Chapter 235: Chapter 235 - High-Risk Mission
Theo silently walked beside Owen and Adrian as they made their way down the stone path.
The closer they got to the memorial, the quieter the atmosphere became.
Only a few whispers rang out here and there while most people simply stood in front of the black marble monuments in silence.
Rows of white flowers had already been laid at the base, standing out against the black marble.
Theo let out a long breath, his gaze moving through the crowd.
Almost immediately, he spotted several familiar faces.
A few instructors wearing Westridge’s clothes stood near the edge.
Among them, only one wore a simple black dress.
And that was his instructor, Elise.
She stared off in a daze at the monument, large dark circles under her eyes as if she hadn’t slept in days.
Theo couldn’t help but shake his head lightly.
His eyes continued drifting through the crowd.
Many faces he recognized faintly, having helped them escape the city himself.
Suddenly, his eyes widened slightly as he froze in place.
At the very front stood a woman and a little boy dressed in completely black clothes.
Theo’s breathing unconsciously slowed.
’It’s them...’ he thought. ’David’s family. Daniel and Emily Hayes.’
Daniel quietly held a bouquet of white lilies against his chest, his small fingers gripping the stems tightly as tears streamed down his face.
Beside him, Emily stood perfectly still, her eyes fixed on the names engraved into the black stone.
For several long seconds, Theo simply stood there in silence.
Finally, he clenched his fists and moved forward, following after Owen and Adrian.
The three each picked up a white flower from a nearby table.
Without saying a word, Adrian walked forward first, heading for the center monument.
Crouching down slowly, he placed the flower right in front of a large, familiar name.
"Joop Halsa."
For a brief moment, he remained crouched there, his eyes closed respectfully.
Then, without saying a single word, he stood back up and walked away.
Owen stepped forward next.
He too knelt down in front of Joop’s name, placing his flower right beside Adrian’s before lowering his head.
After a few seconds, he stood up and followed after Adrian.
Theo was the last to step forward.
His eyes were filled with uncertainty as they flickered past each of the monuments.
He’d long since spotted David, Joop, and Alia’s names.
Even so, it was tradition to only be able to place one flower down.
’Where... do I place it?’
His fingers slowly tightened around the singular white flower in his hands.
For several long moments, he remained frozen in place.
Each of them had sacrificed their lives, two of them even right in front of his eyes.
Finally, he let out a long sigh and stepped forward.
He came to a halt in front of Alia’s name.
As memories of her flashed through his mind, he quietly closed his eyes and lowered his head.
After several seconds, he opened them again and continued walking.
A few yards farther, he stopped once more, this time in front of David’s name.
The man who’d come back to warn him despite all the danger and his family at home.
He didn’t have to do it.
But he still did, simply because it was his job as a security guard.
’I’ll forever remember your sacrifice,’ he thought. ’And I’ll support your family until my death.’
As he felt Emily and Daniel’s gazes burning into his back, he forced himself to continue.
Finally, he stood back in front of the center monument.
His gaze settled on the familiar name engraved into the polished black marble.
’Joop...’ he thought, nodding once.
Memories of the old man’s words flashed through his mind, followed by him burning away together with the Ice Serpent.
He hadn’t just saved Owen’s life and his own that day.
From the moment they’d met, Joop had been the one pushing them onto the right path.
If not for the old man... he would’ve never met Alia or David in the first place.
’Thank you,’ he thought.
Slowly, he knelt down and placed the white flower beside Adrian’s and Owen’s.
With that, he quietly stood up and returned to their side.
’’Well done,’’ Adrian whispered quietly behind him.
Having taken their spots in the crowd, they silently waited.
Several minutes passed by tragically slowly.
Theo’s eyes remained fixed on the three black monuments, his mind drifting absentmindedly between the countless names engraved into the polished stone.
Before long, a clear chime echoed across the memorial grounds.
The soft whispers gradually died away as thousands of people turned toward a raised platform near the monuments.
A middle-aged man dressed in a formal black suit slowly stepped onto it.
His solemn gaze swept across the sea of mourners before he bowed respectfully.
’’Thank you all for coming today,’’ he began, his voice carrying across the entire mountainside.
