"It's just the old instincts kicking in again, isn't it?" Clorinde said casually. "Not everyone's as sensitive as a wolf."
"Yeah, you're right," Obsidian replied with a faint smile.
Clorinde sighed softly. Just then, Tianlang finished reviewing the incident report and handed the file back to her.
She accepted it and nodded. "Alright, that should be all for now. A bit late for it, but—welcome to Sin City. From here on out, please do your best to follow the rules and avoid stirring up trouble. This place isn't like other cities. If you run into anything unlawful, prioritize your own safety. Laws exist to protect the people—but when safety is compromised, those same rules can become shackles. Never forget that."
Mo Yan and the others nodded, then bid farewell to Clorinde and Obsidian before heading back into the streets.
As they walked, Kaelin couldn't help but mutter thoughtfully, "What a crazy day… Still, I gotta say, Clorinde and Obsidian don't seem like bad people at all."
"Huh?" Tianlang paused, a curious look on his face.
Kaelin turned back toward him. "Didn't you say this place is full of either hardened criminals or violent enforcers? Don't tell me you forgot."
"Oh, that," Tianlang said as he walked. "Well, it's not entirely wrong. I believe I mentioned before—Sin City wasn't always a city. It started as a massive penal colony."
"I remember," Kaelin said. "But what's the connection?"
"The connection is everything," Tianlang said, his tone turning serious. "You probably don't know this yet, but the person who first suggested transforming the penal colony into a city was none other than the Shadow Lord, Rednos."
He continued, "Rednos invested heavily in expanding the facility. The prisoners, in turn, became a ready source of labor. They built this city with their own hands, brick by brick. That gave them a sense of accomplishment—a new life. Even those who completed their sentences often chose to stay, having poured so much of themselves into this place."
"Over time, Sin City became a haven for the condemned. Some people even committed crimes just to be sent here in the hope of starting over. As the population grew, Rednos proposed a bold new idea: 'fight evil with evil.'"
"You mean… criminals guarding criminals?" Kaelin frowned. "Wouldn't that lead to riots?"
Tianlang nodded. "Even Evilbane himself had his doubts. But Rednos had already made preparations. He handpicked a group of sharp, capable guards from the Deep Abyss, then began screening former inmates to join the force. The guards you saw today? Most of them are descendants of former prisoners. They've cleaned up—somewhat—but not long ago, they were seen no differently from thugs."
"A city ruled by criminals… just like its name," Zixuan murmured.
"Exactly. That's what everyone says." Tianlang shrugged with a faint smile.
Mo Yan turned to Kaelin. "By the way, Kaelin—are you sure you don't know who saved you last night?"
"Seriously? You too?" Kaelin rolled her eyes, hands on her hips. "I wish I knew! He showed up, cleaned house, and vanished before I could say a word. What do you want me to do—chase after a shadow?"
Tianlang chuckled knowingly.
"Heh… well, you might not need to. If I had to guess, I'd say the person who saved you was none other than Evilbane himself."
"What?! Him?" The group froze, stunned.
Tianlang nodded. "Think about it. The look on Clorinde and Obsidian's faces—they recognized him. Both are Evilbane's contracted agents. And his signature style? Ruthless, efficient, anonymous. That's exactly what you described."
"Still, the timing's awfully convenient," Kaelin said. "Showing up just as those thieves were about to escape?"
"That's Evilbane for you," Tianlang said. "He can sense malicious intent. Remember the Sinborn we fought? Evilbane can detect the presence of evil in the hearts of men. You might not believe it, but that's his entire reason for being. His obsession as a Guardian—to hunt down and consume all evil."
"Evil turned to shadow, shadow bound to soul… With his power alone, he devours sin from this world."
Tianlang smiled again. "Besides, it's entirely possible he was watching you from the very start."
"You're foreigners with weapons, after all," he added. "This is his territory. He had every reason to keep an eye on you. Who knows? He might still be watching right now."
Zixuan raised a question. "If that's true… shouldn't Evilbane have sensed you, too?"
"Yeah," Kaelin added. "You two are friends, right? If he was watching us, he must've seen you too. So why didn't he come out and say hi?"
Tianlang shrugged. "Simple. We're Guardians. In the eyes of the people, we're like gods. You think we can just pop out and chat whenever we feel like it?"
"Uh-huh. Sure." Kaelin gave him a pointed look, clearly unconvinced. "Coming from you, that doesn't sound very godlike."
"Hey now—what's that supposed to mean?" Tianlang frowned. "Am I really that untrustworthy in your eyes?"
"Of course not! You're a dear friend—practically one of us," Mo Yan quickly stepped in to defuse the tension. Then he turned to Kaelin. "Right?"
"Wha—Oh, yeah! Absolutely!" Kaelin stammered. "You're a valued companion. I just… wish you'd act a bit more godly sometimes."
Tianlang let out a long, defeated sigh.
He shook his head and started walking ahead on his own.
"Alright, it's late. Let's get back."
He didn't look back as he spoke, leaving the rest of the group behind.
"…He's mad, isn't he?" Mo Yan whispered.
"Yep. Definitely mad," Zixuan nodded.
All eyes turned to Kaelin, who looked utterly sheepish.
"Haah…" Zhao Heng sighed. "Let's go."
The four jogged after Tianlang, too guilty to say a word. Tianlang, meanwhile, was watching them the whole time.
Heh. Knew they'd come after me.
Truth be told, he wasn't mad at all. He'd been a Guardian for over five thousand years—he'd heard every insult imaginable. Kaelin's quip was nothing compared to what the other Guardians used to say. If he took everything personally, he wouldn't have lasted this long.
Still, it felt good to act like he was upset for once.
As he strolled ahead, his steps carried a faint swagger.
Mo Yan and Zhao Heng, watching from behind, finally realized what was going on.
They stopped in place with matching looks of exasperation.
"…He's faking it."
"Unbelievable," Zhao Heng muttered.
~~------------------------
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