Chapter 199 - 198: Trouble in One Place, Aid from All Sides

Chapter 199: Chapter 198: Trouble in One Place, Aid from All Sides

The people nearby immediately rushed forward to pull him out, but the victim thrashed violently, sinking even deeper into the muck. The rescuer’s arms were completely submerged in the mud, yet they refused to let go.

When the rescuer was finally dragged back onto solid ground, his eyes were completely vacant. "Captain, I couldn’t save him. I couldn’t save him! He looked at me with such despair... I couldn’t save him!"

The man broke down in tears. He had tried so hard to save the victim, but in the face of natural disaster, all he could do was weep in helpless devastation.

"Get up. Keep moving up the mountain."

Sean Sutton’s voice trembled. He understood the pain, but right now, their priority was getting the living to higher ground, not wallowing in powerless rage.

The tiny hands tugging at her hem gripped even tighter. Rian Sinclair wrapped her fingers around the little girl’s hand. "Don’t be afraid."

As evening fell, visibility plummeted. The rescue team scouted the path ahead, but even with their flashlights piercing the darkness, courage was in short supply among the survivors as the night closed in.

"Ah!" the little girl beside her gasped. Though the cry was soft and muffled by the surrounding chaos, Rian heard it clearly. She immediately grabbed the girl, steadying her balance.

She then patted the girl’s shoulder. "Hold on tight to me."

The little girl nodded, pressing herself even closer to Rian.

Reaching the summit was a grueling ordeal. After settling everyone in, the exhausted rescue team took only a brief moment to rest before heading back down the mountain to search for more survivors. The heavy rain was still pouring, grounding any helicopters. For now, it was uncertain whether the supplies the rescue team had brought would be enough to last.

As everyone huddled together to rest, the rescue team established contact with the personnel at the base of the mountain. According to meteorological experts, the rain would stop tomorrow, and there would be no severe downpours in the coming days.

Hearing this broadcast, the collective tension in the air evaporated. For a fleeting moment, everyone finally let out a breath of relief.

Their harrowing trek up the mountain had driven home the sheer ruthlessness of nature. Thoughts turned to homes destroyed by the mudslides and loved ones lost to the disaster. A heavy blanket of grief settled over the camp.

"My wife... she was seven months pregnant. I was about to be a father. But all I could do was watch as she and our baby were buried under our collapsed house. In that moment, I didn’t even know how I was supposed to keep living."

"My husband ran back in to save me. He got crushed by a falling beam... Even as he lay there, fully conscious, his last words were telling me to run."

"My parents-in-law were both buried in the wreckage. Just last night, they were talking about steaming egg custard for me this morning to keep my strength up. Who could have known they’d be gone overnight?"

"WAHHH! Mom! Dad! I’m so scared! Grandma and Grandpa are gone!"

A child’s wail broke the silence, setting off a chain reaction as more children began to bawl. The adults simply sat with red, tear-filled eyes, burying their faces in their hands to hide their despair. In the countryside, many children were raised not by their parents, but by their grandparents. Now, left without their guardians, the young ones had no idea how to cope.

The little girl beside her also began to sob quietly. Rian patted her shoulder. "Are your parents working out of town?"

The little girl shook her head. "Dad farms at home, and Mom works in the city. Dad’s leg got hurt, so he couldn’t run. He pushed me away and told me to find the uncles in the green uniforms. He said they could take me to find Mom."

The girl’s trembling, innocent voice echoed in Rian’s ears. At a loss for words, she could only tilt her head back and gaze up at the sky.

She thought, "God. Look at what you’re doing. Why must tragedy always single out those who already suffer so much?"

The little girl flashed Rian a bright smile. "I’m okay. There’s still a long road ahead, and I’ll keep my head held high and take big steps forward! That’s what Dad told me to do!"

The little girl’s eyes sparkled brilliantly, as though they held a sky full of stars, offering herself a silent, steadfast encouragement.

Rian remained silent for a moment before pointing at the sparse scattering of stars above. "When our loved ones pass away, they can’t bear to leave their families behind. So, they turn into stars in the sky to stay by your side forever.

"Whenever you feel lost or don’t know what to do in the future, just look up at the sky. They’ll guide you to make the right choice."

The little girl followed her finger. High above, the brightest star in the sky twinkled faintly, as if confirming Rian’s words.

The next day.

Just as the experts had predicted, the rain stopped. Rescue operations proceeded rapidly, and Rian once again arranged for a fresh delivery of supplies. For the many elderly survivors, Rian instructed the rescue teams to inform them about her foundation, hoping its resources could offer them some much-needed support.

When the little girl was finally reunited with her mother, Rian watched the woman embrace her child in silent tears. Not wanting to intrude, she quietly slipped away.

Life slowly settled back into an orderly rhythm. The supplies Rian had provided arrived far quicker than aid from other regions, providing ample relief for the survivors.

Still wearing her dried, mud-caked clothes, Rian couldn’t help but click her tongue as she looked at her rented car. It had been completely crushed by a massive boulder from the landslide.

Upon returning to Andale, she went to the rental agency and bought the ruined vehicle for one and a half times its market value, strictly honoring the terms of her contract. Even though the agency knew the damage was caused by a natural disaster and hadn’t expected such strict adherence, Rian insisted. She knew that making a living was hard for everyone. The car she had rented belonged to a private owner who had entrusted it to the agency; leaving the agency to handle the loss alone wouldn’t be fair.

Back at her hotel, Rian changed into fresh clothes and leaned back against the large bed to finally catch her breath.

News of the previous night’s disaster had already blown up on the internet. Hordes of people were mobilizing to volunteer, and numerous influencers were purchasing supplies to send in a steady stream to the disaster zone. After all, the number of surrounding villages affected by the catastrophe was staggering.

Rian looked into the donation channels for the local rescue teams and donated one hundred million under her foundation’s name. Funneling the funds this way would make it much easier for Fiona Sinclair to track the money later, ensuring that every cent was spent effectively and not lost to corruption. Rian also informed Fiona that a wave of aid applications would soon be coming from this area, advising her team to be on standby.

As she watched the steady stream of traffic outside, memories of last night’s torrential rain resurfaced. That perilous storm was exactly why she hadn’t risked coming down the mountain earlier. Rian looked up at the crystal-clear, azure sky and offered a faint smile.

She thought, "Thanks, God."

When it was time to leave Andale, Rian watched the swelling crowds of people pouring into the airport from all corners of the country. It was a profound testament to the deep-seated compassion of Veridia.

When disaster strikes one region, aid pours in from all directions.

The air was thick with a resolute, unified spirit. Everyone was determined to pitch in, reminiscent of the great unity seen during the devastating natural disaster of 2008. Volunteers flocked toward Basilia, and every single province extended a helping hand. This was the true, boundless spirit of Veridia.

Back in Kyoro.

Taking in her surroundings, Rian noted the steadily dropping temperature. In a few days, she’d likely have to break out her winter coat. Perhaps, before long, she would open her door to a world blanketed in pure white snow. Having been born in Basilia, Rian had never seen it snow. Even after moving to Argent, snow had remained an elusive sight.

As she pushed open her front door, Bandage bounded toward her. He sniffed eagerly all around her before whimpering and nuzzling into her arms, begging for affection.

Rian smiled softly, scooping the chubby, well-fed Bandage into her embrace. Beside her stood a beaming Auntie Alden, and in her arms was a little dog whose whole world revolved around her.