Chapter 104. Power
After the strained energy channels had somewhat stabilized, I decided to inspect the collapse site again. A sizable crowd had already gathered—after all, this was no ordinary event. It seemed there were still many survivors trapped under the rubble. That was a relief.
The iron door proved useful as a portable cell for Long Feng. I encased his body entirely, leaving only the area around his nose and mouth exposed for breathing. With Lao's people yet to arrive, I took the opportunity to examine the prisoners held here. When I had scanned the catacombs earlier, I'd sensed numerous captives.
Soon, I stood before the first door, behind which a living person was confined. Along the way, I had to help some agents "rest"—they had inconveniently begun regaining consciousness.
The room was dark, barely illuminated. Near one wall sat an emaciated man of indeterminate age. His overgrown hair obscured any clues to his exact age.
"There is no war. Ba Sing Se is the safest and most prosperous city. There is no war..." he droned monotonously, rocking back and forth, his voice like a broken record.
"Hey, how are you?" I approached, trying to rouse him. But he remained unresponsive to my touches and nudges.
"Probably one of the brave ones... or fools who spoke the truth openly," I thought. This man clearly needed a skilled therapist—unfortunately, that's not me.
The next five cells were nearly identical. The prisoners differed, but their words were variations of the same theme. It wasn't until the sixth room that I found someone lucid.
"You're not from the Dai Li!" he exclaimed, his face tense with anxiety. Despite his tattered clothes, he carried himself like an intellectual. Or perhaps he was already hysterical. "Did you feel those tremors?! It's all my fault..." He clutched his dirty hair, despair etched on his face.
"I managed to prevent nearly ninety percent of the intended damage," I said, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Tell me, why do you blame yourself?" I pressed gently.
"Yes, the tremors should have been far stronger," he muttered before meeting my gaze. "If it's truly you, thank you on behalf of the Earth Kingdom," he bowed deeply. "The thing is... I created those bombs for them," he admitted, head lowered, unable to meet my eyes.