A commander forced into the role at the last second.
A guide forced into the role at the last second.
Hao Fan felt like Qin Jiangchi was squeezing him dry.
He'd just been grit-teeth commanding the Security Department's guards—only to be told, in the very next breath, that he also had to lead the way. It was honestly a bit too much for one person to juggle.
Still, he understood her decision.
After all, once they'd repelled several waves of Angels, the number of Angels near the Central Control Tower had dropped sharply, and the pressure on the temporary defense line had eased.
So they no longer urgently needed a commander.
What they needed was a capable guide—someone who could lead the Administrator around the Angels and get her to the Old Factory District as fast as possible, to destroy the anchor that was still continuously producing more Angels.
And with his "game map" ability, Hao Fan was obviously the best choice.
Reality proved it.
After they left the Central Control Tower, the Administrator—who would normally have had to fight—successfully avoided multiple swarms of small Angels under Hao Fan's guidance, saving a lot of time.
Perlica watched this almost miraculous performance and finally asked:
"Doctor, Engineer Qin didn't tell me your background. Where are you from?"
She had her suspicions about the hooded man's identity, so she tested him with a careful question.
What she got back was a riddle—spoken like a meme.
"I'm a remnant of the old era. In the new era, there's no ship that can carry me."
Hao Fan dodged the question entirely, brushing it off with a reference.
Because how could he possibly say he was a transmigrator?
That incomprehensible "line," combined with his earlier coin-tossing habit, completely cemented his image in Perlica's eyes:
This guy is a weirdo.
What the hell are you even talking about?!
Perlica froze, unsure what to say next.
But the Administrator looked like she'd discovered a new continent—eyes widening in amazement.
That line was so cool. She memorized it.
"Administrator, you're not allowed to copy the Doctor's way of talking—he'll teach you bad things!"
Perlica immediately saw the danger and hurried to discipline her amnesiac Administrator, trying to keep her from picking up strange "knowledge."
Just then, a voice drifted in from the distance:
"Hold on—this'll be over soon!"
…
A buckwheat cultivation point.
Some injured people were sheltering there, while a few security guards were holding off Angels.
"Two left—just hang on a little longer!"
As Miguel watched the final two Angels get taken down, he finally exhaled in relief.
Then he heard movement behind him.
He turned—and saw someone jump down through a gap above the greenhouse roof.
Among them was an all-too-familiar suspicious hooded man.
"Administrator, you have to catch me!"
Hao Fan gauged the height and felt his legs go weak.
Earth humans weren't built like Terra people. Jumping from that height—if he didn't break something, he'd probably still sprain an ankle.
"Got it. You're really weak."
The Administrator didn't understand why a grown man could be so dramatic—afraid of heights, even.
But she still reached out and caught him.
For the record—
The Administrator was 1.6 meters tall.
The Doctor was 1.8 meters tall.
So when Hao Fan got bridal-carried, it looked incredibly awkward. Secondhand embarrassment, guaranteed.
"Ahem."
Miguel deliberately ignored the scene. He didn't want to deal with this guy, who was inexplicable in every sense.
After all, he still remembered the incident where Hao Fan poured boiling water into his own mouth just to make instant noodles—scaring the life out of him.
"Supervisor Perlica? Thank goodness—you finally made it."
Seeing Perlica's familiar figure, Miguel visibly relaxed.
"After the anchor fell, we gathered indoors and barely held this place… well, we could still hold it five minutes ago."
He gave a bitter smile. Angel carcasses were scattered in the corner, proof they'd already been breached once.
Seeing this, the Administrator set the Doctor down and spoke seriously.
"Please return to the Central Control Tower to take shelter as soon as possible. It's still dangerous here."
She explained the situation there—Qin Jiangchi and the others had stabilized things on that side.
But Miguel had no intention of leaving.
"I understand, but I have to take care of the wounded here first… wait—are you injured too?"
He noticed abrasions on the Administrator—left from their earlier route to the Central Control Tower, where Angels had clipped her.
So he suggested they use local materials and treat the injuries here first.
"This is the buckwheat cultivation site. Buckwheat powder is a common medicinal ingredient, and it's simple to make. Take some—it'll be useful."
The Administrator accepted immediately and began enthusiastically harvesting buckwheat.
With her memories gone, everything felt novel.
Meanwhile, Hao Fan looked around at the others inside. Two of them he'd just seen earlier.
Frank—who happened to share the same name as a Straw Hat crew member—and Defoe, an Endfield security operator.
"Director Qin seems to be holding on for now, but there are too many Angels—and with so many wounded, we can't risk moving to rendezvous."
Frank was discussing the situation with Defoe. Defoe agreed.
"If you ask me, we should keep holding here. Besides, the Gray Doctor is here."
Defoe clearly trusted Miguel.
But Frank had a small question.
"By the way—why do people call Doctor Miguel 'the Gray Doctor'? It doesn't have anything to do with 'gray,' does it?"
"Endfield doctors are always on the front lines. Every day they're in the dirt and dust with us—covered head to toe. That's why we call them that, as a mark of respect."
Defoe explained casually.
Not only did Frank understand at once—Hao Fan, eavesdropping, also made an "oh, so that's how it is" face.
So "Gray Doctor" wasn't Miguel's codename.
It was a title for that kind of doctor.
A tiny piece of knowledge acquired.
"Miguel, I'm impressed~"
Hao Fan praised him—only to get a flat stare back, like he was looking at a troublemaking weirdo.
"Why are you looking at me like that? In this crisis, I've helped the Hub District Base folks a lot, you know."
"…."
Miguel didn't respond. He obviously didn't believe him.
Because ever since their first meeting, this suspicious hooded man had never left him with a good impression.
However, Perlica stepped in and confirmed that the Doctor was telling the truth—thanks to him, the Central Control Tower's temporary defense line had stabilized.
That news shocked Miguel.
It was like discovering a street punk you knew had finally turned his life around…
Okay, weird metaphor.
But now wasn't the time to nitpick.
After the Administrator finished preparing some buckwheat powder, she was ready to move out again.
"Now I feel more at ease."
Seeing the black-haired girl's abrasions treated, Miguel—speaking as a doctor—gave his approval.
"I'll stay here to care for the wounded, then try to rendezvous with Director Qin as best I can… I'm looking forward to your good news."
"Mm! Leave it to us!"
The Administrator patted her soft chest and promised confidently.
As they set off again toward the Old Factory District, Miguel added one more line:
"Doctor—be careful."
He adjusted his reading glasses casually. After that, he went back to tending the wounded.
Hao Fan was surprised… but still smiled and answered:
"Yeah. You too."
-------
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