Host, Please Be Honest! What Exactly Are You?

Chapter 659  A Silent Countdown

The night was quiet… too quiet, to say the least. 12 AM… 1… 2… 3…

Dorian caressed the foreheads of his coma-stricken parents, already having visited them in their slumber seconds ago. It was already 3:56 AM. No one could sleep, except for toddlers and those too young to understand what was going on. Wee-Wonh! Weew-Weew~

Ambulance and police sirens bellowed out, awakening those who accidentally fell asleep. Of course, since the majority were already up, it only woke them from their stupor or TV time. Some had also taken naps earlier, wanting to be wide awake when the enemy came. Last night was odd. The bars, clubhouses, Hostess clubs, and late night sites that were usually busy with drunkards everywhere, were dry and empty and a construction site. F**k it. On the eve of their demise, who the hell cared about keeping up with appearances anymore. So what if some creatures already sensed something off? It won't be until the next day that the portals open. Besides, many creatures felt that even if humans had some clue of their coming, it won't stop them, the beings of the underworld, from emerging victorious in the end. So why bother? Several women who typically wore heavy makeup and fished out rich men from the sides of the streets, willingly took off their makeup and turned in early for evacuations. One should recall that today's evacuation was a last call evacuation. For the past 4 days, there have been final evacuations, where once taken in, you won't be coming out again. Everyone has free will to choose when to go in. So those evacuating today were the last batch of those to be kept away. It's just that if you don't get evacuated on time and the war happens before the anticipated time, you'll have no one to blame but yourself. After all, they did explain to everyone that on day 4, which was today, they could only speculate on what time the enemies would arrive. Whether they arrive 2 or even 3 hours earlier or later, is unknown. A majority of people chose to evacuate days ahead of today. But some before today. Today, Little Yado woke up from his slumber way earlier than usual. Well, his father was bad. "Dad, you are being rude and mean. How can you expect me to leave my bedroom without brushing my teeth or washing my face?" Yado clutched his Ultraman toy, tightly against his chest, peering out the window of his bedroom, while being rushed away. His window was at an elevated point with grand views that stretched far out to the city. Why was there so much activity at night these days? Little Yado didn't understand it much. The city below was a swirling chaos of flashing lights and blaring sirens. His parents, grandparents, uncles, and aunts, have also been rushing around the house more frequently than usual. "Yado, sweetheart, be obedient for a bit," his mother called, with a voice that was a blend of urgency and forced calm. Yaya turned away from the window and struggled in his father's grasp. "We have to leave now, okay? We're going on a little trip."

"Why, Mom, Dad?" Yado asked, his voice small and uncertain. "Where are we going?"

Why didn't he, the one involved, know was going for a trip? He liked packing his own little suitcases with his toys, games and comics.

His mother's smile wavered for a moment before she smoothed it back into place. "We're going somewhere safe, darling. It's like an adventure."

Yado nodded slowly, though she didn't feel like this was an adventure at all. Adventures were supposed to be fun, like when they went to the amusement park or the beach house. This felt different—scary.

His father, who disappeared briefly with some servants, now appeared in the doorway again, looking more serious than Yado had ever seen him. "The car is ready," he said, his voice low but firm. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Yado's mother took his hand and led him down the grand staircase of their home. The staff was bustling about, carrying bags and boxes out to the many waiting Police vehicles lined up. Wow! All the remaining servants and guards were also going on the trip with them. Well, Yado has always felt that these days, the number of people in their massive Hou estate, was dwindling by the hour. Why, just yesterday, he only spotted 12 people in total working in the grand estate that typically has hundreds and hundreds of workers and staff in rotation. So where did they all go? After stepping out, Yado noticed some of the servants closing the massive entrance doors of the main building with an enormous medieval key. Then, they stepped to the sides and activated several other defenses that began sealing all doors and windows. As for the other buildings around, it seemed those had long been sealed and locked up before now. Very obediently, Yado climbed into the car, squeezing in between his parents on one of the plush seats. They said he was going for a fun adventure, but the atmosphere said otherwise. Whoop-whoop-whoop~

Wee-wonh, Wee-wonh~

Weew~ Weew~

The noise hit Yado like a wave, as they left their grand Hou territory.

Helicopters buzzed overhead, and police cars lined the streets with their lights flashing urgently. The streets were packed with cars honking impatiently as everyone tried to leave at once. Yado watched through the tinted windows as they passed people on foot carrying whatever they could hold—bags slung over shoulders, children clinging to their parents' hands.

People were utterly silent, walking faster than they usually did.

No one ran. Soon, they reached the police station, the place where everyone on the streets was seemingly heading to. Yaya didn't understand how there could be no room for so many people —but then again, this was a situation she'd never experienced before or seen.

Standing at the doors, Yado thinned his lips when staring at his grandpa, uncles, and a few of his aunt's who said they wouldn't be going in with the rest of them. Old Hou chuckled, pinching his little grandson's cheeks. "Yado, be good… Grandpa will see you soon." Jung Hou ruffled his nephew's hair warmly after Old Hou. "Little brat, don't give your mother and father a hard time. We'll be back before you know it." Yes… Yado belonged to the Hou Family. And his experience today was that of many people's while heading for evacuation! Tick-tock, Tick-tock. It was already 6:46 A.M in the morning. 4 hours, 14 minutes before the Planets fully Align.