death of hope

Chapter 1023 "Psionic Storm" (97) The Fear of Oblivion

It's that same unfinished building, overlooking the entire city. This is the nth time we've scouted the site.

The squad had thoroughly researched the surrounding area and memorized the tactical plans, but the city's architecture and people were not static, especially given the economic crisis.
Some shops close down due to poor management, and the landlords then rent them out to the next unsuspecting entrepreneur.
In Shin-Sapporo, a cyberpunk metropolis where capital reigns supreme and people from all walks of life mingle, even churches can close down.

·
Hideichi Ando, ​​through binoculars, watched as construction workers in hard hats wielded sledgehammers, dismantling the church's retro Gothic spire, while rumbling cranes hoisted prefabricated, uniquely shaped new vaults onto the building's roof...

Once sacred symbols, stained glass windows and statues of saints that were worshipped are now smashed to pieces by hammers and scattered all over the ground. Workers have replaced them with bizarre Cthulhu-style window lattices and indescribable, strangely shaped pagan stone shrines.
"Tsk tsk, these days even churches are losing money and selling off prime locations, it's unbelievable!" Takiya Rimi remarked.

“Those Crusaders are up to no good; they’re all after young girls and looking for partners,” Dimitri said.
"Every church service is packed with people, making you think they're so devout. But when the pastor comes out with his bag asking for alms, they pretend not to see him. This business isn't even as profitable as the Starbucks next door. It's no wonder it's going out of business!"

"Um... something feels off... this new church..."

Ando Hideichi turned the knob to adjust the telescope's focus and carefully observed the pagan priests in long robes and pointed crowns, as well as the believers who had pressure cookers on their heads, dancing wildly like madmen.
"A bunch of lunatics, spouting nonsense and acting like ghosts, this is definitely not a legitimate church..."

·
“That’s the Star Mystic Cult,” Nikolai said lazily, puffing on his cigarette.

"It used to be an obscure shoe cult, so small that even the Federation couldn't be bothered with it. I don't know why it's become popular in recent years."
The number of believers has increased several thousandfold, and with the investment of wealthy and powerful individuals, their influence has spread to hundreds of colonies. They are acquiring land everywhere to build temples and expand their influence. Once completed, this temple will likely be the largest in the city.

"Old Lai is truly something else, he knows everything!"

"I've been in Shin-Sapporo for so many years, I'm not just sitting around for nothing. I can smell the smell of the Governor's dark-skinned secretary taking off his shoes."

"What does it taste like?" Sergei asked with a mischievous grin, his eyes narrowed.

"What else could it taste like?" Nicolai exhaled a smoke ring: "Strawberry flavor, of course!"

"So cool! Absolutely so cool!" Sergei laughed.

"Ugh! You stinky men!" Takiya Rimi waved her hand in disgust. "You bunch of shrimp heads, you're disgusting!"

·
"What's the relationship between those cultists and our organization?" Paul asked seriously. "Have there been any conflicts?"

"There haven't been any intense conflicts yet, but the relationship is definitely hostile. After all, we are W-only and can't get along with any other church."

Paul recalled the previous subway poisoning tragedy and asked, "What is the connection between this Star Mystic Cult and the Aum Shinrikyo cult? I noticed their logos look a bit similar."

"Birds of a feather flock together. Anyone with a sound mind would believe this. They're all the same old thing: they despise all order, crave war and chaos, and hope to return to the chaos before the Big Bang."
Then comes the classic empty promise rhetoric: when the world is destroyed, an indescribable evil god will bestow gospel upon believers, blah blah blah—pure bullshit! Anyone who believes that is a fool!

Nikolai's eyes darted around, and he snapped his fingers, continuing, "Oh, by the way, this Star Mystic Cult is a little different from other shoe cults."

These bastards like to search for so-called "three-eyed prodigies" with special abilities from the common people. They're basically just looking for people with psychic talents. Every temple will enshrine a few of these so-called prodigies; the boys are called "holy sons," and the girls are called "holy daughters."

·
“Psionic talents…” Paul pondered, “Wouldn’t that mean competing with major corporations for their talent?”

"Yes, those bastards aren't very bright, but they're incredibly bold and ruthless. They're notoriously fearless. In their fight to seize the Talented Ones, they organize a Cult Guard and corporate warriors to fight to the death, resulting in numerous casualties each time."

"Go to hell, I'm tired of going against the company."

"Aren't we the same?"

"Same my foot! We're the 5-scoop JJ warriors who reject low-level fun; our level is way higher!"

