Averland

The next morning

The sky at the edge of the city was just beginning to lighten as Rakien and Kahn were already prepared. They quickly packed their backpacks, left the house, and cautiously approached the city. The distant buildings looked old and silent in the sunlight, as if the world had yet to realize the impending doom. The air was filled with an uneasy atmosphere; although there were still people moving through the streets, each face showed a hint of anxiety and fatigue.

They arrived at a remote street corner where there was an old building that appeared to have been abandoned for a long time. The exterior was mottled, the windows were covered in dust, and the steps at the entrance had several deep cracks.

Kahn scanned the surroundings, and after confirming that there was no one else around, Rakien pushed open the old wooden door first.

Inside, it was dimly lit, with light slanting in through the broken windows, and dust dancing in the air. A few tattered old sofas were scattered on the ground, and piles of discarded furniture were in the corners. Rakien lightly kicked away a layer of debris on the floor, revealing the old wooden planks underneath.

Kahn picked up half a sheet of old newspaper; the paper had turned somewhat yellow, and the edges had curled up with fine cracks. Rakien leaned in next to him, and they carefully read the date on it: "September 13, 2077."

"We're back in 2077! Oh my God, what's going on? It's ten years earlier than we set!" Kahn whispered, his eyes flashing with surprise.

Rakien was silent for a moment, his thoughts racing. They had returned to the world ten years earlier than planned; it was a bit too soon.

"But, we have plenty of time," Rakien murmured.

Kahn continued to flip through the newspaper, and the headline news caught his attention. The large headline read: "Global Energy Crisis Worsens, Tensions Rise Between Countries." Kahn glanced at Rakien and slowly said, "It seems this is likely one of the precursors to the nuclear war."

Rakien nodded, and with those fragmented memories, he had already guessed that the energy crisis would become the catalyst for future wars, but seeing it all laid out in print still made him uneasy.

Kahn gripped the strap of his backpack, his gaze sweeping over the window, where the desolate city edge faintly revealed the shadow of an abandoned industrial area, with several old roads stretching into the distance.

"From the newspaper, it seems this place is one of the old Larus Commonwealth countries," Kahn speculated, "the area hit hardest by the energy crisis."

"We need to find some food, and it would be best to find a vehicle," Rakien pointed to a few scattered buildings in the distance, his gaze serious.

They walked cautiously along the street, away from the crowds, not wanting to attract any attention. At a secluded alley entrance, Rakien noticed several old trucks parked nearby, clearly abandoned for a long time.

"Look over there, see if those trucks are still usable," Rakien whispered.

Kahn quickly approached a truck, trying to pry open the driver's side door lock, but the door was rusted and barely moved. He frowned, "This truck might not work."

Just as they were about to give up and leave, Rakien casually caught sight of an old house not far away, with the word "auto repair" scrawled on the wall. Through the broken window, he could vaguely see various tools and equipment piled up inside. "That might be an auto repair place, maybe there's something we need there."

They cautiously entered the auto repair shop, which was clearly abandoned, filled with broken machinery and piles of parts. Kahn found an old toolbox, while Rakien looked around.

"Look for some gasoline," Rakien said as he searched.

After a while, Kahn finally found some usable tools in the toolbox, and Rakien also found a can of spare fuel. Together, they managed to repair an old truck. Although it made a lot of noise when it started, it could still barely run.

"Use it for now, it's better than nothing," Kahn wiped the sweat from his forehead and turned to Rakien, "Let's go to the city."

They carefully drove along the edge of the city, and the scenery along the way gradually became clearer. There were few pedestrians on the streets, many shops were closed, and the air was filled with a tense atmosphere. Rakien and Kahn observed their surroundings all the way, feeling that the condition of this city did not seem optimistic.

"It looks like the energy shortage has already affected life," Rakien whispered, looking at the rows of darkened blocks.

Kahn nodded, his gaze becoming more alert: "We need to quickly figure out what the political and economic situation is like during this period, especially the trends before the outbreak of nuclear war."

As they passed through a residential area, Rakien suddenly felt a familiar flutter, as if a strange memory flashed in his mind. He closed his eyes, frowned slightly, and the fragments from his dream appeared again.

In the dream, he saw a dimly lit meeting, a group of high-ranking figures in military uniforms sitting around a long table, one person was particularly striking, with a steady expression, presiding over the discussion. Rakien's memory was vague, but the name of that leader suddenly emerged in his mind—David Carol.

"Kahn, I just remembered something," Rakien whispered to Kahn beside him, "There's a man named David Carol, he might be the key person we're looking for. I'm not sure where he is now, but he must be related to the future nuclear war."

Kahn frowned: "David Carol? I think I've heard that name somewhere, maybe a government official, or an important military expert."

"Very likely," Rakien replied, "I can't remember clearly, dreams are always fragmented, but it's certain that he has a significant impact on the future situation. We need to find him, or find some clues related to him."

Kahn whispered, "Let's find a library or a newsstand to check the latest news."

Rakien nodded in agreement, and then the two quickly headed to the city center. They paid attention to various signs and buildings along the way.

After turning for a while, the two found the entrance to a small library. Although its appearance had become somewhat dilapidated, it seemed to still be in operation.

"Let's go inside and check," Rakien said, they parked the car and pushed open the library door.

The inside of the library was spacious and quiet, with only a few people in the corners flipping through books. The two quickly split up and began searching for clues related to the nuclear war and energy.

Rakien found a headline news article dated 2077 in a pile of newspapers, reporting on social unrest caused by the energy crisis, and the tense situation between the Larus Commonwealth countries.

"Kahn, look at this," Rakien held up the newspaper and whispered.

Kahn leaned over to take a look, and his face became serious. "It seems these conflicts could be the spark for war."

Rakien continued, "David Carol's name also appears in this report. It seems he is not only a high-ranking military official but also involved in the formulation of energy policies, a topic of global energy distribution."

—This is Averland in 2077, a nation that once shone brightly, now under the shadow of an energy crisis, located in the heart of the Larus Commonwealth.