Chapter 87: Why am I so unlucky (Part 4)

I’m convinced today is my unlucky day.
From the start, it’s been one thing after another, like bad luck’s glued to me.
Sure, meeting the noble squad and getting their protection was a stroke of good fortune, but that one bright spot’s been drowned out by an endless string of disasters.

I sighed, looking at the noble squad, wondering what to do next.
The train station was wrecked, the tracks ruined, making escape by rail impossible for now.
But with heavy defenses here, staying put wasn’t a bad option—it felt safe.
Yet, I couldn’t shake the feeling that lingering in this hotspot would only lead to worse trouble.

“We have two options,” Carter said after a moment of thought, turning to me.
“One, stay here, wait for the railway to be repaired, and leave later. It’ll take time but should be safer. Two, borrow a vehicle and leave now.”
“Su Mengmeng, what do you think? I want your input.”

I looked up at the towering Carter, surprised he’d ask for my opinion.
“…Personally, I think leaving might be the best choice.”

I paused, gathering my thoughts before speaking.
“Mengmeng, it’s much safer to stay here,” Katherine cautioned.

“I know, but Blackshine City’s become a powder keg.”
My face darkened as I replied.
“Think about it—what’s the point of the blood clan and dark elves making such a massive move?”

The five noble squad members exchanged glances, silent.
“The frontlines are likely facing wave after wave of heavy assaults. The control zone stretching hundreds of kilometers is probably crawling with thousands of infiltrators, including plenty of silver and golden-rank fighters. This kind of large-scale sabotage might not do much in the short term, but if it drags past a day, the frontlines will face serious supply issues. They’re not just pushing the line forward a bit or grabbing a little land.”

“I think the aliens are after all of Blackshine City and the surrounding territories.”
I laid it out, and Nico looked puzzled.

“But the empire has tons of troops stationed nearby… Are they really that ambitious?”
“No, Su Mengmeng’s got a point,” Emil said, his face grim.
“Despite the troop numbers, aside from the frontline rotation legions, the other units’ combat readiness and alertness are low. They’ve barely seen war! Even the artillery positions got overrun and used against our railway. The situation around Blackshine City isn’t as rosy as we thought.”

Hearing Emil, I felt a twinge of respect for the guy who’d been doubting me.
He wasn’t dumb—he caught on quick to how dire things were around Blackshine City.

On a side note, I’m not petty enough to hold a grudge over Emil’s suspicions, but it definitely didn’t boost my opinion of him.
“I took a good look around. This place is Blackshine City’s key transport hub and supply depot. It won’t be long before it’s a prime target for alien infiltrators. Staying means more guards around us, but one wrong move, and we could get trapped here.”

“So, if possible, I think we should leave while we can.”
I hugged my backpack, feeling the two egg babies inside, my face full of worry.
Earlier, I’d let slip a bit of my battle-hardened experience with a heavier tone, but now I dialed it back to playing the frail, helpless pharmacist.

“…Our mission is to escort Su Mengmeng to safety. Staying too long isn’t wise. I’ll go arrange our departure.”
Carter thought briefly, then made his decision.

But just as he turned to leave, a soldier’s bloodcurdling scream rang out from the distance—
“Enemy attack! Enemy attack!”

The shout hit me like a punch, my heart sinking as my face darkened.
This really never ends!