Chapter 962: Season of Revival (2/3)

Chapter 962: The Season of Revival (2/3)

Dolly let out a smug little snort, her expression softening.

"Of course, the newspaper work is just one side of it. Really, I... I missed you."

Fang Chang gazed at her with deep affection.

"Dolly..."

The atmosphere in the office gradually grew saccharine.

Though the two lovebirds were oblivious, Old Bai standing nearby had his fill of this lovey-dovey display, his curled toes nearly clawing through the floor.

"...I've got a flight to catch to the front lines, so I won't disturb you two lovebirds."

Scratching the back of his head, he cleared his throat and hurriedly exited, even closing the door behind him as he left.

Only the two of them remained in the office, locked in a tender gaze.

As the sound of breathing drew closer, the temperature in the room began to rise.

Just then, Dolly seemed to snap back to reality, her face suddenly flushing as she broke free from the embarrassing atmosphere.

"You-you-you... show some restraint! Th-this is an office! And there are plenty of people outside—it's practically a public place..."

Watching Dolly's voice grow softer and more incoherent, Fang Chang couldn't help but smile, putting on an innocent expression.

"Have I done anything that shouldn't be done in a public place?"

Anyone else making that face might have a shred of credibility, but when this old fox wore it, only mischief came to mind.

"I... I mean, if you're about to say something strange again—of course, I don't know what you're going to say..."

"Like what?"

"W-well, it's..."

Dolly's face was so hot her ears seemed ready to steam, her rambling explanations only making things worse, until she ended up mumbling incoherently.

Seeing her adorable state, Fang Chang couldn't hold back a laugh. He intended to quit while he was ahead, but unexpectedly, a flustered and angry Dolly bared her teeth like a tiger cub, pouncing on him and biting his arm fiercely.

"Like what, my foot!"

The chase and roughhousing lasted half an hour, with clattering sounds echoing through the office.

He never thought he'd have the chance to act like a child again at his age.

Looking at the row of teeth marks on his arm, Fang Chang pretended to be in pain, grimacing for a good while.

"...Are you part dog?"

Breathless, Dolly shot him a resentful glare, then turned her neck away.

Just then, she noticed a uniquely shaped photo frame on the bookshelf.

"Is that your gun?"

"No, it belongs to a friend of mine."

"A friend?" Dolly tilted her head, curiosity in her eyes.

"Yeah. His name is Rassi."

Gazing at the frame that held many memories, Fang Chang, seated in his office chair, gently stroked Dolly's emerald hair and told her the story of that friend.

It was truly a tale of wandering and upheaval.

A group of passionate young men, refusing to be slaves, risked their necks to do what everyone dared to think but not act upon.

They defeated the empire, defeated the Varantians, and nearly defeated themselves.

That legendary experience read like a novel, and she found herself captivated without realizing it.

By the time Fang Chang noticed, her sentimental eyes were brimming with tears.

Wiping her eyes with her arm, Dolly stared intently at Fang Chang and spoke seriously.

"I want to write a novel about him... or a biography, to be serialized in the *Survivor's Daily* subsidiary on the west coast of the Great Wasteland."

Long ago, she had been an editor for Spberg, contributing to the story of *The Awakener Bohr*.

Now, that fierce impulse had returned, and she was impatient for the story already taking shape in her mind to come into the world!

If no one else would write it, she would do it herself!

Fang Chang teased with a smile.

"You don't even have a 'main publication' yet, and you're already planning a 'subsidiary'?"

Dolly lifted her chin confidently.

"What's wrong with that? Back in the day, *Survivor's Daily* made its name in Boulder City by serializing novels in the mercenary and worker papers! By the way, I'll need your help with some details. You'll help Ms. Dolly, won't you, Mr. Fang Chang?"

Fang Chang smiled warmly.

"Happy to oblige."

Someone in Golden Port had already written a biography for Rassi, but those accounts were mostly fictional, like gazing at a mist-shrouded peak from the foot of the mountain—lacking insight into the inside story and incomplete in details.

Those authors either subjectively portrayed him as a power-hungry tyrant or placed too much hope on him, molding him into a self-sacrificing idealist.

Neither was true.

He was always just himself—

A slave who, standing beneath a thousand totem poles, let out a deafening cry, broke his chains, and straightened his knees.

Fang Chang had been thinking of writing a book about Rassi for days. Since Dolly wanted to do it, he could let her take the lead while he supplemented details orally.

What should the book be called?

*The Rise of Rassi*?

Or perhaps...

*A Benevolent Ruler of Decisive Action*?

*The Awakener Bohr* had influenced countless Brahmin in Golden Port and West Port. He wondered what kind of chemical reaction this novel would spark on the soil of the Great Wasteland.

Looking at her sparkling eyes, Fang Chang felt a growing sense of anticipation.

...

Mammoth City.

As the purge unfolded, the flames of turmoil eventually reached the campus.

Gale, who had been boasting about his father's "foresight" just days ago, was now terrified, hiding in his dorm and refusing to go out, relying entirely on his "number one lackey" and roommate Nayak to bring him meals.

Setting the lunchbox from the cafeteria on the table, Nayak couldn't help but laugh at Gale, who was curled up on the bed.

"You don't have to be this scared. No matter how crazy they get, they won't go after people who weren't involved in the riots."

Gale stammered.

"...Have you heard about Document 1500?"

He now regretted showing off that his father was a high-ranking member of the Family Council to Nayak.

If this guy let slip even a single word, I'd probably end up following in the footsteps of those lowly family members.

"...I heard about it. I even heard that the judge in court wet his pants in fear." Watching the terrified Gael, Nayak just smiled faintly.

Of course, he wouldn't betray this guy.

After all, he was counting on this guy to do something big.

Gael looked at his little sidekick with gratitude, crawled out from under the covers, sat at the table, and wolfed down the boxed lunch.

After eating and drinking his fill, he belched, and looking at Nayak, who had already started reading, he couldn't help asking.

"Why aren't you afraid..."

"Because I have no ghost in my heart, why fear a knock at the door?" Flipping through the physics book in his hand, Nayak replied calmly.

Gael looked at him nervously and couldn't help whispering.

"Nayak... I..."

Nayak said patiently.

"I know. I won't betray you. Don't keep thinking about slipping up yourself—if you do, no one can save you. If you ask me, you'd better spend this time thinking about something else. You're someone who's going to do great things... Remember what I told you?"

Gael nodded hastily.

"I know. I'll take care of your parents... I definitely will..."

"And?"

"And... and?"

"After you go back, hide yourself well. Be cowardly when you can. If someone wants to hit you, lie down on the ground and imagine yourself as a soft maggot..."

Gael broke out in a cold sweat, looking at Nayak who was flipping through his book, and said guiltily.

"Can I not go back?"

Being that miserable might as well be dead.

Nayak chuckled.

"Of course you can. If you want your father, the respected General Pickley, to become the next Isher, then you really don't have to go back. I believe that with his doting on you, he certainly won't blame you. So... do you want to choose this path?"

His father was just a farmer, a million miles away from the power core of the Celestial Capital, and had the cunning of a peasant. At worst, life would be a bit harder in the future, but he wouldn't die.

But Gael's father was different—that guy had one foot already in the circle of power.

After hearing Nayak's words, Gael was silent for a long time.

He couldn't bear to part with his father, nor with the power that was within easy reach.

After a while, he said.

"You said I would become emperor?"

Nayak turned a page and said in a certain tone.

"It will be your turn. I said so."