But he reined in the strange emotions within.

A steadfast belief filled the cracks in his emotions, and soon a voice emerged from deep within his heart.

Death will bring them true tranquility.

A faint smile appeared on Laris's face again, "We'll meet in Hell."

With that, he turned away, not giving them another glance, and dashed toward the end of the passage.

This secret passage fully utilized Oasis City's underground waterways, opened while those pampered officials were completely unaware. They gathered in an underground tavern and dreamt up many ideas, from setting fires to using explosives, but always felt that such methods couldn't wipe out the bureaucrats completely.

And now, he was going to use air.

It is fair.

No matter high or low, noble or common, everyone relies on air to survive, so it will equally bestow death upon all.

The noise behind him grew more distant from Laris; he couldn't recall how long he'd been running in the dark passage, until the moonlight shining from above indicated the endpoint for him.

His strength was nearly spent, but he took a few more steps forward to bathe in the bright moonlight.

The city hall square was packed with people, yet no one noticed his arrival.

Through the plank overhead, he saw many familiar faces, witnessing the trial with solemn expressions. He also saw Mary standing on the high platform, her figure elongated by the torchlight, resembling a sword attempting to pierce the night sky.

Laris's lips curled into a cold arc, and a pulsating sensation came from his fingertips, the heart-like fruit throbbed in his palm. He no longer hesitated, opening his mouth to swallow the throbbing "heart," leaving only a singular thought in his mind.

At first, it was warmth, like a frozen person nearing the fire; then, the warmth turned to scorching heat, blood screaming inside veins, every note was fracturing and reassembling, his bones emitted subtle chimes, the muscles under his skin no longer obeying commands, starting to writhe and extend like independent living things.

There was no pain, only an exhilarating awareness; he felt himself expanding, dispersing, his senses liberated from the fetters of flesh, thoughts tossed to ten thousand meters in the sky.

For the first time, Laris gazed down at Oasis City from this perspective.

Everything became insignificant; every familiar face turned into blur dots and ceased to be important.

Oasis City welcomed its second snowfall.

But this time, not cold crystals, rather warm, scarlet snowflakes.

They slowly floated down among the crowd, landing on their shoulders.

Soon, a man in winter clothing sneezed.

He instinctively wiped the liquid spewing from his nose and mouth with a handkerchief.

His movements quickly froze.

Standing blankly, he looked at the handkerchief stained with liquid—the color of blood.

The man's gaze was filled with confusion. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

More sneezes erupted, Oasis City seemingly entering an allergy season, continuous sounds melding into a single chorus.

The trial continued.

The man's attention was drawn to Mary on the high platform; he also noticed the new city hall members accompanying her in the trial.

"Achoo!"

Among them, some started sneezing too.

Blood sprayed from mouths onto the platform, melding with the falling snowflakes.