Chapter 352: Chapter 352: City-wide Alert
Evelyn Ford and Ronan Kendrick exchanged a glance, their expressions grave.
"I can’t believe I didn’t think of this. It would explain everything—collecting taxes, driving out refugees, hoarding massive amounts of supplies... Ronan Kendrick, maybe there’s someone in Tarr City who can predict the future."
’Maybe they were reborn, just like me.’
Of course, this was just Evelyn Ford’s speculation.
Ronan Kendrick was silent for a few seconds before nodding slightly. "That’s a possibility. If they can really predict the future, then a very serious cataclysm might be coming. This person must have some status; otherwise, they couldn’t pull all this off."
Evelyn Ford grew anxious. "We have to find this person. If we know what’s coming, we can prepare in time."
’If they were also reborn, would they have a dimension like I do?’ Seeing how blatantly they were hoarding, however, Evelyn Ford felt she could probably rule out that possibility.
’This person holds a high position, able to command the authorities to collect taxes and drive out refugees. The search can be narrowed down.’
’Anyone who would drive out refugees, even if it’s for self-preservation, can’t be a good person. After all, if an ordinary person could predict the future, they’d most likely choose to leave on their own or find a safe place to hide.’
After parking the car in a small grove of trees three kilometers from the checkpoint, Evelyn Ford planned to enter the city after dark.
"Let’s eat first, then get some sleep." Evelyn Ford had already moved the two birds into her cultivation dimension to prevent their chirping from attracting others.
Ronan Kendrick looked exhausted. Evelyn Ford took out dinner and set it out, then tenderly caressed his face.
"You’ve been so wound up the past two days. Try to relax."
Ronan Kendrick rested his head on Evelyn Ford’s shoulder. "I’m not tired, just a little sleepy."
After dinner, Ronan Kendrick flattened his seat and fell asleep the moment he lay down. Evelyn Ford took out a towel and wiped his hands and face, then lay down beside him. The sky gradually darkened. At 10:30 PM, Evelyn Ford woke him.
"What time is it?" he asked, his voice thick with sleep. Before he even opened his eyes, he pulled Evelyn Ford into a tight embrace.
"I missed you so much."
"But haven’t we been together this whole time?" Evelyn Ford couldn’t help but laugh.
"I just did, that’s all." In a rare show of morning grumpiness, he grumbled as Evelyn Ford ruffled his hair.
"Alright, I missed you too."
After stowing the car in her dimension, the two of them walked toward Tarr City. The entire city was now enclosed by an electrified wire fence. Evelyn Ford could tell that Tarr City had changed a lot since her last visit.
Tarr City had been transformed into an impenetrable fortress. At 10:30 PM, the streets were practically deserted, and there was a security booth every fifty meters.
"What on earth are they defending against?"
The windows of the high-rises were boarded up. On the streets, squad after squad of patrol officers marched by. "The whole city is on high alert... Interesting."
Ronan Kendrick’s eyes glinted as if he’d spotted prey, and he exuded a dangerous aura.
Evelyn Ford scanned the surroundings with her binoculars. They were currently inside a janitor’s closet in a residential building. The narrow room was crammed with brooms and trash cans, and the stench was acrid. Evelyn Ford glanced at Ronan Kendrick. He had claimed this was the safest place.
"I’m stepping out. I’ll be back soon."
With that, Ronan Kendrick turned the doorknob and left. Evelyn Ford leaned against the wall and put on a mask, but the stench from the trash cans still relentlessly assaulted her nostrils.
A few minutes later, the door opened again. Ronan Kendrick took Evelyn Ford by the hand and led her into an adjacent apartment.
"This is the only vacant apartment in the building."
Ronan Kendrick picked the lock with a piece of wire. As soon as they entered, Evelyn Ford felt a deep unease. The windows were boarded shut, making the apartment feel like one of those lightless rooms used for storing funeral urns before the apocalypse. It was cold, damp, and filled with a musty odor.
"Someone just died in this apartment," Ronan Kendrick’s voice sounded from behind her. She jumped, startled, and swatted him on the back.
"You scared the life out of me! Wait, how did you know someone just died?" The apartment was sparse, containing only a bare bed and a chair. It wasn’t large either—a studio layout with a bathroom and a kitchen, totaling about fifteen square meters.
"There’s a small bloodstain in the corner, but the room has been cleaned. They also sprayed disinfectant and deodorizer."
With the lights off, Evelyn Ford naturally hadn’t seen the bloodstain. ’Ronan really is more observant than I am.’ She stuffed a towel under the door to block the crack, then turned on the apartment’s light.
"The dead aren’t scary; it’s the living you have to watch out for. Let’s get settled for now. Based on how things look tonight, finding that person might take some time."
Ronan Kendrick stood by the window, carefully examining the boards that sealed it shut.
"The boards are coated with something. And they’re thick, probably two centimeters."
Evelyn Ford walked over and took a sniff. "It smells like insecticide, but I’m not entirely sure. Are they trying to repel bugs? Are all these defenses just to keep bugs out? But what kind of bugs could possibly appear in this extreme cold?"
"All the high-rise windows are sealed. Only flying creatures like birds or bugs could get that high. From that perspective, it does seem like they’re preparing to defend against some kind of pest."
Evelyn Ford took out a can of air freshener and sprayed it around the room. Then she took out a mugwort incense stick, lit it, and placed it on the windowsill.
"No wonder the trash cans in that janitor’s closet stank so badly. The person who died in this room must have already started to decompose by the time they were found."
Evelyn Ford’s stomach churned.
"Let’s find another place." Ronan Kendrick was about to go out and search again, but Evelyn Ford stopped him.
"It’s a little gross, but it’s bearable. This will do." She took out a folding bed and a power strip, spread out an electric blanket and a sleeping pad, and then yawned.
"Let’s get some rest. We’ll go out and investigate tomorrow."
There was still water running from the bathroom faucet, but remembering the lesson from Wyrmrest Base, Evelyn didn’t dare use it carelessly.
"I filled the tub with hot water. Go take a bath."
Ronan Kendrick shook his head. "You first."
"Alright."
She closed the bathroom door and turned on the light. It was dim, causing her shadow to flicker and waver on the wall.
To avoid being heard by the neighbors upstairs or downstairs, Evelyn moved very quietly. Instead of draining the water, she simply stored it in her dimension.
After drying her hair, she walked out to find Ronan Kendrick still staring at the boards on the window. She urged him to hurry up and get in the shower.
Lying on the folding bed, Evelyn Ford stared at the incandescent bulb overhead. The sound of voices drifted up from downstairs, too muffled to make out. However, the neighbors next door must have had a four- or five-year-old child, whose crying was piercingly clear in the dead of night. Evelyn suddenly felt a surge of irritation.
By the time Ronan Kendrick came out, Evelyn Ford had already fallen asleep, and the apartment next door had fallen silent. If one sniffed carefully, they could still detect the faint smell of blood. Still radiating warmth from his shower, Ronan lay down beside Evelyn and pulled her into his embrace.
A loud RUMBLE echoed from the street below as some rich kid sped by, shouting profanities.
His shouts were accompanied by the flirtatious giggles of a young woman.
