CHAPTER 248: LET THE PAST GO

Soon after, the ground shook as construction materials floated into the air, swirling gracefully before locking into place, creating a spectacular display.

Minutes later, the foundation hardened, and the towering structure of the ice plantation gradually rose beside the salt production facility.

Finally, when the last block settled into position, a clear notification from the [Building] function echoed in Elena’s mind: The construction is complete, and it’s now ready for use.

She immediately informed Uncle Anthony so he could begin his inspection.

"Uncle, the construction is complete. I’ll leave the rest to you."

"Understood," he replied with enthusiasm. "I’ll make sure it’s fully operational before the day ends."

Elena nodded, and afterward, they exited the space, reappearing in Grandpa Caldwell’s unit.

"Aren’t you going to check the ice plantation?" Ethan asked as he retrieved some snacks for his wife.

"I’ll check it later. Anyway, how are Xander and Oslo doing? Have they completed the trade with the military?"

"I’m not sure; they haven’t given me any updates yet. Let me contact them. In the meantime, have some snacks first, wife."

Ethan then handed her some light snacks before closing his eyes and activating his [Telepathy] to connect with the duo.

Oslo accepted the request immediately and began his report.

"We’re still at the building, keeping an eye on the military as they load the water tanks and supplies onto their trucks. It should be done soon."

"Good. Once you complete the trade, head straight to the government sector. Elena and I have something important to handle there," Ethan replied with a faint chuckle.

"My wife is determined to claim those jades and antiques the government promised way back."

And aside from that, they also planned to recruit a certain Lieutenant to their side.

"Roger that, Chief." Oslo replied, taking on the task.

With the conversation over, Ethan opened his eyes and sat beside his wife, joining her for a light snack.

"What did they say?"

"They’re almost done. I already instructed them to head toward the area near the government center after the deal," Ethan replied.

"I see," Elena murmured, continuing to munch on her snack.

Seeing her relaxed, Ethan returned to the question that had been nagging at him.

He wanted to understand everything about their past lives—so he could prepare for the worst and make sure it never repeated.

"Wife, you said Poochi died before the disaster struck. Why was that?"

Elena let out a long sigh, her eyes softening with sorrow.

"Do you remember that battle by the riverside in Willow Village? When you fought that mutated beast?" Elena’s voice softened.

"Poochi... he sacrificed himself for you. He shoved you out of harm’s way, letting the current carry you downstream while he distracted the beast—buying you precious time."

Her voice faltered slightly. "You survived, but at the cost of Poochi’s life. Some villagers found you later near on the cave—seriously injured, but alive."

Ethan froze, his chest tightening as shock and grief over his loyal dogs’ past life.

His fists clenched unconsciously. "I..."

"Let’s not dwell on those tragedies," Elena cut in gently, reaching for his hand.

"That was our past life. Or better yet, let’s treat it as a dream—because in this life, none of it has happened, and it never will."

She gave him a small, reassuring smile. She wanted to stop these painful memories from surfacing any further.

If Ethan ever learned the full extent of his family’s tragic fate, he would carry the burden and blame himself endlessly.

For her, knowing about their own past life was already enough.

There was no reason to reopen wounds that were better left sealed.

Ethan then finally realized that Elena didn’t want to discuss the fate of others.

It was obvious why—their endings had been nothing but tragic.

With a slow nod, he decided to let it go.

She was right.

They needed to focus on the present and make sure those nightmares never repeated.

Right now, the real threats were their enemies, especially those who had betrayed them before.

He needed to dig into their backgrounds, track their movements, and eliminate them before they struck again.

On top of that, he had to learn more about the aliens and mutated creatures—how they appeared, how they evolved, and what weaknesses they had.

Knowledge meant survival.

Just as he was about to bring up this matter, his thoughts were interrupted by a familiar voice through [Telepathy].

Oslo had contacted him, reporting that they had reached the government sector and were currently in a secluded spot.

Ethan quickly informed Elena, and together they entered the space, exiting moments later at Oslo’s location.

The instant they appeared, both noticed the change—it wasn’t as cold as it had been before.

The biting chill that once clung to the air had lessened a lot.

So, Ethan pulled out a thermometer and checked the reading.

His brows furrowed as the numbers climbed steadily. The temperature was rising—and fast.