’’Today, we gather to honor those who gave their lives protecting this city.’’
The man’s voice continued, speaking of the sacrifices made that day, the lives that had been saved, and the duty of remembering those who never returned.
Theo barely heard any of it.
It wasn’t until movement near the stage caught his attention that he finally blinked.
Several members of the Imperial Church of Seven Virtues had stepped forward, dressed in long white robes embroidered with golden thread.
One after another, they knelt before the monuments, lowering their heads in silent prayer.
Only then did Theo truly return to his surroundings.
’’...I now ask everyone present to observe one minute of silence.’’
Almost instantly, the entire mountainside fell quiet.
Not a single person uttered a word as they lowered their heads.
Theo, too, lowered his head, his thoughts gradually subsiding.
Slowly, all his fear, regret, and pain were replaced by a deep sense of gratitude and peace.
Beside him, Owen quietly stood with his hands clasped together, while Adrian remained as relaxed as ever, though even he had lowered his head out of respect.
A full minute slowly passed.
Finally, the clear chime echoed across the mountainside once more.
’’The moment of silence has concluded,’’ the official announced softly. ’’May those who departed rest in peace.’’
People all around him gradually began raising their heads.
Some wiped away their tears, while others quietly embraced their families.
The once-motionless crowd slowly came back to life as soft conversations spread through the memorial grounds.
Theo let out a slow breath.
’I suppose... this is goodbye.’
Just as he was about to turn away, he felt a light tap on his shoulder.
"Hm?"
Turning around, he found an elderly man standing behind him.
His white hair was neatly combed, while his back was hunched over.
Yet the man had a faint smile on his face as he stared at Theo.
Theo recognized him immediately.
’The old man from the Northern Line Hunting Group?’
’’Good afternoon, Theo,’’ the old man said, smiling sweetly. ’’It’s good to see you here.’’
Theo quickly straightened his posture.
’’Good afternoon, sir,’’ he replied respectfully.
The old man nodded approvingly before briefly glancing toward the black monuments.
’’I’ve heard you were with my friend, Joop, in his final moments,’’ he said quietly. ’’Is that correct?’’
For a moment, everything went silent.
Then Theo slowly nodded.
’’Yes,’’ he answered shortly.
The old man’s smile brightened slightly as a soft sigh escaped his mouth.
’’If I may ask,’’ he started softly, ’’how were his final moments?’’
Theo lowered his gaze for a moment, carefully remembering the look on Joop’s face.
’’He didn’t hesitate,’’ he said quietly. ’’It was as if he’d long known he was going to die and had made peace with it.’’
He paused for a moment.
’’The most he was worried about was getting us to safety.’’
The elderly man remained silent, processing the information.
Finally, a faint chuckle left his mouth.
’’That certainly sounds like him,’’ he said.
For the first time since approaching, genuine relief appeared on his weathered face.
’’Thank you.’’
Theo stared at the man, a flicker of confusion flashing through his eyes.
’’For what?’’
The old man simply smiled.
’’For telling me he left this world as himself.’’
His gaze moved to Joop’s engraved name.
’’We’ve known each other for over forty years.’’
’’He always joked that if he ever died, it’d be while doing something reckless.’’
A few more soft chuckles left the old man’s mouth.
’’Seems like he was right in the end.’’
For several seconds, neither of them spoke.
Theo simply stared at the old man.
One of humanity’s strongest Grandmaster hunters stood before him, yet at this moment, he looked no different from an old man mourning a lifelong friend.
Finally, the old man turned back toward Theo.
’’My name is Harold, by the way. I don’t believe I’ve ever properly introduced myself.’’
Theo immediately bowed his head slightly.
’’It’s an honor to meet you, Mr. Harold.’’
Harold waved a hand dismissively.
’’Just Harold is fine.’’
His smile slowly returned.
’’Truth be told, speaking with you about Joop wasn’t the only reason I came over.’’
Theo tilted his head slightly.
’’It wasn’t?’’
Harold shook his head.
His expression gradually became more serious.
’’Now that your university pre-admission exams are over,’’ he said, ’’I wanted to ask whether you’re ready for another... high-risk, high-reward mission.’’
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