Chapter 32: The Time for Hiding is Over
He ran swiftly across the damp rooftops, glancing down at the chaotic streets below. Unlike the poor district, the joint guard forces had spread throughout the area, calming the situation and preventing further escalation.
Within minutes, things had settled somewhat, though Sollivan, far from the poor district, could only imagine the scene there now. He recalled the chaos he had been trapped in earlier.
Sigh!
He exhaled deeply, filled with frustration and disappointment. Though his heart wasn’t soft enough to pity others, his own poverty had made him understand the feelings of the poor. He felt the injustice of inequality and class division, but at the same time, he didn’t care much. He knew that power was everything—it brought wealth and authority.
After a few minutes, he reached the library, where he found Ellis standing near the door, nervously observing everything around him. Ellis glanced anxiously at the alley, barely able to stand still without biting his nails in tension.
"Huh!" Sollivan looked at him strangely before slipping through a small window barely opened due to the thick wooden planks covering it. He cautiously scanned the cold, quiet library, and once he confirmed it was empty, he opened his eyes and quietly ordered Noctis to merge with his wheelchair.
He adjusted his position and let out a long sigh, then slowly wheeled himself toward the door. There, he saw the pitiful state of his friend, but his face showed no concern. Instead, he smirked sarcastically. "See, I told you this would happen. Damn, I should’ve bet with you so I could take your money."
Ellis moved his hand away from his mouth and slowly turned to look at him, regaining some composure. However, his eyes still looked tired and filled with sorrow.
Sollivan was surprised by his expression and mocked, "Why so quiet? Are you scared of the war?"
Ellis looked into his eyes, then shook his head and replied, "Actually, yes, I’m scared." He smiled faintly, but his sadness didn’t fade.
Sollivan was taken aback. He hadn’t expected Ellis to be so honest. He thought Ellis would try to maintain his composure, but in the end, he could only think, ’I shouldn’t have asked.’
"You’re scared of war? I thought you were braver than that."