The atmosphere felt especially solemn.
By now, Yu Sheng could clearly see that although the Fairy Tale organization seemed relaxed and free-spirited on the inside, it had its own structure and core leadership. Little Red Riding Hood was clearly the most authoritative Guardian in this “orphan group,” and Snow White was another figure who held significant sway. One had the longest history, and the other had the greatest strength—together, they functioned like the two “leaders” of the Fairy Tale Organization.
Of course, considering both Little Red Riding Hood and Snow White were already at a “Terminal Stage,” there must be successors prepared. But that was not something to pry into casually. As for “King,” it was indeed very powerful, but it did not manage the group’s affairs. The only reason it showed up for important discussions was because it was a Cat—and Cats always go wherever they please.
In front of the two Fairy Tale leaders and the Cat, Yu Sheng did not hold back any new intel he had from the Special Affairs Bureau. He told them everything about the Angel Cultists and the matter of the “container.”
“Right now, the Special Affairs Bureau is still holding the last Angel Cultist alive,” Yu Sheng explained, adding the current situation, “but we don’t dare ‘interrogate’ him too much. All we can do is isolate him carefully. Those followers of ‘Anka Aila’ truly have some ability. They seem skilled at sacrificing their lives directly to their ‘lord.’ Those six Self-Sacrifice cultists had no wounds on their bodies. Even the one who died right in front of me had no physical injury—yet he still managed to kill himself under the watch of our advanced equipment and feed his soul to his master. We couldn’t stop him.”
Little Red Riding Hood listened intently, her expression stern. After a long moment of silence, she finally spoke. “The ‘container’ is among us… So this is certain now, isn’t it?”
Yu Sheng let out a soft sigh and nodded reluctantly.
“At this point, we don’t know how those Angel Cultists determine if the ‘container’ is ripe, nor do we know what standard that Dark Angel uses to choose a ‘container.’ But we can be sure Anka Aila is on the brink of some Awakening Threshold. Those Self-Sacrifices are a way to speed that up. Maybe the cultists can’t really hear the Dark Angel’s voice, but they clearly have a method to sense that angel’s ‘status.’”
Just then, Snow White asked, “Is there any chance of catching more Angel Cultists?”
“There must be others in hiding. With Heretic Cultists, if you catch one, that usually means a whole cluster is still out there. But in the short term, it’ll be hard to find more,” Yu Sheng said, shaking his head. “And with Anka Aila’s awakening so near, hoping to round up every last one before it descends is probably too late. Besides, when Dark Angels act, it can feel like a ‘natural phenomenon.’ We’re not even sure how much impact those cultists’ sacrifices really have on their master.”
“Let’s focus instead on the ‘container,’” Irene said, seated beside Yu Sheng. “Do you have any leads on who it might be?”
Snow White and Little Red Riding Hood exchanged glances. Their faces both showed complicated emotions.
King, the Cat on the sofa armrest, also wore a complex expression. Yu Sheng had no idea what that look meant on a Cat’s face.
After a brief, heavy pause, Little Red Riding Hood let out a sigh.
“The most likely candidates are right here in this room,” she said as she raised her hand and pointed first to herself, then to Snow White. “We’re the closest to adulthood and the strongest fighters. If anyone in Fairy Tale is closest to that Dark Angel, it’s the two of us—because we’ve been eroded by it the most.”
“From another angle,” Snow White added, pointing at the tabby Cat named King, “King is also very possible.”
King’s eyes widened in shock as it pointed at itself with a paw. “Why me?”
Snow White’s expression was serious. “You’re a Cat that somehow became a ‘carrier’ of Fairy Tale. And you’re no ordinary role—you’re ‘King,’ a figure that often appears as the unifying backdrop in many fairy tales. Do you not think that’s rather special?”
“[Once again, life sinks its claws into a poor, defenseless Cat],” King muttered with a sigh, tapping the sofa armrest with its paw. “Ugh. I need a good fur rub.”
No sooner had it spoken than a phantom figure appeared in the air: a Court Jester wearing a brightly colored outfit and a tear-drop mask bowed to the group, then knelt before King and began to gently stroke its fur.
Yu Sheng watched, baffled. But he soon swallowed his urge to comment and turned solemnly to Little Red Riding Hood.