Seeing his teammates chatting happily, Paul didn't stop them. The atmosphere had been too oppressive lately, and they needed to relax.

“That’s enough for today,” Paul said, glancing at his watch. “The afternoon’s physical training is canceled. You’re given half a day off.”

"Yay!"

Shuichi Ando pulled a handful of glittering game tokens from his pocket: "I'm going to the arcade to play Street Fighter all afternoon!"

Rimi Takiya snatched a few game tokens: "Give them to me! I want to play 'Dinosaur King' all afternoon!"

"Seriously, a bunch of immature kids. Dismissed. Free time this afternoon, just don't reveal your identities." "Don't worry, boss, we're not stupid."

·
Leaving the unfinished building, Nikolai, Dmitry, and Sergei, three burly men with unkempt feet, went straight into a bar, while Ando and Takiya headed straight for the arcade.

As always, Drizzt was taciturn and aloof, his face full of worry, hands in his pockets, back hunched, as he walked alone into a dark alley, no one knew what he was doing. Perhaps it was because Eldar and Terran humans had difficulty communicating, and everyone was used to him being alone, so no one suspected anything.

Paul turned to look at Tonya. She had seemed absent-minded on the rooftop, and after coming downstairs, she gazed into the distance, lost in thought.
"Don't you really like playing dance machines?"

Paul said softly, "Why don't you go to the arcade with Ando and the others?"

"Huh?" Donya paused, then snapped back to reality. "Sorry, what did you say again..."

Paul noticed that the other person's gaze was focused on a sign across the street, a public service advertisement for adopting orphans, which a worker was brushing off and replacing with an advertisement for luxury goods.

“I understand why you’re distracted. You want to help that cyber killer find her child, right?”

·
Donya, realizing her thoughts had been read, blushed slightly and protested, "I wasn't distracted... it's just..."

"Stop talking, I understand~"

Paul took her hand: "Come on, let's go to the flower shop, and then go to pay our respects and offer flowers at Sigurdlifa and Z's grave."

“I…I didn’t misjudge you…” Donya leaned on his shoulder with a happy expression.

The two went to a flower shop and bought a bunch of white lilacs. They took a taxi to a secluded place in the suburbs, walked along the abandoned railway tracks, and found the inconspicuous little mound (Psionic Storm Chapter 78).

Paul picked up a stone, wiped it clean with his trousers, and placed it on the grave mound along with the bouquet of flowers. After a long silence, he said:
"I promise you, I will go find her child, but only after this mission is over."

“I love you… Pavlusha…” Tonya threw herself into a warm embrace:
"I've been having nightmares lately, and I'm so scared..."

·
“Don’t worry, what’s there to be afraid of?” Paul stood up straight, looking confident.

"Every detail has been meticulously crafted, the equipment is complete, and our teammates are the strongest in the organization. We are determined to win this time. We'll get even the King of Heaven for him, let alone an old lady senator."

Tonya looked trembling with fear; "I'm not afraid of mission failure... if I were afraid of death, I wouldn't have joined GRU... I'm actually worried about mission success..."

Paul feigned a puzzled expression and listened intently:
"The senator's position is too high, his connections too wide, and his interests too intertwined... This mission is practically god-slaying... With Shino Tsuzaki dead, the Federation and the corporation will definitely launch a massive sweep of the base..."

Paul nodded: "Yes, old partisans all know what a total blockade means."
No matter how hard or tiring life is, we still have to live, right? It won't stop us from getting married, having children, and farming. That's how the older generation got by.

Donya sighed softly, "That's exactly what I'm afraid of..."

To gain something and then lose it is more terrifying than never having gained it at all.

Paulusa…I’m afraid we…and our children…will end up like the Lynchs…

I can't forget that photo (at the end of chapter 73 of PsyGear Storm), a family photo of the four of us... and the words on the back.
Their children, Franz and Sarah… if they were still alive, they wouldn't be much younger than us.
Even if God has eyes, and those two children are still alive, the happiness in that photo can never be regained…

·
The wind and sand were blowing in the desolate suburbs. If it weren't for the stones weighing them down, the white bouquet on the nameless grave would have been blown away, and Donya's long golden hair was blown into disarray.

That passionate love affair and warm family memories of yesteryear have all faded like fallen leaves, swept away by the merciless autumn wind and buried deep in the soil.

rot,

Forgotten
It's as if this family never existed in this cold and heartless world.

Just like what *One Hundred Years of Solitude* conveys,
Forgetting is more terrifying than death.

Pavel Korchagin said nothing, but simply held Tonya even tighter.