A maneuver of this magnitude.
Even if other nations had their suspicions, there was simply no way to keep it under wraps.
Among the general public, all sorts of rumors were flying, the noise growing louder and the atmosphere more chaotic by the day.
[Entire Far East Relocates to Shenzhou—What Are They Hiding There?]
[Overcrowding in Northwestern Shenzhou Sparks New Clashes Between Locals and Far East Evacuees]
[All Coastal Cities in Shenzhou Issue Red Alerts, Mandatory Evacuation Inland—What's the Meaning of This?]
News outlets, media—there were always those reckless enough to chase the story.
Even when soldiers tried to shoo them away, they clung on like stubborn shadows.
Thanks to their almost paparazzi-like persistence, more and more people were getting wind of the situation.
Some reports, even if based on hearsay, sounded so convincing that plenty were ready to believe them. It was as if everyone had suddenly become jumpy, seeing danger in every shadow.
What was happening?
What was really going on?
Anyone with half a brain could tell something terrifying must be brewing in the Far East—something so dire it prompted the entire population, along with Shenzhou's coastal residents, to evacuate without a second thought.
Let's be real.
Something like this just doesn't happen under normal circumstances.
Even if a full-blown war broke out, you wouldn't see movements on this scale.
Especially not from the Far East—it was as if they'd outright abandoned their homeland, their land, choosing to live under someone else's roof instead.
If there wasn't a damn good reason for it, who would ever believe it?
Online, plenty of those directly affected were venting, complaining.
Though there was no shortage of misinformation muddying the waters, not a single country or organization stepped in to stop it.
This only poured fuel on the fire.
Ever since that Sky Screen appeared, they'd known Honkai couldn't be kept secret any longer.
Even before, they'd been half-resigned to it—letting people talk freely, allowing the rumors to spread.
But now? They had a feeling this time it was really going to blow wide open.
So they started making plans accordingly. If you can't block the flow, you might as well guide it. And since blocking was impossible now, the best they could do was try to steer the conversation.
For example…
Instead of letting independent media outlets control the narrative with their own reports, why not have the authorities themselves launch a broadcast? Put the truth out there for everyone to see.
What was the point of lying to themselves anymore? It was pointless.
The only reason they hadn't spoken up earlier was that there'd been no need.
Politicians were always like that.
Some things they'd drag out as long as possible.
If you figured out the Honkai was real, that was your business.
They never admitted a thing.
But now…
They were going to!
Nations and organizations around the world convened, discussed, and debated.
In the end, this was the decision they reached.
Really, they had no other choice.
"I knew it! Those Sky Screen videos had to be real!"
"That really was the future!"
Talk like this spread like wildfire among the people.
"It's those politicians—hiding things, keeping us in the dark! Those damn bastards!"
"Oh my god, the Honkai… something that terrifying actually exists?"
Some were stunned, others were cursing.
More and people were starting to believe the Sky Screen was real.
Many could no longer keep burying their heads in the sand.
And in its place came sheer, overwhelming panic.
This was the Honkai, after all!
Herrschers… Honkai beasts, zombies…
One after another.
To ordinary people, it was nothing short of poison.
Everyone says war is brutal, but as long as it doesn't happen to you, many can still laugh it off.
The Honkai was the same.
Before, when the Sky Screen videos were spreading, some believed, some didn't, and some who deep down knew it was true still refused to admit it—all of that was normal.
But when the Honkai might really be knocking at your door? Let's see you laugh then.
People were scared out of their minds, honestly!
Some woke up feeling like the sky had fallen.
[Third Honkai Eruption Confirmed—Analyzing Details Revealed in the Sky Screen]
[Shenzhou to Broadcast Live from the Front Lines Tomorrow—Is This the Honkai Going Public?]
[The Nature of the Honkai—Changes in Entropy! Dr. Einstein Takes You Closer to the Truth]
Those who hadn't wanted to believe now had no choice.
Everyone had believed a little before, but only a little. Now? How could it still be just a little?
So now they wanted to dig deeper, to look back at those analysis videos from the Celestial Screen, to understand more—as if cramming last-minute for a test.
"We're done for, we're done for…"
"The Third Honkai Eruption has to be in the Far East."
"Otherwise, why would the evacuation zones match exactly what the Sky Screen showed?"
"Let's be real, only a Honkai Eruption would make the government go to these lengths! Sure, it's great that everyone survived, but… being forced from your home is just too much."
"Mom… I want to go home…"
Could they understand the government's decision?
Of course they could.
Even those who didn't at first were coming around.
A Honkai Eruption was coming. Property damage, economic losses—all that took a backseat. Staying behind meant certain death. If it were you, wouldn't you agree to move?
But even so, Humanity is a diverse species.
There's always a bad apple in every bunch.
There'll always be those who bite the hand that feeds them.
They complained in person, and they cursed even more fiercely online.
I know you're doing this for my own good, but I'm still going to complain.
I was living just fine where I was, and now you're making me move? What about tomorrow?
Even if we can move back eventually, how am I supposed to live after this?
Then there was Miss T0, demanding to know why her dog couldn't come. 'My dog will die if left behind!'
But the soldiers weren't having any of it.
Evacuating people was stressful enough—who had time to worry about a dog?
If they brought it over, they'd have to feed it, house it, and if it got sick, get it medical care?
Get real.
And it wasn't just that.
Many people were resentful.
The main reason was that the mass evacuation was being carried out in a frantic rush. Time was already short. Shenzhou, the Far East, and many other nations and organizations were being mobilized by Fire Moth, all to evacuate these people.
The amount of fuel consumed alone was staggering.
Naturally, they had to lighten the load wherever possible.
Not just pets—even personal belongings, luggage, were restricted to a change of clothes or two. No room for nonsense.
Plenty of people, forced to comply under strict measures, couldn't help but feel bitter.
The current situation, other developments…
Kiana's mom would occasionally update Kiana and the others.
Elysia took it in stride.
Vill-V was fine too.
But Mei and Kiana were the types who generally didn't pay much attention to these things.
Still, it didn't hurt to know a bit more.
Lately, Kiana hadn't been going out much, and hadn't even realized that Nagazora had already begun evacuating—though things weren't as tense there.
After all, the Herrscher of Finality was here.
If worse came to worst, wouldn't she protect them?
So Nagazora was actually among the last to evacuate.
The fact that they were moving now spoke volumes.
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
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