112 Choices 2 (1/2)

The sky had already turned dark and the air in the city hall had also turned colder. When Sofony looked up, she somehow disliked the dim glow of the fluorescent lamp above. The place was gradually being deserted since not many government employees work overtime. This made the city hall a lot gloomier.

Sofony received a call from the lady bodyguard at Steffy's side so she decided to leave the place. However, Gio somehow found her and even before she could say anything, he had already pulled her into a tight hug. She became dumbfounded for a few seconds, thinking of how and why he appeared here. Then after remembering it was easy for him to know about the most recent incident, she felt stupid for pondering about it.

”Gio...” She couldn't help but mutter. But unlike before, she didn't cry as he trapped her in his embrace. Her eyes only told him every insecurity and worry she had in her heart and mind.

After hugging for a while, Gio grabbed her hands and led her to a secure but deserted room in the city hall. His eyes asked for details so she explained what actually happened. She glossed over the minor things that occurred at the shooting range and focused more on the bombing incident.

At the end of her explanation, her body was shaking, slightly. The man knew it was not out of sadness or fear, but anger. He understood where she's coming from as he's aware of the root cause of everything.

”So this confirms she's alive, that woman?” he asked with a complicated look in his eyes.

When she looked down, perhaps due to frustration, and nodded to her, Gio stared at her for a fairly long time without saying anything.

Sofony became uncomfortable with his silence so, after half a minute, she looked up and met his conflicted gaze. She felt her heart jumped from nervousness. For some reason, she could feel that something bad was weighing in his mind.

She couldn't help but swallow some saliva. ”Hey... What's the matter?”

The look in his eyes did not change. Or maybe it did because she noticed some hesitation from them. In the end, he did open his mouth to ask,

”Baby. Have you... ever considered what's the biggest difference between you and her?”

”The biggest difference between me and her?”

When she heard his question, she almost laughed, bitterly. She might be slow sometimes, but it didn't mean she was not aware of it. How would she not know when the system was reminding her every day?

”I know. It's not hard to realize it. She's different from me because she doesn't have anyone to care for. She's not even sparing time to visit her friends in prison. I don't think she gives a damn about her family too, if she even has one.”

Gio nodded. ”I've read my men's report. That seems to be the case.” He paused a bit and watched her respond to his remark with a bitter smile. After three seconds, he added, ”But you're different. You have so many people to worry about. And even if I can confidently say I won't be a burden, is this the same with the others?”

This time, both of them sunk into a long period of silence. Gio did not speak anymore as everything he wanted to tell her has been said. He just continued examining his girl's reaction, watching out whether she really got what he meant.

Actually, Sofony already knew of this. Without Gio explaining, she understood what he wanted her to do - to reflect on this disadvantage!

In fact, his eyes were also similarly telling and asking her,

'Baby, you get what I mean, right? How will you deal with them? What will you do? They're weak. While you can grow stronger, they are still weak and vulnerable to deadly attacks.'

'See? When your enemy only has herself to worry about, you're here wasting precious time, energy, and brain cells to think of how to protect them. You have to divide your focus. You can't devote yourself to attacking. Because while you value your life, you equally value theirs. And the enemy is aware of this.'

'Thus while she is free to strike anytime, you're stuck somewhere ensuring their safety...'

'The worst thing is, they don't know anything. You'll soon be tired cleaning up their messes. But you are not allowed to complain. You can't rest too.'

'You have no choice but do all the work. Because they CAN'T know anything!'

Time passed quickly. However, these questions still repeatedly haunted her, bothering her, until she had no choice but closed her eyes.

Complex and conflicting feelings began to assault her too, making her realize that her greed had caused her to be trapped in the illusion that they would be fine as long as she becomes stronger.

Wrong. Her brain told her. She forgot the enemy and her system would not let her grow... and that she was already in the middle of a fight!

Seconds passed after the system remarked this to her. Sofony didn't really put its words to heart but it successfully made her remember that it had always been telling her how stupid she was to become so attached to easily targeted non-hosts.

Sofony's eyes could no longer stop the tears from welling up. After she stopped dodging this issue, she only managed to think of two solutions. Two solutions which essence was basically the same.

Sofony looked at him in the eyes. With reluctance in her voice, she asked, ”Gio, are you telling me that I only have two choices?”