"Anyway, your task for the next couple of days is to search this street for any hair or unusual traces left by the disaster under the rubble..."
"Unusual traces?"
"The power of a disaster can affect the surrounding reality. How it affects depends on the disaster itself... Some disasters distort everything around them just by standing there, some start fires, and some, even more bizarre, can control humans... We call these effects 'disaster domains.'"
"The higher the level of a disaster, the greater the damage and the range of its domain. Generally, we classify all disasters into levels one to nine, but each level has its own nickname to visually represent its destructive power.
For example, a level nine disaster... We usually call it 'World Annihilation.'"
"World Annihilation..." Evan Stone froze. "So a level nine disaster can really destroy the world?"
"Though that's a bit exaggerated, it's pretty close to the truth... It's said that a 'World Annihilation' level disaster has the power to completely eradicate an entire human realm," Quentin Farr said, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Didn't you know?"
"What?"
"Actually, the disaster that came out of District 3 the night before last... was a 'World Annihilation' disaster."
"!!!"
Evan Stone's face immediately turned pale.
"Haha, I was just joking," Quentin Farr laughed, patting him on the shoulder. "I heard that the disaster indicator in your District 3 really malfunctioned, which only happens when a 'World Annihilation' disaster appears... but it's hard to believe, right? It's been nearly a century since a 'World Annihilation' disaster occurred. And if it were truly one, District 3 would've been obliterated immediately, and it wouldn't be calm like this.
So, it's more likely that a disaster with a domain capable of influencing the disaster indicator showed up.
Wasn't the disaster you faced yesterday in District 3 only a level five? It wasn't a 'World Annihilation,' so don't worry."
Quentin Farr stood with his hands on his hips, smiling broadly.
But Evan Stone couldn't smile.
As the one who had dealt the blow to Victor Hale, Evan Stone understood what the "level five" disaster really was.
The "level five" disaster Victor Hale encountered wasn't truly level five... it was simply because at the time, the [Audience Expectation] was hovering between 14%-15%, and the "audience" that hijacked the stage was equivalent to the strength of a level five disaster.
Evan Stone clearly remembered that at that time, less than 1% of the total "audience" had escaped...
So, what if the "audience" escaped in full force?
Does that mean... a complete "World Annihilation" disaster could descend?
Evan Stone broke into a cold sweat at the thought.
He had thought the "audience" on the stage would be strong, but never imagined it would be this powerful... A super disaster capable of "World Annihilation"! A ticking time bomb that could destroy a human realm!
"Alright, get to work." Quentin Farr spoke cheerfully.
"…Okay."
With Quentin Farr leaving, Evan Stone was left alone on the ruined street.
He took a deep breath, suppressing the fear in his heart, and bent down to begin searching through the rubble. No matter what level the "audience" was, they seemed to obey the rules of the theater. As long as Evan Stone kept the [Audience Expectation] above 20%, he should be safe.
[Audience Expectation -1]
[Current Expectation: 32%]
Two lines of text flickered in the void before disappearing.
Ever since becoming an undercover law enforcer, the expectation had surged by 10%. However, as time passed, it had been steadily declining. If he did nothing, in 36 hours at most, it would drop back to 20%.
For the next few hours, Evan Stone continued to carefully search the ruins, but even after a long time, he didn't find any hair or traces left by the "disaster domain."
To be honest, Evan Stone was also curious about the disaster that had escaped with his "audience." What exactly was it?
"Evan Stone!"
A voice called from not far away. Looking up, Evan Stone saw William Young, his fellow "sufferer," walking toward him.
"I heard you came early?" William Young was covered in sweat. He must have walked here from District 3, relying purely on his legs. "How did you get here so fast? Didn't you go home?"
"I didn't go home, had some things to take care of."
"Is it about your brother?"
Hearing this, Evan Stone immediately looked up. "What did you say?"
"Oh, when I passed by your house earlier, I saw Officer Victor Hale was there, saying he wanted to speak to your brother." William Young wiped the sweat from his brow, saying with some surprise, "But bro, your house is worse off than mine... there are holes all over the place?"
Evan Stone ignored William Young's teasing and quickly asked, "Did Victor Hale speak to my brother?"
"No, a tall man with silver-rimmed glasses was inside, talking to him. I couldn't hear what they said exactly, but after a couple of words, Officer Victor Hale left... He didn't go inside."
A tall man with silver-rimmed glasses?
Evan Stone froze for a moment, a sudden thought flashed in his mind... I can't believe I forgot about this!
I had sent a letter to Aurora City, hoping that the [Doctor] would come to heal me, but everything that had happened these past few days had completely slipped my mind... It seems like the [Doctor] had arrived as promised, to treat me.
But wait, isn't District 3 sealed off? How did he get in?
A wave of confusion rushed through Evan Stone's mind. He was desperate to get home and figure out what had happened.
"I'm not going to talk to you about this now. I've got to help settle the survivors of Ice Spring Street. Lots to do." William Young glanced at the time and quickly left after saying goodbye.
Since Victor Hale had been sent away, there shouldn't be any chance for him to interrogate Maxe Stone. The house should still be safe... Evan Stone thought as he quickly headed toward Quentin Farr and the others.
The [Doctor] was an entirely unknown presence to Evan Stone. He didn't dare leave Maxe Stone alone with him for too long.
He had to get home, and fast.
Creak—
Evan Stone stepped forward, crushing a brick in the rubble. Looking down, he noticed a faint red color beneath the debris.
He frowned slightly, brushing away the broken pieces, and as the red outline became clearer... He froze.
It was a torn talisman.
In the corner of the talisman, two small words were embroidered—
Maxe Stone.