Chapter 233: A Slip of the Tongue

Cain’s eyes moved toward the five unfamiliar people in the patrol.

“And the new faces?”

“They’re survivors that we found.”

He gestured toward several nearby buildings.

“Many were hiding inside apartments. Some small groups had gathered inside stores and offices, and a few had come specifically because of the World Announcement about the Invasion Entrance.”

They continued through several streets.

The farther they traveled, the more evidence Cain saw of an organized survivor force rather than frightened people simply trying to last another day.

People moved supplies between buildings.

Several small teams were returning from patrol with weapons covered in dried blood.

Cain noticed a group dismantling the remains of several vehicles near an intersection, removing usable tires and mechanical parts before stacking them beside a truck.

Someone had even begun clearing broken glass from one of the larger streets.

The work was simple.

Still, it mattered as the first days of the Apocalypse had been entirely about survival.

These people had begun thinking beyond that.

Cain did not say anything about it as he merely continued observing.

After several minutes, the patrol led them toward a large sports complex several streets away from the park.

The place had clearly become the main base.

A wide parking area surrounded the building, although most of the original vehicles had been moved to create space.

Several buses and trucks from Cain’s old convoy were parked along one side, mixed with additional vehicles that had obviously been recovered from the city.

The entrances had been reinforced.

Metal fencing covered sections that had once been open, and several overturned vehicles had been positioned in places where the outer wall was too easy to approach.

Two people stood on the roof.

Another group guarded the entrance.

Cain could sense considerably more people inside.

Far more than when he entered the Invasion Corridor.

The patrol leader raised one hand.

“They’re back!”

The shout carried through the entrance.

Several heads turned.

People who had been carrying boxes stopped what they were doing.

A few familiar members of Cain’s original group stared for a moment before recognition appeared on their faces.

The reaction spread quickly.

“Cain?”

“They came back!”

“Professor Holt!”

More people emerged from inside the sports complex.

Some Cain remembered, but many he had never seen before.

The difference became increasingly obvious as the crowd grew.

Their group had definitely expanded.

Not enormously, but enough that Cain could no longer look across everyone and immediately recognize every face.

He did not dislike that.

A survivor group that stopped growing would eventually disappear.

Professor Victor Holt emerged from the entrance before the gathering became too chaotic.

Cain recognized him immediately.

The professor looked stronger than when they separated.

His posture had changed slightly, and although the spear resting against his back was the same System weapon Cain had given him much earlier, Holt carried it with far greater familiarity than before.

There was also something else.

Confidence.

Not the kind produced simply by becoming stronger or something, but probably because Professor Holt had spent two weeks making decisions for a large group of people while the strongest members were gone.

That kind of responsibility changed people in a different way.

Professor Holt stopped several meters from Cain.

For a moment, neither said anything.

Then the professor smiled.

“You finally made it back.”

Cain returned the smile.

“I told you we would.”

Holt laughed softly before his attention moved toward the others.

He recognized every member who had entered with Cain, and his relief became obvious when he realized that all of them had returned in one piece.

For two weeks, Holt had listened to World Announcements without knowing what was happening between them.

He knew Cain’s group was fighting powerful enemies, yet he had been unable to see whether someone had died between one announcement and the next.

Now they were standing in front of him.

Alive and well.

Holt looked toward the increasing number of people gathering nearby.

“Come inside first. There are a lot of things we need to discuss.”

Cain followed him toward the sports complex.

The interior had been reorganized extensively.

The wide central hall that had once been used for basketball and indoor events now contained rows of sleeping areas near the walls. Supplies occupied one section, separated according to type, while tables had been moved near the center for planning and distribution.

The smell of cooked food lingered faintly in the air.

Several generators could be heard somewhere deeper inside the building.

Cain noticed more unfamiliar faces as they entered.

Some people stared at his group with curiosity, while some others clearly recognized several people from the World Rankings.

Ron attracted attention instantly.

So did Elara.

Cain was not surprised.

The World Announcements had repeatedly revealed titles throughout the Apocalypse.

However, knowing that someone called Heavenly Flash existed was very different from knowing what he looked like.

The gathering became large enough that Professor Holt eventually stopped near the center of the hall.

Cain assumed the professor intended to explain what had happened during their absence.

Instead, Holt looked toward the many new survivors.

“Before we continue, there is something we should clear up.”

Cain raised an eyebrow.

Holt gestured toward him.

“A large number of you joined after these people entered the Invasion Corridor, so you’ve never properly met the person who originally formed this group.”

Several conversations immediately quieted.

Professor Holt continued, and there was obvious pride in his voice.

“This is Cain.”

He paused briefly.

“He’s the actual leader of our group.”

Then Holt continued.

“Although most of you probably know him better by his title.”

Cain’s eyes narrowed.

Professor Holt smiled.

“Heavenly Dragon.”

Cain slowly raised one hand and covered his forehead with his palm.

“…Professor.”

Holt turned toward him.

The smile on his face disappeared when he noticed Cain’s expression.

“What?”

Ron lowered his head.

His shoulders moved once.

Cain did not need to look at his face to know that this bastard was trying not to laugh.

Whispers had already spread through the hall.

“Heavenly Dragon?”

“That’s him?”

“The one from the Universal Announcement?”

Cain released a slow breath and lowered his hand.

There was no point getting angry.

Professor Holt could not possibly know what Serath had told them inside the Invasion Corridor.

Before Cain entered, none of them had understood exactly what a Universal Announcement meant.

To him, Heavenly Dragon was simply Cain’s well-known title.

Naturally, he would have no reason to hide it.

Cain looked toward the professor.

“I was going to tell you something about that.”

Holt’s expression became more serious.

“Is there a problem?”

“A little.” Cain smiled helplessly.

Cain glanced around.

Everyone was already listening, so there was no reason to pull Holt aside and repeat the explanation afterward.

“Since it’s already out, all of you listen carefully.”

The whispers stopped.

Cain did not raise his voice much as the hall was quiet enough that everyone could hear him.

“From now on, don’t spread the connection between my name, my face, and Heavenly Dragon outside this group.”

Several confused expressions appeared.

One of the newer survivors hesitated before asking, “Why?”

Cain looked toward him.

“Because that title will only attract unnecessary attention that might even harm the whole group in the long run.”

He rested one hand against the sword at his waist.

“The Universal Announcement wasn’t limited to Earth.”

The confusion on several faces deepened.