World (Part 1)

Chapter 30: The World (Part 1)

Han Dong was genuinely exhausted after entering Destiny Space.

After injecting the Cellular Essence, Han Dong lay on Nicholas's old wooden bed, feeling like his eyes could close at any moment.

However... before closing them, Han Dong called his sister Nina in.

He gave her one instruction.

Nina patted her chest, promising, "Don't worry! Leave it to me. I often went to the scrap processing station to look for books during my apprenticeship... as long as it's related to Occultism?"

"Yes, the older the better."

Han Dong asked Nina to find books for him, not only for himself to read but also for another purpose.

After giving the instructions, Han Dong collapsed into sleep.

When he woke up, it was already dark.

The alarm clock on the bedside table showed eight o'clock. The second hand moved at the same pace as in his previous world, and a day still had twenty-four hours.

Feeling a bit hungry, he was about to go out to eat something.

Unexpectedly, Nina, who had changed into a floral dress, was waiting at the door with a sumptuous dinner. The meal included a whole, not-too-large roast chicken.

Considering their financial situation, producing a roast chicken like this would likely cost a significant portion of their savings.

At the same time, a large pile of old books was stacked along the walls on both sides of Han Dong's dorm room door. It had to be said that Nina's efficiency was truly remarkable.

"Mom made this especially for you... She guessed you'd be hungry as soon as you woke up. Brother, in the dangerous environment of Destiny Space, you probably couldn't eat properly, right?

Hurry and take it inside to eat. I'm not hungry!"

Nina, holding the roast chicken, deliberately emphasized the word 'not hungry,' though she was actually drooling with desire.

Although Han Dong really wanted to devour the entire roast chicken, considering Nina could help him understand the world, and also her 'sister' identity, he still shared a chicken leg. At the same time, he instructed:

"Come to my room later."

"Okay!" Nina happily took the chicken leg.

Han Dong felt his wording might be ambiguous and immediately corrected himself, "Come to my room, I just want to ask you some questions about the Holy City and this world."

"Mhm!"

Han Dong carried the dinner into his room and locked the door.

He placed the roast chicken, vegetable salad, and carrot stew on a relatively tidy wooden table for the time being.

With a burst of sinister energy emanating outwards.

Possessed Chen Li, dressed in red and with her black hair covering her face, was released.

As Chen Li appeared, the flame in the oil lamp flickered slightly.

"Miss Chen Li, you don't need to deliberately 'scare people' normally. Just be yourself."

"Oh! Okay."

Chen Li, taking a rubber band from who knows where, quickly tied her black hair, which was covering her face, behind her head. The sinister energy receded into her body... her demeanor changed, and she became a normal young lady in a red dress.

"Have something to eat."

"Mhm..."

Chen Li also belonged to the human category. To help Han Dong, she hadn't eaten for over a day... Faced with the fragrant roast chicken, she couldn't resist and began eating heartily.

Before long, the two of them had completely devoured the lavish dinner.

"Are you full?"

"Yes," Chen Li nodded slightly.

"Wait a while, and your living conditions should improve. At least you won't go hungry."

"I'm fine."

After pacing around the small room a couple of times, Chen Li said, "I want to go back... Call me again if there's any danger or if you need help."

"Alright."

Apart from the prison, which was her 'home,' she wasn't quite accustomed to the environment in the Holy City and preferred to spend her time in the prison.

This was their first meeting in the outside world, and their conversation felt a bit awkward... Both of them were rather reserved individuals. It might get better once they became more familiar with each other.

Han Dong muttered softly, "Miss Chen Li's growth potential seems very high. If cultivated further, she will continue to grow... I should get her some books for the prison later, otherwise, she might get too bored alone."

Next came the important questioning time.

Han Dong called Nina into the dorm room and got straight to the point.

Han Dong found a usable steel pen in the room, preparing to record the important information that would follow.

When Nina, dressed in her floral dress, entered the room, she showed no unfamiliarity with Han Dong. Her sapphire-blue eyes widened as she sat down next to him.

"Brother, what do you want to know first?"

"Is your world like this?"

Han Dong roughly sketched out a world map in his notebook, with Europe being particularly detailed.

"What is this?" Nina asked, confused.

"A world map."

Nina looked wronged, unable to answer Han Dong's first question:

"World... map.

I really don't know this. I was born and raised in the Holy City and have never left.

I've only heard from my master that the outside world is incredibly vast, but we don't have the opportunity or the ability to see it."

"Alright, then tell me what you know about the world. What is out there? Why do humans have to live cooped up in a single metal city?"

"This is also something I heard from my master. About two hundred years ago... a species more advanced than humans was born. In just a few days, the total human population plummeted by over 80%. It was terrifying!

The remaining humans all retreated, and that's roughly how it is now."

"Huh!? Two hundred years ago, a more advanced species than humans was born? What era was humanity in then? They must have had firearms, right?"

"That... I don't know, hehe." Nina gave an embarrassed, silly smile.

Han Dong guessed, "They should have had at least basic cannons, but with 80% wiped out in a few days, it's likely only some advanced nations survived.

By the way, are the superior life forms outside afraid of copper?"

"That's right! It was precisely because someone discovered this that the Holy City was built in this manner, allowing people to live safely within."

"Copper... No wonder humanity's technological level remained stuck at brass, steam, and gears for so long. So copper had such a use.

In that case, if I'm not mistaken, the most basic currency in the Holy City would be copper coins? Copper replaced the status of gold and silver, right?"

"Mm, that's right."

Han Dong continued to inquire, "What about the source of copper? There should be vast copper mines beneath the Holy City, right?"

"Hehe, I know this! Master said that the Holy City is indeed built atop a massive natural mine. However, after years of extensive mining, the copper reserves were mostly depleted fifty years ago.

Now, the only source is from the Destiny Space.

The cost of mining outside the city is too high, it's practically impossible..."

"Mm..."

After recording this important information, Han Dong.

He began to formally inquire about the Destiny Space.

Han Dong had his own suspicions and hoped to get answers here.

"Tell me more about the Destiny Space."

"Okay! Hehe, I knew you'd ask about this, Brother.

So I specifically went to Master's house. This is a book from Master's home about the Destiny Space, written by a noble author of our time, which elaborates on the origin of the Destiny Space.

Um... Brother, after you finish reading it, please give it back to me.

I have to return it tomorrow morning before Master discovers it."

"No problem."

Han Dong stared at the book titled "The Origin of Destiny - Humanity's Hope for Survival," a smile on his face.

Nina was more capable than he had imagined, and her master should be a mechanical craftsman of some standing.

The very first sentence of the book's introduction captivated Han Dong completely.

"As I gained insight into Destiny, the despair that had been swirling in my mind vanished, for I understood that humanity had not been abandoned."

Upon seeing when the Destiny Space first appeared on the first page, Han Dong nodded slightly.

"As expected, the Destiny Space appeared almost at the same time as the superior life forms..."