This was a sweet consolation.

Hannah didn’t move, and Archer gathered it up for her.

The ringmaster waved his hand, signaling for them to leave, "Remember not to miss next week’s match."

Archer nodded and walked out with Hannah.

Once outside, Archer’s expression immediately turned cold.

He had decoded the meaning in the ringmaster’s words, that in the days to come, Hannah would receive more attention, and it was very possible she would no longer just be a fighter warming up the crowd.

But there was nothing he could do.

With the money he had saved up now, it was far too little to leave Brie. Besides, leaving Brie wasn’t something that could be achieved with money alone.

"You were too impulsive today."

Back in the house, Archer immediately closed the door.

Hannah walked to the table and sat on the ground, skillfully taking out the box of wooden blocks.

She fell silent again, focused on playing with the wooden blocks in her hands.

"Hannah, are you even listening to me?"

Archer walked over, leaning his hands on the table.

Hannah looked up at him for a second, then lowered her head again, her voice small, "I am."

Archer took a deep breath, struggling to suppress his anger.

"It’s my fault, I shouldn’t have taken you to the east."

He had thought he was capable of protecting Hannah, but now it seemed they should have lived like Archer in the refugee district.

Hannah had only stacked two blocks before pushing them over herself, "I want to leave Brie."

Archer, lost in his thoughts, paused at her words, "To find Archer?"

His tone grew harsh again. Realizing his reaction, he wanted to apologize but couldn’t bring himself to say the words, so he remained silent, gazing steadily at the person before him.

Hannah looked up, her clear black and white eyes like a mirror, void of emotion, yet reflecting the appearance of others, "I want to leave Brie, don’t you?"

Of course, Archer wanted to, but where could they, as refugees, go after leaving Brie?

A refugee’s life was an endless cycle of fleeing.

In Brie, at least they could settle down.

"But I want to leave," Hannah said.

She turned her head to look at the view outside the window.

The sky wasn’t dark yet, there was lingering sunshine, lush green leaves, and birds flying freely.

In this world, the sun was fake, the moon was fake, a mishmash of systems, and everyone lived in their own way.

But this was the first time Hannah had the desire not to be controlled by others.

She wanted to make her own decisions.

"What about Archer then?" Archer suddenly blurted out.

He sat down on the ground, imitating Hannah’s posture, back straight, with only a table separating them.

"Archer?" Hannah murmured the name, then suddenly smiled, "No Archer."

There would be no Archer in the future.

This time, Archer finally solidified his resolve, "Alright, I’ll go with you."

Together, they would leave Brie.

...

A week later, it was quickly time for Hannah to enter the ring.

During this time, the events that occurred in the arena had spread, becoming more and more exaggerated.

Someone claimed to have seen that match, where Hannah killed the bear with a single strike.

"That’s an exaggeration, that’s a brown bear, even an adult would need to put in some effort to fight it, how could a kid be that powerful?"

"What’s so surprising about that? That mute girl’s brother, called Archer, has survived good and fine after going into the ring more than twenty times, it’s just natural talent."

"If they’re so powerful, why come to Brie?"

A few people chatted further and farther away.