Chapter 1: Cruel Fate of Heroes

The soft hum of the restaurant's lights barely disturbed the silence. Meticulously set with fine china and polished silverware, the table stood between an unusually quiet young lady and the empty chair across from her.

Her once-gentle smile had long faded, and her dark eyes looked vacant and dim, harboring deep and hidden dangers. Naturally, her face was etched with nothing but frustration.

Bai Xiaotong drummed her fingers against the surface of the exquisite wooden table, each tap echoing faintly in the cavernous space. To distract herself, she shifted her gaze, looking past the sleek elegance of the marble floors and polished wood panels, through the enormous glass windows that framed the city's breathtaking skyline.

Yet, none of it seemed to matter. Her mood didn't improve, and the thought of going home, leaving this place, and jumping into her soft bed once and for all made her numbed butt cheeks tingle!

What a shame.

The grandeur, the twinkling lights of the city below, the luxurious surroundings—all of these felt so distant.

"Where is he? I can't believe I'm doing this just to meet one person. I didn't even meet the President when I was abruptly called," Bai Xiaotong said through gritted teeth. "If it wasn't for Grandpa's request, why would I even bother with a second-gen spoiled brat?"

A flicker of annoyance passed through her eyes as she checked the time again. But even then, she didn't get up and storm out of the place like she normally would if someone had been late for even a second.

She thought of her grandpa's pleading gaze and the conflicted look etched on his aging face when he asked her to come out of the house at least once and meet the grandson of his old friend in the military.

"Tong Tong, it's not healthy to stay on the outskirts all by yourself. Even if the government has mitigated the surge of mutated beasts and cleared the borders, it's not good for a single person to be living in that area," Bai Xiong had said in a worried tone.

"Grandpa, if it were about my safety, I already set up formations around the area." She had glanced into the distance and pointed at the sky. In an instant, a mutated flying beetle turned to dust upon making contact with her array.

Old Bai had looked at the barrier for a brief moment and sighed in his heart.

Sigh, how could he forget such a simple fact?

Go to the Capital for her safety?

It was this granddaughter who had set up the barrier for the entire city. So, how could her own home's defenses be any weaker?

Still, how could he not worry when his only family member was living alone near the borders where so many ferocious beasts lurked?

"Grandpa is aware, but Tong Tong—"

Bai Xiaotong sensed his troubled heart and clung to her anxious grandfather's side to comfort him.

"If someone has to be worried, shouldn't it be me? Grandpa, you're not getting any younger, but you're still serving in the military."

She knew how dedicated he was to the country and its people, but no matter how badly he wanted to save lives, there had to be an end.

Heroes are revered when they're alive, but once they're dead, no one remembers their sacrifices.

The ruthless side of humanity and the cruel fate of heroes who gave up their lives, protecting it.

This bitter and disgusting truth, Xiaotong learned it the harsh way.

Instead of receiving the praise they deserve, they are labeled useless for dying prematurely and carelessly abandoning their duties.

Bai Xiaotong thought of her deceased parents, and a glint of grimness and malice quickly flashed in her dark irises as she recalled an unpleasant memory from her last days in the military.

***A Few Years Ago, North of the Capital City.

"You want me what? An ugly bitch from that group called my Mom a slut who climbs to other awakeners' beds to get on their good side. A puny fire mage called my Dad a trashy healer for not being able to save his wife and dying along with her. Do you truly think they need saving?" Bai Xiaotong shouted, her eyes were so red like a wild beast who was on the edge of going berserk.

"Are you a child? Stop being so sensitive and forget about the dead. They're gone, so just focus your strength on those who are still living." Captain Lu glared at her and sternly ordered.

Bai Xiaotong's dead eyes stared at her as if she had heard something dumb and ridiculous.

"I see, you're not different than those scums. No wonder you also stink," she muttered caustically under her breath. "Those shameless people who only know how to whine and morally coerce others to save their sorry asses."

"What did you say?!"

Xiaotong looked at her defiantly and said in a calm yet dangerous voice.

"I heard you also slept with your official to get to your current position. Did you take after your mother who sells flesh at a bargain? Hmm, must be a family business then as it runs in the blood."

Bystanders: "..."

Bystanders: "!!!"

A loud gasp from the band of onlookers broke the sheer silence that only lasted a few seconds. Their heads swayed from left to right.

And, this time the focus turned to Captain Lu who was utterly dumbfounded for a second before turning to Xiaotong like a ferocious tiger wanting to bite her to death.

"You, you bitch! I-I came from an illustrious family of lawmakers! Do you think I won't hold you in contempt for spouting nonsense and insulting me and my Lu family?!"

"Ha—haha! Hahaha!" Xiaotong's unceremonious laughter burst forth and made everyone look more tense and confused.

'Ah Miss Bai!' the crowd wanted to cry in her place.

Has she lost her mind after hearing Captain Lu's background?

Why was that girl laughing like a maniac? Does she think Captain Lu was only joking when she uttered those threats?

The crowd turned serious and couldn't help but think the girl tripped her mind and snap the last thread of her sanity. Captain Lu on the other hand could only grit her teeth and shoot daggers at Xiaotong.

Truth was, she was an illegitimate child of Chairman Lu's dead son. But that information has been buried long and deep to keep their image intact and was only known to a few members of the Lu family. How come this bitch knew about it?

Did that shitty Old Bai know and told Xiaotong to make her walk on eggshells in the camp?

Damn it!

As much as she wanted to put bullets in her head right now, her opponent was an S-rank Awakener. She cannot and will not resort to direct confrontation and violence as it would only put her at a disadvantage or in worse danger.

Bai Xiaotong sneered, "What's with the heavy reaction, Captain? Are you a child? Stop being so sensitive. Didn't you just say we should not bother with the dead and focus on the living?" She flashed a loop-sided smile full of mockery and whispered to her side. "Why? I just did what you told me. Focus on the living. Aren't you still alive? Hmm that... Unless you want to die now, well, I'm always free to break your neck, anytime you want."

"You—"