The X Guide-Chapter 166: Red Zone 67 (6)

When they were almost merging with the crowd, Ayen realized something. He quickly pulled the two closer. Khal and Devion turned to him, waiting.

"Is it fine to walk around without covering your faces?" Ayen inquired curiously. The two seemed not to mind at all.

"Oh? That." Devion glanced at Khal before he shifted back to Ayen, smiling mischievously. "It’s fine."

"Is it?" Ayen turned to Khal, as though his words were far more believable than Devion’s. And it was truly the case, especially with Devion’s grin.

Khal looked around, then nodded assuringly.

"No need to be concerned."

Ayen did not know why they were so confident. But since both of them assured that being recognized did not matter, Ayen dropped it and chose to believe them.

It was not that something bad would happen if they were recognized, either.

Halfway through the path, Ayen realized he had truly been thinking too much. Everyone was busy with their own business and did not care about others. It was the same at that port.

This was an unusual crowd gathering in the middle of nowhere. Yet, one could not say it was disorganized either. Was it only a little out of place?

Ayen could not find a word to best describe this place other than strange and surprising. The closer they were in the red zone, the denser the buildings and the crowd became. It was like they were truly inside a green zone.

It was a huge city that spawned out of nowhere. Ayen had no knowledge of an established zone in this area other than a red zone. When they chose this zone, Ayen had seen the official map that he often saw while he was on duty.

The red zone 67 was tiny, even compared to the red zone 21; after all, it was only established as a supply point leading to the forbidden zone.

It was a property enclosed by a wall, but few buildings were inside. It might only host a hundred people at most. So, when did this place become so lively like this?

Ayen did not know what to feel about that. Did the government know of this, or was Ayen just ignorant, so he had no knowledge of this place?

It was not long before they finally set their eyes on the gate of red zone 67. Ayen noticed that the crowd only glanced at it, and the periphery was devoid of any people despite the crowd gathering outside.

The appearance of the red zone 67 was no different from the one in the records. From the outside, it was like an enclosed compound.

However, if one looked at it from above, Red Zone 21 was actually like the focal point of this huge city built at the periphery of the forbidden zone.

"This is red zone 67?" Ayen could not help but ask, absentmindedly.

He felt an arm wrapped around his shoulder.

"Yes. This is red zone 67."

The red zone unlike any red zone.

Entering the compound, or the official red zone 67 in the records, was pretty easy. The one standing guard at the gate did not even ask and let them in.

Unlike the outside, they were greeted by the silent atmosphere. Ayen frowned slightly. There was no one outside. This was actually the scene he imagined when he thought of a red zone established at the periphery of the forbidden zone.

A lifeless atmosphere. However, when he witnessed the city outside and the massive population around... Ayen truly expected something more.

"That’s the association building." Devion pointed at the highest building, which actually only has four floors. The rest only had two floors, so calling it the highest building here was not wrong either.

Ayen walked ahead of the two. It was not far from the gates; Ayen looked up and read the building name and Guide Association logo outside.

It was not new but not dilapidated either. When he was about to open the door, it was already open from the inside.

Ayen paused, and the one exiting the building also paused.

"Ayen! You’re finally here!"

The familiar buzz cut. "Lucian," Ayen greeted him.

Lucian had the look of urgency before, but it disappeared when he saw Ayen; his arms spread, and he was about to hug Ayen, but his gaze landed behind him.

His arm paused and quickly fell to the side.

"Oh. You’re with them." Lucian rubbed his head, embarrassed.

Ayen glanced behind him. The two espers were actually only standing there and not reacting to their interactions. Devion even had a slight smile on his lips.

They knew who Lucian was, apparently.

"Where’s Nolan?" To shift the awkwardness, Ayen chose to ask this. Although he was also curious.

Lucian’s habit possessed him at this moment. They forgot that they were still by the door. A meaningful smile on his lips. "I don’t know. Probably with his esper?"

Of course, he knew. He just passed by them earlier.

It was just that Nolan was always in a gloomy mood, so Lucian could not talk about it casually. Thinking about it, Lucian seemed to be forgetting something.

"Esper?" Ayen thought of Clynne. Were they also here? That meant Lucian’s esper was here as well. He had only thought of it when a towering figure appeared just behind Lucian.

Ayen saw the esper nod at him and behind him. He had not seen how Devion’s grin widened as if about to watch a good show. Khal was not as expressive, but his eyes betrayed his emotion.

Lucian finally noticed Ayen’s eyes looking behind him.

"What is it?" Lucian became curious and turned his head behind him. He paused and returned his gaze to Ayen.

Ayen noticed how Lucian’s expression dropped.

The other finally remembered why he was leaving the building.

Ayen merely glanced at both of them, and he already guessed something. However, he was not one to care about others’ relationships.

"Let’s catch up later!" Lucian patted Ayen’s shoulder and passed by him; he gave a stiff smile at Khal and Devion before he bolted out.

Ayen followed his back with his gaze.

What was that?