He frowned and turned to Oslo and Xander. "Return and help the others. Elena and I can handle collecting the jades and antiques."

The two men nodded without hesitation and vanished, entering the space.

"Wife, let’s move," Ethan said softly, taking her hand with care, making sure she wouldn’t slip on the icy ground

As they walked toward the government center, Ethan explained the plan.

Since they already knew which unit Lieutenant Fern was staying in, he would use his skill—[Shadow Cloak]—to enter the building covertly.

It was too much of a hassle to enter through normal procedures.

The officers would definitely interrogate them endlessly, and there was no telling if traps had been set for them.

Better to stay cautious than regret it later.

When they reached a secluded spot near the government center, Ethan paused in the shadowy corner, preparing to meld into the shadows.

"Wife, go into Paradise and wait for me there. I’ll notify you once I’m inside," he said firmly, his tone carrying quiet confidence.

He felt a surge of pride, finally able to help her with his ability.

In truth, Elena could have easily used her [Blink] skill to slip inside unnoticed, but Ethan had insisted.

He wanted to scout the government centre first, to test his ability under real conditions.

Seeing the determination in his eyes, Elena’s lips curved into a faint smile.

She didn’t argue and instead entered the space, leaving Ethan alone to carry out the mission.

Once Elena vanished, Ethan then activated his [Shadow Cloak].

His figure melted into the shadows, merging seamlessly with the darkness as he glided along the walls—silent, unseen, moving like a phantom through the building’s cold corridor.

Inside, the atmosphere was tense. Officials scurried about, their voices low as they prepared for the looming extreme heat.

There were also refugees lining the narrow hallways, their faces gaunt and bodies frail from months of exposure to the cold, pleading for food.

A few of them dragged a corpse toward the exit—someone who had likely succumbed to illness or starvation—clearing the space for the living.

It was clear the government didn’t care about them; one glance was enough to see how poorly they were treated.

Their hollow eyes and frail bodies spoke louder than words.

Ethan couldn’t understand why they still clung to such a broken system.

Leaving the center and seeking refuge at the military camp would have been a better choice.

He exhaled softly and brushed the thought aside.

In the end, this was the life they chose for themselves—and who was he to judge?

Ethan then refocused and continued his careful observation, his sharp gaze sweeping every corner for any sign of danger or hidden traps.

Seeing nothing unusual, he decided to proceed toward his target: Lieutenant Fern’s quarters.

A ripple of shadow shot forward as he effortlessly crossed the floor, weaving through patrols and blind spots.

Minutes later, Ethan emerged silently near the lieutenant’s door.

His lips curled into a faint smirk. ’This ability... it’s perfect for reconnaissance—and for taking out enemies without a sound.’

He slipped inside unnoticed and concealed himself in a shadowy corner.

From there, he observed Lieutenant Fern in the midst of a tense discussion with his subordinates, as he tried to persuade them to abandon the government and join the military sector.

"But... if we leave, what about our contributions? Will they all mean nothing?" one officer asked anxiously.

They had served the government for years, and their leader already held a respectable position.

Leaving now would mean starting over at a lower rank.

Fern’s tone hardened. "So you’d rather stay in their rotten system? If that’s your choice, I won’t stop you."

A heavy silence followed.

Soon, those unwilling to part with the government quietly left the room, while those who had made up their minds began packing their belongings.

From the shadows, Ethan noticed the frustration etched across Fern’s face.

He understood the man’s struggle and couldn’t help but admire him.

It was clear Fern only wanted to protect his men, yet their hearts were divided.

Ethan then sent a brief signal to Elena in the space, and moments later, she appeared silently beside him.

Together, they observed the officers, who were still busy gathering their belongings, oblivious to the two unexpected visitors.

After a few seconds, Elena cleared her throat softly, drawing their attention.

"Hello?"

Every head snapped toward them.

Shock rippled across the room as the officers froze in place, eyes widening at the sight of two masked figures standing casually in the corner.

Confusion quickly twisted into alarm. How had these strangers breached the secured room without anyone noticing?

Only Lieutenant Fern remained composed.

His sharp gaze softened as recognition dawned, and a faint, knowing smile curved his lips.

"Good to finally see you both again," he said evenly, his tone carrying both relief and respect.

With a subtle gesture toward a side room, he continued, "The promised jade and antiques are ready. You’ll find them in there."