Chapter 16. The Disappearance of Siesta

Chapter 16: The Disappearance of Sistar

“Amiya, how come you’re so skilled? I mean, in dealing with High-Energy Originium Worms.”

Faced with Zhou Jinru’s question, Amiya lightly twirled a lock of her hair between her slender fingers and softly replied, “Because after the doctor left, Instructor Dobbin and I organized numerous drills. Most of the time, we had to deal with troublesome enemies like wandering parasites and High-Energy Originium Worms. Back then, everyone had already left Rhodes Island, and without the support of powerful operatives, when faced with difficult situations, we had to learn to handle things ourselves. It not only helped us grow stronger but also minimized casualties.”

My fault, my fault.

Zhou Jinru felt deeply ashamed. Indeed, the members of Rhodes Island were all very proficient; even without him as the doctor, they could manage with ease.

Amiya held her hair, resting her head against the vehicle wall. “But with the doctor back, I believe things will be much easier. The command skills I’ve learned all come from him.”

Zhou Jinru didn’t dare to respond and instead changed the subject. “Today was the first time I’ve seen such a huge High-Energy Originium Worm. Before, they were all small creatures, nowhere near as threatening as this.”

Besides, in the past, the game never mentioned something like a Long-Term Date, just like the dreaded Blood Moon in some games—once it begins, monsters go berserk.

“Not long after the doctor left, the Long-Term Date appeared. At first, everyone was clueless, but over time, we adapted and found ways to respond, so it stopped being frightening. In fact, thanks to the Long-Term Date, the living environment for infected people improved a lot.”

Was the drastic shift in Terra’s world order mainly due to the Long-Term Date?

Zhou Jinru sighed inwardly and casually said, “Before I left, it was just before Sistar’s music festival began. Hopefully, next year we can go there for vacation together. The grand celebration should still be held, right?”

Missing the summer event was indeed a pity—riding the carousel all day, climbing the volcano the entire day, witnessing the massive Originium Worm Pompeii of Eyjafjalla model, attending the festival, meeting the mayor’s daughter, the mayor’s son-in-law, the unlicensed doctor Hellag... He truly wished to see it all in person.

Zhou Jinru’s mind wandered when Amiya’s quiet voice interrupted, “Doctor, Sistar no longer exists.”

Huh?

Zhou Jinru froze, realizing that although he hadn’t played the game, he had watched related story videos. Though Rhodes Island’s team saved Sistar from destruction by the volcanic eruption, the city’s demise was inevitable. From the moment the volcano became active, the countdown to Sistar’s destruction had begun.

“They have mobile cities, so it’s alright. There are plenty of other places to vacation. Dragon’s Gate is nice—I want to try their honey-glazed char siu rice bowl.”

Amiya cut off Zhou Jinru and repeated, “Doctor, Sistar is gone.”

Sensing something was off, Zhou Jinru forced his eyes open and looked at Amiya’s youthful face. “I know Sistar’s gone. Didn’t their mayor build a mobile city, like Rhodes Island...?”

“There is no longer Sistar,” Amiya said, curling her knees and hugging her legs with her chin resting on them. “And there’s no mobile city either.”

No Sistar... no mobile city...

Zhou Jinru repeated her words in disbelief. “What exactly happened?”

“Because the doctor was missing, we were all busy searching for him. The plan to vacation in Sistar was put on hold. No matter how hard we searched, we couldn’t find him. By the time we realized, Sistar had already vanished from the map. So, there won’t be any more music festivals or celebrations.”

What?!

Zhou Jinru’s fingers trembled as memories of many original storyline details surfaced. “Sir Chen was vacationing there as well, along with the Penguin Logistics’ Emperor. He was one of the three guests at the music festival...”

“Sir Chen was actually helping Rhodes Island search for the doctor, so he didn’t go there. The Emperor of Penguin Logistics was indeed at the site, but none of the operatives stationed with us attended.”

So Sistar simply disappeared.

“This is not the doctor’s fault. He must have had something important to deal with and left temporarily. When we received the news and arrived later, we rescued many citizens. The casualties weren’t as severe as expected.”

Amiya comforted Zhou Jinru. What followed was beyond imagination, far surpassing his expectations.

Cronin, who instigated the internal conflict, was shot dead by Sistar’s mayor’s daughter Silan’s bodyguard Hei. The mayor’s whereabouts became unknown, as did Silan’s. Some say Hei rescued her, but details remain unclear.

After the disaster, the Reunion Movement claimed responsibility, and indeed some of their members appeared there.

Someone saw a gigantic Originium Worm, mountain-sized, but it was cut into pieces by an elderly man in black military attire with white hair and beard wielding a two-handed long sword. This old man also went missing afterward.

The destruction of Sistar shocked the world and produced a vast number of infected individuals, which led to the establishment of infected communities in various countries, easing tensions between infected and non-infected in a new way.

Zhou Jinru listened dumbfounded. Such a cataclysmic event had occurred while he had been away from the game. In other words, had he participated in the summer event normally, under the doctor’s brilliant command, Sistar might not have been destroyed immediately by the volcanic eruption...

No, to be precise, Sistar’s destruction was inevitable. Rhodes Island’s intervention merely tipped the scales of war, defeating Cronin and prolonging Sistar’s existence. But that was just a game. Who would think so deeply? Only an omniscient deity could know all that, and he was not one.

Now that things had come this far, obsessing over it was useless.

Zhou Jinru exhaled a heavy breath, his voice hoarse. “So now the ruins of Sistar lie deserted, and those who escaped the city established a new seaside town nearby in the wilderness. That mobile city became their memorial?”

“Yes. That’s all we know now. Afterward, everyone separated and never returned, so information is limited.”

The transport vehicle was nearing the collection point. From afar, flames shot up ahead, accompanied by occasional faint explosions. The A1 reserve team operatives were fighting fiercely.

Zhou Jinru pressed his forehead against the glass. Outside was pitch black, nothing visible. Without turning his head, he said, “Let’s go back there for vacation next summer. I never went before, but now I really want to see it.”

“Mm.”

Amiya moved closer, slipping her hand into Zhou Jinru’s large palm, calming his trembling fingers.

“We’ll go on vacation together.”

(End of Chapter)