Runemaster in the Last Days

Chapter 962 964: Hope

Stephen patted Sophia's head as he continued to walk. "No matter how much they work hard behind the scene... all the people see will be nothing more than the result they have shown. Because this is a world where result is the most important."

No one cared about how much they have worked behind the scene.

Even if this was not the result that they actually wanted, but since they managed to achieve so much in this area... the people will only praise them in this area too.

Stephen knew this feeling very well.

Because he never planned on succeeding when he was young.

He felt that it would be better if he had achieved average result so that he could stay more with his family members without attracting his grandfather's attention.

Unfortunately, his attempt backfire.

Stephen was careless on one occasion and his grandfather's aide who was extremely sharp, noticed that he hid his real capabilities. Because of that, he reported to his grandfather and ever since then, Stephen had to work much harder for the Carson Family.

He didn't want any of that.

What he wanted was to spend more time with his family members and played around with his sister.

That's what he longed for.

But their grandfather didn't allow it.

He wanted to use him to grind his other grandsons and also to create more value for the Carson Family.

Perhaps if he had been more careful in front of other people, their grandfather will never know about his real talent.

But there was nothing that could be done.

Stephen could only walked on the path that his grandfather had laid for him.

So he swore to become strong enough and spend as much time as possible with his sister when it was possible. Because he didn't want to lose his family members.

It was also because of this that their grandfather knew that he only needed to control Sophia to make Stephen willing to listen to his words.

Stephen disliked those days.

But he still followed and performed well, learning everything that was thrown to him while building his own power.

He was planning to ensure that he had enough power on his own so that he could protect the people whom he truly cared for.

If it was not because of the earthquake...

*sigh*

"No matter whether these returnees want to be famous or not... it's a fact that they have saved most people from the magic beasts' tide last year. And the higher ups are using this chance to shape them into the image that they truly want," Stephen said calmly.

He knew very well that these politicians were only using the returnees because the situation forced them to do this.

If it was possible, Stephen was sure that the higher ups didn't want to.

But they couldn't not to.

Because it was obvious that these people would become famous sooner or later because of their deeds. Since it had been determined that they would become famous, it would be better for the higher ups to control the direction of their fame.

In this way, they could ensure that these people could not threaten their position and so on.

"But..." Sophia frowned.

"It's not their real personality and I know that it's true," Stephen continued and pulled his sister out of City K Base. The rest of the conversation shouldn't be done in a crowded place and he didn't other people to eavesdrop on his words.

"But if they didn't do this and use fame to control them to a certain degree, it's impossible to say what these returnees might do. In Continent Z, the returnees' prestige are really high because they're famous for protecting the people from the magic beasts' tide." Stephen looked at the distance.

'But without the magic beasts... it's unknown how many people will see them as a threat.'

This was actually something that only needed them to worry about after everything had been settled, but Stephen couldn't help but think about it.

He knew very well that the higher ups were shaping these returnees as a 'limited time hero.'

For now, their images will definitely remain good.

"People need hope, Sophia. The magic beasts had flooded many areas and their appearance had long crushed people's hope of living. Without hope, the people would not have any desire to survive," Stephen said slowly.

Sophia opened her mouth and closed it again.

It was true.

The appearance of the magic beasts had long caused many people to struggle. Some people had truly lost hope of living and stopped struggling to live, rather choosing to think about their own ending that would not be too painful.

Because living seemed to be too difficult.

Without any hope, many of them were only living mechanically based on their instinct and the sight was really miserable.

And the second earthquake at that time had already crushed many people's hope.

Perhaps not many people saw it, but Sophia saw that some people were despairing when they saw more magic beasts appearing.

It was as if they were asking the world...

'Why do we have to continue suffering like this, living our lives in fear of death all the time?'

That was when Sophia truly understood the meaning of the 'end of the world.'

It was not only when the Green Planet become harder to live... but it's when most people had long lost their desire to live.

They were living yet not alive at the same time.

It's really cruel.

Sophia bit her lower lips and sighed deeply.

"A hero, huh... I don't like it," Sophia muttered.

Stephen patted Sophia's head. "I don't like it either, but the higher ups wants us to believe in the returnees and used them as the symbol to preserve the people's hope. That there are still people who fought for them... and that the world will not truly end."

Sophia nodded and then pursed her lips.

"The Green Planet will not end so easily."