Chapter 416: The Breaking of Faith

After a long silence, the two stood like mute statues.

Yenir knew that what Lin Rou was displaying wasn’t her shattered body but a deep, indelible hatred etched into her soul.

She had witnessed the fate of her comrades and seen the kind of people who stood behind her.

In that moment, her faith collapsed.

She no longer wished to fight for anyone, nor protect anyone—if you could even call them human.

Outside, a gentle breeze blew; the night was deep and the air biting cold.

In silence, Yenir retrieved a coat from inside his ring and handed it to Lin Rou.

“Wear this.”

“So, you think staying with the Military isn’t for you anymore. Where will you go next?”

He offered no further lofty words.

Yenir understood what she felt and paid no heed to her earlier questioning and disrespect.

To Lin Rou, he was just a high-and-mighty big shot who had no idea of mortal hardships—unable to truly empathize.

But in truth…

He had been lost before, more than once questioning why he fought and why he had to protect those people.

With a quiet laugh, Lin Rou casually accepted the coat and draped it over her shoulders. As for her torn battle uniform that still leaked something, she merely shrugged, indifferent once it failed to hide anything.

There was nothing left in this world that deserved her care.

All she longed for now was revenge—to kill every wretch she despised and avenge her fallen comrades.

Noticing that Yenir showed no anger, she glanced at him in mild surprise.

“I thought you’d condemn me with righteous indignation…”

“You’d say I lack resolve, that sacrifice is inevitable… that I’m a traitor…”

Tightening the coat around her, she regained her composure and stared blankly out the window.

“As for where I’ll go after leaving the Military…”

“Maybe I’ll join a squad—hunt mutants, get stronger.”

“Or maybe I’ll try to build my own settlement? Gather a group of people?”

Turning her head, Lin Rou smiled at the young man before her.

“I know clearly that staying with the Military lets me accomplish nothing.”

“You have to consider the bigger picture, care about the Military’s reputation… but I don’t want to.”

“I’m scared.”

“I can’t endure this any longer.”

“I just want to kill every scum I see, decapitate them, and hang their heads on poles.”

“Also, thank you for thinking me worthy enough to join you.”

“But my answer is no; I’m not ‘great’ like you.”

After speaking, Lin Rou pulled a Military medal from her pocket—a badge of her allegiance—and spread it out in her palm.

She lowered her eyes to this honor, which she had vowed to protect at all costs, as memories of her time in the Military flooded back.

She recalled the day she swore under the flag and the middle-aged man who had once delivered rousing speeches on stage.

“Clink.”

The metal medal fell to the ground, clanging.

She smirked bitterly, as if feeling freed. In one swift motion, Lin Rou tossed the medal aside, as if it were no longer something she would defend with her life.

She could neither comprehend nor care to understand the Military’s notions of the greater good.

Someone’s life is a life—shouldn’t theirs count too?

…

Watching Lin Rou turn and leave, Yenir stood silently in place.

From Lin Rou’s words and what he had observed, he had pieced together the Military’s situation at the Far Frontier.

Perhaps it was due to overwhelming border pressure, or maybe they wouldn’t let the Capital know what was happening here. The higher-ups were relentlessly avoiding conflict, trying every peaceful means to resolve the issues at the Far Frontier, even resorting to winning survivors over with ‘love.’

But in truth, it was all in vain—no one even dared to intimidate the Military leadership.

Clearly, the top brass hadn’t grasped the severity, or perhaps they were too used to peacetime management, oblivious to the fact that the lower-ranked soldiers had reached their breaking point.

Yet this was the Far Frontier, near the Border.

Here, survivors lived by the law of the jungle, long accustomed to fearing power rather than virtue.

Especially since a catastrophe was imminent.

The Military’s system would soon crumble under chaos, eventually losing control of the Far Frontier.

“What if I said…”

“What if I’m different from them?”

He spoke softly.

Yenir turned to look at Lin Rou, who had reached the door, his eyes glimmering.

“You despise the Military for being so weak, for trading your lives for a so-called greater good.”

“You don’t understand what you’re protecting. With enemies right at your back, you’re forced to shield them. How can you not wonder why wickedness goes unpunished while you pay with your life?”

“You can’t grasp why, even facing the end of the world, you cling to outdated dogma and perish in vain.”

“It’s all just too foolish.”

Lin Rou halted, turning in surprise, her heart pounding.

Yes, that was exactly what she thought. But she had never imagined that a high-and-mighty figure, always certain of his righteousness, would ever admit his mistake.

Before Lin Rou could speak, the next moment Yenir looked at her intently and continued:

“I am Yenir. The night is my realm, and peace is my pledge.”

“I am different from them.”

“Stay here. Wait a week for me, and I’ll change everything.”

…………….