Chapter 21: Part 9: Eisenburg

Seraphina stared silently at the evasive yet stubborn look in her eyes for a long moment before finally nodding.

“Since you insist, then go see for yourself.”

The woman took Mili from the central tower and rode the elevator down to the ground, then switched to an armored vehicle.

The driver was a middle-aged man with a scruffy beard. Upon seeing Seraphina, he immediately put away his lazy expression, started the engine, and the vehicle roared to life.

Mili even caught a glimpse of a shotgun embedded in the driver’s door…

“To the refugee district.”

“Your Majesty, do you really want to go there?” the driver asked through the rearview mirror.

“She wants to see it,” Seraphina replied coldly, helping Mili fasten her seatbelt.

The driver nodded slightly, saying no more.

After driving on a spacious avenue for a while, the road conditions deteriorated. The asphalt turned into dirt, and the previously smooth street became a bumpy, uneven path. The armored vehicle jolted violently, forcing Mili to grip the handrail tightly…

The buildings on both sides grew increasingly dilapidated, with the brick structures becoming lower and lower until they transformed into tin shacks…

Through the bulletproof glass, Mili saw another world—

People in ragged clothes wandered through narrow alleys, their garments full of patches, bleached to the point of losing their original color…

Old men weakly leaned against the corners of walls, their murky eyes staring into the distance, as if waiting for someone who would never return…

Small stalls sold scattered scraps: worn-out parts, unrecognizable plant roots, or rough tools made from the bones of mutated creatures…

They were all haphazardly piled on a tattered cloth.

Everyone’s face was written with exhaustion and numbness, like empty shells of the living dead.

Children played beside piles of garbage, building small castles out of scrap iron and broken parts…

A few weaker children huddled around a puddle, scooping murky water with old iron ladles.

One little girl, around seven or eight years old, had obvious burn scars on her arm and was carefully wiping the dirt off a younger child’s face…

“Why don’t they leave?” Mili whispered, her expression somewhat dazed.

“Leave? Go where?” Seraphina retorted. “The outside world is far more dangerous.”

“At least here, they don’t have to worry about being eaten by mutated monsters or being captured by raiders as slaves.”

She handed Mili a handkerchief: “The air here is terrible, cover your nose.”

“…”

Mili took the handkerchief, which still carried a faint scent from Seraphina’s clothes…

It made her feel indescribably awkward.

The vehicle stopped at a relatively spacious open area.

It was supposed to be a small square, but now it was occupied by all kinds of makeshift shacks, turning into a chaotic and crowded market.

The air was filled with a pungent stench.

Garbage, gasoline, possibly mixed with other unknown chemicals… As Mili opened the door, the smell made her eyes sting.

When the woman got out, the surrounding people immediately dropped to their knees, murmuring something.

“Your Majesty the Queen!”

“Thank you for the Queen’s grace!”

“Long live Her Majesty the Queen!”

Mili was astonished by the scene.

These impoverished people all worshiped Seraphina so deeply…

Their eyes held no resentment but were filled with gratitude and reverence, as if Seraphina truly was a god who saved them from hellfire—the kind of sincere respect that reminded her of ancient subjects bowing before their monarch…

“Stand up.” Seraphina waved her hand. “Go back to what you were doing.”

The crowd quickly dispersed, leaving only an old man standing.

He was hunched over, his face full of wrinkles, with a cautious and respectful gaze.

Though his clothes were worn, they were cleaner than the others’, and he wore a simple iron badge on his chest.

Probably the leader or village chief of this area…

“Your Majesty, this month’s death toll is thirteen, all elderly, weak, or sick…”

“Five newborns, all healthy, have been handed over to medical care and completed basic health checks…”

The old man reported respectfully, his voice hoarse.

Seraphina nodded. “What about food distribution?”

“Distributed according to the standards: 800 grams of nutrient paste and one liter of purified water per person daily. No one is starving…”

“Also… the active workers receive extra protein supplements, all distributed according to the reward standards you… uh… set.”

The man spoke while slightly panting, giving the impression he was old and in poor health.

“Good. Keep it up.”

Throughout the conversation, the woman’s tone remained flat, as if discussing mundane matters.

The old man, on the other hand, was cautious, afraid of making mistakes.

Seraphina glanced sideways at Mili by the car door, then took a small package from her pocket and handed it to the man.

“For the children.”

“Th-thank you, Your Majesty! The children will be very happy!” The old man accepted the package, his eyes gleaming with joy.

Soon after, a commotion came from nearby.

Under a dim plastic canopy, a skinny, emaciated man was holding something and arguing with soldiers at the distribution point.

His eyes were deeply sunken, cheekbones prominent, and his face covered with stubble.

“Please, my wife is sick! She needs food…” the man’s voice choked up, “Just one nutrient paste! Please!”

“The rules are the rules,” the soldier replied coldly. “Each person’s daily ration is fixed and cannot be exceeded.”

“I took an extra portion yesterday and planned to save it for her…” the man almost knelt down, “I can trade anything… Please… anything!”

The soldier snatched the item back, shook his head, and motioned for him to leave.

The man stubbornly grabbed the soldier’s arm and wouldn’t let go.

“Let go!” The soldier forcefully shook him off, and the man fell to the ground.

Seraphina turned sharply and her gaze sharpened.

She strode over quickly, pulling Mili closely behind.

“What’s going on?” The queen’s voice froze everyone in place.

The soldier immediately stood at attention and saluted. “Your Majesty! This man stole extra food at the distribution point yesterday and came back asking for more today.”

The man’s eyes lit up with hope when he saw Seraphina.

He crawled to the queen’s feet, trembling hands outstretched.

“Your Majesty, please! My family is starving!”

She looked down at him, her gaze terrifyingly calm.

“What illness does your wife have?”

“Gray… Gray Mist infection. She hasn’t eaten for three days…” the man stammered.

“Gray Mist infection?” Seraphina repeated, then stood up. “You should waste less food. She won’t live much longer.”

The man’s face turned pale instantly.

“How much did you steal yesterday?” she asked.

“One… one nutrient paste…” the man’s voice shook even more. “I searched for a doctor for a long time and spent all my savings… hoping to give her a bit more…”

“Why didn’t you apply for special rations?”

“I… I thought… I thought the application wouldn’t be approved…” The man bowed his head. “I was afraid to report it, afraid of rejection…”

Seraphina was silent for a few seconds, then looked up at the soldiers.

“Give him an emergency ration.”

“Yes!” The soldier immediately took a nutrient paste and purified water from the distribution point.

The man took the food, tears streaming down his face.

“Thank you, Your Majesty! Thank you, Your Majesty!”

But Seraphina wasn’t done—

“Starting from the end of your confinement, your work points will be halved for one month,” she said flatly. “If you try to cheat, you must bear the consequences.”

The man paled even more, his color completely drained.

But he didn’t dare argue and just kept nodding.

“Y-yes, Your Majesty…”

“Make her comfortable when she goes.” Seraphina pulled a capsule from her pants pocket. “Painkillers. They’ll temporarily ease her suffering.”

The man cupped the capsule with both hands, tears in his eyes. “Thank you, Your Majesty…”

“As for your theft…” She nodded at the soldier. “Handle it according to regulations.”

The soldier understood immediately, raised his rifle butt again.

This time, the man didn’t resist but curled up on the ground, clutching the painkiller tightly.

The butt struck heavily; the man groaned and fainted.

“Take him to the medical point for simple treatment. After he visits home, he’ll serve three days of confinement,” the woman added. “Send some relief medicine to his wife.”

The soldier nodded and went to carry out the orders.