Chapter 112 Whether It’s Fate or Not

Chapter 112: Whether It's Fate or Not

"Fang Ran, have you heard of the SC-34W Regional Battle?"

Fang Ran paused, then nodded.

"Yes."

The name of that battle did stir his memories.

When he first transmigrated, he desperately tried to catch up on everything about this world.

Besides the data provided by the Center’s backend and the Guide Behavior Manual, he often immersed himself in various online forums to understand this world. Whenever someone listed the Federation's important battles, this name was repeatedly mentioned.

"SC-34W Regional Battle."

For over 100 years since the Federation's founding, there had been many significant wars that nearly altered the course of human history.

Apart from the pivotal battle that ushered in a new era for the Federation, divided the world, and gained time for the establishment of Safe Zones, the SC-34W Regional Battle was the most memorable.

The reason this battle left such a vivid impression on people was because it happened not too long ago, and it nearly cost the Federation all its top-tier Sentinels at the time.

"I was only 10 years old when that battle happened, living with my family on the outer edges of Zone 4."

"You've been to the border between Zone 4 and Zone 5, right? Have you ever wondered why it’s so desolate there? Although Zone 4 is large, space in the Safe Zones is precious. Yet, that area is largely uninhabited, and even occupied by many Free Sentinels."

"Because the SC-34W Battle happened there?" Fang Ran asked.

"Yes." Fang Liyu leaned back on the sofa and let out a long sigh.

"Before that, people had a consensus about the Safe Zones: as long as you stayed within the Safe Zones, you were guaranteed safety."

"But those monsters emerged overnight without any warning. To contain the impact, that area was immediately quarantined."

Fang Ran paused. "Sister Fang... were you trapped inside at the time?"

Fang Liyu nodded.

She lowered her eyes slightly, as if recalling the situation back then.

"Yes, my family and I... only I survived in the end."

"So... that’s why you went to the shelter?" Fang Ran lowered his head. "I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked you about this."

"It’s okay." Fang Liyu patted his shoulder and smiled at him. "It’s all in the past."

"The person who rescued me back then was Fu Zhangzhou’s mother..."

"Sentinel Jin Yan."

"She was Jin Ming’s sister and the most formidable Sentinel in the Federation at the time."

Jin Yan.

Fang Ran had heard this name before.

The Jin family was a very legendary family. The world’s first recorded Sentinel came from the Jin family.

Coincidentally, almost all Jin family Sentinels were S-class or above, and every generation produced a Sentinel whose strength was unmatched by others.

Twenty years ago, Jin Yan was just like Fu Zhangzhou is now—without equal in the Federation.

"I’ve seen online..." Fang Ran said hesitantly, "that in that battle, almost all the top Sentinels at the time..."

"Yes, 16 S-class Sentinels perished, including seven from the Jin family. After that, only Jin Ming, who was a Guide, and the 6-year-old Fu Zhangzhou remained in the Jin family."

"After I graduated, I left the shelter and joined the Sentinel and Guide Center to work under Director Jin and watch Sentinel Fu Zhangzhou grow up. This was the only way I could repay Sentinel Jin Yan."

She smiled at Fang Ran again. "I just never thought... that you, who also stayed in the shelter like me, would end up having such a fateful connection with Sentinel Fu Zhangzhou."

Fang Liyu’s smile was comforting.

But Fang Ran lowered his head again, feeling a pang of guilt.

He couldn’t tell Fang Liyu that the little boy she admired had long since disappeared after that accidental drowning incident.

"Sister Fang, today I noticed that Fu Zhangzhou’s relationship with his father is quite strained. Did something happen in the past?"

Hearing this, Fang Liyu’s expression tightened slightly.

"Fu Zhangzhou’s father is a man of contradictions. He is neither a Sentinel nor a Guide, yet he is obsessed with studying their abilities. When he married Sentinel Jin Yan, many people suspected his motives were less than honorable."

Fang Ran followed up, "Did they think... he got close to Sentinel Jin Yan to study the Jin family’s abilities?"

"Exactly." Fang Liyu looked at him and said, "Their father-son relationship soured after Sentinel Jin Yan passed away... You heard their conversation earlier, so you can probably guess what happened, right?"

"Because of their unique status, the Federation government and the Center worked together to conceal the matter."

Her expression was hesitant and somewhat heavy, indirectly confirming Fang Ran’s suspicions.

Sentinel experiments.

It seems Fu Zhangzhou did experience these things as a child.

He suddenly remembered the dream he had during the DT332 mission—Fu Zhangzhou at seven or eight years old, sitting under that black rose, helplessly calling out in pain to him.

"Has Fu Zhangzhou... always been resistant to Purification since he was young?"

"Indeed," Fang Liyu replied. "After he underwent differentiation at the age of 8, he stayed with Director Jin because only Director Jin could help him with Purification, but it was inefficient, and both of them were in agony each time. After he reached adulthood and broke through to 3S-class... you probably know the rest."

"After every mission, the Center used instruments to force his Purification until... he met you."

"Fang Ran." She patted Fang Ran’s hand. "When I read your report, I was profoundly touched."

"Some things in this world... are just fated."

Just then, footsteps suddenly approached.

Fang Ran and Fang Liyu fell into a silent understanding, saying nothing more.

The staff member from Zone 5 returned and called out to them, "Guide Fang Liyu, everything is ready."

"Okay, thank you." Fang Liyu responded, then said to Fang Ran, "Fang Ran, I have duties to handle. Stay here and don’t leave. Wait for Sentinel Fu Zhangzhou to come out."

"Alright." Fang Ran nodded, watching her stand up and follow the staff member down the corridor.

No wonder Fang Liyu had Director Jin’s trust—they shared such history.

As for Fu Zhangzhou...

He had wondered before why he had ended up in this world and why he had met Fu Zhangzhou.

Could it be... that all of this was truly fate?

"Squeak."

The heavy soundproof door of the conference room suddenly swung open, and several people emerged.

Fang Ran rose to his feet.

Jin Ming nodded at him and quickly left with Lu Tianlin. Lu Wenshan shot him a look before following closely behind the two.

Fu Zhangzhou, however, remained standing in place, his expression unreadable.

Fang Ran approached him.

The Sentinel's gaze remained fixed on him, as if there was much he wanted to say.

Fang Ran met his eyes and seemed to sense a flood of emotions.

Suddenly, he opened his arms and embraced him.

The Sentinel stiffened for a moment before relaxing almost instantly.

He, too, reached out and held him close.

Whether it was fate or not, he wouldn't let go.