In the end, Henry Clark was left with only calmness and indifference in his heart. It wasn’t numbness, but rather a readiness to bear, face, and move forward no matter what he encountered.

　　“Keep it up. When we get back, I’ll recommend you to them as a full team member.” Uncle Clark chuckled in the communication channel.

　　“You guys are willing to accept a blind man?” Henry Clark asked calmly.

　　“Hey, eyes are something the Lord God has in abundance. As long as you have enough reward points, you could even grow eyes all over your body if you wanted…”

　　“Well then, it would be my honor.” Henry Clark ended the communication.

　　“Hello? Hello? John Baker, are you there?” The sleazy middle-aged man sat in the monitoring room, staring at the chaotic display screens in front of him.

　　“The lobby.”

　　“And Andy Carter?”

　　“The corridor.”

　　“Good. I’ll organize those soldiers to cover you. Then it’ll be up to you to see if you can hold off those two bosses.”

　　“Understood.” Two different voices responded in the communication channel.

　　William Carter’s voice didn’t end there, but continued: “Hey, newbie, don’t give up. I believe in you! With me here, you can rest assured.”

　　Henry Clark’s voice came through: “Thanks a lot.”

　　After the voices in the earpiece faded, Henry Clark heard suppressed sobbing.

　　“What’s wrong?” Henry Clark turned to look at Grace Brooks, lowering his voice. “Are you scared?”

　　Grace Brooks let go of her gun, crouched down, and whimpered softly, not saying a word.

　　“I’m scared too.” Henry Clark groped with his palm, patting her on the head. “But I don’t dare to cry, and I can’t cry.”

　　“Huh?” Grace Brooks lifted her tear-stained eyes, looking at him in confusion.

　　“I’m just a blind man. If all I know how to do is cry, then I can only wait to die.” Henry Clark crouched down, feeling her hair. “Besides, my tear ducts were damaged in an accident, so I can’t cry.”

　　“You’re much stronger than me, really.” Henry Clark comforted her. “You still have your eyes, your chances of survival are much better than mine.”

　　“But I…” Grace Brooks choked, wanting to speak, but was softly interrupted by Henry Clark.

　　“Still scared?” Henry Clark smiled, his sightless eyes facing her as he reached out his palm. “If you don’t mind that I’m blind, let me protect you.”

　　His voice was low and solemn, like a philosopher quietly imparting some profound wisdom. In a place Henry Clark couldn’t sense, a relic fused into his forehead slowly emitted a faint glow, making his words wash away the fear in Grace Brooks’s heart like warm water.

　　Looking at Henry Clark’s sightless eyes and serious expression, Grace Brooks nodded slightly, timidly placing her palm in his, only to have him grip it tightly.

　　“Let’s go.” Henry Clark pulled her up.

　　“Go… go where?” She wiped her reddened nose.

　　“After you go out the door, turn right, go straight, up the stairs, turn left at the end of the corridor, and outside the last room—that’s where Integral and the Round Table Knights are meeting. It’s the safest place.”

　　The voice of the middle-aged man, Uncle Clark, came through the earpiece.

　　“Thank you.” Henry Clark replied, but didn’t hear a response from Uncle Clark.

　　“Hey, Andy Clark, when did you become such a softie?” John Baker sneered in another communication channel.

　　“It’s nothing. Just seeing them makes me feel like our team still has hope.” Uncle Clark replied quietly. “Ever since the last team battle, the Hope Team has been dead silent. We need some new blood now.”

　　“Tch, let’s see if they can survive first.” John Baker hung up the communication disdainfully.

　　※※※

　　The lights in the conference room suddenly flickered, like dying candles swaying in the wind, causing those in discussion to look up.

　　“What’s going on?” The elderly man at the head of the table asked, “What happened, Integral?”

　　Integral, who had always been mentally prepared, also frowned. The phone on the table suddenly emitted a burst of static, followed by a panicked voice.

　　“This is the security room! Lady Integral…”

　　“What happened?” she stood up and asked.

　　Faint gunshots and heavy footsteps could be heard, coming through the thick doors and floors, reaching her ears and changing the expressions of everyone in the conference room.

　　“Enemies! We have intruders!” The voice on the phone shouted in panic, “Contact with the gatehouse is lost! We’re currently engaged in a firefight at the main entrance on the first floor!”

　　“Retreat quickly! If that’s not possible…” She paused, “then just try to buy as much time as you can.”

　　The harsh order didn’t surprise the voice on the phone, which responded decisively, “Understood…”

　　“Ahhh!…”

　　Another scream came through the phone, then abruptly stopped. A violent explosion followed, like a hammer striking the earth, with the grotesque sounds of flesh being torn and blood spurting, mixed with a man’s roar. The gunfire suddenly ceased.

　　“Where are the enemies? Who are they? How many are there?”