Time passed, and finally, on the fifteenth day after the Fancheng Virus outbreak, the half-month-long disaster came to an end. Nearly 99.9% of the zombies in the city had been eradicated, with the remaining 0.1% being merely an estimate.
After all, the members of the Bureau of Anomalous Investigations weren't gods. No one could guarantee that every single zombie had been eliminated; there might still be some stragglers lurking in forgotten corners, yet to be discovered. But for now, at least, zombies posed no further threat to the city, and the half-month-long lockdown was lifted.
Even though large swathes of the city had been damaged by military firepower and countless zombie corpses still littered the streets, Longcheng had to resume operations. The economic losses from sealing off an entire city and bringing it to a standstill were staggering. Each additional day of lockdown would incur unimaginable costs.
The Dragon Nation's success in containing the zombie outbreak was largely due to its citizens' unwavering trust in the government and their exceptional discipline. This allowed for swift city lockdowns that would have been impossible in other countries. Had such a crisis struck elsewhere, it would have taken far longer than half a month to resolve.
Or perhaps there was one exception. If the zombie outbreak had occurred in the White Eagle Nation, people would likely have flooded the streets armed to the teeth, mowing down zombies without hesitation.
That same day, Robin received a WeChat message from Zhong Wanhong: "The Bureau of Anomalous Investigations is having a gathering tonight. Can you make it, Robin?"
Although the aftermath of the Longcheng incident still required extensive cleanup, and the situation was far from resolved, Robin reasoned that everyone deserved a chance to unwind after fighting so hard for so many days.
However, Robin replied: "That might not be appropriate. This is your victory celebration, and I wasn't directly involved. Would my presence be awkward?"
Zhong Wanhong typed back: "Of course you contributed! You saved countless Evolvers on the first day and handled a critical Dimensional Rift in the rear lines. But most importantly, everyone wants you there."
To be more precise, the 187 Evolvers who had been "saved" by Robin's singing on the first day were eager to meet her in person.
These former ordinary people, who had recently adapted to the Fancheng Virus and become Evolvers, were now under the command of the Bureau of Anomalous Investigations, actively participating in the battle against the zombies. Their combat strength was one of the key reasons why the entire operation proceeded so smoothly.
It was no exaggeration to say that the Bureau had an overwhelming surplus of high-end combat power.
Remember that bullet comment in Robin's live stream earlier, the one about seeing an Evolver hacking zombies with a knife? That was exactly what these new Evolvers were doing. Having been ordinary people just days before, they were more effective with cold weapons than firearms, so each was given a blade and sent into the fray to hack and slash.
Zhong Wanhong sent an absurdly long, eighty-second voice message explaining the situation on WeChat. The moment Robin saw the duration, her delicate eyebrows furrowed. But she steeled herself and listened to the entire rambling explanation to understand the circumstances.
She typed back: [ I understand. I'll be there. ]
At half past four in the afternoon, Robin put on a white sun hat and a light blue dress, her long hair tied back in a high ponytail. She still hadn't mastered elaborate hairstyles.
Truthfully, Robin wasn't fond of wearing dresses, but the sweltering heat today had forced her hand.
It had been over a month since Robin arrived in this world. It was now early August, the hottest time of the year. Even as evening approached, the temperature remained a scorching 35 degrees Celsius.
I'm just surrendering to this oppressive heat! she thought silently.
The high ponytail was another concession to the heat. Letting her thick hair hang loose would feel like wearing a blanket on her back, far too stifling in this weather.
As for the sun hat, Robin had chosen one without a crown to avoid interfering with her Halo. In truth, even a capped hat wouldn't have been a problem. The ring could easily be tucked inside or even detached entirely if needed.
Yes, Robin had only recently discovered that the Halo was removable.
In simple terms, the Halo was like a special "tail tip," an organ belonging to her body but without any direct physical connection—the "tail" itself was invisible.
Robin could subtly adjust the Halo's position with her hand, but if she moved it too far, she'd feel a pulling sensation, as if her limbs were being tugged. Conversely, if someone else touched the Halo on her head, Robin wouldn't feel much at all; there were no strange sensitivities or anything like that. Essentially, the Halo was like her fingernails.
Finally, she slipped into sandals with a slight platform heel, grabbed a small blue handbag, and stepped out of her apartment.
As soon as she left the residential complex, Robin noticed the streets were bustling with pedestrians. Unlike the lifeless stagnation she'd grown accustomed to, the city had regained its vibrancy.
Before she could even fully process the change, many passersby noticed her. Robin was simply too conspicuous—the feathered ears and Halo on her head were instantly recognizable. A single glance was enough to confirm her identity.
"Is that Robin?"
"She's even more beautiful in person than she looks on her live stream!"
"Huh? No way! Does anyone actually stream without filters and look better in real life?"
A murmur rippled through the crowd as passersby whispered among themselves. Robin had often encountered this since arriving in this world—strangers marveling at her beauty when she was out and about. But this time was different. Now, most of the people recognized her.
Instead of exclaiming, "She's so beautiful!", they were wondering, "Is that really Robin?"
This shift in recognition led several bold individuals to approach her, forming a small crowd.
"Miss Robin? Can I get your autograph?"
"Miss Robin! Can I take a picture with you?"
"Miss Robin! Your songs are amazing! I'm a huge fan!"
"Miss Robin! I'm your biggest fan!"
Within moments, Robin found herself surrounded by seven or eight people, their faces flushed with excitement. She felt a bit overwhelmed.
The last time she had encountered a fan was when she happened to bump into Shu Cat on the subway. She had even thought to herself how few fans she had, having only met one during the entire ride.
Now, faced with this sudden surge of admirers, she was completely bewildered.