"15 years old, same age as my sister."

Jack sighed, shook his head helplessly, and murmured, "Chica..."

"Kids your age should be in school enjoying the rare moments of youth, leaving worries and troubles to the adults."

"It's the only time in a Nest City resident's life where they shouldn't worry about survival, and it's a right that youngsters should enjoy."

"Maybe."

Yun You pouted and replied offhandedly.

She thought, if her little home hadn't faced disaster, if her parents were still alive, they would have definitely found a way to send her to school, to enjoy the joys of a normal childhood.

But in this world, there is no 'what if,' and no turning back time.

What's already happened can't be changed, and what's lost can't be retrieved.

Yun You felt that her entire life, she might have to continuously learn to accept, and then move forward with the relics and unfulfilled wishes of the departed.

"Besides, the vast majority of kids at the bottom don't have the qualifications to go to school, right? Because of poverty, identity, family, and life..."

Yun You shrugged and said calmly, "I'm just one of them, nothing strange about it."

"But that's not your problem."

Jack held a charred piece of wood, speaking in a heavy voice: "In an era so technologically advanced, with resources so abundant, where Upper City People can play games with lives. Yet a child can't even afford school, needs to work odd jobs, pick up trash to survive..."

"That's the problem of Nest City itself, it's our fault as adults, we should have made it better, but we haven't."

"And that's my ideal too."

"Healing my sister is just the beginning."

"My true ideal is to make it so every child in Nest City can go to school, every pitiful sick person has the possibility of being treated, and no one in the world goes hungry."

"Sounds unrealistic, even a bit naive, right?"

Jack gently crumbled the wood, speaking slowly: "But I believe, the tech and resources in Nest City can absolutely achieve that, the current dire situation is just because the city itself has problems."

"However, ideals are just ideals, returning to reality, I still need to cure my sister first, then think about other things..."

Listening to Jack's somewhat "beyond imagination" words, Yun You was also a bit startled.

Earlier, when Jack said he was a "Ranger," the little girl thought he was the kind... the "hero" that commonly appears in films and games, who robs the rich to help the poor, acts chivalrously.

But now it seems, Jack's thoughts might be far deeper than she imagined, his ideals far greater than a Ranger's.

"Your way of thinking reminds me of someone."

Yun You hugged her legs, muttering softly, "My teacher."

"He's like you, always claiming to be selfish, but his nature is quite generous, and he considers the people at the bottom too."

"Although I don't know what his ideals truly are, I always feel, they probably aren't too different from yours..."

Hearing this, Jack was slightly taken aback, then smiled.

"Is that so? That's good."

"But I'm sure I can't compare to the Apprentice Death God Tutor, his heart is probably filled with grand affairs of the world, while I... can only care about my sister for now."

Saying that, Jack sighed once more: "Ever since my girl got sick, I've had to bury my ideals deep down... no matter what, I have to cure her first."

"It's okay."

Yun You smiled, patting Jack's shoulder to comfort him: "When we get out, we'll help you."

"Although I don't know anyone, my teacher probably has connections, we'll ask him to introduce us, and we'll cover the medical expenses ourselves."

"It's just a genetic disease, we'll find a way."

Though due to the mask, Jack couldn't see Yun You's expression, the optimism in the little girl's voice genuinely conveyed warmth to the mercenary.

"Thank you."

As always, Jack smiled and expressed his thanks.

"No need for thanks between us."

Yun You shook her head, speaking calmly: "As for your and my teacher's ideals... well, frankly speaking, I'm quite interested."

"When I was little, my mom and dad also told me that if one day I could grow into a great tree, strong in myself and still with spare energy, I could try to help those weaker, so they could have enough to eat."

"Though they said it simply, I think, yours are probably the same."

"Once I've achieved all my goals, I could perhaps become one of you, maybe..."

"But before that, I still have to accomplish my goals first."

Nest City is terrible, or rather, this world itself is terrible.

To survive, you always need a reason.

Whether it's pleasure, venting... revenge, or chasing ideals, they all can be reasons to live.

Once, Yun You lived for revenge and thought her life should end at the moment her revenge was complete, that would be perfect.

But now, she seems to have found a new possibility.

"Maybe after revenge, I can pursue ideals... just like Jack said, let everyone have uncontaminated food to eat, and a house that shelters from the storm."

"It must be a great and grand undertaking, and it's also what mom and dad wished for, isn't it?"

Thinking this, she gripped her fist tightly.

"But at the same time, I must take down those four guys first, only by taking their heads, can I find peace..."

At this moment, desires, ideals, emotions, and goals all appeared in Yun You's heart.

Her consciousness fell into a brief confusion, but her resolve remained as firm as ever. Her small body, under the backdrop of the firelight, appeared larger than life.

Watching the girl's figure, Jack suddenly felt dazed.

On Yun You, he seemed to see a shadow, a person who also struggled in the face of despair but never gave up, holding firm beliefs.

That child was born fighting an unending battle with fate.

She once gave Jack strength and courage, helping him find his own path.

"Soya..."

"Soya..."

In a trance, Jack's eyes reddened, and he subconsciously uttered that girl's name. The view before his eyes slowly became clear, and the familiar figure overlapped with Yun You.

In the end, when he realized that the person in front of him was Yun You, not his sister, he froze, and all his strength seemed to be drawn out, leaving him faintly dejected.

"What's wrong?"

Yun You looked at Jack with some confusion, but he just lightly shook his head.

"Sorry, Chica, it's nothing..."

"Just suddenly feeling a bit sad, missing my girl."

"Miss her?"

Hearing this, Yun You didn't immediately understand, she just nodded and commented: "Oh, mercenaries have a lot of duties, you probably haven't visited her for a long time, right?"

"After this mission, go home and spend some good time with your family."

"..."

Jack didn't speak, only nodded quietly, his expression hidden in the darkness, unseen by Yun You.

"Speaking of which, you haven't told me the story between you and your sister."

The little girl rubbed her hands expectantly and asked: "Can you talk about it? I really like hearing stories about family~"

To this, Jack did not refuse.

He nodded lightly, and then began to tell... revealing his past.

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