Chapter 602: Future and Notice

What if all six hands move?

After personally witnessing the six hands of the watch violently spring up and then calmly settle at the far right edge of the dial, the middle-aged man's body trembled involuntarily.

If all six hands… then it is the painful past, the glorious future… destined to change the world!

For people like you and me… follow behind… nine deaths, one survival… stand opposite… ten deaths, no survival…

Don't do unnecessary things! Run as far away as you can!

After replaying his brief exchange with Director Aquarius countless times in his mind, the conversation gradually stripped away until only the final warning remained.

Run as far away as you can!

The middle-aged man knew exactly how much "weight" he carried; even with an extremely rare abnormal ability, Director Aquarius of the Cleanup Bureau remained a strength he could never reach.

If even such a being feared to provoke them, his best choice was to heed the warning and leave immediately upon discovery.

But Little Baskins was ultimately "one of us," and would not truly conflict with him; moreover, during the day, Baskins hadn't even met the standard—he likely had only just completed his "metamorphosis," and probably hadn't yet reached the point where immediate evasion was necessary, and…

The time left for him and the kingdom was truly running out.

Gazing northwestward, he saw the towering structure illuminated by countless lights, still guiding incoming and outgoing airships, and his fist clenched involuntarily.

The kingdom's reconnaissance agents must have already detected the kingdom's special mineral deposits; if he failed to destroy the Airship Docking Tower and kill the agents carrying the mineral data, an invasion ten times more intense than six years ago would inevitably strike again!

These thousand rebel members in the valley, combined with the weapons accumulated over the years, were his most vital trump card for launching a surprise attack on the Airship Docking Tower, killing the agents, and preserving the kingdom!

If he abandoned these forces now to avoid being implicated by Little Baskins and fled immediately, what could a lone man like him do—even if he knew the future?

Could he sacrifice his remaining lifespan to deliver a single message about the future to Joshua in this world? What use was a man who lived like a pile of kitchen waste, even if he knew the future?

Damn it! Why?! Little Baskins! Why did you have to appear at this exact moment?

…

It worked! It actually worked!

Watching the hands instantly leap to the far right after swallowing Little Baskins's hair, the fat uncle burst into joy, his eyes blazing with excitement as he turned toward the rebel leader, eager to speak well of Little Baskins while the moment was hot.

Yet on the middle-aged man's face, there was no trace of delight—only profound shock and a faint, grim struggle.

"Leader… my lord?"

"Hmm?"

Startled awake by the fat uncle's call, the middle-aged man's gaze cleared, and he once again wore a kind smile, patting the fat uncle's shoulder and praising him:

"Excellent! Owen, excellent! Not only is Little Baskins's talent exceptional, but you did well too! Without you, I would have missed such a promising youth!"

Seeing the middle-aged man return to normal and lavish praise upon both him and Little Baskins, the fat uncle exhaled deeply, his round, flushed face breaking into a simple, earnest smile.

"It's my duty. Without your protection, most people in this valley couldn't even live normally. Little Baskins must feel the same—he'll be overjoyed to know he can help you!"

"Hah! This isn't just good news—once he gains his special ability, his burdens will grow heavier."

"By the way, I'm planning a meeting to discuss our future actions. Tomorrow morning, bring him straight to me."

"Yes, Leader! I'll notify him tomorrow!"

With the middle-aged man's smile, the still-drunk fat uncle departed, beaming, stumbling home.

But as soon as he reached the end of the alley, out of the middle-aged man's sight, the man who had just been smiling so brightly stopped, slapped himself twice hard, then gritted his teeth and sprinted toward Little Baskins's house!

Trouble!

Though the leader quickly regained composure, his initial expression was clearly wrong! This test may bring disaster, not fortune! By bringing Little Baskins's hair to him, I might have doomed the boy!

"Bang!"

Kicking open the barred wooden door of Little Baskins's home, the fat uncle—now sober, sweat drenching his face—gasped out urgently: "Quick! Pack your things! Something's happened!"

Something's happened?

Calmly tucking away his hand-drawn map of the valley, Li Ang asked, puzzled: "Uncle Owen… what's happened? Why are you in such a rush?"

How could I not be rushed? The leader might kill you!

After briefly explaining what he'd done and what he'd just discovered, the sweating fat uncle stamped his foot in despair: "Little Baskins! The hands on that watch aren't better the more they move! Before telling me to bring you tomorrow, the leader's expression was terrible—he likely means to harm you! Ugh! It's all my fault! If I hadn't brought your hair to beg him for another test, none of this might've happened… Just go! If you wait any longer, it might be too late!"

So… you just took my hair and tested it again? Then all that dog fur I plucked during the day was for nothing?

Recalling the bald patch on the puppy's rear, Li Ang, betrayed by surprise, could only sigh helplessly, giving up entirely on his rotten luck.

Whatever. Bad luck strikes suddenly—I'm used to it by now. Whenever I plan to do something, something always goes wrong.

"Uncle Owen, don't panic. Things might not be as bad as you think."

After soothing the fat uncle, though genuinely caught off guard, Li Ang—protected by his 【Heart of Wild Ambition】—calmly assessed the situation and asked: "What about you? If I run away now, what happens to you? Aunt Fen?"

After recalling the patch of fur missing from young Wang Wang's rear end, Li Ang, unexpectedly betrayed, could only sigh helplessly and give up all hope of his shitty luck.

On the way here, he'd already realized this issue. The fat uncle's face twisted in bitterness: "Even if Fen and I could escape, what about Nicole?"

"Uncle Owen, don't rush—things might not be as bad as you think."

After offering a word of comfort to the fat uncle, though genuinely caught off guard by the news, Li Ang—protected by the 【Heart of Wild Ambition】 and thus assured of his safety—calmly assessed the situation before speaking up.

"What about you? If I just leave right now, what will happen to you? What about Aunt Aunt Fenni?"

"We can't leave."

On the way here, he had already come to terms with this issue; the fat uncle spoke with a bitter expression.

"Even if my wife and I could escape, what about Nicole?"

(End of Chapter)