novelcrest Chapter 409: The Faded Change
Chapter 409: The Faded Change
Although this silver-haired old man didn’t know what Loren had come back to do, it didn’t stop him from making the right decision on the spot.
His past experiences, along with his personal understanding of Loren, made him realize:
Anything too radical that Loren did tonight would be justified...
The other party had never really liked his hometown.
And most importantly!
In this special time period when the Resistance had just begun sweeping across most of the Federation, even if Loren blew up this smuggling-infamous “Rotten Star” tonight, someone would still praise Loren as the Federation’s rising “Star of Light”!
The Loren of today was no longer the mid-rank Superhuman from a few months ago. He was a dangerous Major Figure who had just taken down a high-ranking Security Bureau official!
He genuinely had the ability to destroy the “hometown” where he grew up!
This elderly man, who had personally recommended Loren to the Interstellar Hunter Association, gave his orders in the commission lobby before heading back to his office with a heavy heart.
He walked to the office window again, staring at the slowly dissipating silver magical array in the sky, and let out a weary sigh:“You really picked a perfect time to come back, Loren...”
“Now that you’ve become a Major Figure, what do you want by returning to this filthy, remote planet...”
Outside the window, the night wind inexplicably began to stir...
His sighing voice had barely echoed by the window before it was whisked away by the gusting night wind.
This elderly man’s worries, like his voice, were utterly insignificant.
Just then!
Three energy bullets, striking from an unknown origin, materialized with an uncanny manner right before the elderly man!!
The next moment!
The explosions of the bullets rang out in succession.
“Boom!”
Massive explosive flames swallowed the old man’s figure and, as if being thoughtful, ignited this somewhat shabby branch chief’s office!
Half a second later!
The silver-haired old man’s figure leaped out of the blazing office window with remarkable agility!
After landing from the second floor to the ground, the silver-haired man immediately rolled a few times to extinguish the flames on his body!
He was in a sorry state!
“Just came back to check... my dear hometown, my dear Chief.”
A spiritual thought drifted through the night wind, echoing in the silver-haired old man’s ear.
The wretched man lying on the ground, upon hearing this greeting that was unmistakably personal, broke into a relieved smile.
His face covered in soot, he revealed his white teeth and cursed with a laugh at the dim sky:
“You’re still such a bastard, Loren.”
Was it just because I made you sleep on the couch for a month? Do you have to blow me up with your bullets?!
The association’s funds are that meager! Can you blame me?!
The dim sky offered no response.
After a while.
As if certain Loren was no longer there, the elderly man slowly got up, wiped the smoke stains from his face, and then strolled leisurely back toward the Interstellar Hunter Branch building...
His pace was noticeably lighter.
He had received Loren’s unique greeting.
He was glad that Loren still called him “my dear Chief.”
This meant that no matter what the other party planned to do on this planet next, it probably wouldn’t involve the Interstellar Hunter Branch under his management...
----------
Federal Calendar 7709, January 1st, at nightfall.
Dusk Star Domain.
Resource Planet 17, Clear Mine City, Lower District.
In an extremely remote slum within the Lower District.
Night had fallen.
Heavy darkness once again shrouded the sky above Clear Mine City.
Loren, who had just greeted the silver-haired old man not long ago, was walking calmly down this sparsely populated, broken street.
Walking alone.
He moved very slowly.
Every now and then, he would stop and linger for a moment, as if recalling something.
From time to time, stale odors drifted through the air.
They were familiar smells in Loren’s memory...
“Has it changed this much?”
Loren stood at the center of the broken street, speaking softly to himself in a calm tone.
Clearly, within his spiritual perception,
This slum of today, aside from the stale smell in the air that still felt somewhat familiar...
Everything else had changed with time.
There were very few residents left here now.
The trash had also decreased.
The remaining residents were wearing noticeably more presentable clothes.
“Master.”
“Because the Energy Department has taken over the Spirit Stone deposits on this planet, many people can find decent work now.”
“Before long,”
“This place will gradually disappear...”
Raven’s comforting voice gently echoed in Loren’s mind.
“Is that so? Too bad it’s a little late...”
Loren said something ambiguous.
Hearing his master’s words, Raven fell back into silence, returning to stillness.
Loren lifted his foot again.
He walked deeper into the slums alone...
Miss Silver Dragon had keenly sensed the murderous intent quietly emanating from Loren as soon as they arrived in Clear Mine City.
So, she had directly gone to the Upper District.
Claiming she wanted to experience the local culture, but in reality, it was to let Loren handle his own affairs undisturbed.
Half an hour later.
Loren, moving at a sluggish pace, reached the center of this slum.
In front of a cheap grocery store set up in the slums.
Shabby, cluttered, and desolate—these were the decorating styles of the store’s entrance.
Some discarded old newspapers were scattered around the doorstep.
Damp moss covered the two stone steps leading to the entrance.
Fortunately, at least the weeds hadn’t overgrown...
Loren stood outside this cheap grocery store for a long time, saying nothing.
Just then.
A dim, yellow light flickered on inside the store.
At the same time.
From inside the lit grocery store, a somewhat surprised, weathered voice came:
“Is... is that you, little Loren?”
“You’re back?”
Loren remained silent, letting out a sigh in his heart.
Finally,
He lifted his heavy foot and gently stepped onto the moss-covered two steps at the entrance.
With a stern expression, he walked into the store.
The space inside wasn’t large, only a few dozen square meters.
On the cluttered, old floor of the store, cheap goods were carelessly placed, cushioned by old newspapers.
Packed tight by the goods on the ground, there was hardly any room to stand inside.
The only thing that could be called a “counter” was an old wooden dining table.
A scruffy, big-bearded old man was leaning against this crude “counter,” drinking.
On the wall in front of him hung a very old, large-screen TV.
The screen was still broadcasting the latest news from the Dusk Star Domain—the Resistance had already occupied the extravagantly luxurious Dusk Main City...
Judging by the scratches on the edges of the TV, it was ancient.
It might have existed longer than Loren...
Seemingly old and bulky, but it was actually quite practical.
“Good evening, Boss William.”
“You’ve aged...”
Loren, now inside the store, stood at the only spot near the entrance where he could fit, speaking to the big-bearded man who was drinking.