Song Ran brushed the dust from her shoulder and asked, "What did you just say? I couldn't hear you."

"I said that the corrupt officials selling exit permits at a time like this should be shot."

The two walked into an abandoned building as they talked. The sound of gunfire outside was already deafening, making it impossible to hear each other speak. They each set up their equipment, found cover, and lay down between the broken walls to film the battlefield outside.

Hand grenades, tear gas, hand grenades, machine guns... all kinds of weapons took their turn, and casualties continued to mount on both sides.

Midway through the fight, both sides bombarded each other with mortars and rocket-propelled grenades. The shells traced arcs across the blue sky with their tails, raining down in successive bombardments. The entire earth trembled.

Song Ran covered her head and ears as chunks of concrete shaken from upstairs continuously struck her helmet and bulletproof vest.

She lay on the ground, held her helmet's face shield tight, put in earplugs, and squinted as she painstakingly adjusted the focus and direction.

The two sides bombarded each other for a long time before quieting down for a bit. Her ears were filled with ringing, buzzing as if tens of thousands of bees had been poured into them.

The fighting below finally transitioned to gunfire. Song Ran buried her head and lay still for a moment, recovering her strength.

Turning her head to look at Sasin, she saw him holding his camera with one hand and vigorously rubbing his forehead with the other.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." Sasin looked up and said, "I thought this war would be over in two weeks. But... it's been almost three months. The Government Army has given its all, but the Anti-government forces are backed by foreign powers. Now, terrorist organizations have gotten involved too. I'm really worried, Song..."

"Worried about what?"

"I'm worried my country is finished. Did you know, this land has three thousand years of history?"

"I know," Song Ran said, offering a futile comfort. "It will be alright, Sasin."

Even as she said it, she had no idea if it would be alright.

Outside, bullets rained down and cannons roared. Footsteps sounded from downstairs.

Sasin peered down through the shattered floor and saw several foreign journalists.

Sasin let out a laugh and suddenly said, "Our suffering has provided many people with a livelihood and allowed many to gain honor. This land is like a giant tree overgrown with tragedy. Every person who comes from afar can reach out, grab a handful from the tree, harvest a little fruit, and then leave without a backward glance, forgetting the tree entirely."

Song Ran's face stung as if it were on fire.

She suddenly recalled the scene from several weeks ago. They had rushed towards the scene of the war, but Sasin had turned to protect his compatriot. And her? Because of that photo, 'CARRY', several domestic and even international news media outlets had extended special invitations to her.

Song Ran said softly, "I'm sorry."

"I'm sorry, Song. I wasn't criticizing everyone, and especially not you. Heaven knows how much I like you. I only said what I did because I feel this world is a bit absurd."

"I understand."

As they were speaking, an explosion suddenly sounded from somewhere behind them. Both turned around at the same time. It was a residential area two blocks behind them—a non-combat zone. It was nine in the morning, a peak time for residents to be out.

Song Ran and Sasin exchanged a look, then simultaneously and quickly shouldered their bags, packed up their cameras and equipment, and rushed downstairs.

The two of them sprinted all the way there, rushing to the street where it happened, but they didn't see any dead or injured people.

The wide street was empty. At the side of the road, a car that had exploded was burning. Its shell and glass were shattered all over the ground, but there was no one inside. The burning car was surrounded by a blast wall made of sandbags.

A few soldiers from the Peacekeeping Force were moving about on the street, checking the residents' vehicles one by one.

Benjamin was also there, gesturing and shouting at people in the windows of a residential building, "Get back! Away from the windows!"

The people in the buildings on both sides quickly closed their doors and windows and hid.

And in the center of the wide, empty street was a circle of half-meter-high sandbag blast walls. Inside, a man was bent over, working. It was too far to see clearly. Song Ran immediately used her camera to zoom in. Just one look at his shoulders and the back of his head, and her heart instantly softened.

She knew it was him.

Inside the blast wall, a child was sitting in a child seat with a bomb strapped to them. The child was wailing with their head thrown back, their eyes and nose scrunched together. Their parents stood by, secretly wiping away tears.

No one came within a ten-meter radius of the sandbag wall. Several Peacekeepers holding rifles warily surveyed the surroundings; on both sides of the road were four or five anti-aircraft and heavy machine gun positions to guard against air raids and assaults; and on the tall buildings on both sides, there were also several hidden snipers to guard against enemy snipers.

Everyone was on high alert, guarding against any potential enemies that might appear.

Just then, a whistle came from within the sandbag wall, carrying the melodious tune of 'Castle in the Sky'. The child's crying soon stopped. The little one stared with big, grape-like eyes, curiously watching the young soldier who was dismantling the bomb on them.

Song Ran showed her press pass, and since she also knew Benjamin, she got past the cordon smoothly.

Benjamin was quite happy to see an acquaintance and asked, "You came yesterday?"

Song Ran was surprised. "How did you know?"

Benjamin gave a mysterious smile. "Because I sensed your presence."

Song Ran: "..."

She saw his eyes were bloodshot and asked, "You didn't sleep all night?"

"Too many bombs," Benjamin said, then cursed, "Those sons of bitches."

Song Ran turned her head to look at the center of the road. The sandbags were blocking the view, but she could occasionally see two or three heads bobbing up and down—it was the couple, and Li Zan.

She pointed and asked, "Can I go over and see?"

Benjamin said, "You can go if you're not afraid of dying. But it's best not to." He glanced at his watch and said, "There's no time."

Song Ran frowned. "What happens if time is about to run out?"

"We can only give up. We're not God; we can't save everyone." As Benjamin spoke, he suddenly shouted in that direction, "Li, are you OK?"

Li Zan didn't answer him from over there, but the child started crying again.

Benjamin stared wide-eyed at Song Ran and threw up his hands. "Does my voice sound like the devil's? Why is that kid crying again?"

Song Ran: "..."

Benjamin shouted again, "You need to give up?"

This time, a hand emerged from over the pile of sandbags, palm facing down, and waved side to side twice, signaling a capital NO.

Benjamin: "I bet you're gonna die!"

In response, the hand gave him the middle finger.

Song Ran: "..."

She suddenly couldn't hold it in and touched her nose as she smiled.

Benjamin turned back to Song Ran with a chuckle, shaking his head helplessly. "Ah, this annoying guy."