“So, about the plan for isolation and shelter…” he began, thinking aloud. “We don’t know when Anka Aila will fully awaken. We don’t know who the ‘container’ actually is. Even though I’ve placed a ‘protective’ field on each of your minds, I’m not sure it’ll stop a Dark Angel. All things considered, I think we should move the Orphanage’s Cursed Children to a safer location—even if only for a short time. At least—”
He paused, searching for a delicate way to phrase it. “At least somewhere with better isolation, where monitoring is easier and we can respond quickly if something happens.”
He glanced around the room. “I’m not saying this Orphanage is bad, but—”
“Yes, I understand,” Little Red Riding Hood cut him off. She reacted more calmly than he expected. “We do need to move the Cursed Children. We Guardians will come with them. At the very least, we shouldn’t stay in the heart of the city.”
Yu Sheng stared at her in surprise. “Er… so you agree to this plan?”
“I agree. The other Guardians will, too,” she said, nodding earnestly. “We just need some time to explain it to our little brothers and sisters. And we have to pack a lot of items—especially the toys these young Cursed Children are familiar with.”
She paused and went on, “Most of them have no sense of security as it is. If we rush them out too fast, it’ll make them even more anxious.”
Yu Sheng opened his mouth, struggling for a moment before replying with an odd expression. “I… I thought…”
“You thought we’d be stubborn?” Little Red Riding Hood arched an eyebrow. “[You imagined we’d shout, ‘We must defend our Orphanage on our own!’ and then watch everything spiral out of control]?”
Yu Sheng scratched his head. “Uh…”
“That would never work,” Snow White said seriously, shaking her head. “This Orphanage is in the city. There may be no residents right next door, but just beyond the perimeter, there’s a whole neighborhood and a shopping mall. If one of us turns out to be the ‘container,’ even a fraction of the Dark Angel’s power descending here could spell disaster. At that point, we need to follow the Management Department’s plan and move the threat. Quickly.”
Yu Sheng was momentarily at a loss, then let out a small, embarrassed laugh.
“I told you before,” Little Red Riding Hood said softly, rocking on the sofa a bit with a faint, knowing smile. “Most kids here ended their rebellious phases the day they first fell into their nightmares. Don’t worry about us throwing tantrums—we’re not the kind to holler for independence and then bawl when things fall apart. So, what’s the plan? Do we head to some isolation zone out in the suburbs? Or to one of the Special Affairs Bureau’s Containment Facilities?”
Hearing that, Yu Sheng set aside his earlier worries. He exhaled gently and met Little Red Riding Hood’s gaze.
“The Special Affairs Bureau has offered two options. First is a place called ‘Quiet Town,’ supposedly a stable Otherworld where they’ve built a secure zone. Second is a Containment Facility on the City Outskirts. But I have another possibility, which might be even better.”
Little Red Riding Hood and Snow White both leaned forward. “Another possibility?”
Yu Sheng’s expression turned solemn. “My ‘backyard.’”
Little Red Riding Hood hesitated, as though she didn’t understand right away. Then her eyes widened. “Ah—the star… that ‘Valley’ of yours?!”
“Honestly, I think it’s more suitable than a Containment Facility,” Yu Sheng said, nodding. “Any facility can be breached. And any Otherworld carries some degree of danger. But in my ‘backyard’—unless I give permission, not even the Bureau’s best tech can find the entrance. It’s zero-pollution, too.
“Of course, I can’t guarantee it’ll block all of Anka Aila’s influence. That giant floating eye left there like it was no big deal. [No one can truly cage a Dark Angel.] But at least the Valley itself seems to have some resistance, and it’s directly connected to my senses. If something does ‘invade,’ I’ll feel it right away. There’s also plenty of space inside, so there’s room to set up barriers if we need to.”
Yu Sheng continued in one breath, then changed his tone. “Of course, there’s a downside—it doesn’t have the same facilities as a proper Containment Facility. But I spoke to Bai Li Qing, and if you agree, the Special Affairs Bureau is willing to cooperate. They’ll rush in generators, prefab housing, and other supplies. All I need to do is open a Door big enough to bring everything through. Then, at least for the short term, living conditions would be acceptable.”
He finished speaking and looked expectantly at the group. The room fell silent, each person (and Cat) weighing this plan with serious eyes.
(This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation.)