Chapter 8
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 6-2
Chapter Title: What to Do When the World Ends?: Run.
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2. What I must do when I find out the world is ending?: Run, of course.
Time left until the apocalypse: 20 days.
[Assailant Incident at Notiam Street 61 in the Capital, Benton! The Victim, a Lancaster Young Lady…!?]
The next day, the press was in an uproar over the incident at number 61. There was no news of any fatalities.
‘Looks like Aurora is safe, too. What a relief.’
However, the articles only mentioned a disturbance caused by a suspicious assailant; not a single newspaper told the truth about the monster’s appearance.
Even after meticulously rereading them from the beginning, all I saw was the story of an assailant attacking Aurora. It seemed the scream Aurora let out at the end was because of the assailant.
‘Not a single mention of the monster. Someone is definitely trying to cover this up intentionally.’
That much was almost certain. Otherwise, with so many witnesses, it made no sense that not a single article would be written about it.
In apocalypse or disaster movies, there are always those who try to warn of the impending doom and those who try to cover it up at all costs.
In the novel *Love in a Ruined World*, the only mastermind specifically named was Marquess Casey—the villain who orchestrated the alchemists' unethical experiments. It wouldn’t be surprising if Marquess Casey was the true culprit behind this whole situation, using his power to conceal the truth about the monsters.
The problem was, the Marquess himself dies before the novel even begins, having been infected by the virus early on.
Unfortunately, I had no power to uncover the truth or stop this situation. Above all, I was desperately short on time.
In a situation like this, if I tried to tell the truth, I’d just be treated like a lunatic. Even Harrison, who cared for me like a real sister, suggested I go to a hospital. What would others think?
‘I should just pack my bags. I’m going to miss my train.’
Putting down the daily paper with Aurora’s article, I hurriedly packed my things. I wrapped the Elpinus Herb with great care and placed it in my bag. Having the vaccine in hand put my mind at ease, at least a little.
‘I might be able to last for about two years.’
That is, if the shelter was properly stocked with survival supplies. There was much to do: fill the shelter with food, daily necessities, and weapons, and build something like a defensive wall around the estate to prepare for the monsters’ arrival.
Just then, Susanna knocked on the door.
“Young Lady. There’s a phone call. It’s Sir Ethan.”
“What? Ethan? The Ethan from the Lancaster family?”
I flung the door open in surprise. Susanna nodded, a bewildered look on her face.
“Yes, that’s right.”
Damn it. I could already hear my life hanging by a thread.
‘Did he figure out I was the one who saved Aurora at Notiam Street 61 last night?’
I remembered the brooch engraved with my initials that Ethan had taken. I tapped my foot nervously and asked Susanna again.
“Why is he looking for me?”
“He said it’s confidential business. He wants to speak with you directly.”
“Hmm.”
Let’s think, assuming Ethan has figured out I’m the owner of that brooch.
If so, his words meant he was willing to negotiate with me. And wanting to negotiate meant he also had something he wanted from me, a situation where he couldn’t just carelessly reveal anything.
If not, there was also the possibility that Ethan knew nothing and was calling to sound me out.
In fact, the truth was that he couldn’t really find out much just from having picked up a brooch.
After weighing the circumstances, I decided on my response and told Susanna.
“Just tell him I’m not here. Tell him I went on a trip.”
It wasn’t a lie. I really was leaving.
Susanna nodded.
“Yes, I’ll tell him you’re away on a trip.”
I gave Susanna a curt acknowledgment and then hoisted my suitcase.
‘I can’t get tangled up with Ethan so pointlessly. I have to escape, quickly!’
While waiting for the steam car in front of the Sinclair estate, I asked Susanna.
“Susanna, have you packed all your things?”
At my question, Susanna nodded with a bright smile.
“Yes. Please just give me two days. I’ll speak with the head maid and come down right away.”
Susanna might just be an angel.
The one person I was determined to take to the shelter, along with Harrison, was Susanna. She had readily accepted my rather abrupt suggestion to move down to Brunel.
“Wherever you go, Young Lady, I must follow.”
That’s what she’d said. When I told her I planned to stay in Brunel for quite some time, she replied that she would pack up everything from the capital estate and come down in two days.
Like me, she had no family, so there was no reason for her to remain in the capital.
“Alright. I’ll see you again soon!”
“Yes, Young Lady. Please take care of yourself!”
I bid Susanna farewell and boarded the car that had just arrived.
* * *
At that same time, at Notiam Street 61.
Due to the incident from the previous night, the streets were crowded with onlookers.
A man in a navy-blue police uniform stood leaning against the wall of the estate at number 61, a newspaper open in his hands.
The crisp uniform fit his moderately muscular frame perfectly. A blue cape, draped over one shoulder, fluttered in the wind.
The man exuded an unapproachable aura, enough to make people passing by glance back at him.
Beneath his neatly styled blond hair, a pair of sharp blue eyes scanned the newspaper article.
[Exclusive Report! The Sinclair Family Heiress. A 100 Million Gold Bank Loan? A Grand Design by the Family’s Future Queen, or the Tragic End of a Setting Sun…!]
Once again, news of Cherry Sinclair graced the front page.
It wasn’t so strange for a woman who loved luxury to take out a loan. But this woman was the heiress to the immensely wealthy Sinclair family.
‘She must have been desperate for money… But then, would the Sinclair heiress ever be that desperate for money in the first place?’
The suspicious article kept bothering Ethan. Could it be related to the gambling club she ran?
Just then, Inspector Marcel, Ethan’s superior from the same department, walked by and spoke to him.
“What are you doing here? I told you to stay off this case. Are you reading about Cherry Sinclair again?”
The way he said it made it sound as if Ethan were obsessed with her. Ethan’s brow furrowed in distaste.